Righting a Broken State Government
In an August 2008 editorial, California’s Bay Area Council published an editorial in the SF Gate, stating, ‘It is our duty to declare that our California government is not only broken, it has become destructive to our future. Therefore, are we not obligated to nullify our government and institute a new one?’ The letter promoted calling a new state constitutional convention.
Constitutional conventions are fairly common in the United States; in many states they automatically occur every 10 to 20 years. The average constitutional convention takes about three months to convene and complete its work. ‘As rash as an act as this might seem, this is not unchartered territory,’ wrote Jim Wunderman, CEO and president of the Bay Area Council, in the August editorial. ‘Nearly 30 years after the state was founded, California received a new government from a constitutional convention. We also had a California Constitutional Revision Commission from 1964 to1976 and the voters approved and codified the commission’s revisions in separate pieces in 1966, 1970, 1972 and 1974.’
Sierra Business Council (SBC) applauds the Bay Area Council’s leadership and joins their effort. ‘In the middle of the worst economic downturn in recent history Californians are raising taxes, because we have no choice. We have painted our state into a corner,’ said Steven Frisch, SBC President. To address California’s systemic budgeting and financial dysfunction the Sierra Business Council is joining the growing call for a new state constitutional convention. We urge Sierra businesses and civic leaders to join this effort.’
Some of the ideas up for consideration could include: creating a more accountable two-year budget cycle; reconsideration of extending term limits; creating an open primary system; automatic sunset clauses on legislation, programs and agencies; reform of the fiscal relationship between state and local government; changes to tax policy; removing the two-thirds majority requirement for a state budget; and dedicating funding streams for specific purposes.
SBC: sbcouncil.org. Bay Area Council: 415-946-8725, bayareacouncil.org.
Nevada Tourism Summit
March 18
To deal with budget issues, the state of Nevada is proposing a merger of the Commission on Tourism and Commission on Economic Development. Save Nevada Tourism is a group of concerned citizens that quickly formed in opposition to the proposed merger, saying the proposal guts an important revenue-generating agency and makes no fiscal sense for Nevada. In an effort to spread the word, the group is sponsoring a Nevada Tourism Summit on March 18.
Tourism officials from across the state will converge on the state’s capital for the half-day conference in Carson City, which will emphasize supporting tourism on a statewide level. The Summit comes just one day prior to the first Legislative Committee hearing on the Nevada Commission on Tourism’s (NCOT) proposed budget cuts.
‘The Nevada Tourism Summit is a grassroots effort designed to bring together tourism leaders throughout the state to talk about tourism in the wake of the current economic slowdown, hear directly from industry leaders about the importance of not backing down on current efforts, and provide insight from those have learned these lessons the hard way,’ said Candy Duncan, executive director of the Carson City Convention and Visitors Bureau. ‘Our goal is to pack the conference center with concerned tourism officials and have an honest discussion about how important this truly is.’ Gold Dust West Hotel and Casino, 2171 Highway 50 East, Carson City. Registration begins at 9 a.m., program from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. $45 fee includes lunch (lunch only for $20). Advance registration is required: info@savenevadatourism.com. SaveNevadaTourism.com.
Sierra Getaway Party in State Capital
March 19
Join Sierra Business Council and their 2008 Vision 2020 Award winners in Sacramento to celebrate the great and varied contributions of leaders and visionaries in agriculture, conservation, energy efficiency, smart planning and growth, sustainable development, and arts and culture in the Sierra Nevada Region. The Sierra Getaway Party in the Capital’s Grand Ballroom will feature a no-host bar, as well as free appetizers and desserts sourced from local Sierra Nevada farms with the help of the Placer Gold Slow Food Convivium. This event is free to the public, however Sierra Business Council will accept donations. Visit sbcouncil.org/celebratesierra to RSVP.
Rescheduled Fireside Chat at Sierra Nevada College
March 26
Sierra Nevada College (SNC)’s Fireside Chat with George LeBard, executive director for local hunger relief agency Project MANA, has been rescheduled for Thursday, March 26, at 7 p.m. in the college’s Tahoe Center for Environmental Sciences, rooms 139/141. Refreshments will be served. For more information contact Shelia Leijon, IVGID Seniors Program Coordinator, 775-832-1310, shelia_leijon@ivgid.org, or Debi Noonan, SNC Director of Special Events, at 775-831-1314, x7420,dnoonan@sierranevada.edu.
North Lake Tahoe Chamber Recognizes Standouts
Nearly 200 local business and community members attended the 55th Annual Community Service Awards, presented by the North Lake Tahoe Chamber of Commerce to recognize outstanding achievements of local residents. Among the winners were George Koster and Carol Savary, Citizens of the Year; Diamond Peak Ski Resort for Large Business of the Year; Tahoe TV took home Small Business of the Year; the Cedar House Sport Hotel received the Hospitality Award; and The Business Arts Supporter of the Year went to Moody’s Bistro & Lounge. Find the complete list of exceptional community individuals, businesses, and organizations on the Programs and Documents page at NorthLakeChamber.com.
Nevada/Placer County Resource Advisory Committee Nominees
Deadline March 16
The Forest Service is seeking nominees for a 15-member Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) to recommend projects and funding to improve National Forest watersheds and facilities in Nevada and Placer Counties. Duties include proposing projects for funding that benefit National Forest System land, especially those that tie to watershed restoration, road and facility maintenance, forest health, and improving collaborative relationships. RAC committee members will be appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture for a four-year term, shall not receive compensation, and must be able to commit time to carry out the committee responsibilities of at least several meetings each year. Members must reside in California, be knowledgeable about natural resource issues in Nevada and Placer Counties, and be willing to complete a background check form. Nomination letters must be received by March 16. For information, Ann Westling, Public Affairs Officer, Tahoe National Forest, 530-478-6205 or awestling@fs.fed.us.
Network at the Truckee Chamber Expo & Mixer
April 30
The Truckee Donner Chamber of Commerce will hold its 17th Annual Business Expo & Chamber Mixer Thursday, April 30, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at The Resort at Squaw Creek. Attendance is free and Chamber members can exhibit for as little as $185. Linda Pendleton, Truckee Donner Chamber of Commerce, 530-587-8808.
SNC’s Heaps on Top
Sierra Nevada College student Branden Heaps has been named Ski Area Management’s 2009 College Recruit of the Year, winning an all-expenses-paid trip to the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) Convention this May in Marco Island, Florida, courtesy of Ski Area Management (SAM) magazine and NSAA. The magazine, considered the industry’s bible, will profile Branden as the nation’s number one college ski-resort recruit in its March issue. ‘Winning this award highlights the Ski Business Program at Sierra Nevada College, as well as the high level of education it offers. I look forward to a future in the ski industry and all of the opportunities that come with it,’ Branden said.
How To Become Big
March 16
Learn more about Big Brothers Big Sisters of Nevada County (BBBSNC), and how you can help local at-risk youth, on Monday, March 16, from 5:30 to 6 pm at the Tahoe Women’s Services offices, upstairs at 12257 Business Park Drive, Unit 4 (in the airport business park) in Truckee. Learn about the process of becoming a ‘Big,’ and other ways to support this vital agency at the half-hour informational session. To sign up, call Peggy Martin at 530-587-7717 or email peggy@bigsofnc.org.
Domestic Violence Rises in Nevada
The National Census of Domestic Violence, a 24-hour survey conducted in September, 2008, showed that, in one day, 214 Nevadans sought help from domestic violence programs, 156 Nevadans slept in emergency shelters, 126 hotline calls were answered by domestic violence advocates, and 17 requests for services were unmet. Sixty percent of domestic violence programs in Nevada participated in the survey. The numbers suggest that the bad economy hits victims of domestic violence especially hard.
Getting Rid of Hazardous Waste
The Town of Truckee is getting a handle on handling hazardous waste. Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) is defined as any chemical product in your home that is toxic, flammable, combustible, explosive, corrosive, or otherwise dangerous. Although it is illegal to dispose of these materials in your garbage, the Tahoe Truckee Sierra Disposal (TTSD) has scheduled HHW collection events at the Eastern Regional Landfill (ERL) on these Fridays: May 15, June 12, July 10, August 7 and 21, September 4 and 18, October 9, and November 6. All events occur at the Eastern Regional Landfill (ERL), and require an appointment (call 530-583-0148).
Electronic and Universal Waste may be dropped off at the ERL for free recycling without an appointment. Electronic Waste includes TVs, computers and monitors, printers, VCRs, cell phones, telephones, radios and microwave ovens; universal waste is waste that contain mercury, lead, cadmium, copper and other substances hazardous to human and environmental health.
For more information including procedures for disposing of items that are not accepted at the landfill, tips for handling hazardous waste, and ways to minimize your use of hazardous materials, visit TownofTruckee.com or call 530-582-2909.
Become a Global Citizen: New Program at SNC
Incline Village’s Sierra Nevada College (SNC) has established a new Global Scholar Program to create ‘global citizens who are culturally sensitive and politically, socially, and intellectually motivated and engaged.’ Through personal experiences and volunteer work abroad, participants will learn about other cultures and worldwide problems. Several hands-on projects are already planned: 10 students in Latin American studies will work in the U.S. and Latin America with Habitat for Humanity; and two groups studying Africa will participate in education and health-care–related service-learning projects in South Africa, Ethiopia, and/or Zimbabwe. $28,000 is needed to match individual student contributions for international travel expenses. For more information on how your tax-deductible donation will support these SNC opportunities, contact SNC Professor Emily Rhodenbaugh (Latin America trip) at 513-706-5059 or erhodenbaugh@sierranevada.edu, or SNC Professor Mary Lewellen (Africa trips) at 775-831-1314, ext. 7447 or mlewellen@sierranevada.edu.
Join the Hospital Oversight Committee
The Tahoe Forest Health System is looking for committee members to oversee expenditures of Measure C, the bond for Hospital improvements, passed in 2007. The two vacant committee positions, which are uncompensated, are for two years (renewable). Applicants must be full-time or primary residents who live within the Hospital district boundaries nine months a year, are 18 years or older, and will submit financial disclosure forms annually to the Fair Political Practices Commission. Hospital District employees, vendors, contractors, or consultants are not eligible. Applications are due by 5 p.m. on March 31, and are available from Maia Schneider at 530-582-6313 or mschneider@tfhd.com.
Foreclosure Prevention Workbook
Wells Fargo and the National Urban League are co-sponsoring a new edition of ‘The Foreclosure Workbook: The Complete Guide to Understanding Foreclosure and Saving Your Home.’ The workbook will be free-of-charge to at-risk customers across the nation through Wells Fargo’s Leading the Way Home initiative. ‘We believe in doing what is right for our customers, and that includes working with them to find solutions to keep them in their homes when they face financial difficulties,’ said Cara Heiden, co-president of Wells Fargo Home Mortgage. Copies of the workbook will be distributed at Wells Fargo home preservation workshops and at all 101 Urban League affiliate offices.
CRUX Events Expands Offerings
After 20 years of producing grand scale events like The Winter X Games and the Red Bull Air Races, CRUX Events and Party Rentals is now offering up their extensive rental equipment cache and event management experience.
‘We have acquired a tremendous amount of high quality equipment,’ explains event management veteran James Woodruff. ‘It is time to offer it up our to friends and visitors in Lake Tahoe and surrounding areas.’
The company offers event production, live television operations, hospitality, music production, and event marketing. Their client roster includes well-known brands such as Red Bull, Jeep and VISA. CRUX has amassed a Pandora’s box of rental equipment, including unique décor, furniture, tents, state-of-the-art lighting and sound, and staging. CRUX can help clients visualize an event by providing computer-generated three-dimensional imagery of the space. 530-587-8700, cruxevents.com.
Green Engineering Firm Launches Website
Truckee’s Bender Engineering + Commissioning, Inc. has launched a new website where visitors can learn about the company’s capabilities. Located in downtown Truckee, Bender Engineering + Commissioning provides an assortment of services, including commissioning, engineering, green building, energy ratings, and LEED consulting. With a client base throughout California and Nevada, their projects range from small residential projects to large commercial projects. becx.net.
EventMasters In State-of-the-Art Showroom
EventMasters Party Rentals & Supplies has moved from West River Street to 10800 Pioneer Trail. The new location features a large showroom where you can see, feel, and touch their array of rental items, from tables and chairs to specialty table linens and dinnerware. 530-587-2844, eventmastersusa.com.
Party Store Expands
Dress the Part(y) for Charity, a retro boutique in Incline Village that specializes in theme dressing, is opening a new party store which will carry a complete selection of party supplies and decorations. A public Grand Opening Celebration is set for March 12 to 15, with themed holiday treats, free balloons for the kids, celebration specials, and a chance to win a free theme party. Dress the Part(y) is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Located at 774 Mays Boulevard in the Village Center in Incline Village. Dress the Part(y) for Charity donates its proceeds to charities. 775-832-7278, dressthepart.org.
TIP Relocates
TIP Printing & Graphics has moved its operations to a modern facility in order to better serve the Truckee/Lake Tahoe community. ‘We continue to update our equipment to provide customers with the best for their printing and graphic needs, and this move is part of maintaining our standards of operation,’ said owners Joel Gressel and Richard Valentine, who have been in the industry since 1977. TIP can now be found at 12177 Business Park Drive, suite #9, next to Bradbury’s Office Supply at the Truckee Airport Business Center. 530-587-3551.
Month-long Celebration at Sears Stores
Throughout the month of March, Sears will be will celebrating their new name – Sears Hometown Stores. ‘We feel that the new name better represents what we are to our customers – the Sears store in their neighborhood – the Sears Hometown Store,’ said Will Powell, SVP and President of Sears Hometown Stores. During the Hometown Celebration Sweepstakes scheduled March 5 to April 4, all Sears customers will have a chance to win terrific prizes including a Kenmore Appliance Package. searsholdings.com.
