Difference Happens Daily Here

By CALF President and CEO Dwight Ferguson

Here at the foundation, we run a daily Google search of all our alumni, which enables us to keep aware of their community, business and California agriculture activities and how they are "in the news" (as our section below is titled).

As you might expect, with alumni now exceeding 1,400 in number, there’s never a day this search doesn’t produce results. These are impressive results of differences being made and impact being realized. Impressed (and inspired!) as we might be, we at CALF are not surprised. 

You see, everything we do these days – from seminars and other programs to gatherings and events, fellow selection and stakeholder contacts – requires engagement with alumni. We can’t do what we do without it. We depend on and are also very grateful for the daily differences alumni make. Please read on to see examples of alumni in the news and as always, please contact me at dferguson@agleaders.org or 831-585-1030 with any comments or questions.

Thank You!

We are grateful to departing board members Karen Caplan and Mike Mendes (39) – and the entire board of directors – for their leadership, dedication and service to the foundation! Karen and Mike, who each served two terms (2017-2023), were honored with proclamations during the board's May 11 meeting at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

Upcoming First Fridays

Join us on Friday, June 2 for an enlightening presentation from Rangineh Azimzadeh Tehrani (view bio), founder of Solh Resolutions International.

Leaders are Readers Book Club

REGISTER BY JUNE 19 FOR SUMMER SESSION*

Malcolm Gladwell, host of the podcast Revisionist History and author of the No. 1 New York Times bestseller "Outliers," offers a powerful examination of our interactions with strangers – and why they often go wrong. The book is an intellectual adventure, a challenging and controversial excursion through history, psychology and scandals taken straight from the news.

MORE INFORMATION

Deanna van Klaveren (32)

*Book club registrations are accepted at anytime.

Executive Committee and Regional Directors Selected

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

During its February meeting, the Alumni Council (AC) elected Heather Mulholland (44) to serve as chair and Ian LeMay (48) as vice chair of the AC. Jason Cole (42) was appointed by the CALF board of directors to serve as the AC's board liaison.

REGIONAL DIRECTORS

The following positions were opened for nominations in March. Applications were confirmed by the AC executive committee. All nominees were unopposed, so no elections were held. These directors will begin their three-year terms at the AC’s October meeting.

Region 1: Kelly Mora (48)

Region 2: Rocco Cunningham (50)

Region 5: James Ewart (49)

Region 6: Heather Johnson (46)

Region 10: Denise Godfrey (37)

MORE INFORMATION

Deanna van Klaveren (32)

Learn more about the Alumni Council here

Online Alumni Directory Now Live!

We are pleased to provide a new password-protected online alumni directory. CALF recently sent an email and a postcard with login instructions.

In order to access the directory, alumni MUST create a new account using an assigned username. The username will be sent to you when you receive a message to create a new password. If you need additional support, please contact Deanna van Klaveren (32) at dvanklaveren@agleaders.org or 209-765-2476.

Cultivating the Future Dinner

You are invited to Region 11's inaugural Cultivating the Future Dinner to benefit Ag Leadership. Join us for an evening with friends and industry supporters while enjoying a delicious meal!

MAY 25

6:30 p.m. / Imperial

Cost: $125 per person

RSVP BY MAY 19

Trevor Tagg (50) / 760-455-4586

Deanna van Klaveren (32) / 209-765-2476

Join Us!

Region 1 Alumni Reconnect Dinner and Riverwalk > DETAILS

June 22 / Williams

NorCal Ag Leadership Sporting Clay Shoot > DETAILS

Aug. 5 / 8 a.m. / Zamora

Region 9 Golf Tournament > DETAILS

Sept. 11 / Camarillo

International Leadership Alumni Conference > DETAILS

Sept. 18 - 21 / Wyoming

MORE INFORMATION

Deanna van Klaveren (32)

I Grew With Ag Leadership

This month we feature Betty Hurley Lindeman (49) in our outreach campaign! Please click the link below to read the compelling testimonial Q&As from Betty, Sal Parra Jr. (46), Julie Morris (33) and John Gardiner (51). The campaign is also featured on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn – follow us!

New! Events Section on Our Website

We are excited to share the new events page on our website! Please visit the page for details about all of our upcoming alumni and foundation events.

Alumni Participation Challenge

Congratulations to Classes 28 and 42, which tied in the Alumni Participation Challenge! They were recognized at the All Class Reunion in April. Thank you to all alumni who participated in giving back!

Photo: CALF President and CEO Dwight Ferguson presents the trophy to Jason Cole (42) and Scott Van Der Kar (28).

Still Time to Participate!

Thank you to all Go for 500 Challenge* participants thus far! As of April 30, we have received 699 gifts. Of those gifts, 643 were financial, 56 were in-kind and 568 were from alumni!

There is still time to participate! All gifts made by June 30 will be counted as part of this challenge. Please consider participating and supporting our mission of "growing leaders who make a difference."

*The Go for 500 Challenge was launched by the Boswell Foundation as they challenged the Ag Leadership community to reach 500 gifts by June 30, 2023.