| CCC NEWSLETTER DEBUTS | This is the first in what will hopefully be a series of electronic updates to CCC corpsmember alumni about Corps activities and opportunities. We welcome your thoughts and suggestions.
Should you run into other former corpsmembers, please encourage them to fill out their information (especially e-mail address) in our Alumni Registry on the
CCC Web site: Just go to the tab at the top marked "Alumni."
And apart from the information in the registry, we want to know about your CCC experience. Whether you've been out of the Corps one year or 20, take a few minutes to fill out this CCC Alumni Survey.
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| DAVID MURAKI IS CCC DIRECTOR |
Our current state director is David Muraki, the first former staff member to be appointed director. David began his CCC career on January 22, 1978 as a crew supervisor and remained with the Corps until 1996. During that time he started the CCC's renowned Backcountry Program, which he headed for 10 years. In that capacity, he spent more than 60 weeks living out of a tent, supervising three trail crews in the backcountry of Yosemite National Park. Many of you may also recall David as the center director of the Del Norte Center.
His experience also includes many years with California Volunteers, formerly the California Service Corps.
David was appointed to his position by Gov. Schwarzenegger in 2007. |
| GOVERNORS MEET THE CCC |
Fortuna corpsmembers had a chance to meet Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in January. Schwarzenegger was visiting the city of Eureka to see earthquake damage after a 6.5 quake hit the area January 9. The photo was taken by the Fortuna Center's VISTA, Erika Stowe-Madison.
Some of you may remember other governors meeting with corpsmembers -- below, that's then-Governor Jerry Brown,center, in front of the 1530 Capitol Avenue headquarters. Then-director B.T. Collins is in the dark suit at right.
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| NEW CAMARILLO CENTER |
Right now corpsmembers based at the residential Camarillo Center are actually living at a former school in Oxnard. But soon the new facility under construction will be finished, and if all goes according to plan, ready to move into this fall.
The work is about 95 percent finished, and once completed, will be home to 104 corpsmembers. It is a LEED-certified green building, with silver certification.
As a certified green building, the center will include parking for alternative fuel vehicles, windows letting in significant natural light, a light-colored roof and a minimal impact on local water and sewer facilities.
On the perimeter of the site will be a "wellness track," or par course, and Chris will be meeting with people from Cal State Channel Islands to have students research and draw up each station. The course will be a part of the center's physical training program.
The aerial photo below dates from January 2009, with construction underway. The other photo shows Center Director Chris Rochte and Conservation Supervisor Juan Mercado with corpsmembers in front of one of the buildings.
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| ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT |
We recently heard from former corpsmember Shane Healy of Ireland, who was part of the CCC in 1988-89, in San Luis Obispo and other locations. He went to college in Colorado but returned to Ireland and participated in the Atlanta Olympic Games in  1996, running in the 1,500 meters competition and making it to the semi-finals. He was later profiled in the New York Times.
Shane forwarded a copy of "IrishRunner 2010 Yearbook," which includes a nice profile on him.
In the article, he says, "I may never have set foot on a running track but for the help I received as a member of the California Conservation Corps. I was living in a homeless shelter with no work to sustain me when I was offered the opportunity to join the Corps. I was just 19 at the time and learned a whole lot in my year in the Corps ... I was rewarded with a $1,200 scholarship and that started me on my journey into education and athletics."
Shane concludes that "the time is ripe" to set up an Irish Conservation Corps. "I believe that many of our troubled young people would respond to this type of disciplined and purposeful regime and would become better human beings in the process.
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| STATE PARKS SOLAR INSTALLATION |
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California State Parks Director Ruth Coleman joins CCC Director David Muraki and two Los Padres corpsmembers in putting the final touches on the installation of solar  photovoltaic panels. The panels are among the 31 the CCC installed at Montaņa de Oro State Park in San Luis Obispo County.
The two directors were on hand in December to mark the completion of the effort and highlight the energy-saving efforts. The panels will provide up to 75 percent of the park's electricity needs. At the same time, corpsmembers received classroom training in basic wiring and electrical theory and honed their green technology skills through the installation work.
Corpsmembers are slated to help with a similar solar installation at Morro Bay State Park later this year. 
Some of you may remember the early days of the CCC's solar program, and travelling to various State Parks to install solar panels.
Thanks to Field Operations Chief Mark Rathswohl for the photo above. Another photo and article were included in the State Parks newsletter.
| | SEEKING SAN DIEGO ALUMNI |
David Marwil, one of the CCC's VISTA volunteers working at the San Diego Center in National City, is hoping to link up with former San Diego corpsmembers or those living in the San Diego area. David wants to share some CCC "success stories" with current corpsmembers. Contact him at david.marwil@ccc.ca.gov or call (619) 409-4382, ext. 212.
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| WANT TO BE ON AN ALUMNI PANEL? |
If you're in the Watsonville/Santa Cruz area, two of our Monterey Bay VISTA volunteers are organizing an alumni panel for May 10 in that area. They're looking for alumni who would be willing to talk to current corpsmembers about life after the Corps, challenges they may have encountered, and how they got into their present careers. The panel will be held during the day.
The CCC's Monterey Bay Center, based in Watsonville, serves Monterey, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties and includes satellite operations in Salinas and San Jose.
If this sounds like something you'd like to do, contact Gelsey Azhderian at Gelsey.azhderian@ccc.ca.gov.
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| BACKCOUNTRY SURVEY |
If you were on a Backcountry crew during your time in the CCC, David Villarino (Kings Canyon, 1999), has a short survey for you. David is doing his thesis at UC Berkeley on the effects, both short-term and long-term, the experience has on its participants.
To take the survey, just click on this link:
| | CCC, AMERICORPS SCHOLARSHIPS | |
For those who were corpsmembers in the last few years, you may still be able to take advantage of CCC and AmeriCorps scholarships. CCC scholarships are available, for those who qualify, for up to $2,000 per year, within two years of your leaving the Corps.
The CCC scholarships can be used for both vocational and higher education institutions, for both part-time and full-time enrollment. You'll need to apply through your former center's scholarship coordinator.
AmeriCorps scholarships ($4,725 for 1700 hours of work, also part-time awards) can be used for up to seven years after you leave the CCC. AmeriCorps sends an education award packet after you leave the Corps with all the details.
Questions? You can e-mail the CCC's scholarship coordinator, Cassie Del Mugnaio at cassie.delmugnaio@ccc.ca.gov.
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| CAREER CREDITS ON STATE EXAMS |
For those former corpsmembers who served at least one full year or who are CCC graduates, and who receive a passing mark on an open, non-promotional state civil service exam, something to keep in mind. You are eligible to have three career credits added to your score, regardless of the department.
Eligibility expires two years after graduation (or five years, if you used a scholarship) Those eligible should note this in a blank spot on the application form or in an attachment. When you receive your exam results, the form should indicate if the career credits were included.
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| STOCKTON CORPSMEMBERS MAY RECALL ... |
If you were at the Stockton Energy Center around 1982-83, you may have been a part of the group pictured here, who were honored at the Capitol by then-SenatorJohn Garamendi and others. The photo was submitted by Steven Fultz, top row, right.
And that's Ken Leap, who would later become a center director at the newly-named Delta  Center, in the front row.
Steve is now a staff
member at CCC
Headquarters, where he
is an Associate
Construction Analyst
in the Budget Office. If you
recognize anyone in the
photo, let Steve know at
steven.fultz@ccc.ca.gov.
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| FIND A FRIEND | |
Because of state privacy laws, the CCC's alumni registry/database, hosted by the State of California, does not have a searchable feature.
However, we can help link you up with other former corpsmembers through this newsletter, posting inquiries that include e-mail addresses only. Send your inquiries to findafriend@ccc.ca.gov with your message and contact e-mail. By voluntarily e-mailing us, you are authorizing us to include your contact information in an upcoming newsletter.
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Patti Lynch is interested in reconnecting with SLO friends from 1978. Contact her at pattilynch@hotmail.com.
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Jon Fortner is looking forward to reconnecting with CCC/CDF members from Butte County from 1984-86. E-mail Jon at jon_fortner@yahoo.com.
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Alfredo Canela worked out of the CCC's San Diego Center from December 1999 to December 2000. If you were there at that time, e-mail him at alcanela@yahoo.com.
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Tyroc Vineyard was at the Pomona Center from 1986-87, the CCC Academy in 1987, and a participant in the Katimavik Exchange with Canada in 1987. You can reach him at tyroc_66@hotmail.com.
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Cheryl Mooney would love to connect with some old friends from Oat Mountain,1982-83. Contact her at Cmoone33@gmail.com.
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Richard Harmison is seeking to connect with corpsmembers who were at the Butte Fire Center in 1980. E-mail Richard at rjharmison@aol.com.
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Robert Fields was based at the San Luis Obispo Center from 2000 to 2002 and would like to hear from people who knew him: robfiels@live.com.
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| SUGGESTIONS, PHOTOS | |
If you might make a good alumni profile, or you have a suggestion (and contact information) for someone who might, let us know. We're also looking for good photos that might be of interest to others. E-mail CCC Public Information Ofifcer Susanne Levitsky at susannel@ccc.ca.gov or call her at (916) 341-3145.
Don't forget to keep your e-mail address and other information up-to-date in our CCC Alumni Registry. This allows us to learn more about the wide variety of occupations and experiences of our alumni, and to be able to let you know if there are special events in your area.
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And take a few minutes to fill out our new CCC Alumni Survey.
Thanks very much!
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