Greetings, fellow Avilones. It may be the “cold winds of autumn” for a majority of college and pro football followers across the country, but today (October 20th) I sit at my computer looking at a temperature reading of 80+ degrees in Avila Beach. How lucky we are. But not to forget, we did have a pleasant and unexpected weekend of rain just days ago. Lady Weather is a fickle being, is she not? And soon we will reset our clocks and mourn the seasonal loss of daylight savings – at least I will. After all, who wants to play tennis or golf in the dark?!?
Before I forget (again!), I want to correct an oversight on my part. Last month when mentioning some of the “Foundation” projects that included some wonderful community partners, I forgot to include the name of Joan Sargen, who helped finance the cost to purchase materials used to craft the educational signs along portions of the Bob Jones Pathway. And be it known that Joan has often times stepped up to the plate with financial support of various “Foundation” events over the years, for which we are grateful. While I’m on the topic of extending gratitude, a hearty thank you goes to Avila resident Julian Varela for the years he spent on the Foundation’s Board of Trustees – including two as board president. Business ventures have caused Julian to spend a great deal of time in San Diego, and he felt it best to step aside and open his seat to someone more available. We will miss you, Julian! And, last but not least, the “Foundation” thanks Rob Rossi, his family and foundation for bestowing upon us a very generous contribution in October. The amount received has been deposited into our “Emerging Needs and Opportunities Fund,” which is drawn upon when worthy requests come our way that fall outside of the “Foundation’s” usual grant-making cycle.
I had the pleasure last month of attending a VIP Open House Studio Art tour hosted by Colleen Gnos, the very talented artist busily at work on the painting of panels to be installed on the Avila Beach lifeguard towers. It was my first glance at the actual artwork, and only made me more excited about the project. It now appears that the work will be completed sometime in mid to late December, and will be followed by a “now in the planning stages” community celebration and unveiling sometime in January. Stay tuned for details as they become available. I hope those of you Avilones who are public art lovers will see this first project as a stepping stone to even more for our beach area. With limited funds at our disposal, any future public art will have to include donations from the very people who enjoy it the most – YOU. A special account will be established by the “Foundation” to solicit and accept donations restricted for more Avila Beach public art projects. Who among you will lead with a “pacesetter’s” gift? Let’s talk about it.
Last month I mentioned that the “Foundation’s” grant-making cycle was in high gear. On November 7th our Trustees will be gathering to vote on funding amounts for the 13 requests (totaling just under $70,000) under consideration. The results will be announced in the December issue of the Avila Community News. It never ceases to amuse me how varied are the priorities/interests of our Trustees who negotiate and vote on the outcome. On the flip side, I am continually impressed with how friendly and thoughtful all Trustees are during those negotiations. It is so UNLIKE the contentious elements in force with our country’s political process. I’ve often said (though mostly tongue in cheek), that we should place the running of our government in the hands of the non-profit industry. Of course, you may want to take that with a grain of salt since I’ve spent MY entire adult life as a non-profit professional. But really, have you ever seen political discourse be more of a circus? If civility, respect, decency and courtesy all but disappear, what have we remaining of our core values? Forgive me for the twist toward politics in this column, but I just couldn’t help myself. No more on that scene, folks!!!
In closing, I want to wish everyone a happy, healthy and peaceful holiday season. Thanksgiving is around the corner, the turkeys are running for cover, and pumpkins are popping up all over the place. Ah, the sacrifice turkeys and pumpkins make for our enjoyment. I am grateful that we live in a caring and giving community, and am appreciative of being able to serve as Executive Director of the Avila Beach Community Foundation. For me, very little beats the opportunity to devote my abilities to benefit the community in which I live, and to come into regular contact with the generous and friendly people who do what they can to lead, participate and lend support for the greater good. Best wishes to you Avilones.
See you at the beach!
Before I forget (again!), I want to correct an oversight on my part. Last month when mentioning some of the “Foundation” projects that included some wonderful community partners, I forgot to include the name of Joan Sargen, who helped finance the cost to purchase materials used to craft the educational signs along portions of the Bob Jones Pathway. And be it known that Joan has often times stepped up to the plate with financial support of various “Foundation” events over the years, for which we are grateful. While I’m on the topic of extending gratitude, a hearty thank you goes to Avila resident Julian Varela for the years he spent on the Foundation’s Board of Trustees – including two as board president. Business ventures have caused Julian to spend a great deal of time in San Diego, and he felt it best to step aside and open his seat to someone more available. We will miss you, Julian! And, last but not least, the “Foundation” thanks Rob Rossi, his family and foundation for bestowing upon us a very generous contribution in October. The amount received has been deposited into our “Emerging Needs and Opportunities Fund,” which is drawn upon when worthy requests come our way that fall outside of the “Foundation’s” usual grant-making cycle.
I had the pleasure last month of attending a VIP Open House Studio Art tour hosted by Colleen Gnos, the very talented artist busily at work on the painting of panels to be installed on the Avila Beach lifeguard towers. It was my first glance at the actual artwork, and only made me more excited about the project. It now appears that the work will be completed sometime in mid to late December, and will be followed by a “now in the planning stages” community celebration and unveiling sometime in January. Stay tuned for details as they become available. I hope those of you Avilones who are public art lovers will see this first project as a stepping stone to even more for our beach area. With limited funds at our disposal, any future public art will have to include donations from the very people who enjoy it the most – YOU. A special account will be established by the “Foundation” to solicit and accept donations restricted for more Avila Beach public art projects. Who among you will lead with a “pacesetter’s” gift? Let’s talk about it.
Last month I mentioned that the “Foundation’s” grant-making cycle was in high gear. On November 7th our Trustees will be gathering to vote on funding amounts for the 13 requests (totaling just under $70,000) under consideration. The results will be announced in the December issue of the Avila Community News. It never ceases to amuse me how varied are the priorities/interests of our Trustees who negotiate and vote on the outcome. On the flip side, I am continually impressed with how friendly and thoughtful all Trustees are during those negotiations. It is so UNLIKE the contentious elements in force with our country’s political process. I’ve often said (though mostly tongue in cheek), that we should place the running of our government in the hands of the non-profit industry. Of course, you may want to take that with a grain of salt since I’ve spent MY entire adult life as a non-profit professional. But really, have you ever seen political discourse be more of a circus? If civility, respect, decency and courtesy all but disappear, what have we remaining of our core values? Forgive me for the twist toward politics in this column, but I just couldn’t help myself. No more on that scene, folks!!!
In closing, I want to wish everyone a happy, healthy and peaceful holiday season. Thanksgiving is around the corner, the turkeys are running for cover, and pumpkins are popping up all over the place. Ah, the sacrifice turkeys and pumpkins make for our enjoyment. I am grateful that we live in a caring and giving community, and am appreciative of being able to serve as Executive Director of the Avila Beach Community Foundation. For me, very little beats the opportunity to devote my abilities to benefit the community in which I live, and to come into regular contact with the generous and friendly people who do what they can to lead, participate and lend support for the greater good. Best wishes to you Avilones.
See you at the beach!
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