Mozart’s Midlife Crisis

THURSDAY, May 8, 2025

1:00 PM

THE OUTDOOR ART CLUB MEMBER HDL PROGRAM

Click to view Video on YouTube

Mozart’s Midlife Crisis
Steven Machtinger is a violist and lawyer who currently serves as President of the Board of Directors of the Marin Symphony Association. A graduate of Harvard College and the UCDavis law school, he also studied with the legendary violist Lillian Fuchs. In parallel with a career as securities lawyer, he has presented lectures, performances, and papers throughout the United States and abroad on the life and music of Wolfgang Amadè Mozart. His article “Mozart, Mendelssohn, and Metaphysics” was published in Acta Musicologica, the journal of the International Musicological Society, and his paper “Vestiges of Plague Literature in Mozart’s Idomeneo” is pending publication as a chapter of the book Mozart in Salzburg (editor, Simon P. Keefe.) Mozart’s Midlife Crisis and Emergence of His Late Style is the working title of his current book in process. He and his wife Susan make their home in Tiburon, where they raised their two children.

Program Chair…..Kate McCormick

Blood Drive at The Outdoor Art Club

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16, 2025

10:00 AM – 2:45 PM  at the Clubhouse
1 West Blithedale Avenue, Mill Valley CA 94941

COMMUNITY IMPACT PUBLIC EVENT

Invite your family and friends to Sign Up and Donate Blood.

Our blood drives are operated by Vitalant Blood Donation. Located in the OAC’s Main Hall, donations can be scheduled by appointment and are open to the community. Walk-ins are also welcome.

Click here to schedule an appointment on April 16

Click here to answer your questions on Blood Donation Eligibility.

Event Chairs…..Sara Byruck & Deborah Strull

Speaker Series: Sports in the Bay Area and Beyond

THURSDAY, April 3, 2025

7:00 PM An Evening in the Clubhouse

Click to view Video on YouTube

CIVICS & CONSERVATION PUBLIC PROGRAM

Everyone must register to attend this very popular event. Click here to RESERVE YOUR SPOT.

Program Chair…..Lori Howard

Sports in the Bay Area and Beyond

Ann Killion, longtime sports columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle, will host a lively discussion about the shifting sports landscape, both in the Bay Area and beyond. Will the Warriors return to greatness? Will the 49ers finally win that elusive sixth Lombardi trophy? What is happening with the rapid changes in college sports, including the collapse of the Pac-12, which sent Stanford and Cal to the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). What will the arrival of two women’s professional teams in the Bay Area mean? What are the implications of having the world’s biggest sporting event, the World Cup, in the U.S. – with games in Santa Clara – in 2026 and the Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028? Is the skyrocketing interest in women’s sports here to stay? We will discuss it all, with plenty of audience feedback and questions encouraged.

Speaker Series: Flood Control Part 2: An Ongoing Concern for Southern Marin

THURSDAY, March 20, 2025

7:00 PM Webinar

Click to view Video on YouTube

CULTURAL ARTS PUBLIC PROGRAM

Program Chair…..Karen Jernstedt

Flood Control Part 2: An Ongoing Concern for Southern Marin

Stephanie Moulton-Peters, Marin County District 3 Supervisor and Judd Goodman, Senior Civil Engineer at the Marin County Flood Control and Water Conservation District will update the community on flood control, an ongoing concern and opportunity. This presentation will cover studies, maintenance, and capital improvements aimed at reducing flood risk in Southern Marin. It will also describe ongoing strategies for climate change resiliency.

Isolationist Thought in America

THURSDAY, March 13, 2025

1:00 PM

THE OUTDOOR ART CLUB MEMBER HDL PROGRAM

Click to view Video on YouTube

Isolationist Thought in America
Mick Chantler, Historian, gives us perspective of history beginning with the first half of our 250 years when Americans generally avoided foreign adventures. When our Founding Fathers warned us against foreign entanglements, we listened. But then Washington succumbed to the siren song of imperialism or “expansionism.” We quickly gobbled up Hawaii, the Philippines, Guam, Puerto Rico, and Panama. The ghastly experience of World War I put the brakes on our endless military interventions overseas, and for a brief period we returned to our isolationist past. Pearl Harbor changed that impulse. But perhaps in the last 20 years or so, we’ve grown weary of what Donald Trump called “the endless war.” Many conservatives on the far right of the spectrum, are once again calling for disengagement, and tending to “America First.” Are they right? Would a second Trump administration take us out of N.A.T.O.? Is it even possible for America to bring home the troops? Can we quit playing “globo-cop?” These are the questions we will probe in this talk about our on-again-off-again romance with staying home.

Program Chair…..Barb Denson

Speaker Series: Astronomy and Look through a Telescope at the Sun

THURSDAY, March 6, 2025

1:00 PM Clubhouse

Click to view Video on YouTube

CULTURAL ARTS PUBLIC PROGRAM

Program Chair…..Jill Sampson

Astronomy and Look through a Telescope at the Sun

Dan Smiley is the founder of Marin Stargazers, a volunteer group dedicated to sharing the wonders of the universe with the public. As an amateur astronomer, he has presented dozens of events throughout Marin County and beyond to inspire people to connect with the cosmos. He grew up in Mill Valley in a musical family, and for over 30 years was a violinist with the San Francisco Symphony. Mr. Smiley is Vice President of the San Francisco Amateur Astronomers, helped the Mill Valley Public Library start its library telescope program, has traveled several times to Australia to view the southern skies, and is an advocate for DarkSky International. He lives with his wife Suzanne Leon, also a violinist with the San Francisco Symphony, in Mill Valley.

Marin Villages

THURSDAY, February 27, 2025

1:00 PM

THE OUTDOOR ART CLUB MEMBER Tea PROGRAM

Click to view Video on YouTube

Marin Villages: Helping Older Adults Lead Active Lives

Please join John Power, Executive Director of Marin Villages, as he describes this wonderful nonprofit organization dedicated to helping older adults successfully remain in their homes, continue to lead active lives, and stay connected to their communities. Recipient of a 2023-24 OAC Community Outreach Grant, Marin Villages relies upon a ‘Neighbors helping Neighbors’ model. In addition to providing a history of the Village Movement, its continuing growth nationwide, and the on-going successful work of Marin Villages within our own community, John will outline for us what opportunities there are for volunteering and the benefits one might enjoy through membership.

Program Chair…..Sheila Campbell

A Creative Culture

THURSDAY, February 13, 2025

1:00 PM

THE OUTDOOR ART CLUB MEMBER HDL PROGRAM

Click to view Video on YouTube

A Creative Culture
Dr. Ed Catmull is a co-founder of Pixar Animation Studios and served as their President for 33 years. For 13 of those 33 years, he was President of Walt Disney Animation Studios and previously was Vice President of the Computer Division of Lucasfilm Ltd. He has been honored with five Academy Awards, including two Oscars and a Lifetime Achievement Award. Dr. Catmull is also an ACM Turing Award Laureate. When Toy Story was released, he had achieved a 20-year goal. His focus turned to ensuring a sustainable and healthy culture that continues to make sophisticated films for adults and comedic films for children. He has many stories about this fascinating culture and its approach to making great films. He will describe how Pixar developed a remarkable company that provided support and honesty to the creative teams and why the relationship between art and technology is so energizing.

Program Chair…..Patti Melin & Lesley De Lone

Speaker Series: What Gets in the Way of People Understanding Each Other Better?

THURSDAY, February 6, 2025

1:00 PM Webinar

Click to view Video on YouTube

CULTURAL ARTS PUBLIC PROGRAM

Program Chair…..Daphne de Marneffe

What gets in the way of people understanding each other better?

Yael Schonbrun is a clinical psychologist, assistant professor at Brown University, and author of Work, Parent, Thrive: 12 Science-Backed Strategies to Ditch Guilt, Manage Overwhelm, and Grow Connection (When Everything Feels Like too Much), and parent of three. In her research, private practice, writing, and podcasting, Yael uses science and Eastern philosophy to explore practices proven to foster healthier relationships between partners, parents and children, and between our most important life roles. Yael is a frequent contributor to The Washington Post and her writing on work, parenting, and relationships has appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Greater Good Science Center, Behavioral Scientist, and Tricycle, among others.

Estate Sale at The Outdoor Art Club

FRIDAY, JANUARY 31 & SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2025

9:00 AM – 3:00 PM  at the Clubhouse
1 West Blithedale Avenue, Mill Valley CA 94941

BOARD SPONSORED FUNDRAISING EVENT
Open to the Public

It takes a village — or a club of 400 dedicated women willing to part with once-loved treasures from their closets, attics and garages — to help raise the necessary funds for a new commercial kitchen for our clubhouse (last remodeled in the 1960s, when many of the items featured at the sale were brand new!). With your help, our winter fundraising sale will feature a massive selection of one-of-a-kind donations, including vintage fashion, estate jewelry, art and lovely things for your home. Come browse all the departments for an amazing collection of leather handbags, vintage designer fashion, mid-century barware, special sparkly earrings, tiny side tables, original oil and watercolor paintings and more (all donated by our generous members).

Event Chairs…..Patti Flynn Boston, Michelle Slatalla & Stephanie Dorfman

Estate Sale Preview Party at The Outdoor Art Club

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2025

5:00 PM – 7:00 PM  in the Clubhouse
1 West Blithedale Avenue, Mill Valley CA 94941

BOARD SPONSORED FUNDRAISING EVENT
Open to the Public, Admission is $100 per ticket.
Tickets are on sale now. Click here to BUY TICKETS. SOLD OUT! Thank you everyone who bought a ticket, came and bought treasures!
More treasures can be had at ridiculously low prices on Friday and Saturday, January 31 & February 1 from 9am to 3pm. Everyone welcome. Free entry.
Proceeds support the Kitchen Renovation Campaign

Chance to win a Clubhouse Rental!

Don’t miss the sneak-peak, adrenaline rush of a cocktail-hour party to kick off the weekend winter sale to raise money for our new clubhouse kitchen. The sale will connect collectors and a new generation to one-of-a-kind, pre-loved treasures, including estate jewelry, vintage fashion, art and lovely items for your home—and the preview party will feature some of the most special items.

Tax ID #94-1013978

Event Chairs…..Betsey Cutler & Paula Reynolds

Speaker Series: Thriving! How to Create a Healthier, Happier, and More Prosperous Life

THURSDAY, January 23, 2025

1:00 PM Webinar

CULTURAL ARTS PUBLIC PROGRAM

Click to view Video on YouTube

Thriving! How to Create a Healthier, Happier, and More Prosperous Life

Rand Selig, a seasoned expert, shares tools and decades of wisdom to help you thrive in every stage of your life. Embrace your potential and a life of fulfillment with Thriving! This captivating book explores what it takes to create a purposeful, healthy, and happy life. Rand Selig, an accomplished entrepreneur, coach, scoutmaster, board member, and roll-up-your-sleeves conservationist, shares his extensive expertise in this book. With an MBA from Stanford and undergraduate degrees in mathematics and psychology, he excels at managing complex projects globally. He is relentlessly positive and believes he can design his own life and others can, too. Based in Mill Valley, he enjoys life’s adventures with his wife Carol, an OAC member.

Program Chair…..Jill Sampson

Speaker Series: Resilient Parks within Changing Land & Seascapes

THURSDAY, January 16, 2025

1:00 PM Clubhouse

CIVICS & CONSERVATION PUBLIC PROGRAM

Click to view Video on YouTube

Resilient Parks within Changing Land & Seascapes

Dr. Sarah Allen, marine ecologist and Science Program Lead for the National Park Service, shares stories about how managers are collaborating with scientists and other partners to preserve, protect and reimagine parks for the future. A paradigm shift for the 21st century on managing national parks is underway. Parks are no longer restoring ecosystems to some past vision of 19th century land and seascapes, but restoring processes under uncertain weather and climate patterns.

Program Chair…..Bridget Mazzini

Around the Political World

THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2025

1:00 PM

THE OUTDOOR ART CLUB MEMBER HDL PROGRAM

Click to view Video on YouTube

Around the Political World
John F. Rothmann is a politics/foreign policy consultant specializing on the US, Middle East and the USSR. A frequent lecturer on American Politics who has been called “a scholar of modern Republicanism” and acknowledged “for his unique insights.” He served as Director of the Nixon Collection at Whittier College, Chief of Staff to Sen. Milton Marks, Field Representative to Sen. Quentin Kopp, and was a founder of the Raoul Wallenberg Jewish Democratic Club. Widely published and honored, Rothmann has spoken on more than 150 campuses and has been on the faculty of USF. Both his B.A. and M.A. in Teaching are from Whittier College. He is the co-author of Icon of Evil — Hitler’s Mufti and the Rise of Radical Islam and Harold E. Stassen: The Life and Perennial Candidacy of the Progressive Republican.

Program Chair…..Susie Roy

Speaker Series: Book Passage’s Annual Holiday Book Fair

THURSDAY, November 21, 2024

1:00 PM Clubhouse

CULTURAL ARTS PUBLIC PROGRAM

Program Chair…..Robin Wein

Book Passage’s Annual Holiday Book Fair

Elaine Petrocelli, founder and President of Book Passage, will reveal her list of recommended books for the season. Join this beloved annual event and leave with the perfect gift order for everyone on your holiday list. A percentage of the book sales will be donated to the Outdoor Art Club.

Marin Theater

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2024

1:00 PM

THE OUTDOOR ART CLUB MEMBER HDL PROGRAM

Click to view Video on YouTube

Marin Theatre
Lance Gardner, Marin Theatre’s new Artistic Director, an actor and producer who appeared in six shows on the Marin stage and numerous others throughout the Bay Area, will tell us about his ambitious first season of five plays, including two U.S. premieres. He will provide his perspective about the challenges faced by American theaters navigating in a new landscape. Professional regional theaters like Marin Theatre in Mill Valley culturally enrich communities and bolster local economies, but the industry has experienced a lagging recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Program Chair…..Tracy Haughton

Speaker Series: Enriching Lives Through Music

THURSDAY, November 7, 2024

1:00 PM Clubhouse

CIVICS & CONSERVATION PUBLIC PROGRAM

Click to view Video on YouTube

Enriching Lives Through Music (ELM)

In 2008, Jane Kramer left college and took a risk. She bought 15 soprano recorders and began to fulfill her life-long dream of bringing accessible, inclusive music-making to a few San Rafael Canal-area kids. Now, Enriching Lives Through Music (ELM) is a full-scholarship, multi-year, intensive program that provides high quality music education and performance opportunities to enable youth to develop the social, emotional, and academic skills they need to succeed in life. Join ELM founder to learn how one person’s passion can change children’s lives.

Program Chair…..Beverly Rodgers

Blood Drive at The Outdoor Art Club

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2024

10:00 AM – 2:45 PM  at the Clubhouse
1 West Blithedale Avenue, Mill Valley CA 94941

COMMUNITY IMPACT PUBLIC EVENT

Donate blood in November and be automatically entered into a chance to win one of three $10,000 gift cards!

Invite your family and friends to Sign Up and Give.

Our blood drives are operated by Vitalant Blood Donation and follow all current health precautions. Located in the OAC’s Main Hall, donations can be scheduled by appointment and are open to the community. Walk-ins are also welcome.

Appointment times are now open. Select yours here.

Event Chairs…..Sara Byruck & Deborah Strull

Blue Zones Project Petaluma

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2024

1:00 PM

THE OUTDOOR ART CLUB MEMBER HDL PROGRAM

Click to view Video on YouTube

Blue Zones Project
Join Nichole Warwick, the Executive Director of Blue Zones Project Petaluma, as she shares their work and the importance of community and belonging. Belonging is one of the Blue Zones Power 9 Principles for health and longevity. Using the secrets from the original blue zones, Blue Zones Projects help people live better, longer through a comprehensive community transformation project that lowers healthcare costs, improves productivity, and boosts national recognition as great places to live, work, and play.

Program Chair…..Ann Aversa & Barb Denson

Speaker Series: An Unbiased Look from the League of Women Voters

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2024

1:00 PM Webinar

Click to View on YouTube 

CIVICS & CONSERVATION PUBLIC PROGRAM
Once again, the Marin and Sonoma League of Women Voters will be offering a nonpartisan and unbiased look at the pros & cons of the November election’s state ballot propositions. This special 90-minute presentation will include each proposition’s existing law, proposed changes, fiscal impact, the supporters & opponents as well as the campaign financing. This is your opportunity to demystify the ballot and clarify what a “yes vote means” and what a “no vote means.” The LWV envisions a democracy where every person has the desire, the right, the knowledge and the confidence to participate. Bring your questions and join this educational and informative event.

Program Chair…..Suzan Sweet

Ladies of Substance: The Story of Three of the OAC’s Early Presidents

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2024

1:00 PM

THE OUTDOOR ART CLUB TEA PROGRAM

Click to view video on YouTube

Ladies of Substance
Lynda Chittenden, assisted by Melissa Kurtz, will transport us back in time with stories of a few past presidents of the OAC. Although they lived their lives below the scrutiny of historians, these were Ladies of Substance, women whose histories were discoverable. You’ve read their names, and now you will learn of one who will make you proud, another who will make you smile with affection while another might make you question some of her choices. But all were women important to our Club’s history, ladies you will be glad to know more about.

Program Chair…..Lynda Chittenden

MARIN MASTERS FINE ART SHOW and BENEFIT
A Gala Event Showcasing Local Artisans!

Thursday & Friday, May 30th & 31st 5:00 – 8:00 pm

Location: The Outdoor Art Club in Mill Valley’s historic Maybeck building
1 West Blithedale Avenue – Mill Valley, CA 94941

Event Chairs: Victoria Mimiaga & Teresa Rea

Speaker Series: Flood Control: An Ongoing Concern for Southern Marin

THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 2024

1:00 PM

CIVICS & CONSERVATION PUBLIC PROGRAM

Click to view Webinar Recording on YouTube

Hear from Marin County Supervisor Stephanie Moulton-Peters and staff
members from the Department of Public Works and the Flood Control
District as they discuss the flood control concerns for Marin County,
specifically Mill Valley and Southern Marin. The effects of climate change,
including more frequent and intense storms, sea-level rise, and changing
precipitation patterns, pose additional challenges for managing flood risks.
The county continues to adapt its strategies, working towards sustainable
solutions and collaborating with regional and state agencies to mitigate
the impact of flooding on the community. Flooding at Manzanita, the
Highway 1 exit and Marin City as well as other relevant issues will be
discussed.

Program Chair…..Karen Jernstedt

Speaker Series: The Wolfpack

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2024

CULTURAL ARTS PUBLIC PROGRAM

Click to view Webinar recording on YouTube

Crystal Moselle is an internationally acclaimed, female Director who considers herself as a hybrid filmmaker. Her work, The Wolfpack film, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival where it won the Documentary Grand Jury Prize. Moselle served as writer, director, and executive producer of Betty, an HBO series based upon the film Skate Kitchen. She will share her experiences and her unique process of directing, writing and finding her inspiration, as well as her current projects.

Program Chair …..McLain Bennett

Speaker Series: American Masterpieces: Artistic Legacy of California Indian Basketry

THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2024

1:00 PM

CULTURAL ARTS PUBLIC PROGRAM

Click to view webinar recording on  YouTube

Sherrie Smith-Ferri will survey the textile treasures woven by Pomo Indian basketmakers from the early 1800s until today. Her presentation will examine the extensive botanical knowledge and the sophisticated environmental skills that underlie the creation of these beautiful artworks.

Sherrie was Executive Director of the Grace Hudson Museum and Sun House in Ukiah, CA and has been the consultant for California Indian-related exhibitions at the National Museum of the American Indian and the de Young Museum, among others. Growing up, she was inspired by her grandmother, weaver Lucy Lozinto Smith, who told her, “The basket is in the roots – that is where it all begins.”

Program Chairs…..Dinna Eisenhart & Peller Marion

Speaker Series: The Biology of Belonging

Program Chair…..Lori Howard

Speaker Series: Green Change: Our Community’s Transition to Sustainable Living

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2023

1:00 PM

CIVICS & CONSERVATION PUBLIC PROGRAM
At the OAC Clubhouse

Click to view Recording of live presentation on YouTube

Fabrice Florin is director and founder of Green Change (https://greenchange.net/), a nonprofit climate action network that helps people go green. They develop events and content to support a growing community of engaged citizens. As a multimedia innovator, Fabrice has pioneered a wide range of art, education, news and entertainment projects at Apple, Wikipedia and other digital media ventures. Fabrice now lends his creative expertise to raise awareness about the climate crisis and to inspire people to live sustainably. He will share his own family’s journey to a carbon neutral lifestyle, and offer practical tips for taking action in our daily lives to help create a more just and sustainable world.

Program Chair…..Bridget Mazzini

Art, Architecture and Community

Thursday, November 9, 2023

1:00 PM

Daniel Castor is both a skilled architect and talented artist. He recently embarked on a series of constructions that are artistic and also educational. These include a large camera obscura on wheels, anamorphic projections, complex polyhedra, solar mapping studies plus the grandmother of all disco balls. Last summer he installed a 30 ft. “Sunflower for Ukraine” at the Marin County Fair. In his talk, Daniel will explain how his complex visual work explores the relationships between art, architecture and community.

Click to view presentation on YouTube

Program Chair…..Lynda Chittenden

Speaker Series: 26.2 to Life

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2023

1:00 PM

CULTURAL ARTS PUBLIC PROGRAM

Click for webinar recording on YouTube

Christine Yoo is a filmmaker who has produced and directed a new award-winning, independent documentary, 26.2 TO LIFE, that explores
the transformative power of San Quentin’s 1000 Mile Club in which incarcerated runners are coached by volunteer elite marathon runners for
an annual marathon that takes place entirely within the prison. With the 0% recidivism rate among the released members of the club, the story of the 1000 Mile Club shows how powerful community engagement can be, not just for the incarcerated runners, but also for the volunteers who gain a complex understanding of who ends up in prison and why and what true rehabilitation looks like. We encourage members to see the film prior to the webinar. The film will open on Sept 22 in theaters in Marin County and will have a nationwide virtual premiere the week of Sept 25 (exact date is TBD). In 2024 the film will be broadcast on PBS. For more information about the film, visit: www.sanquentinmarathon.com.

Program Chair…..Dinna Eisenhart

Join Lisa Lord, a nationally known speaker and executive coach, as she explores the reasons behind our unconscious bias and how it can get in the way of building genuine human connections. Unconscious bias is not always apparent and addressing it has more to do with self-discovery

and personal growth than with political correctness or polite behavior. By joining this webinar, you will discover strategies to increase your awareness and recognize how unconscious bias can hinder the formation of meaningful and long-lasting connections. With a little bit of knowledge and a genuine desire to foster human connection, we can all improve our ability to consciously include others.

Program Chair: Lori Howard

Click to view recording on YouTube

California Wildflowers and Climate Change

THURSDAY, April 20, 2023  1:00 pm  Webinar
Cultural Arts Literary & Garden Public Program

Nita Winter and Rob Badger, internationally acclaimed conservation photographers, take you behind the scenes of their 27-year journey photographing wildflowers and superblooms throughout California and the West. In their new 12-time award winning coffee table book, Beauty and the Beast: California Wildflowers and Climate Change, art and science are seamlessly woven into a beautiful work that celebrates California’s amazing plant diversity and inspires hope and action. Wildflowers are especially vulnerable to climate change and habitat loss, and the photographers and the book’s 16 diverse authors have dedicated their life’s work to protecting these flowers and addressing climate change. With this project they hope to inspire others to do the same.  The book is available at local bookstores and through www.wildflowerbooks.com.

Program Chair…..Barbara Robertson

Click to view Webinar Recording on YouTube

Thursday, April 6th

1:00 PM – Open to the Public

Do you know how to do the new CPR? Updated life-saving techniques have made saving a life more manageable. The process uses compressions only. The Southern Marin Fire Department will teach how to call 911, how to use the AED (Automatic External Defibrillator), and how to do CPR compressions. CPR practice mannequins will be available.

Additionally, the SMFD will define what makes a Defensible Space.

The Insect Crisis:

Why It Matters and What You Can Do About It

THURSDAY, March 23, 2023  1:00 pm
Civics & Conservation Public Program

Dr. Paul da Silva, entomologist, education advocate, and Marin environmental education leader, explains the global insect crisis. A rapid decline in insect numbers and diversity over the last 30 years presents a serious ecological crisis worldwide. Scientists estimate that 40% of insect species are at risk for extinction over the next few decades threatening a crucial foundation of our global food web.  Learn to make friends with insects and take simple but meaningful actions to support biodiversity and protect these crucial critters.

“If all mankind were to disappear, the world would regenerate back to the rich state of equilibrium that existed 10,000 years ago. If insects were to vanish, the environment would collapse into chaos.” E.O Wilson

Program Chair – Bridget Mazzini

Click to view Webinar Recording on YouTube

The Commonweal Garden – Nature & Healing

THURSDAY, January 26, 2023  1:00 pm  Webinar
Cultural Arts Garden Public Program

Program Chair…..Carol Banquer

Anna O’Malley, an Integrative Family and Community Medicine physician, is the founder and director of Natura Institute. She stewards Commonweal Garden, a magical valley on the mesa in Bolinas, where she has developed a healing center. There, individuals come together in community to focus on nourishing body, mind and spirit. She teaches us that ecological awareness, profound respect for life, and connection to the source of well-being guide us toward healing and wholeness. She will speak about how deep appreciation of the wisdom of Nature underlies optimal nutrition, health, and well-being.

Click to learn more about the Commonweal Garden

Click to view Webinar Recording on YouTube

Book Passage’s Annual Holiday Book Fair

Cultural Arts Literary Public Program

Program Chair…..Dinna Eisenhart

Book Passage will offer a donation to the Outdoor Art Club for purchases made on December 1st or 2nd in the San Francisco or Corte Madera stores and online. Purchasers should say they are from the Outdoor Art Club (OAC) and should write OAC in the comments field for online purchases.

When Elaine Petrocelli opened a tiny bookstore 40 years ago, she envisioned a place that would bring the world of books to customers of all ages. Today there are Book Passage stores in Corte Madera and the San Francisco Ferry Building.  Elaine will highlight new literature and suggest books for holiday gift-giving at this popular annual event.

Click here for a list of the books Elaine will be discussing.

Click to view Webinar Recording on YouTube

The November 8th Ballot Propositions

THURSDAY, October 6, 2022  1:00 PM  Webinar
Civics & Conservation Public Program

Program Chair…..Suzan Sweet

Click to View recording on YouTube

As a non-partisan organization, The League of Women Voters, will be presenting with Lynn Dooley moderating, an unbiased look at the propositions on the November ballot.  You will hear each Proposition’s Title, Question, Current Situation, Proposal, Fiscal Effect, What Supporters Say/List of Supporters, What Opponents Say/List of Opponents, and what a “Yes” vote means and what a “No” vote means.

Link to a list of the propositions covered

Click here for a listing of Non-partisan Websites

Hidden Consequences:

The Broader Impacts of Incarceration for Families

THURSDAY, September 15, 2022  1:00 PM  Webinar
Civics & Conservation Public Program

Erin McCauley, Ph.D. M. Ed., Assistant Professor of Sociology, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, will share her work on the consequences of incarceration on families. She focuses on the intergenerational implications of having an incarcerated parent for children and young adults. A Q&A session will follow.

Program Chair…..Karen Jernstedt

Click to view Webinar Recording on YouTube

SEMI-ANNUAL BLOOD DRIVE

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19th

10:00am – 2:45pm

Blood Drive Co-Chairs, Debbie Carmichael, Kathy Crosby Striker, and Cathy Blumber

PEACEBUILDING ON THE FRONTLINES – SEARCH FOR COMMON GROUND

THURSDAY, MAY 5TH,  2022 – 1 PM 

We are honored and excited to host speakers from the World’s Largest Peace Building Organization, Search for Common Ground (Search). VP of Human Resources, Jacqueline Oburu, interviews Judy Kimamo, Country Director, Search for Common Ground, Kenya

Creativity and ingenuity have always been hallmarks of the Search for Common Ground approach. In just one of many innovative initiatives, Judy Kimamo helped to restore Kenya’s economy when she led her team in a breakthrough project to stop extremists from sneaking into Kenya. (Responding to the extremist threat, the government had banned nighttime fishing, thus tanking the coastal economy.) Posing as fishermen, Kimamo’s team successfully arranged digital identity cards for fellow fishermen, convincing the government to lift the nighttime fishing ban and restore economic balance! Join us to learn how Search’s five values: Collaboration, Audacity,Tenacity, Empathy and Results are keys to their amazing mission and work. We guarantee you’ll be inspired.

To view a YouTube video to understand the mission of SFCG: Click 

Click to view Webinar Recording on YouTube

Carol Banquer, Cultural Arts Event Chair

DEMENTIA OR ALZHEIMERS? ADVICE/SUPPORT FOR CAREGIVERS

THURSDAY, APRIL 7TH, 2022 – 1 PM 

Gene Girimonte and Shelley Dombroski from The Alzheimer’s Association will give an overview of the distinction between Alzheimer’s and Dementia.  They will present the latest treatments and medical facts.  Along with this presentation, Gene and Shelley will discuss effective communication strategies and will address hands-on care, best practices and resources for CareGivers.  Their talk will conclude with a Q&A session.

Program Chair:  Joanne Zavlaris

Click to view Webinar Recording on YouTube

108 BELOVED OBJECTS

A Special Solo Performance by Jeff Greenwald, Author/Journalist/Ethical Traveler

THURSDAY, MARCH 31ST, 2022 – 1 PM 

“What do a pink elephant, a Cuban beer bottle, and a Krishna statue have in common? All are among the 108 Beloved Objects featured in author/journalist Jeff Greenwald’s new one-man show. With COVID-19 squashing his travel assignments, Jeff decided to take an inward journey – around his Oakland flat. He picked out 108 objects, all of which evoked personal passages, and made a decision: He would part with the items but hold onto their stories …” https://themarsh.org/.

Jeff is the author of eight books, including Shopping for Buddhas and The Size of the World. He co-authored The Nine Gifts with Christine Marie Mason, and Out of Nothing with Burning Man co-founder Larry Harvey. He is the executive director of the non-profit Ethical Traveler, a global alliance dedicated to creating positive global change through travel. Jeff is a Member Emeritus of the San Francisco Writers’ Grotto, a faculty member of the Book Passage Travel Writers’ Conference, and a sworn enemy of fascism in all its forms, foreign or domestic.

Lynn Fabian Lasner, Cultural Arts Event Chair

Click to view Webinar Recording on YouTube

“COOL” IN POSTWAR AMERICA

Speaker: Mick Chantler, MA

Thursday, March 10th, 2022

The word “cool” once held a powerful emotional charge. Unlike its current use, a synonym for “nice,” cool once had radical political and social implications. The concept arose after WWII in Europe and America when many people were groping for a new vision for the future, protesting racism, sexual repression, and social conformity. “Cool” people in the ’40s and ’50s were fed up with bourgeois mediocrity and searched for new ways to express their rebellious independence. Cool came to permeate music, film, literature, and philosophy. Mick Chantler, MA will take us on a deep dive into the concept’s development and show how it has impacted the “post-cool” world.

Click to view Webinar Recording on YouTube

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DANCE AND MENTAL WELL-BEING

THURSDAY, March 3rd, 2022 – 1 PM

Speaker: Ben Needham-Wood, former Smuin Ballet Dancer, educator, choreographer

Sherri Yoshizu and Pamela Cooper, Cultural Arts Event Chairs

Click to view Webinar Recording on YouTube

THE WORK OF THE CANAL ALLIANCE

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24TH, 2022 – 1 PM

Speaker: Sara Matson, Development Director, San Rafael’s Canal Alliance

Program Chair: Dinna Eisenhart

Click to view Webinar Recording on YouTube

WILDLIFE IN MARIN: FRIEND AND FOE

THURSDAY, JANUARY 27TH, 2022 – 1 PM

The Bay Area is teeming with wildlife – playful squirrels, lovely birds, and those not so welcome – rats, skunks, raccoons and coyotes.  How do we deal with the “problems” these animals may present when them we meet on the trail or in our backyards? That’s where Alison Hermance, Director of Communications at WildCare comes in.  With her 18 years of experience at WildCare in San Rafael, Alison will share facts and anecdotes to teach us how to make peace with our wild neighbors.  She’ll help us learn how to keep some animals at bay and how to accept others into our space.  We’ll also learn how animals are cared for at WildCare and what to do if we find an ill or injured animal.

Program Chair:  Mary Herr

Click to view Webinar Recording on YouTube

FINDING ART IN THE OCEAN

THURSDAY, JANUARY 2OTH, 2022 – 1 PM

Josie Iselin is a fine art photographer and book author passionate about the natural world around her. Josie is intent on looking closely at the objects of our world and asking how we can learn both about and from them. Her newest book, The Curious World of Seaweed, takes a deep dive into the ocean universe of marine algae, creating a nexus where art and science converge. She holds a BA in Visual and Environmental Studies from Harvard and an MFA from San Francisco State University. Her writing and art focused on seaweed, kelp and sea otter, put her on the forefront of ocean activism, collaborating with scientists and groups working to preserve the kelp forests of our Pacific Coast. Through art, design and research, Iselin will delight you with her gorgeous seaweed imagery.

Kathy King, Cultural Arts Event Chair

Click to view Webinar Recording on YouTube

The Power of Murals and Mosaics in Public Places

Wednesday, December 15th – 1pm

Across the United States, South America and in Paris, Greta McLain’s murals/mosaics use the power of visual language to activate and bond the voices of diverse communities. (President Obama has even Tweeted and posted McLain’s powerful murals on Instagram!) By designing public spaces to enrich positive energy and celebrate the people, histories, challenges and richness that exist in surrounding communities, McLain’s murals strive to express the narrative of the neighborhood from the point of view of the people who live there.

McLain Bennett, Cultural Arts Event Chair

Click to view Webinar Recording on YouTube

STATE OF THE CITY

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7TH – 1 PM

We hope to see you next Thursday, October 7, at 1 PM for the Club’s annual “State of the City” presentation with Mayor John McCauley and City Manager Alan Piombo. As we work to put the COViD-19 pandemic in our rear view mirror, how is the City getting back to “normal” and making progress on other critically important issues? Mayor McCauley and Mr. Piombo will discuss affordable housing, traffic congestion, wildfire preparedness and emergency evacuations, facility and roadway upgrades, and ongoing initiatives related to diversity, equity and inclusion in Mill Valley.

They will also discuss how the past year impacted the City’s financial health, the challenges on the horizon, and how the City plans to address them. A Q&A session will follow

Program Chair:  Suzan Sweet

Click to view Webinar Recording on YouTube

DROUGHT/FIRE: PARCHED BUT PREPARED

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15TH – 1 PM

Fred Hilliard is the first Division Chief/Fire Marshal in the District to oversee all areas related to fire prevention and community risk reduction.  He will speak about critical alerts and warnings, what we can do at home and in our neighborhoods, communication and refuge areas. Carrie Pollard, Water Efficiency Manager at Marin Water, will then provide an update on the drought situation.  2020 was the second-driest year in 90 years.  In response to our low water supply, Marin Water District’s Board of Directors adopted a resolution declaring initial water conservation actions. Hear about what happens going forward and what you can do to help.

Program Chair:  Jill Sampson

Click to View Webinar Recording on YouTube

THE LATEST AND GREATEST NEWS FROM THE DISTANT UNIVERSE

MAY 13, 2021 @ 1PM

Dr. J. Xavier Prochaska, professor of Galactic and Stellar Studies at UC Santa Cruz, studies galaxies and fleeting phenomena known as transient sources using the light from stars and quasars to examine matter that reveals itself in silhouette.  He will talk about this powerful approach to astronomical observation and the latest exciting discoveries in astrophysics.  Be ready for some surprises.

Click to view Webinar Recording on YouTube

THE STATE OF THE COUNTY

MAY 6, 2021 @ 1PM

Supervisor Stephanie Moulton-Peters will give an update on Marin County news and issues and talk about her agenda as a supervisor, which includes safety, evacuation planning, improving communications at the city, county, and state level, and addressing the recurrent flooding of surface streets in Southern Marin.

Click to view Webinar Recording on YouTube

LOCAL BUSINESS HEROES

APRIL 22, 2021 @ 1PM

When the state ordered all businesses to close their doors in March, these pragmatic and visionary Mill Valley business owners pivoted quickly to serve their customers and support their neighbors in a time of crisis. Join Susan Griffin Black from EO Products, Ryan Canepa from Mill Valley Market, and Peter Schumacher of Bungalow 44, Buckeye Roadhouse, and Playa as they recall their innovative responses to this once-in-a-lifetime emergency.

Click to view Webinar Recording on YouTube

FIGHTING FOR HOUSING IN AMERICA

APRIL 15, 2021 @ 1PM

Is it possible to balance availability, affordability, and return on real estate investment? Conor Dougherty, New York Times reporter and author of Golden Gates, will share real-life stories about people struggling to find affordable housing in San Francisco’s sky-high rental market and offer innovative solutions to the economic and political problems that have caused our housing crisis.

Click to view Webinar Recording on YouTube

PRISON TO EMPLOYMENT CONNECTION

APRIL 1, 2021 @ 1PM

In 2014, Diana Williams founded Prison to Employment Connection, a non-profit that helps incarcerated men at San Quentin transition to employment upon release.  The program boasts a recidivism rate of 1% compared to a disturbing rate of 60% in the state of California.  Diana and three formerly incarcerated men who graduated from the program will discuss the the impact this groundbreaking program has made on the lives of men re-entering society.

Click to view Webinar Recording on YouTube

CARING FOR OUR OCEANS

MARCH 25, 2021 @ 1PM

The Marine Mammal Center is a world leader in ocean conservation through marine mammal rescue, veterinary science, and education.  Adam Ratner, Associate Director of Conservation Education at the Center, will describe how the Center rescues, treats, and rehabilitates sick and injured animals in its state-of-the-art veterinary facility, then returns them to their natural habitat.

THE LIVING WALLS

MARCH 18, 2021 @ 1PM

David Brenner of Habitat Horticulture has designed stunning living garden walls for MOMA, Salesforce, and other San Francisco businesses and organizations. Learn how you can make this unique, vertical planting option work in your own home or garden.

Click to view Webinar Recording on YouTube

YOU CAN GARDEN FOR LIFE!

WHAT’S THE BIG IDEA?  A LOOK AT UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATING ART

FEBRUARY 25, 2021 @ 1PM

Julie Charles of SF MOMA will join us for a fun and interactive look at different ways of seeing the art of our time, and address the genesis of conceptual art in an easy-to-understand way.

Click to view Webinar Recording on YouTube

CREATING THE RELATIONSHIPS YOU WANT WITH THE PEOPLE WHO MATTER

FEBRUARY 18, 2021 @ 1PM

Licensed marriage and family therapist Gail Weiner has helped individuals, couples, and families improve their relationship skills for over three decades, with particular expertise in guiding mid-life women to successful dating and helping couples connect more deeply. She will share clinical research, inspirational stories, and practical steps for living your most authentic, connected life with the people you care about most.

Click to view Webinar Recording on YouTube

ONE OF THE “BIG GUNS” FIGHTING CORONAVIRUS

FEBRUARY 11, 2021 @ 1PM

Mill Valley resident Dr. Melanie Ott, M.D., Ph.D., is the Director of the Gladstone Institute of Virology and a professor of medicine at UC San Francisco.  She was recently recognized by the San Francisco Chronicle as one of ten top Bay Area scientists collaborating in the race to stop the novel coronavirus.  Dr. Ott will discuss the work she and her colleagues are doing to develop one drug to treat multiple viruses, including new and emerging viruses.

Click to view Webinar Recording on YouTube

RITUAL AND RESILIENCE DURING COVID-19

JANUARY 28, 2021 @ 1PM

Death is closer than ever, while the pandemic limits traditional expressions of community and ceremony.  Katy Butler will share how homegrown rituals, including virtual ones, can help us honor our losses and build resilience in this time of separation.  Using examples from her book, The Art of Dying Well, and her recent essay in the Wall Street Journal, she will help us rediscover meaning and strengthen confidence.  She will also facilitate a sample candle lighting ceremony to enhance our sense of community and sacred connection.  Please bring a candle to light during the webinar.

Click to view Webinar Recording on YouTube

GROW WHAT YOU LOVE

JANUARY 21, 2021 @ 1PM

Emily Murphy, an organic gardener, author, and blogger who has appeared on NBC’s Today Show, is an expert in garden-to-table gardening. Using her easy-to-follow tips, both novices and experienced gardeners can grow organic vegetables and herbs in a way that seamlessly integrates into modern lifestyles, and serve homegrown produce at their tables all year round.

Click to view Webinar Recording on YouTube

THE MANY FACES OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN

JANUARY 14, 2021 @ 1PM

While most Americans consider Abraham Lincoln one of our nation’s greatest heroes, some ridicule him as a country bumpkin or decry him as a dictator.  And while most historians see the “Great Emancipator” as a champion of freedom for African Americans, some view him as a racist and hypocrite.  Mick Chantler (M.A. History), an instructor of early American studies for over forty years, will explain how these kaleidoscopic images of Lincoln evolved and discuss which are valid.

Click to view Webinar Recording on YouTube

BOOK PASSAGE HOLIDAY BOOK FAIR

DECEMBER 3, 2020 @ 1PM

Elaine Petrocelli, co-founder of Book Passage, will highlight new literature and suggest books for holiday gift-giving at this popular annual event.

COVID-19 IN MARIN

NOVEMBER 19, 2020 @ 1PM

Dr. Matt Willis, Marin County’s Public Health Officer, has been on the front lines throughout the COVID-19 crisis. He will talk about what Marin is doing to mitigate the virus’s impact, the status of antibody testing, and progress in vaccine development. A victim of COVID himself, he will also focus on the lessons we can learn from the pandemic and how we can prepare for future outbreaks.

Click to view Webinar Recording on YouTube

100 YEARS STRONG

NOVEMBER 12, 2020 @ 1PM

League of Women Voters Board member Nancy Bell will give a presentation on the women’s suffrage movement, focusing on the women who dedicated their lives to the long and often dangerous struggle that began in Seneca Falls in 1848 and culminated in the final vote in the Tennessee legislature that ratified the Nineteenth Amendment one hundred years ago this year.

Click to view Webinar Recording on YouTube

MAKING MAGIC FROM BROADWAY TO BERKELEY

NOVEMBER 5, 2020 @ 1PM

Johanna Pfaelzer, former Artistic Director of New York Stage and Film and current Artistic Director of Berkeley Repertory Theater, will talk about her life and work in American musical theater, and how one woman’s creative vision helped shape some of America’s best loved shows, including Hadestown, Hamilton, The Humans, and Green Day’s American Idiot.

Click to view Webinar Recording on YouTube

NICOTEEN:  CURBING THE YOUTH NICOTINE VAPING EPIDEMIC

OCTOBER 1, 2020 @ 1PM

The use of e-cigarettes has increased a staggering 900% in recent years, and many of these new users are teens. Dr. Jodi Prochaska, a Stanford University professor of medicine who directs Stanford’s masters’ program in Community Health and Prevention Research and is an expert on nicotine addiction, will talk about the harms of nicotine vaping to young people, local measures being taken to address the teen vaping epidemic, and treatment options.

Click to view Webinar Recording on YouTube

A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN UNPREDICTABLE TIMES

SEPTEMBER 24, 2020 @ 1PM

John Rothmann, host of the nightly John Rothmann Show on KGO 810AM and a frequent lecturer on U.S. politics and the presidency, will speak about the upcoming presidential election. Mr. Rothmann is a veteran of numerous political campaigns on the national, state, and local level, including Richard Nixon’s in 1968, and owns one of the finest private collections of American political history texts and biographies in the world.

Click to view Webinar Recording on YouTube

EVOLUTION OF A ZEN MASTER

SEPTEMBER 17, 2020 @ 1PM

Sensei/Buddhist priest Kathie Fischer will speak about what her decades in residency at Green Gulch and Tassajara taught her about leadership, group dynamics, self-awareness, and the power of meditation, lessons that give her a unique perspective on our challenging times.

Click to view Webinar Recording on YouTube

ELECTRIC BIKES ON TRAILS?

MARCH 5, 2020 @ 1:00 PM

The Mount Tam watershed is one of Marin’s most valuable resources, and our uses of it are limited in order to protect it. Hiking, biking, and horseback riding are permitted with some constraints, but what about electric bikes? Crystal Yezman, Facilities and Watershed Manager for the Marin Municipal Water District, will discuss the district’s evaluation process regarding this additional recreational activity on the mountain.

THE HONEY BUS: A MEMOIR OF LIFE LESSONS LEARNED

FEBRUARY 20, 2020 @ 1:00 PM

Fifth generation beekeeper, Meredith May, will speak about her new book.  Growing up in a turbulent household, when she was five years old, she was taken in by her grandfather, an eccentric beekeeper who made honey in an old military bus in Carmel Valley.  She “found refuge in the magical world of these industriouspollinators” she calls “a benevolent society and a good role model for humans.”  Honey tasting will be included.

MARIN AFFORDABLE HOUSING – THE IMPOSSIBLE DREAM?

FEBRUARY 6, 2020 @ 1:00 PM

Panelists from the Marin Environmental Housing Collaborative, the Mill Valley Planning Department, and the Marin County Community Development Agency will discuss priorities and opportunities for affordable housing in Marin, and identify common values on this important subject.

TALKING ABOUT TRASH

JANUARY 30, 2020 @ 1:00 PM

Confused about what goes where in your four curbside trash cans? Jennifer Selvig of Marin Sanitary Service and Jim Iavarone of Mill Valley Refuse will present a program on the current state of trash in Marin County. Learn about dual recycling, what can and can no longer be recycled, the growing focus on composting, evolving state laws and regulations, and how you can adapt your product usage and recycling for maximum environmental impact. Small kitchen composting buckets will be available at the event.

THE BOLD DRY GARDEN:  LESSONS FROM THE RUTH BANCROFT GARDEN

JANUARY 16, 2020 @ 1:00 PM

Award-winning writer Johanna Silver will talk about her book, The Bold Dry Garden: Lessons from the Ruth Bancroft Garden. Ms. Silver had unparalleled access to the life and garden of Ruth Bancroft, the West’s dry gardening pioneer, who died in 2017 at the age of 109. Working with photographer Marion Brenner, Ruth’s horticulturalist, and Ruth’s family and friends, she weaves an intimate, compelling story of the life and work of this fearless plant collector.

BOOK PASSAGE HOLIDAY BOOK FAIR

DECEMBER 5, 2019 @ 1:00 PM

Elaine Petrocelli, co-founder of Book Passage, will highlight new literature and suggest books for holiday gift-giving. Books will be on sale at the event.

IRISES IN A NEW LIGHT

NOVEMBER 21, 2019 @ 1:00PM

British landscape architect Heidi Howcroft will give an illustrated talk about a flower she used to think of as an old fashioned diva, until she visited gardens in Switzerland and southern Germany. Working with photographer Christa Brand, she captured images of this delicate bloom in exquisite plant combinations that open up exciting new ways to use irises in the garden.

GET FIRED UP ABOUT FIRE PREVENTION IN MILL VALLEY!