For those of you planning on attending tonight’s Sierra College special board meeting at the NCC campus, it has been postponed due to the snow conditions and is tentatively set for Tuesday, February 5 for the same time and location.
Once the new special meeting is officially called, I will post the details here.
We had two great town hall meetings in Grass Valley on January 18, which provided a great chance to hear input from a wide variety of Nevada County citizens. There were about 140 folks there at the first one, and about 60 at the second one.
(photo courtesy of The Union article)
This was in the newspaper this morning and on the radio during the day, but I apologize for the delay in posting it here. Due to the late notice, we’ve scheduled two town hall meetings, and I hope we have quite the crowd to discuss our "next steps" for the NCC expansion.
WHAT: Town Hall Meeting to Discuss the Sierra College NCC Expansion
WHERE: Peace Lutheran Church, 828 West Main Street, Grass Valley
WHEN: Friday, January 18 at 3:30PM or 6:30PM
Optional RSVP to rsvp@aaronklein.com (to assist us in planning for attendance…feel free to attend without a RSVP, though!)
As you may know, the Sierra College Nevada County Campus is in the midst of a $47 million expansion project. Massive construction inflation is causing significant problems with the project, creating the need for our community to develop a consensus on how to move forward.
I’m in the process of scheduling two meetings up in Nevada County for this coming Friday, January 18. The first will be a "coffee chat" at 3:30PM, and the second will be a slightly larger "town hall" meeting at 6:30PM.
Locations have not been set yet, but I’ll communicate those here and in The Union newspaper as quickly as possible. If you can be there at either or both events, I’d love to hear from you!
I was quite surprised to hear that the editor of The Union newspaper, Jeff Pelline, had named me as one of his "rising stars" of Nevada County politics. Here’s what he had to say:
The political scene here often is predictable: The same faces keep popping up, with the same ideas, on the same issues. It’s like watching a merry-go-round go round and round with the same set of horses.
Yet we need fresh approaches: in economic development, attracting young families, fiscal restraint, embracing "green," closing the gap between low wages and high housing costs, curbing illegal drug use, supporting the arts and so on.
In the spirit of a new year, I’d like to spotlight some people who represent change and are embracing it. Some fly under the radar and prefer it that way. Some have no political aspirations. Others are becoming more visible.
Whatever their preferences, I think they represent our community’s "rising stars," people who can help move us forward.
In politics (if you must ask) they represent the right, left and in between. This a nonpartisan exercise, though – also for a change.
I admire them as independent, sometimes outspoken thinkers. They don’t need a James Carville type, or any consultant, handing them a list of talking points. (And goodness forbid, they ever succumb to this). Most are longtimers in the area. (Goodness forbid they be "flatlanders," either.)
You no doubt have your own rising stars in mind. Let’s celebrate them, too. Our community’s future depends on it.
…
Aaron Klein: Aaron is a 22-year-resident of Colfax, where he lives with his wife and newly adopted South Korean son.
Aaron began working in entrepreneurial business at age 12, employed by his dad’s company. Now he’s building a business software start-up.
Aaron, 29, has been a Sierra College trustee (representing parts of Nevada County) since December 2004. He was one of only three challengers to unseat an incumbent [in Placer County's elections that year]. Aaron has embraced change at the college despite running into some vocal "naysayers." He brings a practical business sense to the position.
"We all want to make it possible for Nevada County’s young people to stay here for their education and for a great job, rather than forcing them to leave the area to seek opportunities in life," Aaron wrote in an "Other Voices" column for us. "The NCC expansion must support that effort by creating specific job-training programs to generate a qualified work force for the new businesses we can attract."
He’s a blogger (www.aaronklein.com) and writes about the goings-on at Sierra College, among other things.
I appreciate the honor, but I just have to point out that everything I’ve been able to accomplish at Sierra College has been a team effort. Frankly, my board colleagues, the college’s management team and our incredible staff deserve far more recognition than they receive.
