CHIPS Calaveras Healthy Impact Products Solutions
291-A Main Street, West Point, CA 95255
tel: 209-293-2333, fax: 209-293-2306
contact name: Briana Creekmore
email: wp-chips@hotmail.com

Doing Good With Wood !

WOODCHIPS FOR:
Landscaping & Walkways
Gardening Mulch
Pet Bedding
Livestock Bedding & Sanitation
Erosion Control

HISTORY
The Northwestern Calaveras County communities of Glencoe, Rail Road Flat, West Point,
and Wilseyville are small, isolated, rural, historic towns located in the Central Sierra Nevada .
The economic displacement of workers due to the closure of all eight local lumber mills within
the last twenty years has led to a gutting of the local economy and an unraveling of the social fabric.
Added to that is extreme fire hazard from forest overgrowth of small trees and brush, especially in the
numerous canyons that surround these communities.

COMMUNITY
While facing many economic and social challenges, these communities' residents possess an
indomitable spirit of community and a determination to revitalize their area and themselves.
Through community interest and involvement, a coalition was established in 2005 to address
local fire threat and economic deterioration. From this collaboration, the CHIPS project emerged.
In addition to numerous residents and local businesses, active participants include:
Calaveras Works and Human Services, Mother Lode Job Training, Calaveras Public Works Department,
Blue Mountain Community Renewal Council, Calaveras County District 2 Board of Supervisor - Steve Wilensky,
Central Sierra Resource Conservation & Development, United States Department of Agriculture, Congressman Dan Lungren,
California State Senator Dave Cox, San Joaquin Delta College Small Business Development Center, West Point News,
National Forest Foundation, California Indian Manpower Consortium, Sierra Forest Legacy, MyCalaveras.com,
Forest Protection Campaign, Stanislaus National Forest, Calaveras County Fire Safe Council, Up Country News,
Calaveras District 2 Planning Commissioner - Holly Mines, West Point Fire District, SER - Jobs for Progress,
Calaveras County Probation Department, Calaveras County Water District Supervisor - Bob Dean,
Blue Mountain Coalition for Youth, Calaveras County Moutain Mi-wuk Indian Council, Calco Logging,
Calaveras Band of Mi-wuk Indians, Mary Anne Garamendi - Stewardship Through Education

GOALS
CHIPS, in its first stages of developing local business solutions accesses and utilizes small diameter wood
and underbrush from private and public lands to create a chipped product for landscape mulch. Subsequent phases
anticipate manufacture of wood pellets, posts and poles, pressed logs, craftsman woodworking products, and energy generation.

MISSION
To address the communities' extreme fire threat while creating healthy forestlands.
Committed to building a sustainable model of economic and social development that
stimulates economic recovery and an enhanced capacity to address social needs.

The CHIPS Project is a best-case example of the “New Forest Economy,” where ecological,
economic, and social issues are blended into a successful outcome for the environment,
the community, and the economy.

C.H.I.P.S. is a Community Supported Project.

C.H.I.P.S.
Calaveras Healthy Impact Products Solutions

291 Main Street - A
P.O. Box 616
West Point , CA 95255
PHONE (209) 293-2333
FAX (209) 293-2306
wp-chips@hotmail.com

CHIPS News

A United States Department of Agriculture Grant in the amount of $96,500 was presented to CHIPS by USDA California State Director Ben Higgins and Congressman Dan Lungren on July 2, 2007 at the West Point Community Hall in West Point. These funds will be used to buy equipment and help develop a sustainable, on-the-job vegetation control chipping crew training program. The course will teach trainees, equipment operation, safety, teamwork, business operations, and forest stewardship. The skills gained by trainees will prepare them to access living wage jobs in the vegetation control industry or establish businesses of their own.

CHIPS is grateful to the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development for their support of this project and Calaveras County communities.  Please visit the USDA web site by clicking HERE!

Position Opportunity

The CHIPS Project is seeking an experienced and knowledgeable Supervisor for the day-to-day operation of a training program for fuel reduction/vegetative management crews. The Supervisor will also be responsible for locating and securing contracts for work experience chipping operations. Relevant skills, including machine operation, maintenance, and safety a must.

Previous crew management preferred.

Full job description and details available Monday through Friday, 9am - 4pm at 700 Mountain Ranch Road, Suite A,
San Andreas or call (209) 498-3003.  Also Tuesday and Thursday, 10am - 4pm at 291 Main Street, Suite A, West Point or call (209) 293-2333.

Training Opportunity

If you are looking for a new career path and enjoy working outdoors you could learn new skills that may lead to employment in an in-demand occupation or even start your own business.  CHIPS is accepting applications for Vegetation Control Chipping Crew Training Program for qualified trainees.  Training will encompass equipment operation and maintenance, safety procedures, first aid/CPR, teamwork, business operations and contracts, vegetation identification and forest stewardship.

Application and details available Monday through Friday, 9am - 4pm at 700 Mountain Ranch Road, Suite A,
San Andreas or call (209) 498-3003.  Also Tuesday and Thursday, 10am - 4pm at 291 Main Street, Suite A, West Point or call (209) 293-2333.

Monthly Meeting Minutes

September 11, 2007 

I. Call to Order

Steve Wilensky , Chairperson, called the meeting of the C.H.I.P.S. Project to order at 6:30 PM on September 11, 2007 in the Blue Mountain Community Service Center , West Point .

Members Present:

Ernie LaCarra-Babor – MLJT & Board Member; Heather Myers – Community Member; Darrell Mercer –CHIPS; John Mierswa – CHIPS & SERS; Mike McMillan – CHIPS; Darren Doran – CHIPS; Steve Wilensky – Chairperson; Suzette Ariza – CWHSA & Board Member; Virginia Landreth – Board Member & CHIPS Treasurer

Members Absent:

Briana Creekmore, Addie Jacobson, Warren Alford, Gillian Murphy, Chris Wright, Rob Houghton, Lesli Daniel s, Velma Whitebear, Mike Kriletich, Diane Kriletich, Arvada Fisher, Midge Turner, Rick Torgerson, Laurie Simmons 

II. Approval of Agenda

There was an informal agenda provided.

III. Approval of Minutes

There were no minutes available at this meeting.

IV. Old Business

Virginia passed out a detailed CHIPS Landscape Chip Sales & Expenses to Date report for the period of Dec. 1, 2006 – Aug 31, 2007, and the balance as of 8/31/07 was $3,204.60

Bench & Arbor Contest – John showed photos of chairs he'd made.

Virginia talked about a good deal on a truck & chipper that are in Tahoe. We need to get a mechanic to check it out and get Hector's ok to move ahead. There was extensive discussion of insurance & lack of trainees. Trying to find funding to pay trainees, because if they're not paid, then State Workers Comp can't be used, and there needs to be some sort of accident/liability insurance. Steve & Ernie discussed funding from Fire Safe Council referencing their letters of support, and Steve said the guy was in town at that moment at a function and went to find him. When Steve came back, he said the guy said we got the funding to pay the trainees.

There was then discussion of where to store the new equipment. Suggestions were the Glencoe yard, CalTrans yard or the firehouse. Steve said he'd prefer to keep them at the Glencoe yard, and will look into it.

Ernie discussed MLJT's $20,000 CMCAA grant for (3) truck driving and (1) clerical work experience. Ernie asked Steve if he was able to gain WIB members support for sponsoring the (3) additional participants wanting truck driving, since this grant does not provide for (6) truck driving participants.

Steve stated that since CMCAA was reinstating the grant process for Calaveras agencies and perhaps they will fund under future grant proposals (MLJT can submit a grant advance proposal) for advance funding. Steve stated that CMCAA would be meeting next week and they will allocate funds.

Virginia said the Oversight Committee is holding another round of interviews

V. New Business

Ernie asked Heather if she'd like to volunteer to be the CHIPS Secretary for this meeting, and Heather agreed.

Virginia suggested having a raffle booth at Lumberjack Day

Ernie discussed a grant she submitted on 09/01/07 to support the CHIPS Business Development Phase, and passed out a copy of the form

Virginia discussed the Pre-Proposal for Biomass Conversion Technologies Technical Assistance Project, and passed out a copy of the form

VI. Reports 

VII. Next Meeting Date

Tuesday, October 09, 2007 at 6:30 PM – Blue Mountain Community Service Center , West Point

•  Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 7:50 PM

Respectfully submitted, Heather Myers