KRVR MISSION: facilitating the social, natural, and financial health of the Kern River Valley for this and future generations.Kern River Valley RevitalizationPO Box 2692Lake Isabella, CA 93240-2692 E-mail: [email protected] (KRVR) was a recognized non-profit public benefit corporation which was initially formed in response to a stagnant economy and a lack of local government in the unincorpora
ted area of the nine townships in the Kern River Valley. Furthermore, the Kern River Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Kernville Chamber of Commerce were trying to find ways to address common issues that affected all stakeholders throughout the Kern River Valley, and thus Kern River Valley Revitalization, Inc. As a community organization, KRVR was founded by local leaders including Tom Anderson, Joe Ciriello, Alan Jaffe, Sherry Patterson and many others. The KRVR operated as a resource for existing & future organizations, agencies & projects, providing a Valley wide perspective, fostering Valley wide cooperation on common issues, assisting with access to external resources including funding, facilitating the establishment of action teams, acting as a fiscal sponsor & through various similar means. In 1995, KRVR along with the KRV Chamber and Kernville Chamber played a key role in the development of the Action Plan as well as the later 2007 Specific Plan for economic sustainability and growth. KRVR's governing body was made up of a thirteen member Board of Directors and a five member Executive Committee headed by the KRVR Preisdent. Additionally, KRVR had a permanent advisory committee consisting of local governmental agencies including a representative from the Kern County Supervisor's Office, the U.S. KRVR would hold a monthly community meeting to gather input from local residents concerning specific issues, while the Board met on a quarterly basis adopting an action plan which addressed common issues and would defer important matters to a local agency. In 2007, KRVR became the "unofficial" de-facto town council of the Kern River Valley, functioning as the primary "go-to" organization for residents to speak out on issues. In 2010, KRVR was reorganized from a 501c6 non-profit to a 501c3 non-profit with a key focus to take advantage of grants. In 2016, in response to the devastating Erskine Fire, KRVR was instrumental in setting up a fire relief fund. Additionally, at many KRVR community meetings, residents were becoming more vocal about the aftermath of the fire and other issues including a stagnant economy, crime/public safety and lack of local government to handle issues. KRVR under the direction of the president John Blythe had tried to implement reform and more transparency through strategic planning initiatives, but the organization began to struggle financially and local support began to wane while others wanted a more legitimate body to represent their interests and concerns. In July- August, 2018, Blythe had taken a formal leave of absence as President and the KRVR Board acknowledging the organization's troubles, adopted Resolution 2018-01 which dissolved the organization and that the 501c3 would be inherited by the Kern River Valley Chamber of Commerce. On September 5th, 2018, KRVR held its last monthly community meeting and John Blythe publicly resigned as its last President. LIST OF PAST KRVR PRESIDENTS:
Alan Jaffe : 1994-1997
Tom Anderson: 1997-2004
Chuck White: 2005-2008
Joe Ciriello: 2009-2011
Richard Rowe: 2012-2014
Erie Johnson: 2015-2016
John Blythe: 2017-2018
