Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Open Board of Directors Meeting
San Bernardino Community College District
114 S. Del Rosa Drive
San Bernardino, CA 92408
Minutes
Present: Dimitrios Alexious, Don Averill, Deborah Barmack, Tom Brickley, Erin Brinker, Ann Bryan, Bill Easley, Ray Gonzales, Dick Hart, Mark Kaenel, Lowell King, Bill Lemann, Temetry Lindsey, John Mirau, Charlie Ng, Bev Powell, John Prentice, Kristine Scott, Larry Sharp, Paul Shimoff, Shelli Stockton, Steve von Rajcs, Phil Waller and Ray Wolfe.
Guests: Ron Freemont, John Kute, Fred Shorett and Gary Underwood.
Announcements: 1) A reminder to please Rsvp for the 50th Anniversary reception by October 12th. The event will be on Thursday, October 18, 2012 from 5:30-7:30p.m. at the San Bernardino International Airport in Hanger 763. 2) The California State University Board of Trustees selected Inland Action member Timothy P. White, Chancellor of the University of California, Riverside, to lead the 23-campus California State University system, the largest four-year public higher education system in the country. Congratulations were expressed. 3) The University of California, Riverside medical school has received “preliminary accreditation” which means the university can soon begin accepting applications. Congratulations were expressed.
Tom Brickley introduced Josh Wood, Executive Director, Region Builders, Inc.
Region Builders, Inc. is a 501(c)(6) trade association comprised of companies in the Sacramento building industry as well as 13 local trade and professional associations. They are organized for the common interest and mutual benefit of their members.
The vision of Region Builders is to create a political climate that encourages profitable building through decreased regulation and lower fees; as well as more governmental accountability, transparency and efficiency. Region Builders has been highly successful in their region and shared their structure and methods.
Policy Development: They organize their broad industry membership together into policy councils that meet bi-monthly to discuss, develop, and research policy solutions to industry issues, concerns and trends. Their focus is on building consensus around solution-oriented proposals. Policy Advocacy: They meet with local government elected officials and senior-level staff to discuss policy issues affecting the industry and to advocate for their policy positions. Governmental Relationships: They connect their members with local government agency leaders (staff and elected) to help them establish positive working relationships that will assist them through the regulatory process. Membership Education: They host educational forums to assist their members in meeting local decision-makers and to educate them on topics relevant to their industry’s success. These forums are generally held bi-monthly. Membership Networking/Fundraising: They organize and host two or three networking events for members intended to help foster and develop relationships between their members and local decision-makers.
Region Builders is successful because they have strong leaders from the industry providing their knowledge and support to their staff on policy decisions affecting the industry. Their belief is that decisions are to be made on a basis of “what is best for the industry as a whole.”. They believe it is important to put the best interest of the industry ahead of their association or any specific member. They have a 25 member Board of Directors that oversees the activities of the group. Region Builders encourages all members to participate in their policy councils (Land Use Council, Economic Development Council, Government Reform Council, Green Building Council and Alternate Project Delivery Council).
The Region Builders PAC financially supports and assists the group forging relationships with board, council, and agency members in addition to elected officials.
A Q & A period followed.
Meeting adjourned 8:38 a.m.