Hispanic chamber and Read for Life look to 2010

Celebrating 25 years of success: The first part of the year always brings excitement for the 500-member Kern County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. It marks a time when the chamber recognizes its new leadership tasked with growing membership, helping small business owners and preparing for annual events, including the very successful Latino Food Festival and Menudo Cook-Off.

Now in its 25th year, the Hispanic chamber has plenty of reasons to celebrate when it gathers for its annual Installation Banquet and Business Awards at 6 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 6, at the DoubleTree Hotel. Tickets are $60 per person or $500 per table.

More than 300 people are expected to attend. Kern County Superior Court Judge Robert Tafoya is scheduled to conduct the installation of the new board members, including treasurer Jan Bans, secretary David Alanis, chair-elect Jesse Bonales and past chair Joe Jimenez. Ramona Herrera will lead as the new chairwoman.
The Hispanic chamber has benefited from Latino businesses’ growth locally and non-Latino businesses that cater to Hispanics, she said.

“I’m excited about this year’s board and their commitment to help our membership grow and prosper,” Herrera said. “I’m looking forward to 2010 being a strong year for us.”

A highlight of the night will be the 2009 Hispanic Chamber awards, Herrera said.
The honorees are: Bakersfield attorney David A. Torres, Business Man of the Year, and for full disclosure, I’ve been fortunate to be selected as the Business Woman of the Year. I am sincerely grateful.
Other winners are: La Mina Restaurant, Large Business of the Year; Kern Valley Printing, Small Business of the Year; and Chevron, Corporation of the Year. Risto Rubio of Mission Family Mortuary will receive the Community Service Award.
The Chairperson’s Recognition Award will go to Jay Tamsi, 2010’s vice chairman. I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with Jay on joint projects with MAS Magazine and the Hispanic Chamber, and I’ve always been impressed with his volunteerism, hard work and dedication. Jay is a senior formulations specialist for Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream and is involved in the Hispanic chamber, the Kern County Youth Mariachi Foundation and the Filipino Community of Delano group. Well-deserved award, Jay, well-deserved.
For those wanting information about the installation dinner, please call 633-5495.

Read for Life Gala planning kicks off: Speaking of well-deserving people, the ever-so energetic Donna Hylton, executive director of the Kern Adult Literacy Council, is busy working away at plans for this year’s Read for Life Gala Reception and Auction planned for April 22 at the Bell Tower Club in downtown Bakersfield. Its 2010 Literacy for Life Award recipient is Sandra Serrano, chancellor of the Kern Community College District.

 For those who are not familiar with Donna, she is one amazing lady, very passionate about the council, and will share countless stories of how it has changed many people’s lives. The Read for Life Gala is its main fundraiser of the year and it helps the organization, which relies heavily on volunteers, to continue their mission of educating our community and building strong readers, no matter the age.

I even got wrapped up in her energy and now, you guessed it, I am on the planning committee for the gala event. The committee list is impressive: Kristie Coons, who handles special projects for the Kern County Library; business owner Ann McCright; Tony Russo of Russo’s Books; and local community activist Sheryl Barbich. So expect some neat things to come of this year’s event.

If you are interested in learning more about the council or helping with the gala, please call Donna at 324-3213. She tells me they are currently looking for donated gift certificates or other items that can be auctioned off at the gala. Stay tuned.