MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT - Ralph Sceales

Dear Alexander Valley Residents,

The Alexander Valley Association is asking for your continued support in protecting our very unique community. While the annual dues are important to help pay some of the operating costs, your membership is the major strength that the association has when negotiating with other agencies. The larger our membership, the stronger voice we have when making presentations and the better we are received.

The nine members of the Board of Directors meet regularly once a month and sometimes there are special meetings that we must attend to represent your concerns regarding projects that impact our wonderful community. We are your eyes, ears and voice and we do need your support!

Your AVA annual dues are important to help keep our treasury sound so we can continue our opposition to the casino and be prepared for the next unknown encroachment on the Alexander Valley. The dues for 2005 will remain at $35.00. We hope you can send your dues right away and join us for coffee and pastries at the Annual Meeting February 12th, 2005 at 9:00am at the Alexander Valley Community Hall.

Thank you for your support through the years, we count on you!

Ralph Sceales - AVA President
Board Members: Pete Dayton, Seaver Page, Katie Murphy, Candy Cadd, Karen Passalacqua, Ed Beddow, Alex Vyborny, Rickie Pina, Secretary - Margaret Peterson

 

MEET THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

RALPH SCEALES - President
Ralph Sceales is president of the Alexander Valley Association and grows grapes in the Alexander Valley where he has resided since 1975.  He has been actively involved in numerous organizations including the Alexander Valley Winegrape Growers Board and the Friends of Alexander Valley Hall where he served two terms as president.  In addition he is president of the Friends of Alexander Valley Community Church Association Board and the Beeson Cemetery of Alexander Valley Board.  He has been a member of the Farm Bureau Board for the past seven years. Prior to moving to the Alexander Valley, Ralph had a 36 year career in the food processing industry, beginning as an engineer with the Campbell Soup Company and culminating as V.P. of Operations with the Vacu-dry Company, the largest apple processors in California.

EDWARD G. BEDDOW
A graduate of the U.S. Military Academy and the Stanford Graduate School of Business, Mr. Beddow brings a wealth of business and financial experience to the Board.  He is president of an investment management firm with offices in Healdsburg and San Francisco, where Ed employs a value investing strategy in the management of individual client accounts.  Prior to starting his own firm, he was Vice President in the investment banking department of Dean Witter Reynolds Inc.  Ed and his wife Sandy moved to Healdsburg in 1999.  They are active in church and community affairs and grow grapes in the Alexander Valley.

CANDY CADD
Pending information.

PETE DAYTON
Retired partner, national real estate organization.  Owner, with wife Nancy, 150 Acre  ranch/vineyards in Geyserville where they live. Also involved Northern Sonoma Healthcare Foundation, Russian River Property Owners.

KATIE WETZEL MURPHY
Katie Wetzel Murphy joined the Alexander Valley Association board in February of 2003.  She is a family partner in Alexander Valley Vineyards, and lives in the valley with her husband Dennis and their three children.  Katie is involved with St. Paul's Episcopal Church, where she serves as Sunday School Superintendent, and Sonoma Country Day School on the board of Country Day Parents.  Katie has served on many wine related and philanthropic boards over the 25 years she has lived in the Alexander Valley.

SEAVER PAGE
Retired physician and current small time red grape grower.

KAREN PASSALACQUA
Pending information

RICKIE PINA
Rickie Pina joined the Alexander Valley Association board in 2004.  She is currently the Chief Financial Officer for Silver Oak Cellars, a firm she joined in 1985.  She and her husband John have lived in the Alexander Valley since 1992 and have two grown children.  Ricki holds an accounting degree from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and has worked in the accounting field throughout her career.

ALEX VYBORNY
Pending information

MARGARET PETERSON - Secretary
Pending information