FOUNDATION MESSAGE
NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS BY DWIGHT FERGUSON, CALF PRESIDENT AND CEO INCREASING ALUMNI CONNECTIONS
A NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION IS A TRADITION, MOST COMMON IN THE WESTERN WORLD, IN WHICH A PERSON RESOLVES TO CONTINUE GOOD PRACTICES, CHANGE AN UNDESIRED TRAIT OR BEHAVIOR, ACCOMPLISH A PERSONAL GOAL, OR OTHERWISE IMPROVE THEIR LIFE AT THE START OF A NEW YEAR. Even though 2022 is now well underway, we at CALF remain very focused on resolutions (or in our case, strategic objectives) to advance our mission of growing leaders who make a difference and therefore increase our impact on California agriculture. IMPROVING THE FELLOW SELECTION PROCESS By improving the fellow selection process, we are ensuring our commitments to production ag along with other important considerations, including diversity. STRENGTHENING AND EXPANDING PROGRAMS AND OPPORTUNITIES We are further strengthening and expanding our core program curriculum and exchanges, along with other lifelong learning opportunities such as First Fridays, Leaders are Readers Book Club and conferences.
We continue to increase alumni engagement options, including social gatherings and celebrations, special events and numerous volunteering opportunities. REFRESHING OUR BRAND We are in the process of refreshing our brand and enhancing our marketing and communication practices to better meet the needs and expectations of all our stakeholders. ENSURING STRONG FINANCIAL HEALTH We are ensuring the foundation’s financial health and stability so our vision of “Leaders united to strengthen California agriculture and sustainably supply the world” can be realized. The CALF board and staff are committed to delivering these objectives and executing many other plans associated with them. We are also committed to modeling the values of excellence, integrity and respect in all we do. We’ve carried some great momentum into this new year and look forward to advancing many great plans with enthusiasm, optimism and a servant leader’s mentality in the months ahead. As always, if I can be of any service, please feel free to contact me at dferguson@agleaders.org or 831-585-1030.
3 WINTER 2022 HORIZONS MAGAZINE
