CENTRL Connections Since 1991 Fall 2009

Y o u A r e I n v i t e d T o A n A l u m n i E v e n t W e e k e n d

O c t o b e r 2 3 a n d 2 4 , 2 0 0 9 M a r k Yo u r C a l e n d a r s

Two days of networking and fun begin Friday evening with the Class XIX Graduation and Award Banquet followed by our very first Casino Night.

Events continue the next day with a golf outing and alumni picnic. See page 2 for more details or visit the CENTRL website at www.centrl.org

Friday October 23, 2009 6:00 pm Reception Silent Auction 6:30 pm Graduation and Awards Banquet 8:30 pm Casino Night - Fun and Prizes

Class XIX brings Vegas to Graduation!

Immediately following the graduation banquet, everyone is invited to Casino Night to play Blackjack, Roulette and Craps for a chance to win great prizes. Prizes include: Coach Purse Golf Package - Troon Country Club iPod Touch Spend time networking with CENTRL Alumni and the new Class XX. More importantly, come help support a great program as all proceeds from Casino Night go to Project CENTRL.

Golf Outing October 24, 2009 7:30 am See page 2 for details.

Hosted Alumni Picnic October 24, 2009 12:30 pm Clark Park See page 2 for details.

Free

Lunch

!!

RSVP to the CENTRL Office Today! Use the RSVP Card on page 3 and mail your payment to:

Project CENTRL 820 E. Cottonwood Lane, Bldg C

Casa Grande, AZ 85122 520-316-0909

A w a r d W i n n e r s T o B e R e c o g n i z e d O n O c t o b e r 2 3 , 2 0 0 9

The Project CENTRL Alumni Council is pleased to announce the prestigious recipients of the Outstanding Leadership Awards.

Recipients will be recognized at the Class XIX Graduation. See page 5 to find out who won.

Saturday October 24, 2009 7:30 am Golf Outing 12:30 pm Alumni Picnic

J u l y C R C i n F l a g s t a f f B y P e n n e e M u r p h r e e ( V )

On Friday, July 10, 2009 the Alumni Council held a CENTRL Regional Connection (CRC) in Flagstaff at Mogollon Engineering which turned out to be a very comfortable and interesting setting for our Council Meeting and the CRC. Thanks to Rob and Dawn Bagley for the use of their facilities.

Julie Pastrick, President of the Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce, gave a great summary of things that are happening in Flagstaff. We had good food and the usual reports from the Council.

The CRC was planned to coincide with the Annual Women in Ag Conference. Most of these same ladies attended the CRC, a few learning about Project CENTRL for the first time. The CENTRL Alumni Council wishes to thank all of you who supported the Flagstaff CRC and the Women in Ag Conference.

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Banquet - $50 per person Casino Night - Buy-ins as low as $10

Sheraton Phoenix Airport Hotel 1600 S. 52nd Street Tempe, AZ 85281

480-967-6600

Friday October 23, 2009

Schedule of Events at the Sheraton 6:00 pm

Reception Silent Auction opens

Hotel Lobby

6:30 pm Graduation and Awards Banquet

Ball Room

8:30 pm Casino Night

Arizona Room

Saturday October 24, 2009

Schedule of Events 7:30 am

Golf Outing $45 per person

First come, first serve - limited reservations Ahwatukee Country Club

(48th Street, north of Warner at I-10) For more information contact Mark Clark

Email: mark2golf@juno.com Phone: 480-215-7136

12:30 pm

Alumni Picnic Hosted by the Alumni Council

Clark Park Less than 2 miles from hotel (East on Broadway from I-10

North on Roosevelt, .1 mile to Clark Park)

Hosted Alumni Picnic You are invited to join fellow alumni, Class XX and others for lunch at Clark Park. The Alumni council is hosting a free lunch to network and update alumni while having fun. Bring your own chair or blanket to sit on.

RSVP Card is on Page 3. Mail Today!

ALUMNI COUNCIL COMMENTS PAUL BRIERLEY, CHAIR 480-635-3612 paulbrierley@azfb.org

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What an exciting time of year this is for Project CENTRL, with lots of opportunities for alumni to

stay involved and keep gaining from the program! I hope you enjoy this annual printed edition of the CENTRL Connections newsletter. Your Alumni Council continues to work hard, and has lots to report in our three core areas of networking, recruiting and support.

• Your recruiting efforts paid off with a record number of applications for Class XX, and a top-notch class has been selected. With Cheryl Goar at the helm of the Curriculum Committee, there have been many positive changes to the already-excellent CENTRL seminars. Look for more details from her inside this newsletter.

• Make plans to join in the fun on October 23rd and 24th! The Graduation Gala for Class XIX will take place Friday evening in Tempe. Our Alumni Awards will be presented at the Friday night ceremony to some incredibly deserving recipients. Mark Clark and Lucia Konrath are planning a Saturday morning golf outing, followed by an all-class BBQ at 12:30 p.m. It’ll be fun for the whole family; I hope to see you there!

• We had a great CENTRL Regional Connection (CRC) in Flagstaff, and have several more planned, so mark your calendars now! The fall alumni activities will be tied into the October 23rd graduation. Then on January 22nd we’ll be in Tucson for a CRC held in conjunction with Class XX. It’s always fun to celebrate CENTRL with the enthusiasm of the current class. And on April 16th we’ll storm into the town of Kingman for a CRC gathering there.

• Hopefully you were able to respond to the June mailing I sent out – either to support our Step-it-Up Alumni fundraising campaign, or to update your directory information. Thank you to those that stepped up! With the new class in place we will be printing a new directory and we would love to have your updated information for that. Please check out the online directory at www.centrl.org and contact karen@centrl.org with any updates.

Don’t forget that there are many ways to stay involved with CENTRL: attend a class seminar, participate in the graduation weekend, join in the fun at a CRC meeting in your part of the state, give a financial gift, or maybe even volunteer to be on the Alumni Council. We will do our best to make Project CENTRL offer much more than just an excellent program for the current class – helping you to continue a lifelong journey of leadership. Please don’t hesitate to contact me or the CENTRL office if you are interested in more detail about anything I’ve touched on here.

RSVP Card for October 23 & 24, 2009

Attendees Name(s) _____________________________________________________________________________

Address _______________________________________________________________________________________ Email __________________________________________Phone Number __________________________________

_________ How many will be attending Graduation Banquet (Number of attendees x $50) Amount enclosed____________

________ How many will be attending Casino Night - Low buy-ins the night of event -

________ How many will be playing golf (number of players x $45) Amount enclosed ____________

________ How many will be attending the Alumni Picnic - Free -

Mail payment to Project CENTRL 820 E. Cottonwood Lane, Bldg C

Casa Grande, AZ 85122 karen @centrl.org

520-316-0909

Cut here and mail today!

ARIZONA RURAL REGIONAL FORUMS

Join your fellow rural community leaders at a regional forum to discuss renewable energy in rural Arizona. Come learn about how you can bring renewable energy to your community. Presenters include: Alan L. Watt, Rural Energy Coordinator for USDA-Rural Development-USDA Renewable Energy for America Program Robin Boudreau, AZ EECBG Program Manager for AZ Department of Commerce Jerry Rhody, Constuction/Energy Manager for Pascua Yaqui Tribe No charge to attend. To RSVP, send an email to ebrowning@azrdc.org.

CENTRL DIRECTOR UPDATE EVERETT RHODES

It’s time to celebrate! Fall is always a special time for CENTRL, made even more so in those years we graduate the current class

and welcome a new one. The graduation banquet from our early years has grown into a festive weekend full of activities and fellowship with CENTRL board and council members, classmates, alumni, graduates, new class members and spouses. Check out the many opportunities in this newsletter and plan to join others at October’s CENTRL Graduation and Awards Banquet.

As we proudly celebrate the accomplishments and graduation of Class XIX, we are also eagerly preparing to start a new class. From my observations during interviews, I have growing expectations that Class XX will be the best ever for Project CENTRL. They are from all regions of the state, vary in age, have diverse professional backgrounds, share a wealth of life experiences, and are highly motivated leaders. As proven by the dynamics of past participants, these ingredients and more are a special recipe that truly brings “Class” to Project CENTRL. Although we often share friendly debate on which class is the best, one certainty for Class XX is they are starting as the largest, which is another indicator of the overall quality of this year’s candidates. A board policy adopted several years ago allowing up to 35 candidates, has been put into full practice for the first time with Class XX.

The exceptional quantity and quality of candidates is a tribute to the efforts by many alumni and others over the past few years. Your personal visits, sharing the CENTRL story, and giving encouragement to potential candidates were the guiding light in making this happen. We are grateful to the 35 Alumni for conducting area interviews and to the CENTRL Board Selection Committee for their diligence in making final selections. The future of Project CENTRL is determined by the quality of leaders we engage today.

We are deeply touched by those supporting CENTRL’s fundraising campaign. Your contributions are making a huge difference and are much needed to provide the quality leadership experience that you enjoyed for the incoming class. I realize this has been a tough economic year for many. It is during these times that we need to build an even stronger level of support from Alumni. By strengthening our grassroots level of support, we also strengthen our ability to secure additional donors.

As always, we appreciate the many ways you are helping to grow Project CENTRL’s legacy of leadership. See you at the CENTRL Graduation and Awards Banquet in October!

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Sharon Adams

Jenny Andes

Tanya Baker

Wade Carlisle

Richard Clark

Terisha Driggs

Chris Gibbs

Peggy Jo Goodfellow

Renee Hamstra-Pew

Robert Ingulli

Diane Junion

Wes Kerr

Greg Kornrumph

Frank Krentz

Kimberly Lunt

Barbara Marley

Harold Maxwell

George McNeely

Kelvin Moss

Roger Murphey

Paco Ollerton

Jolynn Pangerl

Pam Pearsall

Wyatt Prescott

Kari Sanders

Risa Simonis

Mary Taylor

Kacie Tomerlin

Emma Torres

Mary Ann Uhl

Russell Van Leuven

Shawn Wood

Jeff Wooley

Benny Young

Kelly Young

October 20, 2009 2:00 - 4:00 pm U of A Tucson, AZ

October 22, 2009 8:30 - 10:30 am Little America Flagstaff, AZ

The Project CENTRL Alumni Council is pleased to announce the prestigious award recipients of their biennial Outstanding Leadership Awards. Recipients will be recognized at the Class XIX graduation on October 23, 2009 at the Sheraton Phoenix Airport Hotel in Tempe.

Community Service – This award recognizes one who has devoted considerable time and energy towards improving the quality of life in their community. This individual demonstrates proven leadership and dedicated service that has been successful in meeting public needs. The winner is:

Glenna McCollum-Cloud, a graduate of Class IX and a native of the Chandler community, she gives countless hours to the Chandler Education Foundation (CEF) where she has served as Executive Director since 1997. She is responsible for fund-raising, management, and implementation of CEF endeavors. She worked with other Chandler 501(c)3 non-profit organizations to form the Chandler Non-Profit Coalition. Glenna serves on the Chandler Museum Board of Directors and is active in the Arizona and American Dietetic Associations; she has been Director of Nutrition at one of Arizona’s community colleges for the past 18 years. She is currently a doctoral candidate from the University of Phoenix.

Agriculture – This award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated strong support for the growth and development of one or more segments of our diverse agriculture industry. This individual has demonstrated significant personal leadership in fostering the success of agriculture in Arizona. The winner is:

Brett Cameron, a graduate of Class XVI, assists rural Arizona and agriculture every day with the award winning Agricultural Consultation and Training Program that he developed. An avid beekeeper, he began his agricultural career as an apiary (bee) inspector with the state. Brett is now an Assistant Director at the Arizona Department of Agriculture. He works to assist the agricultural community to ensure they are complying with the law so that there will be no penalty for their operations. He is responsible for millions of dollars in grant monies and he also has oversight of several agricultural councils, ensuring that their purposes are served and that they are financially sound. Brett makes his home in Peoria.

Public Policy – This award is given to one who has demonstrated effective leadership in public policy formation. The individual may be an elected or appointed official or a volunteer who has given key leadership in the development of responsive public policy that has made a positive impact in rural Arizona. We are pleased to announce three award recipients in the Public Policy category this year, they are as follows:

Tim Dunn, a graduate of Class XI, is a farmer from Yuma that has worked on public policy in Arizona and on the national level with his current role as 1st Vice President of Arizona Farm Bureau and his involvement over the years in numerous agricultural committees. Retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor recently selected him for the O’Connor House Project which works to move public policy issues forward in Arizona as the state nears its centennial. He is also a board member on the Arizona Community Foundation that works to improve the quality of life in Arizona by promoting effective philanthropy and he has recently been named chair of the Arizona Department of Agriculture Advisory Council.

Edward Farrell, a graduate of Class XVI, has worked tirelessly for his community of Maricopa, first by working to have it incorporated as part of his Project CENTRL internship requirement and then serving as its first mayor and now as a city council member. He has also been very active in Pinal County activities including the Pinal Partnership Executive Founding Board, the Central Arizona Association of Governments, and the Central Arizona Economic Development Foundation to name just a few. He is very involved with his young family and his faith.

Fernando Shipley, Fernando Shipley, a graduate of Class XVII, was recently elected Mayor of Globe. He has focused his many years of public service on bringing mining jobs to Globe, as well as beautifying the town. He has been a driving force to change zoning regulations to make sure that Globe’s historic properties are maintained. Fernando is president of the hospital board, working to bring first class healthcare to his community. He is also on a host of other civic, religious and economic development organizations, including the National Association of Latino Elected Officials and a committee called My Own Backyard, developing cosmetic improvements for the downtown area.

Natural Resources – This award is given to a visionary leader on Arizona’s land, water, and/or other natural resources. Awarded to one who understands the needs, threats, and opportunities of our natural resources and actively involves a larger and more responsive community on the management of these resources. The winner is:

Bill Greenwood, from Eager Arizona and a graduate of Class X, has been selected to receive the Natural Resources award for his steady success in the sustainable use of natural resources. After the local timber industry shut down in the mid-1990’s, Bill went to work to revive the small diameter wood products industry. A major outcome was the White Mountain Stewardship Contract by the U.S. Forest Service, a model for forest management across the nation. This led local entrepreneurs to create additional jobs in a laminated beam plant, a truss plant, log home manufacturing, custom log homes, wood waste composting, artwork, custom furniture and millwork. This program turned the liability of forest thinning into a break-even and potentially profitable venture. He was a driving force behind the creation of the Northern Arizona Wood Products Association and the Southwest Sustainable Forests Partnership and he is also very involved with state water issues and has served on a number of committees and partnerships.

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Class XIXClass XIXClass XIXClass XIX

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Stay Involved! By Tiffany H. Ground (XIX) You must get involved to have an impact. No one is impressed with the won-lost record of the referee. -John H. Holcomb Class members of Project CENTRL Class XIX learned many skills like public speaking, Robert’s Rules of Order, the importance of teamwork and active listening. But I believe the most important skill we acquired is learning and committing to be involved. By applying to Project CENTRL and making the two year commitment, we have stated, we desire to be better leaders and to make a difference in the future. Our original motivation to apply might have been to make friends, business contacts or learn more about Arizona. But when the two years were completed we learned that we are an integral part of a network of over 500 members of CENTRL alumni. To ensure we don’t lose touch or miss the

many opportunities presented by this varied and eclectic group it is important to remain active in this program. I hope each member of Class XIX, doesn’t think of October 23, 2009 as the end of their time with Project CENTRL, it is truly just the beginning. Each of us is busy with life, jobs and family, but we can always find time for those things most important. Staying involved with Project CENTRL is incredibly simple. Submit an article to the newsletter about the great things happening in your community, attend a quarterly CENTRL Regional Connection (CRC) or visit a current class session, alumni are always welcome. The Alumni Council is made successful by the unique experiences of the alumni, attend a meeting before a CRC and look into joining the Council. Class XIX is full of very diverse individuals that strive to meet the challenge of being “the best class”, going forward let’s continue this camaraderie, stay involved and prove we are the best class!

One Runner’s Journey in the Race to Cure Breast Cancer by Cindi Smith, Class XIX

THE HURDLE: a personal challenge. Losing both grandmothers to Breast Cancer and witnessing several more friends and acquaintances diagnosed with this insidious disease, made it impossible for me to stand on the sidelines. On average 3,043 women will be diagnosed with Breast Cancer in Arizona this year and 636 will die. In our state Breast Cancer is the most prevalent form of cancer in women and the key to survival is early detection and treatment. Unfortunately, 250,000 uninsured women in Arizona between 40-64 yrs are eligible for the federal Early Detection Program but only 6% of this population is served due to lack of funding and access to services (especially in our underserved rural communities). For my Project CENTRL internship, I pledged to increase participation in activities to raise awareness of this disease; generate dollars for research, diagnosis and treatment through fundraising efforts; and to join an established legislative grassroots network to communicate with local, state, and federal policymakers to impact legislative action. It has been my good fortune to not have to run this race alone—finding experienced and effective Relay Partners has been a major dynamic. This runner’s Anchor partner is Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, an internationally recognized organization. Established in 1982 by Nancy Brinker with a promise made to her 36-year-old sister dying of Breast Cancer that she would work to find a cure. Since then, Komen has become the world’s largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to curing breast cancer, working through more than 200 affiliates and to date investing over $1 Billion. The Arizona 3-Day and the Advocacy Alliance are both sister organizations of Komen for the Cure that also provided me with tools and a venue to accomplish my goals. The talented and dedicated individuals within these organizations were the pathfinders that eagerly showed me the way. As a member of a 5-person Hassayampa Hoofers team (pictured) in the Arizona 3 Day 60-mile walk in November 2007, a Director of the Wickenburg Race for the Cure in October 2008, and the Chairperson of a Survivor’s Luncheon in January 2009, I assisted in raising over $40,000 toward the Cure. It has also been my privilege to continue to serve on the Public Policy Committee for the Phoenix Affiliate of Komen for the Cure and the national Advocacy Alliance, where an Internet based advocacy action alert response network has been significantly expanded and successful in persuading legislators to keep the fight against Breast Cancer in the forefront. The highlight of my Internship was the opportunity I was given to participate as a member of the Arizona constituency in a National Breast Cancer Awareness Lobby Day in D.C. on April 30, 2009. THE FINISH LINE to eradicate Breast Cancer is still in the distance. Every step taken moves us closer to the goal but it is clear that more runners are needed to pursue this end. I hope that each of you will accept a personal challenge to join me in this race…here’s the baton!

Log onto www.komen.org for more information about how you can participate.

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Cheryl Goar, Class IX Board Member and Curriculum Chair

Do you ever watch HGTV? I must admit, it is one of my favorite channels. The frustrated interior decorator in me seems to emerge with every episode. It’s quite simple. They begin with a room in desperate need of an update and then after a one hour episode (which includes quite a few commercial breaks) a debut is staged. The camera spans the entire room, the homeowners gasp with excitement. It is the same room, sure, but who would know? With the change of paint color, the new throw rug and pictures on the wall, it makes it look cutting edge, right out of a current issue of House Beautiful.

This type of make-over is what the Curriculum Committee has been working on for just over one year now with Project CENTRL. It is still the same CENTRL we all experienced and most loved but, with a few new throw pillows and a fresh coat of paint! Class XIX served as our test market for new ideas for year two and Class XX will evaluate changes for the first year sessions. Last year with Class XIX, the Curriculum Committee’s focus was bringing an interactive portion into each session. Whether that was an additional opportunity for public speaking or an actual election being held during class (complete with campaign speeches) this addition was well received and evaluated by the class. A culture evening was added to the Mexico tour which provided an opportunity to experience other sides of the Mexican culture than were normally explored on this journey. The internship projects were also given more emphasis and explanation for this class. We intend to continue these changes with Class XX.

Planned changes for year one for Class XX include a new three-part seminar experience. Keying in on the hottest topics of the time for Arizona, Seminars 4, 5 and 6 will build upon each other beginning with Recognizing Challenges, Exploring Opportunities and Making a Difference. With a small hint of another television show “The Apprentice”, class mates will be challenged during Seminar 6 to take all they have learned at the other seminars and additional research completed on their own to make a group presentation to the client during the actual seminar. They will have about 24 hours to complete their task. No one will be fired—but expectations are high for this final presentation.

This make-over is truly a work in progress. Many thanks to the entire Curriculum Committee for the time and energy they have committed to this process. Members include: Gerry Bohmfalk, Paul Brierley, Eddie Browning, Pat Harrington, Paul Rovey, and Jim Klinker.

Working together I believe I speak for the entire committee and the Project CENTRL staff when I say if there were cameras present---we would all be gasping with excitement at the changes we have made and the ones which are yet to come!

As an alumnus of Project CENTRL you have many ways to continue involvement with the program. These include time, effort, financial support or all the above! Just as when you actively participated with your class, the value received is commensurate to your level of engagement. Your Alumni Council and the current class have a great fall lineup prepared to enable your continued participation. We have begun our formal alumni outreach program that will be coordinated by class and regional representatives, thus allowing for personal contact with all alumni. If you attended the May 1st class outreach session, volunteered to participate, or would like to assist in this activity please contact me and plan to join us for a Class Outreach Pep Rally October 23, 2009 at 4:00 p.m. in the Prickley Pear Dining Room of the Sheraton Phoenix Airport Hotel in Tempe, just prior to the Graduation and Awards Banquet. Most importantly we would like to strongly request your presence at the Project CENTRL Gala on Friday night October 23rd at the Sheraton in Tempe. The event is first and foremost a celebration of CENTRL. Additionally, we will be graduating Class XIX and welcoming to our ranks Class XX. A special “casino night” sponsored by Class XIX will follow the formal festivities so plan to stay late! The next day will have yet more opportunities to connect with all of Project CENTRL with both a morning golf outing, and an alumni BBQ with the new class that is planned to include both you and your family.

FINDING A WAY TO STAY CONNECTED… By Erik Swanson, Class XVI Alumni Fund Raising Chair

Remember, Project CENTRL is the only Rural and Agricultural Leadership Program out of 34 in the U.S. that does not charge a participation fee. Just as when you were selected to participate, this allows the very best prospects to benefit from the Project CENTRL experience regardless of their financial situation. As you consider a financial commitment of support, remember contributions to Project CENTRL are Tax Deductible! There are three ways to give to Project CENTRL: Direct Annual Donations – A donation of any size is both appreciated and welcome! Credit card/PayPal donations can be given on-line at www.centrl.org. Eldon Moore Leadership Fund – For significant donations, the Eldon Moore Leadership Fund has been created and can be funded with specific terms and conditions. Contact the Project CENTRL Director to receive further information. Planned Giving – Since Project CENTRL is a 501(C)3 non-profit entity, you can designate Project CENTRL as a recipient of assets in your tax planning. Contact the Project CENTRL Director to coordinate with your tax consultant. Please Plan to join us for the October Gala and share what financial support you can – thus assuring the long-term success of Project CENTRL.

CENTRL

Curriculum

Make-over

By Frances Lechner Class XVIII

For readers who may not know (and you would not be in the minority), Yarnell is a small, unincorporated community between Wickenburg and Prescott. It sits atop a hillside which takes you from the desert floor to an elevation of 4800 feet in the space of five miles, four of them switchbacks

which motorcyclists love. Yarnell is distinguished by huge boulders which landscape the west side of highway 89 – and that translates to REALLY rocky ground for gardening. And I have a black thumb to boot. (My husband used to call our yard in Phoenix “the killing field.”) So why would I participate in the Yarnell Community Garden Project - especially if I wanted it to succeed?!

First – I was asked. (Take home lesson here – the personal ask is SO powerful…). The ask came from a long-time Yarnell resident and friend who was inspired by Barbara Kingsolver’s book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle; he has remained the prime mover behind the gardening efforts. Second, it provided a way for me to get to know more of the community. I live in Yarnell only on weekends, so my range of opportunities to connect is somewhat limited. I’ve had the most wonderful time stopping by the homes of my new friends and gardening buddies. Third, it was a chance to do something for the community (and this is a place where that word actually means something…). It was a chance to use the skills I developed and honed in my Project CENTRL experience.

So – I take minutes at our bi-weekly meetings, write a monthly article for the “Yellow Sheet”, our monthly community newsletter, and contribute as an active member in the group. I crafted our mission and vision statements from the group’s brainstorming, drafted bylaws which the group refined and passed, and found a logo for us. And I’m painting the truck beds. But enough about me. In just seven months, here’s what the Yarnell Community Garden Project has done:

Our Vision: A garden that is both bountiful and beautiful: one which provides sustenance, inspires opportunities for offshoots, and creates a feeling of belonging. Our gardening activities will grow an atmosphere that is welcoming, purposeful and fun.

1)Found a donor of 1/3 acre space, which we lease for $1 a year. Fenced the area with 6 foot wire fencing (to keep out deer and javelina)

2)Planted three huge raised beds, two truck bed patches and numerous other containers with potatoes, beans, corn, squash, tomatoes, basil, lettuce, radishes, melons, and cabbage.

3)Developed a basic watering system

4)Started a Saturday morning “Farmers Market” where produce from our garden – along with surplus from other folks’ gardens can be sold

5)Provide fresh veggies for Garden members, a local restaurant, and the salad bar at the Community Center

6)Had a float in the annual Yarnell Daze Parade

7)Will be hosting a community wide Halloween evening for families on Oct. 31

We’re in the process of learning about becoming a 501(c)(3) organization, and plan to learn about grant writing, too. We have a core group of about ten individuals, and have good links throughout the area, including folks from Wilhoit, Prescott and Wickenburg. I’m happy and proud to be part of the group, to be giving back to my community, and to using my skills and talents in a way that makes a difference.

By the Honorable Frank Pratt,

Representative, Arizona Legislature, District 23

To quote my fellow freshman legislator, Senator Al Melvin, “There is a lot of difference between being a candidate and a legislator.” These last six months have been a whirlwind. Never in our state’s history

have we been faced with so many important decisions that affect so many. This year’s experience reminds me that a successful leader must demonstrate courage, compassion and commitment.

I learned commitment from being raised in rural Arizona where a strong work ethic is a common trait among individuals. An appreciation for hard work leads to self-reliance, the acceptance of personal responsibility and confidence. This freshman year experience has shown me that as the people’s representative, I must give my best effort daily, act responsively and remain confident.

Experience and confidence builds courage. A lifetime of farming and running a small business prepared me to forecast, plan, budget, and schedule. Without this background I would have been ill prepared to face the rigors of lawmaking. Looking for solutions in these trying times requires creative thinking. As bills are introduced to committees they are analyzed, crafted and revised again and again to ensure that they are feasible and workable.

Programs such as Project CENTRL, help aspiring leaders to develop communication skills. Communication skills are essential to leaders in all areas and maybe even more so to legislators. As a representative for the people of my district, it is essential that I am a strong advocate who can focus my thoughts and deliver my message quickly. The ability to communicate and advocate is an important asset especially when I may only have a few seconds or minutes to persuade a person whose assistance is needed to move legislation forward.

Some say that people are either born leaders or they are not. I don’t believe this statement is true. I believe that leaders gain experience as managers and then blossom into the higher stage after they have developed the communication skills needed to inspire others to work for a common goal. My rural roots fostered my work ethic and as a farmer and small business person I learned how to get things done effectively. When I learned to improve my communication skills, I was able to develop my ability to inspire others to work as a team toward a common goal.

I look forward to the next year and a half in working for the people of my district and hope to continue to demonstrate courage, compassion and commitment. I encourage others to work hard, gain experience, listen actively, practice communicating and become more involved in helping to make Arizona a better place.

Freshman Legislator Reflects on this Year’s Legislative Session This article originally appeared in the September 2009 issue of Arizona Agriculture.

Prescott

Yarnell

Wickenburg

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ILAC – Washington State 2009

Submitted by Lisa Ann James (XIX)

I feel truly blessed to have had the opportunity to attend this year’s

ILAC, and especially honored because I’m technically not an alumni

until graduation in October. (Ssshh ;-) As a “newbie” to the

experience, I found it very rewarding. The program was excellent and

the host committee from the Ag Forestry Program demonstrated true

leadership skills. We also got a preview of next year’s ILAC 2010 in

Fort Worth, Texas. I can tell already that it’s going to be a tough act

to follow, but I know we can pull it off!

I was reminded that listening is a key component of leadership.

You have to able to listen – to others in order to resolve

conflict; you have to be able to listen – to feedback in order to

improve your leadership skills; and you have to be able to

listen – to yourself in order to connect to what matters most in

your life.

I particularly enjoyed the tours of the nuclear power plant and

the wind turbine farm; both energy resources that we have

here in Arizona.

International Alumni Leadership Conference Aug. 19-22, 2009, Pasco, WA

Report by Frances Lechner, Class XVIII, Alumni Council Member

I was delighted to be able to go, and to have Project CENTRL’s support for this to be a planning opportunity as we prepare to host in 2011. I was astounded at the terrain on the east side of Washington, and very appreciative of the opportunities to visit energy and agriculture operations in the tri-city area. (Especially liked the vineyard and wine tasting!) The quality of speakers, by and large, was outstanding. The group really showcased the kind of impact the Ag Leadership programs have on individuals: two of Washington’s AgForestry alum were speakers, and another VERY well received speaker was a graduate of the Arkansas program. The format of speakers in the morning, and tours in the afternoon is a solid approach. I met, and was truly inspired by, several of the individuals and look forward to establishing contact with them. I think we have a great opportunity – and great responsibility – to host an ILAC conference in 2011, and I’m happy to be part of it.

On the last day, I attended the round table on fundraising. I was surprised to learn how many programs rely heavily – and some primarily – on fundraising. The group talked about how hard it is for some people to ask for money. Some of the key points that members of the group shared were:

It’s an investment to turn financial capital into human capital The cause is greater than you (it’s about selling the program,

not you) Success is defined by asking, not the outcome (you can’t win if

you don’t play) I am very excited about the next couple of years in preparing for our turn to shine at ILAC 2011. I think it’s very important that we have a strong showing of CENTRL alumni at the event and I plan to make as many personal invites as I can. Thanks to Project CENTRL and the Alumni Council for this great opportunity.

ILAC is a great opportunity to network with fellow leadership groups from other states and countries. This year the conference was held in Pasco, Washington and hosted by AgForestry Leadership. Below are two reports from attendees of this conference, both of whom are on the AZ ILAC 2011 host committee.

Picture by Lisa Ann James

Page 9

The University of Arizona’s McGuire Center for Entrepreneurship at the Eller College of Management closed the academic year on a high note Friday, April 24, with the 25th anniversary of the year-end entrepreneurship celebration and competition. The McGuire Center recognized entrepreneurial leaders including Mark and Jacque Cook of Coronado Vineyards. Mark and Jacque were awarded the 2009 Entrepreneurial Promise Award – Rural Entrepreneurship for their development of the Coronado Vineyards business. Mark and Jacque are both native to Arizona and graduates of the University of Arizona with bachelor degrees from the College of Agriculture. The couple fell in love with the wine industry in 1997 when Mark consulted on a pistachio project in central Argentina. Upon return to the United States they set their eye on the wine industry in Arizona. In 2005, together with their friends Dick and Cody Eastman, the couples purchased an abandoned golf course in Willcox and developed it into what is now Coronado Vineyards. In November 2006 the dream became reality with the grand opening. Mark and Jacque as the managing owners later expanded the operation to include a restaurant and developed the property into a destination for weddings, parties, and events.

Jacque Cook (XV) is Winner of Entrepreneurial Promise

Board Members

Bas Aja

Eddie Browning

Brett Cameron

Jim Christenson

Con Englehorn

Cheryl Goar

Gail Griffin

Carrie Hamstra Jim Klinker Glenna McCollum-Cloud Paul Rovey George Seperich Erik Swanson Don Walker Heather Walker

Officers

G. T. Bohmfalk, President Linda Vensel, Vice President Pat Harrington, Treasurer Jim Webb, Secretary Paul Brierley, Alumni Chair

Project CENTRL Board of Directors CENTRL Alumni Council

Council Members Mark Clark (XIII) 480-585-0302 mark2golf@juno.com Lucia Konrath (XVIII) 520-465-8849 Lucia_bond@yahoo.com Frances Lechner (XVIII) 623-256-5125 flechner@uda.coop Marnie Uhl (XVII) 928-830-9434 marnie@pvchamber.org

Chair Paul Brierley (XVI) 480-323-6832 paulbrierley@azfb.org Vice-Chair Frank Pratt (XVII) 520-560-6372 frank@prattpools.com Secretary Shannon Ortiz (XVIII) 520-405-7822 sortiz6@hotmail.com

Treasurer

Brett Cameron (XVI) 602-542-0984 bcameron@azda.gov Reporter Pennee Murphree (V) 520-898-7513 penneemurphree@yahoo.com Past Chair Erik Swanson (XVI) 480-706-0373 eswanson@haguecreek.com

Class Respresentatives Tiffany Ground (XIX) 602-909-9696 tground@cox.net Lisa Ann James (XIX) 602-510-4770 ljames@azda.gov

Keep sending your articles, interesting stories and pictures to Pennee Murphree

penneemurphree@yahoo.com or Lisa Ann James ljames@azda.gov

820 E. Cottonwood Lane, Bldg C Casa Grande, AZ 85122 520-316-0909 www.centrl.org