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Pioneers of Flight – The First Powder Puff Derby in 1929
Jan. 22, 2019
Mill Valley Rotarian Sue Royce is our speaker on October 30th. Her presentation is entitled: "Pioneers of Flight – The First Powder Puff Derby in 1929." Sue will discuss the history of women in air racing. She will begin with the 20 women who defied convention by taking to the skies and racing across the country in 1929 for the 1st Women’s National Air Derby, later tagged the Powder Puff Derby. With just a compass and road map to guide them, these brave pilots navigated from Santa Monica to Cleveland, Ohio encountering rough weather, mechanical failures and rumors of sabotage. Fast forward to 1976, Sue will share her experience flying from Sacramento to Wilmington, DE with her mother, Beth Fuhrman, in the last Powder Puff Derby and also the Angel Derby in 1978 from Dallas to Freeport, Bahamas. She will finish up her presentation with the Air Race Classic (formerly the Powder Puff Derby) which she competed in last year, for fun, for the amazing experience once again and also in memory of her mother who passed away one month before the race. Sue flew her single engine Cherokee 180 from Novato, CA to Frederick, MD for the start of the race, which started in Frederick and ended in Santa Fe, NM. |
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"Burning Man Art: Movement or Moment?"
Feb. 05, 2019
She will discuss her book, "Burning Man: Art on Fire," which showcases the stunning works of art unique to the desert gathering of Burning Man. She asserts that Burning Man art is actually a modern movement, similar to Impressionism or Cubism, with its own manifesto and attributes. Come learn about the creative impulse that imagines the largest temporary art gallery in the world and then makes it disappear one week later. |
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"The Mating Game"
Feb. 12, 2019
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"San Francisco in World War II"
Feb. 19, 2019
Everything changed on the morning of December 7, 1941, and life in San Francisco was no exception. Flush with excitement and tourism in the wake of the 1939 Golden Gate International Exposition, the city was stunned at the severity of the Pearl Harbor attack, and quickly settled into organized chaos with its new role as a major deployment center for the remainder of the war. “Frisco” teemed with servicemen and servicewomen during and after the conflict, forever changing the face of this waterfront city. Warships roamed the bay, and fearsome gun embankments appeared on the cliffs facing the sea, preparing to repel an invasion that never happened. |
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"My Life in Court and One Small Boy."
Feb. 26, 2019
He will discuss his experiences as a trial attorney in his 53 years of practice, including 1st case (lost); 1st jury trial (spoiler alert: dog death case); to famous Christoff v. Nestle (jury verdict after 1 month trial, $15.6 million award in mis-appropriation of likeness on Taster’s Choice Coffee jar, ended up in Supreme Court of California). Done in light tone, humorous, more entertaining than informative. Includes discussion of the case which inspired by just published book "Gone Misssing." |
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"...As If They Were Angels."
Mar. 05, 2019
This is also the title of her latest documentary film which had three showings at the recent Mill Valley Film Festival. Her subject is a little known story of one of the worst non-combat disasters in the history of the US Navy. February 18, 1942, a convoy of three ships is on the final approach to the US Naval base in Argentia, Newfoundland. Zig-zagging to avoid U boats in the North Atlantic, beset by a brutal winter storm, they’re shipwrecked on the rugged cliffs. It’s a story of navigation errors, the loss of two navy ships — USS Truxtun and USS Pollux — a steep loss of life, and the heroism of miners and fisherman who walked miles through snow and ice to rescue the American sailors. It’s the story of the women, whose life saving, hands on work brought many sailors back from the effects of crude oil and frost bite. At the end of the day, it was said that every family home had a sailor in the parlor. Terry's dad was one of those sailors. 203 sailors died, 186 were rescued by extraordinary acts of heart, courage, and humanity by the people of Lawn and St. Lawrence. In 1988, the Newfoundlanders had a reunion, survivors and rescuers met again after 46 years. She went with her mother and father and they began the process of telling this story. While it remains little known to the world, it’s memorialized every year on the cliffs of Newfoundland and is very much alive on the lips and in the hearts of the sons and daughters, the grandchildren and now great grandchildren of rescuers, survivors and those who died. A story, my dad always said, of man’s humanity to man. As one reviewer said, “After watching this touching and illuminating documentary, I feel that this story of heartwarming heroism needs to be heard now more than ever before.” |
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"Extreme Trust"
Mar. 12, 2019
Don will discuss: Honesty as a Competitive Advantage. Earning a customer’s trust has always been important to a business, but in the new world of ubiquitous interactivity customers have come to demand a higher standard. Today’s customers demand that businesses watch out for their interests proactively– helping them avoid costly mistakes or oversights, for instance, and ensuring they have all the information they need. Why technology changes the “dimension” of business competition. The two requirements for earning trust – competence and good intentions. How to leverage this trend and use customer trust as a competitive advantage. |
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"Beyond the Image"
Mar. 26, 2019
He will give us a brief intro about his motivation to go to El Salvador, how and when he got there and a description of his experiences as a photographer during the last part of the civil war and the beginning of the post war period. Since the images of the exhibit are focused on different “subjects” in the time frame, he will have the opportunity to touch a few different topics such as: human rights, repression by the El Salvadorean Government, United States involvement in the Central American conflicts, military situation in the conflict, post war period etc.
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"The Rise of, and Crisis in, Venezuela’s Socialism of the 21st Century”
Apr. 02, 2019
Contemporary Venezuela is characterized by political and economic crisis. The US government and media portray the crisis as almost solely the product of the country’s leftist governments of the past two decades, which first came to power with the election of Hugo Chávez Frías in 1998. Government policy errors, particularly during the mandate of President Nicolás Maduro, have undoubtedly contributed to the crisis. Yet, its origins go a long way back in the country’s history and are complex. This talk will situate the current crisis in the context of Venezuela’s dependence on oil exports to fuel its economy and the common problems associated with this kind of “resource curse.” It will also examine the efforts to, and difficulties encountered in, enacting social change in the country’s agricultural sector, which has been a key area targeted for reform. |
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"In Dover Until it Was Over: Swimming the English Channel (twice)"
Apr. 09, 2019
Sausalito resident and marathon swimmer Melissa Blaustein will tell her story of disappointment and perseverance in her quest to complete one of the world's most difficult endurance challenges. Melissa will share her personal experience of learning to swim less than three years ago to becoming a world-record holding marathon swimmer. Hear how she trained for the 21 mile 15 hour 51 minute swim, the bizarre carbohydrates and hot chocolates she consumed on the journey, and the failure of her first attempt followed by the harrowing events of her success just two weeks later, which has led her to believe that anything is possible if you believe in your own ability to achieve it. Melissa translates her love for the ocean into her role as a sustainability commissioner for the City of Sausalito. |
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"Return of the Repressed: The Populist Upsurge in Contemporary Europe"
Apr. 16, 2019
Using the national examples of France, Germany, and Italy, his talk will explore the rise of right-populist parties and leaders in recent years, arguing that the current populist upheaval has its organizational origins and ideological underpinnings in the first two decades after World War II. During that period practitioners of far-right politics survived brief and superficial repressions to gain traction among various self-perceived victims of rapid historical change. Given the deep historical roots and ideological entrenchment of today 's right-populist groups on the European Continent, this phenomenon is unlikely to fade away any time soon. In the past, mainstream parties' efforts to weaken the far-right by subsuming some of its policies and practices typically failed -- a failure that has been repeated more recently. Dealing with the ongoing influence of hyper-nationalist organizations claiming to speak for "the little man" will be among the major challenges facing the beleaguered European Union in coming years.
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"The Golden Age of Television"
Apr. 23, 2019
He will discuss the history, development and the programming that helped shape our lives. His presentation begins in 1839 when the idea of the tele-ectroscope or "seeing by wireless" was born. He will take us through the development of the television set and discuss some of the most popular TV programs of the 1950s and 1960s. He will help us relive our childhood and bring back fond memories of yesteryear and those classic programs of the Golden Age of Television. |
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"Investing for a Better Planet as You Invest for Your Retirement"
Apr. 30, 2019
He will discuss how your investment choices impact the world, for better or worse. He will show you ways that your investments can make positive change regarding the environmental and social issues that you care about, while still maintaining your growth or preservation strategy for your retirement portfolio, by explaining: An overview of the areas and issues you could focus on. The tried-and-true strategies that you can use. Steps, tools and tips to help you get started with your own investments. |
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" Fat Tire Flyer: Repack and the Birth of Mountain Biking"
May 07, 2019
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"A Purposeful Life"
May 14, 2019
This presentation is about three important aspects of his life. For 13 years, he was a smoke jumper (parachute firefighter) for the federal government. Smoke jumping had a tremendous impact on his life, both as an artist and paramedic. He then became a firefighter in Belmont and San Carlos which led to his training as a paramedic. In my retirement he now regularly volunteers for overseas medical teams and works as a full-time artist in my studio located in Art Works Downtown in San Rafael. He has been deployed to Haiti, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Liberia (Ebola team), Nepal (earthquake), Greece (refugee crisis), and a trauma team in Iraq during the battle of Mosul. |
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“You'll Want an Electric Car – Here’s Why”
May 28, 2019
Learn why you will want your next car to be an electric vehicle (EV) in this myth-busting presentation by Dale Miller, president of the Golden Gate Electric Vehicle Association (GGEVA). Get answers about cost savings, tax benefits, performance, safety, long road trips, self-driving, and the joy of never having to go to a gas station again. Compare the reality versus the myths about driving electric. GGEVA, the Marin chapter of the Electric Auto Association, is a nonprofit educational, support and advocacy organization that promotes electric vehicles. A Marin resident, Dale has been driving an electric car for eight years. |
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"The Capture of the U-505 A Legion of Heroes"
Jun. 04, 2019
It is also the title of Bob's book. The capture of the German U-505 on June 4, 1944 was one of the most extraordinary stories to emerge from the Battle of the Atlantic in WWII. The U-505 was the first enemy man of war to be captured on the high seas since of the capture of the British brig, HMS Nautilus, in the War of 1812. The book follows Captain Daniel V. Gallery, USN, a Naval Aviator and master of Anti-Submarine Warfare, in his commands of PBY Squadrons VP-73, VP-84 and Hunter Killer Task Group (HKTG) 22.3, who is determined to capture a German U-Boat on the surface and salvage the intelligence prizes. The author follows the German submarine, the U-505, through the ordeals of Hans Goebeler, a German seaman who sailed on all nine combat patrols of the U-505. This book is a tribute to the courageous heroes, civilian and military, men and women who employed ingenious methods to counter enemy intelligence and tactics and who exhibited amazing bravery in risking their lives to defeat the enemies of the free world during the Battle of the Atlantic.
We will be hearing this presentation on the 74th anniversary date of the U-505 capture.
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"Shotguns and Stagecoaches: The Brave Men Who Rode for Wells Fargo in the Wild West"
Jun. 11, 2019
The phrase "riding shotgun" was no teenage game to the men who guarded stagecoaches and trains in the Western frontier. Armed with sawed-off, double-barreled shotguns and an occasional revolver, these Wells Fargo messengers guarded valuable cargo through lawless terrain. They were tough, fighting men who risked their lives every time they climbed into the front boot of a Concord coach. Among the great Wells Fargo men who guarded stages was detective Steve Venard, who in 1871 went undercover in Ukiah, Cloverdale, and Healdsburg, successfully infiltrating the John Houx gang of stage robbers. Another was Henry C. Ward, who was California’s first stage driver during the Gold Rush, then served thirty years as a Wells Fargo shotgun messenger, being wounded several times by bandits. Last but not least was Buck Montgomery, who went from running the Elite Restaurant in Ukiah, to his death at the hands of the notorious Ruggles brothers when they tried to rob his stage. Their stories, and many more, are told in Shotguns and Stagecoaches. |
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"Characters from the Early Days of San Quentin Prison"
Jun. 18, 2019
She will share with us some of the colorful history of the State’s oldest prison, including one of the earliest scandals surrounding the building of a wall. The talk will highlight some of the characters from the prison’s early days with stories about corrupt politicians, a female mob boss, a poet robber, Mae West, Jack London, and others. Kate is a retired California State attorney who represented the condemned on California’s death row as a Deputy State Public Defender.
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"Into Forgetfulness: Lessons from The Port Chicago Disaster & Mutiny"
Jul. 09, 2019
On the evening of July 17, 1944, residents in the San Francisco East Bay area were jolted awake by a massive explosion that cracked windows and lit up the night sky. At Port Chicago Naval Magazine, 320 men were instantly killed and approximately 400 were injured when two ships being loaded with ammunition for the Pacific theater troops blew up. The blast registered 3.4 on the Richter scale, was felt more than 450 miles away. It was WWII's worst home front disaster. Port Chicago Naval Magazine was the largest ammunition transshipment facility on the West Coast and was essential to the success of the war effort in the Pacific Theater. Much of the ammunition and bombs used by US forces in the Pacific passed through the hands of sailors at Port Chicago. Following the explosion, as before, surviving sailors received unequal treatment based on their race. When 50 African American survivors of the blast refused to return to work under the same unsafe conditions, they were court-martialed and sentenced to up to 15 years of hard labor. They were convicted of mutiny in the largest naval trial of its kind in US history. These convictions still stand today despite efforts to overturn them. The Port Chicago explosion, the mutiny trial, and the response of African-American communities to these events exposed the shameful injustices of racism in the military. These events were a catalyst for the Navy, the armed services, and ultimately, the nation to weigh the costs of racial segregation. The memorial serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggles for equality and social justice today. |
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"Kentucky Derby & Kentucky Bourbon"
Jul. 16, 2019
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