Today’s speaker was Clare Frank, author of two books. Clare has a BS in Fire Command, a Masters in Creative Writing as well as a Juris Doctorate. She moved around much as a child but calls Santa Cruz her home town. She is the youngest of six and her parents raised them to be independent and capable. Clare spent 30 years as a firefighter which she started at the age of 17, following her brother, who dreamed of being a firefighter from the age of two, into the service. He said girls couldn’t be in the fire service, but then realized it was something she would love and it would love her. She went to the academy and did love it.
Her first book is called Burnt and is about her firefighting past which she says seems like a prior life (and maybe she was a better person). She worked for Cal Fire most of her career also serving for four years as Fire Chief for the city of Milpitas before returning to Cal Fire. She and President Pat shared the friendly rivalry between law enforcement and firefighters. She met her first fire at the age of four, the Welden fire in Granada Hills. The fire came within a mile of her family home and they could watch the fire from their back yard. The billowing plumes of the fire captivated her and sparked her curiosity with fire. Twenty years later an Indian pundit reading her birth chart said fire, fire fire, never seen so much fire. He said by nature, nurture or both she was meant to have a life of fire. During her thirty years of fire service she had an injury which lead her to leave the most loved profession to spend five years in the least loved profession, that of an attorney. Once she was cleared, she returned to Cal Fire. She loved her years as a firefighter and wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Twelve years ago she and her husband, Bud, moved to the very special Carson Valley. In 2020 during the pandemic pickleball was picking up. During this “down time” she finished writing Burnt but she missed people. A friend suggested she try the newer sport of pickleball which was blowing up because it could be played with social distancing. She was not instantly addicted, but yes, she became addicted. She described pickleball as if ping pong and tennis had a baby. Her second book, Just One More Game, was inspired by going on a quest to figure out why pickleball was affecting the nation like a second virus. The title came from what you say when you are preparing to leave the court and someone says play one more game because they need a fourth.
While undergoing a neck dissection and biopsy, instead of thinking of those family members and fellow firefighters lost to cancer, or fearing radiation, chemotherapy or even death, she thought only of losing pickleball play time. How had this sport gotten such a stranglehold on her? She compared what she spent on pickleball to skiing or golf. Playing at the Community Center is not so expensive, but shoes, paddles and clothing can increase the cost as you chase the edge a newer, sometimes way more expensive, paddle or pair of shoes can give your game. Then the hot tubs on sale at Costco start looking like a better bet than the medical cost of not buying one. This is only the beginning of the upgrades to your equipment, lessons or training. In her year long quest she found that she spent far more on pickleball than on skiing. Her conclusion: pickleball feeds a lot of human needs; outside play, social interaction, competition which gives you purpose, and the dopamine release of play. It is fun, it is like recess.
In answer to a question she discussed the attitude among male firefighters. Her strategy was to not pay any attention to fact that she was different so not one else would. In 1982 only 2% of firefighters were women, today that has increased to a whopping 4%. She learned to drink her coffee black to prove she was no priss. At Cal Fire she worked with prisoners and is a fan of the inmate firefighter program. Non-violent inmates are candidates for the program and while there are no fences there are very few escapes because the program gives the inmates purpose, life skills and better food.
In Rotary business there are 33 members attending the Tahoe Knight Monsters game on Saturday. Members are encouraged to wear Rotary gear for the picture on ice. Minden Rotary’s grant request has been approved by the District. This project is to cover the costs of a bronze Battle Field Memorial which will be placed in the Eastside Memorial Park near the flag. The dedication will be Memorial Day, 2027. There will be a color guard in attendance.
