Written by: Roxann Ploss
Even if you don’t live in the western part of the Coachella Valley , you probably have heard the name “ Ginny Foat ”. A major force in the local Democratic party, the Mayor Pro Tem of Palm Springs has been busy throughout the Valley for almost a decade now.
It is not at all unusual to be half-way through a luncheon when Ms. Foat comes flying in from another meeting but just in time for a hurried last course before she runs off to still another sub-committee gathering. Look at just a partial overview of her involvement in her community.
Noted for her devotion to humane issues, she can always be counted upon for help with homelessness, HIV/AIDS, GLBT problems and protection of animals. Lately, she has been honored by the County of Riverside with the right to officiate at weddings and has, to date, performed 16 ceremonies for proud gay couples (and still counting).
She is not only on the Palm Springs City Council and Council sub-committees for the Animal Shelter, Sign Ordinance, Business Retention and Main Street but is busy throughout the Valley as well. Ginny is a representative on the Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG), The CVAG Human Resources Committee as well as CVAG Homeless Committee, the Chair of the Homeless Site Selection sub-committee, on the Board of Directors for the Friends of the Palm Springs Animal Shelter the Riverside County Transportation Commission AND its Plans and Programs Committee, a member of the League of California Cities.
Not one to be curtailed by geography, she also heads GBG Palm Springs, Inc., is a partner in Winning Elections and a consultant and VP of Governmental Affairs for Environmental Service Professionals. And that’s just PART of the story! She is Past President of the American Task Force on the Homeless, Past President of the Up-Town Business Association, the National Director of Regional Field Services for the YWCA, the Executive Director of Caring for Babies with AIDS, Founder of Legal Advocates for Women, Co-Chair of the LA County HIV/AIDS Commission.
Her list of supporters includes an incredibly diverse group of civic leaders and associations: Joan Taylor (Sierra Club), the Palm Springs Hospitality Association, the Building Industry Association, the late Earl Greenberg ( Palm Springs Film Festival), Sly Zelnys (Chair, Homeless Task Force) are but a few.
Keep checking this space to read: A Report from the Democratic National Convention, by Ginny Foat.