Introducing Doris Gentry – The SHORT version:

On May 26, 1954, Doris was born in Rosiclare, Illinois. Today she is President/CEO of Lift Mates, Inc - an International Tool Manufacturer and Distributor; a licensed foster parent and President of Napa County Family & Foster Parent Association.

Ms. Gentry is also a member of MENSA, Rotary, Napa Chamber of Commerce, Foster Care Advocates, Grace Church & American Screen Writers Association (ASA). Doris serves on the Tobacco Advisory Board and is a board member of COPE Children and Family Services and also serves on the Board of the Foster Kids Fund. She co-teaches parenting classes and in her spare time enjoys playing with her Aussie Dog Dotty (a pound rescue and a delight) and enjoys time to read, write and sing.

Doris has lived in Napa for 17 years and together with husband Jim raised 4 children, 6 grandchildren and have had over 100 foster kids live with them in their home. She has one birth child, Jennifer living in South Carolina and is proud of her 3 step-sons. Family is very important to Doris and spending quality time with husband Jim is a high priority on her list.

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Background Information on Doris Gentry – More DETAILS:

Doris’ life is a true example of getting lemons and making lemonade. Her childhood was worse than most – but what she chose to do with that life is beautiful and many have been blessed along the way.

From birth to the age of 23 (1954-1977):

Doris was raised in over 30 out-of-home settings and exposed to trauma and physical abuse. Learning from the pain and suffering she converted negative emotions to positive ones and used her energies to become a Type-A business woman with financial success, marriage and community involvement.

Education, (or lack thereof):

Doris was a gifted student, a quick learner and when she was able to attend elementary school did quite well but often was absent. Entire years were missed due to moving around with her mother who often neglected to register Doris for school.

One bad memory is when she stayed with strangers at her mom’s boyfriend’s, sister’s, friend’s house in Alabama. Doris was hidden and told to stay away from the windows while neighbor children boarded school busses.

Only in 4th grade did Doris begin and end on the first and last day of the school year. Trouble in attendance continued and led her to totally dropping out of school by the 10th grade. It took several years before she returned, but she did and received her GED. Now she can first hand share with troubled students and explain why education is so important.

The Path of Doris’ Education is Complicated:

Telling stories is what Doris does best, and to illustrate the path taken to achieve her education, read on to understand her perseverance and determination to meet all challenges.

Doris was running her own company when complications were encountered. The problems were with the State of CA Workmen’s Compensation, Unemployment and State Disability. They wanted to deny a claim by one of Doris’ laborers – she did not think the rulings fair so appealed them. When Doris attended the appeal hearing, it became apparent she did not have the education or knowledge to present a valid appeal. Never one to give up – she got another appeal date set for 8 weeks later.

The problem was that day labor jobs were hard work that the normal daytime employees did not want to do – so – the temporary men sometimes would be put to work in physically grueling jobs all day - even unsafe conditions. Unsafe is what happened to one of Doris’ men. He was working at a metal design facility and was to pack as much of the scrap metal into the cans as possible. They were wanting him to pack more in the cans, he was using a tool to tamp and pack – the boss kept wanting the cans to weigh more – it was nearly quitting time – the laborer took his hand and shoved it into the can to push the metal down more – in doing this – the jagged edges of the metal ripped the skin off his arm and when he pulled his arm back up and out – nearly severed the hand – it was hanging by a thread of muscle. Graphic, sorry, but realize that the laborer did not have safety training, nor was he given safety gloves.

The injured man was still in therapy when Doris began advocating for him. He was not able to do the day job he knew and the big CA State Agencies were denying him most of the claims and benefits he needed. Workmen’s Comp helped but not enough. Unemployment would not touch the case as he had not been employed long enough. And finally – State Disability denied him too.

This situation is what challenged Doris to seek college admission – she needed to learn how to help. So the next day after the ruling from State Disability, Doris drove to the closest University, Cal State Dominguez Hills (CSDH) and sought to enroll in a class of ‘Business Law’. She was asked for her Diploma and credential’s. None existed, Doris was instructed to go to Long Beach City College and enroll in a 6 week class to get a GED and then to apply.

She did that by enrolling at Long Beach and the first night the teacher looked up and said, “You do not belong here for 6 weeks, you can go next door and take the test tonight!” Doris protested, she could not imagine that she could skip the class! The teacher shocked Doris even more saying she would NOT accept Doris in the 6 week class!

When Doris arrived next door to take the test, she was about an hour late, but that teacher allowed her to take the test and said if she failed, no worry, she could take it again in 4 weeks. Even with beginning an hour late, Doris completed first. Doris never thought she was smart – she just thought the test was simple. It would be many years before she discovered her mind worked differently than some people’s allowing Doris to process information quickly.

Finally, the mail arrived saying Doris passed the GED - she took that to CSDH but was told she was late for that term, classes had begun, further, the college had met their quota for GED students. She was instructed to apply in the next cycle. Doris pleaded and the admissions gave her a chance.

“OK – fine – we will let you take the placement exam, and depending on your score, if it is high enough, we will possibly allow you to sit in on a class.” said the placement coordinator. The test was arranged, and the score was high enough, so Doris was allowed to meet with the Professor and see if he would allow her to attend his class. She was to tell him that she was a GED placement and coming into class about 7 weeks late the admissions office doubted any chance at all the professor would accept Doris. After hearing her story and why she wanted the class, the Professor did in fact allow Doris to attend – and he even pointed out some additional books she could buy in the bookstore that might help with this specific case.

Actually, the books were all she needed – Doris took the book he assigned and bought the others too – she read them – prepared for the hearing next week, went back into court and won a lifetime settlement in favor of the employee from State Disability. As it worked out, from the first day Doris tried to enroll at CSDH to the day she got the books it was about 7 weeks – and the hearing had been scheduled for 8 weeks after the first one. It all worked perfectly and because of that – Doris also had a GED and a College Admission – these were a bonus, she had never set out to prove her academics – only to give a voice to a man that did not have one.

The result of this settlement helped change safety rules for Doris’ company and others. From then on – firms using Extra Help of California had to sign a liability form if using the men in unsafe areas and Doris was the first agency to champion safety training for the men before they were sent out. Doris copied all the forms she designed and the Safety Training Manual and gave it freely to her competition in LA, Kelly Girl and Manpower which were National Franchises, they adopted her procedures and modified their own job training to incorporate the safety tips she authored.

Meanwhile back at the University, Doris read the required book – completed the assignments, attended class and earned an A at the completion of the course. Taking many more classes at CSDH before transferring to Southern Illinois in 1980, it was six more years before she took the MENSA test and found out she was gifted.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

Extra Help of California, Inc. Torrance CA (1977 – 1980):

Began as Account Exec and Ended as Executive Director

Beginning as the Account Exec, Doris was promoted to Executive Director in 5 months. When entering the company was billing about 800 hours a week using 20 men daily. In just one year, Doris increased billable hours to 2,000 a week and in two years, this company became the largest non-franchised temporary help (day labor) service in the LA Basin billing between 10,000 to 16,000 hours a week. Doris was speaking at Business Luncheons and Conferences in the area to explain how she built the business and trained the laborers for these jobs. Doris became a partner in the corporation and when she left the company was billing over a million dollars, transporting men to jobs and working crews on three shifts. Plus Doris added a full-service clerical division and outsourced payroll to ADT which, at that time, was an innovative thing to do.

Owner, Title Insurance & Abstract Corporation, Hardin County Illinois (1980 – 1985):

This is exactly as the name implied. Every piece of real estate sold or refinanced had to have a chain of title to identify legal owners and possible liens on the land. The business was in the basement of the County Court House where a full duplicate set of books existed. The original books were written with pen and quill in glorious hand writing – dating to the early 1800’s. (Above and to the left is Doris copying the antics of Lucy from the Snoopy comic strip. Doris, and Lucy are in Santa Rosa, CA at the Schultz Museum where all things beckon Snoopy, Lucy, et al.)

Also, original land grants from the Government were recorded beginning in the early 1800’s. The books showed the lands migration from owner to owner. At the website www.ask.com, they say, “from 1820 through about 1902, the Congress made use of the public lands for a host of development projects. Instead of selling land for cash, the Congress established a set of donation programs with the idea that recipients would use their land grants to conduct congressionally approved projects. Finally, beginning about 1900, and especially after 1933, the Congress determined that the public lands should no longer be sold outright, but rather should be held in trust for the long term.”

This is a little history on the land distribution program of America. After seizing the land from the Indian Tribes, the government wanted to find a way to distribute these vast open spaces to citizens so they could turn the land into income producing property. The government did not have the cash reserves to facilitate land development/use to its highest and most productive way. They turned to citizens to do ‘sweat equity’. Many were given land outright, especially veterans of the War of 1812 who by the 1840’s were getting old and had nothing – so the government would give them 160 acres to homestead. Others were given 160 acres for five years. If in that time they turned the land into profitable farm land serving a utilitarian purpose, they could keep the land. If not – it would revert back to the government.

These deeds and the deed restrictions had to be analyzed by the Title Company that Doris owned. She and her staff would create a document that often would be 3 inches thick and included copies of all that was filed against the land. After Doris’ company prepared the documents, they were sent to Chicago for legal review. If approved and the chain of title thorough, then the underwriter, Chicago Title Insurance would issue a Title Insurance Policy through Doris’ firm. At that time, this was the only Title Office in the County so all transactions went through her firm.

The best clients were the Illinois State Department of Transportation who were often widening highways and needed easements checked on both sides of the road and needed Title Insurance. When real estate sales were slow, the State Highway kept the staff busy!

Title Insurance, which Doris knew nothing about prior to buying the business, piqued her interest in real estate and led her to becoming a realtor. But before she did that, several other new ventures happened.

Swimming Instructor, WSI, Southeastern Illinois College (SIC) (1981 – 1984):

Doris had a lifetime passion for swimming. In 1981 she became WSI Certified by the American Red Cross and hired by the SIC to teach summer swimming. (On the right is Doris and her trusted dog Dotty, who you will see and hear more about. They are resting on a bench at the dog park, Austin Park in Napa. Below Dotty is the ever famous California Poppy.) Doris taught about 200 children a week 4 weeks a year. In addition, she taught Life Guard classes with daughter Jennifer serving as the drowning person. Years later, after Jennifer was a teenager, Doris asked why she always eagerly volunteered, the teens practically drowned Jennifer. Jenn said, “Heck mom – that was the best of my life. The cool kids were in your class and became lifeguards at all the area pools and lakes. All summer they would see me and talk to me. It was cool to know the lifeguards! They remembered almost drowning me!” When you get lemons, make lemonade – go Jennifer!

Marketing & Account Executive, Solar Manufacturing and Wood Stove Manufacturing (1981 – 1984):

Doris joined with a local manufacturer to help design, market and expand his Solar and Wood Stove business. She created speech presentations and helped to promote and market the corporation in Southern Illinois.

Teacher, Business & Finance Classes, Southeastern Illinois College (SIC) (1981 – 1987):

From the beginning of Doris’ arrival in Southern Illinois until her departure in 1987, Doris taught entrepreneurial classes for SIC which included small business finance, accounting for small business and other topics. Doris taught several classes for SIC and she enrolled in classes to expand her knowledge, like the Real Estate class described in the next paragraph. She also found time to attend aviation classes so she could co-pilot the plane she and hubby owned, a Navion with retractable wheels and a modified canopy that slid open like a fighter jet.

Realtor, Century 21, Hardin County Illinois (1982 – 1987):

On the first try Doris passed her state test and received a Real Estate License, specializing in farm land. Listing and selling much acreage led to successfully helping satisfied clients.

Education Certificates Held, Hardin County Illinois (1982 – 1987):

After other classes, state exams and boards, Doris became County certified as a County Clerk, County Land Surveyor and a County Tax Auditor/Assessor. Doris never sought any of these jobs or positions nor did she run for any of these offices, she just studied and took the tests passing on the first try in every case. (Below and left is Doris with the Cello player from the Pink Martini Band. They are from Portland, Oregon and were staying at the lovely Gaia in American Canyon when Doris met them.)

Business Development Specialist, Southeastern Illinois Regional Protection and Development Commission (SIRPDC) (1982 – 1984):

This is a group of five counties that handled Federal Block Grant Programs. The commission represented counties on behalf of government agencies. Mayors of the cities would lobby for block grants for water/sewer – any infrastructure needs they had – and then – the SIRPDC staff would choose the most viable clients from among the applicants.

Doris was hired to head up a division within this agency, an innovative focus on business and industry. The Federal and State governments were pushing Regional Agencies to lure successful businesses to expand and relocate into their areas. To attract business investment, Regional Agencies were hiring business development specialists to join them to market the region.

Doris was hired by SIRPDC to create the program joining Mayors in marketing their cities. Together they reached out to corporate America attracting business and industry and luring them to the Region. Doris did exactly that. In the first year of the position, she enabled several existing, corporations to expand creating 50 new jobs. Those companies were able to access state low interest loans that were created as a part of the new program of the States partnering with the Regions for business expansion.

In the second year, Doris was able to land a satellite facility from the LA basin and create 250+ new jobs – with all the other new jobs, a total of 400+ new jobs were created in the Region. Doris proved to be very successful and area banks took notice.

SBA 503 Loan Program Launched in Southern Illinois (1983):

This led to Doris beginning a banking program with area banks for the purpose of packaging and submitting SBA Loans. Soon SBA launched a new program called the 503 Loan – and that program worked in partnership with a local agency to actually fund, on behalf of the SBA loans up to $500,000.00 – Doris was picked and trained in Washington, DC by the SBA to take on this project. She then opened one of the first in the nation loan centers for the 503’s. Doris was the lender on behalf of the SBA and in conjunction with a local bank, the SBA certified the loans. This streamlined process quickened funds to the applicant shaving off about 90 days from the loan cycle. The time period from the first day to funding was less than 6 weeks. This program became popular with borrowers seeking corporate expansion/relocation revenue. Applications were funded on a ‘job to dollars borrowed’ ratio. The formula was designed to stimulate job growth in rural areas.

As a result of the success Doris achieved for job creation/retention in Southern Illinois, she became a popular speaker in the Midwest speaking at banking conferences, Women’s Leadership Events and many University of Illinois Cooperative Extension Workshops. Doris attained Awards, Citations of Honor, Citations of Merit and other numerous ceremonial accolades from the Governor of Illinois, the Lt. Governor and the Secretary of State of Illinois. Doris was chosen as Woman of the Year by the Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, she was honored two years in a row as Outstanding Woman in Leadership, she was chosen by her peers in the State Chamber of Commerce and the State Better Business Bureau as the candidate for the White House Conference on Business and attended the DC weeklong conference as one of the Chairs of the Illinois Delegation. Doris was honored and recognized by the Mayors of Southern Illinois.

President/CEO, Optima Management Corporation, Inc, Marion, Illinois (1984 – 1990):

Doris pooled private funding from several major investors to form this venture capital investment corporation. Deals were analyzed, investments were made and Optima took a percent of ownership while doing hands-on oversight and management of the companies they invested into. Above is a photo of Doris and her loyal Aussie/Border Collie mix, Dotty. They are on a bench that overlooks Napa Valley at the base of the grape crusher statue.

Optima had investments throughout the Midwest and as a high-profile business was in the news often. In addition, Optima became the standard for analyzing investment opportunities and they contracted and consulted with area banks to analyze loan portfolios for some complicated business deals.

In 1987, Optima moved to LA and sold to a new team in Orange County, CA.

President, Pro-Med Services, Marion, Illinois (1984 – 1992):

In 1984, with a little Tandy Computer from Radio Shack and the cradle that holds an old-fashioned telephone, Pro-Med tied onto the mainframe Blue Cross Blue Shield computers in Chicago nightly and did medical billing for area doctor’s offices and hospitals. Prior to working with Pro-Med, the doctors and the hospitals made rolls of tape with tiny holes, like ticker tape, sending each day by courier to Chicago where it was entered into the same machine. Pro-Med took that same tape, processed it and transferred it via modem to Chicago. This process accelerated payments to the clients by as much as 7 days. Pro-Med was paid a small percent of the billings. Errors and incompletes were found instantly and clients were notified the next day, errors were fixed and resubmitted. Prior to Pro-Med, it took up to four weeks to be notified in writing of errors. For errors and mistakes, Pro-Med shaved four weeks off the delay time for clients receiving payment. Pro-Med was a very successful, cutting edge business. It was eventually phased out as hospitals and doctors took to more advanced internal computer systems but for 10+ years, this was a vibrant and lucrative corporation.

Teaching & Training Women, Marion, Illinois (1984 – 1987):

Becoming an entrepreneur was easy for Doris and she enjoyed teaching others how to do the same. Hundred’s of speaking engagements across the country allowed her to teach women how to run and fund a business. Doris did radio and TV talk shows on this subject which led her to the political arena. Classes and training sessions were sponsored by area colleges, cooperative extension services, area bank groups and Trade Associations.

Member, MENSA (1985 – Present):

This is a good time to mention Mensa. It is not a job. It could go later as a community involvement – but it is not that either – nor is it appropriate to list under ministry – Mensa is definitely NOT ministry. Here is what it is – it is an explanation. Why Doris is who she is. How she is wired differently. Because she is – she acts crazy and happy and fun. But deep inside she is taking in everything and concentrating deeply on it. The way people are standing. What they are not saying. How they are acting and sitting and the factualism of the conversation. In fact, quite often Doris does not even realize all that she is absorbing. But when the conversation is rehashed, small incongruence’s emerge.

It was 1984 and others were talking about how smart Doris was when a friend approached and asked if she had heard of Mensa. She had not. They encouraged her to test. Heck no – there was no way. But secretly her interest was piqued. Doris did take the self-test and scored well. Soon after she registered and took the proctored test and was sent a letter of admission – she passed – she was in the top 2% of the world. Heck – how could that be? Doris was stunned.

Since 1984, Doris has been a member of many chapters of Mensa in Southern Illinois, LA, Concord, CA and now in Napa.

Currently, Doris is serving in Leadership with Mensa. She has taught classes in Sacramento and Portland and will be teaching at the National Mensa Conference in Denver Fourth of July, 2008. Doris likes leadership and usually climbs the ladder in any organization and stops only when she reaches the top.

Co-Owner, Gourmet Corner, Marion, Illinois (1986 – 1987):

Gourmet Corner is a retail facility which stocked and sold organic coffee beans, teas, freshly imported spices, specialty foods and custom candies. Doris created this store in her mind and then in reality. At that time, local grocers in offered two mustards, yellow and not yellow. Gourmet Corner offered 20 types of mustard. Using large glass jars with plastic bags and metal scoops, one could buy fresh spices, teas, coffees and candies. When she relocated to LA in 1987, she sold the business to her partner and it is still in full-time operation. It was her first effort at retail and of all the businesses Doris has owned, this one was the most fun.

Community Participation in Southern Illinois (1980 – 1987):

During this period, Doris was active with the Rotary Club (hubby was a member) and she served as Rotary Chair of the Parade and was MC for the City Parade in the fall. In addition, Doris was Chair and MC of the Beauty Pageant and worked with the girls weekly to train them. Doris also was a member of the Marion, Illinois Chamber of Commerce, served on the Board of United Way, Member of Mensa, Member of Ducks Unlimited, and the Illinois Leadership Commission.

Doris’ Early Church & Ministry, LA and Southern Illinois (age 23 – 33, 1977 - 1987):

While Doris worked full-time owning businesses in CA and Illinois; she also worked as a volunteer in her Churches. Church life is a volunteer path Doris actively pursued, serving in many volunteer religious capacities including Children’s Camp Counselor/Director/Organizer and/or Fund-raiser, as well as VBS Director and State VBS Training Team Member for Regional Conferences. For several years, Doris directed a Youth performing Easter and Christmas concerts. She worked in, at, with and for Southern Baptist Churches and Southern Baptist Regional Associations that are in the towns of Lawndale, CA, Golconda, Illinois and Marion, Illinois.

Doris also taught a weekly Sunday School Class for teen girls.

Intro to Politics, Marion, Illinois (age 30 – 33, 1984 - 1987):

Illinois Governor Jim Thompson, was a great leader. His team recruited Doris to help with down-state fund raising and she worked with many venues and events as a co-coordinator and co-organizer – always a volunteer. Eventually this led to Doris running for the State Assembly in Illinois. Southern Illinois is a coal-mining, union, democrat district and a Republican Conservative cannot win. But the Governor’s Team needed a person on the ticket – so Doris was the one. She garnered more votes (34%) than most others of recent years. Doris did not win but had an excellent showing.

Intro to Foster Care, Marion, Illinois (age 30 – 33, 1984 - 1987):

After the political campaign, Governor Jim Thompson placed Doris on the Board of Children’s Protective Services in Chicago which presided over the State of Illinois. This was a highly coveted position and the service and education as a board member launched her interest and involvement in the foster care world.

Her immediate project was to work in So Illinois to form a new non-profit to help fund foster kid’s outings, events and special needs. To accomplish this goal she worked with the local foster care system in Southern Illinois. In addition, Doris also was the co-organizer and founder of another non-profit that organized a program in the high schools for kids awareness about drugs and tobacco. Doris launched fund raisers and promoted these programs with the school system in many counties – always as a volunteer.

Back to LA, California (age 33 – 35, 1987 - 1990):

Doris relocated to CA moving first to LA working for a billionaire as his special projects investment analyst. She analyzed investment opportunities and business ventures for this man, Walter Neubauer, owner of Neubauer Engineering. At this time, Doris also became active with the California State Southern Baptists in Fresno (CSBC) and began working as a Regional Trainer of many topics including “How to Ready your Church for a TV/Radio Ministry” plus speaking at various conferences for women, leading prayer trainings and church administration. Around this time, Doris was also active in So California working with children’s camping programs, VBS regional trainings, and various marketing and publicity work for area churches and the Regional Associations that oversaw the work of the local churches.

Rose Parade Ministries, Southern California, California Southern Baptist Convention (age 33 – 35, 1987 - 1990):

Doris loved her work in Southern California with the Rose Parade. She traveled to area churches and pastor’s breakfasts/regional meetings as the promoter. Southern Baptists have an outreach to large populated events like the Rose Parade and Olympics. They set up a command center (hotel on Colorado Blvd.) and staff it 24 hours a day. There were street ministries and hundreds of volunteers to meet the ministry needs of stranded tourists and more. Doris worked during the event as an on-site coordinator/assistant/helper where needed either in the streets or at the hotel’s base operation.

In addition, it was observed that many overnight campers were parked out by the football stadium. On the grounds, there was a lovely outdoor amphitheatre. Doris began a new ministry there hosting concerts. There were puppet stories, choirs, mission groups, skits – it was a big entertainment celebration held the day before the Rose Parade, on Dec 31st starting at noon and going until midnight. What an amazing success and every time you would go there an audience of many people were relaxing and enjoying the show.

Moving to Northern Ca, working with the Churches (age 35 – 54, (1990 - today):

In 1990, Doris had retired from professional/career/entrepreneurial life and went to Northern California to work in full-time ministry. There she worked for the California Southern Baptist Convention (CSBC), as well as the Baptist Sunday School Board (BSSB) in Nashville and for the Regional Redwood Empire Southern Baptists Association (REBA) in both paid and volunteer capacities. Doris wrote for many of the BSSB magazines, taught at the huge complex outside of Sante Fe, NM called Glorieta Southern Baptist Training Center and there Doris taught week-long classes in discipleship training, Vacation Bible School leadership development, family ministry, single adult ministry, evangelism and outreach ministries. For the CSBC Doris led conferences and workshops up and down the state including all the above topics as well as teaching at the Equipped for Excellence Southern Baptist Training Conference in Riverside for Sunday School Leadership and leading marriage retreats. Doris’ vibrant approach coupled with her stories and object lessons made her a popular speaker and many classes she taught were to standing room only crowds. Doris also served on the State CSBC Board for Women’s Ministry and helped to advance this work in churches across the state. Doris also guest lectured at Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary and other seminaries in the nation particularly on the subject of women’s ministry & evangelism.

For REBA (churches of Santa Rosa to Vacaville), Doris was a hard worker serving on the Board of the Children’s Camp at Cazadero for many years and even served as the Treasurer for REBA. She continued work with women’s ministry programs and area-wide retreats, VBS training/teaching and working with other evangelistic outreach in the area churches.

In Napa Doris was active organizing, assisting and leading city-wide events including the World Day of Prayer, christian clubs at the high schools, Napa Valley College and other ministry venues.

Catholic Charities of Napa was one of the many Boards Doris served on – here she met some GIANTS of the Napa community like Father Gordon, Jim Roberts, Valerie Preston, Al Pepin and many others. Doris learned many great things from the Catholics – but one thing stands out above all others – they walk the walk they talk. They believe in taking care of those in need. They really – really – believe in this. They work tirelessly to help those in despair. Doris learned more about social needs and social issues from working with these fine citizens than from any other thing in life. Doris loves the Catholics and especially the ones she worked with in Napa – they are a giving, serving and committed group. Blessings to them all!

In addition, Doris was a popular women’s retreat speaker and booked about 40 engagements per year to do retreats, conferences, workshops and venues across the nation.

Foster Care, Napa, CA (age 37 – Present, 1991 to now):

Doris began taking in foster kids in Napa in the 1990’s and to date has had over 100 kids in her home – she counsels and helps them find their place in the world. She tutors them with school work and resumes’ and often works and counsels their birth families helping to strengthen that bond. Doris knows how important it is to return to the birth family and works with each placement to help kids do just that.

For these past 17 years, one thing has remained constant – foster care. Doris has worked to champion this program and make it better every year. Doris began the Family & Foster Care Association and has served as its President for 10 years. She is very active in the training and support of new foster parents and currently, is a part of the Napa Valley College Foster Parent Training Team where she helps with the training classes for prospective new foster parents as well as the on-going training for existing foster parents.

The Doris Gentry Campaign is a MODERATE, middle of the road person that Doris says is a Repub-O-Crat. Doris ain’t your daddy’s conservative and she ain’t your momma’s liberal – she has the message of today – this is the main-stream of America – this is the person that lives next door and across the street. Doris is your neighbor, your friend. Doris is a Democrat embracing the passion of social issues, the environment and education. She cares deeply about these things. And she is a Conservative – because she does not believe the only solution is to raise taxes. “When my family has tight financial times, and we do, we tighten up, we spend less. We go out less. We eat at home and drive only when necessary. We do not keep on spending. We do not keep on adding to our debt load. We do not keep mortgaging more and more on our home. We tighten our belt, stay home and spend less. When we have less money, we do less activity.”

That is the conservative solution – when you have less, you spend less.

Applied to our state – it is the same thing – we have less we need to spend less.

Here is what Doris is:

Doris is the TEACHER (taught High School Math in Vallejo)

Doris is the COACH (over a hundred foster kids have lived in her home)

Doris is the MENTOR (spoke and taught at numerous women’s retreats)

Doris is the COUNSELOR (traveled across America leading women to become business owners)

Doris is the FRIEND (has an old-fashioned Rolodex with thousands of names)

Doris is the STEP-MOM, GRANDMA, COUSIN (close to her immediate and extended family)

Doris is the SURVIVOR (had brain surgery and a tumor successfully removed in 1973)

Doris is the WALKING MIRACLE (diagnosed with brain cancer 2007 and now healed)

Doris is the LEADER, ORGANIZER, COORDINATOR (long list of things led, developed, organized and created)

Doris is the GENIUS (Mensa member, but hubby says, ‘For someone so smart, you sure are dumb!’ everyone needs to be humbled at times.)

Doris is the WRITER (wrote for many magazines and periodicals)

Doris is the FINANCIAL ANALYST (served as Treasurer of many organizations and taught algebra and geometry in High School)

Doris is the SINGER (loves to sing for fun)

Doris is the SPEAKER (Give her an audience and she will tell you something – she can talk.)

Doris is the DOG-LOVER (has an Aussie/Border Collie mix that was rescued from the pound. Hubby Jim says the dog is a Mensa dog – it understands what you are thinking – it is really smart! To date, Doris has rescued over a dozen pound dogs in the past 25 years.)

As a general rule, Border Collies and Aussies are not easy pets, and typical pet owners often find them too intense and energetic. They are usually "workaholics." They are happiest when they have a job to do, whether that job is herding, obedience, agility, or any of the other active occupations and dog sports they excel at.

As you can see above, granddaughter Jessica is being run to a frazzle - you see, it is not Dotty that is tired, it is Jessica - Dotty can do several miles and be ready for more! On the right, Dotty waits for her next command. They are pleasers and want a lot of work to do.

If these dogs are not given a "job", they are very likely to become extremely destructive. Hanging out around an apartment or house being the "guard dog" isn't enough of a job for these energetic mixes!

On the left, Dotty is fully attentive to Jessica and grandson Tyler, she is waiting to see if they will still play. Dotty is not close to finished.

The dogs usually won't exercise on their own. Most want their human counterparts to participate in whatever they do. Putting a dog in a fenced area rarely works as a form of exercise. These dogs need to be physically and mentally challenged, and if you cannot provide that for them, they'll do it themselves - at the expense of your lawn, furniture, walls, whatever looks tempting to dig or chew on!

They are extremely quick, high-energy, busy dogs, and they must have plenty of exercise. They are bred for endurance: a working Aussie/Border Collie can run as much as 100 miles a day over sometimes difficult terrain, then go out and do it again the next day. On the right is playing chase with Tyler. Can you see the yellow ring in Dotty's mouth?

A one or two mile walk may seem like a long way to you, but it's barely a warm-up for them.

On the left, Dotty is watching the rings, waiting to grab one and run. One needs the time to give a dog like this plenty of vigorous physical and mental exercise every day. A bored Border Collie/Aussie mix can become neurotic and destructive.

Dotty has a wonderful friend named Vesta that comes and gets here three times a week and takes her to the dog park at Austin Park. Dotty sits by the window and knows exactly when Vesta is coming. In between, Dotty goes with Doris - every day is a play day for Dotty.

These dogs are brilliant - Aussie/Border Collies are very intelligent dogs and learn quickly. This may seem like a good thing, but is actually a problem at times: they easily learn things the owner didn't intend for them to learn, and some of these newly-learned behavior patterns can be difficult to re-teach.

Their intelligence is one of the reasons that they tend to get bored and into trouble so easily. But then, it's also one of the reasons they excel in obedience, training/competition, herding, agility, and so many other dog sports. This photo on the right is Doris with Dotty at Austin Park. Dotty learned to run up and over that the first time it was shown to her. They learn so quick - sometimes it is annoying.

One more quick thing you should know if you ever want to get a dog as smart as you - Border Collies/Aussies are extremely agile dogs that can easily jump/climb a 6 foot fence if they decide there's something more interesting on the other side. They are also good diggers and chewers, so if they can't jump a fence, they might try to dig under it or chew through it if they're determined to get out. Being very intelligent dogs, they can also learn to open doors and latches.

THIS IS A NEW GENERATION

Voters today are different! They care about people – who you are and what you think. What you do and say – and if you are moral and honest. The campaign of today is not your momma’s campaign of straight down party lines. Today – voters care deeply about who they are electing. They care about the quality of the person – that is why the Team spent so much time telling you the story of Doris Gentry. She is not a fly by the seat of her pants person – she has lived and worked her entire life to be in this campaign today.

So in talking with voters:

The focus on this campaign is to discuss what Doris believes and who she is – below is a summary that will give you the whole letter in a few short messages. Copy these, cut them out and put them in your wallet. When someone says to you, “Who is this Doris Gentry anyway?” Bam – whip out these comments and there you can tell them – in 5 seconds you can tell others who Doris Gentry is and why they should elect her in November. We are counting on you – I hope you will respond and help – this could be the most important step you have ever taken for a political candidate!

This is what all of us want – what Doris stands for and believes is typical of what America stands for and believes. It is typical of what Californians stand for and believe. We are all mostly alike – we are not different – we are the people striving to make a difference. Striving for a better way to raise our kids. Seeking and searching for a better tomorrow. You and I – we are more alike than we are different. That is a really good thing.

What Doris loves and believes and trusts and works for is our California of today – it is a good place to live and breathe and work and thrive. Whether you work on a ferry boat in Vallejo or a ranch in Calistoga - we live here because we choose to be here and we do not want anyone else deciding when it is time for us to leave.

It is full of nature and oceans and fresh air and mountains and desert – the things we have come to love – that is what California is for us. On the ranches ~ on the farms ~ at Safari West or in our back yards - we are California. We define ourselves with our land.

This is a place that is vibrant and filled with hope for our future. And our kids future. The future for our grandkids.

Join Doris Gentry today and help make California better tomorrow and better the day after that too!

This is not your daddy’s campaign – this is your campaign. Doris is not your daddy’s candidate – she is yours – help her and you are helping yourself. You are helping your family – Doris is about change and a brighter future – your family will be glad you chose Doris Gentry. You will be too!