Download PDF for Sponsorship Informaion.
West Valley Boosters

Newsmaker Connection: AD 43 Candidate Debate PDF DOWNLOAD
Fri., Feb. 19, noon-1:30 p.m.
VICA Office
5121 Van Nuys Blvd., Sherman Oaks
RSVP to monique@vica.com.

ARRA Award Announcement

California High-Speed Rail Authority Chairman Issues Statement on Announcement of Stimulus Award

January 28, 2010
CONTACT: Kris Deutschman
916-444-8801

Following the announcement of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding awards for the development of high-speed intercity rail systems, Chairman of the California High-Speed Rail Authority Curt Pringle released the following statement:


"This award is fantastic news for California and for our state's high-speed rail project. It is an award that will lead to the creation of tens of thousands of quality jobs in the near-term and to continued economic strength and enhance our transportation network in the long term."


"This award will go toward specific projects, but it will benefit every single section of our planned high-speed rail system by moving this entire vision closer to reality - closer to being the first true high-speed rail system in the United States."


"California's success in winning a significant portion of this federal funding, for which there was tremendous competition, is a tribute to our partnerships with our Legislature, with local governments, and to the hard work and leadership of Governor Schwarzenegger and California's senators and congressional delegation. A California high-speed rail system truly gives each of us the opportunity to change the future of California for our children and grandchildren."

Governor Schwarzenegger's statement on the announcement of the stimulus award

View more information on the Authority's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Application

Last week, President and COO Larry O'Donnell and two Waste Management employees who took part in the new CBS reality show, "Undercover Boss," all went to Chicago to sit down on Oprah's couch. Watch the talk-show host interview them about their participation in the program.  This episode of Oprah is scheduled to air on Monday, Feb. 1. Air times and stations vary by location, so please check to find out the time and station it will be broadcast in your area. www.oprah.com/tows_listings.html

The San Fernando Valley Business Journal is now accepting nominations for our upcoming Human Resources Professional Awards Luncheon.  It is the second annual awards ceremony to honor the top HR Professionals in the San Fernando Valley.  The human resources professional plays a strategic role in their company's success by ensuring that the workplace and its employees are ready to address today's business challenges. 

If you know of anyone who you think we should consider for the awards reception, fill out the attached survey and get it back to us by February 5th, 2010.  To access the survey, click the gray box at the bottom of this email, which should take you to our online form.  Additionally, if you have a head-shot of the nominee and any supplemental information (ie: resume, press releases, etc.), you can send those directly to me at research@sfvbj.com.

The awards reception is scheduled for March 3, 2010 at the Warner Center Marriott in Woodland Hills.  The luncheon begins at 11:30 AM and concludes by 1:30 PM.  All nominees are invited to attend the awards reception as a guest of the Business Journal.  Additional tickets and event sponsorships are also available by calling us at (818) 676-1750.  If you'd like more information, shoot me an email and I'll send you a flyer for the event.

Luncheon tickets available for $75. Event sponsorships available by calling 818.676.1750. A special report on new labor laws and regulations and profiles of the honorees publishes on March 15th.

  Click Here to Nominate

VICA invites you to dinner with your state lawmakers. Fri, Feb. 26, 2010 5:30pm at the Universal Studios Grill.

Be Cautious About Giving Info to Census Workers by Susan Johnson

With the U.S. Census process beginning, the Better Business Bureau 
(BBB) advises people to be cooperative, but cautious, so as not to become a victim of fraud or identity theft. The first phase of the 2010 U.S. Census is under way as workers have begun verifying the addresses of households across the country. Eventually, more than 140,000 U.S. Census workers will count every person in the United   States and will gather information about every person living at each address including name, age, gender, race, and other relevant data.

 The big question is - how do you tell the difference between a U.S. Census worker and a con artist? BBB offers the following advice:

** If a U.S. Census worker knocks on your door, they will have a badge, a handheld device, a Census Bureau canvas bag, and a confidentiality notice. Ask to see their identification and their badge before answering their questions.  However, you should never invite anyone you don't know into your home.

** Census workers are currently only knocking on doors to verify address information.

Do not give your Social Security number, credit card or banking information to anyone, even if they claim they need it for the U.S. . Census.

REMEMBER, NO MATTER WHAT THEY ASK, YOU REALLY ONLY NEED TO TELL THEM HOW MANY PEOPLE LIVE AT YOUR  ADDRESS..

While the Census Bureau might ask for basic financial information, such as a salary range, YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER ANYTHING AT ALL ABOUT YOUR FINANCIAL SITUATION. 

The Census Bureau will not ask for Social Security, bank account, or credit card numbers, nor will employees solicit donations.  Any one asking for that information is NOT with the Census Bureau.

AND REMEMBER, THE CENSUS BUREAU HAS DECIDED NOT TO WORK WITH ACORN ON GATHERING THIS INFORMATION..  No Acorn worker should approach you saying he/she is with the Census Bureau.

Eventually, Census workers may contact you by telephone, mail, or in person at home. However, the Census Bureau will not contact you by Email, so be on the lookout for Email scams impersonating the Census.

Never click on a link or open any attachments in an Email that are supposedly from the U.S. Census Bureau.