Howdy <<First Name>> <<Last Name>> !
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times..." In 1859, it almost appears Dickens could see 2020 on the horizon...
I don't need to tell you how challenging this past 12 months has been. The 15-day shutdown that we prepared ourselves for a year ago is almost laughable now. But I encourage you to look back over the last 12 months, and hope you'll see some positives too. I know we have in our home and family, and I trust you will too.
However, the toll that COVID-19 has wrought continues. We grieve with family members, friends and acquaintances for the many lost to this virus. We also try to not take ourselves too seriously as we consider the most recent casualty - VC-CWA's March meeting.
Yes, you heard that right, for a plethora of reasons largely outside of our control, there will be no official VC-CWA meeting this month.
However, let me offer you some good news:
1) Normally, March includes all the fun, educational events that make up Ventura County Ag Week. This year, that Week will certainly look different than usual - among other things, it won't be in March. However, if you'd like to be a part of its planning and events, please join us and click here to contact Kat Merrick of Totally Local VC.
Like it or not, COVID-19 teaches us to be flexible.
2) Normally, March includes the start of our scholarship solicitation season - and this March is no exception! The scholarship team is trying to connect next week to finalize this year's scholarship schedule, application, and plans. If you would like to be a part of that project, click here to contact the team. Virus or not, VC-CWA prioritizes agricultural education!
This year, COVID-19 teaches us perseverance.
3) VC-CWA is one of 21 CWA chapters throughout the state. Several times each year, all those chapters come together for a little business, some great speakers, and to reconnect with our CWA sisters (and brothers!) from all over. The next Statewide Meeting will be held (via Zoom) on Saturday, March 13. If you'd like to attend, please click here to let us know. These Statewide Meetings are always a great opportunity for building relationships with wonderful ag folks from all over California.
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Dealing with the challenges of gathering during COVID, COVID-19 is teaching us to truly value relationships.
4) By now, you've likely heard that we're not expecting to see a 2021 Ventura County Fair. VC-CWA's other flagship event, our spring CWA Farm Day will likely look radically different as well.
Are you creative about events, outreach, and programs? Would you like to be a part of these amazing VC-CWA educational programs? If so, click here and let us know. We hope to gather a team soon to rethink our program plans for this year, because we are determined that COVID-closures will not keep us down.
COVID challenges are teaching us tenacity.
5) Even with the crazy times and your busy schedules Zooming here and there, we are so grateful that you continue to value your membership in VC-CWA, and are able to attend the getherings that we have had.
Last month, you'll remember we had our first ever Zoom meeting (because we've done our best to keep connected live-and-in-person - safely, of course - through these challenges) with a great video presentation on Animal Agriculture and Greenhouse Gases. If you missed that meeting, or would like me to email you a link to that program, click here. Click here to see minutes from that meeting for you to review. Next time we meet, among our official business, we will deal with these...
We are also so grateful for those of you who have remembered to renew your VC-CWA membership for 2021. If you haven't, no worries. Just for you, click here for a membership application. Please print and send it in to us by March 31. Thank you!
And a special thank you to our many donor members! Without you, we could not continue to do what we do.
COVID-19 continues to teach us special gratitude for our VC-CWA family.
6) Unrelated to COVID-19 (or maybe because of COVID-19, we'll likely never know), VC-CWA is being handed a special opportunity by GroupSpaces.
GroupSpaces has been our membership and email system tool for many years, but on April 1, they are shutting down their service. During the month of March, you will receive two copies of this and other VC-CWA emails - one via GroupSpaces, and the other via MailChimp. After March, all VC-CWA emails will move over to MailChimp, so please be ready to add our new address to your contact list so those emails aren't automatically filtered out as "Spam".
You may already be familiar with MailChimp - it's a widely used free tool that provides some very nice features for us. However, we haven't yet quite figured out how it's going to do all that GroupSpaces once did for us. If you would like to volunteer to lend a hand with our Membership Committee (recruiting, tracking, and keeping in touch with our members), our Mailchimp Conversion, or our Webmaster Team (maintaining our online presence), please click here to let us know.
Through opportunities like this, COVID-19 is teaching us teamwork.
7) Looking ahead, good things are coming! Please mark your calendars now for noon, Tuesday, April 20! We will be meeting with Donovan Mitchell of Blue Ridge Honey to talk about bees, see how they do what they do, and taste some great honey!
If you just can't wait until April 20 to connect, maybe you'll enjoy this...
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True, aviation isn't exactly agriculture but we all know that agriculture is connected to virtually everything, and this local event looks like great fun - Hope to see you there!
VC-CWA also has plans on the horizon to visit a local coffee grower, and get together to talk about goats!
There are so many different kinds of fun things to do in the world of Agriculture - so stay connected, and let's plan on enjoying all of them - together!
Being able to look ahead like this, COVID-19 teaches us optimism.
Perseverance.
Relationships.
Tenacity.
Gratitude.
Teamwork.
Optimisim.
As I look over this list, I can't help but think that you, our farmers and agriculture professionals, already know all these things. Without these attributes, you couldn't possibly do what you do. For that, and for you, we are grateful.
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We are so thankful for you, your connection to VC-CWA, and your willingness to share your knowledge and skills with others.
We look forward to seeing you!
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2021 DONORS - Thank you!!!
Without you, VC-CWA couldn't do what we do!
Cornucopia
J. K. Thille Ranches – Dorcas Thille
Gold
Stockton Ranch – Martha Flournoy
Silver
Beardsley and Son – Melinda Beardsley Meyring
Kimball McPheron Ranch – Maggie Kimball
Kimball Ranches – El Hogar – Nancy Kimball
Kimball Ranches – El Hogar – Rachael Laenen
Richardson Ranches - Martha Richardson
Shelley Zadik
Totally Local VC - Kat Merrick
West Coast Berry Farms - Annette Baietti
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