We’re kicking into high gear!
I hope you enjoyed your summer adventures—whether that meant travels, time with family, or just a few extra minutes of sunshine before your inbox started calling again. Now that fall is around the corner, we all know things are about to get busy with work, school, community engagements, and countless other demands.
ALF Silicon Valley similarly kicks into high gear in September—and half of our annual budget relies on the contributions of Senior Fellows. Everything you took from your class year, your affinity groups, your use of the network, the Exemplary Leadership event: we love helping to make all that happen. And it’s your support that makes ALF’s work possible. You can help to ensure we can continue to build the network by clicking here.
If you missed the introductions, I’m the interim CEO of ALF Silicon Valley. Before stepping into this role, I served on the ALF Board, led the National Audubon Society, and spent several decades in San Jose at The Mercury News, where I was executive editor. While nobody can fill Suzanne St. John-Crane’s shoes, we’ve been busy building next year’s class, recruiting a dozen new board members, and ensuring we have a healthy balance sheet for our next CEO.
I had the opportunity in July to return to wilderness week, 24 years after my Class XII (the best class) experience. I was humbled, watching a new class of leaders come together rock-climbing, sharing deeply around the campfire circles, supporting each other on the hikes to base camp and Sierra Buttes—and then head off into the ritual solo night—and return to camp full of appreciation for one another.
One of the top priorities for the next few months is finding ALF’s next CEO. Thanks to your referrals and outreach, we’ve identified several outstanding candidates and have received an impressive number of applications. Your engagement has made a real difference—we wouldn’t be here without you.
As we navigate this transition, I’m asking for your continued support to help lift ALF through this important chapter. Your gift now will ensure that we can sustain our programs, strengthen our network, and continue giving back to the community that has given so much to each Senior Fellow.
Please consider making a contribution today—your support will help carry ALF into its next era of impact with strength and momentum.
Thank you!
David Yarnold
Interim CEO
ALF Senior Fellow, Class XII
