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InTouch
California Agricultural Leadership Foundation
August 18, 2009 |
Celebrate 40 Years of Ag Leadership!
Mark your calendars for the 2009 Annual Conference and Class 40 Inaugural! The big event will be Nov. 6-7 in Sacramento. You'll enjoy an outstanding lineup of speakers, plus fun social and auction events! Registration is available online, but you will also receive registration brochures in the mail in early September. You may reserve your hotel room online and register, just click here for more information. |
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Welcome Bob Gray
We enthusiastically welcome Mr. Bob Gray as our new Foundation president and CEO. Bob will begin his new position in a couple of weeks. In the next issue of Horizons, scheduled for early October, we will feature an article about Bob and his goals for Ag Leadership. If you have not yet seen the news release announcing Bob's hiring, read it here. |
| Washington,D.C./California Educational Fellowship
A Resounding Success! 
Friday, Aug. 7 marked the end of a hugely successful week as the 2009 Washington, D.C./California Educational Fellowship wrapped up at the beautiful White Hills Vineyard in Santa Maria. The finale dinner, capped off with each fellow providing a heartfelt testimonial of their experience for the week, was a testament to the triumph of the seven days of activities. This program would not have been possible without the help of many dedicated Ag Leadership alumni, families, friends and businesses. The Washington, D.C./California Educational Fellowship is possible because of the efforts of committed and devoted individuals. Our deepest thanks to all of the volunteers, host families and supporters of this very important program.
To read the extensive itinerary and learn about this year's fellows, click here.
or contact Nicole Bell at nbell@agleaders.org.
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Program Update: Check Out This New Book
Each year the Campus Coordinators review the Ag Leadership Program's reading assignments to make sure the topics align with our program goals and that the readings are still relevant. Occasionally we come across something new that we want to add to the books we give the current classes. A book added to the reading list for the 2009/2010 program year is Blunder: Why Smart People Make Bad Decisions by Zachary Shore. In this difficult economic environment, this book is worth reading in order to help ensure your company or organization is not falling into a trap that has the potential to lead to bad decisions. Something for your summer reading list!
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| Class 40 Screening Process
We are well on our way to seating Class 40. This year we needed six screening committees to interview an outstanding pool of candidates. The Foundation is blessed with a dedicated group of alumni and industry representatives who stepped up to help with the critical process of identifying applicants who are ready to benefit from the two-year program and add value to the experience of others in the class. The applicants we interviewed represent nearly every region of the state, have a wide age distribution, an excellent representation of those involved in production, and should create a class dynamic that is an important part of the experience of being a fellow.
Having participated in all six of the screening sessions, I am very proud of the hard work demonstrated by the deans of our university partners (as well as the dean from Chico State), as well as alumni and industry representatives that make up the screening committees. An important factor in the selection process was the committees' perception as to how open a candidate was to hearing new and different perspectives.
We should be announcing the members of Class 40 by early September. I hope you will look at the list and take the opportunity to connect with the new class members who are in your area. For the new class members there is significant value in having Agricultural Leadership alumni they can connect with as they move through this transformational journey. -N. Bell
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| VOTE for Fellows Council Regional Directors
Fellows Council Regional Director elections are being held in Regions 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9. If you are an alumni in one of these regions you will soon receive your ballot. Please take the time to participate in this very important process by voting for two candidates of your choice. Ballots are due by Aug. 26. Please fax your completed ballot to 916-928-2206 (attn: Nicole Bell) or mail it to the office at 1300 National Drive, Suite 180, Sacramento, CA, 95834.
Fellows Council meeting: The first meeting for the 2009-2010 year will be Sept. 10 at UC Davis. We will also have committee meetings and an evening dinner social at Bistro 33 in Davis on Sept. 9. Alumni: feel free to join us! Please contact Nicole Bell at nbell@agleaders.org if you will be attending the dinner social at Bistro 33.
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In The News
On Aug. 16, the Modesto Bee published an opinion editorial about the importance of agriculture in the valley ("Backbone of our economy"). Read editorial here
Case Van Steyn (Class 17) wrote an opinion editorial in the Aug. 16 edition of the Sacramento Bee ("Any tinkering with Cosumnes must keep food, future in mind"). Read article here.
Glenn Proctor (Class 29) was quoted in an Aug. 14 San Francisco Examiner article ("Grape growers keep an eye on weather and financial clouds as 2009 harvest begins"). Read article here.
Leslie Leavens-Crowe was quoted in an Aug. 14 article in the Ventura County Star ("Loss of funds to preserve land worries farmers"). Read article here.
Russ Lester's (Class 30) farm was featured on www.coolcalifornia.org.
James Rickert (Class 39) was quoted in an Aug. 11 article in the Redding Record Searchlight ("Siskiyou supervisors will consider Williamson Act demise"). Read article here.
John Amarel (Class 38) was quoted in an Aug. 11 article in the Marysville Appeal-Democrat ("Farmers like water program"). Read article here.
Peter Vallis (Class 39) was quoted in an Aug. 10 Western Farm Press article ("SJV wine grape growing tips"). Read article here.
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In Memoriam
We are deeply saddened by the tragic accidental passing of David Yenni, son of Norm (Class 34) and Nadine Yenni. Our heartfelt thoughts go out to the family during this time of tremendous sorrow. Read article here.
We share our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Harold Hilliker, who passed away July 31. Harold was a member of Class 12, an egg rancher and active participant in community affairs. Read his obituary here.
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Major Leadership Shareholders
- John & Sheila Lake: $3,000
- California Cattlemen's Association: $2,500
- US Ag Bank: $2,992.94
- Foster Poultry Farms: $2,500
- Friant Water Authority: $2,500
- Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance: $1,000
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Tee It Up! Region 9 Golf Tourney One Month Away
Lots of prizes...a great dinner...a beautiful course near the coast! Don't miss out - sign up for this fun annual event that raises funds for the Foundation.
- When: Sept. 14, 2009
- Where: Los Posas Country Club, Camarillo
- Entry fee: $180 (includes golf and dinner)
- Additional dinner guests: $80
Sponsorships: start at $500
- For more info, contact: Mike Nunez / miken@calavo.com / 805-535-5234 or Tom Pecht / tom.pecht@verizon.net / 805-479-7333
- For an invitation, contact: Leslie Leavens-Crowe / leslie@leavensranches.com / 805-656-1568
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Upcoming Events
SEPTEMBER
10: Fellows Council Meeting, UC Davis 14: Region 9 Golf Tournament, Las Posas Country Club in Camarillo. See details above.
23: Board of Directors Meeting, CALF Offices
OCTOBER
7-9: Class 39 Seminar, San Quentin
NOVEMBER
2: Dean Brown Golf Tournament
5-7: Class 40 Inauguration and Annual Conference, Sacramento
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| In Touch is a monthly email newsletter distributed by the California Agricultural Leadership Foundation (916) 928-2202. If you have news to share, please contact our Editor, Meredith Rehrman Ritchie (Class 28), at editor_agleaders@yahoo.com or (916)984-4473. | |
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