PROGRAM SCHEDULE for 2008 - 2009

Class XVI Orientation & Retreat
Friday & Saturday, September 26 & 27, 2008

Rural Communities Issues
Friday, October 17, 2008

Agriculture Day
Friday, November 14, 2008

Health and Human Services Day
Friday, December 12, 2008

Business & Economic Development
Friday, January 16, 2009

Law & Government Day
Friday, February 20, 2009

Arts & Tourism
Friday, March 20, 2009

Education & Community Development
Friday, April 17, 2009

Graduation
May 29 or 30, 2009

Leadership Mendocino Class XV
Graduation and Annual Fundraising Gala
Friday, May 30, 2008

A standing ovation to our alumni and others in Mendocino County who attended our annual graduation and fundraising event and made it such a meaningful and successful event. Congratulations to the graduates of Class XV who are making a difference in our communities through their class projects.

The event raised more than $25,000 to support the Leadership Mendocino program and scholarships. Without the generous contributions of more than 100 businesses throughout the County who donated to our live and silent auctions, we would not have had such a successful event. To those who attended the event and purchased an item for sale, a big hug and huge thanks. Your contributions to leadership development in our communities are making a difference.

See press release.

Leadership Mendocino Class XV
Graduation and Annual Fundraising Gala.
Friday, May 30, 2008 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
at Ukiah Valley Conference Center, 200 S. School St.

Press release and Postcard.

Leadership Mendocino's annual community party, featuring great food and drinks, pomp and circumstance for Class XV graduation, and live and silent auctions. This is non-profit Leadership Mendocino's big fundraising event of the year, and it is always a great place to meet and greet friends, neighbors and community leaders from across the County - plus an opportunity to shop locally for wonderful gifts and trips. This year features:

• 4 Food Tables, celebrating our Mendocino County diversity. You'll have a chance to try foods from the Mediterranean, Mexico, Asia and our own organic Mendocino County. Each table's cuisine will be paired by winemakers and beermeisters with local wines and beer.
• 27 Graduates will cross the finish line after 9 months learning about County resources, issues and opportunities. Cheer Ôem on with pomp and circumstance provided by our fabulous and favorite masters of ceremony, John Bogner and Jon Henderson assisted by Miss Mendocino Stephanie Page.
• 15 Great Trips will be Auctioned and RaffledÑto France, Mexico, L.A., San Fran, the coast and specialty resorts. With a theme like Mendocino and Beyond, you know there's travel involved! Don't miss the chance to pick up a fabulous getaway or other treasure and provide major funding support for leadership development in Mendocino County.

Tickets are $40, and are available at Mendocino Book Company, by credit card (call 463-6967) and by drop-in purchase or mail: Leadership Mendocino, 200 S. School St., Ukiah, CA 95482.

Leadership Mendocino supports our communities by developing a diverse group of people who will get involved and make a difference.

Where: SPACE Theatre of Performing Arts,
508 W. Perkins St., Ukiah.

When: March 26, 2008, 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Program: A short program will begin at 5:45 p.m.

Bring: A tribute or memory to write in the reception book for Sara O'Donnell.

Read: Press release and flyer.

Admittance is free and open to the community. Envelopes will be available to those who wish to support the work of the Cancer Resource Center and Leadership Mendocino.

Sara O'Donnell grew up in California's central valley, working in the fields with her family and exposed to crop dusters and pesticides. One by one, she watched her mother and father, a brother and two aunts die of cancer before she was diagnosed with cancer herself. Living on a shoestring with three children and no insurance, she was determined that if she survived she would devote her life to helping others in the same situation. In 1995, she founded the Cancer Resource Center of Mendocino County to provide a support network for cancer patients living in the rural county and to help them navigate the daunting maze of cancer care.

"Sara's work is an example of the efforts in communities...to take action to address their own problems and create new approaches and solutions, demanding changes in outdated systems and institutions," said Janice Ford Griffin of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. O'Donnell was named one of 10 outstanding individuals from across America and Puerto Rico to receive the prestigious $125,000 RWJ Foundation Community Health Leaders Award. The award furthers the work of the programs she developed in Mendocino County. She received the leadership award in Washington, D.C., with Senator Mike Thompson and nominator Carol Mordhorst of Ukiah attending.

Leadership Mendocino is organizing the reception along with friends and colleagues of O'Donnell. "This is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate community leadership as a whole as well as the achievements of Sara O'Donnell," said Suzanne Pletcher, executive director. "Our community is blessed with many extraordinary leaders, and several of them will be at the podium with Sara during the reception."