CCGO Delegates drove, flew, and hitchhiked (or at least shared a ride) to our state capitol from all over California to attend the 6th Annual CCGO Sacramento Legislative Drive-in (Lobby Day) on Wednesday March 2, 2005.

Present to advocate on behalf of the many CCGO geoscience organizations, members, and businesses were CCGO President Jason Preece (jpreece@engeo.com), Charles Nestle, CCGO Vice President (CNESTLE@ladpw.org), Jim Jacobs, AIPG delegate, Rick Blake, AAPG delegate and former CCGO President, Jennifer Davis, AWG Delegate, Matthew Hawley, AEG Southern California delegate, and Judy Wolen, AEG Lobbyist and CCGO Legislative Analyst.

The CCGO 6 th Annual Sacramento Drive-In started in the morning with a meeting with Paul Sweeney, Executive Officer of the Board for Geologists and Geophysicists (BGG). George Dunfield, a senior staff geologist with the BGG, also attended the meeting. We discussed Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's plans for the 88 boards that were being reviewed just a few months ago. We also discussed upcoming proposed legislation and bills to watch. Later we met with geologist John Parrish of the State Mining and Geology Board (SMDG). Dr. Parrish had also been the Executive Director of the BGG several years ago, so he was well aware of the issues of concern to geologists. The meeting with the SDMG was informative. Before lunch the CCGO delegation met with the California Geological Survey (CGS).

CGS had several presenters, including Michael Reichle, Acting State Geologist. The CGS discussed the need to continue their programs and funding. Over the past two or three years, the CGS budgets have been cut drastically. Even with significant cut backs, they have retained their high quality staff by working on projects for other agencies. As such, the landslide-mapping program, for example, has not moved ahead as originally planned. Since California has had an exceptionally wet year in late 2004-early 2005, landslides might become more commonplace in the near future.

After lunch in the California State Capitol building, we met with representatives Carol Liu, Joe Nation, and Sam Blakeslee. Selected delegates met with representatives of Senator Tom McClintock and Assemblyman Chuck Devore. Representative Blakeslee has a PhD in geophysics and could easily relate to geologic issues. Joe Nation has seen the CCGO delegation for the last several years. He explained his recent hospital bill, which combines knowledge of seismic risks with cost priorities of hospitals. The CCGO delegation also met with Senator Liz Figueroa. The Senator has been a great supporter of geologists over the years through her involvement with the Business and Professions Committee. During our brief meeting, CCGO Past President Rick Blake presented the Senator with a CCGO plaque honoring her contributions to the geologic professional community (See photo). Due to California term-limits, CCGO's friend in the California Senate, Senator Figueroa, will be termed out shortly. Consequently, her advice to the delegates was to work with other new leaders who will be able to help the geologic profession in California.

The CCGO 6 th Annual Sacramento Drive-In was successful. We are pleased to say that in part, because of CCGO's lobbying and letter-writing activities, the BGG is a strong board and is not currently slated for elimination. The drive-in reminded the delegates that the personal relationships that we develop with legislators is key when issues such as professional registration and geologic practice can be rapidly changed for better or worse by the desires of others.