Here's what Joe had to say:

"I am more confidant that solutions to community problems can be found and that if one approach does not work then another may. I have more  of an inclination to watch and listen before moving with an idea. In sharing with the experiences of our speakers, I learned that if something needs to get done it deserves long-term effort.

During 2008, KRVR will work on several projects:

We will continue to spearhead our community conversation about the future of our hospital. We need to build new buildings to comply with new state seismic standards.

We will provide leadership for the KRV Specific Plan Review Committee. The Kern County Planning Department is engaged in developing a Specific Plan for the Kern River Valley and KRVR is local organization monitoring progress and facilitating public discourse.

KRVR will host two valley-wide forums this year as we undertake a strategic planning process that identifies the community's concerns and recruits volunteers to take on the key issues identified by the community during the process.

Listening to the experiences of the presenters and the participants in the Sierra Leadership Institute, I was most impressed with the idea that we can do just about anything we are willing to put forth the effort to do.  Instructor Susan Carpenter's attitude demonstrates that all kinds of seemingly impossible conflicts can come to a resolution."