February 2026 Board Chair Letter

Hello Community,

It’s hard to believe the first month of 2026 is already behind us. I’m excited about the year ahead for Nevada County Pride as we build on the momentum and successes of 2025 (see the January letter for highlights).

As required by our bylaws, we held board and officer elections at our January meeting. I’m pleased to share that all eight incumbent board members were re-elected for another year! We also welcomed two new board members, bringing us to ten of the eleven seats allowed under our bylaws (note: if you’re interested in learning more or potentially filling that final seat, please reach out to any board member!).

I am thrilled to welcome Abby Richards and Mitch Austin to the board. Both were highly active volunteers at our 2025 events and attended multiple board meetings to learn more and contribute meaningfully to our work supporting a visible, engaged LGBTQ+ community in Nevada County. They bring tremendous talent and energy to the board. You can read more about Abby, Mitch, and our continuing board members here.

We also elected our officers for 2026. Pepper continues as Vice Chair, Drew as Treasurer, and Maciel as Secretary. I am honored to continue serving as Board Chair and deeply appreciate the confidence the board has placed in me—along with the countless hours, dedication, and care each board member and volunteer gives to help our organization thrive during these uncertain and challenging times.

Our February board meeting will be a half-day strategic planning session focused on setting goals and priorities for 2026. As always, board meetings are open to the public, and you are welcome to join us for all or part of the meeting. 

Please note that for this meeting only, we will not be meeting at the Library Community Room. Details are below:

• Date: Friday, February 20, 2026
• Time: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
• Location: Sierra Center for Spiritual Living, 119 Florence Avenue, Grass Valley, CA 95945

We welcome your input and ideas as we plan for the year ahead. You can review our Mission, Vision, Values, and Strategic Priorities here. What events would you like to see added? What resources or support would be most helpful to you? How can we ensure our programming continues to include and serve people of all ages?

Please send your thoughts and suggestions to info@nevadacountypride.org.

Thank you for all you do to help make our community strong, inclusive, and vibrant.

With gratitude,

Rick Partridge