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Recent Press Releases & News
August 24, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contacts:
Emma Ingebretsen, eingebretsen@sbcouncil.org, 530-582-4800
Shane Lopez, slopez@sbcouncil.org, 530-582-4800
Five Minutes of Your Time: No-cost Tool Helps Small Businesses Manage Utility Costs
A no-cost web-based energy monitoring tool developed at Oxford University is debuting in California, and it could help Sierra Nevada small businesses and local governments take control of their energy bills.
“When you receive an energy bill at the end of the month, it’s hard to know where you are actually spending money. This tool not only helps you identify your energy patterns, it gives you specific recommendations, many of them at no or low-cost, for reducing energy use,” explains Betony Jones, co-founder of Fourth Sector Strategies, a sustainability business piloting the software in partnership with Sierra Business Council. “With the new smart meters that allow utilities to implement time-of-use pricing, now is the time for you take control of your energy use.”
SMEasure, which stands for Savings by Monitoring Energy, is a tool that allows business owners and facility managers to monitor and analyze their building's performance and target the most effective strategies to reduce energy use. Using meter data that is entered weekly through a simple upload, SMEasure processes local weather data to determine how a building performs during heat and cold and helps identify problems with your heating and cooling systems. With SMEasure, businesses and local governments can monitor their buildings' energy use, develop a strategy to save energy and money, track the effectiveness of energy efficiency upgrades, and compare building performance to similar buildings in the area.
“PG&E is excited to work with the Sierra Business Council to gauge the impact of energy usage information on customers’ conservation efforts,” said Lisa McNally, senior program manager for PG&E’s Innovator Pilots program. “This new tool provides yet another opportunity to provide customers with tailored energy solutions across Sierra communities.”
SMEasure is offered to California businesses and municipalities through 2012. Customers can plan to spend only five minutes per week uploading and reviewing their data, and advanced support will be provided for users in the Sierra Nevada area served by Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E).
“One huge benefit for users in the Sierra Nevada is the link to programs, rebates, and resources that can help you upgrade your facility,” explains Emma Ingebretsen, energy associate for the Sierra Nevada Energy Watch.
This program is funded by California utility customers and administered by PG&E under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission. The software pilot is implemented by Sierra Nevada Energy Watch, which additionally provides audits, installations, and financial incentives for upgrading equipment like lighting and refrigeration.
For more information or to enroll, visit www.smeasure.org or call Sierra Business Council at 530-582-4800.
### July 10, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contacts:
Joyce Swanson, 775-424-4157, jswanson@sustainable-tahoe.org
Nikki Streegan, Sierra Business Council, 530-582-4800, nstreegan@sbcouncil.org
TAHOE EXPO benefits the Lake with sustainable fun
On Sept.10, embrace Lake Tahoe with activities that connect you to the area's magic while helping launch a new environmentally friendly economy for the Tahoe area. The daylong event hosted around the lake and at Sand Harbor on the lake's east side will showcase geotourism; a trend in travel that that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place — its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage and the well-being of its residents. Geotourism helps travelers to tread lightly and enjoy a locale’s sense of place.
The non-profit group www.SustainableTahoe.org is inviting the community to showcase Tahoe’s geotourism assets, which include a variety of activities that enhance your sense of place. Step into your hiking botts and experience and understand wildlife like never before, recreational activities that leave no trace, and 3-D movies that take you to new depths of your National Treasure. Activities are accessible via the Tahoe Basin’s public transit system, fulfilling another geotourism goal of reducing auto traffic. These “action attractions” provide visitors and locals alike the opportunity to embrace the natural amenities in the area while also sustaining them.
The activities will be located around the lake and at the Sand Harbor, where a Tahoe Expo 2012 Kick-off party includes a solar-powered stage, eco-demonstrations, entertainment, local food, brew, music, games, a trashion-fashion show, kayaking and SUP, plus a signature participatory drum circle commemorating water that will resonate throughout the Basin.
“Geotourism offers the Lake Tahoe economy the advantage of expanding the visitor season, by focusing on high-touch and low-impact ways to experience local attractions and activities that are here year round,” explained Jacquie Chandler, Executive Director of Sustainable Tahoe, the non-profit group organizing the Tahoe Expo Kick-off.
The Kick-off event cleverly titled Shakes+Beer to honor the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival, begins at 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10 at Sand Harbor. Local food and drink vendors will be serving beer for adults and shakes little ones and non-drinkers while local musicians entertain on the Sand Harbor Stage. A panel of expert "Tahologists," local science and academic experts on Tahoe, will engage the audience around history, culture and clarity during a talk-show format session at the stage.
“The inherent thing about geotourism is that it’s collaborative and works with locals to determine the best ways to bring visitors to a place. Historically that hasn’t been the case when it comes to tourism that is exploitative. We’re trying to shift directions with that notion,” said Nicole DeJonghe, Sierra Business Council Project Manager for the Sierra Nevada Geotourism MapGuide. The MapGuide, created in collaboration with local communities, can be found at www.SierraNevadaGeotourism.org . Use the map to find local lodging or plan the rest of your trip around the Tahoe Expo.
While admission is free to the activities, a $20 donation to benefit the Lake is suggested for the stage entertainment at Sand Harbor. For more information www.TahoeExpo.com
For Immediate Release, May 25, 2011
Sierra Nevada Conservancy: Bob Kingman or Pete Dufour, (530) 823-4670
Sierra Business Council: Nicole DeJonghe or Nikki Streegan, (530) 582-4800
National Geographic Sierra Nevada Geotourism “MapGuide” Project
Now Accepting Nominations for the Northern Sierra Cascade Region
National Geographic, in partnership with the Sierra Nevada Conservancy (SNC) and the Sierra Business Council (SBC), today announced the opening of the nomination period for the Northern Sierra Cascade region, the fourth and final phase of its Web-based Sierra Nevada Geotourism MapGuide project.
From June 1 through the end of August 2011, locals can nominate unique and interesting sites, activities, places to eat, events and much more by logging on to www.SierraNevadaGeotourism.org.
“This is a great opportunity for residents of the Northern Sierra and Southern Cascade region to promote and share the special and unique places, festivals, events, restaurants, and historical points of interest with visitors to the region who are looking for a deeper Sierra experience,” said geotourism project manager Nicole DeJonghe. "Consider the type of information you find on the map the kind you would get through having dinner with locals."
“National Geographic defines ‘geotourism’ as tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place, including its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage and the well-being of its residents,” said National Geographic project manager Jim Dion. “Geotourism helps travelers to tread lightly and enjoy a locale’s sense of place.”
“There are many special places and experiences in the Northern Sierra and Southern Cascade region that would be great to share with geotourists,” said SNC Executive Officer Jim Branham. “So far this project has compiled more than 1000 nominations from other parts of the Sierra on the interactive MapGuide and I’m looking forward to seeing what local residents in the north have to add.”
The MapGuide has completed nomination phases for the Yosemite “Gateway” area, Tahoe Emigrant Corridor, and the southern Sierra. The current phase includes all or part of the following eight counties: Shasta, Butte, Tehama, Modoc, Lassen, Plumas, Sierra and Yuba.
"The Sierra Nevada Geotourism Project puts small Sierra towns on equal footing with Yosemite National Park," said Lee Adams, Sierra County Board of Supervisors.
The Northern Sierra Cascade nomination area is the largest geographic phase the project is tackling, covering nearly sixteen thousand square miles of public lands, outdoor recreation opportunities, and quaint and historic communities. Visitors can marvel at the unique geology of the region, with Lassen and Shasta serving as the region’s largest volcanic mountains. Lassen Volcanic National Park, one of the least visited National Parks in the nation, is home to unexplored hiking trails, lakes, waterfalls, and hydrothermal features that deliver solace.
One example of a local geotourism nomination is the Greenhorn Creek Guest Ranch. The ranch serves up a classic dude ranch experience, allowing urban folk to trade their city shoes for cowboy boots. In the northern Sierra, wind sailing opportunities on open playas, incredible geological features, and salt-of-the-earth communities abound. Genuine and rustic will describe your next adventure in this part of the Sierra Nevada.
“We’ve worked very hard to populate the map by hosting nomination phases all across the region,” said DeJonghe. “We’re excited to begin this final phase, featuring the Northern Sierra and Cascade Mountain regions, rounding out more than 18 months of public participation in the nomination process.”
Sierra residents and visitors, community organizations, tourism stakeholders and local businesses will nominate sites for potential inclusion in the MapGuide. A favorite local restaurant, farm, winery, hiking or biking trail, swimming hole, volunteer opportunity, museum or artist gallery are examples of the type of nominations National Geographic and its project partners are seeking. The Web site will target a variety of growing travel niches—adventure and nature tourism, cultural heritage travel and agricultural tourism—and allow for residents to select the one-of-a-kind places integral to a distinctive character of place.
Using these nominations from local residents, National Geographic will add the
Northern Sierra Cascade region to the Geotourism Web site to promote travel that celebrates and sustains what is most distinctive about the Sierra Nevada, including its scenic landscapes, vibrant local communities, rich biological and cultural diversity, and captivating history. Northern Sierra Cascade Nomination Phase Launch Event
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Graeagle, California
We encourage community members and visitors to the Northern Sierra to join our launch event during the Lost Sierra Trail Daze, hosted in conjunction with the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship Group. Volunteer with the group and join a post-work party to include live music, cold beer, a BBQ, prize drawings and the announcement of the Northern Sierra Cascade Nomination launch.
Objectives
The Sierra Nevada Geotourism MapGuide Project seeks to promote tourism for the 21st century, tourism that can conserve the region’s historic towns and heritage sites, restore and protect the landscape, and sustain local businesses and communities. The map achieves this objective because it is created by tapping into the knowledge of local people who live and prosper in Sierra communities. Because their well-being and quality of life depends greatly on tourism, this tool empowers communities to share information about a place that residents and visitors can care for.
Attractions, businesses, and events distinctive to the Sierra Nevada will be recognized, providing travelers with a richer and more complete experience spread throughout the Sierra Nevada. Hence, this project seeks to celebrate the Sierra Nevada as a world- class destination, while contributing to the economic health of the region by promoting sustainable tourism. ### May 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contacts: Betony Jones, betony.jones@gmail.com 530-563-8384
Emma Ingebretsen, eingebretsen@sbcouncil.org 209-532-7200
New Tool Helps Small Businesses Get the Most out of Their Smart Meters
A free web-based energy management tool developed at Oxford University is debuting in California, and it could help small businesses and local governments take control of their energy bills.
“When you receive an energy bill at the end of the month, it’s hard to know where you are actually spending money. This tool not only helps you identify your energy patterns, it gives you specific recommendations, many of them no or low-cost, for eliminating wastage,” explains Betony Jones, co-founder of Fourth Sector Strategies, a sustainability business piloting the software in partnership with Sierra Business Council. “With the new smart meters that allow utilities to implement time-of-day pricing, now is the time for you to take charge of your energy use.”
SMEasure, which stands for Savings by Monitoring Energy, is a tool that allows you to get the most out of your new smart meter. Smart meters allow detailed tracking of energy usage. In the future, smart meter technology will allow utilities to create more options in pricing plans where energy is billed at different prices during different times of the day. With SMEasure, you can develop a strategy to help you save money and benefit the environment.
Small business and municipal building managers input their energy data into a simple software program. The program uses local weather data to determine how your building performs during extreme heat and cold and helps identify problems with your heating and cooling systems. SMEasure then compares your building’s performance to similar buildings in your area.
The software has been used extensively in Europe. SMEasure is offered to California businesses and municipalities through 2012. Advanced support and resources will be provided for users in the Sierra Nevada area served by Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E).
“One huge benefit for users in the Sierra Nevada is the link to programs, rebates, and resources that can help you upgrade your facility,” explains Emma Ingebretsen, Energy Associate for the Sierra Nevada Energy Watch. The software pilot is implemented by Sierra Nevada Energy Watch, which provides audits, installations, and financial incentives for upgrading equipment like lighting and refrigeration. The program is administered by PG&E and funded by California ratepayers under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission.
For more information or to enroll, visit www.smeasure.org or call Sierra Business Council at 209-532-7200. ###
April 15, 2011
Transportation Options Crucial to Rural and Small Town Quality of Life, Economic Development, Report Finds
Sierra Nevada, California and Nevada, April 7, 2011 – America’s small towns, small cities and rural areas require greater flexibility in choosing transportation investment options to maintain strong economies and quality of life, according to a new report from the Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI).
The report shows that a variety of transportation investments — including transit, vanpools, walking and biking paths and roads and highways — are critical to the economic development and well-being of smaller communities and rural areas. The most beneficial investments are those that improve access to job centers and essential services, reduce cost of living and fuel local private-sector growth by fostering communities where people want to live and work.
Transportation investments that are not driven by locally identified priorities or collaborative approaches will lessen the potential to achieve key outcomes, including the creation of vibrant communities. Misdirected investments are more likely to diminish rural economic development potential and may lead to unintended negative consequences, such as a reduced ability to pay for existing transportation improvements and services.
This study, based upon an in-depth literature review, offers policy recommendations as Congress considers reauthorizing the federal surface transportation bill. The recommendations include:
1) Supporting local engagement in planning, decision-making and resource allocation
2) Encouraging innovation and integration, for effective rural transportation outcomes
3) Shifting resources, where appropriate, to address the most pressing rural needs and opportunities, as locally defined
4) Creating an integrated planning and implementation process for regional transportation, economic development and land use
5) Supporting greater attention to rural “place-making” through quality of life investments in amenities that attract people to work and live in small cities and towns.
“Transportation investments are crucial the future of America’s small towns and cities, and the rural regions surrounding them,” said RUPRI President and CEO Charles W. Fluharty. “With public resources growing ever scarcer, federal policy must now give these regions the same latitude to set their own priorities and build collaborative and innovative approaches to achieve them, that our nation’s metropolitan regions have long enjoyed.”
While road and highway development should remain a high priority in America’s smaller communities, increased flexibility and broader options would allow towns and regions to make the investments that best meet their needs. Sierra Business Council encourages our Member of Congress to support the following:
- Designating and authorizing regional transportation planning organizations, which align small cities, towns, and rural areas in integrated planning approaches
- Giving rural regions greater authority to invest in a variety of transportation options, such as transit, vanpools, intercity bus, walking and biking paths and roads and highways
- Prioritizing innovative investments that maximize economic competitiveness in existing communities
- Maintaining and repairing existing roads, bridges and highways while making them safer for all users
- The Partnership for Sustainable Communities, which provides grants to improve access to more transportation options and affordable housing while lowering transportation costs in rural and metropolitan communities nationwide.
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ABOUT THE RURAL POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE (RUPRI)
The Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI) provides nonpartisan analysis and facilitates public dialogue regarding the rural impacts of public policies and programs. Congressionallyâ€funded for the past two decades, RUPRI’s reach is national and international, and it is one of the world’s preeminent sources of expertise regarding the opportunities, challenges, and needs facing rural people and places. RUPRI’s core operations are located within the Harry S Truman School of Public Affairs at the University of Missouri and in Washington, D.C., and support national RUPRI centers, policy research panels, and RUPRI’s ongoing research, analytic, and policy education programs. Read more at http://www.rupri.org/. March 29, 2011
Sierra Nevada regional leaders gather to celebrate accomplishments in sustainability
Sacramento, Calif. – Join Sierra Business Council and the 2011 Sierra Vision Award Winners for a special evening in Sacramento featuring inspiring ideas and a celebration of leadership and accomplishment in the Sierra Nevada.
Leaders and visionaries in the areas of conservation, sustainable business practices, workforce development, and green economic development will be honored on behalf of their tremendous contributions to the health and wealth of the Sierra Nevada. Join Sierra Business Council and our 2011 Vision Award winners at the Leland Stanford Mansion in Sacramento, April 6, 2011, 5-8PM.
This year’s Sierra Vision Award winners are the Alabama Hills Stewardship Group, Alan Ehrgott from the American River Conservancy, Eric and Christine Taylor from Outer Aisle Foods, and the Sierra College Department of Environmental Studies and Sustainability.
"We are tremendously proud to honor these Sierra leaders and their ideas at the 2011 Sierra Vision Awards in Sacramento. Our winners demonstrate that challenge and change leads to innovative opportunities," said Steven Frisch, President of SBC.
The 2011 Sierra Vision Awards feature a no host bar, as well as appetizers sourced from local Sierra Nevada producers. This event is free to the public but Sierra Business Council will accept donations to the event. Visit www.sbcouncil.org/sierravisionawards to RSVP today.
What are the Sierra Vision Awards?
Some of the greatest things happen under conditions of adversity and at Sierra Business Council we’re committed to approaches that create opportunity from those exact circumstances. Each year, the regional sustainability non-profit, Sierra Business Council, hosts an event to recognize and encourage leadership in the Sierra, honoring community members as their work continues to achieve excellence in advancing sustainable
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March 9, 2011
Wilseyville Woody Biomass Value Added Product Yard Feasibility Study
Request for Proposals now being accepted by Calaveras Healthy Impact Products Solutions Description: A feasibility study for local woody biomass is to be done in two components: 1) Sources for sustainable volumes of woody biomass by type, and 2) Uses of different woody biomass material gathered into different value-added products benefiting a sustainable, local triple bottom line. Consultants are to submit a proposed scope of work for conducting a feasibility study for either or both the described sources component and/or the uses component of woody biomass. Click the link above to download the full RFP, due March 31, 2011. January 19, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Program Manager, Betony Jones, betony.jones@gmail.com, 530-563-8384 and Communications Director, Nikki Streegan, nstreegan@sbcouncil.org, 530-582-4800
Climate Change Optimists: program sees opportunities for Sierra Nevada Communities
Green energy and climate change innovators on the verge of greatness listen up. A group of likeminded organizations are throwing down the gantlet to encourage Sierra Nevada community teams to take their percolating ideas to the next level at the Sierra Leadership Institute’s Energy and Climate Program 2011.
Over the past decade, 300 community leaders from Lassen County to Mariposa County have graduated from Sierra Business Council’s innovative Sierra Leadership Institute (SLI). This year, SLI will shift its individual leadership focus to team-building and collaborative leadership skills with a climate change and green energy imperative.
“Individuals will apply for and attend the program as part of a community team representative of their community’s diverse interests,” says Steve Frisch, President of the Sierra Business Council (SBC).
The five-day workshop will be hosted in Auburn, Calif. and build upon SBC’s existing SLI program to create a model focused on energy and climate issues. In addition to the traditional leadership skill-building segment, SBC will provide energy and climate training and support team projects in these areas to demonstrate that climate change presents opportunities, not just challenges, for Sierra communities.
From water conservation and energy saving innovations, to building retrofits and renewable energy projects, the scope of the energy efficiency projects are limited only by the imaginations of the applicants.
Betony Jones, founder of Fourth Sector Strategies, one of the SLI’s developers, explains the ethos behind its new direction.
“It’s about working with community teams and giving them the collaborative and technical skills and resources to implement projects,” she says. “Communities can turn climate change obstacles into financial savings and investment opportunities. The talent and the resources are here. We have a program to get them together and put them in action.”
Sierra Business Council (SBC) is now accepting applications for the SLI – Energy and Climate Leadership Program to provide fully-funded leadership training and technical project assistance to teams around the Sierra Nevada. Successful applicants will be awarded a full tuition waiver and room and board for participating, as well as technical assistance and guidance for implementing projects. The program is valued at $45,000-50,000 per community.
Five teams consisting of five to seven individuals will attend a week-long training workshop, June 20-24, 2011 in Auburn, Calif. Participants will learn collaborative leadership skills with special attention to the climate and energy policy landscape in California, climate and energy science, California energy regulatory agencies, energy efficiency strategic planning efforts, and opportunities and resources for clean energy transformation. Importantly, program staff will provide technical assistance and guidance before and after completion of the course to turn concepts developed in the course into viable projects.
SBC is partnering with a variety of state and national partners and funders on different components of training and leadership courses they refer to as the Green Prosperity Initiative. The program is primarily funded by Pacific Gas and Electric Company as an Innovator Pilot Project.
Please contact Sierra Business Council at 530.582.4800 or visit www.sbcouncil.org/slienergyclimate for more information. Deadline for the application is March 4, 2011.
### 19 de Enero del 2011
PARA PUBLICACION INMEDITATA
Cambio de Clima Optimista: el programa ve oportunidades para la Comunidad de Sierra Nevada
Conservadores de energía e innovadores del cambio del clima cerca de grandezas escuchen. Un grupo de organizadores afines están alentando a los equipos comunitarios de Sierra Nevada para llevar sus ideas hacia un nivel superior en el Programa de Energía y Clima 2011 del Instituto de Liderazgo de Sierra.
Durante la última década, 300 líderes comunitarios del Condado de Lassen al Condado de Mariposa se han graduado del Consejo Empresarial de Sierra (SBC) de innovadores del Instituto de Liderazgo de Sierra (SLI). Este año, SLI cambiara su enfoque de liderazgo individual a enfoque de trabajo en equipo y colaboración de habilidades de liderazgo con el cambio climático y la imperativa conservación de energía.
"Individuos aplicaran para asistir a este programa como parte de una representación de los diversos intereses de su comunidad”, declara Steve Frisch, Presidente del Consejo Empresarial de Sierra (SBC).
El taller de cinco días se celebrará en Auburn, California, y se basan en programas existentes de SBC y SLI para crear un modelo centrado en temas de energía y clima. Además del segmento de construcción de las habilidades tradicionales, SBC proveerá entrenamiento y apoyo a proyectos relacionados con la energía y el clima donde demostrara las oportunidades presentes del clima y no solo los desafíos, estos eventos son ofrecidos para las comunidades de la Sierra.
Desde la conservación del agua y las innovaciones de ahorro en energía, a la modernización de los edificios y proyectos de energía renovable, el alcance de los proyectos de eficiencia energética sólo están limitadas por la imaginación de los solicitantes.
Betony Jones, fundador de Estrategias del Cuarto sector, uno de los desarrolladores del SLI, explica la filosofía detrás de su nueva dirección.
"Se trata de trabajar con los equipos de la comunidad y brindarles colaboración, habilidades técnicas y los recursos para ejecutar proyectos", dice ella. "Las comunidades pueden convertir obstáculos del cambio climático en ahorros financieros y oportunidades de inversión. El talento y los recursos están aquí. Tenemos el programa para unir y ponerlos en acción”.
El Consejo Empresarial de la Sierra (SBC) está aceptando aplicaciones para el SLI - Programa de Liderazgo para Energía y el Clima, el objetivo es de proporcionar capacitación completa y asistencia técnica a equipos en toda la Sierra Nevada. A los candidatos seleccionados se les otorgará una exención total de la matrícula y el alojamiento y alimentación de participantes, así como la asistencia técnica y orientación para la ejecución de proyectos. El programa está valorado entre $ 45,000 a 50,000 por la comunidad.
Cinco equipos formados por cinco a siete personas asistirán a un taller de capacitación de una semana, del 20 al 24 junio del 2011 en Auburn, California Los participantes aprenderán habilidades de liderazgo colaborativo, con especial atención en políticas del clima y energía aplicables en California, ciencias del clima y la energía, las agencias reguladoras de energía en California, esfuerzo de planeamiento de estrategias de eficiencia de energía y sobre las oportunidades y recursos para la transformación de energía limpia. Es importante destacar que el personal del programa proporcionará asistencia técnica y orientación antes y después de la finalización del curso a su vez enseñará cómo convertir los conceptos desarrollados durante el curso en proyectos viables.
SBC se ha asociado con una variedad de socios y donantes estatales y nacionales para los distintos componentes de los cursos de capacitación y liderazgo que se relacionen con la iniciativa de conservación de energía. El programa es principalmente financiado por la Compañía de Pacific Gas and Electric como un Proyecto Piloto Innovador.
Favor de contactar al Consejo Empresarial de Sierra al 530.582.4800 o visitar la página web www.sbcouncil.org/slienergyclimate para mayor información. Última fecha para la aplicación es el 4 de Marzo del 2011.
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January 19, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Program Manager, Betony Jones, betony@fourthsectorstrategies.com, 530-563-8384 and Communications Director, Nikki Streegan, nstreegan@sbcouncil.org, 530-582-4800
Local workers paid to add “green” to their career tool belts
Calaveras/Tuolumne/Mariposa County, California – The Sierra Business Council and Fourth Sector Strategies are launching the Green Prosperity Initiative to help local workers add green skills and pursue green careers. The 100-hour program offers a $480 stipend to area residents age 18 and up.
“We want local workers to have an edge in the emerging green economy,” said Brent Rubey of Fourth Sector Strategies, a firm focusing on green economic development in rural communities. “Green Prosperity Initiative participants will get sixty hours of field training with local energy auditors. They will also complete an intensive forty-hour 5fiveday energy and climate education program. Participants will learn about sustainable business practices and how to sell ‘green’ to customers.”
The program is targeting out of work or part time workers who have some experience in the trades, building operations and maintenance, construction, and other technical or hands-on fields.
“We want to work with people who are looking to add green to their career tool belt,” explained Mr. Rubey. “You could be someone already committed to a career and wanting that ‘green’ edge, or be looking for a new career path altogether.”
The program will be held in Calaveras County March 14-18, 2011 and again in Tuolumne County July 11-15, 2011.
“We will be reaching out to local businesses and labor and community organizations to recruit participants for this program,” said Steve Frisch, President of Sierra Business Council, a non-profit organization working on regional sustainability in the Sierra Nevada. “By supporting local workers to develop green skills and pursue green careers, this region can position itself to capitalize on the projected growth in the green economy.”
The Green Prosperity Initiative is funded by California utility ratepayers and administered by Pacific Gas and Electric Company, under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission.
Please contact Fourth Sector Strategies at 530-587-3581 or visit www.sbcouncil.org/eetp for more information.
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January 13, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE National Geographic’s Sierra Nevada Geotourism MapGuide Project Now Accepting Nominations for the Southern Sierra [Download PDF]
National Geographic, in partnership with the Sierra Nevada Conservancy (SNC) and the
Sierra Business Council (SBC), today announced the opening of the nomination period
for the southern Sierra phase of its Web-based Sierra Nevada Geotourism MapGuide
project. From January through the end of April 2011, locals can nominate unique and
interesting sites, activities, places to eat, events and much more by logging on to
www.SierraNevadaGeotourism.org.
“The Sierra Nevada region has many iconic symbols that attract millions of visitors
annually from around the world,” said SNC Executive Officer Jim Branham. “The Sierra
Nevada Geotourism Web site is now making it possible for visitors to learn about
hundreds of other less well-known destinations in the Sierra that will enrich their next
visit here.”
“This is a great opportunity for residents of the southern Sierra to promote and share
the special and unique places, festivals, events, restaurants, and historical points of
interest with visitors to the region who are looking for a deeper Sierra experience,” said
SBC geotourism project manager Nicole DeJonghe. "The type of information you find
on the map is the kind you would get through having dinner with locals."
“We define geotourism as tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character
of a place, including its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage and the well-being of
its residents,” said National Geographic project manager Jim Dion. “Geotourism helps
travelers to tread lightly and enjoy a locale’s sense of place.”
The MapGuide is now sweeping across the Sierra, after successful nomination periods
in the Yosemite “Gateway” area and the Tahoe Emigrant Corridor in 2010. Since the
MapGuide was created, more than 800 authentic nominations have been highlighted,
which have generated more than 45,000 “cyber visitors” to the Sierra.
The Southern Sierra MapGuide nomination period is expected to be equally as robust
with exciting destinations like Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks and Sequoia
National Forest. Hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over the world come to
these parks and forests to witness the majesty of the Giant Sequoias in Giant Forest and Grant Grove, the steep canyons, such as Kings Canyon, one of the deepest
canyons in North America, mountains reaching over 14,000 feet into the sky, and the
incredible views from the General’s Highway, Sierra Vista Scenic Byway, and others. In
addition to these well-known destinations, there are many other locations and
opportunities for tourists to experience along the way.
Places like Whisky Falls, The Minarets mountains, Mountain Home State Forest,
Millerton Lake, Dinkey Creek, Shaver and Huntington lakes, Pine Flat Lake, Kaweah
Lake, Lake Success, California Hot Springs, Kernville, Lake Isabella, and Miracle Hot
Springs all beckon. The nomination area generally covers the Sierra south of Madera
County, from the foothills east to the crest of the Sierra, and south to Tehachapi along
highway 58.
Sierra residents and visitors, community organizations, tourism stakeholders and local
businesses will nominate sites for potential inclusion in the MapGuide. A favorite local
restaurant, farm, winery, hiking or biking trail, swimming hole, museum or artist gallery
are examples of the type of nominations National Geographic and its project partners
are seeking. The Web site will target a variety of growing travel niches—adventure and
nature tourism, cultural heritage travel and agritourism—and allow for residents to select
the one-of-a-kind places integral to a distinctive character of place.
Using these nominations from local residents, National Geographic will add the
southern Sierra to the Geotourism Web site to promote travel that celebrates and
sustains what is most distinctive about the Sierra Nevada, including its scenic
landscapes, vibrant local communities, rich biological and cultural diversity, and
captivating history.
Phase four of the Sierra MapGuide project will cover the Sierra Cascade region, and will
launch its nomination period later this year. Click here to access frequently asked questions. Southern Sierra Nomination Launch Events
Tuesday, January 18th, 2:30-3:30pm
(Followed by a “How to Nominate” workshop, 3:30-4:30pm)
North Fork Mono Rancheria Community Center
Contact: Brittany Dyer, (559) 877-8663 dyerbm@gmail.com
Wednesday, January 19th, 9:30-10:30am
Tulare County Board of Supervisors Chambers
Contact: Eric Coyne, (559) 636-5005 (office) or (559) 786-5339 (cell) ECoyne@co.tulare.ca.us
Thursday, January 20th, 9:00-10:15am
(Followed by a “How to Nominate” workshop, 10:15-11:15am)
U.S. Forest Service, Sequoia National Forest,
Kern River Ranger District - Kernville Office
Contact: Cynthia Allred, (760) 376-3848 cynthia@destinotravelcompany.com
Chuck White, (760) 376-3467
revchuckwhite@mchsi.com
July 12, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Vickie Taton, Sierra Business Council
vtaton@sbcouncil.org
760.258.1363
Eastern Sierra Land Tenure Community Workshop
Lee Vining, CA – Join us for an informative and interactive workshop on land ownership and how land exchanges and sales might relate to your community’s vision for the future. The Eastern Sierra Land Tenure Project is a collaborative effort by Inyo & Mono Counties, Inyo National Forest, Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, Bureau of Land Management, Los Angeles Department of Water & Power, and other community, state and federal partners to examine land ownership, encourage community visioning, and explore how adjustments in land tenure (ownership) may be beneficial to local communities.
At this evening Land Tenure 101 workshop we will introduce basic land tenure principles and explain how land tenure adjustments may be used as a planning tool. We will work in small groups to identify criteria that may guide land ownership adjustment decisions for our community in the future. You will leave the workshop with a clear understanding of land tenure strategies, constraints and opportunities as related to community visioning, expansion and goals. You will also be able to identify the next steps necessary to achieving these goals.
The community Land Tenure 101 workshop will be held Wednesday, July 28, 2010 at the Lee Vining Community Center from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm. There will be additional time for questions from 8:30 – 9:00 pm. Light refreshments will be served.
For more information please contact Vickie Taton by phone, 760.258.1363 or email, vtaton@sbcouncil.org. Take part in our brief land tenure survey at www.surveymonkey.com/s/landtenure.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 2, 2010
Residents from Tahoe, Truckee, Donner Summit, Reno, and Foothills Area can nominate unique places to National Geographic Web Site
Media Contacts:
Nicole DeJonghe, 530.582.4800, ndejonghe@sbcouncil.org
Pete Dufour, pdufour@sierranevada.ca.gov
WHAT: Nomination kick off and insider's view on submitting successful nominations followed by networking reception (press and public invited)
WHERE: Granlibakken Conference Center & Lodge, Tahoe City, CA
WHEN: Wednesday, June 2, 2010, 3:30pm
Beginning today, residents of the Donner area of the Sierra Nevada can nominated their favorite destinations, restaurants, scenic views, lakes, hiking trails, and other special places of interest to be included in National Geographic Society’s interactive map guide “geotourism” Web site.
The National Geographic Society has partnered with the Sierra Nevada Conservancy and Sierra Business Council, and local Sierra residents to capture the history and heritage of the Sierra Nevada Region in order to create the Web site and WebMap featuring unique destinations. Geotourism is defined places that sustain or enhance the region’s environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage and the well-being of its residents. Keep in mind that Geotourism helps travelers to tread lightly and enjoy a locale’s sense of place.
The initial nomination period for the Tahoe Emigrant Corridor (counties of Placer, Nevada, El Dorado, Washoe, Douglas, and Carson City) opens today, June 2, through August 2010. Local residents and can log on to www.SierraNevadaGeotourism.org place a nomination of a destination to be included in the WebMap.
The project reached its first milestone for phase one of the project in April 2010, delivering an exciting array of nominations from the Yosemite Gateway area. The upcoming phase of the project is the Tahoe Emigrant Corridor area of the Sierra, which is open for nominations beginning June 2.
The Sierra Nevada Geotourism Project seeks to celebrate the Sierra Nevada as a world-class destination, while contributing to the economic health of the region by promoting sustainable tourism. History buffs and adventurers, backpackers and foodies, birders and sightseers can discover unique destinations based on recommendations from those who know best — residents of the Sierra Nevada.
Sierra residents and visitors, community organizations, tourism stakeholders and local businesses will nominate sites for potential inclusion in a print MapGuide and interactive Web site. Unlike any other mapping project, a favorite local restaurant, farm, winery, hiking or biking trail, swimming hole, museum or artist gallery are samples of the type of nominations National Geographic and its project partners will be seeking. The Web site will target a variety of growing travel niches — adventure and nature tourism, cultural heritage travel and agritourism – and allow for residents to select the one-of-a-kind places integral to a distinctive character of place.
“The Tahoe Emigrant Corridor is such a magnificent part of the region. It is home to historic overland passages, from wagon trains to the Pony Express, and still today acts as the only transportation thoroughfare open in all four seasons,” said Sierra Business Council President Steven Frisch. “There is an entrepreneurial spirit embodied in the people who’ve settled here; you’re sure to find unique retail shops, restaurants and local farms working together, and local economies innovating to remain vibrant and strong.”
"Geotourism is smart, fun, beneficial to the local economy and provides the visitor an opportunity to explore special places recommended by the people who live there," said Sierra Nevada Conservancy Executive Officer Jim Branham. "Any visit to the Sierra is special, but through geotourism visitors gain a more in-depth understanding of their local destination, its residents and its heritage."
“An inherent benefit of geotourism is connecting diverse interests under a common goal,” said Jim Dion, Associate Director of National Geographic Society’s Center for Sustainable Destinations. “The design of the MapGuide process, specifically in forming a regional stewardship council, encourages and builds mutually beneficial partnerships.”
A Geocouncil will oversee the Sierra Nevada Geotourism Project. Working with the National Geographic Society, the Geocouncil will:
1. Encourage community participation in the collection of nominations for the geotourism Web site and MapGuide during the three-month nomination period.
2. Review the nominations and identify themes for the project; work with National Geographic on the writing, editing, fact-checking and design of the Web site and print MapGuide.
3. Develop a marketing plan for the site; oversee the MapGuide’s distribution and contribute fresh material to the Web site; and encourage long-term stewardship of the Sierra’s natural, historic and cultural assets.
The Sierra Nevada Geotourism project is being advanced with the support of the Sierra Nevada Conservancy, Morgan Family Foundation, National Park Service, the United States Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management and the California Department of Parks and Recreation. ### April 13, 2010
Contact: Pete Dufour, (530) 823-4668 Cattlemen, Farmers, Businesses, Water Districts and Environmentalists
Converge in Sacramento for the 7th Annual “Sierra Day in the Capitol”
Auburn—Representatives from 19 organizations with a broad array of interests will come together in Sacramento Wednesday, April 14, for the 7th Annual Sierra Day in the Capitol. The message they’ll be bringing to legislators and staff members is about the importance of the Sierra Nevada Region to the entire state.
“The Sierra Region is crucial to California is so many ways,” said Jim Branham, Executive Officer with the Sierra Nevada Conservancy (SNC), which is coordinating this year’s event. “We want to make sure our Legislature is up to date on aware of the need to protect and enhance the many benefits the Region provides, such as clean water, family recreation, a home for wildlife, and many others.”
Organizations representing cattlemen, businesses, water resources, land trusts, and other groups (complete list below) will be walking the halls and attending meetings in the Capitol. Accompanying Sierra Day this year will be a Sierra photo gallery with works by professional photographers from throughout the Region, as well as the unveiling of a permanent window box display showing the Sierra as the source for 65 percent of the state’s water. Both displays are located in the hallway outside the Governor’s Office.
“Sierra Day is an opportunity to connect those in the Capitol with the people and issues in the Sierra Region,” said Elizabeth “Izzy” Martin, CEO of The Sierra Fund, a non-profit organization based in Nevada City that began the Sierra Day tradition seven years ago. “We always come away from the experience with a feeling that the Legislature has a better understanding of why the Sierra is so important to all Californians.”
In addition to the SNC and The Sierra Fund, the participating organizations include the Bear-Yuba Partnership, California Cattlemen’s Association, California Forestry Association, California Rangeland Trust, California Ski Industry Association, CalTrout, Mountain Counties Water Resources Association, Northern Sierra Partnership, Pacific Forest Trust, Planning and Conservation League, Regional Council of Rural Counties, Sierra Business Council, Sierra-Cascade Land Trust Council, Sierra Environmental Water Caucus, Sierra Nevada Alliance, Southern Sierra Partnership, and The Trust for Public Land.
Sierra Day will be followed by the Sierra Business Council’s Vision 2020 Awards event from 6-8 p.m. at the Leland Stanford Mansion. For more information on the Vision 2020 Awards event, visit: www.SBCouncil.org, or contact Nikki Streegan, Sierra Business Council, (530) 582-4800. The Sierra Nevada Conservancy was created in 2004. Its mission is to initiate, encourage, and support efforts that improve the environmental, economic and social well-being of the Sierra Nevada Region, its communities and the citizens of California. Its sources of funding are the Environmental License Plate Fund and Proposition 84, the Clean Water Act.
### April 7, 2010
NEW YOSEMITE MAP ALLOWS TRIP-PLANNING FROM DESKTOP;
OFFERS INSIDERS’ LOOK AT HUGE SIERRA NEVADA REGION
YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, Calif.—The wonders of Yosemite National Park are just the starting point of National Geographic’s newest online Geotourism MapGuide, the latest in digital mapping loaded with interactive features for fun and custom trip planning. To be unveiled Thursday, April 8, the map moves far beyond the famous park’s borders to highlight the region’s unsung treasures, celebrating the world-class natural and cultural heritage of the entire area.
The MapGuide to the Yosemite Gateway, at www.SierraNevadaGeotourism.org, is the first of four regions to be highlighted within the enormous Sierra Nevada. The Yosemite Gateway map shares locals’ secrets of one-of-a-kind coffee houses in historic buildings, spectacular drives without the crowds, deserted mining towns, even details on the upcoming Mariposa Butterfly Festival. More than 800 map point nominations were received from the region’s residents, making the MapGuide a unique resource for the millions of annual visitors as well as for locals seeking unspoiled outdoor places and authentic cultural experiences.
The MapGuide will be unveiled at the iconic Yosemite Lodge, following a meeting of the Yosemite Gateway partners. Sponsoring the map are the Sierra Nevada Conservancy and Sierra Business Council in conjunction with National Geographic. The MapGuide also received funding from the Federal Highway Administration’s Scenic Byways Program and the Morgan Family Foundation.
“The entire world has heard of Yosemite, and rightly so. However, the magic of this MapGuide is that it includes the surrounding Sierra Nevada, a region that deserves to become a household name, too,” said James Dion, associate director of National Geographic’s Center for Sustainable Destinations. “Our commitment is to preserving the enormous scenic and cultural assets of both.”
For the purpose of this project, the Sierra Nevada is sectioned into four phase areas. The MapGuide Web site reflects the completion of the first phase in the Yosemite Gateway area and the transition into sequential phase areas. This summer the project will solicit nominations from the Tahoe Emigrant Corridor, which includes the counties of Placer, Nevada, El Dorado, Washoe, Douglas and Carson. The final two MapGuides will guide visitors through the Northern and Southern Sierra regions.
“The breadth of the beauty in the Sierra Nevada is so unique. Lassen Volcanic National Park, Lake Tahoe, Yosemite National Park, and Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks are incredible jewels in this 400-mile-long region,” said Steven Frisch, President, Sierra Business Council. “The Sierra Nevada Geotourism Project is the perfect synthesis of economic outreach to culturally rich communities and respect for the planet.”
“The Sierra is where Californians come to discover, unwind and imagine,” said Sierra Nevada Conservancy Executive Officer, Jim Branham. “With the National Geographic Geotourism initiative, visitors will realize that there is so much more to see than they ever imagined, and they will come away from their next adventure with a better sense of connectedness to the Sierra Nevada, its residents and its resources.”
National Geographic defines geotourism as “tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place — its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage and the well-being of its residents.”
Dion noted that the online Yosemite Gateway map is “living and breathing, constantly being updated.” Site visitors can add comments, read what others have posted, even hit a key to connect to Facebook or Twitter accounts to advise friends instantly of what they’ve found. It’s not too late to make a nomination for the map; suggestions will be considered for possible inclusion on the WebMap or a print copy to come.
Web site visitors can learn about the John Muir Highway, where they can relive the inspirational transformation that Muir experienced during his first journey to Yosemite Valley. Agritourism suggestions include the Larsen Apple Barn, the oldest (c. 1860) continuously family-owned and -operated farm in the area, featuring produce and such baked delights as Cream Cheese Apple Pie. Also featured are rustic and eclectic accommodations — many too small to make a traditional guidebook — like the Yosemite Bug Mountain Resort & Spa situated on 50 acres of forested hillside. History buffs and adventurers, backpackers and foodies, birders and sightseers can discover destinations based on recommendations from those who know best — residents of the Sierra Nevada.
The National Geographic Society has worked with community-based alliances to develop similar geotourism MapGuides in other regions of the world. MapGuide projects have been completed or are ongoing in California’s Redwood Coast, Central Cascades, Montreal, Greater Yellowstone, Crown of the Continent (Alberta, British Columbia, Montana), Guatemala, Sonora Desert (Arizona, Sonora), Peru, Baja California, Vermont and Appalachia.
A major 2002 Geotourism study by National Geographic Traveler magazine and the Travel Industry Association of America found that at least 55 million American adults can be classified as “geotourists” — a strong incentive for scenic regions to protect assets for future visitors.
The National Geographic Society is one of the world’s largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Founded in 1888 to “increase and diffuse geographic knowledge,” the Society works to inspire people to care about the planet. It reaches more than 375 million people worldwide each month through its official journal, National Geographic, and other magazines; National Geographic Channel; television documentaries; music; radio; films; books; DVDs; maps; exhibitions; school publishing programs; interactive media; and merchandise. National Geographic has funded more than 9,200 scientific research, conservation and exploration projects and supports an education program combating geographic illiteracy. For more information, visit nationalgeographic.com.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Nicole DeJonghe, Sierra Business Council, ndejonghe@sbcouncil.org, (530) 582-4800 ext. 25
Nikki Streegan, Sierra Business Council, nstreegan@sbcouncil.org, (530) 582-4800 ext. 12
Pete Dufour, Sierra Nevada Conservancy, pdufour@sierranevada.ca.gov, (530) 823-4668
Barbara Fallon, National Geographic’s Center for Sustainable Destinations, (703) 683-4866, bfallon.nationalgeographic@gmail.com ###
March 25, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Media, Nikki Streegan, nstreegan@sbcouncil.org, 530.582.4800
Bringing the Sierra to the State Capital: Sierra Nevada leaders honored with Vision 2020 Award in Sacramento
Sacramento, Calif. – Join Sierra Business Council and our 2009 Vision 2020 Award winners at the Leland Stanford Mansion in Sacramento, April 14, 2010, 5-8PM.
Leaders and visionaries in the areas of conservation, energy efficiency, smart planning and growth, sustainable development, and affordable housing will be honored on behalf of their tremendous contributions to the health and wealth of the Sierra Nevada.
This year’s Vision 2020 Award winners are Reed Tollefson from the Audubon California’s Kern River Preserve, Meea Kang from Domus Development, Jim Turner from Sierra Pacific Industries’ Loyalton Co-Generation Power Plant, and Keith Logan from Logan and Associates and the Northern Sierra Biomass Utilization Task Force. A Lifetime Achievement award will be given to Mike Chrisman, the former Secretary for Natural Resources for the California Resource Agency.
"The 2009 Vision 2020 Awards will be an opportunity to celebrate the great and varied accomplishments of visionaries in the Sierra Nevada, as well as demonstrate the immense value the Sierra region brings to the state of California," said Steven Frisch, President of Sierra Business Council.
The 2009 Vision 2020 Awards feature a no host bar, as well as appetizers sourced from local Sierra Nevada producers. This event is free to the public but Sierra Business Council will accept donations to the event. Visit www.sbcouncil.org/vision2020 to RSVP today.
#####
February 11, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Program Manager, Betony Jones, betony.jones@gmail.com, 530-563-8384 and Communications Director, Nikki Streegan, nstreegan@sbcouncil.org, 530-582-4800
$4.8 Million Dollar Energy Efficiency Program comes to the Sierra Nevada
Local governments and businesses in 14 Sierra Nevada counties will have new access to cutting edge energy efficient technology through a new collaboration between Sierra Business Council and Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E). From 2010 to 2012, Sierra Business Council, a non-profit organization based in Truckee, CA will be offering free energy audits and low-cost retrofits to commercial PG&E customers in the Sierra Nevada through a new program called the Sierra Nevada Energy Watch.
“During this tough economic downturn, we are excited to be able to support our local businesses and governments by offering cost-cutting energy efficiency services,” said Steve Frisch, President of the Sierra Business Council. “This project embodies our long-standing mission of demonstrating that environmental quality and economic prosperity are compatible goals.”
In addition to offering energy efficiency services and products, the program will help local governments conduct greenhouse gas inventories and develop climate action plans to help the state meet its AB32 emission reduction goals. The program takes a comprehensive approach to the region’s energy needs. “We aren’t just dropping in light bulbs,” explained Program Manager, Betony Jones, “We are looking for deep, long-term savings, and we are developing the local workforce capacity to provide clean energy services far into the future.”
The Sierra Nevada Energy Watch program is funded by California utility ratepayers under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission. It offers services for municipal, special district, and non-profit facilities as well as small and medium businesses throughout the PG&E service area from Lassen to Mariposa Counties. Those interested in participating in the program or learning more should contact Sierra Business Council at 530-582-4800.
For more information about the Sierra Nevada Energy Watch Program, and to see tips on saving energy at home and the workplace, please visit www.sbcouncil.org/energywatch.
###
Feb. 10, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Nikki Streegan, 530-582-4800 New AmeriCorps Members Begin Service in Truckee
The Sierra Business Council Welcomes Shane Lopez and Martini Morris to a Year of National Service in 2010
Feb. 10, 2010, Truckee, Calif. - The Sierra Business Council welcomed Shane Lopez and Martini Morris as their AmeriCorps members in January 2010. Mr. Lopez and Ms. Morris are beginning their year of national service as Sierra Nevada AmeriCorps Partnership (SNAP) members based in Truckee. They are two of twenty-seven members, out of over 270 applicants, selected to serve to conduct watershed restoration, monitoring, and education and volunteer recruitment in the Sierra Nevada.
This is the fourth year of the AmeriCorps program in the Sierra Nevada region. Since 1994, AmeriCorps has been a network of local, state, and national service programs that connect more than 70,000 Americans each year in intensive service to meet our country’s critical needs in education, public safety, health, and the environment. The Sierra Nevada AmeriCorps Partnership (SNAP) mission is to assess and restore impaired watershed habitats and to increase community stewardship of the Sierra Nevada watersheds through education and volunteerism. Members serve with community non-profit groups and natural resource agencies. For more information on SNAP, call (530) 542-4546 or visit: www.sierranevadaalliance.org/programs/program.shtml?type=pgm08
“I am thrilled to be a SNAP member serving in Truckee,” said Martini Morris, Sierra Nevada AmeriCorps Partnership member. “The Sierra Business Council is exceptional in that they involve community, environment and economy in their projects. This is a fantastic opportunity to serve the community while learning about and exploring the Sierra Nevada.”
Members started their service with a week of training outside Yosemite National Park. Together these twenty-seven members will serve in the Sierra Nevada to: - Implement watershed restoration projects on 1000 acres of high priority lands and rivers;
- Educate over 10,000 individuals to broaden public awareness of watershed issues and restoration and to provide an avenue for people to get involved; and
- Engage over 1800 volunteers contributing over 13,000 hours towards projects which protect and restore watershed resources.
"We are excited for Shane and Martini to join SBC as AmeriCorps members," says Lisa Biddle, Project Assistant at Sierra Business Council. "They are passionate and articulate about environmental issues, and will bring those qualities to their service tasks of education, outreach and restoration. The things they will accomplish this year are truly invaluable to our organization and to our region. Martini is serving as a Watershed Education Assistant and Shane is serving as a Watershed Restoration Assistant." ###
Jan. 21, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Vickie Taton, vtaton@sbcouncil.org
USDA, SIERRA BUSINESS COUNCIL & CERRO COSO COMMUNITY COLLEGE TO HOST FORUM ON JOBS, ECONOMIC GROWTH Business Owners, Residents, Community Leaders Invited to Share Ideas on Creating Jobs DAVIS, January 19, 2010 – USDA Rural Development State Director Dr. Glenda Humiston announced today that the state office in partnership with the Sierra Business Council (SBC) and Cerro Coso Community College will hold a county-wide roundtable on job creation and economic growth on Tuesday, January 26 at 6:00 pm in Room 215-6 of Eastern Sierra College Center Mammoth Campus located at 101 College Parkway, Mammoth Lakes. “This forum will provide an opportunity for residents, business owners and community leaders across the state to share ideas on creating jobs and economic opportunities,” Humiston said. “Government can help lay the groundwork for economic growth, but the best ideas for continued growth and job creation often come from local and community leaders. I look forward to hearing these ideas and sharing them with the Administration.” The roundtable will include business owners, residents, state and local officials, union members, non-profit organizations, community leaders, economists and other interested parties. Participants will discuss steps that can to be taken to grow the economy and put Americans back to work. The primary focus will be on ideas to accelerate job growth in rural America. Some of the topics to be discussed are: - Exploring ways to rejuvenate and promote local businesses;
- Creating jobs by rebuilding America’s infrastructure;
- Creating new opportunities from existing ones, such as with value-added agricultural products;
- Supporting job growth among small businesses; and
- Preparing workers for 21st century jobs.
To reserve a space at this free roundtable, please contact SBC at (760) 258-1363 or vtaton@sbcouncil.org. In addition to today’s announcement, forums are being led and organized by USDA Rural Development throughout the state. Co-hosting this effort is USDA Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service and a wide variety of local organizers: Economic Development Corporations, U.C. Cooperative Extension, Resource Conservation and Development Councils, California State Universities, Farm Bureaus, Tribal Governments, and many more. To find a location near you, visit www.rurdev.usda.gov/ca. USDA Rural Development administers and manages more than 40 housing, business, and community infrastructure and facility programs as laid out by Congress through a network of 6,100 employees located in 500 national, state and local offices. These programs are designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, farmers and ranchers and improve the quality of life in rural America. Rural Development has an existing portfolio of more than $125 billion in loans and loan guarantees. ### USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). Dec. 4, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE For more information, contact Vickie Taton, vtaton@sbcouncil.org; or Lynne Almeida, spellbinderbooks@verizon.net. Think Local First Eastern Sierra launches holiday shopping "Scavenger Hunt" On December 1st, local shoppers can look for new information – and a fun holiday shopping game – at their favorite Think Local First businesses and organizations. The group has produced a new counter card that lists all of their 50+ members, as of press time. Additionally, they’re inviting all their customers to play a ‘holiday shopping scavenger hunt’ game, where contestants save any and all receipts from purchases they make from Think Local First members. At the end of the month, contestants will mail in their receipts, and two generous prize gift baskets will be awarded in January: one for the highest number of receipts overall, and one for receipts from the most TLF locations. There is no minimum dollar amount per purchase for a receipt to qualify.
“Our TLF members have donated some really generous prizes for this contest”, said Vickie Taton, regional rep for the Sierra Business Council. She is heading up the TLF program locally. Lynne Almeida of Spellbinder Books added, “Over the last couple of years, we’ve had more and more people coming in and saying, ‘I’m shopping locally this holiday season’. We thought this game would be a fun and different way to say thank you to all our loyal customers. That’s one reason why any receipt, regardless how small, is eligible for entry … this contest is about having fun shopping locally, rather than who has the most money. So save your receipts from those bookmarks you buy from us, your cup of coffee from Black Sheep, and your shoelaces from Sage to Summit!”
Study after study shows that independent, locally-owned businesses have a special role to play in the vitality of our local economies and communities. If you are interested in having your business or organization participate in Think Local First—Eastern Sierra, or just want more information, please contact Vickie Taton at (760) 258-1363 or vtaton@sbcouncil,org , or visit one of these web sites: www.livingeconomies.org, or www.sbcouncil.org. More information on the contest can be found on the “Local Shoppers Holiday Scavenger Hunt” cards available at Think Local First member locations. ### December 1, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Tim Ahern 415-710-9095 or Kristen Batten 415-281-0411 John Bernstein Joins the Northern Sierra Partnership as President The Northern Sierra Partnership is pleased to announce the selection of Dr. John Bernstein as President of the Partnership. John will spearhead the campaign to protect over 100,000 acres of priority land in the Northern Sierra, known for the stunning beauty of its windswept peaks, the productivity of its expansive forests, the ecological richness of its meadows and ranch lands, and its unique importance as the source of more than half of California's water.
Educated as a physician, John has been active in land conservation for over twenty years, leading conservation organizations on both the West and East coasts. Most recently, he served as Vice President for Conservation at the Pacific Forest Trust where he worked with private forest owners, including major timber companies, to ensure sustainable management of timberlands. He also served as Director of Conservation Programs at the Land Trust Alliance, the national association of land trusts and conservation organizations.
“I am delighted that John Bernstein has agreed to serve as President of the Partnership,” said Lucy Blake, Chair of the Partnership's Governing Council. “The time to protect this extraordinary region is now, and John is just the person to lead our campaign forward.”
The Northern Sierra Partnership is a pioneering alliance of five leading conservation organizations—The Nature Conservancy, The Trust for Public Land, the Feather River Land Trust, the Truckee Donner Land Trust, and the Sierra Business Council—working together to conserve the lands and waters of the Northern Sierra Nevada for future generations. The Partnership works to protect high-quality water supplies, world-class outdoor recreation, healthy forests that sequester carbon, natural habitat for native fish and wildlife, and working ranches and forests for the citizens of California.
Jim and Becky Morgan, co-founders of the Northern Sierra Partnership, expressed their enthusiasm for Bernstein’s appointment. “Most people don’t know that much of the Sierra Nevada, California’s greatest mountain range, is at risk from ill-conceived development, wildfire, and other threats to its ecological well-being,” said Jim Morgan. “Healthy ecosystems are the foundation of healthy economies. Becky and I are looking forward to working with John, our five Partners, and the people of the Northern Sierra to address the challenges facing this critically important region.”
For more information, please visit www.northernsierrapartnership.org. ### October 19, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Nicole DeJonghe, Project Manager, Sierra Business Council, 530-582-4800 ext. 25, ndejonghe@sbcouncil.org
Nikki Streegan, Communications Director, Sierra Business Council, 530.582.4800, nstreegan@sbcouncil.org
Sierra Nevada’s Geotourism MapGuide awarded $205,000 from Federal Highway Administration Awards for Scenic Byways, nomination period closing for Central Sierra
Communities in 43 states will receive $40.7 million for 160 projects to improve and promote highways designated as scenic byways, Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez announced Friday, October 9, 2009. The recently launched Sierra Nevada Geotourism Project was awarded $205,000 for its efforts in the Central Sierra Nevada. The Sierra Nevada Geotourism project seeks to promote tourism for the 21st century; tourism that can conserve the region’s historic towns and heritage sites, restore and protect the landscape, and sustain local businesses and communities.
“This grant is going to allow the partnership in the Central Sierra to do very robust outreach and identification of assets for the Geotourism Website,” said Sierra Business Council’s President, Steven Frisch. “It will demonstrate to the rest of the Sierra Nevada how valuable this sort of project could be for building a long term constituency for land stewardship and community building.”
The grants are part of the Federal Highway Administration’s National Scenic Byways Program, which recognizes and provides funding for roads designated either locally or nationally as having outstanding scenic, historic, cultural, natural, recreational and archaeological qualities.
With the arrival of this great news (and some beautiful fall colors) also comes the closing deadline for the Central Sierra nomination period. The site has only received one nomination related to the harvest season – the Chappell Winery grape stomp that takes place during the Mariposa Agri-Nature Trail weekend every September.
Kris Casto is looking forward to a spring hike on the Hite Cove trail when the Merced River is running fast and the hillsides are awash in wildflowers. Every summer, migrating birds descend on Mono Lake, and several partners from the eastern Sierra sponsor its Bird Chautaqua, a three day festival combining art and music, natural history and field trips.
Make a nomination for the Sierra Geotourism mapguide today, and consider not just place, but season.
The deadline for nominations in the Central Sierra is Saturday, October 31st. Hundreds of nominations at www.SierraNevadaGeotourism.org have been received over a three month nomination period including a swell of great restaurants and wineries, local volunteer opportunities, unique recreation opportunities, and niche stores and shops that help to maintain the character of rural towns throughout the Sierra Nevada.
One thing is for certain: people who live in the Sierra love it. They love it so much that balancing the protection of natural resources and economic viability is of utmost importance to them. And they’re convinced that if visitors can tap into the National Geographic mapguide their experience is sure to be one-of-a-kind.
What do you love about the Sierra Nevada? Help tell the story of this extraordinary mountain range by going to www.SierraNevadaGeotourism.org.
### August 12, 2009
Media Contacts:
Nicole DeJonghe, 530.582.4800, ndejonghe@sbcouncil.org
Shana Avalos, Outreach and Partnership Program Coordinator, Sierra Nevada Conservancy, savalos@sierranevada.ca.gov
New National Geographic MapGuide to Highlight Sierra Nevada Region
Web site to highlight authentic places in vast scenic area
WHAT: Press Conference to announce the Geotourism Web site
WHERE: Mariposa Museum and History Center, Mariposa, CA
WHEN: Wednesday, August 19, 2009, 10 to 11:30 am
The National Geographic Society has partnered with the Sierra Nevada Conservancy and Sierra Business Council to capture the history and heritage of the Sierra Nevada Region in order to create an interactive Web site and print map. The Sierra Nevada Geotourism Project seeks to celebrate the Sierra Nevada as a world-class destination, while contributing to the economic health of the region by promoting sustainable tourism. History buffs and adventurers, backpackers and foodies, birders and sightseers can discover unique destinations based on recommendations from those who know best — residents of the Sierra Nevada.
Sierra residents and visitors, community organizations, tourism stakeholders and local businesses will nominate sites for potential inclusion in a print MapGuide and interactive Web site. Unlike any other mapping project, a favorite local restaurant, farm, winery, hiking or biking trail, swimming hole, museum or artist gallery are samples of the type of nominations National Geographic and its project partners will be seeking. The Web site will target a variety of growing travel niches — adventure and nature tourism, cultural heritage travel and agritourism – and allow for residents to select the one-of-a-kind places integral to a distinctive character of place.
“The breadth of the beauty in the Sierra Nevada is tremendously unique. Lassen National Park, Lake Tahoe, Yosemite National Park, and Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are incredible jewels in this 400-mile-long region,” said Steve Frisch, President, Sierra Business Council.
“The Sierra Nevada Geotourism Project is the perfect synthesis between economic outreach to culturally rich communities and respect for the planet,” he added.
Geotourism is defined as tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place — its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage and the well-being of its residents. Geotourism helps travelers to tread lightly and enjoy a locale’s sense of place.
“An inherent benefit of geotourism is connecting diverse interests under a common goal,” said Jim Dion, Associate Director of National Geographic Society’s Center for Sustainable Destinations. “The design of the MapGuide process, specifically in forming a regional stewardship council, encourages and builds mutually beneficial partnerships.”
A Geotourism Council will oversee the Sierra Nevada Geotourism Project. Working with the National Geographic Society, the Geo Council will: - Encourage community participation in the collection of nominations for the geotourism Web site and MapGuide during the three-month nomination period.
- Review the nominations and identify themes for the project; work with National Geographic on the writing, editing, fact-checking and design of the Web site and print MapGuide.
- Develop a marketing plan for the site; oversee the MapGuide’s distribution and contribute fresh material to the Web site; and encourage long-term stewardship of the Sierra’s natural, historic and cultural assets.
Nominations begin in the Yosemite Gateway region at the August 19 press event, with the initial Web site slated to launch January 2010 and completion of the Web site covering the entire range slated for November 2010.
The National Geographic Society has worked with community-based alliances to develop similar Geotourism MapGuides in several other regions around the world. MapGuide projects have been completed in Greater Yellowstone, the Central Cascades (Oregon, Washington), the Crown of the Continent (Alberta, British Columbia, Montana), Guatemala, Montreal, Sonoran Desert (Arizona, Sonora), Romania, Norway, Honduras, Peru, Baja California, Rhode Island, Vermont and Appalachia.
The National Geographic Society is one of the world's largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Founded in 1888 to “increase and diffuse geographic knowledge,” the Society works to inspire people to care about the planet. It reaches more than 370 million people worldwide each month through its official journal, National Geographic, and other magazines; National Geographic Channel; television documentaries; music; radio; films; books; DVDs; maps; exhibitions; live events; school publishing programs; interactive media; and merchandise. National Geographic has funded more than 9,000 scientific research, conservation and exploration projects and supports an education program promoting geographic literacy. For more information, visit nationalgeographic.com.
Members of the press from around the region are encouraged to join this launch in Mariposa, CA, on Wednesday, August 19, 2009, and visit the Sierra Nevada Geotourism Media Kit at www.sbcouncil.org/geotourismmediakit. Please note that the Mariposa Museum and History center will be offering complimentary admission to all visitors that day.
Speakers include:
James Dion, Associate Director of National Geographic’s Center for Sustainable Destinations, jdion@ngs.org
Ron Loya, President of the Mariposa Museum and History Center Board of Directors, 209-966-2924
Brad Aborn, Mariposa County Board of Supervisors Chair, baborn@mariposacounty.org
Nicole DeJonghe, Sierra Business Council, ndejonghe@sbcouncil.org
Bob Kingman, Sierra Nevada Conservancy, bkingman@sierranevada.ca.gov
The Sierra Nevada Geotourism project is being advanced with the support of the National Park Service, the United States Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management and the California Department of Parks and Recreation.
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September 1, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Steven Frisch, President, Sierra Business Council, 530.277.3763, sfrisch@sbcouncil.org
Sierra Business Council announces former TRPA Executive Director as new Chief Operating Officer
TRUCKEE, CA—Sierra Business Council (SBC), a non-profit association of more than 750 members committed to promoting the sustainability of the Sierra Nevada, is pleased to announce the addition of John Singlaub to their staff as the Executive Director/Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Singlaub will be responsible for overseeing the implementation of SBC’s portfolio of project work, as well as finance, human resources and legal affairs.
“We are very pleased to have John joining our team,” said Sierra Business Council President and Chief Executive Officer, Steve Frisch. “He brings a remarkable body of experience and knowledge of the region which will help us better serve our constituents and continue the success of our membership’s shared vision of the Sierra.”
John recently left the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA), after serving five years as the Executive Director. TRPA is the bi-state planning and regulatory agency responsible for the protection and restoration of Lake Tahoe. Prior to that, John served more than 25 years as a planner and manager for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), most recently as the District Manager for BLM in Carson City, Nevada. Other BLM assignments included Oregon, New Mexico, Colorado and Washington, DC.
“I’m extremely happy to be joining the Sierra Business Council,” said Singlaub. “This is an organization whose mission I am deeply passionate about. I am looking forward to using my experience to help the region meet its goals and create a brighter future.”
John is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the Sierra Business Council, but will be resigning from that post to accept this position. ##### August 12, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contacts:
Bradley Cleveland, 510.967.1066, sierrageotourism@sbcouncil.org
Nicole DeJonghe, 530.582.4800, ndejonghe@sbcouncil.org
Shana Avalos, Outreach and Partnership Program Coordinator, Sierra Nevada Conservancy, savalos@sierranevada.ca.gov
New National Geographic MapGuide to Highlight Sierra Nevada Region
Web site to highlight authentic places in vast scenic area
The National Geographic Society has partnered with the Sierra Nevada Conservancy and Sierra Business Council to capture the history and heritage of the Sierra Nevada Region in order to create an interactive Web site and print map. The Sierra Nevada Geotourism Project seeks to celebrate the Sierra Nevada as a world-class destination, while contributing to the economic health of the region by promoting sustainable tourism. History buffs and adventurers, backpackers and foodies, birders and sightseers can discover unique destinations based on recommendations from those who know best — residents of the Sierra Nevada.
Sierra residents and visitors, community organizations, tourism stakeholders and local businesses will nominate sites for potential inclusion in a print MapGuide and interactive Web site. Unlike any other mapping project, a favorite local restaurant, farm, winery, hiking or biking trail, swimming hole, museum or artist gallery are samples of the type of nominations National Geographic and its project partners will be seeking. The Web site will target a variety of growing travel niches — adventure and nature tourism, cultural heritage travel and agritourism – and allow for residents to select the one-of-a-kind places integral to a distinctive character of place.
“The breadth of the beauty in the Sierra Nevada is tremendously unique. Lassen National Park, Lake Tahoe, Yosemite National Park, and Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are incredible jewels in this 400-mile-long region,” said Steve Frisch, President, Sierra Business Council.
“The Sierra Nevada Geotourism Project is the perfect synthesis between economic outreach to culturally rich communities and respect for the planet,” he added.
Geotourism is defined as tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place — its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage and the well-being of its residents. Geotourism helps travelers to tread lightly and enjoy a locale’s sense of place.
“An inherent benefit of geotourism is connecting diverse interests under a common goal,” said Jim Dion, Associate Director of National Geographic Society’s Center for Sustainable Destinations. “The design of the MapGuide process, specifically in forming a regional stewardship council, encourages and builds mutually beneficial partnerships.”
A Geotourism Council will oversee the Sierra Nevada Geotourism Project. Working with the National Geographic Society, the Geo Council will: - Encourage community participation in the collection of nominations for the geotourism Web site and MapGuide during the three-month nomination period.
- Review the nominations and identify themes for the project; work with National Geographic on the writing, editing, fact-checking and design of the Web site and print MapGuide.
- Develop a marketing plan for the site; oversee the MapGuide’s distribution and contribute fresh material to the Web site; and encourage long-term stewardship of the Sierra’s natural, historic and cultural assets.
Nominations begin in the Yosemite Gateway region at the August 19 press event, with the initial Web site slated to launch January 2010 and completion of the Web site covering the entire range slated for November 2010.
The National Geographic Society has worked with community-based alliances to develop similar Geotourism MapGuides in several other regions around the world. MapGuide projects have been completed in Greater Yellowstone, the Central Cascades (Oregon, Washington), the Crown of the Continent (Alberta, British Columbia, Montana), Guatemala, Montreal, Sonoran Desert (Arizona, Sonora), Romania, Norway, Honduras, Peru, Baja California, Rhode Island, Vermont and Appalachia.
The National Geographic Society is one of the world's largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Founded in 1888 to “increase and diffuse geographic knowledge,” the Society works to inspire people to care about the planet. It reaches more than 370 million people worldwide each month through its official journal, National Geographic, and other magazines; National Geographic Channel; television documentaries; music; radio; films; books; DVDs; maps; exhibitions; live events; school publishing programs; interactive media; and merchandise. National Geographic has funded more than 9,000 scientific research, conservation and exploration projects and supports an education program promoting geographic literacy. For more information, visit nationalgeographic.com.
Members of the press from around the region are encouraged to join this launch in Mariposa, CA, on Wednesday, August 19, 2009, and visit the Sierra Nevada Geotourism Media Kit at www.sbcouncil.org/geotourismmediakit. Please note that the Mariposa Museum and History center will be offering complimentary admission to all visitors that day.
Speakers include: - James Dion, Associate Director of National Geographic’s Center for Sustainable Destinations, jdion@ngs.org
- Ron Loya, President of the Mariposa Museum and History Center Board of Directors, 209-966-2924
- Brad Aborn, Mariposa County Board of Supervisors Chair, baborn@mariposacounty.org
- Nicole DeJonghe, Sierra Business Council, ndejonghe@sbcouncil.org
- Bob Kingman, Sierra Nevada Conservancy, bkingman@sierranevada.ca.gov
The Sierra Nevada Geotourism project is being advanced with the support of the National Park Service, the United States Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management and the California Department of Parks and Recreation. July 10, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Nikki Streegan, nstreegan@sbcouncil.org, 530-582-4800 ext. 12
Exploratory discussions of a state constitutional convention come to Truckee High School, August 21st, 9:30am-12:30pm
Truckee, Calif. – As California dives deeper and deeper into a $24 billion deficit discussions around the Sierra Nevada and the state about the potential to call a constitutional convention have become very real. It sounds radical, but the push for a constitutional convention has been buzzing for almost a year, and convening one could inevitably address California’s revenue and governance crises.
The proposed convention, as described by the Bay Area Council, could include such issues as: budget reform to include performance based budgeting and multi-year budgeting; election reform to create a unicameral legislature and address term limits; tax reform to create a more stable source of funding for local government; and improved government oversight by creating a sunset commission to review and eliminate programs, commissions, boards, and agencies periodically.
Sierra Business Council is hosting a constitutional convention town hall meeting at Truckee High School, August 21st at 9:30am with co-host, Bay Area Council. The regional sustainability non-profit’s interest is in making sure a voice from the Sierra Nevada is heard throughout this emerging process.
“Our intent is to convene groups up and down the region and record interest and issues. This process has potential to deeply affect government, budget, and fiscal issues and must take account of rural parts of the state,” said Sierra Business Council’s President, Steven Frisch.
The non-profit organization’s only role has been to create a space and place for a dialogue to happen.
“As the problems of the State are addressed, it is critically important that rural and mountain communities have a voice in our governance. The needs of the Sierra Nevada must be included in the dialogue to ensure the protection of our natural, historic, social and economic interests,” said Maia Schneider, former Mayor of the Town of Truckee.
Convention organizers, who include non-profit organizations, business associations, political organizations, and individuals, face a significant hurdle: The California Constitution requires the Legislature to approve any convention by a two-thirds vote -- something many organizers believe would never happen. To work around that barrier, those pushing for a convention say they will put a measure on the same ballot eliminating the need for such approval.
Jim Wunderman, president and CEO of Bay Area Council, is a lead supporter of the Repair California movement. In a recent opinion piece for the Sacramento Bee he wrote, “We will give the people of California the right to call a constitutional convention (a right we are currently denied, unlike in other states), and we will call a limited convention of citizens. Those citizens will look at California's governance rules with the state's top experts and recommend changes. Then, we, the people, will vote on the changes they propose.”
May 11, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Media, Nikki Streegan, nstreegan@sbcouncil.org, 530.582.4800
Conversations about rewriting state constitution begin in the Sierra Nevada
Auburn, Calif. – On Monday, a group of 25 stakeholders, including Sierra Business Council and the Bay Area Council, convened to discuss the potential to call a new California constitution convention to address California’s revenue and governance crises. The meeting was hosted by Sierra Business Council President, Steve Frisch, and featured a presentation by Bay Area Council President and CEO, Jim Wunderman.
California has had two previous Constitutional Conventions: in 1849 and the 1878 Convention that produced our current system. California’s constitution has been amended more than 500 times since 1878.
Calling a constitutional convention would require placing measures on a state-wide ballot to give the voters the right to call a convention, and to define the terms and conditions for convening a convention.
According to a recent Public Policy Institute of California survey most Californians agree that California is headed in the wrong direction (68%), the state budget needs major changes (78%), and that state government is pretty much run by a few big interests rather than for the benefit of the people (68%). California faces crises in budgeting, health care, education, water supply, and prison services and California voters no longer trust our elected officials to solve the problem.
The proposed convention, as described by the Bay Area Council, could include such issues as: budget reform to include performance based budgeting and multi-year budgeting; election reform to create a unicameral legislature and lengthen term limits; tax reform to create a more stable source of funding for local government; or improved government oversight by creating a sunset commission to review and eliminate programs, commissions, boards, and agencies periodically.
Sierra Business Council’s interest is in making sure a voice from the Sierra Nevada is heard throughout this emerging process. Currently the non-profit organizations role has been to create a space and place for a dialogue to happen.
“Our intent is to convene groups up and down the region and record interest and issues. This process has potential to deeply affect government, budget, and fiscal issues and must take account of rural parts of the state,” said Sierra Business Council’s President, Steven Frisch. |
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