In the spirit of fostering peace, unity, and community service, the Rotary Club of Tehachapi launched a new award, the Rotary Club of Tehachapi Peace Baton. President Suzie Andreas-Bervel explained, “Inspired by the relay races of athletics, baton passing represents teamwork, trust, and shared leadership. Within the context of Rotary Service, it reminds us that many others in our community play a vital role in helping us to achieve our collective mission. The baton becomes a powerful symbol of continuity, collaboration, and our shared commitment to promoting peace through service to others.” Each month, the Rotary Club of Tehachapi will present the Peace Baton to an individual, group, or organization who makes a meaningful impact on the community by supporting the work of Rotary.
For the inaugural presentation, President Suzie Andreas-Bervel presented the Peace Baton to Adventist Health Tehachapi Valley (AHTV) in recognition of their compassionate service to local residents, support of Rotary, and their collaboration to meet the needs of the community. AHTV’s team cares for patients with skill, dedication, and genuine love, serving individuals and families throughout Tehachapi. AHTV is a Corporate Member of the Rotary Club of Tehachapi, extending their spirit of service beyond healthcare at the local hospital. Present to receive the award were Director of Philanthropy Christina Scrivner, Director of Clinical Nursing Operations BreAnne Patterson, and Director of Nursing Austin Barnett, who attend the Rotary meetings and provide updates on their programs and services.
Christina Scrivner said, “We are so honored to be the recipient of this inaugural Peace Baton award. We truly care about our involvement in the community and are so proud to partner with Rotary. This award will be shared throughout our organization, and I know it will mean a lot to our whole team to be acknowledged for the work that we do in Tehachapi.” The hospital generously provides the Rotary Board with a conference room each month at no cost, allowing the Board to meet and conduct business in a comfortable setting with access to modern technology. All the staff, from security to clerical to cafeteria, are always welcoming, gracious, and friendly, ensuring the Board has what is needed for the meetings. The Rotary Board also supports the hospital by purchasing meals from their cafe during these monthly meetings. The staff always serve delicious, healthy, cost-effective food efficiently and gives everyone any discounts that are available too!
The partnership between Rotary and AHTV includes the Comfort Bear Program, in which Rotary sponsors stuffed teddy bears, wearing little Rotary t-shirts, that are given to young patients who enter the hospital. Director BreAnne Patterson thanked the Club, saying, “Those bears make such a difference to providing comfort for our patients.” The bears offer warmth and reassurance to children facing the uncertainty of emergency care or a hospital stay. Austin Barnett shared that he was hospitalized as a child, and he still has the teddy bear he was given at the time. He echoed the importance of the teddy bears and thanked the Club for continuing that sponsorship.
Offering comfort to those at the local hospital extends to the Tehachapi Interact clubs as well. During the past year, the Interact students from Tehachapi High School and Valley Oaks Charter School made several dozen fleece blankets during their meetings. The blankets were presented to the staff at the Tehachapi Hospital, which were given to seniors and patients experiencing long-term hospital care. Providing a warm blanket or a teddy bear can help to turn an unpleasant or frightening experience into one filled with kindness, comfort, and hope.
Each month, the Board determines the next recipient of the Peace Baton, acknowledging community partners who support the vision, mission, and goals of the Club in commitment to promoting peace through service. President Suzie Andreas-Bervel stated, “Rotary has a bright light and we can help shine a light on what is good in our community. Working together, we can accomplish more and make a bigger impact on Tehachapi!”
