Partners in park sustainability, education and advocacy! |
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Important information for our readers: Some systems may truncate this newsletter. Look for "View entire message" link at the bottom of this email to see the full newsletter.
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In This Issue
- CALPA News
- CALPA Member's Corner
- California State Parks Updates
- Park Partner Updates
- Park Partner Organization Quick Links
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SAVE THE DATE
Dates:
October 17-20, 2022
Location:
Los Angeles (San Fernando Valley)
Warner Center Marriott - Woodland Hills, CA
Who Should Attend:
Nonprofit Board Members and Staff
State Parks Staff
Concessionaires
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I’m going to start writing to you in this form to give you my personal updates on what’s happening with CALPA and how we are bringing value to you, our members. I just got back from the Public Lands Alliance conference in St. Louis, MO, held during the first week of March. The conference had a great turnout, and just before the conference opened, Missouri removed masking requirements, so participants were able to interact in person as they wished. That experience got me very excited about our CALPA Conference happening in Woodland Hills, CA from October 17-20, 2022, and we snagged some great speakers to come to California as well as some top vendors for the Parks Vendor Expo. Save that date and stay tuned for more information about how to register and early news about who will be presenting and opportunities for you to tell your own story.
In late 2021, the CALPA board met in person for the first time in a couple of years to re-examine our strategic plans and decided on three major initiatives as our focus in 2022.
Member engagement. One of the great values of CALPA is the network of park supporters that we are, and we want to double down on what we already do to add more value to our member organization champions and deeper into each of your teams. Look for contacts from CALPA board members to listen to you, to connect with you on key topics as they arise, and to learn from you what is important to you about CALPA. Kate Wheeler from Crystal Cove Conservancy is leading this initiative.
Marketing communications. We are fortunate to have Ashley Tittle from CSPF on the CALPA board to lead a revamp of our marketing communications - that means improved messaging about who we are and what we do (and WHY we do it!), as well as updated branding that will create a new look for us in time for the October conference.
Conference training and education. Carolyn Christian has agreed to take on our conference organization and, working with Linsey Fredenburg Humes, is creating an amazing experience for our first in-person event for Members in four years. We know all of you can’t wait to get together again, and even those who choose not to travel will have the opportunity to participate in a subset of the sessions remotely via an online platform.
There’s more that the CALPA board is working on in 2022, to be sure, but these are our top priorities, and you will be seeing the impact of them in the coming weeks and months.
George Loyer
CALPA President
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Most Recent Post on CALPA'S Social Change Blog:
Tending the Garden: Social Justice as Environmental Justice
by Elizabeth Cameron, Board Member - CALPA
Supaman: “Let Em Go.” Supaman (Apsaalooke Nation) is a Native American dancer and innovative hip hop artist who has dedicated his life to empowering and spreading a message of hope, pride, and resilience through his art.
I woke around 4:00 am on Saturday and couldn’t go back to sleep. My mind immediately turned to the biggest issues I needed to address on Monday morning: To-do lists, troubleshooting email communications in my head…. As I hoped to fall back asleep, I thought why am I pulled to do this right now?! My brain was practically on autopilot, working away when I should be sleeping.
Then I realized: I’m tending my garden.... Read More
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Note that when viewing the CALPA Blog on Social Change using one of the links above, you will be given a pop-up window to register for the blog and receive updates and notifications of new blog posts as soon as they are posted.
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Board Executive Committee
President
Secretary
Individual Member
Treasurer
VP of Membership
VP of Education & Outreach
VP of Development
VP of Nominations and Governance
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Board Members
Individual CALPA Member
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Are you interested in joining the CALPA Board of Directors? CLICK HERE for more details on why the CALPA Board could be for you! For additional information or to submit your statement of interest, please contact Bri Fordem, VP of Nominations and Governance.
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CALPA-PLA Online Community |
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All CALPA member organizations have access to the PLA Online Community on the Public Lands Alliance (PLA) Platform. Remember that this is YOUR community of like-minded park partner professionals. Feel free to submit your questions in the online community. Many of your colleagues are experiencing the same types of issues that you are experiencing, and some may have great solutions to share. If your organization is an active member of CALPA, you are eligible to access this useful tool! For more information on joining CALPA and getting access to the PLA benefits, please visit our membership home page.
SPECIAL NOTICE: Please note that the CALPA Library hosted on the PLA site has moved. You can access all of the PLA library materials (including the CALPA specific materials) using this link.
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Parks Related Job Postings |
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Do you have a job opening that you would like others in our park organizations to know about? Please follow this link to submit your job opening for consideration in a future CALPA communication.
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Educational Opportunities |
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CALPA Educational Webinars
Have you been unable to attend one of CALPA's webinars? Here are links to the 2021 CALPA Educational Webinar Series:
Public Lands Alliance Webinars
As members of CALPA, you also enjoy the membership benefits of the Public Lands Alliance. Join them for their upcoming webinars:
March 29, 2022 at 2pm ET / 11am PT
April 21, 2022 at 2pm ET / 11am PT
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Member Grant Opportunity Suggestions |
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Apply for the California State Parks Foundation 2022-2023 Park Improvement Grant Round. The new deadline is April 15, 2022. Apply here.
Do you know of a great grant opportunity that might be useful to other CALPA members? Use this link to submit your suggestion for consideration to be included in one of our future communications.
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Public Lands Alliance Benefits |
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Don't forget that CALPA members also have access to the Public Lands Alliance member benefits thanks to our joint membership program! Here are some PLA benefit highlights:
- Access to online forums for collaboration and connection with other public lands partners (both national and state of California)
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Free online training webinars and access to the PLA/CALPA Resource Library
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Advocacy resources, training and support
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And much more!
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Not already a CALPA Member? All nonprofit organizations and/or individuals serving the California State Park System are invited to join CALPA, which is founded on the principle that member organizations are independent, but not alone. Association memberships include access to the Public Lands Alliance (PLA) benefits as well. |
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California State Parks Updates |
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Welcome California State Park's Newest Team Members!
Robyn Krock is excited to be at State Parks as the new Park Impact Partners Program (PIPP) Manager, starting on November 8, 2021. The PIPP Unit is responsible for Operating, Co-Management, Proud Partner, Donor, Fundraising, and other agreements. Robyn came to Parks from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy where she managed the Conservancy’s Prop 68 program. Prior to state service, Robyn worked in the nonprofit world managing local and regional projects related to the local food and ag system. Robyn has an MA in Anthropology and an MS in Community Development. On weekends she can be found hiking, kayaking, and playing with her two dogs. She does a lot of hiking in Auburn SRA and kayaking at Lake Natoma in Folsom Lake SRA. She loves going out in her kayak at Negro Bar on Lake Natoma early in the morning and seeing otters and other wildlife, or for full moon paddles during the summer
Emily has joined the Partnership Division as of Jan 16, bringing over 10 years of experience in volunteer recruitment, retention, and program management. Emily’s favorite State Park is found just on the border of Humboldt County, Richardson Grove SP. Emily has been camping there with her family for over 30 years, never missing a chance to hike among the redwoods. Fun fact about Emily: She organized a successful Guinness World Record – The most S’mores made simultaneously. Emily is incredibly excited to be a part of the California State Parks family, to help support inclusive outdoor experiences and education.
In her free time, she can be found trail running, reading, or hiking with her family and 130 lb. Anatolian Shepherd, Hogan.
Join us in welcome Emily and Robyn to the Parks Family and be sure to introduce yourself if you get a chance to meet them.
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Partnerships Division Office |
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California State Parks Weekly Digests |
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Updates from Parks California
Learn More About Parks California
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Updates from California State Parks Foundation (CSPF)
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Park Advocacy Day 2022
Since 2003 California State Parks Foundation has hosted Park Advocacy Day to demonstrate the political strength of the parks movement and build a strong community of advocates to support park policies and legislation. Join us this year in Sacramento on Tuesday, May 17, 2022. Together in Sacramento, we learn how to activate our voices for parks, build relationships with elected officials, and communicate a parks message to state elected officials and policy staff. The full day of activities will include hearing from legislators, park leaders, and community members, advocacy trainings, meetings with legislators, and more. In addition to traditional legislative advocacy day activities, California State Parks Foundation is planning to hold an educational State Parks Fair on the Capitol lawn during the afternoon. The event will close with a rally and award presentation. Sign up today here!
Meet California State Parks Foundation's New Government Affairs Manager
Deanna LaTour-Jarquin lives in Sacramento, and in her free time, she enjoys trying to become a vegetarian and exploring Northern California with her husband, Sean. Her favorite state park is the South Yuba River State Park. Deanna most recently worked as a Legislative Advocate for the Personal Insurance Federation of California (PIFC). In this position, she represented the seven largest insurers in California before the California State Legislature and California State government agencies and departments. Prior to joining PIFC, Deanna was a Legislative Aide for Assembly Majority Leader Ian C. Calderon where she advised him on education, insurance, local government, and elections policy. Her second proudest accomplishment, after working on legislation to support Californians, is winning both the Capitol Staff and the Chicano Latino Capitol Association Bowling Tournaments. She is an alumnus of the Jesse M. Unruh Assembly Fellowship and currently volunteers as the Secretary of the Capital Fellows Alumni Association. Deanna graduated from California State University, Chico with undergraduate degrees in Psychology and Women’s Studies. During her final year, she served as Associated Student President where she worked on issues related to supporting students who are undocumented, strengthening Title IX procedures, and establishing a food bank on campus.
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Learn More About CSPF
The California State Parks Foundation is a long-time advocate for state parks. Visit their website to learn more about what they do to support Access, Funding and Protection of California State Parks.
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Updates from California Parks Hospitality Association (CPHA)
Learn More About CPHA
CPHA is the member organization for California State Parks concessionaires. Learn more about CPHA and their organizations through their website.
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Updates from California State Park Rangers Association (CSPRA)
President’s Message
"Ideally" by David Carle
As a professional organization composed of past and present park employees and benefactors, CSPRA focuses on ideals and issues affecting the State Park System. We draw members from all job categories within the park system, whether active duty or retired (over 400 currently). Whatever those members’ specific job titles, to be an effective group, we advocate together as CSPRA, as “rangers,” taking advantage of that highly respected title and the iconic flat-brimmed ranger hat on our logo. This is not a collective bargaining unit and not an association for a particular job group. There is, understandably, confusion about those particulars, so as a member, if CSPRA comes up in conversation, please help spread that information.
CSPRA works to advance the highest principles of public service and to defend the integrity of parks. Experience has shown that parks cannot be “saved” or “conserved” just once; permanent protection requires never-ending diligence. Parks are also not conserved simply by adding their acreage into the park system; a professionally trained staff must be funded at adequate levels to accomplish the agency’s mission. The Department’s and CSPRA’s goals are idealistic statements that aim for realistic accomplishments. We are respectful of the talented work by state park professionals that continues even when financial support is less than optimum. But we seek a dedicated, long-term, stable budget, and advocate for staffing levels that will preserve the California State Park System’s status as a model of excellence among park operations across the nation. Ideally... Read entire letter here.
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Park Partner Organizations Quick Links |
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3580 Prestwick Circle
Oceanside, CA 92056
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