DCVA VISION STATEMENT

At its July 8, 2010 meeting, the DCVA Board of Directors adopted the following Vision Statement for the organization.

DCVA Vision Statement

July 2010

Since 1974, the DCVA has been actively engaged in shaping the future of the Dry Creek Valley and its watershed.  The founding members, the leadership of the organization and its members have played a significant role in safeguarding our area from development and encroachment and preserving our rural heritage.  Today, the DCVA has embarked on a reaffirmation of our core mission and based upon the legacy and vision of the founding members, we are ready to step forward with a statement of our vision for the future:

In five years:

We will open a community center designed to be a gathering place for the association and its members throughout the Dry Creek watershed.  This new center will provide the DCVA with an enduring and sustainable legacy.   It will be designed to accommodate large and small gatherings with facilities both indoors and outdoors.  It will feature a community garden and other amenities that will allow us to showcase the associations work towards protecting and enhancing our community and its natural beauty.

We will achieve a membership roster that represents over 50% of the residents and landowners in the watershed.  This majority level of membership will allow us to have a strong voice at the local, county and state levels of government, including elected officials and regulatory agencies.  Our membership will include over 50% of the wineries within our boundary.  Additionally, our membership will mirror more closely the demographic diversity of the area. 

We will have organized a grass roots fundraising effort that will allow us to raise funds at a significantly higher level than we have historically.  This will result in establishing a significant endowment fund to be used for the support and maintenance of the new community center.   Additionally, we will have raised over $200,000 to fund our on-going efforts to protect and preserve our watershed.  These funds will be used for funding of impact studies, university grants and other activities that will allow us to mount serious and well organized campaigns to influence decisions and policy affecting our watershed.

We will have been successful at holding fast to our mission.  Our watershed will retain its agricultural zoning and our water resources will be protected.  The scenic nature of the area will remain intact and we will have reached an appropriate equilibrium balancing the commercial and tourism interests that are vital for a vibrant local economy with our core mission to protect the rural aspects of the area.  We will become strong advocates for agriculture with an emphasis on sustainability and diversity.  We will have made significant improvements in the general safety of the area including road safety, fire protection and disaster preparedness.

The achievement of this vision will have been made possible because of our significantly improved reputation, image and credibility.  This will be achieved through our higher membership, a well executed outreach effort and by collaboration with other associations and non-government organizations. In particular, we will have formed a strong collaborative partnership with the Wine Growers of Dry Creek Valley which will result in a new level of cooperation around shared interests. Internally, the association and its board will enjoy an unprecedented level of cooperation, team work and mutual respect.  The net result will be a new level of community cohesiveness and participation.