By Ryne Johnson

On a beautiful but hot May day in 2001, I rode up to Peter Chu’s restaurant on my newly assembled “townie” and met Steve Kay for the first time. Three hours later, Steve and I had shared personal stories, professional experiences and scribbled out the initial business plan for what would become The ChicoProject, on a dinner napkin. Thus, literally, our company was forged on the very green concept of riding a bike to work.
By steadfastly following a simple ride to work, ride wherever around town approach, my physical condition evolved remarkably and rapidly. In less than a year, I completed my first Wildflower Century then went on that summer to finish the Davis Double Century, the Eastern Sierras Double Century and the first two-thirds of the Terrible Two Double Century—I met my match that day!
Riding my bike to work had become a passion that transformed my physical condition enormously, enhanced my creative thinking, I believe, and gave The ChicoProject a truly unique personality. Simply put, people thought I was the strangest person they had ever had a professional meeting with. “Oh, you rode your bike,” I would hear regularly, “how unusual.”
At first I didn’t pay much attention to these comments. I looked upon being able to ride to work as the one of the great benefits of coming back to Chico after years of commuter slavery in big cities. Within two years, however, notwithstanding all the very clear personal benefits of riding, it became harder and harder to maintain a ride-to-work lifestyle for two inescapable reasons: First, as the success of my company grew, I simply found it increasingly awkward to arrive to meetings sweaty and looking like I had just come from the gym, wearing shorts because I didn’t want my pant leg to get greasy. Second, I just couldn’t find a viable solution for getting my 6-year-old son to and from school in a semi convenient fashion on a bike. He just never could figure out why his father made him ride to school when all his friend’s parents, most of who lived closer to his school than we did, got to drive everyday—very uncool.
The handwriting was on the wall; my days on the bike were numbered. Ultimately, it became a personal struggle to maintain my odd riding lifestyle in the face of professional decorum, family harmony and simple convenience. The forces of modernity ultimately won out and I parked my bike to simply make my life work more simplistically.
Except for the occasional twinge I would experience whenever I would come across a finisher’s patch from a century ride over the next seven years, I really never gave my riding days much thought. I drove an air conditioned car, I arrived to meetings only five minutes late and my son developed a strong since of belonging to his environmentally unfriendly cohort. So what if I put on 20 lbs and elevated my cholesterol to the threshold of needing prescription therapy. I was living the American dream a gallon at a time.
Then Chico’s Ride to Work initiative came along and threw me out of my easy chair. The event really struck a chord with our organization, and I’m pleased to be able to boast that The ChicoProject has won its division two years running. What I’m not pleased about is the fact that both years, I was low man on the contribution list. Why? Well, nothing has changed in eight years: I still can’t afford to arrive to meetings sweaty with a greasy pant leg and my son now needs to be carted all over town, not just to school and don’t get me started on the 8th grade cool thing!
I know there are some hardcore bikers out there who are rolling their eyes saying “Give me a break, wimp,” with their kids riding next to them or strapped in a tow-behind cart. But here’s the point to this article: It’s not about the hardcore converted riders. Or at least it shouldn’t be. Bike to Work Week should be about everyone else as well, and it shouldn’t be just a week. It should be about getting regular people, people who have regular jobs and regular kids to work, school, shopping or play on a bike every day that it’s not pouring rain. If we figure that out, we might change the world.
So how do we do that? First we need to change the dress code and maybe even how we dress. If we made it to “Casual Friday” we can make it to “Bike Friendly Friday” then expand from there to Monday–Thursday. We have “technical” clothing for every other activity, what would it take to develop a fashionable line of clothes with zippered pant cuffs, vented shirts and chafe-proof inseams? Sounds like an entrepreneurial idea that our municipal organizations and community minded businesses could help launch by requesting employees to serve as role models and ride to work sporting their new “Esigner” (for Eco-design) clothes. Employees might find that they could pay for their new togs with their savings at the gas pump and over the long-term, lower healthcare costs.
The spin-off benefits of this transformation might be really interesting to watch. Bike shops might begin to replace car lots. By the way, if you want to see some of the few winners from last year’s gas price hikes that sent everyone else into an economic tail spin, go talk to your neighborhood bike shop owner. Trek and Specialized are huge fans of OPEC and so are their dealers!
Next, imagine if everyone was doing an hour more exercise each day by simply pedaling to and from the office? What would our calorie intake suddenly look like? Our food consumption and composition would likely change dramatically. Back in my riding days I ate anything I wanted and still lost weight. Ultimately, I gravitated to healthier food products that provided me more useful energy. Extrapolated to a community level, we might opt to grow more local healthy food and even develop more useful energy enriched food products to power our pedaling clientele, which sounds like another entrepreneurial opportunity that should also amplify the health benefits of this proposed revolution. Over the long run, we may not need all those health insurance benefits we lost in part due to the oil shock exacerbated recession.
In time we’ll develop new bikes with new solar assist motors to help ease the pain of getting to work, though many of us might choose to live closer to work, town or our children’s school to reduce commute output. This might help change property values and encourage more people to live closer to town while still relieving traffic from our streets. We would telecommute to more distant locations, adding impetus to the development of new bike mounted, voice activated mobile telephone equipment, etc., etc., etc.
Finally, if our kids see us ride to work, the grocery store and the movies they might get back on their bikes with enthusiasm as some of us can remember before we all developed a drive wherever philosophy. We will know we have arrived when our children say, “Ah Dad, do we have to drive? It’s only sprinkling!”
So the next time someone shows up to a meeting at your office with a little sweat on their brow because they chose to ride to the office instead of drive, consider refraining from referring to them as “unusual.” Revolutions have a tendency to start with a few meager souls who tend to appear a bit strange at first but sometimes go on to cause big changes in the world. I look forward to seeing more two-wheeled revolutionaries at meetings that I attend this year.

Ryne Johnson is the CEO of The ChicoProject, LLC, and is also the director for the Center for Entrepreneurship at Chico State. He can be contacted at rjohnson@thechicoproject.com.

By Kayla Cook

For shoppers who like to buy local it can be difficult to find a one-stop shopping spot where you can get everything you need, but Made in Chico makes it easy.
Walking into Made in Chico, a welcoming scent of fresh soap fills the room with a hint of chocolate cake from Mim’s Bakery. Colorful Klean Kanteens and Chico Bags are available, as well as baby clothes, purses, cards, books and gift baskets. Food and beverages from local farms and businesses ranging from nuts to jam to sparkling juice can be found and one-of-a-kind art, woodwork, photography, paintings and jewelry is sprinkled throughout the shelves.
“It’s the greatest combination of things,” said Katherine Dietz, manager of Made in Chico. “We support locals by having their work here and the customers support them by buying their things.”
Jacki Headley opened Made in Chico in 1982 so that she would have a place to sell her product, Woof & Poof, locally. She wanted everything in the store to be made in Chico, in order to support community members who were trying to get their products out to the public.
“The fact that we’re supporting so many local people that use this as either their income or part of their income is kind of amazing,” Dietz said.
Recently, Made in Chico moved to a new location at 127 W. 3rd Street in Downtown Chico. They were starting to outgrow their space and when previous occupant Nantucket moved, it was the perfect opportunity to have a fresh place to operate. On May 30, the store had their grand opening with featured artist Tatiana Allen, music and food and beverage samples, such as juice from R.W. Knudsen and cake from Mim’s Bakery.
Mim’s Bakery is one of their newest additions to the store. Mim’s makes fresh cakes and desserts from scratch for weddings or special occasions. The store is located on Humboldt Avenue, which is out of the way for many customers, so having a secondary place to sell baked goods and take orders will be a treat for the bakery as well as the customers.
The store supports over 200 sellers in the community and they are always looking for innovative products, Dietz said.
“There are a lot of people out there who are talented and making things but aren’t selling them,” she said. “We encourage people to check out the store and to come sell their creations.”
Another way Made in Chico supports the community is with their Chico corner, which has a large chalkboard where customers can let people know about events taking place or just write down something special. The corner will be updated weekly so community members will know just where to go to stay informed of Chico entertainment.
Made in Chico has become a gem in the community. It’s a place where locals know they will always find exactly what they need, whether it’s a special gift or a decoration for their home.
The owner is passionate about her store and so are the people who sell their things, Dietz said. This enthusiasm creates a vibe that makes people excited to shop at Made in Chico.
“I shopped at Made in Chico for years before I worked here,” Dietz said. “It’s the best place to buy a baby present or a wedding present and the great part is you’re supporting shopping local.”
Made in Chico has modeled the importance of shopping local for the last 26 years and will continue to do so with the support of the community at the heart of its success.

by Jessica Rios

On a recent morning, I rode my bike to work and forgot my keys. Riding home to retrieve them, I decided to stop at Collier Hardware for my favorite Mrs. Meyer’s geranium dish soap. Knowing how unlocked bikes fare in Chico, I hesitated but then leaned it on a parking meter and dashed inside. A familiar male employee in his 70s had been watching out the window from the back of the store. I bought the soap and headed for the door, finding the employee, Eldon, standing at the door watching my bike to make sure it wasn’t stolen.
Service like that can’t be beat. Not only was this an affirmation of the kind of personalized attention you can find at locally owned businesses, it was a reminder of the special traits and wisdom of our elders.
In return, how well does our community value seniors? And how prepared are businesses for the projected growth in Butte County among the senior population?
At the turn of the millennium, people over 60 comprised 19.7 percent of the population in Butte County. By 2050, studies show significant growth in this population with a jump to 27.9 percent. That’s an increase from approximately 40,000 seniors in 2000 to over 120,000 in 2050.
“The aging population will affect the entire community, not just those who are older,” says Joe Cobery, executive director of Passages, a Northstate agency that helps older adults live quality lives as part of the CSU Research Foundation.
Some businesses are responding by targeting marketing materials to baby boomers by offering classes or services. Still, according to Cobery, there seems to be a lack of recognition community-wide that the population is aging. Is new home construction considering the needs of the buyers in 10, 20 and 30 years? Does new construction include accommodations for wheelchairs, scooters and other assistive devices? Are bathrooms and kitchens designed to keep people in their home and to allow seniors to stay independent and reduce the impact on our health care system?
Consider the challenges of capacity in our medical system. Will doctors be able to meet the increased demand of patients whose primary insurance is Medicare? As reimbursement rates remain flat, many doctors are limiting the number of patients they will accept with Medicare because they cannot absorb the increased costs associated with medical care.
Our public transportation infrastructure will need to meet the demand of the growing senior population, many of whom may not be driving in 20 years. If not, how will older adults who are unable to maintain their driving privilege continue to function in the community? Consider the possibility that older adults may continue to drive without a license because there is no other option.
Planning for adjustments to meet the growing senior population not only helps meet the needs of this demographic, it is also ethically considerate and therefore will impress and attract the kind of customers who choose their goods and services consciously. And that’s a demographic that’s growing fast nationally.
Speaking recently at the Center for Economic Development’s Economic Forecast Conference, Randall Kempner of The Council on Competitiveness gave piercing advice to anyone interested in economic development. He simply said, “Value human capital.”
Where “green” and sustainable are currently seeing big expansions in the market, the future will bring a deepening of values-based business practices to include the value of honoring life in all its forms. That means relationships—with employees, customers, children and our cherished elders—and the communication required to sustain them, will be a higher priority.

Jessica Rios is the owner of The Co-Lab, a values-based leadership consulting business based in Chico. She is also co-founder of Think Local, Chico!, a network of locally owned and independent businesses and member of the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE). You can reach Jessica by e-mail: jessica@theco-lab.com.

By Dan L. Bay

Market uncertainty rises every time the Dow Jones Industrial Average (an unmanaged index of 30 widely held stocks) takes off on a volatile ride. Investors wonder if we’re facing a downturn or bear market. I know some clients are worried, afraid that if they don’t sell now they’ll lose more money; yet if they do sell, they might miss a rebound. The only certain thing about volatile markets is that they are uncertain.

Fortunately, there is now a way to remain invested in equities while protecting the future income on an existing retirement portfolio. By simply shifting some assets into a variable annuity with a living benefit, such as a Guaranteed Minimum Withdrawal Benefit (GMWB), you can assure yourself retirement income from a known minimum investment—and the amount may be at least twice the amount of your investment.

When you add a GMWB to a variable annuity, the provider tracks a separate “income account” alongside your regular account. The income account is guaranteed to grow at a rate of 5 percent to 7 percent per annum for at least 10 years (no withdrawals allowed ), and it can be tapped to provide a lifetime income equal to 5 percent of its value at the time the income begins. Generally, you have to be at least 59½ to receive lifetime income.

The graph above shows how this concept can work in an extremely poor market. Although the account value shows virtually no growth over the decade shown, its income account grew at 7 percent per year. In any year, you have the option of receiving 5 percent of the income account balance for life.

However, only the account value is available for lump sum withdrawal, and withdrawals over the 5 percent allowed by the GMWB will negatively impact the benefit.

Of course, such a low return over almost 10 years is very unlikely. But suppose this concept was put to the test in a period similar to 1997–2006, based on the performance of the S&P 500? There were strong gains initially, then a three-year bear market followed by

four strong years. You may have seen little progress overall during this 10-year period. But look at the graph below to see how the “income account” works along with the regular account to capture gains during the up years while still growing in the down years.

From 1997 to 1999, the regular account grows faster than 7 percent per year. Therefore, the insurance company increases the “income account” to match the regular account. Each time the “income account” increases (the industry calls it a “step up”), the insurance company compounds the 7 percent on the basis of this higher amount, so any market gains are captured. When the market goes south, as it did from 2000 to 2002, the “income account” continues to grow at 7 percent. Although the market recovered nicely from 2003 through 2006, you can see the regular account is still well below the income account. At this point you can: 1) choose to receive the annuity account value, 2) begin to receive 5 percent income or 3) allow both accounts to continue to grow (you should be aware that some products will stop compounding the 7 percent after 10 years).

Dan L. Bay is a vice president with Tri Counties Bank and branch manager with Raymond James Financial Services located at 780 Mangrove Ave. in Chico. In 2007, Dan was recognized as one of the top 50 bank financial advisors in the country by Bank Investment Consultant magazine, based on production-to-retail-deposit ratio. Dan has been a member of the Raymond James Advisory Counsel since 2002 and has been awarded to the Leaders Counsel in 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2007(based on production). Dan can be contacted at 530-898-0415 or toll free 1-866-822-4753. Tri Counties Bank Investment Services is a department of Tri Counties Bank and both are independent of Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. Securities and investment advisory services are offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC, an independent broker/dealer, and are: ●NOT FDIC insured ●NOT GUARANTEED by Tri Counties Bank or any other federal government agency. ●Subject to risk and may lose value.

Investors should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of variable annuities carefully before investing. The prospectus contains this and other important information. Prospectuses for both the variable annuity contract and the underlying funds are available from my office and should be read carefully before investing.
Variable Annuities are long-term investment alternatives designed for retirement purposes and are subject to market fluctuation, investment risk and possible loss of principal. Withdrawals of taxable amounts are subject to income tax and if made prior to age 59½, may be subject to a 10 percent federal tax penalty.
All guarantees are based on the claims paying ability of the issuing company. Guarantees do not apply to the investment performance or safety of the underlying sub-accounts in the variable annuity. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. The selection of additional protection features, options or riders will result in higher variable annuity charges.

While on vacation in China, Pat Furr’s tour guide said that the Chinese tell their students they need to be proficient in two things to succeed in the future—English and computers. This comment stuck with Furr and led her to develop a successful computer renovating organization in Chico, Calif.

“I realized that in America we had very few computers in schools at that time, so I decided to refurbish donated computers and give them to the schools,” Furr said.

In 1993, she got Chico Unified School District to work with her and become a part of her dream, and she started Computers for Classrooms.

In the 21 schools comprising CUSD, there were only about 600 computers in all compared to over 6,000 today, she said.

In 2002, Furr decided to supply computers to low-income families and nonprofits as well, in hopes that everyone will be able to have access to computers, technology and the internet.

A lot of people everyday stop by with equipment for the program, Furr said.

“The past few years we have been placing 5,000 computers per year in schools with non-profits and low-income families,” she said.

The program is run throughout California and is currently sending out 260 computers to middle schools in San Diego and LA. They will be working with Computers for Youth to train parents how to help their children do homework on the computer.

This will really impact the middle school students and their ability to do homework, Furr said.

On top of trying to connect people with technology, they are also working hard to reuse everything that gets sent in.

“Everyone assumes that recycling is great, but that is not true for electronics,” she said “By extending the life of technology, we lessen the need for creating new systems, and the greatest energy expenditure comes during the building of the new product.”

Reusing 100 computers is equivalent to removing 48 passenger cars from the road per year and it saves enough electricity to power 68 U.S. households in a year, she said.

“Reusing is 25 times better for our environment than recycling,” Furr said. “Reduce, reuse and then recycle.

Computers for Classrooms provides incentives for volunteers who devote their time to being a part of this program. The organization has about 40 volunteers that work there a week.

“If volunteers work for 50 hours, they can get a free computer or a laptop,” Furr said. “We have them working on computers, so they also get to learn a lot at the same time.”

Furr’s program has been so prosperous that she was hired by Microsoft last year when the company saw the manual she had made for creating a successful computer reuse program. She created a complete series of PowerPoint presentations and programs with several photographs showing you exactly how to do a complete refurnishing operation, so that Microsoft could create a similar program and give free computers to people in third world countries that really need them.

“They tested the material out in Kenya and Uganda and they had really good reports come back, she said. “They didn’t have anything negative to say.”

The organization also performs studies to find out the importance of computers for students. Last year they worked with Butte College to study how having a home computer can help minority students succeed in school. They came to find that it made a huge difference.

This year they are doing a one-year study with Chico Middle schools and the freshman class at Chico Senior, as well as working with Rob Fairly of UC Santa Cruz to study the effects of having a home computer.

“It’s kind of exciting that we can do these studies that are UC California approved,” Furr said. “Studies that can have national significance.”

Furr’s main goal is to “close the digital divide” and place systems with those least likely to have them.

“I passionately believe that everyone needs access to technology and the Internet,” she said. “It isn’t fair for students to compete for college scholarships or grades when some can afford to have computers at home while others can’t. It would be my hope to have access to computers and the Internet for everyone.”

If you have a computer you’d like to donate, drop it off at Computers for Classrooms anywhere from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information on the program or to become a volunteer contact Furr at 530-895-4175.

- Kayla Cook