west valley news

Important Public Hearing forThe Village at Westfield toTake Place January 24thAfter several years on the shelf, The Village at

Westfield Topanga development is getting closerto breaking ground.

The timing is just right for creating jobs andputting some construction people back to work.The positive economic impact of this project inthe west San Fernando Valley is of historicproportions.

Westfield has been a great community partnerin many ways. The expansion of WestfieldTopanga of more than $350 million, severalyears ago, brought high-end retail to the westvalley. The annual economic output adds up tohundreds of millions of dollars, thousands ofjobs, millions in tax base revenue for the city.Local non-profits and chambers of commercehave benefited by generous contributions fromWestfield. The local Police Station has receivedequipment donations and generous support foractivities not generally funded by the city.

The surrounding communities of Canoga Parkand Reseda have benefited from development taxdollars that have been invested in business

A lifetime of personal achievementsand contributions to the communitybefitting of the 53th Fernando AwardRecipient.

The Fernando Award is the highest honorbestowed for volunteerism in the San FernandoValley and one of the top awards for civicaccomplishment in the nation.

Gary M. Thomas’ community service andvolunteerism has spanned over 37 years and hasinvolved Chambers of Commerce, organizationsthat have political impact on the San FernandoValley, anti-gang programs, youth developmentorganizations, leadership and business impactprograms and non-profit health organizations.He has helped raise over $5 million for the nearly30 non-profit organizations he has served inleadership positions.

Lots of space can be filled to describe his manyaccolades but perhaps his most significant impacton the community, has been his service to theBoys and Girls Club of the West Valley.

CONNECTING BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY SINCE 2004. CELEBRATING 9 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE WEST VALLEY COMMUNITY. Volume 8 Number 1 2012

www.westvalleynews-sfv.com

Gary Thomas Exemplifies Volunteerism and Leadership

Serving:CalabasasCanoga ParkChatsworthResedaTarzanaWest HillsWinnetkaWoodland Hills

FREE

2011 Fernando Award Recipient Gary M. Thomas proudly displays his symbolic statuette of the highest honorbestowed for volunterism in the San Fernando Valley and one of the top awards for civic accomplishment.

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Cooper Reading Challenge a Success

Ed Crowe / West Valley News

Inspiring children to make education a top priority is part of the benefit of the after school programsat the Boys & Girls Club of the West Valley. And it begins with a reading challenge. Last year, 260children were given $25 each to purchase books at Barnes & Noble Woodland Hills from Dec. 6-9 forthemselves and family members at the Fifth Annual Cooper Reading Challenge, sponsored by MartyCooper. Barnes & Noble Woodland Hills provided a 20% discount and snacks to the children, manyof whom had never before been to a book store. The Reading Challenge is designed to help instill thejoy of books and reading in the Club's youth.


INSIDE

Living Trusts in corformity 2with Medi-Ca rulesl

Make MONEY Helping People 3

A Simple Business Plan 4

Business Education / Workshops 9

$ave BIG with Business Servicesand Classified 11

New ER at West Hills Hospital 12

(L-R) David Clark, Manager, Barnes & Noble Woodland Hills; Marty Cooper, President, Cooper Communications; CouncilmanDennis Zine; Gary Thomas, Board Chairman, Boys & Girls Club of the West Valley; and children from the Club; during FifthAnnual Cooper Challenge shopping at Barnes & Noble.

See Gary Thomas Fernando Award on Page 5

Casey, the son of a very close friend congratulatesGary on stage and proudly holds the Fernando Award.

NOW ONLINE 24/7


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improvement districts within redevelopmentproject areas. Community supporters of TheVillage project are urged to attend the hearing indowntown Los Angeles on Tuesday, January 24at 2:00 PM. For transportation and validatedparking information call 818-206-4222.

www.westfield.com/topanga

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From the Publisher’s DeskI think of myself as an optimist and try to look at the positive side of

things. But lately I’ve sensed an eerie silence of discontent. A fear of theunknown that has shaken the confidence of the strongest minds. Politiciansmake it worse by talking nonsense and worrying about being elected ratherthan finding real solutions to unlock the engine of economic recovery.

We need good news to inspire confidence in the powerful and the weak.In the powerful to invest and create jobs for the unemployed. In the weakto regain their self-confidence to go out and find a job even if it is less thanwhat they had before.

We have to make this year a prosperous one so we need to keep tryingmore ideas and keep thinking of innovative solutions.

The month of February will see the installation of new Board members at the local chambers of commerce.New presidents and chairs of organizations will be elected. I hope they bring a clear vision and an action planfor their organizations to succeed. I dug out an article I published a couple years ago in the West Valley Newsabout Effective Team Leadership. I suggest those in positions of leadership on non-profit Boards to read itbecause they will need to motivate their team of directors to accomplish set goals.

We have to hang tight somehow until the presidential elections are over. Let’s work on those new plans andbuild a solid base move forward with confidence. If you know of someone who needs work and want to dodisplay ad sales, tell them the West Valley News is hiring. It is a commission based job with flexible hours.

Get ready for the 100th anniversary celebration of Canoga Park and Reseda. West Hills is celebrating their25th anniversary as a community this year; and the Boys & Girls Club of the West Valley is celebrating their20th anniversary. Many activities are planned so stay tuned for more information.

The West Valley News is beginning its 9th year of publication with plans to continue covering the south-western region of the San Fernando Valley. If you are in a position of leadership and need to do communityoutreach, keep this publication in mind. The print edition is monthly with digital 24/7 online presence.

I’m sad to see CRA/LA disappear along with jobs and projects in the communities they served.

PAGE 2 West Valley News Volume 8 Number 1 2012

Crowe Marketing Design PublisherEd Crowe Managing Editor/Creative DirectorJonathan Goldhill Contributing WriterAl Martinez Contributing WriterLance Miller Contributing Writer

The West Valley News is published monthly asan information and educational resource for smallbusinesses and community-based organizations.

WEST VALLEY NEWSCrowe Marketing Design8378 Sale AvenueWest Hills, CA 91304Tel: (818) 883-3374advertising@westvalleynews-sfv.comwww.westvalleynews-sfv.com

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To advertise, call 818-883-3374. The deadlinefor ads for each issue is the end of the third weekof the month prior to the month of publication.

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The West Valley News is open to the entirebusiness community of the San Fernando Valley.

The West Valley News is distributed by regular mailto active subscribers, via email to an electronicmailing list, and to the general public throughmore than 65 strategic, high-traffic businesslocations throughout the West Valley.

Now online 24/7-365 www.westvalleynews-sfv.com

CalabasasCanoga ParkChatsworthResedaTarzanaWest HillsWinnetkaWoodland Hills

FREE Business CounselingSBA SCORE Program

Call the Chamber Office to schedule an appointment withDon Doner/Senior SCORE Counselor

818.884.42225 Tips on Advertising Basics• Be consistent in your ad message and style including business cards, letterhead, envelopes, invoices,signs and banners.

• Newspapers, radio and TV stations are helpful in producing the advertising that you will be running with them.• While word-of-mouth advertising has been around a long time, it usually falls short of being able to attractthe number of customers needed to be successful in business.

• Promote benefits rather than features. A benefit is the emotional satisfaction your product or service provides,or a tangible performance characteristic.

• Know your competitors. Knowing everything about your competitors is just as important as knowing everythingabout your own business.

Counselors to America’s Small Business

WORK. SHOP. DINE. PLAY

RESEDAShopRESEDA – $25 every 25thEvery 25th of the month, join your neighbors in supporting local business, with “Spend $25 every 25th in Reseda.”By spending your money in Reseda, statistics indicate that approximately $.45 of each dollar spent remains in Resedavia businesses improvement and tax revenue returning to our community. The more of our spending we shift to insideReseda, the more tax revenue returns for street repairs, park improvements, and infrastructure improvements!

Many businesses are offering special Discount Coupons. Go to www.resedacouncil.org orwww.facebook.com/RNC.FB for more information.

THE CRUDE REALITY OF THE ECONOMIC IMPACT ON LOCAL PROJECTSThe recent anniversary of the Nortridge earthquake brought devastating news to the west valley projects areas

served by CRA/LA. It went from looking forward to a few million dollars of community redevelopment in Resedato a mandate of close-out activities effective February 1, 2012.

The West Valley News was going to publish an update from CRA/LA West Valley on the status of projects andprograms but instead, we are including in this issue the CRA Update from the CD3 Office of CouncilmemberDennis P. Zine.

CRA UpdateEstablished in 1948, the CRA/LA is a public agency that partners with private investors to support growth,

revitalization, and prosperity in the most neglected communities in the City of Los Angeles. There are currently31 Redevelopment Project Areas including Canoga Park-Reseda. Work is carried out pursuant to CaliforniaCommunity Redevelopment Law (Health and Safety Code Sections 33000 et seq.). CRA/LA is charged withbuilding affordable housing, creating jobs for working families, developing commercial and industrial sites,making public improvements, and helping build sustainable neighborhoods.

The State Budget adopted in Sacramento included the elimination of all redevelopment agencies in California.A legal challenge was issued about the action taken by the State and on December 29, the State Supreme Courtupheld the action by the State Legislature.

As of February 1, 2012, CRA/LA functions will be limited to close-out activities to be performed by aSuccessor Agency under the direction of an Oversight Board to be appointed. The Successor Agency will beresponsible for the expeditious winding down of approximately $422 million of obligations contained withinthe Enforceable Obligations Payment Schedule (EOPS) and assisting in liquidating assets of the CRA/LA.Enforceable Obligations include payments for outstanding bonds and loans, payments required by federal orstate government (e.g. grants) or for employee pension obligations, judgments and settlements, legally bindingand enforceable agreements or contracts including those for administration or operations, subject to approvalof the Oversight Board and the DOF.

Current projects underway in Council District Three which were receiving support from CRA/LA are theaffordable housing projects at Canby Woods, Sherman Village, and Kittridge Family Housing, and the soon tobe completed Reseda Park Swimming Pool Replacement. No future economic development functions will beconducted by the Successor Agency.

The Successor Agency is required to expeditiously close out the affairs of the CRA/LA, subject to approval ofthe Oversight Board. All assets, properties, contracts, leases, records, buildings, and equipment of the CRA/LAare transferred to the Successor Agency on February 1, 2012 for administration and close-out activities. Thisincludes all cash or cash equivalents and amounts owed to the CRA/LA as of February 1, 2012.

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West Valley News Volume 8 Number 1 2012 PAGE 3

United Chambers of CommerceA Coalition of 32 Business Organizations, including 22 Chambersof Commerce representing over 21,000 businesses.

5121 Van Nuys Boulevard, Suite 208Sherman Oaks, CA 91403T 818-981-4491 F 818-981-4256

Build your business while building your community.Join a Chamber of Commerce today.

How does your business benefit by being a memberof your local chamber?

• Opportunities to market your business.• Great networking opportunities and events.• Get involved with local legislative issues.• Meet local business and political activists.• Be involved in a variety of community events.

For a complete list of member chambers,visit www.unitedchambers.org

Agoura/Oak Park/Conejo Valley Chamber(818) 889-3150 | Fax (818) [email protected]

Calabasas Chamber(818) 222-5680 | Fax (818) [email protected]

Canoga Park/West Hills Chamber(818) 884-4222 | Fax (818) [email protected]

Chatsworth/Porter Ranch Chamber(818) 341-2428 | Fax (818) [email protected]

Encino Chamber(818) 789-4711 | Fax (818) [email protected]

Granada Hills Chamber(818) 368-3235 | Fax (818) [email protected]

Greater San Fernando Valley Chamber(818) 989-0300 | Fax (818) [email protected]

Regional Black Chamber818.464.3484 | Fax [email protected]

Reseda ChamberContact Nancy at (818) 989-0300 for [email protected]

SFV Filipino-American Chamber(818) 780-9197 | (818) [email protected]

Sherman Oaks Chamber(818) 906-1951 | Fax (818) [email protected]

Winnetka Chamber(818) 340-2282 | Fax (818 [email protected]

Woodland Hills/Tarzana Chamber(818) 347-4737 | Fax (818) [email protected]

Subscribe to the West Valley News

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Los Angeles City CouncilPlanning & Land Use Management

Committee Hearingfor The Village at Westfield Topanga

Tuesday, January 24, 20122:00 PM

Downtown Los Angeles City Hall Rm 350200 North Spring StreetLos Angeles, CA 90012

(See services offered on Page 15)

TRAVEL FOR THE FIRST TIME TO CUBA WITH THEGREATER SAN FERNANDO VALLEY CHAMBERGovernment authorizes registered travelers to visit CubaThe Greater San Fernando Valley Chamber of Commerce and Chamber Explorations have announced plans to

“Discover Cuba” in October 2012 in a new opportunity to see the island long closed off to travelers.

The White House expanded Cuban travel for Americans earlier this year, and specific licenses issued by theDepartment of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control authorize registered guests of programs such as theChamber's to visit Cuba legally. It will be the Chamber's first time offering a trip to the island.

On Tuesday, January 31 at 6:00 p.m. there will be a free presentation on Discover Cuba at The Beverly GarlandHotel located at 4222 Vineland Avenue in North Hollywood. Anyone interested in hearing more about Cuba canattend and also find out about the Chamber's Tuscany trip scheduled for November.

The cost is $3,799 per person, double occupancy, with a $600 single supplement for those who wishto travel solo.

The fee includes round trip airfare from LAX, a Cuban Travel Visa, Cuban Health Insurance, 8 nights of firstclass hotel accommodations, 21 meals, sightseeing and admissions, a professional Cuban bilingual host/guide,hotel and airport transfers and baggage handling, and transportation by deluxe air conditioned motorcoach.

To attend the January 31 presentation, please RSVP by calling the Chamber office at (818) 989-0300.

Anyone interested in the October Cuba trip is asked to call the Greater San Fernando Valley Chamber at(818) 989-0300 to reserve a spot or obtain a brochure or email [email protected].

Congratulations to Tatyana Berkovich, CEO of Dynamic Caregivers Domestic and CorporateStaffing Agency in joining the Woodland Hills-Tarzana Chamber of Commerce. Ribbon cuttings arean excellent way to introduce your business to the community and to network with other chambermembers upfront and personal.

Dynamic Caregivers is located at 17777 Ventura Blvd., Suite 121, Encino, CA 91316. Call Tatyanaat 818-654-8377 or visit www.DynamicCaregivers.com

West Valley News Volume 8 Number 1 2012

The Growth CoachBecoming a Strategic Business OwnerBy Jonathan Goldhill and Daniel M. Murphy

Points to Ponder

• Let our advance worrying become advance thinking and planning.Winston Churchill

• Planning is bringing the future into the present so that you can do something about it now.Alan Lakein

• A good plan is like a road map: it shows the final destination and usually marks the best way to get there.H. Stanley Judd

• The best plans are straightforward documents that spell out the who, what, where, why and how much.Paula Nelson

• Our goals can only be reached through a vehicle of a plan, in which we must fervently believe, and uponwhich we must vigorously act. There is no other route to success.Stephen A. Brennen

Keep Business Simple

To be an effective CEO, you must adopt a big-picture perspective. As leader, don’t over complicate business.Keep it simple and straightforward. Simplicity allows for clarity of focus and focus allows for superiorperformance. Here is a simple framework by which to see and guide your enterprise.

As owner or CEO, you are solely responsible for the company’s leadership process (direction, strategy,focus, goals, accountability) and the business development process (building a systems-based business thatis self-managing, self-improving, and nearly runs itself). As such, there are only a handful of additional majorprocesses you need to ensure are in place, well documented, and working smoothly and optimally: marketing,selling, operations (customer fulfillment), customer service, and back-office functions.

In brief, the marketing process generates leads, the selling process generates customers by closing leads,and the operations process fulfills the promises made to the customer. Completing the business cycle is thecustomer service process that follows up with the customer to ensure satisfaction with the current transactionand to uncover any other unmet needs.

Since the purpose of any business is to find, satisfy and keep customers, marketing, selling, operations, andcustomer service processes should be your top priorities and areas of focus. Other functions, while important,should be secondary priorities and support this main mission. These back-office support functions are: afinance/accounting process to manage money; human resources to manage employee issues; and infrastructureto manage technology, facilities, administration, etc.

Spend your time and energy focusing on your company’s core processes and competencies – those functionsthat you do extremely well as an organization and which add real value to the customer. Keeping businesssimple will help you stay focused on what is most important.

To simplify your business and your life even more, consider outsourcing (turning over day-to-day responsibil-ity to an outside provider) your back-office functions such as payroll processing, tax preparation, legal, HR,technology, facilities management, etc. Seek advice from your CPA, attorney, or banker about outsourcingarrangements.

Planning for Results

How do you create a simple business plan? How do you achieve results? Again, you must keep things simpleand focused. With your team’s involvement, agree on and set annual goals. Then, on a 90-day cycle, gather yourteam and hold your people accountable for the agreed-upon results. This implementation process is just asimportant as the goals. Do not tolerate excuses; insist on execution and results.

In short, you must select a few key strategies and implement like mad. Success is more about execution thananything else. Focus on the vital few instead of the trivial many. Energy focused on a few highly important goalsis powerful.

Please note that we are not talking about setting goals to achieve incremental improvements in performance orprocesses. We are talking about big and bold goals — goals on steroids. Be innovative and think big. Go forbreakthroughs, not mere incremental gains. Realize there are no rules or restrictions. As long as what you do ismoral, legal, and ethical, do not be shackled by company history or industry standards or practices. In short, killthe “we have always done it this way” mentality. Shake habitual thinking patterns.

Performance goals, at a minimum, should be set in the critical success areas we just discussed: leadership,business systemization, marketing, selling, operations (fulfillment), customer service, and back-office opera-tions. In fact, your annual business plan could be nothing more than 3-5 monster-size goals in each one ofthese key areas. Once you have your annual goals established, assign a person to champion each cause. Giveeach person the authority, time, and tools to make things happen. On a 90-day cycle, hold each person account-able for progress on his or her goal(s).

These audacious, challenging, and adrenalin-inducing goals should be SMART (Specific, Measurable,Aggressive, Realistic, and Timed). Force your people to stretch. What gets measured gets done. What getsrewarded gets repeated. As a leader, insist on aggressive implementation, follow-up, follow-through, and results.Intentions and plans are mostly meaningless; implementation is where success is found.

Hire a Retreat Facilitator

If necessary, consider having a once-a-year off-site strategic retreat with your management team and/or keyplayers. I strongly encourage hiring an objective facilitator to make sure there is honest dialogue, everyone par-ticipates, all the key barriers and issues are addressed, buy-in is achieved, and a workable action plan emerges.In the end, each person should know the answers to:

• Where are we going? (clarity of direction)

• What’s expected of me? (my contribution)

• How will I be measured (accountability)

• How will I benefit? (rewards)

Jonathan Goldhill, The Growth Coach, coaches leaders of private companies to grow their business. To learn more abouthis unique group and individual coaching programs visit www.TheGrowthCoachLA.com. Jonathan can be reached at(818) 716-8826 or [email protected]. Daniel M. Murphy is CEO & Founder of The Growth Coach FranchiseSystem, www.TheGrowthCoach.com.

See Strategic Business Owners on Page 9

Editor’s note: Beginning with Volume 7 Number 1 of the West Valley News, we started publishing monthlyinstallments of the content of a book by Daniel M. Murphy, CEO & Founder of The Growth Coach. The book istitled “Becoming a Strategic Business Owner. A Proven Process to Enhance Your Strategic Mindset.”

__________

CHAPTER 6. CLARITY OF DIRECTION: A SIMPLE BUSINESS PLAN

WORK. SHOP. DINE. PLAY

CANOGA PARKShopCANOGA PARK – TGBSF $25The community of Reseda had a great idea to help their local economy and support local merchants. The $25/25th.Other communities should follow the lead. Every 25th of the month, join your neighbors in supporting local business,with “Spend $25 every 25th in Canoga Park.” By spending your money in Canoga Park, statistics indicate that approxi-mately $.45 of each dollar spent remains in Canoga Park via businesses improvement and tax revenue returning to ourlocal community. The more of our spending we shift to inside Canoga Park, the more tax revenue returns for streetrepairs, park improvements, and infrastructure improvements! SHOP LOCAL. SHOP CANOGA PARK.




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DAVID ADELMAN NAMED 2012 VICA BOARD CHAIR AT 62ND ANNUAL MEETING

Features LAUSD Superintendent John Deasy, honors outstanding members

The Valley Industry and Commerce Association’s (VICA) 62nd Annual Meeting honored exceptionalVICA members, installed a new board of directors and named David Adelman (Greenberg & BassLLP) as the new board chair.

“I’m excited to take the helm of VICA and have set optimistic goals for continued advocacy andmembership growth in the coming years,” said VICA Chair David Adelman. “VICA is a powerful forceon the political landscape and I plan to continue that legacy.”

LAUSD Superintendent Dr. John Deasy provided the keynote address, laying out his progressiveplan to improve public education in Los Angeles during the luncheon. The proposal includes anunprecedented contract that holds teachers accountable for student success. The teachers’ unionapproved the contract just a few hours after Deasy spoke to VICA.

In addition to Deasy’s speech, VICA presented awards to some of the Valley’s notable businessleaders. Kevin Tamaki (AT&T) received the 19th Annual Harmon Ballin Community Service Awardand Jan Sobel (Boys & Girls Club of West Valley) was the recipient of the 6th Annual President'sAward. The 33rd Robert E. Gibson Corporate Award of Excellence was presented to WoodburyUniversity.

“Our membership is rich with community leaders and this year’s honorees are no exception,” saidVICA President Stuart Waldman. “All have contributed greatly to making VICA a robust businessorganization and the San Fernando Valley a community we are proud to call home.”

VICA elected and installed its 2012 board of directors and officers at the meeting.

The luncheon was presented by Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne and the San Fernando Valley BusinessJournal. It was held at the Burbank Airport Marriott.

The mission of the Valley Industry & Commerce Association (VICA) is to enhance the economicvitality of the greater San Fernando Valley region by advocating for a better business climate andquality of life. Visit www.vica.com for more information.


L E T T E R S

Write, Email, Fax, Call

Write Managing Editor, West Valley News8378 Sale Avenue, West Hills, CA 91304

Email [email protected]

Tel / Fax 818-883-3374 / 818-883-9678

Include name, address, and daytime telephone.Letters may be edited for clarity and length.

(Shared by a Cyber friend)

Winds of ChangeWe don’t know if Warren Buffet asked people toforward this message to a minimum of twentypeople on their address list, but it may help todo it to put the current Congress on notice.

“Congressional Reform Act of 2011”

1. No Tenure / No Pension.

A Congressman/woman collects a salary whilein office and receives no pay when they're outof office.

2. Congress (past, present & future) participatesin Social Security.

All funds in the Congressional retirement fundmove to the Social Security system immediately.All future funds flow into the Social Securitysystem, and Congress participates with theAmerican people. It may not be used for anyother purpose.

3. Congress can purchase their own retirementplan, just as all Americans do.

4. Congress will no longer vote themselves a payraise. Congressional pay will rise by the lowerof CPI or 3%.

5. Congress loses their current health care systemand participates in the same health care systemas the American people.

6. Congress must equally abide by all laws theyimpose on the American people.

7. All contracts with past and presentCongressmen/women are void effective 1/1/12.The American people did not make this contractwith Congressmen/women.

Congressmen/women made all these contracts forthemselves. Serving in Congress is an honor, nota career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizenlegislators, so ours should serve their term(s),then go home and back to work.

If each person contacts a minimum of twentypeople then it will only take three days for mostpeople (in the U.S.) to receive the message.Don't you think it's time?

THIS IS HOW YOU FIX CONGRESS!

FIRST MEMBER OF WEST VALLEY BOYS & GIRLS CLUB,RECEIVES MUCH-NEEDED GRANT FROM EXTENDED FAMILYJaylen Castillo, a four-year-old boy who lost his mother earlier this year in a car accident, has

received a grant from Extended Family designed to help him move forward with his education.

His father, Eric Castillo, was the very first youngster to join the Boys & Girls Club of the WestValley when it was formed, nearly 20 years ago. When tragedy struck the Castillo family, the Clubwanted to help and contacted Extended Family, which agreed to assist the Castillo family by payingfor Jaylen’s entire year of preschool — as well as some extra money to help make the holidayseason a special one for him…a grant in excess of $7,000.

Jaylen is now Eric’s sole priority and the focus of his life. Eric works in Northridge as a sales representative at Thermo Metrics during the day, while Jaylen goes to a quality preschool. When Ericcomes home from work his nights and weekends are spent with Jaylen. Despite the accident that toretheir lives apart, both are doing well. Jaylen is thriving, but a quality preschool is expensive, andwith only one income, Eric was struggling to make the monthly payments.

That’s when Extended Family stepped in to help.

Extended Family is a nonprofit organization based in Woodland Hills, founded to help children ofsingle parents who are raising a child or children without assistance from the other parent, like Ericand Jaylen.

According to Mark Carmer, Founder and President of Extended Family, “We assist those singleparents who are employed and working hard for their families, but find it’s still not enough.Unfortunately, our system is not designed to provide aid to those who are trying to better themselves.Single parents who are employed in an effort to improve the lives of their children often fail to qualifyfor government or charitable assistance because they are earning an income. Extended Familybelieves these are the people who should be supported the most. We believe in helping those whoare alone and working hard to help their family.”

Extended Family recently formed an ongoing relationship with the Boys & Girls Club of the WestValley in an effort to locate and assist deserving families in need. For information about ExtendedFamily and/or to make a donation so the 501(c)(3) organization can help families like Eric andJaylen, visit www.ExtendedFamily.org or contact Carmer at [email protected] or call818-936-2614.

LOOKING FOR A JOB?We know nothing is the same in today’s work

environment. We have a hard time keeping upwith technology advances and an informationoverload. Looking for a job is not a simple taskwith hundreds, if not thousands, of unemployedworkers competing for every available position.Facing a new reality could be overwhelming,specially if the job seeker hasn’t been out in thejob market for a while. Upgrading social mediaskills and learning about Facebook, Twitter andLinkedIn, may be in order.

Here’s what Katy Steinmets of Time NewsFeedhas to say about vocabulary.

10 Buzzwords to Take OffYour LinkedIn Profile NowBy Katy Steinmetz

Are you “creative,” “organizational” and“effective”? If so, your résumé might be in needof a makeover

LinkedIn, the social-networking site for peoplewith business cards, has released its list of theyear’s most overused professional buzzwords,culled from the profiles of its 135 millionmembers. As one might expect, they’re termsthat sound awfully nice but say almost nothingspecific about a person. They’re the type ofterms that are roughly the equivalent of listing“showing up to work” in your skills section.(Note: this might be rough to read if you areone of the people using these words, but weall need tough love sometimes.)

For example, dynamic is at No. 10. Accordingto the Oxford English Dictionary, its primarymeaning is “of or pertaining to force producingmotion: often opposed to static.” So by usingthis word, you have literally told your potentialemployer that you are adept at not beingstationary. You are the type of person whodoes things and moves from place to place.

At No. 9 is communication skills, and atNo. 8 we have problem solving. Both of theseguarantee nothing more than the person notbeing paralyzed by the prospect of a conversa-tion or an empty stapler. Innovative is No. 7and motivated is No. 6 — two more genericadjectives suggesting attributes that an employerwould probably like to take for granted.

Track record is at No. 5. Note that it is notspecified whether this track record is good orbad, though this person definitely has a trackrecord of some kind. More important, acurriculum vitae is a track record in and ofitself. Listing “track record” on a résumé is theequivalent of putting “reasons you should dateme” on your OkCupid profile. Or tacking “thingsI need to buy” onto your shopping list.

At No. 4, we have extensive experience.(Please see above paragraph.)

At No. 3 is effective, a promise that whenyou are being dynamic, you’re really makingthe most of it. And in second place, we haveorganizational— which may be important if youare, say, applying to be an accountant. But inmost cases, it is not the most striking skill to bechampioning — it’s like saying one is punctualor has neat handwriting.

And the No. one most overused professionalbuzzword is creative. This attribute, like many ofthe others, is one that is better shown than told.As LinkedIn’s connection director put it in arelease, “Use language that illustrates yourunique professional accomplishments andexperiences. Give concrete examples of resultsyou’ve achieved whenever possible andreference attributes that are specific to you.”And please, never use the word synergy withoutyour tongue firmly pressed into your cheek.http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/12/13/ten-buzzwords-to-take-off-your-linkedin-profile-now/#ixzz1gdb9Zwui

WHY IS IT?A man wakes up after sleeping

under an ADVERTISED blanket

on an ADVERTISED mattress

and pulls off ADVERTISED pajamas

bathes in an ADVERTISED shower

shaves with an ADVERTISED razor

brushes his teeth with ADVERTISED toothpaste

washes with ADVERTISED soap

puts on ADVERTISED clothes

drinks a cup of ADVERTISED coffee

drives to work in a ADVERTISED car

and then…

refuses to ADVERTISE

believing it doesn’t pay.

Later if business is poor

he ADVERTISES it for sale.

WHY IS IT?

Gary Thomas Fernando AwardContinued from Page 1

He has served on the Board for the last 13 years and is currently serving as Chairman of the Boardfor his fifth year. Under his leadership the club has purchased a facility in Old Town Center CanogaPark, expanded to include six additional satellite sites, grown the board from six to 24 Valleyleaders, expanded the staff, grown from 300 to over 3,400 members and currently supports a $1.5million budget. The Boys and Girls Club of the West Valley will be celebrating its 20th anniversarythis year for which many year round activities are planned. He is responsible for the creation ofsome of the most innovative fundraising methods among Valley non-profits, including the Club deCuba and Mile of Quarters for the Club.

Gary has served in leadership positions with the Economic Alliance of the San Fernando Valley;United Chambers of the San Fernando Valley; the Valley Business Corps; and The WellnessCommunity for the Valley and Ventura, among others. He has had a huge positive impact on everyorganization with which he has been involved and continues to provide that leadership today.

The 53rd Fernando Award Annual RecognitionReception, was held Friday, December 2, 2011,at the Warner Center Marriott.

As part of the evening’s program, a videopresentation highlighted Gary’s leadership qualitieswhich began at an early age as a Boy Scout. Healways seemed to aim for the highest level ofachievement, with humility and always thinkingof other people first. “I had good role models inmy parents,” Gary said. “My mother would giveher last dollar, if she had to.” He added, praisingher generosity. A trait he inherited. Fred M.Thomas, Gary’s father was a Fernando AwardRecipient in 1988, making it the first time in thehistory of the Fernando Award, that father and sonhave been bestowed with this prestigious award.

Councilmember Mitchell Englander said during his opening remarks that “father and son stand outas individuals in the community. They restore our confidence in humanity because they get involvedto make a difference.” He went on to praise Gary for his many personal qualities as a communityleader and high level of professionalism as a business owner. “Gary is the real thing.” He remarked.“He will do whatever it takes to make things happen.” Another speaker commented. “He is thego-to-guy.” If there is one tangible proof of what can happen under the leadership, creativity andgenerosity of Gary Thomas, the total transformation and extreme makeover of the Boys & Girls Clubof the West Valley stands out high on the list of accomplishments. Congratulations Gary!

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DISCOVER BAJA CALIFORNIATijuana

¡Tienes que Vivirla!By Ed Crowe, West Valley NewsThe slogan of the public commission for the promotion of tourism of Tijuana, Baja

California is ¡Tienes que vivirla! (You have to live it!). And that is what my wife andI did one weekend early in December, last year.

I had met our host Juan Arturo Saldaña, the Southern California Liaison, for the“Fideicomiso para la Promocion Turistica de Tijuana” at the Latin Business Association’sLargest Multi-Cultural Mixer at the Castaways in Burbank. When we exchanged cards,I looked at the logo and name of the organization and was curious. He explained that hewas there to help promote Tijuana and attend some networking events.

I shared my thoughts about what they should do regarding the bad publicity generatedby news of violence along certain border towns on the Mexican side. I said the averagefolk in the U.S. watches TV and assumes that the violence is hapenning all over Mexico,including Tijuana. Juan concurred with what I was talking about and suggested thatperhaps I could consider a visit to Tijuana and write about the experience. A couple ofweeks later he called to extend an invitation. I agreed on the condition that I could bringmy wife and write the article from the perspective of an American tourist visiting Tijuanafor the weekend. We coordinated a time and date and prepared for the drive to TJ.

Just the mentioning of the name Tijuana conjures up different memories for differentpeople. Some remember their little adventures driving across the border for a weekendof wild partying and drinking. Others recall an enjoyable trip for an overnight stay at theold Rosarito Hotel and a drive to Puerto Nuevo to eat lobster. A few are even afraid to getclose to the border because they imagine they will be kidnapped or shot as soon as theyset foot on the other side. Everyone tells you to be careful. Mostly because of the newsthey hear on TV or their preconceived ideas about our neighbor city south of the border.

For my wife Sonya and I, it had been close to thirty years since we last visited Tijuana,Rosarito and Ensenada. We always went in groups with friends and had a great time. Wedrove our own cars, purchase the insurance just in case, and patiently waited for hours tocross the border on the return trip. This time we parked the car on the San Diego side for$7 a day in an open air gated parking lot with dirt on the ground. We walked a few blocksto cross the border with a carry-on small suitcase with wheels. Some waiting in line wasneeded but within 15 minutes we were on the Tijuana side looking for Juan. He showedup and guided us through one of two gates to his parked car. As tourists in an unfamiliarcity with street vendors and people all around, I asked if it was safe to walk on the streets.Juan assured us that Tijuana has taken strong measures to make sure visitors feel safewhen they walk along the streets or drive on the roads.

Our first impression after 30 years was that Tijuana was a large city that had gonethrough a very positive transformation. There were no pot holes. The streets were cleanand hundreds of tourists were all around. Our first visit was to El Centro Cultural Tijuana,a modern building that is part of a large complex of other modern structures designed toproject Mexico’s national culture. An interesting fact that we didn’t know was that Tijuanais ranked as the third largest city in Mexico in terms of importance and population.

Juan tells us that during the Prohibition years, Tijuana was the playground of the richand famous. There was a popular casino where the likes of Al Capone and the movie starsof the Golden Era of Hollywood would visit and perform. Rita Hayworth (born MargaritaCarmen Cansino) was discovered there in the 1930’s. She was underage and not allowedto perform in night clubs under California law.

Another trivia fact about Tijuana is the creation of the first Caesar Salad. It is attributedto restaurateur Caesar Cardini, an Italian immigrant who operated restaurants in Mexicoand the United States. Cardini was living in San Diego but also working in Tijuana wherehe avoided the restrictions of Prohibition. His daughter Rosa (1928–2003) recountedthat her father invented the dish when a Fourth of July 1924 rush depleted the kitchen’ssupplies. Cardini made do with what he had, adding the dramatic flair of the table-sidetossing “by the chef.” The Ceasar restaurant is still in operation today under new owner-ship in downtown Tijuana. So the next time you order a Caesar salad at your favoriterestaurant in the Valley, remember it was first created by an Italian immigrant in Tijuana.

The Tijuana of today still retains the charm of the old town center with the traditionalfoods, folklore, and popular attractions. But there is a side of Tijuana that attracts thebiggest industries and the top innovators in the world. Al Gore, Carlos Slim, JimmyWales, were among the special guests at the Tijuana Innovadora in 2010. A world classconvention platform to showcase innovation at every cultural and technological level.Tijuana can no longer be perceived as a small city across the border from San Diego.It’s a metropolis with more than 1.7 million population, large industrial parks, institutionsof higher learning, and a work force ready to take on new challenges. During this weekendtrip, we also learned that Tijuana is the biggest producer of TVs in the world.

But enough about industrial parks and work. Our gracious host Juan and his wife Silviagave us a tour of the Distrito Gastronomico in the ritzy side of Tijuana where we tastedsome Baja Med Cocina at La Querencia. A must stop the next time you travel to TJ. TheTijuana experience is not complete without a stop at Cerveza Tijuana to taste all the beerstyles from TJ Morena to TJ Bufadora and TJ Brava. You can also admire the great EasterEuropean woodwork and stained glass in the taste room and banquet hall upstairs.

The next stop was at the Merlot, a gourmet eatery with a delicious selection of pastadishes. I had the Fettucine Pesto. We headed across the way to the Caliente Casino wherethe men watched the Greyhounds race and the girls played the slot machines. This madefor a full day of the Tijuana experience before calling it a night and driving to Hotel Realdel Rio in Zona Rio of Tijuana. This was day one of our Baja Experience in Tijuana.

Day two of our trip to Ruta del Vino in Valle de Guadalupe in Ensenada and eatinglobster at the Jatay Restaurant Bar in Puerto Nuevo, Rosarito, will appear in the next issue.

To learn more about the Tijuana experience visit www.seetijuana.com or send an emailto [email protected] attn: Juan Arturo Saldaña. Gracias amigo!

(L-R) Sonya Crowe, Silvia and Juan Arturo Saldaña

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Anecdotes, Interviews,Bits & Pieces aboutWest Valley History.

Seniors See Stars During Holiday Season in the Valley

Group of Carolers who stopped at Fairwinds of West Hills to bring holiday entertainment and happiness

Carols were first sung in Europe thousands of years ago, but these were not Christmas Carols. They werepagan songs, sung at the Winter Solstice celebrations as people danced round stone circles. The WinterSolstice is the shortest day of the year, usually taking place around the 22nd December. The word Carol actuallymeans dance or a song of praise and joy! Carols used to be written and sung during all four seasons, but onlythe tradition of singing them at Christmas has really survived!

On Sunday, December 4th, celebrities, carolers, musicians, therapy dogs, and Santa Claus, with his big bagof flowers and new socks from LACAC once again strolled the halls, rooms, and dining areas at five retirementhomes to bring holiday entertainment and happiness to the residents, staff, and caregivers, as well as joy andenlightenment to all participants.

The event, organized by choir director Vincent J. Leinen, is now celebrating 30 years of service to thecommunity. Carl Verheyen, acclaimed guitarist for Supertramp and the Carl Verheyen band, said, “I’ve been allover the world this year and coming home to the Caroling festivities with Vincent and the gang is always theperfect year-end feel good event. I wouldn’t miss it.”

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FROM COUNCILMEMBER ENGLANDER'S E-NEWS

Restricting Pot Shops in L.A...Councilmember Englander, Chair of the Public Safety Committee, seconded a

motion to enact a City ordinance that would repeal the current Medical Marijuanaordinance, and temporarily ban storefront marijuana businesses. The ban wouldbe in place until the California Supreme Court clarifies the extent to which localgovernments can regulate marijuana facilities.

On Friday, Jan. 13, the motion was approved by the Public Safety CommitteeThe next steps are for this legislation to be vetted by the Central PlanningCommission, as well as the full City Council.

The City's experiment with medical marijuana stores has failed andthe ordinance is unmanageable. Although California voters approved medicalmarijuana, it remains illegal under federal law, and on the local level our neigbor-

hoods have continued to suffer the negative impacts of storefront marijuana businesses.

MESSAGE FROM WASHINGTON

A Boost For Valley Homeowners & The EconomyIn November Congress approved a provision that I have long championed

that will help protect home values in the Valley and help our nation’s laggingeconomy. This new provision will raise the cap on FHA mortgages to $729,750until December 31, 2013. That means that anyone trying to buy, sell, or refinancea home in the Valley of up to $729,750 will be eligible for an FHA-insuredmortgage, which offers borrowers a much lower down payment, and a muchlower interest rate. It also increases the likelihood that someone buying a home

will get approved for a loan, and that those trying to sell their home will find an eligible buyer. This is especiallytrue in high cost areas like the Valley. Without this FHA provision we would have seen another sudden declinein home prices, severely harming the Valley economy.

In addition to keeping interests rates low, this provision also supports home values throughout the region andboosts the Valley economy. All Valley residents will benefit by the simple fact that home owners in the regionwill have hundreds more dollars available each month to spend and reinvigorate the economy.

Conversely, if home owners are otherwise saddled with high interest rates and deflated home values, everyoneloses — no one would be spending any money, and the only local restaurant families could afford would havegolden arches in the front. Most people are deeply invested in the value of their home, including senior citizenswhose equity in their homes is critical to retirement plans. People who are invested in the housing market knowthat deflated home prices can have a domino effect. When one home in the neighborhood sells for less than itwas bought, it can hurt the resale value of every other home nearby. These increased loan limits are our bestdefense against another housing collapse in America’s ten biggest cities.

Best of all, the loan limit extensions do not add to the deficit, nor do they require a dime of additional spend-ing by the federal government. The FHA operates entirely from its self-generated income and costs the taxpayersnothing. I hope to make these limits permanent before the extension expires in 2013.

Additionally, I have co-sponsored the HOME Act which allows those with mortgages owned or guaranteedby Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to refinance — even if they owe more than their home is currently worth.Mortgage rates are at historic lows and many homeowners want to refinance to reduce their monthly paymentsby hundreds or even thousands of dollars. But many homeowners do not have the 20 percent equity required torefinance, and some owe more than the current value of their home. This provision will help create jobs in theSan Fernando Valley. Homeowners who save hundreds of dollars each month are good customers for localValley businesses. Furthermore, it does not expose the federal government to additional risk because thesemortgages are already guaranteed or owned by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. That is why I will continue to workwith my colleagues and do everything in my power to permanently extend the FHA loan limit, and see that theHOME Act becomes law. We can’t afford another housing crisis.

FROM COUNCILMEMBER ZINE'S WEEKLY UPDATE

Two Suspects Arrested, One Charged in Shooting of Winnetka TeenTwo people were arrested on Monday in the fatal shooting of El Camino Real

Charter High School soccer player Francisco Rodriguez, who was gunned downon January 11th in front of his home in Winnetka. Elizabeth Ibarra, 19, of the SanFernando Valley and Jason Schumann, 24, of Calabasas were booked on suspi-cion of killing Rodriguez. A motive in the killing has not yet been determined,but police claim that the shooting was not related to any gang or othercriminal activity. The two suspects have long criminal histories andwere on probation.

Councilman Zine, who attended the vigil and funeral for Rodriguez, thanks allthe officers who worked around the clock to make quick work of this case. At anews conference held on Tuesday, he reminded the community that this was a

senseless act of violence against a youth in our community. And while this was a tragedy, he wants to assurethe residents of the Winnetka community that this was not a random act of violence, but a targeted shooting.It is important for community members to remain vigilant and work with the LAPD to keep the community safe.Use the tip lines, you can do so anonymously, and remember the mantra, “If you see something, say some-thing.” If you have any information, please contact LAPD at (877) LAPD-24-7.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the victim’s family and friends. The City Council adjourned last Friday’smeeting in Francisco’s memory and Councilman Zine is working in conjunction with El Camino Real CharterHigh School to establish a scholarship fund for graduating seniors in honor of Francisco.

A fundraiser was held at Woodland Hills Ice Skating Rink on Sunday, January 22nd.

PAGE 8 West Valley News Volume 8 Number 1 2012

A WORD FROM OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS

The Woodland Hills~Tarzana Chamber of Commerce was honored to be the first to provide aplatform for all four of the New District 30 Congressional Candidates and to present the panel to thecommunity. The evening was a great success with an unexpected turnout of more than 400 people.Westfield Promenade generously sponsored this January 5th Town Hall meeting.

Other Sponsors we wish to thank are: Ruth's Chris Steakhouse, The Corner Bakery, and theTarzana Neighborhood Council. Thank you again for participating. We hope to conduct one moretown hall meeting in order to educate for informed decision making at the polls.

A Year of Emergency Preparedness...On January 17, the 18th anniversary of the 1994 Northridge Earthquake, we kicked off our Year of Emergency

Preparedness in Los Angeles.

Throughout 2012, we will be working on legislation, programs and public awareness efforts to help the resi-dents of Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley be prepared for natural or man-made disasters.

Every week, during our Year of Emergency Preparedness, our newsletter will feature a new item in anEmergency Preparedness Checklist. These are simple steps that everyone in Los Angeles should take in orderto be prepared for any large-scale emergency or disaster. If you follow each item on this checklist, you will behighly prepared at the end of the year.

Week 2: Begin Assembling An Disaster/Earthquake Surival Kits

Every car, household and workplace should have a disaster preparedness kit. This requires quite a bit of work,so this week, we offer the first simple steps.

Enough food and water to be self-sufficient for up to 5 days.

Food - should be non-perishable, and edible with little or no preparation. Although many pre-assembled sur-vival kits come with 5,000 calorie nutrition bars, having to live off of them would make an already difficultexperience unnecessarily miserable. Look for nutritious, good-tasting hearty soups, chili, vegetables and otherfoods in cans or vacuum sealed packs. If you have special dietary needs, such as nut allergies, diabetes, orgluten intolerance, be sure to find appropriate foods, and read all nutrition labels.

Water - You will need at least 1.5 gallons of water per person per day for drinking and washing. Water shouldbe changed out every 6 months.

You can assemble extensive surival kits yourself, or you can buy complete, ready-to-use kits in various sizesthat you can store in your closet or car trunk.

Working to Help L.A. Businesses Thrive...We were proud to participate in the San Fernando Valley Green Team's Brokers and Bankers Forum event

about Green Buildings on Jan. 12, 2012 at Corporate Pointe in West Hills. Councilmember Mitchell Englanderwas the guest speaker.

The event covered the ways that energy efficiency retrofits can lower costs, enhance propertyvalues, and improve marketability, as well as the newest and most financially viable green building programsand incentives being offered through the City of Los Angeles.

Councilmember Englander, who is the strongest pro-business voice on the City Council, emphasized theimportance of working to help L.A.-based companies thrive, create jobs and boost our local economy. He alsodiscussed the many benefits for businesses operating in the State Enterprise Zone, which we have in ourDistrict in the Chatsworth/Northridge Industrial Zone.

The event packed the conference room at Corporate Pointe, the only LEED Gold Certified building in the SanFernando Valley. The partners on the event were the San Fernando Valley Green Team and The Valley EconomicAlliance. Speakers and panelists included David Hodgins, President, Sustento Group Los Angeles CommercialBuilding Performance Program; Renee Watkinson, Vice President Property Management, CBRE; and DerekBrown, Managing Director, Clean Fund.

The San Fernando Valley Green Team is an independent working group of business, academic, legal, regula-tory, financial, marketing, and government experts and community leaders serving businesses, academic insti-tutions, non-profits and community groups in the Valley.

Over 400 Attend New 30th Congressional District Town HallMeeting Sponsored by the Woodland Hills-Tarzana Chamber

(L-R) Congressman Brad Sherman, WHTCC CEO Diana Williams, Moderator Sean McCarthy, CongressionalCandidate Sandy Shelley, Westfield Topanga GM Erick Klafter, Mrs. Berman, Congressman Howard Berman,Congressional Candidate Mark Reed and Mrs. Reed.

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Business Education/Workshops

SAN FERNANDO VALLEY SMALL BUSINESS WORKSHOPSPre-registration is required because space is limited.

For information or to RSVP, call (661) 362-5900 or email [email protected] to register.To register online visit www.cocsbdc.org.

HELPING ENTREPRENEURS SUCCESSFULLY START, BUILD AND GROW THEIR BUSINESS

All VEDC workshops at:

VEDC (Valley Economic Development Center)5121 Van Nuys Blvd. 3rd Floor, Van Nuys, CAContact 818-907-9977 or [email protected]

For additional information about fees and locations, visit: www.vedc.org

Tuesday, January 10Business Plan Essentials4pm – 6pm $10VEDC@ Pacoima City Hall13520 Van Nuys Blvd., Pacoima, CA 91331Contact: 818-907-9977 or [email protected]

Wednesday, January 1116 Principles of Success in Business6pm – 8pm FREEVEDC

Wednesday, January 11QuickBooks4pm – 6pm $10VEDC

Thursday, January 12All About Business Loans5:30pm – 6:30pm FREEVEDC@ Pacoima Library13605 Van Nuys Blvd., Pacoima, CA 91331Contact: 818-907-9977 or [email protected]

Tuesday, January 17Sales & Negotiating for Non-Salespeople4pm – 6pm $10VEDC

Saturday, January 21Business Survival in a Bad Economy9am – 4pm FREE (if you qualify)VEDC

Tuesday, January 24Start-Up Do’s & Don’ts5:30pm – 7:30pm $10VEDC@ Pacoima Library13605 Van Nuys Blvd., Pacoima, CA 91331Contact: 818-907-9977 or [email protected]

Wednesday, January 25All About Business Loans4pm – 5pm FREEVEDCContact: 818-907-9977 or [email protected]

Tuesday, January 31Entrepreneurial Training Program (ETP)(Series 1 of 8)6pm – 8:30pm FREE (if you qualify)VEDCContact: 818-907-9977 or [email protected]

Tuesday, January 31Sales & Marketing4pm – 6pm $10VEDCContact: 818-907-9977 or [email protected]

Tuesday, January 31Effective Tools to Build & Market yourWebsite (Series 1 of 2)5:30pm – 7:30pm $10VEDC@ Chatsworth/Porter Ranch Chamber of Commerce10038 Old Depot Plaza Rd., Chatsworth, CA 91311Contact: 818-907-9977 or [email protected]

LOW COST OR FREE WORKSHOPS BY VEDC

Calabasas Chamber of Commerce PresentsFirst in a Series of “Up Close & Personal” with Featured SpeakerCalabasas Mayor Barry GrovemanCALABASAS, CA – The Calabasas Chamber of Commerce in celebrating its 55th Anniversary

brings new meaning to “the power of community” with their new innovative program called “UpClose and Personal.” This new series of programs will provide an intimate forum for Chambermembers and the community to get to know their local government officials and community leaders.The series will meet quarterly and is free and open to the public.

In 2011 California SBDC provided consulting services to over 780 businesses, and training servicesto over 3,200 entrepreneurs and business owners. With our assistance, our clients created 495 jobs,retained 134 jobs, started 50 new businesses, raised $11.4 million of capital, and increased sales byover $14.5 million. These represent substantial improvements over our record setting 2010 results,when we helped clients create 274 jobs (up 81%), retain 10 jobs (up 1,240%!), start 35 new busi-nesses (up 43%), and raise $7.3 million of capital (up 56%).

Editor’s Note: Chapter 7 will continue with PeopleManagement on the next issue of the West Valley News.

Strategic Business OwnersContinued from Page 4

Before the retreat, this facilitator should interview each of your managers and/or key employees on a one-to-one basis to get an honest lay of the land. The facilitator will gain critical feedback and advice by asking the fol-lowing types of questions:

• Please share with me thoughts about your company’s:

- Strengths

- Weaknesses/Areas to improve

- Opportunities

- Threats

- Competitive landscape

- What makes us unique, different, valuable

• Your management team’s:

- Strengths/Weaknesses/Opportunities/Threats

- Ability to handle growth

- Ability to lead

- Ability to delegate

• Please share with me thoughts about your personal:

- Strengths/Weaknesses

- Role/responsibilities

- Ability to lead

- Ability to delegate

- Expectations for the strategic retreat

• If you were made CEO:

- What changes would you make?

- How would you dramatically improve our revenues?

- How would you dramatically improve our operations?

- How would you dramatically improve our value to customers?

- What people would you dismiss?

- What people would you cultivate to lead?

• On a scale of 1-10 (10 being highest), how would you rate the company’s performance in each of theseareas:

- Sales

- Marketing

- Operations (customer fulfillment)

- Leadership (clarity of vision, direction, objectives, accountability)

- Business processes

- Customer service

- Back-office functions (accounting, finance, HR, technology, etc.)

- Our people

• On a scale of 1-10 (10 being highest), how clear is the company’s current:

- Vision/Direction/Focus

- Goals

- Strategies

- Accountability process

- Review and compensation process

• On a scale of 1-10 (10 being highest), how clear is/are your:

- Role(s)

- Contributions

- Responsibilities

Armed with this critical knowledge, your facilitator should be able to ensure a productive retreat that improvesthe performance of your people and company.

Also, strongly consider hiring the facilitator or a coach to come back on a monthly basis to ensure that thebusiness plan is being properly implemented. This person can help hold your company and team accountablefor taking action.

Suggested Action Items:

• Keep business simple.

•Set annual and 90-day goals in the critical success areas: leadership, business systems, marketing, sales,operations (customer fulfillment), customer service, and back-office functions.

•Conduct a strategic retreat at least once-a-year at an off-site facility.

•Strongly consider hiring a facilitator to do pre-interviews, orchestrate the retreat, and help with post-retreatimplementation.

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Madrid Theatre

Clyde Porter West Valley Playhouse

www.ci.la.ca.us/cad/madridtheatre

__

2012 SEASONPERFORMANCE SHOW CATEGORY DATES

Black Coffee Mystery Feb. 3 – Mar. 4Stage Door Drama Apr. 13 – May 6The Odd Couple Comedy June 1 – June 30Summer Musical Musical Comedy July 27 – Aug 26The Front Page Comedy/Drama Sept 21 – Oct 21Moon Over Buffalo Comedy Nov 16 – Dec 16

Visit our website for abstracts about each show. Show titles subject to change.

www.wvplayhouse.com

Box Office: (818) 884-1907

Community News / Calendar

WE INVITE YOU TO MAKE EFFECTIVECOMMUNICATION A REALITYIf you ever had to stand up in front of a groupand make a presentation about your business—YOU NEED TOASTMASTERS!

If you ever had to introduce an important person ina public meeting and panic at the thought becauseyou don’t know how—YOU NEED TOASTMASTERS!

If you are involved in your community and need tospeak out about what you are passionate about—YOU NEED TOASTMASTERS!

If you are in a position of leadership and want toimprove your communication skills—YOU NEEDTOASTMASTERS!

Welcome to “Spirit Speaks” Toastmasters

We invite you to attend one of our meetings.No reservation is required, just show up. You won'tbe pressured to speak or join, and there is no cost.Come prepared to enjoy yourself!

Meetings: 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the monthTime: 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm

TV Motion Picture Fund CenterEducation RoomCalabasas Road at Mulholland Road(Right off the 101 Fwy at Valley Circle)Calabasas, CA 91302

For membership information contact:Ed Crowe VP Public Relations (818) 231-4454

Leslie S. Bashaar, elected president of the ToastmastersSpirit Speaks Club of Calabasas.

Black Coffee by Agatha Christie. This little known mystery will surprise and delightChristie fans. The story concerns a physicist named Sir Claude Amory who has come upwith a formula for an atom bomb (Black Coffee was written in 1934!). In the first act,Sir Claude is poisoned (in his coffee, naturally) and Hercule Poirot is called in to solvethe case. He does so after many wonderful twists and turns in true Christie tradition.

Runs Feb. 3rd - Mar. 4, 2012 Thurs. Fri., Sat. 8:00 pm, Sun. 2:30 pm

Ticket Prices are $25.00 Reg. $23.00 Seniors and Students.

Group Discounts are available.

Clyde Porter’s West Valley Playhouse 7242 Owensmouth Ave., Canoga Park, CA 91303

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Adult Education Classes, SFV Get your GED orHS diploma. Upgrade your job skills. Learn a newtrade. Computer Op/repair, parenting, culinary,ServSafe Cert. ESL, construction, healthcare.Evening & Sat. classes. For information or to enroll,call: Hughes Edu. & Career Ctr. at 818-587-4335, ElCamino Real Comm. Adult School at 818-610-5600,Canoga Park High School Campus at 818-673-1391,Reseda Adult School at 818-758-3700, or visit ourwebsite at: El Camino Real High School

Canoga Park Bowland

the San Fernando ValleySymphony Orchestra

CONCERTS AT THE BOWLWednesday Evenings at 8:00pm

IN THE ROYAL ROOM

ADMISSION FREE/ 1 DRINK MINIMUM

20122 Vanowen Street, Winnetka, CAPersons under 21 years of age not admitted.

JANUARY 2012

www.valleycultural.org

National Council of Jewish WomenSylvia Abrams (818)881-6399Monday, February 23, 2012Temple Judea, 5429 Lindley Ave.Tarzana,CA9:30 A.M. social and refreshments10:00 A.M. programSpeaker: Braqd Pomerance, Jewsh Live-Laser MediaGroup

Topic: TV Programming/March of the Living

The SFV Branch of the California Writers Clubinvites the public to a free Book Bazaar on Saturday,February 4, 2012 from 1:00 - 3:00 pm at theMotion Picture and Television Fund Home, 23388Mulholland Drive, Woodland Hills, 91364.

The bazaar will feature the works of local authors RitaKeeley Brown, Nance Crawford, Yolanda Fintor, BettyHechtman, Diana Johnson, Ray Malus, GagikMelikyan, Judy Presnall and Erica Stux. All genreswill be represented, including fiction, non-fiction,children's literature, biographies, and poetry. A bookillustrator will also display work at the event.

Anyone who loves reading will not want to miss thisopportunity to meet and network with local authors,who will be available to sign their books.

Admittance and refreshments are free, and eachattendee will receive a free raffle ticket for a chance towin one of many prizes.

For more information visit www.cwc-sfv.org.

VITA Global Networking Breakfast

Wednesday - February 22, 2012

Time: 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.Location:The Valley Economic Alliance5121 Van Nuys Blvd. 2nd FloorSherman Oaks, CA 91403$20.00 VITA Members and $25.00 Non-Members

Please join us for the first series of the 2012 VITAGlobal Networking Breakfast Series, the topic will be"Navigating the Legal Parameters of Doing Businessin Mexico." Our speakers for this presentation will beStephen Hall, Robert Hall & Associates and Jeffery J.Daar, Daar & Newman Law Firm.

Stephen Hall is an Enrolled Agent which is a federallylicensed tax practitioner who has technical expertisein the field of taxation. He is empowered by the U.S.Department of the Treasury to represent taxpayers foraudits, collections and appeals before all administra-tive levels of the Internal Revenue Service.

Jeffery Daar has practiced law since 1982 andis a principal of the law firm of Daar & Newman.His diverse expertise includes strategic plan-ning, complex state and federal litigation, inno-vative dispute resolution, and internationaltransactions and disputes. Jeffery's practicefocuses on both litigation and transactionalprojects.

To register or for additional information,please call Darcy Winters at 818-379-7000x109 or e-mail [email protected] visit:www.thevalley.net

4th Annual Valley Business Expo

Connect. Opportunities

The Valley Economic Alliance invites you to participatein the 4th annual Valley Business Expo '12, an idealplatform to showcase products, services, resourcesand expertise to businesses throughout the five citieslocated in the San Fernando Valley and beyond.

The Valley Business Expo' 12 will be held onThursday, February 23, 2012 from 9:00 a.m. to2:00 p.m. at the Los Angeles Marriott Burbank AirportHotel. Each year over 400 business owners and exec-utives attend the Valley Business Expo, accessing theresources and services need to help them improvetheir businesses.

This year, the Expo will feature a designated procure-ment section where attendees will have the opportunityto meet one on one with Supplier Diversity Executivesfrom some of the largest private sector companies andpublic agencies to learn "How to do Business With." Adesignated "Meet the Bankers" sessions will be avail-able for attendees to sit down one on one with topfinancial institutions including Chase and Wells FargoSBA Lenders. Over 100 exhibitors will showcase busi-ness resources and services.

The Valley Business Expo is offering several sponsor-ship packages that represent outstanding opportunitiesto gain targeted, direct access to local business own-ers and entrepreneurs and to promote visibility, namerecognition and new business potential for your busi-ness among hundreds of attendees.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions oradditional information you may need. If you wish toparticipate as a Sponsor, Exhibitor or attendee, pleasesend the completed registration form via email [email protected] or fax to 818-379-7077.

Thank you for your support of The Valley BusinessExpo and we look forward to seeing you on Feb. 23!Historical Novel Society LA presents

Jeri WestersonJeri Westerson, author of the Crispin Guest medievalnoir series (Troubled Bones, Serpent in the Thorns,The Demon's Parchment, Veil of Lies) will exploremultiple methods of research for adding authenticityto fiction. The Historical Novel Society Los Angelesmeets quarterly and is an open forum for historicalfiction in general. Readers, writers and fans are wel-come; membership is not required. Saturday,February 4th, 2-4 pm. FREE. Barnes and Noble inthe Promenade Mall, 6100 Topanga Canyon Blvd,Woodland Hills.

http://www.historicalnovelsociety.org/

January 24

Universal City / North Hollywood ChamberNetworking Breakfast7:30 am - 9:00 amSportsmens Lodge Hotel, 12825 Ventura Blvd.(818) 508-5155

Chatsworth / Porter Valley ChamberNetworking Leads Lunch11:30 am - 1:00 pmLos Toros Mexican Restaurant, 21743 Devonshire St.(818) 341-2428

January 25

Greater San Fernando Valley ChamberNetwork Connection Breakfast7:15 amBraemar Country Club, 4001 Reseda Blvd.(818) 989-0300

Sunland-Tujunga ChamberRibbon CuttingNoonMommy & Me Nutrition7416 Foothill Blvd.(818) 352-4433

Encino ChamberRibbon Cutting12:00 - 1:00 pmPanera Bread, 16624 Ventura Blvd.(818) 789-4711

Woodland Hills / Tarzana ChamberBusiness Networking Mixer5:30 pm - 7:30 pmPush Lounge, 20969 Ventura Blvd.(818) 347-4737

The Agoura/Oak Park/Conejo Valley/CalabasasChamber Reception5:30 pm - 8:00 pmMy Stuff Bags Foundation, 5347 Sterling Center Dr.(818) 269-9389

January 26

United Chambers Business Recognition /Installation LuncheonKey Note SpeakerCalifornia State Controller John Chiang11:30 amHilton Woodland Hills6360 Canoga Ave(818) 981-4491

Chatsworth / Porter Ranch ChamberEvening Business Mixer5:30 pm - 7:30 pmDivine Phots Photography, 9025 Eton Ave.(818) 341-2428

January 27

Encino ChamberNetwork plus Breakfast7:15 am - 9:00 amMonterey @ Encino16821 Burbank Blvd.(818) 789-4711

Granada Hills ChamberNetworking Breakfast7:30 am - 9:00 amVFW Post 232317522 Chatsworth Street(818) 368-3235

January 28

Calabasas Chamber“Come Fly With Me, Lets Fly Away” –INSTALLATION GALA6:00 pm - 11:00 pmCalabasas Country Club4515 Park Entrada(818) 222-5680

REGIONAL BLACK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE8TH ANNUAL LARGEST VALLEY BUSINESS MIXER

Tuesday January 31, 2012 at 6:00 PM

JOIN INVITED BUSINESSESS, ELECTED OFFICIALS,CELEBRITIES, CLERGYMEN, AND FRIENDS

THE SPORTSMEN’S LODGE12833 Ventura Blvd @ Coldwater Canyon Blvd,Studio City, CA

RSVP REQUIRED FOR ADMISSION

$10.00 Donation Members and $20 Non-Members..$25 at the Door

Mail Payments to: RBCC -16161 Ventura Blvd # 661, Encino, Ca 91436818 464 3484 /[email protected]

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Don’t believe anyone who says they have aguarantied recipe for effective team leadership.Why? Let’s look at a common definition of ateam: “a group of two or more people who sharea common goal and are interdependent in thatthe tasks necessary to accomplish the goalrequire them to work together.” [1]The definition is deceptively simple. But here

are some of the stumbling blocks just related tothe definition of a team:• Do all of the team members really share acommon goal?

• Even if they share a common goal, is itfeasible and measurable? Will the team knowwhen it has reached the goal?

• Even if they share a feasible and measurablecommon goal, do the team members getalong well enough to work together toachieve it?

• Even if they get along well, do they agree onhow to achieve the goal? (“There’s more thanone way to skin a cat.”)

• Even if they agree on how to achieve the goal,do they have the needed skills?

• Even if they have the right skills, do they havethe necessary resources to achieve the goal?

• Even if they have the resources, has enoughtime been allotted to achieve the goal?

• Even if the right amount of time has beenallotted, are there too many members of theteam? (Too many cooks spoil the porridge.)

• Even if the team has the right number ofmembers, do all the members know the rightamount about what the other members ofthe team are doing? Remember the teammembers are interdependent!All these stumbling blocks come up beforeyou introduce team leadership into the mix.It will bring its own set of pitfalls.

• Will the team members follow the leader?• What is the appropriate leadership style forthe individual team members? Since differentskills are needed to achieve the goal, mostlikely team members will have different stylesto which the leader will need to adapt.So there is no guaranteed method to achieve

effective team leadership because the team’sresults depend heavily on the chemistry amongthe members of the team and their leader.That being said, there are a few steps a team

leader can take to improve his or her chancesof achieving the desired result. Here are a fewsuggestions that directly follow from thequestions above:• Make sure the goal is S.M.A.R.T. (specific,measurable, achievable, results-oriented,and time-limited). And be prepared to allowthe team to change the goal when that isappropriate.

• If you have a chance to select or influence theselection of the members of the team, considerthe skills and knowledge each person bringsto the team, whether they will be constructiveteam members, whether they will effectivelyand reliably communicate with other membersof the team. Pick people with complementarystyles. (Not everyone needs to be creative oranalytical or practical or experimental, butlikely the team will need all these skills.) Ifpossible pick people that are smarter and moreknowledgeable than you are.

• Treat the team members with respect. Arrive ontime. End on time. Don’t waste people’s time.Listen to the team members. Encourage theteam members to listen to each other. Don’tnag. Avoid embarrassing a team member.

• At the beginning of the project, particularly,make sure you are all on the same page. Makesure there is agreement on the goal and that

the goal is measurable and achievable. Makesure that the team is in agreement on how toachieve the goal and on the time needed.Achieving agreement will require some openinterchange, carefully listening to each other.While the leader needs to be a facilitatorthroughout the project, it is particularlycrucial at this stage.

• Ensure that there are appropriate communica-tions among the team members. In my expe-rience there is only too much or too littlecommunication. Getting it exactly right isnearly impossible. It is better to err on theside of too much than too little. Make surethat every meeting has minutes that identifythe decisions made and the action itemsidentified. Make sure responsibilities anddeadlines are clear. Every meeting shouldhave an agenda sent out in advance tomaximize the productivity of the meeting.Make sure that team members are aware ofactions that have been taken that may affectthem. If team members feel that they areparticipating in unnecessary meetings, seeif you can accommodate them without neces-sary communications being lost. And onceagain, be a good listener. The key to goodcommunications is listening, not talking.

• Show appreciation. Don’t take any effort bya team member for granted. Even if a teammember is being paid for their participation,a major motivator is an acknowledgementof work done.

• Have high expectations. If someone is notpulling their weight and is distracting theteam from its goal, talk to them one on one.See if you can find the explanation andresolve the problem. If not, find a way toremove the member from the team. Makesure people are accountable. On the otherhand, people are human and will makemistakes and encounter obstacles that cannotbe anticipated. Accept that gracefully.

• Be persistent. You are the leader. Inevitablythere will be problems and obstacles as theteam tries to reach the goal. There will be

reasons to be discouraged. Team memberswill get distracted. It is your job to “keep youreye on the prize” and gently (if possible) keepthe team on track. Regularly, go through theopen action items to determine if they are ontrack. By doing this at intervals that have beenagreed to by the team, and in group meetings,you will learn the status of the action itemswithout the team feeling that you are nagging,and team members will want to avoid beingthe one letting the team down.

• Be positive. Again, you are the leader. If youappear to lose confidence or appear worried,you can be sure your team members will feelit, and it will affect their performance. You maynot always feel positive, but you must alwaysappear positive.

• Celebrate successes. Make sure that the teamunderstands that you appreciate their hardwork and diligence. Show that you are human,and that the goal isn’t everything.

[1] Gilbertsen, Beth and Ramchandani, Vijit.Developing Effective Teams. Amherst H. WilderFoundation. Saint Paul, Minnesota. 2003. page 5.

Effective Team LeadershipBy Fred SamulonESC Consultant, Former Vice President, Director, Citigroup

A Management Resource to Nonprofits...A Service to PhilanthropyNonprofit executives are reporting unprecedented

pressure and demands on their time and energy.When they most need inspiration, encouragement,and awareness of new ideas and approaches, they arefinding it impossible to keep up with new research,books, journals and articles that contain potentiallyvery useful information.

This complimentary monthly e-mail communicationis intended to give you ready access to summaries ofthe best new ideas in the form of “Reader's Digest”distillations of key publications. It will also providetips and tools that will make the job of nonprofitexecutives easier and more rewarding. Your commentsand suggestions are welcome.

E-mail to: [email protected]

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