The Power of “Carry-Forwards”

Many Civil Grand Juries, around this time of year, select a team of often four capable and willing panel members to “seed” the next Jury’s leaders and officers.  Their primary role is leadership in setting and achieving goals; secondary is institutional experience on how things really work.  This is CGJA canon.

Reunion party GJs 2014-18

A focus on collegiality can instill a long-term bonding with the rest of the Jury, and possibly the prior and future juries.  Such was the case within Sonoma County as evidenced by a Feb 2018 reunion party, drawing over thirty jurors (four from the local chapter), spanning four Jury terms.  The Forepersons and ProTems from 2015-16, 2016-17, and 2017-18 all attended our recent reunion, as well as other carry-forwards and many jurors from those years, 2014-18. 

Beverly Kelvie 2015-16
FP 2025-16 Charlotte Addington
PT 2015-16 David Mulford

 

Our Grand Jury nexus hit a sweet spot in Sonoma County.  2014-15 dealt with flammable policing issues, and focused on picking strong characters in Charlotte Addington and David Mulford for 2015-16. 

They focused on financial issues, and in turn, honed and picked for strength and leadership, Matt Stone and Peter Andrews for 2016-17. 

2016-17 was a year looking to the future: aquifers, schools, human services.  They doubled down on Gina Nellor and Joan Picard for 2017-18.

PT 2017-18 Joan Picard
Liz Larson 2016-17
JimFahy 2016-18

2017-18 have had to deal with schools, Human and Health Services, and, most importantly, “The Fires”.
 

CGJA is well familiar with the truth, that social events are the biggest draw for CGJA and/or chapter membership.  "He that shall live to next year and see old age will on the vigil, feast his fellow jurors.  Old men forget but he’ll remember, with advantages, what feats he did in those days".
The point is that while this passing of the torch can be thoughtful, as well as physical, there can also sometimes be the instillation of a Grand Jury ethos, which carries on through jurors.  This has been Sonoma County’s good fortune, resulting in a focused faculty of valuable community leaders.

There were at least 60 people involved over the four years, and counting the departures and alternates closer to 100.  Most from the earliest jury 2014-15 didn’t attend the party (only the three carry-forwards).  Also only three carry-forwards from the current jury attended this shindig.  That leaves amazingly high attendance from the middle two terms, 2015-17.  Many expressed a desire to meet again, some regularly.

FP 2016-17 Matt Stone
FP 2017-18 Gina Nellor

After this party success, Matt Stone has started up an un-hosted monthly koffee klatch, at a Sonoma County public venue.  The first one, early March, drew nine ex-jury members (three from the local chapter).

Article submitted by the Sonoma County Chapter of the CGJA.  Photographs and comments provided by Peter Andrews, Pro-Tem 2016-17 and current President of the Sonoma County local CGJA chapter.  TuesdayPeter@SBCglobal.net