Center for Nonprofit Leadership to Re-Launch at California Lutheran University

More than 200 representatives from nonprofit organizations, government agencies and businesses will attend a reception marking the official re-launch of the Center for Nonprofit Leadership at California Lutheran University from 5:30-7:30PM on Wednesday, September 7th.

The formal program featuring presentations by Cal Lutheran President Chris Kimball, center Director Dena Jenson and center Advisory Committee member Doug Green will run from 6 to 6:30 p.m.

The event will take place at the Lundring Events Center, which is inside the Gilbert Sports and Fitness on the north side of Olsen Road between Campus Drive and Mountclef Boulevard. The university’s address is 60 W. Olsen Road, Thousand Oaks.

The Ventura County Community Foundation (VCCF) ran the Center for Nonprofit Leadership for 24 years, serving more than 800 organizations annually before indefinitely suspending it a year ago. Cal Lutheran re-opened the center to again provide the training needed by the region’s charities. Jenson, who had led the VCCF center for a decade, was hired as the director.

Nonprofits constitute a vital segment of the community. In Ventura County alone, there are more than 3,300 registered nonprofits ranging from all-volunteer efforts to large organizations such as hospitals and universities. They account for $2.6 billion in annual revenue and $5 billion in assets.

The center’s primary focus will be affordable professional development workshops for nonprofit board members, staff and volunteers. More than a dozen sessions on leadership, grant writing, marketing, fundraising and board governance are already scheduled for the next few months at Cal Lutheran’s Oxnard Center. They include “Onboarding Your Board,” “Perfecting Your Pitch” and “Executive Director Essentials: What’s Keeping You Up at Night?” In addition to hands-on training, the workshops provide opportunities to network and collaborate with peers. Jenson and volunteers who are respected leaders in their fields will run the workshops.

The center provides additional resources for members online.

Funding comes from participation fees, memberships, corporate sponsorships, grants and donations.

For more information, go to callutheran.edu/cnl.

The New Western Lowland Gorilla Brothers are Now on View at the Santa Barbara Zoo

Brothers Nzinga (pronounced in-ZING-gah) and Bangori (ban-GORE-ee) have completed their 30 day required quarantine period and are now on view intermittently, between 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., at the Santa Barbara Zoo. 

Born and raised at the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville, Texas, these new Western lowland gorilla brothers share parents and are adapting to their new home and keepers. The brothers have reached the age where it was time to leave the family as a bachelor group until they are ready to lead families of their own in the next five to ten years. Nzinga is 18 and Bangori is 12.

The Santa Barbara Zoo is among several zoos that have bachelor troops in a "Foster Feeder" program. Consider helping the Zoo with a Foster Feeder sponsorship; a $50 donation helps with the cost of feeding the gorillas. New gorilla Foster Feeders receive a plush gorilla (while supplies last) along with a certificate, fact sheet and recognition. Visit www.sbzoo.org/donate and choose Sponsor an Animal.

Western lowland gorillas are a critically endangered species. Main threats stem from human-disease transmission, poaching and habitat loss. There are currently 353 Western lowland gorillas who reside in 51 Association of Zoo & Aquarium institutions throughout North America.

The Western lowland gorilla species is also known by the quite interesting scientific name, Gorilla gorilla gorilla. Did hear an echo?

Visit the Santa Barbara Zoo website at www.sbzoo.org.

Color Me Mine Ceramics Studio Coming Soon to Thousand Oaks

Color Me Mine is a ceramic painting studio where you drop by anytime and select from over 400 ceramic pieces to design and paint. . For the price of a studio fee and the item you choose to paint, you can paint all day using 60+ colors and supplies! They glaze and fire your work in a kiln and your work of art will be available in 5 to 7 days.

A Thousand Oaks Color Me Mine is coming to the Paseo Market Square in Thousand Oaks at 3707 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard this Fall. It will be located near Al Mulino Eatalia and The Melting Pot.

More information at thousandoaks.colormemine.com.

BLVD BRGR Company Opened in Old Town Camarillo in April

BLVD BRGR Company (pronounced Boulevard Burger Company) opened in the former home of Sabores Peruvian Cafe at 2145 Ventura Boulevard, Camarillo in mid-April. They offer "craft" burgers, beers, shakes, salads and more.

Their craft burger selection includes Justa Brgr, Bacn Avo Brgr, Aloha Brgr, Scrpion Brgr, Svage Brgr, Napa Brgr, They Mayan (roasted pulled chicken), Veg the Pineapple (vegetarian), Veggie and BBBQ Brgr.  Learn more at blvdbrgr.com.

Boney Mountain Tavern Premieres at Former Magoo's Sports Grill Location in Newbury Park

The new sign came up last night - Boney Mountain Tavern is premiering at the former Magoo's Sports Grill, 722 N. Wendy Drive, Newbury Park. Featuring 32 beers on tap, a full bar and a full menu. Grand opening specials September 1-9, including drink specials, raffles, giveaways, games and more.

Visit www.facebook.com/BoneyMountainTavern or call 805.498.6511 for more information.

On a historical note, before Magoo’s, this was formerly a Pizza Hut location.

Ventura County Office of Education Opens New Career Education Center in Moorpark

The former site of Community High School in Moorpark, 5700 Condor Drive, is reborn as a second campus of the Ventura County Office of Education’s (VCOE) Career Education Center.

The new facility is the result of a partnership between VCOE and the Moorpark Unified School District. VCOE will lease the facility from the district for one dollar per year for the next five years, allowing the district to host additional programs and services for local students.

Fall programming will include classes in cybersecurity, game design, engineering and medical science. 

More information about the VCOE Career Education Center is available at www.vcoe.org/cec. 

CSU Channel Islands (CI) Welcomes New President, Erika D. Beck, Ph.D.

Erika D. Beck was appointed by the CSU Board of Trustees on March 9, 2016 as the second president of California State University Channel Islands (CI). She started her new job this week and I had a chance to meet her.

There's a positive energy to Dr. Beck, who relocated here from Henderson, Nevada, where she served as Provost and Executive Vice President at Nevada State College (NSC) for six years.

As a mother of two young, active boys, she was excited to learn more about the abundance of fun things to do here in the Ventura County area. But in the meantime, she will be quite busy getting up to speed at CI.

During her tenure at NSC, Dr. Beck had the unique opportunity to build a campus from the ground up and help establish the first middle tier, public institution in the state of Nevada. Prior to her role as Provost, Dr. Beck served as the Dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences, a psychology faculty member, and the founding Faculty Senate Chair.

Through her leadership, NSC opened in 2002 with 177 students and rapidly expanded to more than 3,500 students 13 years later. A leader committed to inclusivity, NSC became a Minority Serving Institution, an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution, and an Emerging Hispanic Serving Institution during her tenure as Provost.

A native Californian, President Beck holds a B.A. in Psychology from the University of California, San Diego, a M.A. in Psychology from San Diego State University and a Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology from the University of California, San Diego where she also served as a faculty fellow. A former Research Associate at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, she has conducted research in the areas of developmental psychopathology and cognitive neuroscience. In addition to her formal education, she is actively engaged in the national dialogue regarding inclusive excellence and the use of data to improve student learning outcomes.

About California State University Channel Islands
CI is the only four-year, public university in Ventura County and is known for its interdisciplinary, multicultural and international perspectives, and its emphasis on experiential and service learning. CI’s strong academic programs focus on business, sciences, liberal studies, teaching credentials, and innovative master’s degrees. Students benefit from individual attention, up-to-date technology, and classroom instruction augmented by outstanding faculty research. CI has been designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and is committed to serving students of all backgrounds from the region and beyond. Learn more about the university at www.csuci.edu.

Update on Parker, the Newest Masai Giraffe at the Santa Barbara Zoo

Here's the latest on "Parker," born this past Saturday to doting mother Betty Lou at the Santa Barbara Zoo. Parker is a boy and he measured in at 6'8" and 171 lbs. Not quite NBA material at that weight but watch him grow! Parker is the 6th calf born at the zoo since arrival of his sire, Michael, on the scene. Giraffes are the tallest land mammal, and the Masai is the largest subspecies, growing up to 17 feet tall and weighing 2,700 pounds. Parker will on view to the public at a data TBA.

More on the zoo at THIS LINK.