Front page, Madera Tribune (www.maderatribune.com)

ALA presents awards

Thursday, July 14, 2005

By Tami Jo Nix - Tribune Writer / Photographer - The Madera Tribune

Kaiser Permanente respiratory therapist and Madera resident Cal Crane were named to the board of the American Lung Association of Central California at the 87th annual awards luncheon Wednesday.

Roger Rock’s Dinner Theater in the Fresno Tower District served as the backdrop for the luncheon. The association presented nine awards to local businesses and individuals for their efforts to improve the quality of life in the San Joaquin Valley. The organization also ratified new board of directors for 2005-2006.

Crane was named to the board for a third term. He has been a dedicated volunteer for the organization since 1998 and served as board chair for three terms. He is the new Central California representative to the American Lung Association state board.

Julie Tymn, fund development director and secretary for the ALACC Board, commented that Crane is a continuing champion of the programs offered by the American Lung Association.

“Cal is one of our best cheerleaders, repeatedly raising the most money at the annual ‘Blow the Whistle on Asthma Walk,’” Tymn said.

Crane also presented Caleb Schneider, a volunteer for the ALACC who suffers from asthma, with the Henry A. Randel Memorial Award. This is the highest award the American Lung Association of Central California presents. Schneider earned the honor by walking from Fresno to Yosemite in six days in June to participate in Camp Sierra, an annual camp for asthmatics, and for his long-time volunteer activities with the organization. The Schneider family was previously recognized for their volunteer efforts with the 2004 President’s Award.

“At 18, Caleb is the youngest recipient of this prestigious award,” Crane said, himself the 2004 Randel Award winner. “He and his entire family work tirelessly on promoting lung health in our valley and we depend on dedicated volunteers like them to achieve our goals.”

The Business Award was given to Tim Langley, of CHR Digital. Langley contacted the ALACC office in early 2005 and volunteered to design and create a web site that was user-friendly and informative. Langley’s work has resulted in increased usage of the site and enhanced awareness of the ALACC’s programs and events.

In appreciation of the organization’s continuing efforts to increase public awareness about the significant health problem that asthma poses for children in the Central Valley, the Educator of the Year Award was presented to California Children’s Institute at California State University, Fresno.

Dr. Virginia Rondero-Hernandez accepted the award on behalf of the institute.

The Agriculture Improving Resources (AIR) was recognized with the Clean Air Award for their efforts to reduce agricultural-related air pollution. Through educational and grassroots outreach, the group provided more than 6,300 pollution reduction plans to the Air District. These plans will reduce an estimated 34 tons of pollutants per year.

In recognition of his strong voice for balanced and effective emissions reductions, Fresno Mayor Alan Autry was awarded the Good Government Award.

Vice Mayor Roger Montero accepted the award on behalf of the mayor who is on vacation, he said.

“Mayor Autry very much wishes he were here,” Montero said. “And if you have ever been in Arkansas in July, you know that isn’t just political rhetoric.” The comment drew great laughter from the crowd.

“Mayor Autry was the guiding force behind the development of Operation Clean Air, a coalition of business, health, government, agricultural and transportation organizations throughout the San Joaquin Valley,” said Jerry Jones, outgoing chairman of the ALACC Board. “Thanks to his efforts, our region is progressing toward being designated as an air quality empowerment zone.”

Clear Channel Radio received the Public Service Award in recognition of their on-air support of the ALACC annual “Blow the Whistle on Asthma Walk,” in Tulare and Fresno. Because of their frequent public service announcements, the walks had more new walkers and volunteers than in previous years.

Clear Channel Fresno area Vice President Jeff Negeretti accepted the award.

The Individual Award was presented to Hal Bolen, local attorney and chair of Operation Clean Air, for his dedicated efforts to improving the valley’s air quality. Bolen’s masterful negotiating skills successfully helped the numerous organizations involved in OCA to find common ground and to establish goals.

Lisa Jura, a veteran supporter of ALACC and air quality improvement efforts in the valley, received the first Fred Fuerte Lifetime Achievement Award for her leadership and fundraising efforts. The award was named after Ferdinand “Fred,” Fuerte, who volunteered with the association for more than 30 years before his death earlier this year.

“It is fitting that Lisa receive the first Fred Fuerte Award since they both have given so much energy and perseverance to the goal of improving air quality for people of all ages and incomes here in the Central Valley,” Jones said.

“I am very pleased to see the interests of agriculture continued to be represented on the board by Debbie Jacobsen of Fresno County Farm Bureau” Jura said. “I feel I can leave the board in her hands.”

The President’s Award was presented to Riki Donaghy and Julie Tymn, both board members for the association, in honor of their continuing fund development efforts and for organizing and producing an event that raised more than $37,000 for the ALACC in October 2004.

“These two women have literally instilled a breath of fresh air in our organization,” CEO Josette Merced Bello said. “This award is just a small token of appreciation for the daily efforts they both make on behalf of our association.”

Donaghy and Tymn were completely taken by surprise by this award.

“It has been an interesting couple of weeks,” Bello said. “Both were actively lobbying for other people in the organization to get this award.

In addition to the awards, the members also ratified a new slate of officers for the association. Michael Peterson, MD, professor and chief of internal medicine at UC San Francisco, Fresno, was elected chair of the board. Colby Morrow, air quality manager for South Central Coast and San Joaquin Valley Southern California Gas Company, will serve as vice chair. Riki Donaghy of Satterburg Tax Consultants in Fresno will be the treasurer and Julie Tymn, homemaker, has been elected secretary.

The association members also elected six new members to the board. Joining the association for three-year terms are Dr. A. M. Aminian, M.D. of the Allergy Institute, Calvin Crane of Kaiser Permanente, Bill Cummings of The Fresno Bee, Bonnie Hansen of Piccadilly Hotels, Debbie Jacobsen of Fresno County Farm Bureau and Sarbjeet Kaur, MPH.