Members
We are interested in your contributions to the Scene. Tell us about your project experiences and committee efforts. Share a glimpse into your outside personal activities. Say congratulations to a fellow volunteer or staff member on a job well done. Submissions go to Cheryle Babbitt.

Welcome New and Renewing Members
Caroline Brown, US Department of Labor
Diana Cheung, 20th Century FoxChristel Djossinou, Wells FargoCris Erdtsieck, RNC Genter Capital Management
Andy Ho, Nexen TechnologyBelinda Lee, Medtronic
Mimi Lo, Herbalife
Christopher Lueck, Nyko Technologies
Matt Milich, Infosys Consulting
Nantalie Siksamat, NBC Universal

Happy September Birthdays!
Alex Aguilar
Rene Baez
Chandon Basho
Vibhore Bhaskar
Douglas Carideo
Catherine Chang
Diana Cheung
Olu Davis
Katrina Gordon
Nidhi Gupta
Tessa Ignacio
Sheila Kwok
Sonny Kwok
Norman Lee
Angela Molina
Diana Molina
Elizabeth Montes
Summer Murray
Kieanitria Paschal
Adriene Pickett
Sam Pogosov
Larry Tapia
Kenji Taylor
Jesse Torres
John Wirfs

Congratulations to...
Kim Carter on her new position as Associate at Burke, Williams & Sorenson law firm.

RVLDP alumna Dana Heatherton on being crowned 2009 Nisei Week Queen.

Staff member Sonia Paulino for her upcoming solo exhibition, "DAWG".

Sandra Rosenfeld on being elected to The Center for Lifelong Learners Board of Directors.

September 1
LAWSG Steering Committee Interviews (cont.)

September 14
RVLDP Class 38
Application Deadline

September 16
RVLDP Class 37
Marketing/PR

September 18
UYGP
Pro-Am Golf Tournament

September 28 & 30
RVLDP Class 38
Interviews

October 21
RVLDP Class 38
Orientation

October 24
RVLDP Class 38
Governance Study

October 28
RVLDP Class 37
Special Session

Great New Benefit for LAJCC Members

Thanks to the efforts of Membership Committee Chair, Brian Chu, the LA Area Chamber of Commerce and the LAJCC have entered into a special agreement. This agreement offers LAJCC members an Associate Membership in the LA Area Chamber for just $100 annually.

This is an 80% savings from the standard membership dues for the LAACC!

Associate member benefits include: involvement in the Chamber’s policy and advocacy work including participation on committees and councils; access to the Chamber’s business development services and programs; admittance to any Chamber event or function at discounted member rates and participation in the Chamber’s Bottom Line Benefits program, which includes discounts on a wide array of business services.

This is a great opportunity for LAJCC members to gain access to important business networking opportunities and is only available to LAJCC members whose membership is current.

If you are interested in applying for this deeply discounted membership in the LA Area Chamber of Commerce, please email Cheryle Babbitt or call her at 213-989-2157.

New Board Members Installed and College Scholarships Awarded

At the Annual Meeting on August 18th, the Board of Directors for 2009/2010 was installed. Congratulations to new Board members Elnie Vannatim and Summer Murray. Congratulations as well to returning Board members Jennifer Liu, Aaron Bullock, Delece Jones, and officers Michael Christopherson, Brian Chu, Johnny Lai,Traci Torok and Board Chair Michael Johns.

In addition to the Board installation, the following special awards were presented in recognition for service to and through the LAJCC and our community:

Robert M. McIntyre Leadership Award:  Michael Johns
Organizational Commitment Award:  Johnny Lai
Frank Gleberman Outstanding New Member Award: Robin Christopher
Outstanding Community Service Award: Delece Jones
Outstanding Project Leader Award: Sean McKeon
Excellence in Fundraising Award:  Jennifer Liu
Outstanding Community Service Project Award: Ready to Learn
Director of the Year Award: Michael Christopherson

A special highlight of the evening was the presentation of $2,000 college scholarships to area students. This year’s scholarship winners are:

Kudos to Games’ Chair Delece Jones and her committee for all the hard work they put into making this year’s Games successful!  Committee members began work on the Games almost a year ago and it showed. 

With two major venues – The Home Depot Center and LA Southwest College – plus numerous high school sites, there was a lot of work to be done. Committee members contacted high school athletic directors, signed up teams, created brackets for each sport, got all the supplies to each site, arranged for officials for each competition and coordinated the teams and volunteers on the days of the Games. Whew!

The Games could not happen without the hard work and commitment of the Committee members and the hundreds of volunteers who help on the days of the Games. Everyone involved deserves a pat on the back.

LAWSG Steering Committee Members: Delece Jones, Roderick James, LT Willis III, Brenda Etheridge, Aaron Bullock, Olu Davis, Michael Christopherson, Johnny Lai, Alexis Ross, Kevin Gigax, Roy Nicholson, Darnell Holcomb, John Mertens, Bryan Dodd, Summer Murray, Olivia Beltran, Jameelah Bent, Judy Lai, Robin Christopher, LaNiece Mitchell, Sean McKeon, Jose Jarin, Jesse Torres, Joseph Cartlidge, Miranda Rubalcava, Michelle Mello, Patrick Moriarty, Juliana Bolden, Juliet Flores, Keanna Sheu, Niija Kuykendall, Jerry Lozano, Shadan Ardalan, Kate Marks, Ivie Lewis, Keith Goldsmith and Beverly Myers.

RVLDP Class 36 Fundraiser and Class 38 Applications

Congratulations to Class 36 of the Riordan Volunteer Leadership Development Program! Thirty-five participants graduated on July 28, having completed their governance training and board level internships with various nonprofit organizations. Class 36 incorporated a fundraiser into the same event and raised $4,200! Thanks to the class fundraising committee: Jane Kim(chair), Daniel Clapp(headed tangible goods silent auction), Carlos Collard (headed service silent auction), Robin Jarin (headed sponsorship committee), Rosie Arroyo, Melissa Beene, Catherine Chung, Janis Cilderman, DeeDee Kotter, Tina Sawaya, John Wirfs, and Jennifer Yue for making it happen; and to our host, Bottega Louie in Downtown L.A., for the use of their venue. Extra special thanks to Carlos for arranging the first ever RVLDP service silent auction, where partner agencies had a chance to bid on RVLDP alumni according to their professional skills and talents. This component raised a significant proportion of all monies raised and was great publicity for the program.

We are currently accepting applications for Class 38, which begins in October. Become one of the 700+ Los Angeles area business professionals who have completed the program and continue their service in the governance of nonprofit organizations. Follow this link for more information about RVLDP and our application process. Please feel free to contact Sonia Paulino, program aassistant, if you have any further questions. The deadline for Fall applications is September 14.

RVLDP
Class 36

2009 Urban Youth Golf / LPGA Pro-Am Press Release

Players from the LPGA Tour return to the Los Angeles area on September 18th to help the Urban Youth Golf Program celebrate its 20th anniversary. The program, which was founded by the LPGA Foundation in 1989, brings golf and life skills to Los Angeles area youth, with special attention to youth in underserved areas. Since 1990, the program has joined forces with the LPGA Tour players in this event to raise funds used for properly fitted equipment, instruction and access golf courses and driving ranges. Since 2007 the event has doubled its impact when it began collaborating with the Los Angeles County Junior Golf Foundation and it now raises funds for both junior golf charities.

The Babe Zaharias Course at the Pacific Palms Resort (formerly Industry Hills) will be the setting for a day of world-class golf, making friends and raising funds for two very worthy golf charities. Tour players are paired with a foursome of sponsors as well a junior from one of the programs. Los Angeles County Supervisory Don Knabe and Los Angeles County Assessor Rick Auerbach return as the events Co-Chairmen. Tour veterans Nancy Harvey and Hall-of-Fame member Amy Alcott serve as the LPGA hosts.  They will be joined by other tour members including Irene Cho, Stephanie Louden, Amy Hung and Russy Gulyanamitta. Also scheduled to appear is NBA Hall of Fame member and Executive Director of the Northern Trust Open Golf Tournament, Jerry West.

Long-time supporter, the Commerce Casino, is the Presenting Sponsor of the event for the third year in a row.

More information, including registration forms, can be found at www.uygp.org or contact Urban Youth Golf Program director Lisa Grimm at lgrimm@lajcc.org or (213) 989-2142.

Why did you join the LAJCC?
I joined the LAJCC to enroll in the RVLDP program and to network with other young professionals in the LA area.

How long have you been a member?
2.5 years, since February 2007.

Which projects &/or committees have you participated in?
I have participated in the Foster Family Picnic twice, including serving on the operations committee last year.  I would have been on the operations committee again this year, but unfortunately this year’s Picnic has been postponed.  I have also volunteered for the Watts Summer Games.

What has been your most memorable/enjoyable experience at the LAJCC?
My most memorable experience was completing the RVLDP program.  The leadership and board management skills I learned through RVLDP have been helpful to me not only in the nonprofit world but also in my career.

What have you learned from your LAJCC experience?
I learned that LA has some truly amazing people who spend a tremendous amount of time planning the major events that the LAJCC hosts each year, all while working full time.  Every member of the LAJCC should feel proud to be associated with such an organization.

What are your current job responsibilities/job title/employer?
I just started as a first year MBA candidate at USC’s Marshall School of Business.  Prior to that I was a Product Development Manager for Nyko Technologies where I designed and brought to market video game accessories.

Where are you from originally and how long have you been in Los Angeles?
I grew up in Maryland and have been in LA for three years now.

Where did you attend college and what degree(s) do you hold?
I graduated from the University of Virginia with a B.S. in electrical engineering.