Newberry Springs Chamber: Festivals and Community on Route 66

Welcome back to the Outdoor Adventure Series podcast. We're back at the Newberry Springs Senior / Family Center—home to the Newberry Springs Chamber of Commerce, and chatting with Ronnie Shaw, Director, and Karla Claus, Vice President, of the Chamber. They share the vibrant history, community pride, and behind-the-scenes stories that make Newberry Springs a must-visit destination along Route 66. 

Whether you’re a road trip enthusiast, a festival lover, or just curious about hidden gems in America’s heartland, this episode promises inspiration and a taste of all things Newberry Springs.

DISCUSSION

Introduction of Ronnie Shaw, director, and Karla Claus, vice president of the Newberry Springs Chamber of Commerce

Backgrounds and Roles of the Guests

• Ronnie's history in Newberry Springs since 1993, and inspiration from Treasurer Rose Beardshear
• Karla's role as vice president - Coordinating festivals and performing volunteer duties, participating in outreach activities, and representing the Chamber at local events

Visitor Experience and Common Inquiries

• Maps and information for hiking and travel
• Airbnb's recommendations to visit the Chamber and the local cafe
• Merchandising: T-shirts, water bottles, and local pistachios available

Signature Community Events

• The annual Newberry Springs Pistachio Festival
  • Held on the first Saturday in November
  • Approximately 27–30 years running
• Route 66 Centennial, including a birthday bash and car show in May

Leadership Structure of the Chamber

• President: Renee Kaminsky
• Vice President: Karla Claus
• Director: Ronnie Shaw
• Director: Keller Horton
• Secretary: Diane Yoder Bubier 
• Treasurer: Rose Beardshear 

Volunteerism and Community Support

• Reliance on volunteers for organizing events like the Pistachio Festival
• American Legion’s involvement in festival operations

LEARN MORE

To learn about Newberry Springs, CA, the Route 66 Big Birthday Bash, the Pistachio Festival, and much more, visit the Newberry Springs Chamber of Commerce at https://newberryspringschamber.com/, https://discovernewberrysprings.com, or on these social sites:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NewberrySpringsChamber
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nbsp_chamberofcommerce/

NEXT STEPS

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KEYWORDS

Newberry Springs Chamber of Commerce, Route 66 Centennial, Pistachio Festival, Outdoor Adventure Series, Podcast Interview

#NewberrySpringsChamberofCommerce #Route66Centennial #PistachioFestival #OutdoorAdventureSeries #PodcastInterview

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Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:05

Hey everybody, this is Howard Fox and I am the host of the Outdoor Adventure Series podcast and I am back for another what I will preface is a very special interview right now. I am literally sitting inside of our Newberry Springs Family Center, and within the Family Center is housed the Newberry Springs Chamber of Commerce. Now, if any of you have listened to my episodes before on the Outdoor Adventure Series, you know that I have a special place in my heart for Chambers of Commerce. In fact, we have a podcast series of episodes that we have been recording probably on and off since 2021 with Chambers of Commerce across the country. And I am excited because I'm in Newberry Springs. We're celebrating a centennial of Route 66, and I'm being escorted by a member of the chamber around town three days, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, meeting the most wonderful people, and just learning about the history and the people and really why Newberry Springs is such a special place and why really this is a place to stop by and spend some time in. And as you all know, if you have any affiliation with the Chamber of Commerce, their goal is for people to come into the community, start a business, move the family here, and promote experiences. And so right now I have the pleasure of introducing you to Ronnie Chop, who is the director of the Newberry Springs Chamber of Commerce, and she's joined by my friend and my host for this weekend, Carla Claus, who is the vice president of the Newberry Springs Chamber of Commerce. Ronnie, Carla, thank you for taking some time to chat again.

SPEAKER_01 1:55

Thank you.

SPEAKER_00 1:56

Fantastic. Now, first off, Ronnie, how long have you been? By the way, I noticed you're wearing some merch. You got the nice Newberry Springs logo. That's perfect. You gotta have merch. Now, how long have you been a uh a resident in the Newbury Springs area?

SPEAKER_01 2:13

Since 93, 1993.

SPEAKER_00 2:15

1993, so that's some years.

SPEAKER_01 2:18

Right.

SPEAKER_00 2:19

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 2:19

I taught at uh elementary school for 17 years.

SPEAKER_00 2:23

Okay. 2020. And then, like a lot of folks, they retire and then they all of a sudden have new careers. And what attracted you to go from the the teaching to become affiliated with the Newbury Springs Chamber of Commerce?

SPEAKER_01 2:42

Well, it was Rose Bidcher for one. She was our president for three years. And by default, I became the secretary for three years.

SPEAKER_00 2:52

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 2:53

But it was just a Christian base.

SPEAKER_02 2:59

Leadership.

SPEAKER_01 3:01

Right.

SPEAKER_00 3:01

Okay. Very positive. Very positive. And as the affiliation with the chamber and just promoting the business what is it the day in the life in this chamber for you, promoting new berry springs? What is a day in a life for you?

SPEAKER_01 3:17

Talking to people, anyway.

SPEAKER_00 3:19

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 3:20

Saying there's a story, asking what's your story and what do you do? And and encourage people to join.

SPEAKER_00 3:28

Okay. And Carla, with your role as as the vice president, what what is your responsibility?

SPEAKER_02 3:35

A lot of my responsibility is to help coordinate our future festivals and do whatever volunteer duties are required for research to coordinate lead meetings or co-lead them. It's a really, really active chamber here. Participate in a lot of outreach things. We're gonna be going to our local Amboy car show and help a presence. We're going to needles. We've been to Inland Empire to different events. We're really an active group, aren't we? Yeah. And it started with our leader, Rose Beardsheard, who took this over three and a half, four years ago. And she really put in um colossal the exposure of Newberry Springs. And one of them is through a series of videos through Back Roads West.

SPEAKER_00 4:33

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 4:34

Another one is through this multi-page California Route 66 National Simi Highway Pamphlet. And we've had a lot of compliments on it. And it's a great way to expose Newberry Springs and this office is an important part.

SPEAKER_00 4:52

I love the fact when I walked in, uh immediately I was attracted by the sign on the on the door frame. And then when I actually walked into the office just now, I noticed the door was open. And one thing I I no dou know about the the chamber is the destination marketing organization. That door is always open. And you know, when visitors come into town and they need a place to get acclimated, where are the places to go? What can I do? How do I get there? There's always a chamber representative there. And I think that's so wonderful. The folks that are coming in through the door, they're maybe they're gonna have a meal at the cafe or they're gonna uh or they want to learn about the chamber, maybe pick up a a a bag of your salt and pepper pistachios. By the way, for our listeners, there's a bag literally to my right. Part of part of me wants to kind of drift over there, but we'll have to wait on that one. And I'm being offered a bowl of pistachios right now, that's cool. But essentially welcoming the get the visitors into the center. Where are you finding they're coming from? What are they doing as because they came through on through Route 66 or perhaps came down the 15 or the 40 in Interstate? Well, they come here in through that door, what are they asking for?

SPEAKER_01 6:14

They ask for maps. We have a lot of maps. Okay. So there are a lot of people that like to hike and travel.

SPEAKER_00 6:22

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 6:22

We got a newberry map, we got a lot of newberry maps. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 6:28

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 6:28

But usually they're they're staying in the airbands, and and those people tell their visitors of the cafe and then of our chamber.

SPEAKER_00 6:40

Okay. Very good. And for our listeners, when you walk in, you they have m as I was kind of joking before, they have merch. They've got a nice selection of t-shirts, they've got some water bottles. Here in the desert, you gotta have your water. You've got the bags of pistachios. And the where in your since you have pointing.

SPEAKER_01 7:02

I'm raising my hand. I'm talking.

SPEAKER_00 7:04

You're a teacher. I can tell you're a teacher.

SPEAKER_01 7:07

The big thing is the pistachio festival. The first Saturday of November.

SPEAKER_00 7:12

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 7:13

That's what the chamber does.

SPEAKER_02 7:15

Okay, that is the big That's the big and it's like our 28th year, I think. I mean we're 27th.

unknown 7:22

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 7:22

Something like that. Maybe 30th, I don't know.

SPEAKER_00 7:24

Okay. A while. It's been a while. You know, it in in Boulder City they have a festival. It's called Spring Jamboree, which is like the kickoff of the the the the festival season. And then I and I love the fact you've got this iconic festival. Again, Route 66 Centennial, you cannot help but miss it. We've got a great Flyers, by the way. Whoever designed the Flyers, I mean, kudos to them.

SPEAKER_02 7:49

Yeah, this is a brand new festival inspired by Route 66 Centennial. And it's also a car show.

SPEAKER_00 8:02

Ronnie, what is for you as you kind of sit here and retiring from being a teacher, still raising your hand by instinct? I want something to say. I love that by the way. What as you kind of offer the the assistance to the folks coming through the door, what kind of tugs at your heart at the fact that you get to do that?

SPEAKER_01 8:24

Just what I said before, working with people.

SPEAKER_00 8:26

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 8:27

Talking with people. I'm usually not here, I'm out there.

SPEAKER_00 8:30

Okay. So we're going to go.

SPEAKER_01 8:36

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 8:37

Now when they sign it, uh is there what do you do with the list of folks that had signed on your clipboard? Do you do you use that for like promotion or send them things or hey, we're having this event?

SPEAKER_01 8:48

It depends depends on why they signed in. Okay. All right. Usually it's it's what they do or what if they're interested or have their contact.

SPEAKER_00 8:58

Okay, very good. Well, having a list is very important. Especially like you're doing these podcast episodes. I mean you get to share, hey, we just did that. And so that's that's an important part. Well, I really want to thank you. Is Carl, is there anything else that you feel you and Ronnie want to share for this piece of the episode?

SPEAKER_02 9:18

Well, I think just to kind of review our leadership real quick. We have Renee Kaminsky as a president. We have myself, vice president, we have director Ronnie Shaw, we have Killer Horton, and we have Diane Bubier and Rose Beardscher as Treasurer. Treasurer. So we have a really dynamic group and they put in different kinds of skills. And we're excited about this year's centennial.

SPEAKER_00 9:50

Excellent. Thank you. Yeah. Now I do yeah uh notice what I mentioned uh chambers you you have the officials that the who are helping to run the chamber, but it also and oftentimes relies on volunteers. Very much so. I imagine there's a lot of volunteers involved with a lot of these events that are coming up.

SPEAKER_01 10:08

Yes, and the last pistachio festival we we asked a Legion, American Legion's right next door to where the park is. Where our CSD community service district does our local government.

SPEAKER_00 10:24

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 10:24

We asked the American Legion, Legionnaires to help.

SPEAKER_00 10:28

Oh, very nice.

SPEAKER_01 10:28

So they were parking the denders, okay, which was a wild time.

SPEAKER_00 10:34

Uh it's always a wild time. During Spring Jamma, they ha the Jill has these maps out there and it's all red maps and uh walkie-talkies. Yes, and then you have the the the the cleanup along the way and doesn't that. So it it takes a community to pull an event like that off. Now, before we head out, I know we've got two websites that are very important uh and social sites to visit. So, Ronnie, just for our listeners, if they would like to learn more about the Newberry Springs Chamber of Commerce, where are the best places for them to visit?

SPEAKER_02 11:11

Well, that's all it carlays our governor newberysprings.com is a great chamber supported and creative website. Sure. And also NewberyspringsCamber.com.

SPEAKER_00 11:25

Excellent. Well, we will provide those links back in the show notes. And we'll also we're gonna take some photos inside the chamber office here. Ronnie, Carla, thank you so much for uh chatting with us today on the Outdoor Adventure Series podcast.

SPEAKER_02 11:38

Thank you. Thank you, Miller.

SPEAKER_00 11:39

All right. Listen, I'm gonna do a real quick close and you can continue to entertain me with your stories. I love that. All right, folks, we've just been chatting with Ronnie Shaw and Carla Claus, really the the leaders of the Newbury Springs Chamber of Commerce. And no matter what role you play in the chamber, whether you're a director, vice president, a volunteer, I mean, it it takes a community to run a chamber, and the chambers are so vital to the to the lifeblood of a community, especially one like Newbury Springs, who it's yes, we're on Route 66, the Centennial, but they're really doing a fantastic job of promoting the community through the events that take place throughout the year. And I before I actually sign off on this episode, Carla has this t-shirt here. It says the 26th Annual Newbury Springs Pistachio Festival. It says things pistachio. I love that.

SPEAKER_02 12:41

All things pistachio. This year it's gonna be Heart and the Harvest. So this is last year.

SPEAKER_00 12:47

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 12:47

And we're coming up on 26th, and we have a whole new adorable artwork and theme. Okay.

SPEAKER_00 12:55

Excellent. I love it.

SPEAKER_02 12:56

This is a gift for you, Howard. Thank you.

SPEAKER_00 12:58

Well, thank you so much. By the way, these guys have fantastic merch, so and if anybody knows me, they know all about the merch. But I hope you enjoy this episode. Remember, remember, we're on our website, outdooradventure series.com. The episode will be up on our Facebook and LinkedIn, Outdoor Adventure Series pages. We're also going to be on YouTube. We'll have this episode, the audio plus a video slide show with our photos that we've taken. And of course, you can listen to this podcast wherever you get your podcast from. I don't know how many episodes we've recorded so far, but if you're traveling two hours from Vegas or two hours from LA, you can listen to a whole bunch of podcast episodes, and you definitely need to do that. And make sure, above all, you spend some time in Newberry Springs. All right, we'll see you on another uh segment of the Outdoor Adventure Series Podcast. Take care now.