Newspaper Article

On Friday, January 20, 2012, the Pick Group and Division 9 Gallery hosted the closing reception for the Coaster Conundrum Art Exhibit.

Brian Moore giving remarks about the project

Coaster Project Artists and members of the committee

During the month of January, the Pick Group strategically placed coasters throughout downtown Riverside dining establishments for patrons to collect.  People who collected all 5 coasters were able to bring them to the closing reception and be handsomely rewarded with a signed poster of all the coaster artwork.

The Coaster Conundrum project was over a year in the making.  We would like to THANK the sponsors (listed below and on the coasters), committee members, artists, and the downtown establishments who helped us distribute the coasters.

Artists:

• Chick Curtis
• Harold Fox
• Jesus Cruz Jr
• Lisa Mertins
• Teodor Dumitrescu

Sponsors:

• Division 9 Gallery
• Provident Bank
• Gless Ranch
• HUB International
• Union Bank
• Koll
• Lee & Associates
• The Pick Group

Committee Members:

• Cosme Cordova
• Eileen Hards
• Brian Moore
• Bob Ryan
• Matt Taylor
• Toby Tewell

Riverside has a unique and important opportunity in April 2012:  RIVERSIDE HAS BEEN NAMED THE HOST CITY FOR THE NATIONAL HISTORY DAY – California State Competition!

What: The NATIONAL HISTORY DAY competition for the State of California

Where: Riverside Convention Center

When: April 27th through 29th, 2012.

Why: National History Day (NHD) is a highly regarded academic program for elementary and secondary school students.

Each year, more than half a million students, encouraged by thousands of teachers nationwide participate in the NHD contest. Students choose historical topics related to a theme and conduct extensive primary and secondary research through libraries, archives, museums, oral history interviews and historic sites. After analyzing and interpreting their sources and drawing conclusions about their topics’ significance in history, students present their work in original papers, websites, exhibits, performances and documentaries. These products are entered into competitions in the spring at local, state and national levels where they are evaluated by professional historians and educators. The program culminates in the Kenneth E. Behring National contest each June held at the University of Maryland at College Park.

The 2012 NHD theme is: Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History.

Who: YOUR help is requested to make this a successful event for the students, the program and for our community!

Are you interested in participating?  Volunteer today!

Step 1) Review the NHD California Judge Information Sheet and the Handbook.

Step 2) Complete the NHD California Judge Registration Form.  Send the completed registration form to Debbie Guthrie at FAX 951-222-4712 or EMAIL dguthrie@riversidecvb.com.

Pam and Mark Rubin

Who: Mark Rubin

What: Pick Power Breakfast (PPB) sponsored by Windermere Tower Realty.

Where: Victoria Club, 2521 Arroyo Dr, Riverside, CA 92506; Please note, Victoria Club dress code is no denim.

When: Thursday, March 15, 2012 at 7:30am

Why:  To meet local developer and businessman Mark Rubin, chairman and chief executive officer of Regional Properties Inc.  Mr. Rubin is a developer in Riverside and Los Angeles counties.  We might also find out about some of that new construction happening right in downtown Riverside.

Mark Rubin is currently the chair of the La Sierra University Foundation board.  The foundation appointment is one the latest of many volunteer roles the Mark Rubin has held in the inland community since he began developing property in the growing area during the 1960s.

Mr. Rubin initially purchased acreage in the Mission Grove area and developed homes, shopping centers and offices. He still has another 15 to 20 acres of undeveloped property in that area and is currently constructing a six-story office tower in downtown Riverside near the 91Freeway. Four additional levels are being constructed underground as a parking facility. A construction crane now hovers over the site that is offering 140,000 square feet of office space for lease, an important commodity in the city’s central core of government, law and business buildings where space is a premium at 6% vacancy. Rubins’ Los Angeles area developments included First Regional Bank which he co-founded in 1979 and where he served as vice chairman of the board.

Rubin also serves on Riverside’s Downtown Partnership board, the Mission Inn Foundation board, the Riverside County Philharmonic and on the board for the California Riverside Ballet.

Biography and photo credit to: http://www.lasierra.edu/index.php?id=3736.

Secure Your Spot: View Event & RSVP on Facebook!

Jesse Limon, chair of the Civic Involvement Committee, presents opening remarks

On Wednesday, January 25th, in the early evening, young professionals and local organizations gathered in a fun and fast-paced evening to meet their match.  The event kicked off with a keynote speech from community leader Dr. Damon Castillo Jr.  Then, the speed daters took to meeting organizations and making a match.

Dr. Damon Castillo Jr

 

Making a match!

Thank you to all the organizations that participated in our 4th annual event:

• Habitat for Humanity Riverside
• Catholic Charities
• Operation SafeHouse
• The Unforgettables Foundation
• Casa Blanca Home of Neighborly Service
• Inlandia Institute
• Community Settlement Association (CSA)
• The Mission Inn Foundation
• The Pink Ribbon Place 
• YMCA of Riverside City & County
• The Carolyn E. Wylie Center
• Riverside Optimist Club
• Olive Crest 

Did you see the article in the press enterprise about the event?  You can also view more pictures on facebook.  Thank you to all who attended!

Erin Phillips, Roy Taylor, Brian Moore, and Joey Romero

Thank you to Windermere Tower Realty for sponsoring the breakfast too!

Who:

What: Pick Power Breakfast (PPB) sponsored by Windermere Tower Realty.

Where: Victoria Club, 2521 Arroyo Dr, Riverside, CA 92506; Please note, Victoria Club dress code is no denim.

When: Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 7:30am

Why:  February, you may be thinking of your Valentine or looking forward to those three day President weekends, or you can think about and attend this month’s Pick Power Breakfast with Roy H. Taylor.

Secure Your Spot: View Event & RSVP on Facebook!

Members Adina Hemley, Scott Talkov, and Damien O'Farrell

 

Speaker Jane Carney and member Brian Moore

Ms. Carney shared with us her journey of career and shaping the legal landscape in the Inland Empire.  After she moved here in the late 1970s, she learned how much the people and the community were involved in Riverside and fell in love with it.  She was involved in many court projects, including bringing a Federal Court to the Inland Empire.  Thank you to Jane Carney for sharing her story.

Thank you to Windermere Tower Realty for sponsoring the breakfast too!

The Pick Group members enjoyed another informative and invigorating Pickside Chat in January with Riverside’s Economic Development Director, Tricia Braun.  Tricia shared progress on the city’s newest efforts to capitalize on Riverside’s great and unique downtown in building a vibrant entertainment and retail magnet that will appeal to the needs and desires of all our citizens, but especially those of young professionals.  These plans are still very early on in the process, which is one of the reasons we invited Tricia to come and chat with us.

The Pick Group Board is using every opportunity we have to encourage other leaders within our city to seek out the input of the young professional community early on in their planning and brainstorming processes.  It is vitally important to the sustainability of our community that young professionals  be asked for their ideas and leadership in the making of plans.  The Group appreciates Tricia and others who are taking us up on the offer by partaking in the Pickside Chats.  Ms. Braun shared her draft of a new Downtown Specific Plan, which will hopefully guide expansive downtown development toward the creation of unique and complimentary retail and entertainment hubs that flow seamlessly into one another throughout the entire downtown area.  

We hope that you will stay up to date on the city’s progress as they move forward, speak up when you have the chance to share your opinion, and show your support tangibly by supporting local businesses.  If we are there, they will build it!

You can find Tricia Braun on Twitter:  @triciarae3

The Pickside Chats are open to Pick Group official members only.  For more details on how to become a member, contact membership@pickriverside.org or visit the Membership section of our website - TODAY!  Pickside Chats are an integral part of the Pick Group’s mission to help young professionals “engage civically, develop professionally, and connect socially for the betterment of Riverside.”

By Damien O’Farrell

Who:

What: Pick Power Breakfast (PPB) sponsored by Windermere Tower Realty.

Where: Victoria Club, 2521 Arroyo Dr, Riverside, CA 92506; Please note, Victoria Club dress code is no denim.

When: Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 7:30am (RSVP on Facebook!)

Why:  Begin your day with a conversation with Jane Carney and some light refreshments.  Jane Carney is currently of counsel in the Riverside law firm of Roth Carney APC and has practiced law for more than 30 years in the corporate and business arena.

Ms. Carney has lived in Riverside since 1977 and has been active in a wide variety of civic and community affairs.  She currently serves as a member of the Governing Board for the South Coast Air Quality Management District, to which she was appointed in 2000 by the California State Senate’s Rules Committee.  Civic leader Jane W. Carney was appointed to the AQMD Governing Board in March 2000 by the Senates Rules Committee.  Ms. Carney was elected to the board in January 2006.  She is currently assisting the Riverside Community College District Foundation as a member of the Circle of Innovation.  She is also currently serving on the Advisory Committee of the Path of Life Ministries Homeless Shelters.  Ms.  Carney also served as President of the Monday Morning Group of Western Riverside County, a group of civic leaders; as a trustee of Riverside Community College; and as President of the Citizens University Committee.  She has also chaired Riverside Mayor Ron Loveridge’s Action Task Force for Good Jobs, and co-chaired the fundraising campaign for United Way of the Inland Valleys.  Ms. Carney is a past President of the Riverside Downtown Association and of the Riverside County Bar Association, and was instrumental in the successful effort to locate a federal district court in the Riverside/San Bernardino region.  She has received numerous awards, including Citizen of the Year from the Greater Riverside Chamber of Commerce, Woman of Achievement Award from the Black Voice News, and a Woman of the Year award from the California State Senate.  A graduate of the University of Minnesota, Ms. Carney received her law degree from the University of California, Davis, where she was also elected to the Order of the Coif.

She was married to the late Francis M. Carney, a founding faculty member of the University of California, Riverside, and is the mother of three adult children.

Cost: $10 for non-Pick members; Light refreshments included.  Thank you to everyone who has attended our past Pick Power Breakfasts. In order to bring you the best quality speakers and venues, we are going to charge a nominal $10 fee for non-Pick members. We would prefer to take cash at the door, but we can take a check or credit card. Thank you for your cooperation and we look forward to bringing you quality presentations.

If you are interested in membership, please visit the membership section or talk to a board member at the meetings; we would be happy to get you signed up with the Pick Group.

Secure Your Spot: View Event & RSVP on Facebook!

PPB sponsored by:

Closing Reception at Division 9 Gallery, 3850 Lemon Street, Riverside.
+ January 20, 2012, 6-9pm

+ Collect all 5 limited coasters via the “Scavenger Hunt.”  Hint: They are distributed throughout downtown Riverside.

First 5 people to bring all 5 coasters to Closing Reception will receive a limited edition signed poster by all the artists

+ ARTISTS: Teodor Dumitrescu * Harold Fox *Chick Curtis * Jesús Cruz, Jr. * Lisa Mertins

+ LIVE DEMO PAINTING BY: Chick Curtis

+ LIVE DEMO PRINT MAKING BY: Jesús Cruz, Jr.

+ LIVE MUSIC BY: Kaelah Wilson, Acoustic Guitar

+ APPETIZERS PROVIDED BY: Phood on Main

A special “Scavenger Hunt” will take place the month of January, as Division 9 Gallery and the Pick Group distribute five limited edition artist coasters throughout local downtown bars and restaurants. Collect all five coasters and bring them to Division 9 Gallery for the closing reception of Coaster Conundrum on January 20th to receive 1 of 5 limited edition posters signed by all the artists!

The Pick Group of Riverside, an organization of Young Professionals involved in the community, is kicking off a “Coaster Conundrum, Helping You Recognize Inland Arts” campaign. The goal of the project is to promote Riverside as a cultural and artistically innovative hotspot.The Pick Group has commissioned five locally known artists to provide their best representation of Riverside culture to be displayed on one side of a set of 12,000 custom drink coasters. The flip side will provide advertising spots for businesses and organizations that support the project. The custom coasters will be circulated throughout local establishments for daily use when serving beverages. Not only will these coasters represent the work of the local artists, they will also serve as a constant reminder that community members support artists within the City of Arts and Innovation.