December 30, 2008
VASCONCELLOS LEGACY PROJECT
2008 YEAR-END FOUNDERS SUMMARY REPORT
SEEDS OF PROGRESS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SIGNS OF TRACTION
A COMPENDIUM OF OUR ADVANCES THIS CALENDAR YEAR
A - REFINING & ABBREVIATING OUR DUAL MISSION:
1 - SUPPORTING OUR TERM-LIMITED LEGISLATURE IN DEVELOPING WORKING MODELS FOR TACKLING CALIFORNIA'S MAJOR CHALLENGES - EXPEDITIOUSLY (BEFORE SENT PACKING BY TERM LIMITS);' +
2 - 'TRANSFORMING THE CULTURE OF POLITICS.'
B - IDENTIFYING 5 SPECIAL SERVICES THAT SERVE TO RIGHT NOW EMPOWER OUR LEGISLATURE.
C - MAKING OPERATIONAL OUR AL ALQUIST/ED DAVIS CAPITOL COLLABORATION PROJECT:
1 - GAINING THE APPROVAL AND WELCOME OF 'THE BIG 4' LEGISLATIVE LEADERS;
2 - HOSTING 4 INTIMATE DINNERS FOR 1ST-TERM ASSEMBLYMEMBERS;
3 - DEVELOPING A 4-POINT NEW PRODUCT LINE IN RESPONSE TO MEMBERS' REQUESTS:
a - PARTICIPATION IN THE ASSEMBLY'S ORIENTATION PROGRAM FOR NEWLY ELECTED MEMBERS;
b - 1/2 DAY BRIEFING FOR (NEW) MEMBERS OF VARIOUS CAUCUSES (LATINO, RURAL, PARTISAN, ETC.);
c - 1/2 DAY INTENSIVE BIPARTISAN BRIEFING FOR NEWLY SELECTED CHAIRS & VICE- CHAIRS;
d - DEVELOPING A ROSTER OF CAL/FLAG MEMBERS AVAILABLE FOR 1X1 MENTORING.
4 - DEEPENING OUR CAPACITY BY ENLISTING BIPARTISAN/INDEPENDENT 11-MEMBER STEERING TEAM.
D - CREATING A MODEL PROPOSAL FOR THE LEGISLATURE WITH REGARD TO UPDATING CALIFORNIA'S LANDMARK MASTER PLAN FOR HIGHER EDUCATION:
1 - SETTING A 2010 TARGET DATE FOR CONCLUSION TO CELEBRATE THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF OUR MASTER PLAN;
2 - DEMONSTRATING OUR IMMEDIATE NEED: NO SYSTEMATIC UPDATING SINCE 1975;
3 - IDENTIFYING ESSENTIAL INTERNAL + EXTERNAL CONSTITUENCIES;
4 - OFFERING ESSENTIAL SERVICES THAT EMPOWER THE LEGISLATURE TO COMPLETE THIS IN RECORD TIME: FOCUSING THE ENDEAVOR, ACCELERATING THE LEARNING ARC, INCLUDING STAKEHOLDERS IN ITS DESIGN;
5 - INITIATING A SERIES OF CAMPUS-BASED ALL-STAKEHOLDER DIALOGUES FOR BOTTOM-UP INPUT; +
6 - ALTOGETHER SERVING TO EMPOWER THE LEGISLATURE TO REALIZE THEIR OWN GOALS & AMBITIONS IN TIME.
E - FORMULATING A DEMO PROJECT FOR TACKLING CALIFORNIA'S MAJOR ECONOMIC CHALLENGE - CLOSING OUR STUDENTS' MULTIPLE LEARNING GAPS:
1 - DETAILS OF THIS & FOLLOWING ENTRIES ARE AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT OUR WEBSITE
F - FLESHING OUT OUR GLOBAL MISSION: ' TRANSFORMING THE CULTURE OF POLITICS'
G - BEGINNING AN UPGRADE AND UPDATING OF OUR WEBSITE
H - BRINGING ABOARD A BRAND NEW 2-PERSON MANAGEMENT TEAM
I - EXPANDING OUR BOA RD OF TRUSTEES TO INCLUDE MORE BUSINESS REPRESENTATION:
J - ALTOGETHER, GETTING OURSELVES PRIMED & POISED FOR BECOMING THE MOST PROMISING (BOTH PROFOUND + PRAGMATIC) PATHWAY TOWARD THAT ALTERNATIVE POLITICS OF HEALING & HOPE WE'VE BEEN FOR SO LONG YEARNING & SEARCHING FOR- FINALLY CREATING THIS IS OUR CHALLENGE FOR A VERY HAPPY 2009!
PLEASE HELP US CONTINUE TO PLANT THE SEEDS OF PROGRESS
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November 3, 2008
Aloha, my Dear Friend and Partner -
We are continuing to make such remarkable progress in advancing our Vasconcellos Legacy Project and "The Politics of Trust" - that I cannot wait any longer to share with you all our recent good news.
We are sending you this on this momentous Election Day - because no matter whom Americans today choose to become our next President, our Vasconcellos Legacy Project and "The Politics of Trust" are going to be and become even more timely and relevant and precious and compelling, we urge to you to continue to support our collective cause.
My challenge is slimming down the 6 full page report I was originally inspired to compose within a sleepless 6am hour - by figuring out which of our news to include and where to begin.
That's because I really want you eager to read this through to its conclusion, to find yourself resonating and wanting to commit yourself to becoming our partner in our enterprise. Our times cry out for what we have to offer. We cannot, we dare not, afford to fail, either ourselves or our children and grandchildren!
So, hold on to your seats, come ride this thrilling course with me, right here and now.
1st - We lost our fine director Jon Hellesoe August 1 - to another compelling employment opportunity.
2nd - We readily promoted our very able Program Manager Jason Spencer - already outperforming our high expectations since he joined our team March 1 - to become our Acting Executive Director.
3rd - Since Jason lives in Sacramento, we're expanding our locations - continuing to provide our basic support services in our office in the Sobrato Center for Non-Profits in Silicon Valley.
4th - We have clarified our Vasconcellos Legacy Project Mission Statement - "Supporting our term-limited legislature in developing models for tackling California's major challenges expeditiously" that completes our long search for a 10-word, 15-second "elevator pitch" - denoting our discovering our marketing niche of seemingly unique value. Please see our website - http://politicsoftrust.net/programs-collaboration.php - for an elaboration of the six dimensions of services we now offer the Legislature.
5th - We have also clarified our mission statement regarding "The Politics of Trust" - "Transforming the culture of politics by challenging cynicism and developing trust" that's essential because even as we find ourselves boasting of our "new economy" (though lately it's into big problems) and cherishing our "new demography" and reveling in our "new consciousness" - we find ourselves stuck in "the same old politics" - cynical and divisive, hierarchical and controlling, altogether leading to mostly paralyzed and dysfunctional government.
6th - We have identified the formula that constitutes the most direct antidote to "cynicism" - "a faithful vision of ourselves, our human nature and potential," best articulated by psychologist Carl Rogers, who states, "we human beings are innately inclined toward becoming life-affirming, constructive, responsible and trustworthy."
7th - We have gained warm acceptance and legitimacy with the legislature (especially its "Big 4 Leadership" which includes members from both parties in both houses) for our bipartisan Al Alquist/Ed Davis Capitol Collaboration Project, wherein former Republican Assemblyman Bill Bagley (of Marin County) and I have enlisted a bipartisan and independent team of 78 former California State Legislators. For a listing of our successful efforts to date, and our forthcoming expansion of services in response to requests by legislators, please visit our website at http://politicsoftrust.net/programs-collaboration.php.
8th - Jason and I markedly clarified and then presented to the Legislature's "Big 4" and higher education leaders and representatives of key internal and external constituencies - our 2nd demonstration project proposal for the Legislature to undertake immediately a long overdue updating of California's landmark Master Plan for Higher Education - in time to appropriately celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2010. Please visit our website at http://politicsoftrust.net/programs-higher-education.php for information on the key leaders to whom we have presented our proposal.
9th - Then we recognized that as essential as the Legislature's undertaking its Higher Education Master Plan updating, is the development of a regional all-stakeholder team program that effectively owns up to and addresses the challenge presented by our coming student-body demographics and our current educational failures. Soon, our Latino students will become a majority of our high school enrollments, yet today a majority of them do not complete high school. Our future is threatened by the loss of 1/2 x 1/2 = 1/4 of our future work force not being sufficiently prepared to provide California a competitive work force in this age of technology in the global economy. So we are proposing to create 3 model regional teams to intercede and success in this area - in Silicon Valley and in the greater Fresno area and in one sub-district of the Los Angeles Unified School District.
10th - During Jason's first 45 days in our lead position, I enjoyed sharing 10 days with him in Sacramento, San Francisco, Fresno and Silicon Valley - I'm pleased to report that all systems are "Go!"
11th - Jason and I spent 3 days in San Francisco and Silicon Valley - making initial contacts with 4 foundations, and found them keenly interested in our endeavor, though of course wanting more details.
12th - Jason and I spent 2 very full days in the Fresno area - connecting with diverse leaders who would belong on such a team there - sounding out whether such an effort is already underway, and if not, whether we could be of service. Leaders on all sides of such a divide welcomed our coming to town, confirmed our sense of the unmet need for such an effort, and encouraged us to proceed - and committed themselves to becoming partners in our creating such a regional model there in Fresno.
13th - Our Vasconcellos Legacy Project Board met on September 5 and adopted our budget and
programmatic directions for this fiscal year (July 1-June 30). Already we have in the bank enough funding and pledges to get us through the end of this calendar year - though we need more funding for the expansion of our Capitol Collaboration and Higher Education demonstration projects.
14th - We have commitments from several people in different regions of our state to become, or assist us in enlisting, additional major investors in our various endeavors.
15th- Jason went looking - and very successfully - for his successor as our Program Manager. Of the promising candidates, he filled our #2 Program Manager position with Irene Wan - who joined our staff in mid-September to take lead responsibility for program management, working out of our main Silicon Valley office and on the road.
Irene hails from Alameda, is a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley (after majoring in Mass Communications and minoring in Ethnic Studies). She then worked 3 years in the UC Berkeley Chancellor's Office on issues related to community-building, diversity, equity, and inclusion, leading to UC Berkeley's creation our nation's first Vice Chancellor for Equity and Inclusion. This past year, Irene was a Jesse M. Unruh Assembly Fellow with Assemblyman Gene Mullin and with the Assembly Education Committee, which he chairs. She speaks both Spanish and Chinese (Cantonese).
16th - Jason, Irene and I spent 2 very full days in 12 meetings in Los Angeles in consultations regarding our program development and having conversations with people regarding becoming investors in our Legacy Project. We were only 5 minutes late for 1 meeting, and were greeted with warmth, acceptance and enthusiasm, and especially with encouraging pledges of partnership.
17th - In September, I gave speeches before 2 groups different from my usual invitations - the Oakland Rotary Club and the Statewide Meeting of the California Hotel & Lodging Owners Association - regarding the "Politics of Trust." I tailored my usual speech to what I surmised to be their interests - and found most everybody at each talk seemingly leaning forward in their seats throughout my presentation, in rapt attention - more than I am accustomed to experiencing. Afterwards, several persons came up to thank me and take our literature. Both talks were audio-taped, and we are checking to see whether we want to make them available to/for you and your circles of friends and influence.
18th - I'm traveling this week to participate in a La Jolla gathering of members of the International Leadership Forum (ILF) - celebrating the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Western Behavioral Sciences Institute (WBSI). For that occasion, the ILF is publishing a book - an anthology of statements by ILF members - regarding "what is it that each of us now sees, that is largely invisible to the untrained eye, whose being made visible would most empower us to improve our human condition and that of the world." They are including my new 15-page essay - presenting all I know regarding the state of politics in our State and Nation today - including both "how come?" and "how cure?" - I entitled, it- "Let Us Now Lead Heroic Lives - A Welcoming Assurance . . . From a Forward Observer . . . On Our Human Frontier." Request your copy today by contacting Angie Perez at angelica@politicsoftrust.net.
I am pau for now. Pull all that together, and I hope you will find yourself resonating within yourself, sharing my thrill and encouragement and enthusiasm regarding the state of our endeavor.
We appear now to be primed and poised for establishing our legitimacy, gaining for our Legacy Project recognition for the services we can uniquely offer, and advancing the public awareness of the promise of the "Politics of Trust."
That's where I want you personally to join us, to enlist, to register yourself and your talents and networks of family and friends, to become our active partner in our timely crusade for a wholly new politics - beyond left and right - for the good of all the people and the State of California. Here is what I hope you are right now finding yourself wanting to be doing in advancing our good causes.
1st - Right away, forward via email this Legacy Project "Founder's Momentum Report" to at least 25 of your family and friends - with your own brief note of transmittal, hoping to gain more enlistments.
2nd - With regard to our demonstration projects in our State Capitol - contact each of your local state legislators, Assembly Member and Senator - and seek a personal meeting with each of them separately. Take along a few friends and tell her/him about the "Politics of Trust" and urge their joining us in our effort. We are hoping to bring much-needed change into politics - from the bottom up, beginning right now.
3rd - Toward helping us become more broadly and deeply known and appreciated by more Californians - create a small event in your home within this next month or in January. Invite a dozen of your family or friends - share this newsletter in advance, and ask them to come prepared for a personal dialogue about whether and how to initiate some public effort in your own community to practice and model and demonstrate the value and the viability and the desirability of bringing the "Politics of Trust" to life in your hometown.
4th - Make your generous pledge today (appropriate to your capacity and how much you value the promise we are offering for a new "Politics of Trust") of dollars to invest in our Vasconcellos Legacy Project by the end of this calendar year, December 31, 2008.
5th - Right here and now, consider making this endeavor - your own legacy project as well. (In fact, I find myself wondering whether changing our name to some version of "Our Legacy Project" might serve better to enlist more kindred persons in owning and committing to our effort to advance the "Politics of Trust" into becoming California's mainstream politics? Let me know your sense of this soon, please.
In summary - just about all of our systems are systematically failing us today. Our people have outgrown our cynical and divisive and controlling institutions of our past. They are hungry and ready for the new vision and new healing and hope we are bringing into the public arena with the "Politics of Trust."
We have made enormous progress in recent months. Altogether we really can forge a whole new faithful politics that has the potential to become the living pragmatic alternative to the divisive dysfunctional traditional politics of cynicism now so perversely afflicting us all.
All we now need is enough good, committed, kindred persons to come together to truly change the vision and the character and the relationships of politics in our lives and in our relationships and in our entire state. Let us take our stand and live up to our challenge. Altogether note that we are asking no more of you than we are asking - and giving - of our selves. Just let us know how you'd like us to help.
Altogether we will succeed in bringing to life throughout the State and People of California - the "Politics of Trust." Onward and upward - maximizing our momentum - right now.
I thank you - and I wish you well. I look forward to hearing from you (hopefully positively) right away, and to our becoming successful partners in advancing the Vasconcellos Legacy Project and the "Politics of Trust."
John Vasconcellos
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