rv industry works to attract baby boomers"right now there aren't enough baby boomers to...

BY JOYCE LOBECK

Winter visitors come to Yuma for the warm weather that offers a respite from the snow, ice and cold of northern climates.

They stay because of the warm wel-come they find here.

"It becomes home," say managers of the area's recreational vehicle parks.

That goes as much for the newest wave of retirees now hitting the road as it did for their parents and grandparents.

Once they satisfy their wanderlust, they're looking for a place to settle that's warm, friendly and fun. At least that's what the RV industry is hoping.

After all, nearly a quarter of Americans were born between 1946 and 1964, the typical definition of the baby boom gener-ation. That's more than 70 million people. And they're heading intro retirement in droves at a rate of about 10,000 a day.

"That's a very large segment coming down the pike," said Jon Heidrich, owner with his wife of Shangri-La RV Resort. When they opened the park in 1984, it was to a predominately 65-plus age group of retired farmers, manufacturing plant employees and other blue-collar workers. Their primary goal was to get out of the cold; in a recreational vehicle was an inex-pensive way to do that.

However, that age group is dying off or not up to the annual migration south any-more, opting to stay closer to their families in their declining years and health.

"Right now there aren't enough baby

boomers to replenish that generation," Heidrich said. "But it's coming. It won't take long for the RV industry to capture at least a part of that generation. What we're seeing in the industry … we've al-most come full circle. At first people come and stay for a day or a few weeks. They're checking out the town, then moving down the road. In the coming years I think they will stay longer. I think ultimately they will settle down."

Sylvia Bergren, who with her husband manages Westwind RV Resort and Golf Course, says she's already seeing some younger people starting to put down roots at the park.

"We have some brand new RVers," she said. "We all think we want to travel and it's fun to take off and go. But it gets old. They come for one night and decide ‘I don't

want to leave.' It's amazing."Yuma's balmy winter weather contin-

ues to be the main draw for snowbirds. This year is a classic example, as noted by Linda Morgan, executive director of Yuma Visitors Bureau.

She quoted the 2017 Farmers' Alma-nac that "forewarns that exceptionally cold, if not downright frigid weather will predominate over parts of the Northern Plains, Great Lakes, Midwest, Ohio Valley, the Middle Atlantic, Northeast, and New England this winter. The Farmers' Alma-nac's long-range weather predictions also

RV industry works to attract baby boomers

January 2017 Volume 3 – Issue 1

See RV industRy continued on page 10

congRatulations!New Members pg4

Member of the Month, Encore Resorts pg3

Loaned PhotoEquestrian riders are among local residents and winter visitors alike who enjoy the trails along the Colorado River.Chamber Annual Dinner

pg12

Committee Updates pg13

BY JOHN COURTIS, Executive Director, Yuma County Chamber of Commerce

It is truly an exciting time in Yuma County, Arizona, and it should be easy for us to stay positive for the next 12 months. Of course, we will have our challenges, such as the passage of Proposition 206, the minimum wage law, and what we all will need to do to maintain responsible profit margins. The City will have to deal with the defeat of Proposition 407, the 3/10ths of a cent sales tax to fund City Police &

Fire and road maintenance. Your Cham-ber of Commerce is already writing letters to legislators regarding the State’s annual fund sweeps, like the Highway User Rev-enue Fund, that we could use now, more than ever. We need to get those funds for our road maintenance. But, folks in Yuma have never backed down from a challenge!

In just the last few months, the Greater Yuma Economic Development Corpora-tion was instrumental in landing 2 very important companies to Yuma: one ware-house and one food processor and they are ready to announce a 3rd. The two we know of are Martech, out of Mexicali with up to 30 new, high paying jobs and the Egg Pro-cessing Company that is going to build a 120,000 square foot facility, hire over 200 people and infuse over $25 million in con-struction investment. Plus, 16th Street and 4th Avenue will be completed by May, and Sprouts should be ready to open by Labor Day.

In just the last few weeks, APS and MCAS had a ribbon cutting for a ‘micro-grid’ so our Marine Base can deliver its own power, without human intervention, within 30 seconds should we have a ma-jor power outage like we did in 2011. The Yuma Area Agriculture Council held its most successful Ag Tour for State Legisla-tors, with a dinner featuring Paul Brierley of the University of Arizona Center for Excellence in Desert Agriculture, where he discussed the partnerships in Yuma

County that have made all of us more suc-cessful. An ag lunch the next day at AWC was packed as the keynote speaker was the water lawyer and guru, Wade Noble with an introduction by Governor Ducey. The Governor was touting Yuma as a place where real innovation is happening, and water conservation excellence is world renowned. The Governor, that same after-noon, signed an agreement to give control of the famous Yuma Territorial Prison to the City of Yuma for the next 15 years. During that ceremony, Governor Ducey gave high praise to Charles Flynn of the Yuma Heritage Area, and to the citizens of Yuma that rolled up their sleeves, and opened their wallets to keep the prison open.

The very best news came a few days ago when we received the notoriety of having the 3rd best job growth numbers in the United States! Plus, our County unemployment numbers improved by an impressive 14% to 16.3%. We are seeing so many positives, even the naysayers are having trouble staying negative! The year - to - year November employment numbers are impressive, and Cronkite News called and asked why personal income was go-ing up in Yuma County. When I explained YPG, the YRMC expansion, and construc-tion growth, they said, “We in Phoenix are sure that your numbers in Yuma will come back down next year.” When I asked why they felt that way, the response was, “Well,

it’s Yuma.”I have news for

the ‘news gath-erer’ in Phoenix: We know Yuma is a special place, and we don’t need Maricopa County to validate that feeling. We know we are the “It City!” With that thought, we at the Yuma Coun-ty Chamber of Commerce want to wish all of you a very happy and prosperous 2017.

Mission statement:“ To Represent Our Membership

By Advocating A Healthy Economic Climate Through The

Effective Use Of Our Unique Regional Resources To Enhance

The Quality Of Life In The Greater Yuma Area.”

Kelly Averitt, Office Manager

If you have questions about yourmembership, or any of our events,please call me at 928-782-2567

JANUARY 2017 Volume 3 – Issue 1

Published and direct mailed monthly by the Yuma County Chamber of Commerce.

For information or to ask about submitting articles, call the chamber office at 928-782-2567 or send us an e-mail at [email protected]

928-782-2567180 W. 1st St., Ste A

Yuma, AZ 85364

John Courtis, Executive Director

Happy new year, Happy new yuma!

95906

2 YUMABiZ January 2017

Encore RV resorts, along with Thou-sand Trails RV campgrounds has been offering the best in outdoor destinations for more than 40 years. With more than 170 locations in 27 states, their RV resorts and campgrounds are tailored for different types of camping experiences so you can select the type of environment that match-es your needs and preferences.

Encore RV resorts and campgrounds are designed for both long-term stays and mini vacations. When you choose En-core for your travel accommodations, you can expect to find full RV hook-ups and premium amenities. Each location has a unique set of lodging options to help you make the most of your stay.

Each of our resorts is filled with fun for everyone, with special themed events like casino nights and Hawaiian luaus, tourna-ments, concerts, cook-outs, social and rec-reational activities and more.

Lin Jungen Encore Resorts, Yuma County

1-877-570-2267 www.rvonthego.com

The Encore resorts in Yuma County are:

Araby Acres RV Resort 6649 E 32nd St., Yuma, AZ 85365 (928) 344-8666

Cactus Gardens RV Resort 10657 S Avenue 9E, Yuma, AZ 85365 (928) 342-9188

Capri RV Resort 3380 S 4th Ave., Yuma, AZ 85365 (928) 726-0959

Desert Paradise RV Resort 10537 S Avenue 9E, Yuma, AZ 85365 (928) 342-9313

Foothill RV Village 12705 E South Frontage, Yuma, AZ 85367 (928) 342-1030

Mesa Verde RV Resort 3649 S 4th Ave., Yuma, AZ 85365 (928) 726-5814

Suni Sands RV Resort 1960 E 32nd St., Yuma, AZ 85365 (928) 726-5914

congratulations to our January Member of the Month – Encore Resorts

Yuma County Chamber of Commerce YUMABIZ 3

WElcoME to ouR nEWEst MEMBERs

The Law Of�ces of Ryan C. Hengl Esq

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YUMA, Ariz. –In early December, Yuma Mayor Douglas J. Nicholls headed south of the border to the Arizona-Mexico Com-mission & Comisión Sonora-Arizona meet-ing in Hermosillo, Sonora, to represent the greater Yuma and San Luis Rio Colorado “4FrontED” border region. The binational event garnered attendance of dozens of top-level private and public sector leaders from Arizona and Sonora, including both state governors.

Mayor Nicholls was joined by GYEDC Executive Director Julie Engel, San Luis Vice Mayor Matias Rosales, and San Luis City Manager Tadeo de la Hoya, amongst others. The group attended a series of meet-ings between government and business leaders, in an effort to maintain focus on 4FrontED’s unique binational region.

Arizona Governor Doug Ducey, Sonora

Governor Claudia Pavlovich, and Mexico’s Secretary of Foreign Relations Claudia Ruiz Massieu led discussions on the importance of promoting the binational relationship between the two states, which share a 392-mile stretch of the U.S.-Mexico border, to improve economic prosperity for communities through part-nerships in trade, advocacy and more. Additionally, the governors focused on creating a “megare-gion” brand to market opportuni-ties in the two states.

Mayor Nicholls took part in committee meetings focusing on specific topics such as transportation and infra-structure at the ports of entry. In address-ing our community’s relationship with counterparts in Mexico, Mayor Nicholls cites the importance of the 5-state study

of trade routes to Arizona ports, and that efficiency at the ports of entry is key for public/private col-

laborations to prosper. Additionally, his work with area mayors and counterparts in Mexico is one that he aims to bring to the forefront of attention through the 4Front-ED initiative (www.4fronted.org).

“This AMC summit is important to

Yuma in order to move forward with our 4FrontED initiative, and just to stay en-gaged with state-level decisions and the di-rection of development,” said Mayor Nich-olls. “The Yuma Community can greatly benefit from the economic decisions made at these types of summits.”

More information on the AMC can be found by visiting www.azmc.org.

The Law Of�ces of Ryan C. Hengl Esq

yuma Mayor douglas nicholls and area dignitaries represent 4FrontEd region at arizona-Mexico commission meeting


Layoffs, plant closings and reductions in force (RIFs) are an all-too-common occurrence in today’s business environment. If your organization is faced with one of these difficult transitions, help is available.

Managing a layoff effectivelyWhile no employer wants a layoff,

managing one well can make things easier. A well-managed layoff has the following characteristics:• There’s a clear plan for conducting the

layoff, from deciding who will be laid off to arranging job search assistance for displaced workers.

• The plan is compliant with laws governing layoffs, such as the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification ACT (WARN).

• Both workers being laid off and those

who remain stay as productive and positive as possible throughout the layoff process.

• There’s an emphasis on good public relations, so the organization’s brand and reputation in the community remains intact.

Rapid Response servicesIf you are facing a layoff, Rapid

Response, a federal program available to qualifying organizations, can help you manage the process effectively. Rapid Response has two key functions:• Provide employers with access to a

skilled labor pool in their area• Provide immediate assistance to

companies facing layoffsYour Rapid Response transition

team will meet with you; work one-on-one with displaced workers to discuss unemployment insurance benefits, job placement services, and training options; and help you coordinate with other services in your area.

Unemployment Insurance and Shared Work programs

Many states have Shared Work programs with the goal of avoiding layoffs during a temporary slowdown. Employees receive partial unemployment benefits while working reduced hours.

Need help with hiring or other workforce issues? Contact your Business Service Representative at 928-329-0990 or visit http://www.careeronestop.org/businesscenter/.

Information obtained from http://www.careeronestop.org/businesscenter/

Patrick Goetz

LayoffResources

Please listen in every Wednesday from 8 - 9 am on KBLU 560AM for "Chamber Chatter." We will talk every week about all the good stuff going on in Yuma County and introduce new Chamber members. Sponsored by El Dorado Broadcasters, we will also give you updates on what's going on in Yuma.

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suggest shots of very cold weather will pe-riodically reach as far south as Florida and the Gulf Coast.

"In contrast, milder-than-normal tem-peratures will prevail over the western states."

The other day it was 80 degrees here while it was below zero in some parts of the country.

"So people are coming here," Morgan said. "We continue to see more motor homes coming into town … different li-

cense plates."That's true as well for Canadians, she

said. While there may be fewer of them or they're spending less money, the downturn in the value of their dollar compared with the U.S. dollar isn't keeping them from wanting to escape the arctic weather at home.

However, the younger crowd is look-ing for more than nice weather to sit out winter here.

There's general agreement that the new retirees tend to be healthier, eager for new experiences and wanting to be more active,

Morgan said.No bingo or card games for them. They

would rather be on the golf course or pick-leball court.

That's why, explained Gregg Wahl, manager of Fortuna De Oro RV Resort, that park's new owners, Cal-Am, invested more than $1 million on a sports complex after purchasing the park four years ago to attract the younger set.

"They're much more active," he said. "People are looking for recreation."

That sports complex includes a softball field, four tennis courts, bocce ball, pick-leball courts and a regulation 9-hole golf course – nine holes because "they don't have all afternoon to spend playing 18 holes. They have oth-er things to do."

And three dog parks. "This next generation seems to be in love with dogs," Wahl observed.

They also like the nicer things in life.

Fortuna De Oro has a full-service restaurant with a chef who is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America. Westwind, too, has a restau-rant and bar where people can enjoy din-ner before taking in a show at the park.

One other requirement – the parks had better be connected.

A new survey from AARP suggests new retirees are less concerned about scoring a bargain overall than about the availability of free Wi-Fi.

But they also give back. Many of them volunteer and become an important part of the fabric of the community.

While weather is the No. 1 draw for

winter visitors, the community has lots of other things to appeal to them, Morgan said. The two casinos offer gambling and entertainment by name performers while the community puts on a variety of spe-cial events, Yuma has a small town feel but with decent shopping, restaurants and health care, it's close to Mexico for low-cost dental and health care, and the area has the river for boating and fishing and the desert to play on with their Razors and other toys.

The younger winter visitors also are taking to the trails and parks the city has established along the river, observed

Charles Flynn, exec-utive director of the Yuma Crossing Na-tional Heritage Area. It's an unexpected but happy reaction to the city's efforts to improve the river-front experience for local residents.

"They're hik-ing, biking and bird

watching," he said of the winter visitors. "Twenty years ago you couldn't do that. For the new visitors that's part of the au-thentic experience they want … seeing nature and learning about the history of the area. We now have a product along the riverfront that precisely hits the desires of the newer snowbirds."

He concluded: "It's not just sunshine and golf."

Heidrich agreed. "People are coming back. They say it feels like ‘we've just come home.' That tells me we're doing some-thing right … the community is doing something right."

RV industRy continued from page 1

Saturday, Jan. 7, 2017Yuma Civic Center 1440 W Desert Hills Dr.

• Interactive Vendors• Expert Speakers on

Retirement, Travel & Health

boomersandbeyondlivingexpo.com

• Cooking Demonstrations • Free Health Screenings• Games & Prizes

There's general agreement that the new retirees tend to be healthier, eager for new experiences and wanting to be more active. No bingo or card games for them. They would rather be on the golf course or pickleball court.


180 West 1st Street, Suite A |Yuma, Arizona 85364 | (928) 782-2567 | Fax (928) [email protected] | www.yumachamber.org

THE VOICE OF BUSINESS

John CourtisEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Kelly AverittOFFICE MANAGER

“To Represent Our Membership By Advocating A Healthy Economic Climate Through The Effective Use Of Our Unique Regional Resources ToEnhance The Quality Of Life In The Greater Yuma Area.”

The Athena Award acknowledges individuals who have attained and personi�ed the highest level of excellence in her/his business or profession,devoted meaningful time and energy to the community, and generously assisted women in attaining their full potential. The award is co-sponsoredby the Yuma County Chamber of Commerce and National Bank of Arizona.

Small Business-Person of the Year honors local business-persons operating successfully in the Yuma area market and contributing to high standardsof excellence and community participation.

Chamber Member of the Year is a tribute to business-members who go all out giving their time, energy and donations to support the community. Theaward is sponsored by the Yuma County Chamber of Commerce.

This award is available to any employee (active or retired) from any Yuma County K-12 public, private (parochial/religious), or charter school andthe JTED. This award is sponsored by the Pallack Family and the Education Committee of the Yuma County Chamber of Commerce.

Each year, 6 servicemen and women are chosen to receive an award presented at the Flag Raising Ceremony at the Armed Forces Park onIndependence Day. Sponsored by the Military Affairs Committee of the Yuma County Chamber of Commerce, we honor exceptional personnelfrom MCAS Yuma and the Yuma Proving Grounds.

One of the key presentations made at the annual Yuma County Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner are the awards presented to the Sheriff Deputyof the Year and to the Detention Of�cer of the Year. Presented by the Yuma County Sheriff and sponsored by the Chamber.

The ambassadors extend the hand of friendship that bridges the Yuma CountyChamber of Commerce and its members with the business and professionalcommunity at large.

Monitors and researches all levels of government and legislative activity affectingbusiness and industry, and proposes actions to the Chamber Board of Directors.

Through events and recognition activities, this committee works to maintain andimprove the good relationship with Yuma’s military bases and the community.

Monitors, researches and coordinates action on behalf of business regarding allforms of transportation activity in Yuma County, including air, rail, highway and water.

Consists of business leaders, educators and administrators to create a bond between commerce and education. Responsible for the AwardsProgram and the Summer Works in Yuma initiative to employ teachers in summer.

*For more information on committee meeting dates and times, or if interested in joining a committee,please contact the Chamber of�ce at 928-782-2567

YUMA ARMED FORCES PARK


SAVE THE DATEJanuary 27, 2017The Yuma County Chamber

of Commerce Annual Awards and Installation

Dinner at the Don Schoening Conference Center on the AWC Campus

The Theme for 2017:

‘Sometimes You’llHave to Improvise’We will honor: - The Small Business Person of the Year- The Chamber Member of the Year- The Athena International Award Winner - The Ambassador of the Year - The YCSO Deputy of the Year - The YCSO Corrections Officer of the Year

For sponsorship opportunities and ticket info, please call the Chamber office at (928)782-2567 or send us an e-mail at [email protected]

As a “baby boomer” education today is much different from when I went to high school. Gone are the days when we sat in rows and read aloud from textbooks. The lesson plans of yester-year contained exer-cises that would measure my rote memory. My, how things have changed! No longer do we hear “what do you want to do when you grow up?” Instead, students today hear, “what problems do you want to solve?” The expectations educators have these days are to prepare students for jobs that don’t even exist. However, since time flies so fast, those jobs will be here before we know it and to prepare today’s student for tomorrow’s workforce, the Southwest Technical Educa-tion District of Yuma (STEDY) has arisen.

What is STEDY?STEDY is the Southwest Technical

Education District of Yuma. We are a ca-reer and technical education (CTE) public high school district. We serve ALL high school students enrolled in public, private, and charter school CTE courses; provid-ing them with educational experiences that lead to an industry recognized certification. As a career and technology public school

district, we work closely with the Arizona Department of Education. All courses of-fered by STEDY must be approved by the Career and Technical Education Division (CTE) of the Arizona Department of Edu-cation.

How did STEDY Start?STEDY began in 2008. Led by our coun-

ty superintendent, a group of dedicated individuals (the “steering committee”) de-veloped a plan to create Yuma’s own “joint technical education district” (JTED). The steering committee was made up of in-dustry and business professionals. In addi-tion, because STEDY is JTED, two districts (Antelope and Yuma Union High School Districts) were instrumental in STEDY’s formation. Their district leadership con-tributed their expertise in developing the JTED Plan. In addition to making several key decisions, the steering committee’s ef-fort included taking the plan to the Arizona School Board, paying for the election, nam-ing the district and appointing governing board members. It took collaboration and several years’ worth of effort. Finally, it won voter support to make the dream a reality and on July 1, 2015 STEDY accepted its first students.

How is STEDY funded and where does the money go?

As a public school district in Arizona, STEDY receives funding from state and lo-cal taxes. STEDY receives .05 cents for ev-ery $100 of assessed property value (local). This amount will never increase. STEDY also receives tax revenues generated from the state. Approximately 75% of the tax revenue received by STEDY supports CTE programs and classes in the high schools directly. The remaining 25% is used for student tuition and books at the commu-nity college, as well as operational costs for programs and classes offered at STEDY. As a good steward of public funds, STEDY will not duplicate CTE programs that cur-rently exist in the high schools or at Ari-zona Western College. STEDY will not have a program if the program is offered at the local high schools. STEDY will not create

What is stEdy?

By C. Kevin Imes, Superintendent

See stEdy continued on page 15


district, we work closely with the Arizona Department of Education. All courses of-fered by STEDY must be approved by the Career and Technical Education Division (CTE) of the Arizona Department of Edu-cation.

How did STEDY Start?STEDY began in 2008. Led by our coun-

ty superintendent, a group of dedicated individuals (the “steering committee”) de-veloped a plan to create Yuma’s own “joint technical education district” (JTED). The steering committee was made up of in-dustry and business professionals. In addi-tion, because STEDY is JTED, two districts (Antelope and Yuma Union High School Districts) were instrumental in STEDY’s formation. Their district leadership con-tributed their expertise in developing the JTED Plan. In addition to making several key decisions, the steering committee’s ef-fort included taking the plan to the Arizona School Board, paying for the election, nam-ing the district and appointing governing board members. It took collaboration and several years’ worth of effort. Finally, it won voter support to make the dream a reality and on July 1, 2015 STEDY accepted its first students.

How is STEDY funded and where does the money go?

As a public school district in Arizona, STEDY receives funding from state and lo-cal taxes. STEDY receives .05 cents for ev-ery $100 of assessed property value (local). This amount will never increase. STEDY also receives tax revenues generated from the state. Approximately 75% of the tax revenue received by STEDY supports CTE programs and classes in the high schools directly. The remaining 25% is used for student tuition and books at the commu-nity college, as well as operational costs for programs and classes offered at STEDY. As a good steward of public funds, STEDY will not duplicate CTE programs that cur-rently exist in the high schools or at Ari-zona Western College. STEDY will not have a program if the program is offered at the local high schools. STEDY will not create

See stEdy continued on page 15

committee updatesBoaRd oF diREctoRsNext meeting: Tuesday, January 17th at 3:00 PM Old City Hall Conference Room; Members Welcome

•AdrianElderbeganhis lastmeetingaChairman stating it was a fun and inter-esting year• Four new members were approvedat this meeting: Family Partners LLC, NexGen Leadership Council, Ken Ros-evear Associate Member, and Buffalo Wild Wings• John Courtis presented sponsorshipopportunities for the Annual Dinner on January 27th (see page 12) and the Military Affairs Committee’s Military Appreciation Day February 4th• John shared that he will be going toPhoenix January 6th for the Governor’s Legislative Luncheon, and on the 31st for Chamber Day at the Capital•TherewillbeanarticleintheYumaSunregarding Summer Works in Yuma, the program to help supplement teacher’s income with part-time jobs during their summer break•Several chambers throughoutArizonalove the idea of Summer Works in Yuma and they want to emulate it•The Education Committee will beginmeeting in January, this is the commit-tee that gives out the S June Pallack Ex-cellence in Education to non-teachers•EdShippenofShippen,Pope,&Associ-ates and Tom Tolman of Condor Seed were thanked for their service on the board. They both expressed that they enjoyed being on the Board of Directors and advocating for small businesses

aMBassadoRsNext meeting: Wednesday, January 25th, 11:30 AM Old City Hall Conference Room; Members Welcome

•TheAmbassadorscametogether forapotluck and gift exchange on December 14th•TheDecembermeeting was ChandraOlague of Republic Services last meet-

ing as Chair of the Ambassadors, the committee will be chaired by Tawnee Miller of PHD in 2017•Karina Jones fromUnitedWayYumaCounty will the act as the Vice Chair in 2017•JeffAhuactzin,24Karat,willcontinueas Operations Chair for Good Morning Yuma and Flora Llamas, Marriott Ho-tels, will act as the liaison between the Good Morning Yuma Sponsor and the Chamber Office•ThreeAmbassadorswillworkhand-in-hand with our Monthly Mixers spon-sors, they are Meagan Hannon, Keller Williams, Lupe Andrade, Kissito Palm View, and Esther Markle, Oak Tree Inn & Penny’s Dinner•ArgeliaMorals,Re/MaxTerritoryandDavid Alegria, Hoppstetter’s Office Products will work together on arrang-ing and coaching new members for their ribbon cuttings•The secretary for this committee willthen be Kari Tatar, Salvation Army in 2017• The Ambassadors have served theChamber well under Chandra’s leader-ship and they are looking forward to a fun filled and productive 2017

MilitaRy aFFaiRs (Mac)Next meeting: Wednesday January 4th at 8:00 AM American Legion Post 19, 2575 S Virginia Drive

•TheAmericanLegionPost19’sVeter-ans’ Day Parade went well and that there was a good turnout for the parade and the barbeque afterwards• Military Appreciation Day sub-com-mittee has met to work on the event on February 4th. After walking the grounds at AWC it was determined that there will be room for 24 booths, lots of parking, and areas for large static dis-plays. The hall inside the 3C building that is parallel to the windows is avail-able too. It was mentioned that the hall may be a good place to display the art from YPG. John Courtis will serve as

the emcee for this event. There is also a space for a kids area should someone decide to do that•TheoftheSeaCadetsfromYumawillbe traveling to Pearl Harbor for the 75th Anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor, they will be there for 4 days and they will be in the parade along with the replica of the USS Arizona that was here in Yuma• Several organizations including the

American Legion Post 19, Crossroads Mission, and Right Turn for Yuma Vets were able to give food out food baskets to veterans for Thanksgiving•WreathsAcrossAmericawillbeplacingwreaths at the graves of veterans at Des-ert lawn Memorial on December 17th. Currently they have the funds for 200 or so wreaths. Wreaths can be purchased for $15.

The Freedom Library, Inc. is a 501 (C) (3) corporation under Internal Revenue Service guidelines

Where: Church for the City, 3726 E. Co. 13th Street, Yuma, AZ 85365When: Thursday, January 19, 2017 at 7:00pm, doors open at 5:45pm

Cost: $5/person, please contact The Freedom Library for ticketsThere will be a 50/50 raffle, books for sale, and door prizes.

2750 S. PAcific Ave., Ste B • Yuma, AZ 85365Phone: (928) 246-2327 • Fax: (928) 726-1105

Email: [email protected] • Website: www.freedomlibrary.org

Any voluntary contributions to The Freedom Library Scholarship Fund will be graciously accepted.

ALL ProcEEdS BEnEFit thE FrEEdom LiBrArY EdUcAtion And SchoLArShiP ProGrAm So thAt YUmA ArEA individUALS cAn LEArn thE PrinciPLES oF LiBErtY.

Come and have an entertaining and very educational evening learning the ideas of liberty!!!

Invites you to visit with Benjamin Franklin and

Thomas Jefferson as they discuss The Declaration of Independence, Article

of Confederation, and the U.S. Constitution with an Audience Q & A to Follow

Sponsorship Levels & Benefits

Gold - $1,500• 20 admission tickets• 20 door prize tickets• Special seating• Name on program• Name on flyer• Slide with logo at event• 2 banners• DVD• Private visit with guests• 10 pictures with guests

Silver - $1,000• 10 admission tickets• 10 door prize tickets• Special seating• Name on program• ½ slide with logo at event• 1 banner• DVD• 5 pictures with guests

Bronze - $500• 5 admission tickets• 5 door prize tickets• Special seating• Name on program• ¼ slide with logo at event• 2 pictures with guests

Supported Activity United Way of Yuma County


BY ANNA CHAULK

If you didn’t know what you were look-ing at, you may not think much of it. But nestled somewhere within the walls of Ma-rine Corps Air Station Yuma is a series of unassuming structures linked together by

poles and wires that make up a 25-mega-watt (MW) microgrid. That modest-look-ing structure is actually an important ad-dition to our community’s infrastructure. That’s why it was celebrated at a Dec. 15th ribbon cutting ceremony.

At the event, I had the pleasure of join-ing many great leaders from our commu-nity including Mayor Doug Nicholls; Maj. Gen. John Broadmeadow, commander of Marine Corps Installations Command; Brig. Gen. Kevin Killea, commanding gen-eral of Marine Corps Installations West; Col. Ricardo Martinez, commanding offi-cer, Marine Corps Air Station Yuma; and Mark Schiavoni, executive vice president and chief operating officer of APS. The ceremony marked the start of commercial operations for the microgrid.

Schiavoni said that this celebration marks several firsts, including the first mi-crogrid brought online due to a partner-ship between APS, the Department of the Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps, and the first microgrid in the country to provide 100-percent reliable backup power to a

military base. The ribbon-cutting took place on a

beautiful winter day - warm and unevent-ful weather when disruptions to the electric grid aren’t expected. But when there are disruptions, a microgrid acts as a backup system for customers who need around-the-clock power, such as airports, data centers, hospitals and, of course, military bases. If an outage occurred, the microgrid would supply 100 percent of the station’s power needs and could be supplied almost instantaneously, within 30 seconds.

On a typical day like the day of the ribbon-cutting, however, the microgrid can provide power to the grid, serving as a

source of reliable energy to the residents of Yuma, during times when demand is high. This is especially helpful during the heat of summer. Being able to utilize energy from the microgrid prevents APS from having to build another power plant to meet the peak demand, which will avoid extra cost for customers.

As always, APS is focused on innova-tion, reliability and affordability, and this project is no different. Microgrids are one of a series of emerging technologies that APS is studying to help with reliability, meeting or reducing peak demand and the integration of renewables. By sharing costs for a system that meets both partners’ needs, customers will benefit from lower-cost generation for customers and busi-nesses will find it more affordable to locate in Arizona.

Micro grid is win-win for Mcas, yuma community

aps.com


How exciting it is to be stepping into a new year! For one, there is the beauti-ful Yuma weather. Then, you have a look at the calendar and realize all the fantastic events and activities that await in the next 12 months — the very things that make Yuma such a great place to live, work, stay and play.

To that last point, we at the Yuma Visi-tors Bureau have renewed our yearly reso-lution to promote the diversity of our area and its history; after all, it is our mission. What lies ahead is exciting and we look forward to sharing many of the great ways we are working to attract more travelers to Yuma County through efforts which sup-

port our community.Jumpstarting that initiative is our as-

sortment of uniquely Yuma tours: Field to Feast brings awareness to area agriculture and the culinary arts; military tours pro-vide a behind-the-scenes look at the mis-sion of YPG; the Medjool date tantalizes taste buds at Date Night dinners; Savor Yuma spotlights local eateries; and Discov-ery Tours go beyond the boundaries of city limits to tell the area’s fascinating history.

To learn more about these tours, to pur-chase tickets, and to see the other amazing things happening around town, go to Visi-tYuma.com. Here’s a teaser of what we’re looking forward to in January:

January 2017 Events:Throughout January –

Live Performances (Historic Yuma Theatre)

Jan. 5 thru 8 – Perfect Wedding Dinner Theater (The Yuma Art Center)

Jan. 7 & 8 – Gathering of the Gunfighters (Yuma Territorial Prison)

Jan. 7 – New Year Canoe Trip with Yuma Parks & Recreaction (West Wetlands Park)

Jan. 7 – New Year’s Resolution 5K/10K Fun Run & Walk (West Wetlands Park)

Jan. 12, 19, & 26 – Village Jazz Series (Yuma Palms Regional Center)

Jan. 21 – Volksmarch & German Fest on Madison (Historic North End)

Jan. 28 – Yuma Territorial Marathon & Half Marathon (Cocopah Casino)

Jan. 28 – Yuma Medjool Date Festival (Historic Downtown Yuma)

Jan. 28 & 29 – Civil War Days (Yuma Quartermaster Depot)

Ringing in 2017 with tons of yuma Fun!

The list goes on! Plan for your tons of Yuma fun at the redesigned VisitYuma.com. Then, head to the Visitor Information Center at 201 N. 4th Avenue for more recommenda-tions of things to do and see, and to browse the Yuman Interest Gifts & Souvenirs shop.Happy New Year!

A R I Z O N A

Y U M A V I S I T O R S B U R E A U

classes or programs if the classes and pro-grams currently exist at a facility for which students can earn credit. We provide sup-port for the successful CTE programs cur-rently in place.

Who are STEDY Students?Students enrolled in a Yuma Union High

School District or Antelope Union High School District CTE course is a STEDY stu-dent. If a student takes a CTE class in high school, our governing board recognizes the student a STEDY student. If a student takes an automotive class at Kofa High School, they are considered a STEDY student. If a student takes a Sports Medicine class at Yuma High School, they are a STEDY stu-dent. If a student takes a music production class at Antelope High School, they are a STEDY student. Any high school student taking a career and technology education (CTE) class is a STEDY student. Provided students are enrolled in a public, charter, or private school, or are home-schooled in Yuma County, any student can “dual enroll” in an STEDY program.

What is CTE? CTE stands for “career and technology

education.” CTE is Career Driven Educa-tion, providing students with:

•IndustryCertification•CollegeCredits•CareerBasedExperiences•ClassroomInstruction•Hands-onInstruction•LeadershipDevelopment

What CTE classes does STEDY offer? All career and technology education

(CTE) classes at the local high schools can be considered STEDY classes. Some examples are accounting, agriculture, au-tomotive and construction technologies, culinary arts, cyber-criminology, digital photography, drafting, entertainment mar-keting, film and TV, graphic design, nurs-

ing, software development, sports medicine and more. For a full list, please visit http://www.stedyyuma.com/programs.html

What is the advantage of being a STEDY student?

Students enrolled in a CTE program earn high school credit on their home cam-pus, and in some cases, may earn college credit, industry certifications, and/or a state license. It is recognized that possession of an industry certificate, and/or a state li-cense will provide students with a head start in their career choice. STEDY was formed to help students find a faster way forward in life. To connect them with their future. There is a strong collaborative effort between STEDY and the school districts in Yuma County. This collaborative effort between STEDY and the school districts provide an intricate network of student support. In addition, STEDY may provide tuition-free career and technical education at Arizona Western College in a specific area of study.

Why is STEDY good for Yuma?A skilled workforce is critical to Yuma’s

economic health. To promote and support this, STEDY works collaboratively with community shareholders to inspire stu-dents to make a successful transition from school-to-career and become contribut-ing members of society. We know to help today’s students be prepared for tomor-row’s workforce, it is our obligation to work closely with business and industry to offer students internships, job shadowing and work experience. We understand the role businesses (both large and small), play in our mission. Therefore, we call upon indus-try experts to provide students with infor-mation and relevant training for industry certifications. Through the support of the community and by being good steward of tax dollars, the Southwest Technical Edu-cation District of Yuma is prepared to help students meet their academic and career aspirations.

stEdy continued from page 12


PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE PAIDYUMA AZPERMIT NO 42


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