Speaker Series: Book Passage’s Annual Holiday Book Fair

THURSDAY, November 20, 2025

1:00 PM  Clubhouse
One West Blithedale Avenue, Mill Valley CA 94941

Click here to Register

CULTURAL ARTS PUBLIC PROGRAM
Program Chair…..Caryn Anderson

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.

Speaker Series: Artistic Preview of Marin Theatre Productions

MONDAY, January 12, 2026

1:00 PM  Marin Theatre Company
397 Miller Avenue, Mill Valley, California

Click here to Register

CULTURAL ARTS PUBLIC PROGRAM
Program Chair…..Kipp Delbyck

Artistic Preview of Marin Theatre Productions

Lance Gardner, Marin Theatre Executive Artistic Director, and Carey Perloff, American Conservatory Theatre Artistic Director Emeritus, will talk about their collaboration on the critically acclaimed 2025 production of Waste, as well as Marin Theatre’s upcoming production of Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard, both directed by Perloff and starring Gardner. We will have an opportunity to tour the theater.

Speaker Series: A Civic Conversation

THURSDAY, January 22, 2026

7:00 PM  Mill Valley Public Library, Main Room
375 Throckmorton Avenue, Mill Valley, California

CIVICS & CONSERVATION PUBLIC PROGRAM
In Collaboration with the Mill Valley Public Library
Program Chair…..Beverly Rodgers

Registration required through the MV Public Library. Click here.

A Civic Conversation

Dick Spotswood, longtime Marin Independent Journal political columnist, civic commentator, and transportation advocate, will share insights on the evolving political landscape from a local perspective. A fixture in Bay Area journalism for over two decades and a former Mill Valley City Council member and mayor, and a recent representative on regional transportation and civic boards, Dick focuses a unique, nonpartisan lens on government, elections and infrastructure planning. He will discuss how the plethora of separate Marin County agencies causes duplication of resources, how they could be more efficiently managed, and how changes like these are needed to bring our governmental agencies into the 21st century for all Marinites. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from one of the Bay Area’s most trusted voices in public affairs.

Speaker Series: The Great Backyard Bird Count

THURSDAY, January 29, 2026

1:00 PM  Webinar
Registration link will be published here.

CIVICS & CONSERVATION PUBLIC PROGRAM
Program Chair…..Sheila Johnson-Brousseau

The Great Backyard Bird Count

Becca Rodomsky-Bish, Project Leader at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, will offer an engaging look into one of the world’s most accessible and impactful participatory science events—the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC). Celebrating its 29th year, she’ll share the history of how the GBBC has grown from a modest national initiative into a global birding event uniting hundreds of thousands of people of all ages and skill levels each February in a shared mission: to count birds and help scientists track changes in bird populations over time. Creating an enjoyable opportunity to connect to people and nature, Becca will describe how the GBBC works, how to participate, and the tools available to help beginners and seasoned birders contribute with confidence.

Speaker Series: A Conversation with Maria Muldauer

THURSDAY, February 19, 2026

1:00 PM  Sweetwater Music Hall
19 Corte Madera Avenue, Mill Valley, California

Click here to Register. Registration available December 1, 2025.

CULTURAL ARTS PUBLIC PROGRAM
Program Chair…..Maria Hoppe

A Conversation with Maria Muldauer

Maria Muldaur, folk and blues singer and Mill Valley resident for 40+ years, will share stories from her life. She was part of the American folk music revival in the early 1960s, and recorded the 1973 hit song “Midnight at the Oasis” and numerous albums in the folk, blues, early jazz, gospel, country, and R&B traditions. She plays 100+ shows a year around the country.

Speaker Series: What we know (and what we don’t) about climate change in California

THURSDAY, February 26, 2026

1:00 PM  Webinar
Registration link will be published here.

CIVICS & CONSERVATION PUBLIC PROGRAM
Program Chair…..Bridget Mazzini

What we know (and what we don’t) about climate change in California

Daniel Swain is a climate scientist focused on the dynamics and impacts of extreme events—including droughts, floods, storms and wildfires—on a warming planet. Known for making complex climate science accessible, he engages extensively with journalists, serving as an expert climate and weather science liaison to print, television, radio and online outlets to provide accurate coverage and conversations about emerging weather and climate change. Rooted in Marin County, Daniel grew up a self-described weather geek and went on to earn degrees from the University of California Davis in Atmospheric Science and a Ph.D. in Earth Systems from Stanford. He holds joint appointments with UC Agriculture and Natural Resources and the UCLA Institute of Environment & Sustainability and is a Research fellow at the NSF National Center For Atmospheric Research. In his spare time, he shares via social media and authors the popular Weather West blog, providing real-time perspectives on California weather and climate.

Speaker Series: The Future of Public Health

SUNDAY, March 8, 2026

3:00 PM  Westminster Events
240 Tiburon Boulevard, Belvedere Tiburon, California

Click here to Register. Registration available January 1, 2026.

CIVICS & CONSERVATION PUBLIC PROGRAM
In Collaboration with the Westminster Presbyterian Church
Program Chair…..Sheila Johnson-Brousseau & Lilly Stamets

The Future of Public Health

Dr. Lisa Santora, Marin County’s Public Health Officer, will join longtime public health and civic leader Teri Dowling for a moderated discussion exploring the pressing health issues facing our communities today—from the lasting effects of COVID-19 and the rise in mental health needs to climate-related health risks, health equity, and emergency preparedness. This conversation will explore how public health agencies at local levels are adapting, collaborating, and planning for what’s next. With over 20 years of public health experience, Dr. Santora is recognized for her community centered approach and crisis response efforts in Marin. Hear her perspective on lessons learned, current priorities, and how communities can engage in building a healthier, more resilient future. This event will be followed by a reception featuring community health organizations and light refreshments.

Speaker Series: Women in Film

THURSDAY, April 16, 2026

1:00 PM  Sweetwater Music Hall
19 Corte Madera Avenue, Mill Valley, California

CULTURAL ARTS PUBLIC PROGRAM
Program Chair…..Maria Hoppe

Women in Film

Zoë Elton is a film curator, writer, interviewer and cartoonist, who’s also a tea-drinker, book nerd, traveler, food-appreciator and yogi. Long-time director of programming for Mill Valley Film Festival in California—described by Variety as a place where “counterculture and Hollywood converge”— she regularly travels the world in search of films to bring to the festival, showing new work by master filmmakers alongside emerging talents. Zoë will discuss women in the film industry.

Speaker Series: Bees of Marin

THURSDAY, April 30, 2026

1:00 PM  Mill Valley Public Library, Creekside Room
375 Throckmorton Avenue, Mill Valley, California

CIVICS & CONSERVATION PUBLIC PROGRAM
In Collaboration with the Mill Valley Public Library
Program Chair…..Suzan Sweet

Registration required through the MV Public Library. Click here.

Bees of Marin

Lynette Denison and Jennifer Berry, OAC members and Marin Beekeepers, will provide an engaging talk on the vital role bees play—and review practical ways our own gardens can support a declining bee population. A live observational hive will be available for attendees to see what goes on inside a busy, dark hive while you learn about the history and origin of honeybees, their fascinating life cycle and their seasonal behaviors and needs. Attendees will leave with a deeper understanding of how honey bees contribute to the pollination of 70 of the top 100 human food crops, to the overall health of our environment, and why protecting them is more important than ever.