The Stars Come Out in Camino-Pollock Pines

"Living together with multiple passions is what makes us complete!" So began the 5th annual Business and Community Awards for Pollock Pines and Camino. The event, now aptly named "The Stars Come Out!" was held at the Apple Mountain Golf Resort and garnered an excited population of about 158 people! Even the rain, sleet, and snow could not dim the brilliance of the evening with so many notable community servants clustered in the same room. From as far west as Congressman McClintock's and Senator Ted Gaines' offices to as far east as South Lake Tahoe, and protected by our own Sheriff John D'Agostini, warm hearts continued to spell out acts of great generosity by nine different businesses and organizations in Pollock Pines and Camino. CEDAPP, the sponsor of the annual event ended the evening with three community-wide awards: The ED Award given to the person/s that give consistently of themselves all year long to the entire community with no expectation of anything in return. This year's winner was the first time that a whole business received the award because of their policy of active community involvement by 100% of their personnel....ZGroup Real Estate. On hand to receive the BEST COMMUNITY SERVICE Award for the year was another group who has steadfastly been present not only for every traumatic and hazardous event that has occurred in Pollock Pines and surrounding regions, but also on hand to keep the traffic flowing and safety as number one priority for all community events, The Pollock Pines Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). The proceeds of the event's raffle also went directly to the CERT team for whom there is no other source of income. Lastly, for the third year in a row, a community wide intra-business challenge was BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE for 2012. For the second year in a row, Ms. Gabrielle Tackett from Burger Barn Cafe won in a landslide victory. Special mention goes out to the other 78 employees in Pollock Pines that were nominated across 36 businesses, with particular congratulations to second place winner, Greta Gregorovich at ESP Hair Salon.

The weather that night ushered in our first real taste of winter in both the rain and the snow and the all around freezing conditions. Not to be outdone by previous acts of generosity and kindness, the collection taken during our Warm Hearts Project (before and during the event) necessitated the rental of a truck for transport! A truckload! All of the much needed items will be distributed for free to the needy and homeless on a weekly basis at Green Valley Church in Placerville.

On a very personal note, I was stunned and honored to receive two special awards from Congressman McClintock and Senator Ted Gaines. It has been more than a pleasure to serve my community in the way I have over the past six years. It has become somewhat of a mission, with the same dedication as a fully paid job. Integration and communication has been my personal mantra since the inception of CEDAPP and as I looked out across the room all throughout the evening, it was apparent that our organizations and businesses in our communities have come together and are working in what I described as "musical hats!" Regardless at which table many of us were sitting, it was another warm spot to know that we were also part of other groups at other tables in that room; CEDAPPians also wearing Rotary hats, Rotarians also wearing CERT hats, CERT members also wearing Dogwood Garden Club hats, etc. A healthy community is one that works and plays together...no silos, only interconnected networks of mutual support, integration and communication of multiple passions!

Lastly, on behalf of the communities of Pollock Pines and Camino, I want to extend a very enthusiastic note of appreciation to all of the award winners of the evening...you are the difference that makes the frosting on the community cake! A complete list of all of you will appear in the CEDAPP NewsBlast. If you would like a copy of that publication, just send us your name and email address; it is free! klharper1@comcast.net or look at the CEDAPP website at www.cedapp.biz and click on Pollock Pines - The NewsBlast.

Sincerely yours in community service,
Jeanne Harper
Executive Director, CEDAPP