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In 2003, representatives from the four counties — Sacramento, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced– of the California Central Valley began meeting to start the process of creating a regional land trust.  The Central Valley Farmland Trust became a reality in May 2004.  Today the Central Valley Farmland Trust has a professional staff and an office in Elk Grove, California.

Our board includes farmers and professionals from Sacramento, San Joaquin, Stanislaus and Merced counties with expertise and interest in protecting importand farmlands in the Central Valley.

The Central Valley Farmland Trust exists foremost to help farmers and landowners who want to keep their land in agriculture.  Farmers are invited to contact us about how the trust fits into their estate planning needs.

The Central Valley Farmland Trust exists foremost to help farmers and landowners who want to keep their land in agriculture.

A binding legal agreement between the landowner and the Central Valley Farmland Trust (CVFT) which permanently limits uses of the land in order to protect its agricultural values. It allows the land owner to continue to own and use the land, sell it or pass it on to the heirs. Land with an ACE is protected in perpetuity from conversion to non agricultural uses.

Responsibilities

The board has the responsibility for governing the entire organization, setting policy and monitoring the implementation of that policy.

Board members share responsibilities in the following key areas:

Leadership/Human Resources

1. Board membership, which includes recruiting and ensuring that board members are oriented, trained, evaluated and recognized to strengthen board service.
2. Selecting and supporting the Executive Director, including reviewing performance regularly and providing on-going assistance as requested by the Executive Director.
3. Oversee the establishment of personnel policies which include setting policy regarding salaries, benefits and grievance procedures.
4. Ensuring volunteer involvement, which includes setting policy regarding how the organization treats, recognizes and celebrates its volunteers.
5. Contribute in-kind services as appropriate.

Strategic Planning

1. Set and review the organization’s goals, strategies and actions on an annual basis.
2. Plan for the organization’s future, on a long-term and short-term basis.
3. Evaluate the organization’s programs and operations on a regular basis.

Financial Management

1. Ensure financial accountability of the organization.
2. Oversee ongoing process of budget development, approval and review.
3. Oversee administration of the organization’s assets.

Fundraising

1. Ensure adequate resources to achieve the organization’s mission, and implement the organization’s programs and projects.
2. Participate in fundraising activities based on the individual’s skills and background.
3. Provide leadership in the development and execution of major fundraising campaigns, including major donor annual campaigns and capital campaigns.
4. Annually contribute financially to the trust.

Community Relations

1. Ensure that the organization’s programs and services appropriately address community/constituents needs.
2. Promote the organization to the general public, serving as a link between the trust, its members and the community at large.
3. Partner with other organizations, including activities and occasions when the organization should take part in coalitions, joint fundraising, etc.

Operations

1. Ensure that the organization’s administrative systems are adequate and appropriate.
2. Ensure that the board’s operations are adequate and appropriate.
3. Ensure that the organizational and legal structure is adequate and appropriate.
4. Ensure that the organization and its board members meet all applicable legal requirements.

The Board recognizes its ultimate responsibility for all aspects of the organization’s activity, but also chooses to delegate management responsibilities to staff, including program planning and implementation, membership development, proposal writing and administration.  The Board retains all responsibility for financial accountability, leadership development and governance.

Board Development Committee

Support the organization’s Board Development Program which includes nomination, recruitment, orientation, training, evaluation and recognition of board members.

Budget, Finance and Risk Management Committee

Advise the Board on prudent investment strategies in managing held funds and develop fiscal and monetary policies, procedures and internal controls to help protect CVFT’s financial integrity.

Public Relations and Education Committee

Coordinate the public relations and education efforts of the organization.  These efforts include the organizational web site, Legacy newsletter, annual report, press releases, development of promotional materials and outreach efforts with landowners, city and county officials and the general public.

Executive Committee

Supervises the Executive Director, acts on HR matters, develops governance policies and procedures, and acts on behalf of the Board outside of board meetings.

Fundraising Committee

Assist CVFT in developing short and long range fundraising strategies based on the Fundraising Plan.

Gift Acceptance Committee

Develop gift acceptance policies and procedures and advise the Board and staff regarding the acceptance of non-cash gifts or gifts with extraordinary constraints to the organization.

Transactions, Stewardship and Monitoring Committee

Assist CVFT in developing policies and procedures in the administration of new and ongoing acquisition projects and the stewardship and monitoring of existing easements and or fee lands held by the Trust.

Central Valley Farmland Trust
is hosting a
CRAB FEED

Saturday, February 6, 2010
6:00 p.m.
Waterloo Gun & Bocci Club
Stockton, CA.

Tickets are $45 and you get unlimited crab, shrimp, potatoes, salad and sourdough bread.  Plus the comforting satisfaction of knowing you are helping a great cause.  Bring the whole family!

Purchase tickets to our Crab Feed
Paypal allows you to pay using your Paypal account, or if you don’t have a Paypal account, you can also use Paypal to donate using a credit card.

or you can purchase by contacting Susan at (916) 687-3178.

Dennis Jackman (Denny) is a native of Modesto. He is a former Modesto City Council member, Stanislaus Council of Government, Vice Chair and Tuolumne River Regional Park Commission member. He was a charter member of the Farmland Working Group and is active with land-use, transportation, and Tuolumne River issues. He and his wife, Patricia, live in west Modesto.

We have two ways for you to donate.  Both the sponsored Donor Pages and the Paypal system are considered equally safe and secure methods to donate online.

Sponsored Donor Pages
Some of our members have decided to help us in our fundraising efforts by sponsoring a donation page.  By choosing to donate through one of these pages, you are helping the Central Valley Farmland Trust achieve important land preservation projects and you are helping the sponsoring member achieve their personal fundraising goal.  The member will receive notification that you donated through their page.  Your donation goes directly to the CVFT Annual Project Fund and no extra fees or expenses are incurred by donating in this manner.

Markus Bokisch is a founding member of the CVFT Board of Directors.  http://valleyfarmland.donorpages.com/AnnualFund/MarkusBokisch

Bill Martin is the Executive Director of the CVFT.  http://valleyfarmland.donorpages.com/AnnualFund/billmartin1951

Maxwell Norton is a founding member of the CVFT Board of Directors.  http://valleyfarmland.donorpages.com/AnnualFund/mnorton

Ken Oneto is a founding member of the CVFT Board of Directors.  http://valleyfarmland.donorpages.com/AnnualFund/kjoneto

PayPal

Paypal allows you to donate using your Paypal account, or if you don’t have a Paypal account, you can also use Paypal to donate using a credit card.

Click here to read the Fall 2007 CVFT Legacy Newsletter.  Adobe Acrobat Reader is needed to view this document.  Click here to download Adobe Acrobat Reader.

In this edition of our newsletter read about:
The Jorgensen Ranch - A Family Heritage
Farmland Mitigation
E&J Gallo Winery