The people of Californias Great Valley are facing one of the most challenging economic environments of their lives.

But rising from this troubled time are people and organizations that are finding ways for uncommon success. Theyre lifting up the region. And they were the focus of this years annual conference, Valley Up: Ideas, Innovation and Inspiration, on May 6 and 7. Held for the first time in Modesto, at the Gallo Center for the Arts, the conference focused on people and organizations who have found innovative solutions that have led to breakthrough achievements in the valley and how these techniques can be applied in other areas.

2010 Annual Conference focused on uncommon regional success in challenging times

Volume 12, Number 2

Summer 2010

cused on her organizations work addressing external factors contributing to the regions skyrocketing obesity rates.
Lynda Resnick on stage at the annaul conference

There is a need to valley up and help improve things, said Genoveva Islas-Hooker, head of the Central California Regional Obesity Prevention Program and a keynote speaker at the conference. Islas-Hooker gave an inspiring presentation that fo-

Her secret?

Ask the community, she said. They are the experts on what problems exist and the best source for ideas to fix them. Islas-Hooker was joined by an impressive line-up of speakers who each shared their recipes for accomplishment. They included Lynda

Resnick, author of Rubies in the Orchard, who spoke about the power of marketing in transforming San Joaquin Valley pomegranate from a little-known agricultural commodity to the popular and trendy line of POM Wonderful health drinks; Luis Santana, founder of Reading and Beyond in Fresno, which has developed a proven method of improving reading skills among young children that includes individualized tutoring and training for parents; and Paul Buxman, an artist and third-generation Valley farmer. In addition, dozens of other speakers shared their secrets to success in panels and breakout sessions that covered topics ranging from education, air quality and political leadership to urban forestry and local foodshed projects.

For those who werent able to attend, written recaps of the speeches, videos and photos from the event are available online at www.greatvalley. org/conference/2010.

Agvocates and the Power of Social Media

A surprise hit of the Great Valley Center annual conference were two dairy farmers, Dino Giacomazzi of Hanford and Ray Prock, Jr. of Denair.

But they clearly fit the theme of having uncommon success in a challenging time. Theyre using technology to spread the word about agriculture in the Central Valley, and that counts as innovation in the conservative dairy community.
Aztec dancers perform at the Great Valley Center Annual Conference in May.

Photo Credit: California Country Magazine

Shop at the GVC Store for our Valley-promoting items. www.greatvalley.org/store

Visit GVC Online www.greatvalley.org

With a mission of empowering farmers and ranchers to connect communities through social media platforms, they captivated a Friday morning audience to such an extent that they were put forward as one of the favorite parts of the entire conference in the evaluation session at the end. Prock and Giacomazzi call themselves agvocates and they use twitter, blogs, YouTube, Facebook and LinkedIn to voice their perspectives on raising cows and raising the profile of agriculture on the web.

Follow the Farmers

Ray Prock Twitter @raylindairy Blog: www.raylindairy.com

Dino Giacomazzi Twitter @dairydino Blog: www.dinogiacomazzi.com

Before making a decision look deeper into the issue and disregard the hype to come to your own conclusion. ~ Dino Giacomazzi

Download publications for free Our newest publication, Urban. Forest. Tree. - An Urban Forestry Guidebook for the San Joaquin Valley is now available online. www.greatvalley.org/publications

Other Ways to Connect to GVC Become a fan on Facebook, view our photos on Flickr, find us on Linkedin, follow us on Twitter, visit our Youtube video channel, or read about whats happening on our Great Valley News Blog.

Given the average age of a farmer or rancher falls within automatic membership in AARP, they have work to do in building their web-savvy ranks. But they sounded more like Steve Jobs than dairymen on stage at the GVC conference, with lots of good tips about leveraging electronic community to provide balance in coverage of rural life and agribusiness.

Great Valley Center publishes two new books

The Great Valley Center released two new books at the 2010 annual conference in May.
Tackling the regions challenges
2020: Visions for the Central Valley, edited by Great Valley Center Director of Research Amy Moffat, features transcripts of five keynote speeches made one year ago at the Centers 2009 conference, during which five leading experts in the fields of transportation, agriculture, sustainability and health shared visionary and thought-provoking ideas on how to drive the Valley toward a more sustainable state in the next 10 years. The book includes transcripts of the following speeches: L. Hunter Lovins, founder of Natural Capitalism Solutions planted in the right locations and appropriately cared for and maintained. We hope that anyone who cares about the quality of life in their community will get excited about how trees can make a difference and then do something about it, Moffat said. The book is available online at: http://www.greatvalley.org/ publications.

Order information 2020: Visions for the Central Valley is available for purchase through the Great Valley Center, the Heyday Books website at www.heydaybooks.com and major book distributors including Ingram, Baker and Taylor.

The Sustainability Imperative, Designing the Transportation

of the Future, Quentin Kopp, former chairman of the California High Speed Rail Authority

It was funded by a grant from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CALFIRE) and the U.S.D.A. National Forest Service.

Growing green canopy in the Valley

A Thriving Agriculture in

The Deltas Age of Reason, Jeff A Community Approach

Mount, director of the UC Davis Center for Watershed Sciences to Health and Health Care, Richard Pan, pediatrician at the UC Davis Center for Health Services Research in Primary Care

the Twenty-First Century, A. G. Kawamura, secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture

The new guidebook Urban. Forest. Tree provides practical information on how to establish or improve a community tree program, including key principles and strategies for care and maintenance of trees and possible sources of funding for tree programs. Just as streets, sidewalks, sewers, public buildings and recreational facilities are part of a communitys infrastructure, so are publicly owned trees. Trees have myriad community benefits when properly selected,

FUN FACT: Planting 1 million trees in the San Joaquin Valley would achieve $10 million in energy savings. Planting 4 million trees would save the region $20 million in annual pollution cleanup costs.

Whats Important to You and What are Your Priorities? At the start of the 2010 annual conference, the Great Valley Center polled participants on a variety of regional issues. Here are some results from the interactive vote: I believe the quality of life is improving in the Valley. Yes 42% No 39% Not sure 19%

Planning Group Recognizes Founder of Valley Futures Forum

Cindy van Empel, a senior planner with the city of Modesto, received the Recognition for Distinguished Services Award from the Central Section of the American Planning Association California Chapter in May for developing, promoting and maintaining the Valley Futures Forum, held monthly at the Great Valley Center.
Started in February 2009, the Valley Futures Forum is a dynamic conversation on development issues in the San Joaquin Valley. The forum takes place at 5:00pm on the third Thursday of each month, from January through November. The APA awards encourage quality and innovativeness in land use planning and increases public awareness of the planning profession through the recognition of outstanding achievements and individuals in the planning field. The 11 county Central Section of the American Planning Association California Chapter is comprised of Fresno, Inyo, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Mono, Stanislaus, Tulare, and Tuolumne counties. Past Valley Futures Forum topics have included:

I feel the most positive news in the Valley in the last two years has been:

I feel the greatest challenge remaining in the Valley in the next five years is: Air quality. 10% Obesity. 8% Property values. 4% Unemployment. 55% Water supply. 19% Other 4%

Air quality improvements. 22% High speed rail moving forward. 29% Housing affordability. 24% More water going to farmers. 5% Other. 20%

I care whether the food I buy is grown locally. Strongly Agree 49% Somewhat Agree 37% Neither Agree nor Disagree 9% Somewhat Disagree 3% Strongly Disagree 2%

Smart Growth and the Pesky New Models for Land

Dream

Topic: Straight Talk on Building and Rebuilding taking the long view in tough times

Dont miss the July Valley Futures Forum:

Passenger Rail: Beyond the Pipe

Development in the San Joaquin Valley: Fresnos Southeast Growth Area

Realities of Building in California

Speaker: John Anderson, Principal with Anderson | Kim Architecture+Urban Design

Time and Date: 5:00 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. Thursday July 15 Cost: $10

View the full results online at www.greatvalley.org/conference/2010

Valley Blueprint Implementation Sustainable Communities

Location: Great Valley Center, 201 Needham Ave., Modesto

Fresno State President Recognized with 2010 Sequoia Award

The Great Valley Center awarded the 2010 Sequoia, Giant of the Valley Award to Dr. John D. Welty, President of California State University, Fresno, at the Great Valley Centers annual conference.
The award recognizes Dr. Weltys long-standing role as a pivotal leader actively involved in addressing issues in Central California and engaging himself and California State University, Fresno, with the entire region. in 1992, expanded intercollegiate athletic opportunities and facilities for women and led the effort to build the Save Mart Center. Fresno State is now famous for putting the letter V on their football teams helmets, signifying their unity with the whole Valley. The university mascot also proudly wears the emblem on its collar. The Sequoia Award has been presented to outstanding individuals in the valley since 2001. Previous Recipients International Corporation Secretary for Resources Orchards Nevada Brewery

Compared to 19 years ago, theres greater commitment of leadership in the Valley today to collaborate and work together, Dr. Welty said after accepting the award. While we still face incredible issues, theres evidence were coming together to address those issues.

The Sequoia Award is given annually to an individual who has made significant contributions to increasing understanding of the Central Valley, improving the wellbeing of the region, or enhancing Valley residents quality of life. It is not designed to focus on a single act; rather it is intended to recognize efforts made over time. Through his leadership of Fresno State and his forward-thinking vision for our region, Dr. Welty has fostered solidarity throughout the Valley, and created new opportunities for tens of thousands of its residents, said Great Valley Center President David Hosley. Under Weltys leadership since 1991, Fresno State has expanded minority enrollment, created an

Honors College, and added new academic programs and facilities, including the new $105 million Henry Madden Library, the largest research library in the San Joaquin Valley. Fresno States students, faculty and staff volunteer nearly 1 million hours each year in the region.

Fred Ruiz (left), co-founder of Ruiz Foods in Dinuba, presented Dr. John Welty (right) with the Sequoia Award

2009 Stewart Resnick, Roll 2008 Carol Whiteside. Founder 2006 Earl Smittcamp, Wawona
and Former Congressman McClatchy Company Company and President Emeritus, Great Valley Center

In the community, Dr. Welty had a hand in establishing the Fresno Business Council and is its current chair, and the Central Valley Business Incubator, resulting in the creation of over 1,000 jobs. He was key in the creation of the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium, the Kenneth L. Maddy Institute and the Regional Jobs Initiative. Dr. Welty is also recognized for his contributions in athletics. During his tenure, Fresno State entered the Western Athletic Conference

2007 Mike Chrisman. California 2005 Ken Grossman, Sierra 2004 Bob Mathias, US Olympian 2003 Gerald Haslam, Author 2002 Jim McClatchy, The 2001 J.G. Boswell, The Boswell

Leading The Way Through Difficult Times

Leadership is critical in times of adversity and change. Its no secret the Central Valley continues to face tough economic, social and environmental challenges and the economic stress in the past two years has added greater strain to the resources needed to address these challenges. Theres never been a greater need for individuals who possess the capacity to build bridges, collaborate, innovate and solve problems.
Thats why the Great Valley Center is encouraged to see so many new leaders willing to step up and lead their communities and the region. So far this year, we have graduated nearly 40 individuals from our two leadership programs.

On May 21, the inaugural class of the Great Valley Chapter of the American Leadership Forum held its graduation ceremony. American Leadership Forum (ALF) is a non-profit organization, national in scope, dedicated to joining and strengthening established leaders in order to serve the public good. The year-long intensive leadership development program for existing community leaders focuses on ethics, conflict management, consensus and understanding differences. The Great Valley chapter serves San Joaquin, Stanislaus and Merced counties and joins 14 chapters across the country.

I think the new American Leadership Forum is a difference maker for the northern San Joaquin Valley, said Great Valley Center President David Hosley. A network of regional leaders who know how to build consensus on solutions to tough issues facing this region can accelerate positive change in a big way. These pioneers in the first class are a great foundation on which to build. Graduates, known as Senior Fellows, continue to work together in a regional network built on real and enduring relationships across all sectors. The Great Valley Chapter has already recruited its second class of fellows that began the program June 17.

On June 12, the 2010 IDEAL class graduated. Now entering its 13th year, the IDEAL program exposes emerging community leaders to issues relating to land use, economics, agriculture and conservation in the Central Valley, with an emphasis on underserved communities. During the 6-month program, fellows are taught the importance of collaborative community leadership in fostering quality decision-making. Many fellows go on to become non-profit board members, city council members and school board trustees in their communities.

Leading The Way Through Difficult Times (contd)

American Leadership Forum Inaugural Class The mission of the Great Valley Center is to support activities and organizations that benefit the economic, social and environmental well-being of Californias Central Valley in partnership with the University of California, Merced. Steve Arounsack, California State University Stanislaus, Turlock Debra Brady, First United Methodist Church, Modesto Debra Brown, Kaiser Permanente, Ripon Wendy Byrd, Modesto Junior College, Modesto Ben Duran, Merced College, Merced Lisa Finer, Wells Fargo, Modesto Ron Foster, Foster Farms, Livingston John Garamendi, Jr., The Professional Evaluation Group, Walnut Grove Kathy Halsey, AT&T, Turlock Flip Hassett, United Way of Merced County, Merced Dennis Lee, Central Valley Asian Chamber of Commerce, Stockton Linda Lopez, Office of Congressman Cardoza, Merced Noah Lor, Merced City Council, Merced Virginia Madueno, Imagen Public Relations, Riverbank Marian Martino, Martino Graphics, Modesto Pat Patrick, Lodi District Chamber of Commerce, Lodi Robert Santos, Monte Vista Small Animal Hospital, Turlock Cynthia Wagner-Weick, University of the Pacific, Stockton Erica Ayala, Patterson Chanda Chhin, Stockton Brad de la Cruz, Modesto Mario Enriquez, Stockton Linda Garcia, Madera Daniel Guerra, Fresno Julio Lamas, West Sacramento Nathan Lovaas, Turlock Heather Meyers, Fresno Jacobo Montejano, Atwater Vong Mouanoutoua, Fresno Minerva Perez, Modesto Brian Rando, Modesto Rhodesia Ransom, Tracy Stephanie Rivero, Merced Victoria Solis, Merced Joany Titherington, Sacramento Amanda Wigno, Red Bluff Morgan Woolf, Davis Stephen Zamarripa, Merced

IDEAL Class of 2010

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