Drinking Liberally Bakersfield Chapter Blog

Hello Everyone,

Tea Parties, and Coffee Parties and Healthcare Bills, OH MY!

There's quite a bit to talk about these days - so let's discuss the issues tomorrow night, 6PM at Ellis Island Pizza Company!

I've been saying this for a few months now, but we really have been getting a good crowd on a normal basis! This is all the more reason for you lurkers to finally come to a meeting! The more, the merrier!

Unfortunately, I will not be present for tomorrow night's meeting, due to a schedule conflict, but my lovely wife Katherine has agreed to pick up hosting responsibilities (which really aren't all that difficult - greet people - old and new alike!). For those who are seasoned veterans, help out where needed, please! I'll try to make it to the tail end of the gathering, but if not, I'll see ya'll in a few week!

~Andrew

It's time for another Drinking Liberally meeting!

We've had a good size group pretty much all 2010 so far, so let's make it even better this week - invite a friend (or 4) along for the ride! Remember, we get 10% off when mentioning that we're with DL!

For those who haven't been to a meeting (or haven't been in a while), we meet at Ellis Island Pizza Company (formerly Cataldo's) on Stockdale & Real Rd, at 6 PM THIS THURSDAY, March 4th.

Also, as you all know, we're a very selfless bunch, so if you're a little short on change this week, stop by any way, for we've never been known to not share some of the fruits of our enjoyment - whether it be a beer on us, or a bit of salad or a piece of chicken.

I'm looking forward to seeing all of you.

-Andrew

Hello Everyone,

This is just a quick reminder of our meeting tomorrow night, 6PM @ Ellis Island Pizza Company. Mention Drinking Liberally and receive 10% off!

Thanks,

Andrew

Hello Everyone,

Is it just me, or is 2010 already beginning to move a bit fast? We're meeting tomorrow, Thursday the 4th of Feb. at 6PM @ Ellis Island Pizza Company off of Stockdale & Real Rd! We've been having great turn out lately, let's keep it up!

Remember to tell the cashier that you're with DL and you receive 10% off!

-Andrew

Hey Everyone,

You may or may not know this, but Drinking Liberally doesn't just take place in our hometown - it also meets in over 300 other cities throughout the United States, as a national project called Living Liberally. The LL network provides the chapter orientation, the website, the chapter mailing list and various giveaways for free, and, in exchange, we promise to meet at least once a month and build an informal space for local progressives - none of it costs us any money.

However, the national network does spend money on providing the tech resources for these 300+ chapters, and 60,000+ members, nationally - and much like NPR or public television, it requires member support to mobilize liberals into projects like Progressives For Haiti.

2009 was a tough year for progressive organizations, and 2010 is not looking to be any easier - and if the Living Liberally network is going to survive the next few months, and not go the way of Air America, it needs our support.

If you can throw in just a few dollars each month to the network which makes this chapter possible, please go to:

www.livingliberally.org/tipyourbartender

At a given month at Drinking Liberally, you might get three drinks, and spend about $5 in bar tips. Likewise, if you can sign up for a simple $5 Liberally membership, in concert with all 345 other chapters nationally, that would raise over $20,000 and allow us and all other chapters to keep on growing, rather than have to start all over again from scratch.

Again, the site is:

www.livingliberally.org/tipyourbartender

It takes 30 seconds, and guarantees the Liberally network, and chapters like ours, can survive this winter.

Keep on drinking liberally, and I'll see you soon.

Sincerely,
Andrew

Hello Everyone,

Wow.. where did the time go? These storms are really giving us the 1-2-3 punch, and I've been running around like crazy because of them! Even with the rain, wind and overall funk, we're still having our meeting tomorrow night, 6PM at Ellis Island Pizza Company on the corner of Stockdale & Real Rd. I want to see some fresh faces - if you haven't been to a meeting before, it's pretty simple - we enjoy good food, good drink, good conversation and most importantly, good people! We're laid back and very easy going.

Don't forget to mention that you're with Drinking Liberally - you get 10% off!

See you tomorrow!

-Andrew

Hello everyone,

December seems to be flying right along (at least to me - I'm VERY busy!), and it will be nice to meet once again this Thursday night, 6PM at Ellis Island Pizza Co. (formerly Cataldo's) on Stockdale & Real Rd. I'm going to enjoy a night of good food, good drink, good people and good conversation!

To update our venue situation, I met with Ty, the owner of the establishment, and we addressed the concerns which the group had, and upon completion of our meeting, I'm 100% confident that Ellis Island has what it takes to continue providing us with the quality food and service we desire. Ty has implemented a number of positive changes which are finally seeing daylight, and he and I are on the same page.

From now on, we will always be meeting in the Sports Arena room (the larger of the 2 private rooms), except for special circumstances in which the 2nd room is too small to accommodate another party. Ty was willing to just let us always have the Arena, but I thought it only fair, since our numbers haven't been enough to fill the room. If our growth begins to become more exponential, I'm sure it won't be a problem to ensure we have the Arena when needed. Ellis Island Pizza Co. has also agreed to give us a 10% discount. When you order your meal, please mention that you're with Drinking Liberally, and the discount will be applied.

With such a great partnership being formed between our group and this establishment, I'm going on another recruiting drive! Therefore, Thursday night is "Bring a Friend" night. I want each of you to do your best to bring someone new to Drinking Liberally. Let's make our group bust at the seams this New Year with new members! I'm also going to be writing a piece for the Bakotopia Magazine to give us some much needed advertisement. I'll let everyone know which issue the article will be posted in.

That's all for now - see ya'll on Thursday!

-Andrew

Hello Everyone,

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and I'm thankful that things are back to normal for me, and I'll be at the next meeting, which so happens to be tomorrow night , 6PM at Ellis Island Pizza Co. (formerly Cataldo's) on Stockdale and Real Rd.

It has been brought to my attention that some of our members are interested in trying out a new venue - one which might be more suited to our current needs (cheaper and more variety of alcoholic beverages, more diverse menu, consistent service, etc.). Therefore, I'm going to open up the floor for suggestions and ideas. I personally have enjoyed our current venue, however I do see why it might be time to look at other options. If you have any comments or suggestions, shoot me an email (either reply to this message, or you can contact me at andrew.m.lisa@gmail.com). Any suggestions I receive before tomorrow night's meeting, I'll write down and we can discuss during our meeting.

Since we're on the subject of change, we originally mulled over the possibility of spicing things up during our meetings quite some time back, but there was never a real consensus on what to do. I'd like to re-address this in the upcoming weeks - so once again, if you have ideas or suggestions, shoot them my way.

I look forward to seeing each and every one of you tomorrow night!

-Andrew

Hi Everyone,

There will indeed be a meeting tomorrow night at Ellis Island Pizza Company (formerly called Cataldo's), at 6PM. Unfortunately, I will not be there, as I will be on my way to the Bay Area for a family gathering.

I must apologize for getting this message out late, and I must also apologize because I didn't get a chance to reserve a room. I'm going to contact the venue later today to see if a room is available. Things will begin to quiet down for me after Thanksgiving, so we should be back on track!

I'd like to thank any and all those who've picked up the slack while I've been incapacitated - you know who you are!

I heard that last meeting went really well - let's make it 2 in a row so that ya'll can brag when I get back!

Thanks,

Andrew

Hi Everyone,

Halloween has come and gone and November is upon us - as is our next meeting - 6PM at Cataldo's (AKA Ellis Island Pizza Company) on Stockdale and Real Rd.

I am a bearer of sad news today - I received a call last night regarding an important family function on this Thursday night, so I will most likely not be able to make it. To add insult to injury, I'll not be able to make the following meeting either, as I'll be in the Bay area. Therefore, I need some people to volunteer as fill-in hosts for the month. Please let me know if you're interested - as usual, the more the merrier. As a host, the most important job you have is to welcome any guests and make them feel at home!

I'll miss everyone this month!

Thanks,

Andrew