This morning, I attended the 2008 Sonoma County State of the County Breakfast Forum, where the Annual Report to the Community was presented. I received my 38 page copy of the 2008 Sonoma County Indicators, a dizzying array of graphs, charts and statistics published by the county Economic Development Board.

Ben Stone, Executive Director of the Sonoma County Economic Development Board, gave an overview of the Indicators report, and the overall message was that as a county, we’re healthy, but that nationally, storm clouds are gathering on the horizon.

Dr. Steve Cochrane, Senior Managing Director of Moody’s Economy.com, went through many of statistics and gave an overview of the Innovation Council, a  group tasked with developing a 10 year economic strategic plan for the county, certainly not an easy task with lots of land mines and obstacles to be encountered, for sure.

Supervisor Mike Kerns, of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, reviewed the overall State of the County and discussed some high spots as well as some of the challenges facing us. In closing Mr. Kerns said, ”we’re all in this together.” That’s quite a statement easily made and one I wish more people, not just in Sonoma County or California, but especially in other states, believed in. While sales of gargantuan SUV’s are waning and Detroit is suffering as a result, many among us continue our same bad habits despite record oil prices. Although California is setting the example for other states through existing and pending legislation, other states likewise need to adopt a philosophy of “we’re all in this together,” before it winds up being too late for all of us.