ALF masthead
ALF Mountain Valley Chapter
July, 2012
In This Issue
Fellows Nominating Subcommittee Chair's Message
LAST CHANCE: Sr. Fellows' Taking Stock Retreat
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Youth Leadership Development Camp
ALF National Book Project
Encore Fellows Places Two More
Class X's "Change for Change" Rolls
Affinity Groups, Tables of 8
Auction Items Needed
Exemplary Leaders Award Dinner
Nominate Potential Class XVII Fellows
ALF Network Use Policy
Checking In with ALFers on the Move
Save the Dates for ALF Events
Community Events
Quick Links
ALF's
Community Partners


Two-Star Partners

Nehemiah


Western Health Advantage


One-Star Partners


Gilbert Assoc

Kaiser block  

PG&E logo

2012 ALF-MV
Star Club Members
Star Club Members support ALF-MV with a gift of $1200 or $100/month

Doni Blumenstock, Class I
Roy Brewer, Class IX
Matt Kelly, Class XI
Martha Lofgren, Class IX

Garry Maisel, Class IX
Dennis Mangers, Class I
Kris Martin, Class II

Cyril Shah, Class XII
Tom Stallard, Class VII
Pam Stewart, Class VIII
Stephen Tse, Class VII


2012 ALF-MV  Boosters
ALF Boosters support ALF-MV with a gift of $600 or $50/month

Joe Coomes, Class III 
Lina Fat, Class III 
Susan Frazier, Class VI
Ed Glavis, Class VI
Larry Greene, Class XV
Jose Hermocillo, Class III

Bill Kennedy, Class IX
Ken Larson, Class V
Laura Mason-Smith, Class III
Randy Reynoso, Class V

Babs Sandeen, Class XII
Bev Scott, Class IX
Gary Strong, Class XI
Fred Teichert, Class III
Carlos Urrutia, Class IX
Michele Wong, Class VIII
 

Like Us!
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Dear ,

BonnieOur Fellows and Sr. Fellows are so very involved in our regional community that it is nearly impossible to keep track of it all.

The ALF board wants to support your service to the community as best we can.  To that end, we are adding a new section of this newsletter to highlight the events our members would like to promote, such as the Metro Chamber's Study Mission to Denver this September and the Asian Chamber's Internal Study Mission in October.

We invite you to submit event information to add to this ongoing list.  You can also post your events on the ALF Facebook page.

There has never been a time when I have been so proud of our Fellows and everything you do to make our region prosper as we unite, strengthen, and serve our communities.

As always, we welcome you to get in touch if our staff or I can be of service to you.
Bonnie's signature
Bonnie Ferreira

CEO


Fellows Nominating Subcommittee Chair's Message 
SandeenBabs
Babs Sandeen, Chair, Fellows Nominating Subcommittee

If it's July, then it must be time to start thinking about May. 

What? 

Let me explain.  It takes ten months to seat a class and it all starts now.  So to have a full class of highly qualified leaders engaged and ready to go at Class XVII's orientation in May, 2013, our nomination and selection processes begin now.

I invite you to participate in the process in one of three ways:
  1. Serve on the Fellows Nominating Subcommittee, which I chair this year.  Two meetings (8/2, 9/10), one homework assignment.  It's making sausage at its highest form.  Send a message to Scot in the ALF office to join the committee.   
  2. Attend a focus group meeting.  Focus Groups are sector-specific groups who take a look at nominees only in their scope, be it geographic, ethnic, or professionally based.  You do not need to be a member of the sector being examined - everyone is invited to participate in any of the groups.  Click on the group name to access a Doodle poll to indicate your availability to participate:  Yolo, El Dorado, Placer, African American, Asian/Pacific Islander, Latino/a, American Indian, Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgendered (LGBT), Business, Nonprofit, Arts  
  3. Nominate a potential Fellow.  This is very important and yet is easiest to do.  The ALF web site has the nomination form that you submit electronically.
Thank you for considering this invitation to participate.  I look forward to working with the committee to put together another stellar class!



LAST CHANCE:
Sr. Fellows' Taking Stock Retreat is Next Week

An opportunity to reflect and connect


Join us July 25-27 in beautiful Sonoma for the only retreat for Senior Fellows in 2012 -- the traditional Sr. Fellows' Retreat has moved to February, 2013, so we hope you will join us for this different kind of retreat experience.  Also note, this does not conflict with the Youth Leadership Development Camp at CSUS, which is 7/31 through 8/2 (see article below).

Our retreat will be facilitated by Kevin McCarthy, one of ALF's three curriculum facilitators.  Kevin is terrific and this promises to be a very special time.  Our time together will focus on:
  • The dynamics of personal change;
  • Dialogue in community;
  • Systemic change. 
See who is attending and join in by clicking here today!

 

 

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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED:
Youth Leadership Development Camp
July 31-August 2
YouthDevelopmentLeadership

teensClass VI's Jay Schenirer invites you to make a difference for the youth of our region

Editor's Note: Below is an abridged letter from Jay.  For the full letter and program description, click here.

As our class project, Class VI envisioned and created an adaptation of ALF for Sacramento youth called Teen ALF.  In our first year, we hosted 16 high school students at Grizzly Camp in Portola for four days.  Over the years, this program has evolved, by expanding the number of young people and community organizations with whom we partnered, and also by providing venues for the students to apply the leadership skills they learned at camp.  

Last year, Sacramento City Unified Superintendent Jonathan Raymond joined the program and we created a partnership with the school district to scale the program: We will provide leadership training for 500 incoming freshman representing six comprehensive high schools!  The program will shift from the mountains to 3 days/2 nights at CSUS and link in content to other initiatives of the school district.  This will occur July 31-August 2.

One of the significant factors that makes our project unique among youth leadership programs is the participation of (non-youth provider professional) adults as role models.  We need 50 adults who are willing to spend three days and two nights with us at Sacramento State.  I promise an experience you will never forget.  If you are interested in finding out more, please contact me directly - [email protected], 916.752.2609.

Jay Schenirer, Class VI
Sacramento City Councilmember



ALF National's Book Project
typewriter

Can you help us tell ALF's story? 


Several Mountain Valley Chapter Sr. Fellows have already told their story for possible inclusion into this national book project -- can you also tell your story to illustrate the impact of ALF on your life or community?

Jeff Golden, an author and a Senior Fellow from ALF-Oregon, is speaking with volunteers to gather these stories for publication.  David Lowe (XIII), May Ying Ly (V), Scott Syphax (VIII), and Kim Box (XI), to name a few, have offered their stories, but more are needed!

The book's writing is happening now, with editing and publication this fall and will be available at the beginning of next year.  October will bring a national launching of ongoing national dialogue on leadership on the book's website -- best practices and items that arise from the book that warrant more conversation.

Interested in participating?  Contact the ALF Office to get started.


 

Encore Fellows Program Places Two More

Program leverages the experience of executives to improve local nonprofits


ReStore Fellow Our second Encore Fellow and Intel retiree, Robert Auerbach, began his fellowship a few weeks ago and has been tasked with designing process improvements at Foothills Habitat for Humanity's ReStore. With the organization's recent move and expansion, the need and development of these efficient processes and procedures will help the organization reduce cost while increasing the profitability of their discount building materials outlet.
 
Another Encore Fellow and former HP executive, Jeff Landre, prepares for his fellowship to start in August with Gail Johnson Vaughan's (Class X) organization.  "The Encore Fellows program is the right thing at the right time for our agency. We are a small grassroots organization making a big difference in child welfare. It's time for us to go to scale," Says Gail.  "Our Encore Fellow is providing the expertise and support that will let us reach our goals to remove the barriers that prevent children in foster care from achieving permanent families."

With a specific call to serve rural areas, the Sacramento/Sierra Encore Fellows Program matches highly experienced professionals with nonprofit organizations where they can perform high impact work and help those organizations build capacity. The Encore Fellows Program is locally operated by ALF-MVC in partnership with the Nonprofit Resource Center.

If you have an interest in becoming an Encore Fellow or have a nonprofit organization in mind for the program, please contact Karen at the ALF office, [email protected].


 

Class X Continues to Serve with
"Change for Change" Fund

Latest donation serves school for students with mental illness

change for change
From left: Lauren Roth, Principal, Sam Manolakas, Class X, Tim Taylor, Assistant Superintendent Court-Community Schools & ROP and Chef Jeffrey Zahniser
Class X's "Change for Change" Fund continues to make an impact!  Recently, Class X member Sam Manolakas of Brookfield Restaurants, presented Palmiter High School with a check for $1500 to support their on-site organic garden and cafe program.

Palmiter School is a Special Education campus run by the Sacramento County Office of Education's Court and Community School program.  Palmiter serves students who are faced with the challenges of mental illness.  Many of the students have also spent time in group or foster homes or may have found themselves homeless.  As part of their job-training and general curriculum, Palmiter teaches landscaping, gardening and restaurant skills with a focus on sustainability.  

The "Change for Change" fund is set up through the Sacramento Region Community Foundation and is a community-giving fund established and maintained by Class X.

 

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ALF Members Connect Through
Tables of Eight, Affinity Groups

Pick a restaurant and a date for a Table of Eight or make a reservation to join a table;
Join or start an Affinity Group

Tables of Eight
No agenda, no topic, no facilitators -- the Tables of Eight program is a low-key yet fun opportunity to meet and mingle with a small group of ALFers.  You pick the restaurant and the date, the ALF office sends out and tracks the invitations and everyone pays for their own meals.   Two seats remain at the table on Friday, July 20, with Susan Frazier (VI) at Andy Nguyen's in Sacramento!
 
The ALF Eagles (Golf Affinity Group) Next at Empire Ranch, 7/20
Chair Michele McCormick (XI) has lined up a season of golfing experiences for the group, the next of which is eighteen holes at Empire Ranch in Folsom on July 20, 8:30 am start: email Michele if you'd like to join in.  Would you like to enjoy a day on the links with other ALFers with the same passion?  Contact the ALF office to get on the group's listserv for announcements. 

Women's Affinity Group Next Meets 8/23
Chaired by Susan Frazier (VI), the group, after a number of discussions, has identified that their sessions focused on sharing are a really important part of this group.  Email Susan to attend or to get on the group's e-mailing lists for announcements.

Interested in joining or want to start an new affinity group? Email Scot at the ALF office to be added to a listserv or to get a new group started.

 

Auction Items Requested


gavelProceeds benefit the ALF First-Year Fellows Program scholarship fund

Over the past 15 years, ALF has given over $1 million to support participants in the First-Year Fellows Program -- were you one of the recipients of this scholarship money?  Or, perhaps your experience was made richer because of the presence of someone who received a scholarship?

We need your help!

Dinner auction committee chairs Mike Kobus (XV) and Stella Premo (XIII)
are looking to make this year's Exemplary Leaders Award Dinner a huge success and need your help to raise funds for the First-Year Fellows Program Scholarship Fund. 

You can help by donating auction items, primarily unforgettable experiences that bidders cannot find anywhere else.  Do you have access to a unique experience, or have a vacation home where you could donate a week stay?  What unusual or interesting experience can you donate?  Pair it with food & wine for multiple people, and we're talking about a highly-desirable auction item!

At the very least, can you donate a bottle of wine with a value of $20 or more?  We're planning to combine all of our donated bottles into one "instant wine cellar" at the auction -- sure to be a hit!

Email Scot in the ALF office if you can make a contribution to the auction.  Every little bit helps.  As the primary fundraiser for the year, the Exemplary Leaders Award Dinner succeeds because of the participation of our members.  Thank you for your support over the years!


SAVE THE DATE!! 

     

 

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Nominate for Class XVII
 
The success of the First-Year Fellows Program and development of the ALF Network depends on your nomination of potential Fellows 

class XVII logoThe selection process for Class XVII, starting in May, 2013, begins now.  Soon, the Nominating Committee, chaired by Babs Sandeen (XII) will start sifting through the nearly 300 nominations we will receive and already have on file.  Through committee meetings and focus groups around the region this summer, the committee will determine a list for board approval and initial invitation beginning this fall.

Nominations are accepted year round.  However, to have your nomination receive its full consideration through this process, you should submit a completed nomination form, available on the ALF web site, by Friday, July 13.  Nominations are kept in the database for up to three years.

We look forward to receiving your nomination!



ALF Network Use Policy

Balancing member services and ALF communications

network As our chapter has grown, so has the need to communicate between members.  In the early days of email and the internet, that communication was primarily a function supported by the small cadre of Sr. Fellows at that time.  Now, with sixteen classes and approaching 400 Sr. Fellows, the ALF Board has rewritten the policy for the use of the ALF electronic network.  The policy attempts to strike a balance between keeping our members informed of conversations and events in the community and official ALF business.  In essence, the ALF listserv is reserved for ALF business, while members can submit their activities for listing in this newsletter and can post on our Facebook page.  Please review this policy, which can be found on the ALF web site.

Checking In with ALFers on the Move

Here's a look at what some of your fellow Fellows are doing over the past month.  Wanna share your news? Email it to
[email protected]


CLASS I
Dennis Mangers has been named to the Executive Committee of the Sacramento Regional  Community Foundation's   Board of Directors and to  the Regulation, Admissions  and Discipline Committee of the California State Bar Board of Trustees on which he serves as a State Senate appointed Public Member. Once again this year he has served as Field Faculty/Mentor for the Nehemiah Emerging Leaders Fellowship.  He continues to serve on the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of the California Musical Theatre, and on October 8, (mark your calendars) he will sing in a benefit  for the organization at the Cosmopolitan Cabaret on K St. And on a personal note, he is proud to report that his granddaughter Katie has been accepted to Notre Dame Law School where she will begin her studies in the Fall.


CLASS II
For the past three years Felicenne Ramey has been photographing and interviewing Senior African Americans, women over 90 years of age and men over 80 years of age. Fel exhibited half of the photographs at the Library Gallery, Sacramento State University, spring of 2012.  The California State Fair invited her to prepare an expanded exhibit.  This exhibit is open during the California State Fair, at California Expo, Sacramento CA, from July 12 through July 29.  You can view the exhibit during Fair hours.  The exhibit, "We Stand on Their Shoulders," will be located in Building A.  "I hope that you will get there to view the beautiful seniors and to read their insights on their longevity."

Mike Ziegler's
PRIDE Industries hosted nearly 100 customers at its Open House on June 21, 2012, unveiling the Sacramento Valley's only state-of-the-art Electronics Manufacturing Services facility. The investment includes cutting-edge dual surface mount technology (SMT) lines, a high-tech X-ray inspection machine, and added flex soldering capabilities.  Both the Sacramento Bee and the Business Journal highlighted PRIDE's enhanced capabilities and its importance in meeting the demands of technology companies here at home.  PRIDE's electronics division offers high-tech jobs to individuals with a wide range of disabilities and other obstacles to employment.  By providing contract packaging, assembly, and award-winning supply chain and fulfillment services, we can meet all of our customers' needs to get their products to market, while these additional services create even more jobs for individuals with disabilities.


CLASS III
Lina Fat is being honored at a VIP reception on Friday, September 14 (moved from June 14th) from 5:00 - 6:00pm at the Sacramento History Museum, featuring Masters of Ceremony Dave Walker and Lois Hart. Then it's all aboard the Empress Hornblower from 6:00 - 8:30pm for a cruise along the Sacramento River and to toast the anniversary of one of Sacramento's beloved landmarks, the "I" Street Bridge. Proceeds benefit the educational programs of the Historic Old Sacramento Foundation. For more information, click here.


CLASS V

Ken Larson is finishing his one year Encore Fellowship with the Sierra Business Council (www.sbcouncil.org).  "Had a great experience with a youthful, dedicated group who completed baseline greenhouse gas emission inventories for communities up and down the Sierra.  These plans will help communities manage their energy/emissions profile and better plan for the future." Next? He's heading for Europe for two months, camping across Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia... then back to the Moselle Valley and on to Paris for he and Marie's 40th Anniversary!  Later this fall he'll be teaching a course at UCD GSM in San Ramon on Corporate Social Responsibility.  He continues to serve on the Board of the Placer Community Foundation.  

 


CLASS VIII

Marty Keale was recently recognized by the Sacto Business Journal as a Newsmaker.  A copy of the full article can be found on www.capitolhealthnetwork.org.  And, he says, "My age is not a typo."   

  

As many of you know, Elizabeth Rindskopf Parker's term as dean at Pacific McGeorge ended June 1 and she and her husband Bob are recently back from 3 "marvelous" weeks in Greece (following a trip to Rome) and are in the process of moving out of their campus house.  They are looking forward to a sabbatical year of travel but Elizabeth is eager to remain in touch during this peripatetic period. To do so, e-mail her at [email protected] or phone at 916-616-5091, although her replies may not always be prompt, she says.  "We'll be in Wisconsin for the late summer and then spend the fall in New York and Connecticut and hope to manage a trip to Turkey and Vietnam early in the 2013. We'll be back in California during this period from time to time, making our base the small vacation condo we own in Napa. My goal is also to do some writing during this period, along with continuing my service on a number of non-profit boards."   

 

Scott Syphax and The Nehemiah's Companies' Township 9 development on June 15 opened its new light rail station celebrating the first leg of Regional Transit's Green Line which will ultimately connect Sacramento International Airport to the rest of Sacramento through mass transit. This $44 million infrastructure investment in Township 9 is the first development in a downtown transit-oriented community that will ultimately contain over 2300 units of mixed income housing, 22 acres of parks, 800,000 ft.� of commercial office space, and 150,000 ft.� of neighborhood serving retail all within 1 mile of the state Capitol.  Sacramento Bee article 

 

 

CLASS IX

Martha Lofgren and Roy Brewer last week summited White Mountain, the third highest peak in California at 14,246'. "Summit day was very long, more than 11 hours hiking above 12,000'. We decided to postpone an attempt at Mt. Langley - two 14,000-footers in three days sounded so reasonable a few months ago but not so much after White Mountain. The smart move favored coming back another time."

 

CLASS XI
Gary Strong just finished a two year term as board chair for the Capital Region Chapter of the American Red Cross.  "I was pleased to serve during a period in which our territory expanded to cover over one third of the state including mergers with Stanislaus, San Joaquin and Yolo counties plus support for thirteen Northeastern California counties which take us all the way to the Oregon border.  We had a good couple of years, especially given the tough economy.  The chapter's ALF connection continues to be strong with the chapter's terrific CEO, Dawn Lindblom from Class XV and board member Dejeune Shelton from Class II of the Great Valley ALF chapter.  Best of all, my Class XI classmate, Kim Box, is succeeding me as board chair.  We're looking forward to great things as Kim takes the helm."

 

CLASS XII

Jennifer Baker is engaged to Schuyler Wilcox and will be getting married in September.


CLASS XIII
David Lowe
proudly announced that KVIE's "Studio Sacramento" received a Telly Award, the premier award honoring the finest film and video productions, groundbreaking web commercials, videos and films, and outstanding local, regional, and cable TV commercials and programs.  The episode receiving the award featured Phil Angelides and the financial crisis.


CLASS XIV
Mark Freeman just soft-launched a national online training site for professional development in the mental health field: MyPrevention University at www.MyPreventionCEU.org.

 

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SAVE THE DATES FOR THESE ALF EVENTS   
 
calendarSr. Fellows Taking Stock Retreat 
July 25-27
Join together at Westerbeke Lodge in Sonoma for a few days of ALF contemplation and reflection in a beautiful outdoor setting. Register 

ALF Summer Party 
Sunday, August 19 
Class XII's Sonbol Aliabadi opens her home to ALF members and their families for this annual event.


ALF Exemplary Leaders Award Dinner
Wednesday, October 3
Presented by Nehemiah, join us in honoring Vicki Barber, Joe Coomes & Tom Stallard with the Exemplary Leader Award and celebrating ALF-MVC's 15th year.


Community Events
 
Submit your community events to [email protected] for listing here in future newsletter editions.



Cowboys and Cornbread:
The Hangtown Harmonica Championship & Chili Cook-Off
July 21, 11 am - 7 pm, Camino
Laurel Brent Bumb, Class X, and Mike Kobus, Class XV invite you to this festive event Proceeds support the program of the El Dorado County Chamber of Commerce and the El Dorado County Visitors Authority.  Info & Tickets


Youth Leadership Development Camp 
July 31-August 2, Sacramento 
Class VI's Jay Schenirer invites you to participate in this opportunity at CSUS to affect the lives of 500 teens, a program born from Class VI's service component.  More info

   

  

Guest Chef Night at Plates Cafe
August 2, 6-8:30 pm, Sacramento
Class XVI's Michele Steeb of St. John's Shelter for Women & Children invites you to this event that will feature Aimal Formoli of Formoli's Bistro, Naggiar Vineyards, and Drizzle Cupcakes. In addition, the evening will combine as Plates Graduation, where eight formerly homeless mothers will be graduating from our On-the-Job employment training program. Tickets


Dinner on the Farm
August 4, 5-9 pm, Winters
Mary Kimball (XV), Craig McNamara (IV), Mario Gutierrez (I) and Bob Slobe (XI) invite you to come to The Farm on Putah Creek for a fresh, exciting, summer meal outdoors created and prepared by Nugget Markets chef team, led by Chef Stazi Dulman. Stazi and his team are delighted to cook with the season's best, using ingredients from our local farms and producers, with proceeds benefiting the Center for Land-Based Learning, raising funds for our award-winning youth education programs, ensuring more students get hands-on experience in sustainable agriculture on California's farms and ranches. Tickets


DenverStudyMissionMetro Chamber Study Mission
Denver: A Catalyst for Conversation

September 12-14
Patrick Mulvaney, Metro Chamber Study Mission Chair, personally invites you to Unite with community leaders in order to Strengthen the bonds among us so that we may better Serve the region we love. This program gives us the chance to focus the transformative power of collaboration and conversation to improve the social, political and economic fabric of our region.  Using the Next Economy project as a starting point we can look at how to encourage innovation, prepare our regional workforce and improve business development.

Catalyst for Conversation is no casual title.  Our intention is to discuss Sacramento writ large, from our rooftop lunch overlooking downtown or the stunning Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Jefferson County; strolling through rebuilt neighborhoods to catching the Giants at Coors Field and, of course, a repeat of the extremely popular "Tables of 8." Patrick is happy to chat, answer questions or share more about the program with each and every one of you.  His cell phone is 916.813.1771 and email is [email protected]Info & Registration


InternalStudyMission4th Annual Internal Study Mission
October 25-26
Join the Sacramento Asian Pacific Chamber (Pat Fong Kushida, Class IV) and ALF as we present the Sacramento Region from a unique view-point.  Over the course of these two days you will learn about the region's talent, and its place on the national and international stage. What the Sacramento region is best of, first at, and leader in from best practices in collaborative leadership to the next economy initiative cluster opportunities. Save $100 by registering before 8/30. Info & Registration


American Chronicles: The Art of Norman Rockwell
Opens Saturday, November 10, 2012
Crocker Art Museum

Class VI's Lial Jones invites all you to this exhibition, which celebrates the full range of Rockwell's artwork, including rarely circulated works from the collection of the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. This presentation features more than 50 original oil paintings of some of his most famous illustrations, drawings, and war bond posters, and more than 300 covers that Rockwell created for The Saturday Evening Post over nearly five decades. In addition to the art on view, personal correspondence and archival photographs offer insight into the life of one of the country's most beloved illustrators.