About Valley Forward :: 2007 Highlights

Added our first municipal Visionary member - the City of Phoenix - to an elite list of major partners, including: APS, Honeywell, Intel Corporation, SRP, STMicroelectronics and Wells Fargo.
Created a Public Policy Task Force and developed a formal process for identifying, reviewing and taking positions on community issues aligned with Valley Forward Association's (VFA) mission; exercised a 501H election to expand our advocacy role.
Exceeded revenue projections and broke attendance records for all events through November 2007, with the 38th Annual Luncheon in December on a successful track; recruited more new members this year than in any other since 2002.
Hired an Executive Assistant, which increased VFA's staff to five, its largest size ever.
Produced and distributed a quarterly newsletter to 1,000 members and prospects while securing record sponsor support for the publication.
Partnered with the ASU College of Design and Arizona Institute of Architects to present an evening in tribute to Jim Elmore, a founding member of VFA and the father of Rio Salado.
Enhanced our database by creating a new software application for tracking/reporting sponsorships and memberships.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

Supported the No Child Left Inside Act of 2007 to facilitate new policies and funding for Environmental Education in Arizona and throughout the nation.
Advocated for the 2007 Water Resources Development Act, authorizing the City of Phoenix’s Rio Salado Oeste project, which would restore a significant part of the Salt River corridor.
Exceeded goals of a VFA pledge drive through the ENERGY STAR "Change A Light, Change the World" campaign, with nearly 300 members pledging to change at least one incandescent light bulb in their home to a compact florescent bulb.
Facilitated member testimony and advocacy to encourage the Phoenix Parks & Recreation's Rio Salado Ad Hoc Committee to enhance public access to this landmark destination so the project reaches its full potential.
Presented our best-attended "Just For The Fun Of It" Member Mixer in partnership with the US Green Building Council featuring food, libations and alternative transportation exhibits at the offices of Hoskin Ryan Consultants.
Sponsored of the Nina Mason Pulliam Rio Salado Audubon Center enabling VFA's name to be permanently placed on the wall of the education center.
Exhibited at: the Phoenix Brownfields University 2007 event; Arizona Facility Management Show; Snell & Wilmer Volunteer Fair; and Scottsdale Green Building Expo (took first-place honors in the first-ever Solar Cook-off at the expo).
Participated in: an affordable housing conference through LISC promoting links in transportation, housing and employment; a Junior Achievement charrette for creation of a new BizTown; the Scottsdale Energy Savings Conference; and a Town Hall on Energy hosted by Conoco Phillips.
Hosted quarterly luncheons on community related topics including: redevelopment of Papago Park; the role of master planned communities in creating sustainable places; fostering a knowledge based economy through biotechnology and environmental sciences; and improving air quality in our region.
Hosted: an AIM breakfast at EEC for new members and prospects to Acquaint new recruits with veteran members, Inform participants on ways to get involved and Motivate them to become active in Valley Forward.
Partnered and collaborated with a diverse range of community organizations including the: Urban Land Institute; Center for Creative Land Recycling; Friends of the West Valley Recreation Corridor; Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce; Phoenix Community Alliance; Society of Marketing Professionals; and Valley Partnership.

ISSUE COMMITTEES

RESTRUCTURED ISSUE COMMITTEES

Created a plan for restructuring VFA's Issue Committees to make them more educationally oriented and less project focused; added a standing committee to focus on Energy Issues.

ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT CARD

Surveyed municipalities and government agencies in Maricopa and Pinal Counties, as well as Native American communities, on how they are responding to growth issues; began the process of grading and planning for the release of VFA's Environmental Report Card in 2008.

LAND USE/OPEN SPACE COMMITTEE

Launched the first-ever trails Passport and interactive web site to promote The Valley’s Pedestrian Freeway – A Priceless Necklace of Trails and Gems; printed 100,000 Passports and initiated distribution throughout Maricopa County; developed a web site utilizing state-of-the-art Google Earth technology, allowing satellite preview of trails in the system; exhibited the Pedestrian Freeway project at the Phoenix Outdoor Recreation Festival at South Mountain Park and the West Valley Recreation Corridor: Walk the Vision event in Glendaleland reform package on the 2006 general election ballot and provided community outreach advocating for its passage.

WATER COMMITTEE

Enhanced VFA’s website pages on water issues, providing comprehensive information on the history of water management in the Valley and why the business community should be engaged in helping to ensure a reliable supply for the future.

TRANSPORTATION/AIR COMMITTEE

Supported Maricopa County's Bring Back Blue campaign, helping to educate members and the general public on ways to combat particulate pollution; unveiled results of a survey showcasing unique strategies VFA members are undertaking to help reduce air pollution.

EVENT COMMITTEES

VALLEY FORWARD'S LIVABILITY SUMMIT

Attracted more than 250 community leaders to "Valley Forward's Livability Summit," a half-day conference promoting sustainable communities featuring Christine Todd Whitman and Joel Garreau.
Developed a presentation on our region's growth - "Maricopa County from 1970 to 2006 and into the Future" - featuring an aerial flyover using new technology by Landiscor Aerial.
Facilitated a panel discussion moderated by Ned Foster, of KTAR 620 Newsradio and featuring local and national smart growth experts.
Hosted more than 50 exhibits on local livability initiatives, wall maps tracing growth patterns, as well as data on transportation, land use planning and water management.
Presented Valley Forward's Livable Communities Award at the 2006 Future City Competition - Phoenix Region.

ENVIRONMENTAL EXCELLENCE AWARDS

Expanded the reach of Valley Forward’s 28th annual Environmental Excellence Awards gala, held in partnership with SRP, generating record attendance and honoring 46 projects submitted by diverse organizations in and around the Valley.

EARTHFEST EDUCATORS NIGHT

Recruited a new title sponsor – Waste Management Charitable Foundation – to co-present with Freescale Semiconductor “Valley Forward’s EarthFest Educators Night” at the Phoenix Zoo, attracting nearly 300 K-12 teachers to the event, held in partnership with the Arizona Science Teachers Association.
Recruited more than 60 environmental education exhibits; produced a giveaway on recycling for attendees, which for the first time met Arizona State Standards for Education; promoted Valley Forward’s Online Environmental Resource Directory to Arizona teachers, which features nearly 75 programs, activities and curriculum offered by VFA members.
Announced Valley Forward’s EarthFest Education Grant, made possible by STMicroelectronics for the third consecutive year, allowing Arizona teachers in K-12 to apply for up to $5,000 in funding.
Co-presented with the Arizona Foundation for Resource Education and Arizona Association for Environmental Education a workshop for teachers on research-based standards to improve environmental education.

37TH ANNUAL LUNCHEON

Jamie Clarke

Jamie Clarke, mountaineer, explorer, entrepreneur and author, presents the keynote address on December 14 at The Phoenician Resort.