State of Change: How Californians Can Change the World

JANUARY 12, 2008

2008 symposium-logo.150The Planning and Conservation League (PCL) and PCL Foundation hosted its annual Symposium to find innovative solutions to some of our most important environmental problems. This event brought together nearly 330 activists, business leaders, policy and decision-makers, environmental non-profits, and attorneys.

The Symposium theme for 2008 was “State of Change: How Californians Can Change the World.” From land use, to energy, to toxics, to water, decisions at all levels impact humans, wildlife and our natural resources. We are challenged to make California a state of change.

Background

Californians can change the world by changing state and national policies, our local communities and our personal lives. To ensure our future, we must act now! That’s why the Planning and Conservation League and the PCL Foundation announced the theme of the 2008 annual Environmental Legislative Symposium as: “State of Change: How Californians Can Change the World.”

For more than 40 years, PCL has been on the front lines of the battle for environmental protection in California, representing a league of environmental organizations from across the state and serving as a conduit between our affiliate organizations and environmental policymakers. Since 1972, the PCL Foundation has provided education and training to assist decision-makers and the public to produce quality environmental policy in California.

Lt Gov John GaramendiSo it’s fitting that the 2008 Symposium emphasized what California and its residents are good at: Leadership. Our thoughtful and inspiring keynotes came from Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi (pictured), Attorney General Jerry Brown, PCL’s own Gary Patton, Goef Syphers of Codding Enterprises and Senator Darrell Steinberg.

The Annual Symposium included dynamic keynote presentations, interactive panel discussions, “How To…” workshops, MCLE courses, and an evening awards banquet. To coincide with the event theme and to help California become a state of change we invited every Presidential Candidate to participate, unfortunately none were able to participate. After the Symposium, PCL honored a few of California’s most effective, inspirational, and hard working environmental advocates at the awards banquet.

This year, PCL was able to offer individual fundraising meetings with the well known author and fundraising consultant Andy Robinson. During the event, six non-profits from around the state had a 45 minute consultations with Andy at rock bottom prices!

This event was approved for 6.25 MCLE credits by the State Bar of California.

Symposium Materials