December 17, 2018

In This Issue
"It's all of you [VICA Members] in this room who are the antidote for poverty."

- Assemblymember Laura Friedman at VICA's 69th Annual Meeting
Media Mentions
_________________

VICA Decries Ban on Events in Van Nuys Hangars
San Fernando Valley Business Journal
December 7

Erika Endrijonas to Lead Pasadena City College
San Fernando Valley Business Journal
December 7

VICA Applauds Motion to Allow Events at Hangars
San Fernando Valley Business Journal
December 12

Stuart Waldman discusses Street Vending on
Issues on 1
SpectrumNews2
December 12

VICA Presents Business, Service Awards at Annual Meeting
December 14


Members

VICA Thanks Our Renewing Members
____________________

SILVER MEMBER
(2008)

(2007)
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Calendar

Save the Date

Transportation Committee 
Hosted by The Garland
Tuesday, Jan. 8
8:00 to 10:00 a.m.
The Garland
4222 Vineland Ave., North Hollywood
Click here to RSVP

Nonprofit Committee
Hosted by Child Care Resource Center
Thursday, Jan 10
8:30 to 10:00 a.m.
Child Care Resource Center
20001 Prairie Street, Chatsworth
Click here to RSVP

After Dark with State Assemblymember Luz Rivas
Thursday, Jan. 10
5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Anheuser-Busch
15800 Roscoe Blvd., Van Nuys
Click here to RSVP

Government Affairs Committee
Wednesday, Jan 16
8:30 to 10:30 a.m.
Location TBD
Click here to RSVP

Ambassador Committee
Tuesday, Jan 22
8:30 to 10:00 a.m.
VICA Office
16600 Sherman Way, Suite 170, Van Nuys
Click here to RSVP

Finance Committee
Wednesday, Jan 23
8:30 to 10:00 a.m.
VICA Office
16600 Sherman Way, Suite 170, Van Nuys
Click  here to RSVP

Sacramento Advocacy Day
Wednesday, Jan. 23
Sacramento 
Click here to RSVP



Hot Issues 

Short Term Rentals
LA City Councilmember Mike Bonin has put forward a proposal to limit short term rentals on Airbnb to "primary residences" in an effort to prevent corporations from buying up housing and renting it out to travelers.

Government Spending
Within hours of the start of a new legislative session, California legislators proposed bills to spend billions of tax dollars. Governor-Elect Gavin Newsom has indicated that the legislature will have to reduce its spending demands.

Tax on Texting
VICA has strongly opposed the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) proposal to  tax text messages and welcomes the FCC decision that this is not appropriate. The new surcharge would be a monthly fee based on a cellular bill that includes any fees for texts.

Housing
After strong support from VICA, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved the  Tejon Ranch Centennial Project. The Centennial project will add 19,000 new homes in Los Angeles County.

Water
The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California approved a plan for sharing Colorado River delivery cuts if a shortage is declared on the drought depleted river. A nearly two decade drought in the Colorado basin has cut river storage and federal water managers have warned that they may have to declare a shortage. 




VICA Wraps Up 2018 With 69th Annual Meeting
Assemblymember Laura Friedman swore in VICA's 2019 Board of Directors.

Last Friday, VICA members and their guests attended VICA's 69th Annual Meeting where VICA recognized members who have proven to be impressive leaders to both VICA and their community. Our new Board of Directors was sworn in by Assemblymember Laura Friedman, and w e also kicked off our 2019 celebration of VICA's '70 Years of Service'.
Natasha Fooman (California Financial Service Providers Assoc.) presents the Presidents Award to Pamela Berg (MP Printing & Mailing)

Among one of the three award recipients was VICA Vice Chair Pamela Berg ( MP Printing & Mailing ). Berg was presented with the 14th Annual President's Award, which is given to a VICA member who goes above and beyond in service to VICA throughout the year. Berg is a VICA board member, a VICA vice chair, and is chair of VICA's Ambassadors. This award was presented by Natasha Fooman (California Financial Service Providers Assoc.).


This year's recipient of the 26th Annual Harmon Ballin Community Service Award was Jane Skeeter (UltraGlas, Inc.). VICA's Harmon Ballin Community Service Award honors an active VICA member who has made an outstanding contribution to the community through their long-term community service activities. Skeeter embodies the spirit of the Harmon Ballin Community Service Award through her active involvement with community-based groups. This award was presented by David Steele-Figueredo (Woodbury University).

Jane Skeeter ( UltraGlas, Inc.) receives the Harmon Ballin Community Service Award from David Steele-Figueredo ( Woodbury University)

The Robert E. Gibson Corporate Award has  been presented almost every year since 1978. This award honors the memory of Robert E. Gibson and recognizes leaders of industry that have contributed in making the San Fernando Valley the most forward-thinking business community in Southern California. This year's award was presented to  Amgen . Founded in 1980,  Amgen has demonstrated their commitment to the Valley. Based in Thousand Oaks, they have dedicated the past four decades to treating and curing disease. In addition to their contributions to scientific education, Amgen has made significant investment in our San Fernando Valley community, improving the lives of countless Valley residents.
 
Karen White (Amgen) with Alan Gettelman (Bobrick Washroom Equipment) as she accepts the 40th Robert E. Gibson
Corporate Award
Congratulations to all scholarship recipients: Garen Kosoyan (Pepperdine University), recipient of the Marvin R. Selter Scholarship; Rachel Feldman, Karla Limon,and Darielle Martin (Granada Hills Charter School), recipients of the Melvyn A. Kohn Scholarship; as well as Jonathan Navarrete and Tony Ngo (California State University, Northridge), recipients of the Rickey M. Gelb Scholarship.
 
The 69th Annual Meeting was presented by The Boeing Company and the San Fernando Valley Business Journal, and co-sponsored by The Garland and the Los Angeles Daily News. Thank you to our sponsors, members and those who attended this event. 


Click here to view photos from the event. 


Sacramento Advocacy Day

Wednesday, January 23
Wednesday, February 13

VICA's regular advocacy  trips to the state capitol are crucial to ensuring the voice of the business community is heard by legislators. Join us for our first trip of the year.

These member-only trips allow direct interaction with state elected officials and create the freedom for discussion on issues that are vital to our members. Join VICA in Sacramento for one of our monthly advocacy trips. Don't miss this opportunity to be heard on how legislation affects your company.

Click here to RSVP
VICA Welcomes LA City Council Motion to Clarify Ban on Public Events in Aircraft Hangars
VICA welcomes Councilwoman Nury Martinez and Councilmember Joe Buscaino's motion to clarify a sudden ban on holding public events in aircraft hangars. While VICA understands and respects the grave danger that illegal warehouse use can pose to members of the public, as evidenced by the tragic Ghost Ship Fire in Oakland, public events in aircraft hangars are very different. We are grateful to the councilmembers for their swift action when their constituents and their offices became aware of this issue.

Click here to read VICA's press release.
Expanding the Convention Center
On Wednesday, the Los Angeles City Council voted to move forward with the Los Angeles Convention Center expansion and the concurrent JW Marriot expansion. The expansion will create and sustain thousands of permanent jobs and will help the City meet its goal of 8,000 hotel rooms within walking distance of the convention center. Expanding the convention center will also make Los Angeles a competitive destination for major conventions from across the country. This project will attract visitors and business to the City of Los Angeles, driving economic growth across the region. VICA applauds the council for voting in favor of the expansion project and recognizing the benefits of this critical project.

Click here to read VICA's press release.


California State Assemblymember
Luz Rivas
Thursday, January 10, 2019
5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Anheuser-Busch
15800 Roscoe Boulevard,
Van Nuys



Join VICA for our upcoming After Dark, featuring California State Assemblymember Luz Rivas. Attendees enjoy hosted drinks and appetizers as they meet and interact with other prominent business leaders from the community.   VICA After Darks are complimentary to VICA members.

Non-members who are interested in attending are encouraged to contact  [email protected].

Click here to RSVP. 
Member Messages:
Get Your Message in VICA Weekly!
VICA members can promote their business, events and news in VICA Weekly. Member messages are available for $50 per week or $175 for four weeks. Messages are text-based and may not contain more than 70 words. A logo may be added for an additional $5 per week. For more information or to schedule your member message, contact [email protected]  or 
call (818) 817-0545.