Rancho Cordova Prepares Key Presentation for All-America City Final Competition

Twenty-two Rancho Cordovans are rehearsing the important presentation that will determine the City’s fate regarding this year’s All America City award. The final competition will take place June 17th to 19th in Tampa, Florida and the 10 winning cities will be announced June 19th. Rancho Cordova is one of 32 finalists for the prestigious title.

The award is given by the National Civic League for outstanding civic accomplishments. During the three-day competition, finalist delegations will present challenges and solutions to a jury of national experts from across the U.S. Rancho Cordova’s presentation will target and highlight the City’s law enforcement achievements, civic triumphs, and the City’s diversity.

The 22-member delegation includes residents, students, City officials and police officers, and members of the business community.

“We wanted our delegation to be representative of our City’s many demographics,” said Shelly Blanchard, Executive Director of the Cordova Community Council. “Our delegates range in age from 4 years to 70+.”

Members of the Rancho Cordova delegation are Shelly Blanchard, Cordova Community Council; City Council Member David Sander and his 4-year-old son, Charles; Conrade and Melody Mayer, Cordova Community Council; Lee Frechette, Cordova Community Council; Larry Stafford, Rancho Cordova Faith Community; Josie and Dale Steelman, residents and Booster Club members; Jane Daly, Chamber of Commerce; Mayor Dan Skoglund; City Manager Ted Gaebler; Chief of Police Reuben Meeks; Sandra Meeks, Booster Club; and Marta Boerger from the City’s Economic Development Department. Cordova High School students who will be making the trip are Donte Mayer, Erika Favor, and Vanessa Martinez. Representing the City’s Police Activities League (PAL) are Officers Zach Hatch and Mark Baxter and Peter Kolosey, 14-year-old PAL member and his mother, Yelena Kolosey.

The City’s application was written and submitted last year by Sgt. Ray Roberts of the Rancho Cordova Police Department.

“The written application earned us the finalist title but the delegates’ presentation will determine if we get the All-America City award,” said Blanchard.

She further explained that the group’s travel expenses were being funded at no cost to the City. Various fund-raising events have been sponsored to earn monies for the trip.

The City of Rancho Cordova, with a population of 61,817, celebrated its 5th anniversary of incorporation last July. It is by far the youngest city in the competition. “And we think that it’s the first city in Sacramento County in more than 10 years to be a finalist,” said Blanchard

“Winning the All-America City title is like being awarded the Nobel Prize or winning the Super Bowl,” she continued. “It will be used to attract new businesses, build civic pride, and boost values in our town.”

The highly coveted All-America City Award was established by the National Civic League of America in 1949 to honor the best role model cities in the country. Winning the All-America City designation is a distinction for a lifetime. Since the program’s inception, more than 4,000 communities have competed and more than 500 have been named All America Cities.

The 10 winning cities are selected based on their performance in identifying, discussing, and forming solutions to society’s challenges and the cities’ achievements in resolving them.

For more information, contact Blanchard at 916) 273-5704 or go on-line at www.ranchocordovaallamericacity.com. Donations to the delegation fund can be sent to the Cordova Community Council, 2729 Prospect Park Drive, Suite 117, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670; please write All-America fund in the memo line.

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Posted by Geoffrey Sakala on Jun 3 2009. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.