May

29

Memorial Day

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Memorial Day is a day, like other national holidays, to reflect.

Today, as we spend time with our family and friends, it is important for us to remember the men and women who have given their lives for this country.

In times of war, as well as peace, people are lost but they will never be forgotten.

May

18

The Campus is Quiet

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Just a moment ago, I was standing outside.

I was admiring the cool-warm spring night, the slight breeze from Lake Yosemite, the orange moon rising from the south, the sprinklers spraying around Merced Hall, the bugs flying around the lights, the trees illuminated by the lights, the dorms empty and quiet, the campus is quiet.

I find it absolute remarkable that I have just completed my third year in college. If you asked me years ago if I could describe the scene I just described, I would not be able to.

My experience at UC Merced is much more than I expected. A lot has happened over the course of the academic year and I stood outside just moments ago, I realized the enormous task I have at hand. The task of representing the students of UC Merced is a task that I embraced wholeheartedly, without reservation and without doubt.

I dream. I dream of a world that is forever changing and its inhabitants are forever evolving. I have established a connection with UC Merced. What was once an inanimate object now teems with life; it is amazing.

Astonished by the how UC Merced and the Central Valley has become by home, my roots are expanding and spreading at an incredible rate. This, I will work to ensure continues for myself and others as well.

The Central Valley is a rich place. Rich in natural resources, rich in people, rich in diversity, rich in integrity and rich in the most absolute of senses. Tonight, as I looked up to the stars, I remembered that one star is not enough; you have to fill the sky. Reminded of such richness, go out and experience the Central Valley in your own way.

Whether it’s attending a public forum on land use and urban development, picking fruit from trees under the dry, hot sun, gazing across this vast valley with an obscured view because of the air’s denseness, and a host of other unique, incredibly defining moments, these experiences shape our sense of place: we are a region and we are beginning to think regionally more and more each day.

Tonight is the first night of a new chapter in my life.

May

10

“At The Tipping Point” - Day 1

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Today was the 1st day of the Great Valley Center’s Conference “At the Tipping Point” in Sacramento.

I arrived at the hotel around 9:15am; I was originally supposed to be at the hotel at 8:00am.

Staying awake until 4:00am in the morning to complete the CORE 100 final report, I didn’t get more than 1 hour of sleep. I left Merced at 5:30am.

On my drive up, I got sleepy and pulled over in a Denny’s parking lot in Stockton and rested for an hour.

Volunteering for the Conference, I served as the host for the following 3 breakout sessions:

Parks and open space in the Central Valley

Policy makers have a strategy for preserving and planning recreation and park land as the Valley population grows.

  • Robert K. Foster, Department of Parks & Recreation
  • Nina Gordon, Department of Parks & Recreation
  • Larry Orman, GreenInfo Network

What every planner should know about air quality

Air Quality remains a top Valley issue. Planners can provide guidance.

  • Norman Allinder, RRM Design Group
  • Mike Hendrix, Michael Brandman Associates
  • Tom Jordan, San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District

Strategies for engaging rural community leaders

Unincorporated and rural areas without structured leadership must create other systems to foster community well-being.

  • Sergio Cuellar, Youth in Focus
  • Dejeune Shelton
  • Jennifer Wood, South Valley Neighborhood Partnership

Also, I heard Tim Quinn, Vice President of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, speak about water economics.

After his speech I spoke with him and he recommended that I visit the Water Resources Center Archives’ website (http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/WRCA/) for more information about water.

Overall, it was an amazing day. I mentally noted early in the day and someone reinforced this point later in the day by mentioning it: more students should attend the conference.

I will work to ensure that more students attend next year’s conference.

May

2

“Excellent News!”

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Greetings family and friends!

I hope all is well. I write to share two pieces of excellent news!

1) On Sunday, April 30 I was called by the Donald A Strauss Foundation (http://www.straussfoundation.org/) and I received a $10,000 scholarship to fund my public service project Students for the Central Valley (http://www.studentsforthecentralvalley.org/)!

SCV is a student-run organization established at the University of California, Merced and its mission is to set up, sustain and expand a network of Central Valley students, inform students about the significant public policy issues facing the region, and provide students with the tools needed to successfully get involved and make a difference within their community and throughout the region. The vision of SCV is to engage, empower and enlighten students about the Central Valley and encourage students to commit to a life of public service in the Valley.

2) Today, Tuesday, May 2 the election results from UC Merced’s 1st Student Government Elections are in and I have been elected Student Body President! Visit my website, http://elect.joshfranco.com/, for more information.

Whether my family, teacher, friend, or colleague, I want to thank you for contributing in some way, shape and form to my life. I would not be the person or where I am at today without you.

May

1

A Day Without an Immigrant

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Today, May 1, 2006, will forever be known as “A Day Without an Immigrant.”

Over a million people across the country peacefully demonstrated.

At UC Merced, several events occurred: a march on Scholars Lane, a discussion about immigration in the Quad, a panel discussion on immigration policy led by the Chancellor and featuring Kenji Hakuta, Belinda Reyes and a few students (including myself ;)), and the showing of Carlos Bazua’s and Salvador Contreras’ documentary: El Recorrido - The Journey.

It has been an amazing day and I think a protester somewhere in the country stated it best: “Today we protest, tomorrow we vote.”