Moulton Niguel Water District Excited to Announce: Launch of the Calscape Nursery Program10/14/2019 The Moulton Niguel Water District, in partnership with the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, California Native Plant Society, and more than a dozen local water agencies, is excited to announce the launch of the Calscape Nursery Program, a first-of-its-kind initiative to help increase the availability of and information on California native plants. Please see the Press Release dated October 14, 2019: New Pilot Program Helps Southern California Grow Native Water agencies help increase availability of, information on California native plants The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and local water agencies have teamed up with the California Native Plant Society to bring more native plants to the region’s homes and gardens. A new pilot program launched by the organizations this fall will boost the number and variety of native plants offered at local nurseries and ensure consumers have the information they need to plant and maintain the water-efficient flowers, trees, shrubs and succulents. “Southern California residents have made tremendous strides to increase their long-term water efficiency to respond to our changing climate, including choosing sustainable gardens over thirsty grass,” said Metropolitan General Manager Jeffrey Kightlinger. “But they sometimes face hurdles finding native plants in their local nurseries and knowing about how to take care of them, including how much less water they need. This program will help remove those hurdles.” Through the pilot, staff at participating nurseries will receive training on the proper care, maintenance, watering and planting of California native plants. In addition, native plants at the nurseries will be clearly identified and educational materials will be available for consumers to take home. “We want to make it as simple as possible for Californians who are committed to sustainability to grow a beautiful garden of native plants. Having native plants with plant-specific information when they need it, where they need it – at the nursery – will be a big help,” said Joone Lopez, general manager of Moulton Niguel Water District, which helped initiate the program with support from WaterNow Alliance. Native plants typically use about 83 percent less water, produce about 56 percent less green waste and require nearly 70 percent less maintenance, according to a nine-year case study conducted by the City of Santa Monica. “Beyond these sustainability benefits, native gardens are just beautiful,” said Dan Gluesenkamp, executive director of the California Native Plant Society. “Through this program we’ve curated a really special list of plants that you’ll be able to find at local nurseries. The variety of colors, textures, smells and shapes will bring the beauty of California to your own front yard.” So far, the pilot program is available to 60 nurseries in Orange County and Long Beach, and continues to gain interest from surrounding communities. In addition to free staff training – which qualifies for continuing education and professional certification credits – the nurseries will be part of a native plant directory at Calscape.org marketed to millions of people. Program partners, which includes the Municipal Water District of Orange County, will monitor its success to determine whether to expand it to other communities. Interest in native plants has grown significantly over the past few years. Since 2016, traffic to the Native Plant Society’s website,Calscape.org, has increased by more than 250 percent, and a 2018 survey of the American Society of Landscape Architects expects native plants to be the most requested type of outdoor project this year. This interest has been driven, in part, by Metropolitan’s turf replacement program, which provides consumers up to $10,000 in rebate funding for replacing their grass with native plants. People also increasingly understand the essential role native plants play in the ecosystem, attracting and helping sustain wildlife and pollinators such as bees and butterflies, whose populations are diminishing, according to the California Native Plant Society. ### About the Metropolitan Water District The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is a state-established cooperative that delivers water to 26 member agencies serving 19 million people in six counties. The district imports water from the Colorado River and Northern California to supplement local supplies, and helps develop increased water conservation, recycling, storage and other resource-management programs. About the California Native Plant Society The California Native Plant Society is a statewide organization that advances the understanding, appreciation, and protection of California’s native plants and habitats through science, education, horticulture, and conservation. CNPS has more than 70,000 fans and supporters, and 35 chapters promoting its mission throughout California and Baja California. About the Moulton Niguel Water District Moulton Niguel Water District, a co-sponsor and early founder of the Calscape Nursery Program, delivers high-quality drinking water, recycled water and wastewater services to customers in Laguna Niguel, Aliso Viejo, Mission Viejo, Laguna Hills, Dana Point, and San Juan Capistrano. A leader in conservation and environmental protection, Moulton Niguel maintains the lowest average water bill in South Orange County. 
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Congratulations to Elizabeth Elsanadi (Century 21/Kaufman Property Group), winner of the "Special Recognition Award"! We take this moment to acknowledge her hard work and extra efforts on behalf of her fellow Chamber members. Elizabeth has been a valued Chamber member since July 2018 and has really "dove head-first" into the volunteer spirit by serving on both the Ambassador and Communications Committees. She is already a very busy realtor and yet, still gives of what little extra time she has, to serve her fellow Chamber members. Elizabeth is highly visible at each Chamber event and networking opportunity. She regularly reaches out to her assigned Ambassador members to remind them to benefit from various Chamber activities. As one of the Communications Committee members, perhaps Elizabeth is best known for her "paparazzi" skills and capturing key people moments at events such as our weekly Daybreakers Networking Breakfast, Ribbon Cuttings, Monthly Mixers, Happy Hours, and Chamber Mobs, and more. Then she spends time posting these amazing key moments to our social media outlets (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter) (we also thank Diana Moreno for handling our LinkedIn posts). Over the last few months, nearly 100 posts has been created on behalf of the Chamber! We say thank you again, Elizabeth, for working so hard on behalf of your fellow Chamber members! To contact Elizabeth for real estate questions, including leases, please call 714-420-1031 or via email at elizabeth@kaufmanpg.com.  It's with great excitement that we proudly announce our Chamber "Ambassador of the Quarter", Joan Bornstein (Joan Bornstein Real Estate Services). Joan has been with the Chamber since March 2017 and brings with her a wealth of real estate and life experience. She genuinely cares for her clients and knows the business community like the back of her hand. Joan joined the Ambassador Committee back in the Spring of 2019. Since then, she has both diligently and willingly given of her time each month to help her assigned members to realize the greatest value for their membership, better use the website marketing tools available to them, and faithfully provides timely reminders for upcoming events and networking opportunities. While it's true that we have an awesome group of Chamber Ambassadors who are giving of themselves daily on behalf of their assigned members, we will proudly offer the "Ambassador of the Quarter" to Joan Bornstein! If you would like to contact Joan for any real estate questions, please call 949-742-1978 or via email at info@joanbornstein.com.  We take this opportunity to sincerely congratulate Chamber member Diana Moreno (Web Design Pilot) for all of her amazing efforts as the "Volunteer of the Quarter"! Here are some of the highlights of Diana's "volunteer spirit" and extra efforts over the past few months: She serves on the Ambassador Committee
She serves as the Assistant to the Communications Committee
A Few Additional Volunteer Facts:
It’s clear, this member is more than deserving of the “Volunteer of the Quarter”! Congratulations again to DIANA MORENO – of Web Design Pilot!!  The first two rapid new member welcomes (within 24-hrs) by Chamber Ambassador, Rochelle Chacon (Business Group Resources) were just a fluke - or were they? Not even - Rochelle has extended herself again today by receiving a new Ambassador assignment last evening and then scheduling a 1-to-1 meet up with existing member Rick Davenport (Franchise owner of Pillar to Post Home Inspectors) this morning at 10 AM! We thank you again Rochelle for taking your member assignments seriously and for helping our members, both new and existing, feel welcome and that their business is important to our community! To contact Rochelle Chacon about her business services, please call 949-973-4188 or email to rochelle.chacon@gmail.com. To contact Rick Davenport about his business services, please call 949-239-6099 or email to rick.davenport@pillartopost.com. We are pleased to highlight Mickey Gubman (owner of Gubman Coaching and a Certified Business Coach) for our Monthly Chamber Spotlight. Mickey is one of the best in the 'business' - "he doesn't run your business, he helps you run it better"! Name: Mickey Gubman. Business Name: Gubman Coaching. Brief description of business: Business and Executive Coaching – specializing in strategy and goal development, behavioral assessments and interpersonal communication. Doing business in Mission Viejo since: 2013. Chamber Member since: 2/2014. Favorite Chamber Member benefit: Meeting the wide variety of businesses and service providers that may help my clients. Favorite Chamber event and why: Daybreakers, because of the learning and networking all in one. I joined the Mission Viejo Chamber of Commerce because: A no-brainer – Connections, business growth, civic involvement and learning. The Mission Viejo Chamber of Commerce has helped me and my business by: Providing a place to learn and grow. Also, allowing me to help others through my teachings, coaching and counsel. Thank you, Mickey. So glad to have you as a valued member of our Chamber! To learn more about Gubman Coaching, please call 949-394-6394.  The crowds gathered on Thursday, September 26th, at 4pm. Both the Lake Forest and Mission Viejo Chambers, along with family and friends, and City, State, and Federal governmental representatives, came out to witness and support the Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting of ADIO Chiropractic. After an enjoyable office tour, enjoying various foods, and collecting our raffle tickets, all attendees gathered for both Chamber Ribbon Cuttings, as the governmental representatives each presented their welcome certificates to the Cadman family, owners of ADIO Chiropractic. At the conclusion of the Ribbon Cuttings, raffles were conducted and several deserving members received their gifts. Once again, both the Lake Forest and Mission Viejo Chambers wholeheartedly welcome ADIO Chiropractic to their business communities! For more information or to make an appointment at ADIO Chiropractic, please call 949-427-9081 or visit their website at www.liveadio.com. Please enjoy this brief video interview with Mission Viejo Chamber member It's A Grind Coffee House owner, Hassan Fahimi. The video was taken by Chamber Director and Ambassador, John Rodriguez of iFinance Mortgage. It's A Grind Coffee House also offers catering services. Please see the attached flyer too.  Please enjoy this brief video of new Chamber member, Avery Car Wash & Detail Center, taken by long-time Chamber Ambassador, Jim Froling, owner of 949 Local Internet Marketing. We welcome the Avery Car Wash & Detail Center to the Mission Viejo Chamber of Commerce! In March 2019, we had 14 Mission Viejo Chamber Ambassadors and each of them were assigned a minimum of 10-15 fellow Chamber members. It became increasingly challenging to keep up with one's assigned members. So the call went out at a Daybreakers Networking Breakfast: "We are looking for a few more to volunteer their time as Chamber Ambassadors. Can you reach out for this esteemed privilege"? Within a few days, there were four (4) members that answered that call to join our Ambassador Committee. Over the next several months to date, many more have "taken up the call" and are volunteering their efforts to serve their fellow Chamber members (thus reducing the number of assigned members per Ambassador). We now have 30 Ambassadors! Chamber Ambassadors have the privilege in taking the lead to set up one-to-one appointments with their assigned members, provide them timely reminders of upcoming key events and networking opportunities (which can assist them to build closer relationships with other business owners and gain greater exposure for their own businesses), help them become familiar and proficient with the powerful website marketing tools that are available, and become a valuable referral source to each other. We now take this time to welcome our two (2) newest Ambassadors, Caleb Ward (Modern Woodmen of America) and Kristen Frey (PKSA Karate MV)! For a complete list of the Ambassador Committee, please click here: www.missionviejochamber.com/committees.html. We encourage the general Chamber membership to really embrace your assigned Ambassador and thoroughly benefit from their volunteer spirit and enthusiasm! If you have any comments or questions regarding the Ambassador program, please send an email to our Ambassador Committee Chair, John Rodriguez (iFinance Mortgage), at ambassadors@missionviejochamber.com. Thank you Mission Viejo Chamber Ambassadors for your good work - you are indeed on FIRE!  |
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