Over the last two years Global Student Embassy has helped the chamber with over 150 volunteers at our annual Art & Wine Festival.  This year, we were able to donate back $2,000 to their organization. GSE works with young people in the Bay Area and Latin America to develop the skills and passion to be advocates for ecological restoration and international collaboration on some of the most pressing environmental issues facing our world.  This year, they have expanded their programs here in Lamorinda to to weekly eco-action programs in five schools and will be taking over 100 students from Lamorinda abroad this year! In January GSE will be providing 15 scholarships for our Latin American student leaders to visit the United States, 5 of which will be staying in Contra Costa County with host families. Any contribution made before December 31, 2014 will help us reach our goal for the $10,000 matching donation.  For more information, please visit www.globalstudentembassy.org or contact Chrissy Orangio at 925-297-5662.

It's the end of another year, and as you prepare to close the books on 2014, you might be thinking about who to share your good fortune with.  Consider reviewing some of the non-profits that operate here locally.  Here is a link to some of the non-profits that are chamber members.

Lafayette Police Chief Eric Christensen is recruiting six chamber members to be involved in a new pilot program here in Lafayette.  The Citizen's Police Academy will give you the opportunity to learn how the police department functions.  The program uses a mix of lecture and hands-on experience much like a real police academy.  This should give the participants an overview of what it's like to be an officer.  You must be at least 21 years of age, a resident of Lafayette or work in Lafayette, willing to undergo a cursory background check and you have not been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor in the past year.  Some of the areas covered will be investigation, disaster response, narcotics, accident investigation, traffic stops,  a trip the crime lab and the county jail, use of force and if you are interested, a trip to the Sheriff's Firearms Range.

Applications are available at the Chamber office or you can call Cathy Surgess at the police department at 283-3680.  This program will be limited to six chamber members.  Interested?  Then what are you waiting for...