Mt. Shasta Chamber Weblog

Camp Ford: Adventures in Leadership

Looking for campers and counselors/mentors

What: A one week summer camp to connect with the outdoors, learn and practice personal and community leadership, and prepare you to take on the challenge of high school with passion, confidence, and excitement. More information www.tfff.org/campford

When: July 25-August 1, 2010

Where: Paradise Point, California (18 miles SE of Happy Camp)

Who: Youth entering the 9th grade from Dunsmuir, Etna, Happy Camp, McCloud, Mt. Shasta, Orleans, Seiad Valley, Somes Bar, Weed, Yreka looking for a fun, challenging summer outdoors experience.

Cost: $15 includes food, rafting, lodging, transportation, and a Columbia Sportswear backpack and water bottle.

How to Apply (Campers):
Complete an online application or download a printable PDF here and mail or fax to The Ford Family Foundation, 1600 Stewart Parkway, Roseburg, OR 97471. Fax 541-957-5720.  Please also submit two reference forms.  One must be from a teacher/principal and the other can be from any adult, not related to you, and has known you for at least a year.  Download a printable reference form.
Camper Application and Reference Forms Deadline: May 17, 2010

Counselor/Mentors are: High school juniors and older who are connected to their community and wish to support rising ninth graders, to better prepare them for their transition to high school, connect with the outdoors and learn and practice community and personal leadership skills. We are looking for two individuals each from the Happy Camp area (including Orleans, Seiad Valley, Somes Bar, Etna), Yreka area and Mt. Shasta Area (including Dunsmuir, McCloud and Weed). Ideally they will be graduates of The Ford Institute Leadership Program. More information www.tfff.org/campford

How to Apply: (Counselor/Mentor):

Download a printable PDF application and mail or fax to The Ford Family Foundation, 1600 Stewart Parkway, Roseburg, OR 97471. Fax 541-957-5720.  Please also submit two reference forms.  One must be from a teacher/principal and the other can be from any adult, not related to you, and has known you for at least a year.  Download a printable reference form.
Counselor/Mentor Application and Reference Forms Deadline: May 17, 2010

For more information: Contact RDI Youth Program Manager, Max Gimbel (mgimbel@rdiinc.org – 541.359.5284) or www.tfff.org/campford
You are also cordially invited to an informational session for potential campers, counselors and interested community members on Saturday, May 1st at The Mount Shasta City Park, Lower Lodge from 1:45-2:30.   Refreshments will be served.

Great Backyard Bird Count

Join in the 13th annual Great Backyard Bird Count taking place February 12-15

The Great Backyard Bird Count is an annual four-day event that engages bird watchers of all ages in counting birds to create a real-time snapshot of where the birds are across the continent. Anyone can participate, from beginning bird watchers to experts. It takes as little as 15 minutes on one day, or you can count for as long as you like each day of the event. It’s free, fun, and easy—and it helps the birds.

We invite you to add your observations to this ever-growing database of observations via the GBBC website.  Explore reports coming in from across the continent, upload images for the photo contest, and tweet about the birds you see, adding the gbbc tag to have your comments appear in the Twitter widget on the GBBC home page. Just by participating in the GBBC you’ll be entered into a drawing for great prizes. The GBBC is a joint project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society with new Canadian partner, Bird Studies Canada and sponsorship from Wild Birds Unlimited.

County Superintendent to speak at Chamber meeting

The general membership meeting of the Mount Shasta Chamber of Commerce is scheduled February 11^th at noon at Lalo’s Restaurant.

Siskiyou County Office of Education Superintendent Kermith R. Walters will present the current state of education as it relates to Race To The Top (RTTT) and an overview of the current budget. We will have time for Q&A.

General Membership Meetings are open to the public.

The Mt. Shasta Education Foundation

This year marks 14th annual Starlight Gala on October  24, 2009.  The evening features tuxedoed emcees, a no-host bar, and more than 200 silent auction items. The free hors-d’oeuvres (from Strings, Trinity Café, and numerous local chefs) will be delectable and plentiful. The night continues with a brief but delicious dessert auction and wraps up with an exciting live auction of ten top-quality items.  All proceeds go the Mt. Shasta public schools (K-12) and ticket sales will be limited, so it would be best to purchase tickets in advance. Tickets ($30 each) are available at Doris Moss Realty, The Fifth Season, and Mt. Shasta Elementary School.  All this happens at the Mt. Shasta Community Building (629 Alder St) at 6pm sharp.  For more information or advanced reservations, contact Lori Harch at 530.926-1001.

How did it get started?

Back in 1994 the Mt. Shasta public schools were facing dramatic budget cuts because of an anticipated decrease in funding, something that the schools in California seem to be facing on a constant basis.  A small group of folks, growing tired of suggesting what to cut—classroom aids? art programs? advanced and remedial courses?—decided to try to add to the budget. That’s how the Mt. Shasta Education Foundation was born.

The Mt. Shasta Education Foundation (MSEF) was established in January 1995 to enhance the public education of our elementary, middle, and high school students.  MSEF’s goals are to raise funds for programs, supplies, and instruction; involve community members in the educational process; and support our local students and help them to prepare for successful futures.  The Foundation was officially recognized as a corporation by the state of California in October 1996 and was granted its nonprofit status as a 501(c)(3) in March 1997. It has always been staffed entirely by volunteers.

The Foundation Board (originally about 10 members) tried various ways to raise money:  they sold rootbeer floats at the 4^th of July, they held a Country Dance, they raffled a hot-air balloon ride, and they held a tennis tournament.  The monies raised were minimal and the effort expended maximal.

After about a year, the Board decided to concentrate on one big fundraiser per year.  They figured: Do it once and do it right!  So on Dec. 13, 1996, the first annual Starlight Gala took place at the Mt. Shasta Community Building.  All the members of the board, along with several other volunteers, worked together to solicit donation items that could be auctioned.  Almost all of the auction items and liquor were donated by local business people.  The Mt. Shasta Lion’s Club acted as bartenders, and the Community Building was offered at no cost by the Mt. Shasta Masons. MSEF hired a local caterer to serve dinner, and all the board members sold tickets ($18 each), which entitled the holder to the silent auction (6 pm), no-host bar and guitar music, dinner (7:15pm), and the live auction (8:15 – 10pm).  All the profits from this event went toward the 1996-1997 MSEF fundraising goal of purchasing computer equipment and software at the three public schools in Mt. Shasta (Mt. Shasta Elementary, Sisson Elementary, and Mt. Shasta High School).  The Gala raised $4,000. The Board decided to also do a mail solicitation in May of each year, called the Mt. Shasta Education Foundation Membership Drive.  The two events provide the funding for all the grants distributed by MSEF.

Each year, the Starlight Gala grew a bit.  After the Community Building began charging for its facility, the Gala was held at the Mt. Shasta City Park, but then returned to the Community Building because of size and acoustics. The dinner was replaced by heavy hors d’oeuvres, but the rest of the format (no-host bar, silent auction, dessert auction, and live auction) remained the same.  The entertainment varied from the high school jazz choir to the middle school band to adult musicians (all of whom donated their services).  Soon the event regularly sold out, even though the ticket price was raised.

In 2004, the 12^th Annual Starlight Gala netted a record $24,000.  Several folks who couldn’t attend sent in generous checks that contributed to this exciting outcome. The next year, MSEF was awarded the Non Profit of the Year for 2005 by the Mt. Shasta Chamber of Commerce. It was so exciting to see all the businesses, parents, and community members choosing to invest so fully in the Mt. Shasta’s future!

Last year MSEF distributed $30,700 to Mt. Shasta public schools, funding numerous items ranging from a 9’x12’ projection screen for the elementary multipurpose room to five computers for the high school library media center.

Environmental Resources program to start at COS

The California Community College Chancellor’s Office approved the Environmental Resources program at the College of the Siskiyous.

Classes will start September 8th!

The C.O.S. Department of Career and Technical Education offers three new programs:

1)  Environmental Resources – Sustainable Communities (ERSC)

2) Environmental Resources – Power Generation Technology (ERPG)

3) Environmental Resources – Environmental Resources Technology (ERRT)

Students can choose to complete an Associate of Science degree or a Certificate in the new programs.

For more information on ALL the new Environmental Resources programs please visit:

http://www.siskiyous.edu/cte/environmental/or call Christy Cummings Dawson at 530-938-5305 or email: cummingsc@siskiyous.edu