Celebrating 65 Years of Giving People Purpose

CELEBRATING 65 Years of Giving People Purpose

BARC - The Bakersfield ARC

From the Chairman and President July 2014 marks the 65th Anniversary of The Bakersfield ARC (BARC). Since 1949, the accomplished journey of this organization has benefited thousands of individuals and families, while strengthening our community.

The BARC Parent Founders were brave Pioneers and Visionaries who truly laid the foundation for BARC’s success. These families inspired others to take action forming a grassroots movement to create, out of “whole cloth,” an organization whose every decision would always be for the benefit of Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and their Families.

These Pioneers provided leadership and embraced community support to help build an organization that today serves over 400 BARC Clients throughout Kern County with a staff of nearly 200 on 25 acres in Bakersfield and in the Kern River Valley. This legacy of dedication, hard work, and BARC’s commitment to help these Kern County citizens live a better life are ever present today.

BARC comes from a strong history of accomplishment, influencing Public Policies, Laws and Legislation to ensure the services and opportunities for BARC’s Clients and Families remain strong and available. We are proud of our journey and the lives we touch. Our story is our people…of whom we are so very proud. A heartfelt Thank You from ALL of us at

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Doug Miller Chairman of the Board Bakersfield ARC is recognized throughout the United States as the premier educational and work services provider for individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Our founding families could never have dreamed of the extent to which their vision, hopes and prayers would be answered by the creation of continued opportunities.

I am extremely grateful for the safe and caring work environment my brother and son have experienced over the last fifty years at Bakersfield ARC. The staff, volunteers, and business partners are to be commended for their dedication to, and support of, those they serve. Thanks to their efforts, countless clients like my loved ones, enjoy more fulfilling lives.

The Bakersfield ARC Mission Statement: BARC’s mission is to build a stronger community by helping people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities achieve individual goals for a better life.

BARC to everyone who has traveled our road with us.

Jim Baldwin President

The collection of vintage photos and logos throughout this publication are from BARC’s archives. These images illustrate the start of a 65 year journey and speaks volumes of the courage and determination of our founders.

Honoring Our Past

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It all began in April of 1949, when Bakersfield residents, Mr. and Mrs. Dan Powell gave birth to their daughter Janie who was born with Down Syndrome. Wanting to keep Janie at home with family instead of sending her to live in an isolated state institution, Mrs. Powell began looking for other parents in similar circumstances. She soon met Freda Morrison and Ethel Chism among others who would be the driving force to find solutions for their children.

In 1949 these courageous and determined parents seeking support and guidance from each other soon formed the Parent Study Group.

This group had the distinction of being one of the earliest parent groups of this nature in the nation.

At the same time, across town, another group, Parents of Handicapped Children, had their children enrolled in the Hospital School sponsored by Bakersfield City

Private school class at Franklin Elementary School in the early 1950’s .

Schools. However, these children could not stay in school because “mental retardation” was their primary disability.

education, the parents began to seek legislation that would allow school districts to open classes for their children.

The two parent groups merged to organize the Association of Parents

Freda Morrison along with a few of the other parents worked endlessly not only to establish programs for children with disabilities, but to ensure they were quality services. Freda would become president of the association, serve as a board member of The Sequoia Area Board VIII on Developmental Disabilities and was treasurer and convention chairman for the State Board for Retarded Children.

and Friends of Mentally Retarded Children of Kern County. By 1950,

the first building block of what is today known as The Bakersfield ARC had been placed. In 1951, they incorporated as the Bakersfield Association for Retarded Children, and thus BARC was formed. Soon after, other parent groups were beginning throughout the state and the Bakersfield group was providing leadership.

Freda Morrison was one of BARC’s founders, 2nd President of the Association and Chairman of many BARC projects between 1949 and 1954.

Later that year, they hired a teacher and set up a private school class for their children in Franklin School for two hours each Saturday morning, and later, at local churches. Burdened by the expense of private

The parents’ active history brought mandated education to public schools, developed a facility to house programs for preschool age children, a training center and workshop for adults and an opportunity for citizens (Continued on page 4)

Our Humble Beginning (1950’s—1960’s)

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(continued from page 3) with “mental retardation” to learn, grow, and experience the reward of work, play and participation in the community.

As BARC’s second president, Mrs. Morrison led the association for 40 months; December 1949 until April of 1953. During this time she helped transform BARC from a non-funded class, teaching 10 children for two hours every Saturday, to an expanded daily program of five hours for 24 children.

Mrs. Morrison’s efforts in advocating for “retarded children” did not go unnoticed. In 1954, she was chosen “Mother of the Year” by the Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce. Gene Winer, Chamber of Commerce President at the time, said in a vintage BARC newsletter article, “this courageous, able and civic minded woman has amply earned the recognition that has come to her.”

These accomplishments were not achieved alone. The slogan at the time, “Together We Can Do More” proved true. Community support by individuals, businesses and service organizations provided valuable service through volunteers, fund drives and expertise to achieve a given goal. State representatives and local officials provided leadership which paved the way to help them with their mission.

In 1959, a Workshop Director by the name of Mel Schimnowski was hired. The sheltered workshop was not long out of the

(left) A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Richard Allan Seiden Pre-School and Training Center Area was conducted by BARC. Attending were: Lawrence Coleman, President of the California Council for Retarded Children; Mrs. Don Doolin, President of BARC; Richard Allan Seiden, 6, a former pre-school student after whom the new center was named; City Manager Al Noland Jr.; Mayor-elect Russel Karlen; and State Senator Walter Stiern. The school was donated through BARC by Robert B. Ferguson of Los Angeles who declined to have the center named in his honor, preferring instead to have it named after Richard Seiden, a former student at the pre-school whom Ferguson had become acquainted with.

(Photo from The Bakersfield Californian - December 14, 1964.) (right) Don Hart, Donation Chairman for BARC poses with BARC Poster Child Richard Seiden, 6, son of Mr. and Mrs. Hy Seiden. County and City Firemen donated their off-duty time to conduct a door-to-door fund drive from September 22-24, 1964. (Photo from The Bakersfield Californian - September 1964.)

cradle when Mel joined BARC. At the time there were only a dozen young adults under his direction.

Mel arranged for them to go out in the fall and pick the end rows of cotton. They went in station wagons to the Drewry Ranch and picked up walnuts and pecans, while back in the workshop the nuts were cracked and packaged for sale. Mel found many things the youngsters were capable of doing and spent many long hours training them.

By 1961, the workshop had become The BARC Woodshop which became BARC’s vocational training program.

The Clients that worked in the program began building stakes, lath and

Christmas tree stands and the Woodshop became a bustling enterprise for BARC. “The BARC Woodshop stayed over at the 4th Street location until about 1983,” said Charles Baldwin, previous employee of BARC for 17 years. “I worked as a Client Coordinator through the Adult School then began assisting in the growing Woodshop department.

The Board hoped BARC could find ways that we could become more self-reliant and less dependent on the Government for funding. Business in the Woodshop was looking very promising and continued to grow.” (continued on page 6)

Early Fundraising (1960’s)

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The Bakersfield ARC has a long tradition of maintaining a presence at the Great Kern County Fair.

Our first year offering fair favorites began in the late 1960’s and we’ve been serving up “BARC Burger Specials” annually, ever since! The BARC Café has been our longest running fundraiser and has been staffed primarily by BARC volunteers for over 45 years.

“The booth is the second structure BARC had in this location. The first had a 1950’s popular Hyperbolic Paraboloid roof. It was innovative for its time but too small when BARC changed from selling t-shirts, bolo ties and other fair trinkets to food, which is where the real money was.” said Stuart Seiden, long time friend of BARC and brother to Client Richard Seiden. “Both structures were constructed by Fernando Martinez of Martinez Concrete Construction. Jim Armstrong, another volunteer, assisted with the menu and equipment layout in the new facility.” (upper left) Volunteers and BARC staff mid 1960’s at the BARC Kern County Fair food booth. (upper right) A fragment of an original Kern County Fair t-shirt courtesy Stuart Seiden, that BARC sold at the fair before the booth expansion and change to food sales.

For more information on how you can help support BARC, please call (661) 834-2272 or visit us online at www.barc-inc.org.

The Helping Hands (1960’s-1970’s) (Continued from page 4) For over 50 years, many BARC Clients enjoyed work in the BARC Woodshop. In 2004, IKEA’s California distribution center in Tejon Ranch hired the BARC Woodshop to refurbish over 11,000 pallets a week for them, as well as sort, repair, store and ship them. This relationship continued until 2012 when IKEA made the global decision to use cardboard pallets, no longer needing the services of the woodshop. The woodshop closed in 2012 as the demand for wooden products that we could make declined. IKEA continues to utilize other BARC services and hire our Clients to work at their distribution center today.

The Value Village Thrift Store (BARC Thrift Store) opened in January of 1969 at 1111 19th Street in downtown Bakersfield. Prizes for the Grand Opening included records donated by KUZZ, KERN, KBIS and KGEE and other prizes from Brocks Department Store, Montgomery Ward, Vincent’s Sporting Goods and Woody’s Toy Circus. The Grand Prize was a live pony and was won by a fifteen year old girl by the name of Connie Estrada.

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was nearing its Grand Opening date, BARC realized the shop was going to need plenty of shelving. One of the members of the association recruited a special volunteer named Allen Cassidy who was responsible for doing all of the cabinet work at Value Village and a great deal of the carpentry work at BARC. (See below right for image of volunteer Mr. Cassidy taken in 1969.)

The thrift store moved to a location on Baker Street in 1998 lasting only two years then found its final location on White Lane where the shop became the BARC Boutique. The shop eventually closed in 2002 after 33 years in business.

In 1969, BARC began affiliation with United Fund (United Way), hired our first Executive Director and expanded our booth at the Kern County Fair. Enrollment in programs increased over a span of twenty years to where 150 Clients were being served. Our activities not only embraced work training and education, but a full range of recreational programs as well. In 1970, The Value Village picked up the Kern Joint Union School “usable items” from anyone District Adult School agreed that called them for pickup to provide funding for a and the store sold every- teacher, beginning a relathing from furniture and aptionship that is still ever pliances to antiques and housewares. When the shop present today.

The above image is the cover of the February 1969 Edition of BARC’s newsletter announcing the Grand Opening of The Value Village Thrift Store.

The image below was taken by BARC member A. H. Stanley of Allen Cassidy, a special volunteer who built all of the cabinets for the thrift store and did much of the carpentry needed at BARC on his free time. He was photographed here building new cabinets.

Early Education (1960’s-1970’s)

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The 1970’s Proposition 13 passed and threatened to cut BARC aides provided

by Adult Education. Two Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA) grants were awarded to augment Prop. 13 cutbacks. The Lanterman Act was signed into law in 1968 by then Governor Ronald Reagan. With the Lanterman Act in place, BARC actively pursued the establishment of a regional center in Kern County and families finally began to receive help for services for their children for adult programs. The Sequoia Area Board VIII on Developmental Disabilities was established in 1975 to serve as liaison between the state, regional centers and community based programs to help monitor the system.

The Governor announced in 1977 that State Hospitals would place clients in communities phasing out one-third of their enrollment, 277 coming to Kern County. Programs and services would need to increase to meet these needs. This same year, work activity programs would

Class taking place at BARC’s first location at 530 4th Street in the mid 1950’s.

be regulated by the Department of Rehabilitation. A Client Coordinator was hired bringing support and services to Clients and Families.

The 1980’s Protection and advocacy became strong issues as over a period of

Inside the classroom at BARC’s 4th Street location in April, 1971. The kids were enjoying an Easter party.

time, the system became more complex and rights for citizens with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) needed protection. Times were turbulent for a period. As these sweeping changes took place, Kern Regional Center began the process of ensuring the needs of

Children with their teacher in the school yard at BARC’s 4th Street location.

Photos courtesy Phyllis Herring who’s daughter Kay is still at BARC today.

Making Headlines (1980’s) the I/DD citizens of Kern County were being met.

since become the Nestle Dreyer’s organization.

By 1980, BARC had reached its capacity of 200 Clients and a larger facility was imminent. A 17-acre site was purchased on South Union Avenue and a three-stage move took place over a three year period. The move enabled BARC to serve more, do more, and increase its ability to develop a funding source through BARC Industries and BARC Recycling.

“Melvin Hayes has not missed a single day of work in all these years at Dreyer’s,” said his supervisor. “I wish I had a thousand (employees) like him – with his attitude and spirit.”

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SATURDAY MARCH 11, 1989

The move to the new facility was positive and BARC began to flourish. (See images below).

In 1983, Melvin Hayes was the first I/DD person in Kern County to be hired as a regular employee by a local business.

Melvin has been a Client in BARC’s Supported Employment program since November of 1972 and today still works for the same organization. The organization he started work for was then referred to as The Carnation Company and has

Today, BARC’s Supported Employment program continues to find partnerships with local organizations and has successfully placed 125 Clients into regular employment with local businesses to date.

In 1985, BARC’s Recycling Division opened and offered plenty of jobs for BARC Clients. Not only was the main campus on South Union Avenue a full service recycling operation but it provided a community service by opening several beverage buy-back centers throughout the city and county, helped reduce landfill disposal and helped the city and county achieve their waste diversion mandates.

This aerial image of the new facility was taken in 1983 when only 17 acres of the property was utilized by BARC.

Melvin Hayes is the first person with I/DD in Kern County to be hired as a regular employee by a local business. Since then, 125 more clients have been hired by local businesses throughout Kern County.

This aerial image from 1986 illustrates the continued growth and the beginning of the BARC Recycling Division.

The People “With more space at the S. Union Avenue location, more jobs and programs were developed,” said Seema Cook, previous BARC employee for 30 years. “Many activities that encouraged community integration proved successful in providing opportunities for Clients to become more comfortable participating in activities within the community. Being out in the community more helped create awareness about BARC’s programs and services.”

“In the 80’s we really enjoyed lots of social activities,” said Paul Martin, father of Clients David and Deral. “We went camping, bowling, participated in the Special Olympics and so much more. Bowling was very popular with the Clients. The Clients looked forward to bowling every Saturday there for a while,” said Martin. “Bowling taught them to be part of a team, improved their skills and developed a competitive spirit. We always had a wonderful time participating in activities.”

Paul Martin provided more than 10 years management of BARC’s food booth at the Kern County Fair. And has never missed a general membership meeting.

The 1990’s The Americans with Disabilities Act is signed by President George Bush on July 26, 1990,

9 in a ceremony on the White House Lawn witnessed by thousands of Citizens with Disabilities.

In 1992, BARC Client Roy Rocha was inducted into the governor’s Hall of Fame for People with Disabilities.

Throughout the 1990’s BARC saw continued rapid growth. Many new programs are introduced that benefits both Clients and their Families.

“BARC was accepted in the community by a lot more people in the 1990’s, said Gil Navarro, father of BARC Client Rosanne.

“The Special Olympics did a lot to increase public acceptance of individuals with disabilities. BARC was starting to earn more respect than it had in the earlier years.”

Gil and his wife assisted BARC staff with planning and chaperoning recreational activities up until his passing in 2012.

BARC became the first Adult MOVE Program in the world in 1994.

The Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce honors BARC with the 1994 Group Humanitarian Award.

In 1995 Sandra Jensen, a member of People First, is denied a heartlung transplant because she has Down Syndrome. After pressure from disability rights activists, administrators reverse the decision in January of 1996, Jensen became the first person with Down Syndrome to receive a heart-lung transplant.

The 2000’s - Present By 2004, BARC had won its third Quality Recognition award from Alcoa as being in the top 5% of all shippers of recycled materials. “Load after load, BARC provides Used Beverage Containers (UBCs) that are virtually free of moisture, dirt, glass, plastic and other materials,” said Bryan Steverson, chairman of the Alcoa Rigid Packaging UBC Quality Committee. “They serve as a standard for the nearly 2,000 companies who ship UBC’s to Alcoa.”

In 2007, BARC was approached by MOVE® International which stands for Mobility Opportunities Via Experience, to be a pilot site for MOVE® for adults under the direction of Drs. Stacie and Keith Whinnery out of the University of West Florida, who were in the process of writing the adult program. BARC who is always on the cutting edge took MOVE® up on their offer.

“In 2008, the BARC On the MOVE® Program, became a MOVE® for Adults Model Site which is one of only two model sites in the United States and the first on the West Coast,” said Donna Steele, BARC staff member of 24 years. “I was so proud of the staff’s dedication to the Clients and changing program.”

Making History

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MOVE® gives our most severely Intellectually and Developmentally Disabled individuals the opportunity to learn everyday tasks such as sitting upright and walking, allowing them the ability to attain an increased level of interaction with the world around them.

“I knew that becoming a Model Site was going to change BARC’s program but never did I realize it was going to change me,” said Melinda Harrison of MOVE® International and previous BARC employee of 19 years. “When you see someone get up and walk on their own for the first time and witness the expression on their face, it is absolutely priceless. Then you realize the impact you are having on many people’s lives. I have never seen a program that was so alive!”

In 2009, Congressman William M. Thomas was tremendously instrumental in BARC’s ability to secure the necessary funding to build a Material Recovery Facility. The construction of this facility was completed with funding provided by an EDA Federal Grant and CDB Grants from the County of Kern and the City of Bakersfield. The MRF receives comingled recycled material from various sources including curbside recycling, wholesale recycling, and organizational and events recycling. BARC Clients sort the various recyclable materials using state of the art equipment. Since the MRF’s opening, it has provided full time job opportunities for 72 Clients. The facility was named William M. Thomas Material Recovery Facility for all of his support. (See images on pages 12 and 13).

Dolly Andrews, BARC Client (left) with Reba Carter, BARC Asst. VP/Controller. Dolly learned to sing and play the guitar. She often sang and visited with Reba in her office over the years until her passing in 2004.

“Wow

and Amazing, are the words that come to my mind when I think of the tremendous growth that I have witnessed over my 38 years at BARC,” said Reba Carter, BARC Asst. VP/Controller who is also the longest working employee in BARC’s history, at 38 years.

I’ve seen it from its infancy at the small facility on 4th Street and watched it grow into this amazing 25-acre facility here on Union Avenue. I’ve seen Recycling, the MRF and Supported Employment from their beginnings and watched them become huge entities. We just keep getting bigger and better. We’ve lost a few clients on the way that will forever hold a special place in my heart.”

In 2011, BARC brought another green industry into Kern County for the benefit of the community and to provide more jobs for the BARC Clients, with the introduction of the Tire Shredding operation. A $526,000 Federal Grant

administered by Kern EDC, made this endeavor possible.

BARC offers many programs that are designed to provide a full circle of support for adults in the areas of care, work, advocacy, home, family and recreation. Our current programs include: BARC on the MOVE, Access Now, The Kern River Valley Community Integration program, BARC Self Advocacy, Supported Living, Document Destruction, Business Recycling Services, Packaging and Manufacturing, BARC Recycling, EWaste, Material Recycling Facility (MRF), Tire Shred, Supported Employment, Comprehensive Health, Education & Vocational Training, Art with a Purpose and Disaster Preparedness.

Please contact us at (661)8342272 or at www.barc-inc.org for more information. Ask us how you can become a Partner For BARC through the BARC Foundation!

Family Focus

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Left: Richard Seiden at age 11 standing near his father Hy, volunteering in the BARC CafĂŠ at the K. C. Fairgrounds. Hy was President of the BARC Board at the time of this photo. This would be one of many instances that the Seiden family would staff the annual event. Circa 1969. Right: Eagle Scout Richard Seiden at age 53 is photographed with 5th District Kern County Supervisor Karen Gho and BARC VP/Director of Operations Ray Creekbaum at the Grand Opening of the William M. Thomas Material Recovery Facility (MRF) in 2011.

When BARC opened its doors in 1949, Hy and Ruth Seiden were not aware that any services for people with I/DD were available in Bakersfield. In 1958 with the birth of their son, Richard who has Down Syndrome, they attended their first meeting at BARC. Hy and Ruth were determined to give Richard every opportunity.

They shunned the thought of State Hospital placement and dedicated themselves to opening doors for Richard every step of the way. The family immediately became active in BARC where Hy joined the Board of Directors as Treasurer.

At age 3, Richard entered the BARC Preschool for early childhood development. By the time he was 6, a family friend and philanthropic donor to the organization honored Richard with having the BARC preschool named after him, Richard Alan Seiden PreSchool. However, Richard had already started public special education at Peter Pan School, which

later became Rafer Johnson School and never attended the school with his namesake.

During Richard’s school years, the Seiden family members were ardent volunteers at BARC. Hy continued to serve on the Board of Directors, serving one term as President, and chairing committees for the Fair Booth, Thrift Store, and Facility Committee.

He also helped bring a Regional Center to Kern County and served on its Board.

Ruth was an eager volunteer who helped any way she could from hospitality at meetings to co-managing the Fair Booth, chaperoning at dances and parties, and supporting/advising projects Hy was involved in. She was also busy with family and had her teenage son, Stuart, volunteer in the Teens for BARC group. And there was nurturing Richard...and he was blooming.

During Richard's school years, he was privately tutored in reading

and math for several years. He joined the Handicapped Boy Scout Troop, BARC Bowling, Special Olympics and became a Debonair Special Dancer. He learned social graces, acquired an awareness of current events in politics, entertainment, and progressed with religious growth. He continues with these activities today.

Following public education, Richard began work at BARC Industries and learned many new skills having worked in the BARC Woodshop and Packaging departments. He carries himself with pride and confidence and has become a self-advocate and a leader. Richard has participated in many BARC activities from dancing to bowling and enjoys traveling to Las Vegas and Hawaii.

We salute the Seiden family for their contribution to BARC over a large period of our 65 year history.

Here We Grow “In 2013, BARC consolidated the Recycling Department and the Material Recovery Facility, creating one unified Recycling Division,” said Mike Grover, Senior VP/ COO. “The purpose of the consolidation was to eliminate the redundant work tasks that were being done because the two departments were spread so far apart. By combining them we were able to improve the efficiency of every step in the Recycling Process. We have already seen a 15% improvement in the cost to handle material because of the great job the staff and Clients did to make this combination happen, and work!”

With the introduction of the Polishing Screen, also known as “The Polisher,” we were able to double our throughput in the MRF-since the hardest material for us to sort is paper. Now we are able to focus on all the rest of the recycling material, like cans, bottles, cardboard, and plastic.

With the installation of the new baler coming in winter 2014, we will become even more efficient at processing all the material we are presently getting and be ready for the next big push in our community’s goal for 75% diversion of recyclables from the landfill.

Looking into the future, BARC will continue to focus on the legacy of those that have come before us, creating opportunities for individuals with I/DD. Whether expanding the BARC on the MOVE program to allow access to mobility options for a greater number of adults or finding jobs for our most independ-

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BARC Dedicated The William M. Thomas Material Recovery Facility (MRF) to Congressman William M. Thomas at the buildings Ribbon Cutting on August 26, 2011.

The William M. Thomas Material Recovery Facility was up and running in March of 2011 providing new jobs for BARC Clients. The new facility greatly improved the production and efficiency of BARC’s Recycling Division.

ent Clients, BARC will continue to discover new programs and build new industries that showcase their abilities.

We will be developing programs that provide community integration opportunities to our full time employed Clients. We will be seeking business opportunities in new recycling ventures to push the boundary of what can be recycled. Additionally, we will be researching new and innovative business opportunities for us to start over the next 5-10 years, to ensure we are keeping up with other jobs in our community.

We will seek funding from the public to allow us to continue and grow the programs that

state funding just doesn’t cover. We will canvas businesses and corporations that need consistent, quality work that our Clients can do at our base. And we will develop and establish new businesses and industries that prove that adults with developmental disabilities need only a chance to show how much they can achieve.

This milestone anniversary is only a small step along our journey. We celebrate this milestone because it reminds us where we came from and shows us that we have made progress.

We are grateful to our founding families for their foresight and vision and look forward to another 65 years of Giving People Purpose!

Our Industries

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The Polishing Screen has taken BARC’s sorting efforts to new heights

Roland Burkert advanced and enhanced almost every program that is offered at BARC with his wisdom and knowledge of business, customer service and execution of plans, policies and procedures. Roland’s contribution to BARC’s Clients, Families and Staff will be recognized for years to come.

BARC opened its Tire Shredding Operation in 2011 with the help of Federal Aid In 1980, BARC purchased a new baler to handle a higher volume of recycled goods. The baler was purchased with funds received from a grant by the State Solid Waste Management Board (SWMB) to augment the two smaller balers that were already in place. In late 2014 we hope to have a new

model.

Making Headlines

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2014 BARC BOARD OF DIRECTORS Doug Miller - Chairman Brian Sabin - 1st Vice-Chair Sally Rainey - Secretary Eric Almberg - Treasurer Jay Rosenlieb - Past Chairman Nicholas Azemika - Director Dan Gregor - Director Michael Griffith - Director Ray Karpe - Director Jim Baldwin, BARC President/CEO

BARC BOARD PAST CHAIRS 1951-2014 Mrs. Dan Powell Mrs. Freda Morrison Mrs. Eleanor Osell Martha Fitzsimmons Mrs. Roberta Siemon Mr. Bob Reimer Mr. Don Doolin Mrs. Juanita Doolin Miss Bonnye Deal Mr. Hy Seiden Mr. Gerald Schallock Mr. Jack Schuetz Mr. William Purdie Mr. Jim Armstrong Mr. Robert O. Price Mr. John Spooner Mr. Kay Madden Mr. Larry Young Mr. Jim Varley Mr. Kay Madden Mr. Eric Almberg Mr. Jay Rosenlieb Mr. Doug Miller

2014 BARC FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS Morgan Clayton - Chairman Jay Rosenlieb - Past Chairman Adam Chase - Director Ron Dill - Director Dr. Paul Fuller - Director Judy Harniman - Director Dr. Larry Reider - Director Rick Stevens - Director Linda Wilson - Director Jim Baldwin - President/CEO Linda Hartman - Executive Director

Above left: Mayor Harvey Hall pays a visit to BARC and spends some time with Eagle Scout David Arnold in the BARC CafĂŠ.

Above right: Jackie Wheeler stands by a street sign that was named after him on the BARC Campus.

Below: In 2004, The Breakfast Rotary Club of Bakersfield purchased our first mobile shredding truck and PG&E purchased our first shredding bins. Because of these organizations a whole new opportunity was created for BARC Clients.

Lighting The Way

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The Bakersfield ARC would like to thank U.S. Congressmen Kevin McCarthy, Representing the 23rd Congressional District and David Valadao, Representing the 21st Congressional District of California for taking the time to meet with BARC President Jim Baldwin and Dwight Hansen (BARC’s Lobbyist in Sacramento for BARC’s work activity programs) during the 2014 ARC of the US Disability Public Policy Conference.

See images at right.

We’d also like to thank Senator Jean Fuller, Senator Andy Vidak, Assembly Member Shannon Grove and Assembly Member Rudy Salas for their continued support of The Bakersfield ARC over the years. Our Policymakers are very supportive of Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. We are forever grateful for their support.

Right: BARC Clients with Assembly Member Shannon Grove at the 2013 BARC Annual Dinner. Bottom Row from left: Senator Jean Fuller, Darla Benson of NAPD with Senator Andy Vidak and BARC President Jim Baldwin at the 7th Annual Developmental Disabilities Public Policy Conference in Sacramento in March 2014, BARC Board Chair Doug Miller with Assembly Member Shannon Grove and BARC President Jim Baldwin, Assembly Member Rudy Salas.

Left: Dwight Hansen, Congressman Kevin McCarthy, BARC President Jim Baldwin. Right: Dwight Hansen, Congressman David Valadao and BARC President Jim Baldwin in Sacramento for the 2014 ARC of the US Disability Public Policy Conference.

Thank you for helping us Give People Purpose for 65 Years!

CREDITS - We’d like to thank everyone who participated in the production of this special publication celebrating BARC’s 65th Anniversary.

Jim Baldwin, President Michelle Garland Editor/Composition Jeremiah Heitman, Proofer Photography/Content Contributors: Charles Baldwin, Reba Carter, Seema Cook, Mike Grover, Melinda Harrison, Phyllis Herring, Kay Madden, Paul Martin, Stuart Seiden and Donna Steele.

Thank you for your support of BARC Programs and Services. For more information on how you can donate, volunteer or participate in specific events, please visit our site at www.barc-inc.org and on these forums! Thank You!

www.barc-inc.org