The Commonwealth August/September 2015

DAVID BROOKS page 10

BARNEY FRANK page 12

JANE SMILEY page 14

LARRY GERSTON page 44

GLORIA DUFFY page 54

Commonwealth The

THE MAGAZINE OF THE COMMONWEALTH CLUB OF CALIFORNIA

Judy Blume with

Molly Ringwald $5.00; free for members | commonwealthclub.org

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2015

• Experience the French-accented capital Hanoi and take a full-day excursion to scenic Ha Long Bay. • See Da Nang’s acclaimed Cham Museum and explore the nearby colorful village of Hoi An, where many traditions hold sway.

• Relax at a lovely resort on China Beach.

• Visit the imperial capital of Hue, once home to emperors.

• Cruise the Perfume River to peaceful Thien Mu Pagoda, a significant Buddhist monastery.

• Explore the tributaries and floating markets of the storied Mekong River Delta.

• Conclude in bustling Saigon with tours of the Reunification Palace, the History Museum, and the underground Cu Chi Tunnels.

• Learn from guest speakers, local experts and U.S. Foreign Service staff during lectures and briefings.

• A 3-day/2-night optional post-tour extension to Cambodia to explore the incredible Angkor Wat temple complex is also available.

Commonwealth Club Travel CST: 2096889-40

Detailed brochure available at: commonwealthclub.org/travel Contact: (415) 597-6720 • travel@commonwealthclub.org Photos: provided by MIR Corporation

INSIDE The Commonwealth 10 Photo by Sonya Abrams

VO LU M E 109, N O . 05 | AU G U S T / S E P T E M B E R 201 5

FEATURES 8 JUDY BLUME WITH MOLLY RINGWALD

14 Photo by Ed Ritger

Photo by Rikki Ward

DEPARTMENTS 5 EDITOR’S DESK Diversity of ideas

6 THE COMMONS Malcolm Margolin’s Heyday, visits from the parrots of Telegraph Hill, an excerpt from Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal speech at the Club, and more

54 INSIGHT

The best-selling author discusses her writing process and the central role family plays in her life and work

An author and an actress whose creations inspire millions of young people talk about what inspires them

10 DAVID BROOKS

44

14 JANE SMILEY

The New York Times columnist offers a secular look at morality, character and sin

12 BARNEY FRANK

The retired congressman talks about the left’s need to adjust to the vicious cycle that occurs when people think the government has abandoned them and so refuse to fund the programs that could help them

43 KELLY MCGONIGAL THE UPSIDE OF STRESS Managing stress means harnessing it, not avoiding it .

44 LARRY GERSTON REVIVING CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT

How to address our country’s poor education, infrastructure and social justice statistics by getting involved in the political process

Photo by Ed Ritger

12

Dr. Gloria C. Duffy, President and CEO

EVENTS 17 PROGRAM INFORMATION 17 LANGUAGE CLASSES 18 TWO MONTH CALENDAR 20 PROGRAM LISTINGS Events from August 1 to October 3

About Our Cover: This issue of The Commonwealth features female novelists and other observers, examining how their lives and families play into their work: Judy Blume, Jane Smiley, and even a discussion of George Eliot by fellow writer David Brooks. Photo by Ed Ritger.

“One thing we can do about [campaign finance reform] – this is a partisan response: We can elect a Democratic president, so that she can appoint a Supreme Court justice and get this overturned, J U N E/J U LY 2013 COMMO N WE AL TH 3 so we can get back to where we were.”THE – Barney Frank

SPECIAL AUGUST SERIES Does music really matter in human life? If so, why? How? When?

The Commonwealth Club will examine the meaning of music in our lives, hearing from prominent speakers and the performing artists of the Bay Area. From jazz to symphony, hambone to choirs, instruments, film sound tracks, American composers and roof shaking gospels, The Commonwealth Club will bring outstanding artists to our stages to make music and to tell us — and show us — why Music Matters.

Those who do love music can become more effective in helping it survive and thrive, because this art form can be overcome by the noises of modern and technical life. We need to make the case that Music Matters. The Commonwealth Club will do so in August 2015. commonwealthclub.org/musicmatters A Beacon for Jazz Monday, August 3 ♪ 12 p.m.

Cole Porter: The Music and the Man Wednesday, August 19 ♪ 6 p.m.

Book Discussion: Enchanted Evenings: The Broadway Musical from Show Boat to Sondheim Monday, August 3 ♪ 5:30 p.m.

Music as a Vehicle for Social Justice Thursday, August 20 ♪ 5:15 p.m.

Vox Mundi: Sound and Voice Friday, August 21 ♪ 6 p.m.

Who’s Afraid of Opera?

Exploring the Wonderful World of Music’s Grandest Art Thursday, August 6 ♪ 6 p.m.

Why Music Therapy Matters for the Special-Needs Student Monday, August 24 ♪ 12 p.m.

Playful Piano Thursday, August 6 ♪ 6 p.m.

Singing for Our Lives: Music in the Time of AIDS Monday, August 24 ♪ 6 p.m.

Cracking the Music Ceiling: Why Women Matter Friday, August 7 ♪ 12 p.m.

Why Music Education Didn’t Disappear Monday, August 24 ♪ 6 p.m.

Beyond the Thirteenth Tone Friday, August 7 ♪ 6 p.m.

Orchestra Music Grown Locally Tuesday, August 25 ♪ 6 p.m.

Pythagoras Thought Music Matters Monday, Aug 10 ♪ 6 p.m.

Music Education and the Complete Human Being Tuesday, August 11 ♪ 6 p.m.

Why Music? The Confessions of a Willing Prisoner of the Violin Wednesday, August 12 ♪ 6 p.m.

Music of Remembrance Wednesday, August 12 ♪ 6 p.m.

“And She Can Sing...” Music as a Portal to the Person Thursday, August 13 ♪ 5 p.m.

Nicholas McGegan: Baroque Music Matters Friday, August 14 ♪ 12 p.m.

The Music of Cinema Monday, August 17 ♪ 6 p.m.

Music Matters: Full Body Forward!

Tuesday, August 18 ♪ 6 p.m.

How We Listen to Music Tuesday, August 25 ♪ 6 p.m.

Mozart and Masonic Semiotics Wednesday, August 26 ♪ 6 p.m.

The Crossroads of Food and Rock ‘n’ Roll Wednesday, August 26 ♪ 7 p.m.

Changing Times and Indian Classical Music Thursday, August 27 ♪ 6 p.m.

The Gift of Music: Building Sanctuaries of Learning and Hope Thursday, August 27 ♪ 6:30 p.m.

Music from the Inside Out: Film and Q&A Thursday, August 27 ♪ 6:45 p.m.

Death With Interruptions Friday, August 28 ♪ 6 p.m.

Body Music: An Interactive Lecture and Demonstration by Keith Terry Monday, August 31 ♪ 6 p.m.

Generously underwritten by:

Building a better working world

EDITOR’S DESK

J O H N Z I P PE R E R V P, M E D I A & E D I TO R I A L

Photo by DromoTetteh

Moving from A-to-B all the way to A-to-Z

Y

ou have heard people refer to something that has a great range of offerings as having “everything from A-to-Z.” Sometimes they’re talking about mattress brands at a retail store. Sometimes it refers to types of music or ice cream on hand.

Rarely, these days, does it refer to the realm of ideas and viewpoints.

That is a challenge for our cities, states and country. How do we get people together to solve the many problems facing us if we are only getting news that agrees with our political viewpoint, and we only have friends who think the same we do and never challenge us to rethink our beliefs? The diversity of ideas in much of the public square is everything from “A-to-B.” The less diversity, the less people often feel the need to change their minds or compromise with others.

Earlier this year, a USA Today/Suffolk University poll found that Americans on both sides of the political spectrum prefer that our political leaders in Washington compromise rather than stick to their respective party lines. That is consistent with previous surveys by others. Gallup, a major polling organization, has asked Americans about their desire for compromise in Washington, and its reports produced headlines such as “Americans Again Call for Compromise in Washington” (from a 2011 survey) and “Americans’ Desire for Gov’t Leaders to Compromise Increases” (from 2013).

There are many reasons why people become involved with The Commonwealth Club. We have lots of big names, lots of interesting topics and panels, lots of ways to take part in putting together proFOLLOW US ONLINE

facebook.com/thecommonwealthclub

grams, and lots of viewpoints and types of people and backgrounds represented on our stage each year. People looking for everything from “A-to-Z” can usually find it at The Commonwealth Club, and they also find other people with appetites for a wide range of ideas.

Look at the lineup of articles in this issue of The Commonwealth.

On the political side, we have The New York Times’ conservative columnist David Brooks as well as liberal former U.S. Representative Barney Frank. Best-selling (and controversial) author Judy Blume is here, as is Stanford University lecturer and health psychologist Kelly McGonigal and author Jane Smiley. There’s also Dr. Larry Gerston, a political scientist and author from San Jose State University, talking about one of the most important issues around today: getting people engaged in civic affairs.

Then take a look at the programs listed in the center of the magazine for a wide variety of events on a range of topics. Diversity is a strength, so dig in and enjoy.

••• I WOULD LIKE to draw your attention to our special series of programs this August called Music Matters. Organized and put together by our volunteer-run Member-Led Forums, Music Matters will explore both meanings of “matters” – an array of topics, as well as an expression about the importance of music in our lives. See page 20.

twitter.com/cwclub

commonwealthclub.org/blog

commonwealthclub.org

BUSINESS OFFICES The Commonwealth, 555 Post Street, San Francisco, CA 94102 | feedback@commonwealthclub.org VP, MEDIA & EDITORIAL John Zipperer | ART DIRECTOR Tyler R. Swofford | STAFF EDITORS Amelia Cass, Ellen Cohan INTERNS Zoë Byrne, Laura Nguyen, Brent Truttmann, Catherine Lu, Alanté Millow | PHOTOGRAPHERS Sonya Abrams, Ed Ritger, Rikki Ward ADVERTISING INFORMATION: Tara Crain, Development Manager, Corporate and Foundation Partnerships, (415) 869-5919, tcrain@commonwealthclub.org The Commonwealth ISSN 00103349 is published bimonthly (6 times a year) by The Commonwealth Club of California, 555 Post Street, San Francisco, CA 94102. | PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID at San Francisco, CA. Subscription rate $34 per year included in annual membership dues. | POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Commonwealth, The Commonwealth Club of California, 555 Post Street, San Francisco, CA 94102. | Printed on recycled paper using soy-based ink. Copyright © 2015 The Commonwealth Club of California. Tel: (415) 597-6700 Fax: (415) 597-6729 E-mail: feedback@ commonwealthclub.org | EDITORIAL TRANSCRIPT POLICY: The Commonwealth magazine covers a range of programs in each issue. Program transcripts and question and answer sessions are routinely condensed due to space limitations. Hear full-length recordings online at commonwealthclub.org/media, podcasts on Apple iTunes, or contact Club offices to buy a compact disc.

AU G U S T/S EP T EMBER 2015

THE COMMO N WE AL TH

5

COMMONS THE

Talk of the Club THE TICKER

In the News

J

Photo by Rikki Ward

The Heyday of Malcolm Margolin

T

he California Book Awards is The Commonwealth Club’s annual celebration of the best in book publishing in the state. This year, the 84th iteration of the awards, it also included a celebration of a legend in California publishing, Heyday Books’ Malcolm Margolin, who retired after 41 years at the helm of his Bay Area nonprofit publishing company. Besides publishing books, Heyday acts as a cultural institution, holding events and leading outreach programs.

Heyday has won a number of California Book Awards prizes, including this year’s gold medal for Californiana for Laura Ackley’s San Francisco’s Jewel City: The PanamaPacific International Exposition of 1915, and a gold medal for contribution to publishing for Kim Bancroft’s The Heyday of Malcolm Margolin.

“I’ve been afraid that the time would come when I

would have to say these words, ‘Friends, we’re bankrupt,’“ said Margolin, seen above with California Book Awards Chair Mary Ellen Hannibal and Bancroft. “It’s not a bankruptcy of money, it’s a bankruptcy of gratitude. I look at the people in this room, and my debt of graditude is so great I’m never going to be able to repay it.’”

“It was such a pleasure to honor Malcolm,” said Commonwealth Club President and CEO Dr. Gloria Duffy. “He is a one-of-a kind character, with enormous insight and wit. Years ago, Malcolm called me to say that some copies of the Club’s rather thick book, Each a Mighty Voice, published by Heyday, were left over and had not sold.

We were chatting about what to do with the remaining copies, and about how much space was required to store such a large book. Malcolm referred to the book as Each a Mighty Doorstop, a quip I will never forget.”

Parrots of Commonwealth Hill

W

e have spent so much time getting to know the neighbors at 110 The Embarcadero (the site of our future building) that we almost forgot to mention our newest, most unexpected neighbors at our current, interim offices: The famed parrots of Telegraph Hill. The parrots make occasional visits to the courtyard outside our large auditorium, often even perching on the railing outside our windows.

Parrots are famed for their vocal mimickry. After they take in enough Club programs, we expect to hear people on Telegraph Hill talking about their strange parrots that keep announcing “The Commonwealth Club, the place where you’re in the know. Squawk.”

6

THE COMMO N WE AL TH

AU GU S T/S E PT E M B ER 2015

Because words matter

enny D ear bor n, chief learning officer at SAP who made the National Diversity Council’s Top 50 Most Powerful Women in Technology list for 2015, moderated a talk with [Kelly] McGonigal at a recent Commonwealth Club lecture and has since become ‘a new follower’ of McGonigal’s approach to stress. ‘I can honestly say her work has significantly changed my life for the better,’Dearborn says in an email. ‘I now see stress as a force for good that helps me harness energy and passion, and willpower as a tool and choice that I control.’“ SJ Mercury News At the Club, “[Kim] K a rd a s h i a n s p o k e about gun-control laws for the first time, saying that she was in favor of stricter legislation to prevent mass shootings. ‘I’m not the type to have [guns] in my house,’ she said.... ‘If I could do something to change the world, [I’d do something about the fact that] we do not have strict enough gun control laws.’“ Daily Mail (UK) “Thanks for coming to the Commonwealth Club. It is a great place for exchanging ideas,” Tweet by SF Chronicle’s Debra J. Saunders

Photo by Dawn Endico

Shared Ideas FDR’s New Deal Talk September 23, 1932

O

n the Western frontier, land was substantially free. No one, who did not shirk the task of earning a living, was entirely without opportunity to do so.

Depressions could, and did, come and go; but they could not alter the fundamental fact that most of the people lived partly by selling their labor and partly by extracting their livelihood from the soil, so that starvation and dislocation were practically impossible.

It was the middle of the 19th century that a new force was released and a new dream created. The force was what is called the industrial revolution, the advance of steam and machinery and the rise of the forerunners of the modern industrial plant.... It was to be expected that this would necessarily affect government. Heretofore, government had merely been called upon to produce conditions within which people could live happily, labor peacefully, and rest secure. Now it was called upon to aid in the consummation of this new dream. There was, however, a shadow over the dream. To be made real, it required

use of the talents of men of tremendous will, and tremendous ambition, since by no other force could the problems of financing and engineering and new developments be brought to a consummation.

During this period of expansion, there was equal opportunity for all and the business of government was not to interfere but to assist in the development of industry. This was done at the request of businessmen themselves. The tariff was originally imposed for the purpose of “fostering our infant industry....” The railroads were subsidized, sometimes by grants of money, oftener by grants of land; some of the most valuable oil lands in the United States were granted to assist the financing of the railroad which pushed through the Southwest.

A nascent merchant marine was assisted by grants of money, or by mail subsidies, so that our steam shipping might ply the seven seas.

Some of my friends tell me that they do not want the government in business. With this I agree; but I wonder whether they realize the implications of the past. For while it has been American doctrine that the government must not go into business in competition with private enterprises, still it has been traditional, particularly in Republican administrations, for business urgently to ask the government to

put at private disposal all kinds of government assistance.

The same man who tells you that he does not want to see the government interfere in business ... is the first to go to Washington and ask the government for a prohibitory tariff on his product. When things get just bad enough – as they did two years ago – he will go with equal speed to the United States government and ask for a loan; and the Reconstruction Finance Corporation is the outcome of it. Each group has sought protection from the government for its own special interest, without realizing that the function of government must be to favor no small group at the expense of its duty to protect the rights of personal freedom and of private property of all its citizens.

LEADERSHIP OF THE COMMONWEALTH CLUB CLUB OFFICERS Board Chair John R. Farmer Vice Chair Richard A. Rubin Secretary Frank Meerkamp Treasurer Lee J. Dutra President & CEO Dr. Gloria C. Duffy BOARD OF GOVERNORS William F. Adams † John F. Allen Carlo Almendral Courtland Alves Dan Ashley Massey J. Bambara Dr. Mary G. F. Bitterman** Harry E. Blount John L. Boland

Michael R. Bracco Thomas H. Burkhart Maryles Casto** Mary B. Cranston** Susie Cranston Dr. Kerry P. Curtis Dr. Jaleh Daie Dorian Daley Alecia DeCoudreaux Evelyn S. Dilsaver Joseph I. Epstein* Jeffrey A. Farber Hon Katherine A. Feinstein Fr. Paul J .Fitzgerald, S.J. Carol A. Fleming, Ph.D. Leslie Saul Garvin Dr. Charles Geschke Paul M. Ginsburg Edie G. Heilman Hon. James C. Hormel Mary Huss John Leckrone

Dr. Mary Marcy Anna W. M. Mok** Kevin P. O’Brien Donald J. Pierce Frederick W. Reid Skip Rhodes* George M. Scalise Lata Krishnan Shah Dr. Ruth Shapiro Charlotte Mailliard Shultz George D. Smith, Jr. James Strother Hon. Tad Taube Ellen O’Kane Tauscher Charles Travers Dr. Colleen B. Wilcox Russell M. Yarrow Jed York ADVISORY BOARD Karin Helene Bauer Hon. William Bradley Dennise M. Carter

Rolando Esteverena Steven Falk Amy Gershoni Jacquelyn Hadley Heather Kitchen Amy McCombs Don J. McGrath Hon. William J. Perry Hon. Barbara Pivnicka Hon. Richard Pivnicka Ray Taliaferro Nancy Thompson PAST BOARD CHAIRS AND PRESIDENTS Dr. Mary G. F. Bitterman ** Hon. Shirley Temple Black*† J. Dennis Bonney* John Busterud* Maryles Casto** Hon. Ming Chin* Mary B. Cranston** Joseph I. Epstein *

AU G U S T/S EP T E MBER 2015

Dr. Joseph R. Fink * William German * Rose Guilbault** Claude B. Hutchison Jr. * Dr. Julius Krevans* Anna W.M. Mok** Richard Otter* Joseph Perrelli* Toni Rembe* Victor J. Revenko* Skip Rhodes* Renée Rubin * Robert Saldich** Connie Shapiro * Nelson Weller * Judith Wilbur * Dennis Wu* * Past President ** Past Chair † Deceased

THE COMMO N WE AL TH

7

JUDY BLUME in conversation with

MOLLY RINGWALD Even after five decades, Blume is still exploring new stories.

Excerpted from Inforum’s “A Sunday with Judy Blume and Molly Ringwald,” June 7, 2015.

JUDY BLUME Author In conversation with

MOLLY RINGWALD

Actress

JUDY BLUME: My husband said, “You know, people will say [my new novel In the Unlikely Event] is a historical novel.” I said, “What are you talking about? It was just a few years ago in my lifetime. This is not a historical novel.” Then he counted the years and said, “How many years ago was 1952?”

Was it really that many years ago? Because it feels to me like yesterday.

MOLLY RINGWALD: A lot of this book was written through research. I read that

8

THE COMMO N WE AL TH

it was researched more heavily than your other books.

BLUME: Yes, well, five months of research because, though I remembered a lot, I didn’t know anything really about the crashes. I got so many characters and so many moments and so many scenes from the research because there was no television news then. You couldn’t come home from school and put on the TV set and watch this. It was all up to the newspaper men who painted the picture for us, and the photographers.

RINGWALD: What made you decide that now was the time to tell this particular story?

BLUME: I got hit over the head – like boing – when someone on stage was talking about the 1950s. I didn’t hear another word but “the ’50s” [and] I had a story that I had to tell. I have this story that I know so well. How could I never have thought to tell it? How strange. My daughter became a commercial airline pilot, and she’s a reader; she read an early draft of this book, and she said, “Mother, how could you never have told me this story?”

RINGWALD: I feel like the book is really

AU GU S T/S E PT E M B ER 2015

not about the crashes. It’s really about these people and this town and this place and this time.

BLUME: It is. It’s about a time and a place – Elizabeth, New Jersey, winter of 1951-52 – and about all of these characters – three families. It all came to me in a flash, something that had never ever happened to me.

With all the books, [it] never happened this way, and that happened over a weekend.

Monday morning I started the research, and I couldn’t wait to get up every day to get into this.

RINGWALD: What is your process of writing? Did it change for this book? Has it always been the same?

BLUME: It’s always been pretty much the same, and it didn’t really change for this book. I always have a security notebook before I start, which is just me jotting things down about some character who is in my head; but in this case, I had a real security notebook with stories from two now-defunct newspapers that covered this widely. I wanted to use all of those newspaper stories to help tell this [story,] because a little secret

Photo by Ed Ritger

about me is I can’t write descriptive prose.

RINGWALD: Why is that?

BLUME: I can’t. I never write descriptive prose. I’m good at characters and dialogue and stories, but I don’t write descriptive prose. Thanks to these news reports, I was able to allow my characters to describe the situations. In this book, there had to be descriptive prose, because how else are you going to describe what happens and what certain characters see and feel? I needed to have it.

There was language of the ’50s that you won’t find in The New York Times today.

You won’t find a plane “coming down like an angry, wounded bird.” That’s a quote.

Or, a plane that “breaks apart like a swollen cream puff.”

RINGWALD: How did you come up with the characters? Are these people you knew and grew up with? Are they entirely invented? Are they a combination of both?

BLUME: They’re all fictional characters, except for the people on the planes. With one exception, Estelle Sapphire, all of the people on the planes [in the book] were inspired by

real people on those planes. Everybody else, everybody who’s telling the story, is fictional.

My father was a dentist. I adored my father and he was much beloved in our town. The character of Dr. O, a dental hero – I always have dental heroes – is inspired by my father.

Dick Jackson, my first editor of all the books

“A little secret about me is I can’t write descriptive prose...

I’m good at characters and dialogue and stories, but I don’t write descriptive prose.”

–Judy Blume that you all grew up on, said to me, “Judy, someday a graduate student is going to do his or her thesis on teeth in Judy Blume books.”

RINGWALD: Have any of the relatives of the people who died in those crashes

contacted you? Have you spoken to any of those people?

BLUME: Many. When the book was announced, I began to hear from people all over who had connections to this. When I’m in Austin, I’m going to meet a woman whose father was one of the journalists who reported widely on it. She wrote a letter and said, “I’m just curious, did you ever come across someone named Melville Shapiro who covered these stories?” and I’m like, “Mel Shapiro? It’s like he’s my friend, it’s like these journalists that I lived with for all these years.

Yes! Of course.” So, when I’m in Austin, I’m going to meet her. I met a lot of people in Elizabeth, New Jersey, a few nights ago.

RINGWALD: Do you feel like this is your last big book? Do you feel like you want to continue? How do you feel about writing? Are you one of these writers that feels compelled to write?

BLUME: Writing changed my life.

Writing gave me everything. I think you don’t write if you don’t have to. I think there’s that something in there.

Continued on page 50

AU GU ST/SEP T EMBE R 2015

THE COMMO N WE AL TH

9

The popular conservative writer explores the shift in character development in U.S. society and the virtue of humility.

Excerpted from “David Brooks” April 28, 2015.

DAVID BROOKS Op-Ed Columnist, The New York Times; Author, The Road to Character In conversation with

JUDGE LADORIS H. CORDELL RET.

Independent Police Auditor, City of San Jose

DAVID BROOKS 10

Photo by Sonya Abrams THE

COMMO N WE AL TH

AU GU S T/S E PT E M B ER 2015

T

here are moments that break through the normalcy of life.

I remember I was doing the “NewsHour” – I do a show called the “NewsHour” with Jim Lehrer and with a guy named Mark Shields. I was coming home one Sunday afternoon after doing the show, and I pulled into my driveway in Bethesda, Maryland – the driveway looks into the backyard. I saw my three kids in the back – then 12, 9 and 5 or so – and I saw them playing with a ball.

They were kicking it up in the air, and it was curving and arcing in the wind. I saw that they were laughing and frolicking, and the weather was perfect – the sun was coming in, and the grass was green, and it was one of those unexpected tableaus I just looked at through the windshield.

It was one of those moments when life and time seem to be suspended, and reality spills outside its boundaries, and you just get a sense of feeling overwhelmed with gratitude for a beauty you haven’t earned. When you get that kind of moment, it elicits a strange stirring. It opens up your heart and exposes tender ground.

You get a sense of higher moral joy that’s better than anything you ever get at work, and you sort of want to be worthy of it.

I’ve had that experience sometimes in moments I’ve spent being around people that I really admire. There are some people I’m sure you’ve met who radiate an inner

glow. I met some people in another part of Maryland about a year or two ago who teach immigrants how to read. There was a roomful of women, 30 to 40, and they just radiated a patience and a goodness and a modesty, and they made you feel important. They were not thinking about what great work they were doing in their service. They were not thinking about themselves at all. So, I had that thought, that I’ve achieved way more in my career than I ever thought I would, but I haven’t achieved that. I haven’t achieved that inner light. There are certainly some people who just radiate with it.

We also live in a culture that tells us to celebrate ourselves, if you follow the commencement clichés: follow your passion, be true to yourself, trust yourself. We tell our kids how great they are, and they believe us. In 1950, the Gallup organization asked high school students, “Are you a very important person?” In 1950, 12 percent said, “Yes, I’m a very important person.” They asked the same question in 2005. It wasn’t 12 percent. It was 80 percent who said they were a very important person. So we’ve become a more selfassertive culture and a less humble culture.

Humility is not thinking lowly of yourself.

Humility is radical self-awareness from a position of other-centeredness. It’s being able to see yourself accurately and know your strengths and weaknesses, where you are strong and where you are broken.

[George] Eliot was sort of emotionally needy. She fell in love with every guy she ever met. Married, unmarried, she’d charm them. They would become interested. Their wives would kick her out of the house. So by 30, she was not that impressive. But at 32, she fell in love with a guy named Herbert Spencer, the philosopher, and she wrote him a note.

The note said – it was somewhat pathetic, “Please marry me! Please marry me! Please marry me! You won’t even notice me. I’ll be around the house. I won’t bother you.”

But then she ends with a flourish, “I suppose no woman ever before wrote such a letter as this – but I am not ashamed of it, for I am conscious in the light of reason and true refinement, I am worthy of your respect and tenderness, whatever gross men or vulgar-minded women might think of me.” It was an assertion of her

own worthiness. That’s what you might call an agency moment – the moment, usually in [your] 30’s or 40’s, when you develop your own inner criteria, and you don’t need someone’s praise or criticism from outside. You know what’s valuable and what’s not valuable, what you’re ashamed of and what you’re proud of.

It didn’t work out with Spencer. It worked out with a guy named George Lewes. Lewes was a writer. He was legally married though his wife was living with another guy and had three children with the other guy. But still he was legally married. Eliot fell in love with him and had to decide: Go with Lewes, be labeled as an adulteress and lose all [her] friends [and] family? Pick Lewes, or pick everybody else?

She went with Lewes. She wrote, “I have counted the cost of the step I have taken and am prepared to bear, without irrita-

“Humility is not thinking lowly of yourself. Humility is radical self-awareness from a position of other-centeredness.”

–David Brooks tion or bitterness, renunciation of all my friends. I am not mistaken in the person to whom I have attached myself. He is worthy of the sacrifice I have incurred, and my only anxiety is that he should be rightly judged.”

George Eliot is a person who was deepened by love. We would not say somebody had depth of character unless they were capable of great love. She was capable of great love. The first thing love does is it humbles you. It reminds you you’re not in control of your own mind. The second thing is it makes you vulnerable. The third thing it does is it decenters the self. It reminds you that riches are not in yourself; they’re in others. The fourth thing it does is it eliminates the distinction between giving and receiving because you and your lover are fused. And these are the idealistic romantic loves that Taylor Swift sings about.

Question and answer session with Judge LaDoris H. Cordell LADORIS H. CORDELL: You profile a dozen fascinating and strikingly different individuals in the book [The Road to Character.] From Frances Perkins, a fervent liberal activist in the early 1900s, to Bayard Rustin, to St. Augustine and to football greats Johnny Unitas and Joe Namath. Given all the fascinating people in the world, how and why did you settle on those 12?

DAVID BROOKS: First, I liked them all.

Second, they were not born to greatness.

They were all messy at age 20. It was not natural to them.

Third, they all [experienced] different things that have to happen if you’re going to develop character. For Dorothy Day, it was a total commitment to a community.

Dorothy Day was the sort of person who couldn’t just read books. She had to live them out. And unfortunately she read a lot of Dostoevsky. So as a young woman, she was drinking and carousing and had suicide attempts and abortions. She gave birth to a child. For her, the birth of her child changed her. She decided that all of the experiences of childbirths she had read about had always been written by men. So she decided she was going to write one.

Something like 40 minutes after giving birth, she sat down and wrote an essay. It’s an amazing essay.

CORDELL: That child ended up being a problem, right?

BROOKS: Yeah, it’s true.

CORDELL: Serious mental illness.

BROOKS: Yes. But [Day] had a beautiful sentence. She wrote, “If I had painted the greatest painting, if I had sculpted the greatest sculpture or written the greatest symphony, I could not have felt the more exalted creator than I did when they placed my child in my arms. With that came the need to worship and adore.” And she became a Catholic, [worked at] progressive newspapers and soup kitchens, and really became an amazing community builder.

I picked people who had some experience like that, and they all had one thing in common: They all were aware of sin. I think we’ve lost that awareness. But they were aware of their own sin. They were humble about it, and they struggled against it.

Continued on page 48

AU GU ST/SEP T EMBE R 2015

THE COMMO N WE AL TH

11

FRANK

The left marches, the right votes, and voting matters more, says a Washington veteran.

Excerpted from “Barney Frank,” April 1, 2015.

BARNEY FRANK Former U.S. Representative (D-MA); Author, Frank: A Life in Politics from the Great Society to Same-Sex Marriage

JOSH RICHMAN State and National Political Reporter, Bay Area News Group – Moderator JOSH RICHMAN: You describe the book as “a personal history of two seismic shifts in American life: the sharp drop in prejudice against LGBT people, and the equally sharp increase of anti-government opinion.” How did you come to marry these narratives in this sort of book?

BARNEY FRANK: It’s the story of my life.

I began, when I was a teenager, thinking about getting into politics and motivated by a desire to get society to shape up. I wanted to make things better. But I had this problem. I wanted to be influential in government, but I’m a homosexual, so I thought I probably never would be. But I thought I’d try; if I repressed my sexual orientation and personal-

12

THE COMMO N WE AL TH

ity, I could become influential in government and then be able to do some things. In fact, as time went on, Stonewall came; we began to make real progress. I was part of the movement, and I was able to become influential in government. The problem was, by that time, government was no longer influential in society. I had governmental power, but the government couldn’t accomplish what I wanted.

People have asked me if discrimination and public perception toward government are correlated. No, they aren’t, but that in and of itself is a very important point. Ten years ago, there was a view that the reason white working-class men were not voting for Democrats anymore – the way they were for Harry Truman – was their alienation because of the social issues: God, guns and gays and abortion. They were turned off by the cultural liberalism. But that clearly turns out to be untrue. The fact is that support across the country for treating LGBT people fairly has gone up as support for government in general has gone down. If one was the cause of the other, that couldn’t happen.

RICHMAN: I was struck [by] what you wrote about the advantages of taking a political movement to the streets versus working through the process to achieve anything, and where the balance is.

FRANK: I have been a firm believer that my friends on the left make a mistake by not thoroughly taking advantage of the political process. Pound for pound, the NRA [National Rifle Association] is the most influential organization in America,

AU GU S T/S E PT E M B ER 2015

and it has nothing to do with demonstrations. You have never seen a “shoot-in” by the NRA. They vote. They get all their people registered, and when a bill comes up, they call everybody – the city council, the senator, the supervisor, their representative.

They have a lot of impact. Unfortunately, too many on the left find expressive politics more satisfying. Best example: contrast Occupy [Wall Street] and the Tea Party. In general, I was very disappointed because the Tea Party has been so much more effective than Occupy, not because they represent more people, but because they are smarter about how to do it. In summary, when the left gets mad, they tend to march. When the right gets mad, they tend to vote, and voting beats marching.

RICHMAN: We have a few questions from the audience: “How can we get money out of the dominant role in our electoral process?”

FRANK: That’s a central issue we have. From 1787 into this century, it was considered that you had a right to constrict money.

Then, we had a right-wing Supreme Court majority that announced that if you have a democracy, you have to have unlimited use of campaign money by anybody. If that is the case, by the way, we should feel pretty good because that makes us, in the last 15 years, the only democracy in the world because no other functioning democracy has ever played by those rules.

We have two systems. We have a capitalist system, which does a good job of generating wealth if it’s properly regulated. In that system, the principle is inequality. The more

money you have, the more influence you have. We also have a political system that is supposed to be independent of that, where the principle is one person, one vote; where we are not supposed to have inequality. What the Supreme Court has done is tear down the separation between those two, so that the inequality principle of capitalism floods the equality principle of the political situation.

There is one thing we can do about it.

This is a partisan response: We can elect a Democratic president, so that she can appoint a Supreme Court justice and get this overturned, so we can get back to where we were.

RICHMAN: A question from the audience, “How much longer do you think it will be before we see a GOP presidential nominee who is pro-same-sex marriage?

FRANK: Probably 12 years or so. It’s a generational thing. The problem is, as the country moves, the people who vote in the Republican primaries have become a very hard-line conservative group. They evolved to a point where they don’t want to bring it up, but they are entrapped by their political base. You know what most Republicans are hoping for now? That the Supreme Court decision will declare same-sex marriage is a constitutional right. Then when you ask them, they can say “The Supreme Court said it’s a right. Let’s move on.”

RICHMAN: Recently the Democrats have lost the alliance of white, working men. Can anything be done to counteract this trend?

FRANK: As I said earlier, there was this view that it was because the Democrats went left

on cultural issues. I think that white working class men are against us not because they are philosophically opposed to government, but for the opposite [reason]. Beginning in the ’70s, worldwide economic trends have worked to their disadvantage. In the immediate post-war period, if you were an American [man], you didn’t have to have a high degree of skill or technical degree. You went to work at a factory, and you made a lot of money. Then the economy shifted to the disadvantage [of workers], so that increasingly, the wealth we created went to highend people, etc. These [men] are now angry, because they think that if the government really cared, they would not be so badly off.

This is where the social issues come in. It’s not that they are anti-women or anti-gay. It is that they think the reason we abandoned them is that we are paying attention to these side issues. I think that if we were able to expand those programs that alleviate the economic distress of white working-class people, [we could counteract that perception].

The problem is a vicious cycle. We don’t have the money. People are angry.

They won’t vote to let us have the money, certainly not to raise taxes. Where do you get the money? There are two ways. You cut back on this massive over-expenditure on military, and in particular you curtail these interventions. If we had not gone to Iraq, we’d have a trillion dollars. We could have used half a trillion to cut the deficit and half a trillion to do a whole lot of good things. Secondly, you stop treating people as

criminals because they use recreational drugs we don’t like, unless it’s a drug that caused you to harm other people. Heroin does not cause you to harm other people; needing the money to buy heroin causes you to harm other people. If we legalized this, I’d want to discourage [drug use] through the same way we discourage smoking. I want to offer treatment for anybody, but locking people up is a great mistake.

If we were able to free up a lot of money from those two things, we could then do things that would make this a fairer society and reverse this alienation of white working -class people who are legitimately angry that they are being mistreated.

RICHMAN: How do you think the popculture of politics has affected people’s view of government over the course of your career, from “The West Wing” to “House of Cards”?

FRANK: Negatively, and I’m glad you mentioned it. “West Wing” was excellent.

It was a thoughtful portrayal of people grappling with problems. “House of Cards” is an unremitting disaster.

We have two kinds of voter suppression in this country. We have the vicious and outrageous voter suppression that Republicans enact that physically keeps people from voting. On the other hand, we have intellectual suppression from the left. If you tell young people in particular that they are all fools, that [no one] cares what [they] think, that only big money counts, that [no one] pays any attention to them, why would they vote?

Photo by Ed Ritger

AU GU ST/SEP T EMBE R 2015

THE COMMO N WE AL TH

13

The Pulitzer Prize-winning author discusses writing, riding and her routine. Excerpted from “Jane Smiley,” May 7, 2015.

JANE SMILEY Novelist; Author, Early Warning

PETER FISH

Editor-at-Large, Sunset Publishing; Juror, California Book Awards — Moderator PETER FISH: You wrote a wonderful essay in The New Yorker last year that was mostly about your father, who led a troubled life.

I was wondering whether he was hovering in the background when you were writing about the men in this book.

JANE SMILEY: Well, maybe, but none of this book is autobiographical. Sometimes, some of the characters have some of my attitudes or some of my experiences, but these aren’t my family, and I’m not any of these characters. So I wouldn’t say my father was hovering in the background consciously. I wrote that essay long before I ever started this book. My father was of great benefit to me because he was crazy as a bedbug, and he stayed out of my life completely, which was a really good thing.

When I was growing up, the big influences on me were not Freudian. They were Tom Sawyerish. These cousins of mine, who are a couple of years older, would just do anything and were very adventurous. I was a big reader, so I’d be sitting there with my book, I’d read a few pages, and then I’d watch my cousin blowing stuff up in the backyard. My cousin would entice me onto the roof of the garage. What was my grandmother thinking?

She would let us do whatever we wanted; my mother was at work and nobody got into big trouble. Then I got to college and realized there were boys like this everywhere, and they were cute, too. So that was very exciting for me. That was probably my formative influence in terms of male-female relations.

FISH: Looking back on the baby boom generation, did it seem different to you writing about them from this vantage point than when you were experiencing it? Did

14

THE COMMO N WE AL TH

patterns emerge that you might not have known when you were 20?

SMILEY: I don’t know.

I wrote all the way through college and all the way through my 20s when I was in the [Iowa Writers’] Workshop. My boyfriend went to Yale, and he was a 6-foot-10 Marxist basketball player from Casper, Wyoming. I had a sort of sense that he was a statistical outlier, but he was fine with me because he was really tall and he was really cute, and he could carry my typewriter. He had absolutely no respect for literary types, so I could understand almost from the beginning that my aspirations and my ideals about develop-

AU GU S T/S E PT E M B ER 2015

ing your inner life, developing your artistic world, were not shared by him. But he was really good at carrying the bigger backpack.

He had been a medieval history major in college, and his senior thesis was about how the reign of Pepin the Short shows that power comes from the barrel of a gun.

There were no jobs when I graduated from college. [My boyfriend] had graduated the year before. We had some money, so we went and hitchhiked around Europe for a year. When you are 6-foot-2 and your boyfriend is 6-foot-10, nobody bothers you at all. The only bad thing that happened was in Italy where we fell asleep in the train station

Photo by Ed Ritger

and somebody tried to steal his shoes out from under his head. He was using them to rest his head on. Why anybody would want a pair of size 16 shoes, I have no idea. But we did travel all around Europe, and he was full of knowledge about cathedrals, about cities, about conflicts, about places that we were going. It was a wonderful, wonderful trip.

I learned a lot from him. He sort of set up my intellectual life. I was writing the whole time. He carried the typewriter. I wrote on the typewriter, and I rewrote the novel that I had written my senior year of college.

Then I went to Iowa and I was in the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. My peers [and I] looked

around and we saw various things, and we put it together the best we could. I realized that I wanted to write novels. I didn’t think I was very good at short stories. My first three novels – which were Barn Blind, At Paradise Gate and Duplicate Keys – I consider practice novels. I wanted to write Duplicate Keys because I wanted to learn how to plot. I decided to write a murder mystery. I wanted to write Barn Blind just to see if I could write a novel. And At Paradise Gate was kind of about my family. I don’t like it, though, so it’s not one I recommend.

FISH: One of the things that struck me powerfully about [Early Warning] was how much

of [the book], and Some Luck also, is [about] the influence families have on us. I feel like sometimes in 2015, a lot of us think that we are sort of done with families or above families and [wonder] why we need them.

SMILEY: Wow. Good luck.

FISH: But you make it clear that the family’s pull is so powerful, that we inherit traits and temperaments, and that even if we try to break free from them, we’re tied to them by money and farmland, and they keep pulling back. Has that been your experience with your family? How did your extended family kind of shape your view of the world?

SMILEY: Well, I always say everything I know about genetics, I learned from Wuthering Heights. You cannot avoid being like Aunt So-and-So. You can’t avoid being like Uncle So-and-So. It’s tormenting, but it’s true. Once you recognize those similarities and feel the draw of those relationships, it’s very hard to forget them. My sister and I have a conversation from time to time about which side of the family is the craziest. But at least our side of the family, which may have had its crazy bits, was hilariously funny.

So that’s what kept us coming back. I’m very fond of my mother’s sisters and all my cousins on that side of the family.

FISH: Some Luck and [Early Warning] are the first two parts of a trilogy that examines American life over the course of a whole century. That seems like a really ambitious undertaking. What was the spark that made you decide to do a trilogy?

SMILEY: The first thing I came up with was the title of the whole thing, which is The Last Hundred Years, and I knew I wanted to take it year by year. I knew I wanted each year to have a fair amount of substance. So then I knew it was going to be very long. It either had to be too heavy to lift or the print had to be too small to read. So it was going to have to be a trilogy. Being sort of a numbersy person, I thought, OK. [Each book will take] 33-and-a-third years. I wanted it to be that, but my editor said, No, the books had to have a little bit of rounding. I would have ended volume one in the middle of a sentence and volume two in the middle of a sentence, but my editor wouldn’t go for that.

That’s how I knew it was going to be a trilogy, but I also knew it wasn’t going to be a trilogy where each volume was stand-alone or completely stand-alone. And I really wanted to publish them pretty quickly.

AU GU ST/SEP T EMBE R 2015

THE COMMO N WE AL TH

15

Photo by Ed Ritger

When [my] children’s books were published, they were published a year apart, and I really didn’t like that, because these kids would send me emails saying, “Where’s number three? Where’s number three?” and I would think, You know, this kid’s going to be too old for number three when number three comes out. I thought that was too bad. So when we started in with this, I said it should come out more quickly than that, and they came around and agreed to that.

FISH: Can you tell us about your writing process? What do you do to start writing? Do you have a discipline? A routine? Would-be authors would like to know.

SMILEY: To start writing, I go open a Diet Coke. Then I walk into my office and open the candy closet, and I take out a bunch of Gustaf ’s Licorice, nonpareils, a piece of toffee, maybe a caramel. Then I sit down at my desk, and I look at the computer for a while while I eat all the candy. Then apparently there’s a glucose hit in my brain. I also read to my husband everything I wrote the day before, which puts me in the mood, and I correct the punctuation. If he dozes off, I know I’m screwed. If he asks a question, I get started by answering the question. Sometimes he suggests more graphic sex. And then I get started.

If I get stuck, lots of times I’ll go and ride a horse. I often find, on the way to the barn or while I’m tacking up the horse or something, an idea comes into my mind. If I’m lucky, I won’t forget it. But I’ve never been very selfcritical about the process. I’ve always been quite forgiving about the process. I always

16

THE COMMO N WE AL TH

figure if you’re a novelist, you have to get it on the page. You have to get all the way to the end of the first draft, and then you can go back, and your reader self will kick in.

Your reader self knows more than your writer self does. So your reader self will kick in and say, “This is wrong; this needs fixing.”

“ Y our

reader self knows

more than your writer self does. So your reader self will kick in and say, ‘This is wrong; this needs fixing.’ But your writer self just has to do it.”

–Jane Smiley But your writer self just has to do it. The writers who I have known that have fallen by the wayside are the self-critical and the perfectionist ones – not poets, but novelists.

They’re the ones that say, “Oh! I can’t go on.” They’re not going to go on. So I think it’s really important to get it on the page, to come back to it later and to read it. If that perfectionist person in you doesn’t kick in, then you’ll take pleasure in what you’re doing and you’ll keep doing it.

FISH: When you look at your whole body of work, you’ve written a lot about the Midwest, but you’ve also written a lot about Califor-

AU GU S T/S E PT E M B ER 2015

nia. I think that the novel that came before Some Luck, Private Life, is one of the best evocations of Northern California existence.

I think it’s such a good, unclichéd view of this part of the world.

You’ve been living in California for a long time. Where do the two places, the Midwest and California, stand in your mind, in terms of what they mean to you, what they represent?

SMILEY: I grew up in St. Louis. St. Louis thinks of itself as the most important place in the world. Once you grow up in St. Louis, you can live anywhere because you grew up in St. Louis. I loved Iowa, but my husband at the time had been born in Iowa. He said that he wasn’t going to die there having been born there, and he loved California, so he’s the reason we came to California. I loved coming to California.

I was very terrified at the beginning, because there were no guardrails. In Iowa, if there was the slightest little hill, there was a guardrail to protect you from going into the gulley. But in California, it could be a precipice, and there wasn’t even a curb. It was your job to stay away from the precipice.

That’s the first thing that struck me about California.

California is very different region to region. Even in the Monterey Peninsula, each little town is quite different from all the other towns, so that’s a fascinating part about California – you leave Cowboyville, which is Carmel Valley, and you go into Moneyville, which is Pebble Beach; it doesn’t take any time at all.

Programs OVERVIEW

TICKETS

The Commonwealth Club organizes more than 450 events every year – on politics, the arts, media, literature, business and sports. Programs are held throughout the Bay Area.

Prepayment is required. Unless otherwise indicated, all Club programs – including “Members Free” events – require tickets. Programs often sell out, so we strongly encourage you to purchase tickets in advance. Tickets are available at will call. Due to heavy call volume, we urge you to purchase tickets online at commonwealthclub. org; or call (415) 597-6705. Please note: All ticket sales are final. Please arrive at least 10 minutes prior to any program. If a program is sold out and your tickets are not claimed at our box office by the program start time, they will be released to our stand-by list. Select events include premium seating; premium refers to the first several rows of seating. Pricing is subject to change.

STANDARD PROGRAMS Typically one hour long, these speeches cover a variety of topics and are followed by a question and answer session. Most evening programs include a networking reception with wine.

PROGRAM SERIES CLIMATE ONE programs are a conversation about America’s energy, economy and environment. To understand any of them, it helps to understand them all.

GOOD LIT features both established literary luminaries and up-and-coming writers in conversation.

Includes Food Lit. INFORUM is for and by people in their 20s to mid-30s, though events are open to people of all ages.

MEMBER–LED FORUMS (MLF) Volunteer-driven programs focus on particular fields. Most evening programs include a wine networking reception.

FORUM CHAIRS MEMBER-LED FORUMS CHAIR Dr. Carol Fleming carol.fleming@speechtraining.com ARTS

Lynn Curtis lynnwcurtis@comcast.net ASIA–PACIFIC AFFAIRS Cynthia Miyashita cmiyashita@hotmail.com BAY GOURMET Cathy Curtis ccurtis873@gmail SF BOOK DISCUSSION Richard Ingalls reingalls123@yahoo.com BUSINESS & LEADERSHIP Kevin O’Malley kevin@techtalkstudio.com

GROWNUPS John Milford Johnwmilford@gmail.com HEALTH & MEDICINE William B. Grant wbgrant@infionline.net Patty James patty@pattyjames.com HUMANITIES George C. Hammond george@pythpress.com

MIDDLE EAST Celia Menczel celiamenczel@sbcglobal.net PERSONAL GROWTH: Stephanie Kriebel stephanie@sunspiritwellness.com PSYCHOLOGY Patrick O’Reilly oreillyphd@hotmail.com SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY Gerald Harris Gerald@artofquantumplanning.com Beau Fernald bfernald@gmail.com

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS Norma Walden norwalden@aol.com

Hear Club programs on more than 200 public and commercial radio stations throughout the United States. For the latest schedule, visit commonwealthclub.org/broadcast.

In the San Francisco Bay Area, tune in to: KQED (88.5 FM) Fridays at 8 p.m. and Saturdays at 2 a.m.

KRCB Radio (91.1 FM in Rohnert Park) Thursdays at 7 p.m.

KALW (91.7 FM) Inforum programs on select Tuesdays at 7 p.m.

KLIV (1590 AM) Thursdays at 7 p.m.

KSAN (107.7 FM) Sundays at 5 a.m.

KNBR (680 and 1050 AM) Sundays at 5 a.m.

KFOG (104.5 and 97.7 FM) Sundays at 5 a.m.

LGBT James Westly McGaughey jwes.mcgaughey@me.com

FOREIGN LANGUAGE GROUPS Free for members Location: SF Club Office FRENCH, Intermediate Class Pierrette Spetz, Graziella Danieli pierrettespetz@gmail.com, danieli@sfsu.edu

GERMAN, Int./Adv. Conversation Sara Shahin sarah_biomexx@yahoo.com

FRENCH, Advanced Conversation Gary Lawrence garylawrence508@gmail.com

SPANISH, Advanced Conversation (fluent only) Luis Salvago-Toledo, lsalvago2@gmail.com

Watch Club programs on the California Channel Thursdays at 9 p.m. and on KRCB TV 22 on Comcast & DirecTV the last Sunday of each month at 11 a.m. Select Commonwealth Club Silicon Valley programs air on CreaTV in San Jose (Channel 30). View hundreds of streaming videos of Club programs at fora.tv and youtube.com/ commonwealthclub Subscribe to our free podcast service to automatically download new programs: commonwealthclub.org/podcast.

HARD OF HEARING? To request an assistive listening device, please e-mail Valerie Castro at: vcastro@commonwealthclub.org seven working days before the event.

AU GU ST/SE P T EMBE R 2015

THE COMMO N WE AL TH

17

www.commonwealthclub.org/events

Anne W. Smith asmith@ggu.edu

ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL RESOURCES Ann Clark cbofcb@sbcglobal.net

RADIO, VIDEO AND PODCASTS

AUGUST

Two Month Calendar MONDAY

3 12:00 p.m. A Beacon for Jazz FM 5:15 p.m. Why Do People Reject Good Science? FM 5:30 p.m. Book Discussion: Enchanted Evenings FM

TUESDAY

4

7:00 p.m. The Neuroscience of Love

10 6:00 p.m. Pythagoras Thought Music Mat-

ters FM

11 6:00 p.m. Music Education and the Complete Human Being

17

WEDNESDAY

5

6:00 p.m. Who’s Afraid of Opera?

12 6:00 p.m. Music of Remembrance 6:00 p.m. Why Music? The Confessions of a Willing Prisoner of the Violin

THURSDAY

6

1:45 p.m. Russian Hill Walking Tour 6:00 p.m. Sunset Youth: Music for High-Risk Kids

13 5:15 p.m. “And She Can Sing...” Music as a Portal to the Person

7:00 p.m. Design & Tech with John Maeda

7

14

www.commonwealthclub.org/events

6:00 p.m. Music Matters: Full Body Forward!

7:00 p.m. Counting from Infinity: A Special Film Screening with Keith Devlin

6:00 p.m. Cole Porter: The Music and the Man 6:30 p.m. U.C. President Janet Napolitano in Conversation with Dr. Charlotte Jacobs

24

25

26

27

28

12:00 p.m. Why Music Therapy Matters for Special-Needs Students FM

6:00 p.m. Orchestra Music Grown Locally

6:00 p.m. Mozart and Masonic Semiotics 7:00 p.m. The Crossroads of Food & Rock’n’Roll

6:00 p.m. Changing Times and Indian Classical Music 6:30 p.m. The Gift of Music: Building Sanctuaries of Learning and Hope 6:45 Music from the Inside Out: Film and Q&A

6:00 p.m. Death With Interruptions FM

6:00 p.m. Singing for Our Lives: Music in the Time of AIDS

6:00 p.m. How We Listen to Music

FM 6:00 p.m. Why Music Education Didn’t Disappear FM

31 5:30 p.m. Middle

East Discussion Group FE

6:00 p.m. Body Music: An Interactive Lecture and Demonstration by Keith Terry FM

18

THE COMMO N WE AL TH

AU GU S T/S E PT E M B ER 2015

8/9

15/16

12:00 p.m. Nicholas McGegan: Baroque Music Matters FM 12:00 p.m. Paul Solman: The Secrets to Maxing Out Your Social Security FM

19

1:45 p.m. Chinatown Walking Tour

SAT/SUN

12:00 p.m. Cracking the Music Ceiling: Why Women Matter FM 6:00 p.m. Beyond the Thirteenth Tone FM

18

6:00 p.m. The Music of Cinema FM 6:30 p.m. Socrates Café FM 6:30 p.m. Week to Week Political Roundtable and Member Social

20

FRIDAY

21

22/23

6:00 p.m. Vox Mundi: Sound and Voice FM

5:15 p.m. Music as a Vehicle for Social Justice

29/30

SEPTEMBER

Legend

MONDAY

San Francisco

FM

Free program for members

East Bay/North Bay

FE

Free program for everyone

Silicon Valley

MO

Members–only program

TUESDAY

1

6:00 p.m. Human Need not Apply: The Age of Artificial Intelligence 7:00 p.m. Bill McDermott: CEO of SAP

7

8

WEDNESDAY

2

6:00 p.m. SCOBLE on Startups 2015: Context, Cloud and Bleeding Edge Tech

9

5:30 p.m. Book Discussion: The Pope and Mussolini

14 6:00 p.m. Crime and Punishment FM

21

12:00 p.m. Jeh Johnson

6:00 p.m. Mindfulness Meditation 6:30 p.m. Erica Jong in Conversation with Isabel Allende 7:00 p.m. Week to Week Political Roundtable

SAT/SUN

4

5/6

11

12/13

18

19/20

25

26/27

1:45 p.m. North Beach Walking Tour

10 6:00 p.m. Analyzing Police Encounters with the Public: Some Methods for Reducing the Use of Force 6:30 p.m. Pope Francis: Climate Changer?

16 6:00 p.m. Living Fully: Reimagining End-of-Life

17 1:45 p.m. Waterfront Walk 6:00 p.m. The Stress Shield: Three Ways to Upgrade Your Brain, DNA and Hormones As You Age

22

23

24

1:45 p.m. Nob Hill Walking Tour 5:30 p.m. SOCAP Preview 2015: Funding What Matters in Our Local Economies

6:00 p.m. The Wilder Side of Life

6:00 p.m. The Revolution in Small Satellites

28

29

30

5:00 p.m. Humanities West Book Discussion: Dante’s Divine Comedy (Books 1 & 2) FM

6:00 p.m. Dale Russakoff: Who’s in Charge of America’s Schools?

6:00 p.m. The Future of Digital Competition in Asia

5:15 p.m. Seven Keys to a Successful Job Search 7:00 p.m. Chief Technology Officer of the U.S. Megan Smith

5:30 p.m. Middle East Discussion Group FM 6:30 p.m. Socrates Café FM

3

FRIDAY

www.commonwealthclub.org/events www.commonwealthclub.org/events

6:30 p.m. Longevity Explorers Discussion Group: Better Aging. You. Your Parents. FM

15

THURSDAY

12:00 p.m. Bread From Stones FM

AU G U S T/S EP T E MBER 2015

THE COMMO N WE AL TH

19

Month ## – ##

Platforum

T

The Music Matters Series

he Commonwealth Club isn’t known as a concert venue, but while it experience as much passion for music as anywhere else in the city. And it may not quite compare to The Mudd Club, The 100 Club, or Whisky won’t be too loud to hear the discussion. a Go Go as a musical destination, in the past couple of years its Many programs in this series look at music as a tool to address, or at least marquee has displayed names such as Graham Nash, Rita Moreno and Talib counteract, some of society’s biggest challenges. Speakers have experience Kweli. And the Club has always been particularly interested in exploring the using music to help High Risk Kids (August 6), the Special-Needs Student place music has in public life and our culture. For ex(August 24), those affected by HIV and Singing for ample, during World War I, two American musicians Their Lives (August 24), and as a Portal to the Person with German roots gave lectures at the Club. Victor (August 13) suffering from memory loss. Country Joe Herbert of Broadway and Tin Pan Alley spoke about McDonald will discuss Music as a Vehicle for Social the effect of the war on music and musicians in 1915.

Justice (August 20) more generally.

Then in 1917, New York Symphony Orchestra conOther programs explore the astonishing range of ductor and composer Walter Damrosch discussed tones and rhythms that our culture has categorized music and patriotism. as music: from a demonstration of the oldest musical This August, the Club will perhaps rival some instrument in the world, Body Music (August 31), storied nightclubs as a musical destination after to A Beacon for Jazz (August 3), to Indian Classiall. The month-long, member-led Platforum series cal Music (August 27) to the contemporary opera Music Matters brings 29 acts featuring more than Death with Interruptions (August 28). Programs 50 performers to the Commonwealth Club stage. also address why even Pythagoras Thought Music Yes, most of these artists will do more talking than Matters (August 10), The Crossroads of Food and singing, strumming or dancing, the room will be well Rock ‘n’ Roll (August 26) and many other unusual lit, and your bartender will be a volunteer pouring musical issues. the house wine. The crowd will probably be wearing So wear that metallic tie or leopard print top if you less leather, fewer sequins, and more business casual Country Joe McDonald in 1979. Photo by Rtsanderson like, but be sure to join us at The Commonwealth Club. than at a typical nightclub. But you will certainly —A. Cass

www.commonwealthclub.org/events

Music Matters Series

M O N 03 | San Francisco

M O N 03 | San Francisco

The Commonwealth Club will examine the meaning of music in our lives, hearing from prominent speakers and outstanding artists of the Bay Area. From jazz, symphony, hambone, film tracks, and American composers, you will learn about music from the inside out and perhaps hum something on your way out the door.

A Beacon for Jazz

Why Do People Reject Good Science?

Every program listing in the series will be accompanied by the logo you see above.

The 2015 Platforum series is sponsored by Ernst & Young and the John and Marcia Goldman Foundation.

Building a better working world

20

THE COMMO N WE AL TH

Sonny Buxton, Broadcaster; Musician; Impresario

A beacon for jazz since the 1960s, KCSM Jazz 91’s Sonny Buxton has been a spokesperson for how and why music matters throughout his career as a musician, nightclub impresario, talk show host, jazz historian, archivist and advocate. Renowned as a master storyteller, Sonny will share highlights of the jazz experience (his own and others) that led to his 2013 award as a “Jazz Hero” by the National Jazz Journalists Association.

MLF: THE ARTS Location: 555 Post Street, San Francisco Time: 11:30 a.m. check-in, noon program Program Organizer: Anne W. Smith Cost: $20 non-members, MEMBERS FREE, $7 students (with valid ID) Notes: In assoc. with SF Jazz Digital Archive Proj.

AU G U S T/S EPT E M BE R 2015

San Francisco

Dr. Eugenie Scott, Physical Anthropologist; Former Exec. Director, National Ctr. for Science Education

Scientists are often puzzled when members of the public reject what they consider to be well-founded explanations.

They can’t understand why the presentation of scientific data and theory doesn’t suffice to convince others of the validity of “controversial” topics like evolution and climate change. Recent research highlights the importance of ideology in shaping what scientific conclusions are considered reliable and acceptable.

MLF: PSYCHOLOGY Location: 555 Post St., San Francisco Time: 4:45 p.m. reception, 5:15 p.m. prog.

Cost: $20 non-mem., MEMBERS FREE, $7 stu.

Program Organizer: Patrick O’Reilly

East Bay/North Bay

Silicon Valley

T U E 0 4 | S i l i co n Va l l e y

W E D 05 | San Francisco

Book Discussion: Enchanted Evenings

The Neuroscience of Love

Who’s Afraid of Opera?

This book is not a collection of backstage gossip but a serious study of this American genre that treats its musical scores as structures worthy of analysis. The nature of the genre involves various stagings of the major works considered and the participants who left their marks on them.

“Anything Goes,” “My Fair Lady,” “West Side Story” and more receive thoughtful attention.

Thomas Lewis, M.D., Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, UCSF; Co-Author, A General Theory of Love

Clifford Cranna, Dramaturg, SF Opera

Time: 5:30 p.m. program Cost: $5 non-members, MEMBERS FREE, students free (with valid ID)

Love is defined as an intense feeling of deep affection for someone or something, but why does it mean so much more to us? Why does who we are and who we become depend on whom we love? Lewis will answer this and many other questions as he explores our human development, the nature of togetherness and the multifaceted bonds that connect us. Join us as we learn how the human race evolved from solitary predators into the intensely social creatures we are today.

Program Organizer: B. Massey/R. Ingalls Notes: This is a book discussion only; the author will not be present.

Location: Schultz Cultural Hall, Oshman Family JCC, 3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto

MLF: SF BOOK DISCUSSION Location: 555 Post St., San Francisco

It’s glorious. It’s grand. It’s larger than life. It’s opera. San Francisco Opera’s longtime staff member Kip Cranna, a noted Bay Area music-appreciation speaker, offers an insider’s look at the world of opera and a whirlwind tour through opera’s 400-year long history, using video examples (with subtitles) to illustrate the evolution of this multi-faceted, fascinating and continuingly vital art.

August 3 – 7

M O N 03 | San Francisco

MLF: HUMANITIES Location: 555 Post St., San Francisco Time: 5:30 p.m. reception, 6 p.m. program Cost: $20 non-members, $8 members, $7 students (with valid ID) Program Organizer: George Hammond

Time: 6:30 p.m. check-in, 7 p.m. program Cost: $15 non-mem., $10 members, $7 stu.

Notes: In association with Wonderfest

T H U 06 | San Francisco

F R I 07 | San Francisco

Russian Hill Walking Tour

Sunset Youth: Music for High-Risk Kids

Beyond the Thirteenth Tone

Join a more active Commonwealth Club Neighborhood Adventure! Russian Hill is a magical area with secret gardens and amazing views. Join Rick Evans for a two-hour hike up hills and staircases and learn about the history of this neighborhood. See where great artists and architects lived and worked, and walk down residential streets where some of the most historically significant houses in the Bay Area are located.

Dawn Stueckle, Co-founder and Executive Director, Sunset Youth Services

Mauro ffortissimo, Artist; Musician Dean Mermell, Owner and Director, Storyfarm Productions

Location: Meet in front of Swensen’s Ice Cream Store, 1999 Hyde St. at Union.

Time: 1:45 p.m. check-in, 2–4 p.m. tour Cost: $45 non-members, $35 members Notes: Steep hills and staircases, recommended for good walkers. Parking difficult.

Limited to 20. Must pre-register. Tickets must be purchased in advance and will not be sold at check-in. Tour operates rain or shine.

San Francisco

East Bay/North Bay

Stueckle has discovered that music plays a vital role when working with high-risk youth and families. Sunset Youth Services aims to create programs that cater to youths’ desire for change, while acknowledging the barriers they face, using innovative services such as a youth-run record label and mobile recording studios. Come discuss music as a tool for health and wholeness.

MLF: HEALTH & MEDICINE Location: 555 Post St., San Francisco Time: 5:30 p.m. reception, 6 p.m. program Cost: $20 non-members, $8 members, $7 students (with valid ID) Program Organizer: Bill Grant

Silicon Valley

When Mauro ffortissimo placed an old piano onto the bluffs of the San Mateo coast in February 2013, played it for two weeks and burned it, a lot of people noticed. Filmmaker friend Dean Mermell joined forces with Mauro, forming the Sunset Piano project, which began installing (and deconstructing) pianos at select outdoor locations in the Bay Area. Mauro and Dean will talk about their work and play a “liberated” piano in concert with a “prepared” piano in the style of John Cage.

Location: 555 Post St., San Francisco Time: 5:30 p.m. check-in, 6 p.m. program Cost: $20 non-members, MEMBERS FREE, $7 students (with valid ID)

AU GU S T/S EP T EMBER 2015

THE COMMO N WE AL TH

21

www.commonwealthclub.org/events

T H U 06 |San Francisco

August 7 – 13

F R I 07 | San Francisco

M O N 10 | San Francisco

T U E 11 | San Francisco

Cracking the Music Ceiling: Why Women Matter

Pythagoras Thought Music Matters

Music Education and the Complete Human Being

Lisa Bielawa, Music Composer; Vocalist, Philip Glass Ensemble; Artistic Director, SF Girls Chorus

George Hammond, Author, Conversations With Socrates and Rational Idealism

Joan Gordon, Director, Pre-College and Adult Extension Divisions, SF Conservatory of Music

Rome Prize-winning music composer Lisa Bielawa is a passionate and articulate advocate for women’s experiences in music careers.

Her groundbreaking composer-led projects include the spatialized symphony airfield broadcasts at Crissy Field in 2013 and the opera Verio, performed in 2015.

Monday Night Philosophy understands thoroughly that music matters. Pythagoras (whom we all know from basic geometry) thought so, too – he is well known for having uncovered the mathematical ratios underlying musical harmonies. Join us for a conversation on where the excitement with sound all began.

MLF: THE ARTS Location: 555 Post St., San Francisco

MLF: HUMANITIES Location: 555 Post St., San Francisco

Time: noon program Cost: $20 non-members, MEMBERS FREE, $7

Time: 5:30 p.m. reception, 6 p.m. program Cost: $20 non-members, MEMBERS FREE, $7

students (with valid ID) Program Organizer: Anne W. Smith Notes: In association with the San Francisco

students (with valid ID) Program Organizer: George Hammond

The study of the arts, particularly music, is well documented as having a positive effect on the brain. This presentation will address the importance of providing young people with a comprehensive musical education that sets private study of an instrument within the context of ear training, theory and ensemble participation. These skills serve the students in all aspects of life.

The evening will include performances by student musicians.

MLF: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS Location: 555 Post St., San Francisco Time: 5:30 p.m. reception, 6 p.m. program Cost: $20 non-mem, $8 members, $7 stu.

Program Organizer: Norma Walden

Girls Chorus.

www.commonwealthclub.org/events

W E D 12 | San Francisco

W E D 12 | San Francisco

T H U 13 | San Francisco

Music of Remembrance

Why Music? The Confessions of a Willing Prisoner of the Violin

“And She Can Sing...” Music as a Portal to the Person

Mark Volkert, Assistant Concertmaster, San Francisco Symphony

The panel will discuss the remarkable role of music in engaging people who are suffering from memory loss and disorientation.

Combining film clips, a PowerPoint presentation and live music, the speakers will show how to use improvisation, openness, patience and optimism in the practice of validation to see that there is a reason behind all behaviors. Learn how, through observing and listening with empathy, one may learn what to say and do to engage those with dementia. It will be both educational and entertaining.

Jake Heggie, Composer Mina Miller, Artistic Director Kip Cranna, Dramaturg, SF Opera Moderator

Since 1998 Music of Remembrance has remembered the Holocaust by preserving and performing music by composers of that period and by commissioning leading composers to create major new works.

Miller and arguably the most important American composer Jake Heggie, will share music examples and a preview of Heggie’s compelling new opera “Out of Darkness,” scheduled for its world premiere in San Francisco and Seattle next May. MLF: MIDDLE EAST Location: 555 Post Street, San Francisco Time: 5:30 p.m. reception, 6 p.m. program Cost: $20 non-mem, $8 mem, students free Program Organizer: Celia Menczel

22

THE COMMO N WE AL TH

see website for panelists

Volkert’s talk will blend biography and his philosophy on music, peppered with interesting anecdotes and tales from the trenches.

A violinist with the San Francisco Symphony since 1972, he has been assistant concertmaster since 1980.

MLF: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS Location: 555 Post St., San Francisco Time: 5:30 p.m. reception, 6 p.m. program Cost: $20 non-members, $8 members, $7 students (with valid ID) Program Organizer: Norma Walden Notes: Part of the Music Matters series

AU G U S T/S EPT E M BE R 2015

San Francisco

MLF: GROWNUPS Location: 555 Post St., San Francisco Time: 4:45 p.m. reception, 5:00 p.m. program Cost: $20 non-mem. $8 members, $7 stu.

Program Organizer: John Milford

East Bay/North Bay

Silicon Valley

F R I 14 | San Francisco

F R I 14 | San Francisco

Design & Tech with John Maeda

Nicholas McGegan: Baroque Music Matters

Paul Solman: The Secrets to Maxing Out Your Social Security

John Maeda, Design Partner, KPCB

Paul Solman, Business and Economics Correspondent, “PBS NewsHour”;

Kate van Orden, professor of music at Harvard University, sits down with Nicholas McGegan, who is increasingly recognized for his probing and revelatory explorations of music from all periods. Listeners will gain insight into McGegan’s career as a conductor and leader of a world-class orchestra, and his views on baroque music’s continuing appeal as an art form – and why that matters.

Want to know how to navigate the forbidding maze of Social Security and emerge with the highest possible benefits? You could try reading all 2,728 rules of the Social Security system (and the thousands of explanations of these rules), but Solman explains Social Security benefits in an easy-to-understand and user-friendly style. You’ve paid all your working life for these benefits. Now, get what’s yours.

MLF: THE ARTS Location: 555 Post St., San Francisco Time: 12:30 p.m. check-in, 1 p.m. program Cost: $20 non-mem., MEMBERS FREE, $7 stu.

Location: 555 Post St., San Francisco Time: 11:30 a.m. check-in, noon program, 1 p.m. book signing Cost: $20 non-members, MEMBERS FREE, $7

Program Organizer: Anne W. Smith Notes: In assoc. w/ Philharmonia Baroque Orch.

students (with valid ID); Premium tickets: $40 non-members, $30 members

M O N 17 | San Francisco

M O N 17 | San Francisco

M O N 17 | San Francisco

The Music of Cinema

Socrates Café

Week to Week Political Roundtable and Member Social

Scott Foglesong, Chair, Department of Musicianship and Music Theory, San Francisco Conservatory of Music

On one Monday evening of every month the Humanities Forum sponsors Socrates Café at The Commonwealth Club. Each meeting is devoted to the discussion of a philosophical topic chosen at that meeting. The group’s facilitator, John Nyquist, invites participants to suggest topics, which are then voted on. The person who proposed the most popular topic is asked to briefly explain why she or he considers that topic interesting and important. An open discussion follows, and the meeting ends with a summary of the various perspectives participants expressed. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Design is changing the game in Silicon Valley and impacting the way tech is integrated into our everyday lives. Join us as John Maeda discusses the exciting changes that are happening at the intersection of design and technology. His analysis ranges from industry big picture, such as Google’s atypical acquisition of 14 creative firms, to up close and personal: Mobile users are checking their phones every 5.6 minutes. Hear from John Maeda as he helps us unfold how design is changing how we interact, work, hire, code and create.

Location: 555 Post Street, San Francisco Time: 6 p.m. VIP reception, 7 p.m. program See website for cost

Music for the movies has its own language, idioms and styles. It originated, paradoxically enough, in the silent cinema where music served to mask projection noises in addition to providing helpful cues to the on screen action, then came into its own with the advent of talkies. We’ll be covering that film music in a rich multimedia presentation that starts in 1933 and ends with today’s leading film music composers, and examine the music for one extended sequence in a major film.

MLF: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS Location: 555 Post Street, San Francisco Time: 5:30 p.m. reception, 6 p.m. program Cost: $20 non-mem., MEMBERS FREE, $7 stu.

Program Organizers: L. Calhoun/N.Walden

San Francisco

East Bay/North Bay

MLF: HUMANITIES Location: 555 Post St., San Francisco Time: 6:30 p.m. program Cost: $5 non-members, MEMBERS FREE, students free (with valid ID) Program Organizer: George Hammond

Silicon Valley

Panelists TBA

The summer’s almost over, and it’s already had a lot going on in the political sphere. New candidates launching their campaigns. Politicians getting into trouble. Join us as we explore the biggest, most controversial, and sometimes the surprising political issues with expert commentary by panelists who are smart, are civil, and have a good sense of humor. And come early before the program to meet other smart and engaged individuals and discuss the news over snacks and wine at our member social.

Location: 555 Post St., San Francisco Time: 5:30 p.m. social, 6:30 p.m. program Cost: $15 non-members, $5 members, students free

AU GU S T/S EP T EMBER 2015

THE COMMO N WE AL TH

23

www.commonwealthclub.org/events

Nicholas McGegan, Music Dir., Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra In conversation with Kate van Orden

August 13 – 17

T H U 13 | San Francisco

August 18 – 24

T U E 18 | San Francisco

T U E 1 8 | S i l i co n Va l l e y

W E D 19 | San Francisco

Music Matters: Full Body Forward!

Counting from Infinity: A Special Film Screening with Keith Devlin

Cole Porter: The Music and The Man

Melanie DeMore, Singer/ Songwriter; Composer

“A song can hold you up when there seems to be no ground beneath you,” says DeMore.

With an established career of 30 years in music, she has used her voice to inspire social and political change. Now she is bringing her musical talent to show how one raises one’s voice with power, determination and energy. Intended for all who have longed to find their voice through song. Participants do not need singing experience to attend.

Noah Griffin, Founder and Artistic Director, Cole Porter Society

Keith Devlin, Mathematician, Stanford University

In April 2013, a little-known lecturer – working in isolation – proved something that rocked the mathematical world.

Yitang Zhang’s insight into one of the great challenges of number theory, the Twin Prime Conjecture, is beautifully portrayed in the new film Counting From Infinity. View a special screening of the film with NPR’s “Math Guy” and Stanford mathematician Keith Devlin alongside for expert commentary.

MLF: PERSONAL GROWTH

Sophisticated, worldly, witty, passionate, romantic, irreverent and downright bawdy are all apt descriptors of Cole Porter. The uninitiated and those who thought they knew all there was to know about this elfin genius are constantly rediscovering America’s foremost musical poet, who is never out of style for the cognoscenti.

Come experience the music of Cole you know and music of the Cole you thought you knew.

MLF: BUSINESS & LEADERSHIP

www.commonwealthclub.org/events

Location: 555 Post St., San Francisco Time: 5:30 p.m. networking reception, 6 p.m. program, 7 p.m. CD signing Cost: $20 non-mem., $8 members, $7 stu.

Location: Cubberley Community Theatre, 4000 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto Time: 6:30 p.m. check-in, 7 p.m. film screening, 8 p.m. film discussion

Program Organizer: Stephanie Kriebel

Cost: $20 non-mem., $12 members, $7 stu.

Notes: In association with Wonderfest

W E D 19 | San Francisco

T H U 20 | San Francisco

T H U 20 | San Francisco

U.C. President Janet Napolitano in Conversation with Dr. Charlotte Jacobs

Chinatown Walking Tour

Music as a Vehicle for Social Justice

Enjoy a Commonwealth Club Neighborhood Adventure. Join Rick Evans for a memorable midday walk and discover the history and mysteries of Chinatown.

Explore colorful alleys and side streets.

Visit a Taoist temple, an herbal store, the site of the first public school in the state, and the famous Fortune Cookie Factory.

Country Joe McDonald, Lead Vocals, Country Joe and the Fish

The Legacy of Jonas Salk

Sixty years ago, physicianresearcher Jonas Salk changed human history by inventing the polio vaccine. His work has saved countless lives and helped shaped the medical field as we know it today. Recently, Dr. Charlotte Jacobs has published the first comprehensive biography, Jonas Salk: A Life. She and Janet Napolitano will sit down and discuss her book. Come hear a discussion about the best practices of vaccinations, preventing pandemics and saving lives.

Location: 555 Post St. San Francisco Time: 6 p.m. check in, 6:30 p.m. program, 7:30 p.m. book signing Cost: $20 non-members, $12 members, $7 stu.

Notes: A Good Lit program. Underwritten by the Bernard Osher Foundation

24

THE COMMO N WE AL TH

Location: Meet at corner of Grant and Bush, in front of Starbucks at 359 Grant Avenue, near Chinatown Gate Time: 1:45 p.m. check-in, walk departs sharply at 2 p.m. and finishes about 4:30 p.m.

Cost: $45 non-members, $35 members Notes: Temple visit requires walking up three flights of stairs. Limited to 12 people. Participants must pre-register. Tour operates rain or shine. Photo by H Sanchez/Flickr.

AU G U S T/S EPT E M BE R 2015

San Francisco

Location: 555 Post St., San Francisco Time: 5:30 p.m. reception, 6 p.m. program Cost: $20 non-members, $8 members, $7 stu.

Program Organizer: Kevin O’Malley

In the late 1960’s to early ’70s, music was one of the largest tools used in the protest against the Vietnam War. Country Joe McDonald has been a lifelong advocate for peaceful social change. Equipped only with a guitar, Country Joe will delight and entertain The Commonwealth Club with song and story that inspires everyone to make a positive difference in this world.

MLF: PSYCHOLOGY Location: 555 Post St., San Francisco Time: 4:45 p.m. networking reception, 5:15 p.m. program Cost: $20 non-members, $8 members, $7 stu.

Program Organizer: Patrick O’Reilly Notes: McDonald will sell and sign his CDs, books and posters after his presentation.

East Bay/North Bay

Silicon Valley

THE COMMONWEALTH CLUB OF CALIFORNIA’S 112TH ANNIVERSARY & 27TH ANNUAL DISTINGUISHED CITIZEN AWARD DINNER & GALA

FOREVER INNOVATIVE

SIR MICHAEL MORITZ Venture Capitalist & Philanthropist Chairman of Sequoia Capital WILLIAM K. BOWES, JR. LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT HONOREE

JENNIFER SIEBEL NEWSOM Founder/Chief Executive Officer The Representation Project; Filmmaker & advocate for women, girls, & their families

LEVI STRAUSS & CO. Chief Executive Officer Chip Bergh accepting on behalf of the company

JOHN S. WATSON Chairman of the Board & Chief Executive Officer Chevron Corporation

More than 550 guests gathered at the Ritz Carlton for the 27th Annual Distinguished Citizen Award Dinner as the Club paid tribute to four incredible individuals, who through their leadership, their civic service, their commitment to the arts, and their active citizenship have had remarkable impact on the Bay Area community.

Raising more than $1.1 million for Club programming, this year’s dinner was a resounding success. With the theme “Forever Innovative” in the air, guests mixed and mingled and enjoyed the evening’s highlight, a dynamic panel discussion with the honorees moderated by President and CEO Dr. Gloria Duffy.

1

2

3

4

6

5

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

23

19

20

21

22

24

1. Lydia Beebe, J. Dennis Bonney, John S. Watson, Victor Revenko 2. Dinner Co-Chair Evelyn Dilsaver, Tom Burkhart, Dr. Gloria Duffy, Carol Burkhart 3. Tina Frank, The Honorable Tad Taube, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, The Honorable Richard Pivnicka 4. Blair Shane, Frank Meerkamp 5. Sir Michael Moritz, Bill Ring 6. Gayle Travers, Todd Travers, Beth Travers, Charles Travers 7. Mary Bitterman, Alecia DeCoudreaux, Fr. Paul Fitzgerald 8. Harriet Quarre, Michael Carr, Christine Carr 9. Camila Smith, Harriet Heyman 10. Dr. Ruth Shapiro, Richard Rubin, Anna Mok 11. Chip Bergh 12. Eva Frye, Becky Bakkers, Carlo Almendral 13. Skip and Frankie Rhodes 14. Dan Ashley, Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom 15. Michael Milstein, Sandra Farris, Guy Saperstein, Pamela Rigg, Tom Burkhart, Carol Burkhart 16. The Honorable Rod Diridon, Sr. 17. Dr. Kerry Curtis, Lynn Curtis, Andy Kerr, Nancy Thompson, Dr. Carol Fleming, Victor Revenko, Dr. Ruth Shapiro, Michael Gallagher 18. Connie Ring, Maurice Kanbar 19. Karen Silverman, Dorian Daley 20. Michael Sangiacomo, Anna Mok 21. Richard Mrlik, Courtney Rice, Suzanne Mrlik, Ted Rice, Karen Montauk 22. Kavita Shah, Vitaliy Demyanik 23. John S. Watson, The Honorable George P. Shultz 24. Dinner Co-Chair Dr. Jaleh Daie, Dr. Gloria Duffy Photos by Hilary Smith & Rikki Ward

Death Valley Sand Dunes, Canyons and Wildflowers February 28 – March 4, 2016

Commonwealth Club Travel

Itinerary

Sunday, February 28 Arrive in Las Vegas Arrive in Las Vegas independently, and gather at 6:00 p.m. at the DoubleTree hotel for a welcome drink, introductions, and a trip orientation on the park by your study leader. Dinner will follow at the hotel.

DoubleTree Hotel (D) Monday, February 29 Shoreline Butte, Badwater & Harmony Borax Works Transfer to Death Valley National Park. En route stop at Ashford Mill for the chance to see wildflowers in bloom and to witness evidence of the shoreline of the historic Lake Manly. At its zenith 22,000 years ago, the lake was over 80 miles long and over 600 feet deep, but given the changing climate, it disappeared thousands of years ago. Stretch your legs at Badwater, at 282 feet below sea level this salt flat is the lowest place in the Western Hemisphere and the eighth lowest place on Earth! The dramatic depth is enhanced by the backdrop of the Panamint Range rising over 11,000 feet. After lunch at Furnace Creek, stop by the visitor center before touring Harmony Borax Works and learning about the mining history of “the white gold of Death Valley.” Enjoy a welcome dinner at the Furnace Creek Inn. Furnace Creek Resort (B,L,D)

Tuesday, March 1 Dante’s View, Salt Creek & Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes Experience Dante’s View, located at 5,475 feet, and take in a stunning panorama of all 11,049 feet of Telescope Peak. Learn about the creation of the park’s many alluvial fans, the product of millions of years of sporadic, yet continual, erosion. Later visit Salt Creek and learn about the amazing pupfish, endemic to Death Valley and uniquely adapted to survive in the desert’s harsh environment. End the day’s activities with the chance to walk among the picturesque sand dunes. After dinner enjoy the chance of some stargazing and see firsthand why Death Valley is an officially recognized “Gold Tier” Dark Sky Park.

(B,L,D) Wednesday, March 2 Titus Canyon, Scotty’s Castle & Ubehebe Crater Explore the Titus Canyon narrows and hike among the stratifications of rock marking millions of years of geological history. The opening of the canyon affords the best chance to see a chuckwalla in its natural habitat. These sizable lizards have evolved to inflate their bodies to wedge themselves in the cracks in the rock they live in so as to deter predators.

Enjoy a history tour at “Scotty’s Castle” - a beautiful, Spanish-colonial style mansion constructed in the 1920s. Marvel at Ubehebe Crater, site of a massive volcanic explosion that left a pit in the earth over 500 feet deep and a half a mile across. (B,L,D)

Online: commonwealthclub.org/travel

Phone: 415.597.6720

Thursday, March 3 Sunrise at Zabriskie Point, Golden Canyon & Sunset at Artist’s Palette Wake just before dawn and transfer to Zabriskie Point to watch as the sunlight slowly illuminates the surrounding mountains. Return to Furnace Creek for breakfast. Hike through the multi-hued walls of Golden Canyon toward the Red Cathedral with the option to continue for a longer hike back through Gower Gulch. After lunch, relax at the hotel with the option to watch the film Amargosa.

A finalist for a 1999 Academy Award Nomination for Best Documentary, the film provides the backstory in preparation for the visit to the Amargosa Opera House on Friday. This evening enjoy a sunset visit to the pastel-colored volcanic ash deposits of Artist’s Palette before our farewell dinner. (B,L,D) Friday, March 4 Amargosa Opera House, Ash Meadows & Devil’s Hole After breakfast in the park, visit the Amargosa Opera House, the passionate creation of a dancer and artist, Marta Becket. Transfer to the visitor center at Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge to learn of the plight of the pupfish and get a glimpse of Devil’s Hole. After lunch, return to Las Vegas for flights home. Please book your return flights for 6:00 pm or later. (B,L)

Email: travel@commonwealthclub.org

What to Expect

Average temperatures during this time range from 53-80°. Our transportation around the park is by vans. Travelers should be in active good health to participate in this trip.

While walks are not too strenuous, they are over uneven terrain and may require the use of hands and feet to climb over obstructions. Our longest hike is about 2 miles, with approximately 500 feet in elevation gain. Most all walks are “out and back” so participants can go as far as they like, and then wait for the group to return. For those who would like more active hiking, we can help arrange that during your free time.

Trip Details Dates:

February 28–March 4, 2016 Group Size:

Minimum 8, maximum 18 (not including staff) Cost:

$2,995 per person, double occupancy $3,495 per person, single occupancy The Furnace Creek Ranch

The Furnace Creek Resort is situated in a lush oasis surrounded by the vast and arid desert of Death Valley National Park, California. The resort has two properties – the Ranch and the Inn. We have reserved deluxe rooms at the Ranch, which has been welcoming guests since 1933. The property has a gift shop, saloon, a spring-fed swimming pool, tennis courts, a children’s playground and the National Park Service Visitor’s Center is just a stone’s throw away. One mile away is the 4-diamond Furnace Creek Inn. Upgrades to the Inn are available.

Study Leader, Frank Ackerman

Study Leader Frank Ackerman is a retired National Park Service Ranger who worked in Death Valley for four years. His 30-year career included posts at the Grand Canyon and Voyageurs National Parks, and he served as the Chief of Interpretation for Cape Cod National Seashore. Frank helped create an award-winning interpretative program as part of a joint venture between Amtrak and the National Park Service to provide educational commentary on select passenger trains in the Northeast. Frank is excited to teach you about the spectacular desert flora and fauna, and the geology and human history of Death Valley.

Online: commonwealthclub.org/travel

We are staying in deluxe rooms at the Furnace Creek Ranch. If you would like to upgrade to the Furnace Creek Inn, the supplemental charges are: $600 per person, double occupancy $975 single occupancy, added to single rate above Included:

1 night at the DoubleTree, Las Vegas; 4 nights at the Furnace Creek Ranch; daily breakfast (5) at the hotel, 5 lunches and 5 dinners; welcome and farewell dinners with beer and wine; round-trip transfers from Las Vegas Airport to Death Valley National Park; tours, entrances, and events as specified in the itinerary; mini-bus transportation for all excursions; gratuities for hotel staff and restaurant staff; joining us all week will be expert guide Frank Ackerman; services of a professional Tour Manager; club host to assist you throughout the program (with a minimum of 15 travelers); the camaraderie of the Club’s travelers.

Not included:

Air transportation to and from Las Vegas, Nevada; meals and beverages other than those specified as included; gratuities to tour manager and drivers; optional excursions and other activities done independently; trip-cancellation/ interruption and baggage insurance; personal items such as e-mail, telephone and fax calls, souvenirs, laundry and gratuities for non-group services.

Phone: 415.597.6720

Email: travel@commonwealthclub.org

Death Valley

Commonwealth Club Travel

RESERVATION FORM February 28–March 4, 2016

Phone: 415.597.6720 Fax: 415.597.6729

NAME 1 NAME 2 ADDRESS

CITY/STATE/ZIP

HOME PHONE

CELL

E-MAIL ADDRESS

SINGLE TRAVELERS ONLY: If this is a reservation for one person, please indicate: ___ I plan to share accommodations with ________________________________ OR ___ I wish to have single accommodations. OR ___ I’d like to know about possible roommates. I am a smoker / nonsmoker. (circle one) PAYMENT: Here is my deposit of $______ ($500 per person) for ___ place(s). ___ Please upgrade me/us to the Furnace Creek Inn. ____ Enclosed is my check (make payable to Black Sheep Adventures, Inc). OR ____ Charge my deposit to my ____ Visa ____ MasterCard ____ AMEX ____ Discover CARD#

EXPIRES

SECURITY CODE

AUTHORIZED CARDHOLDER SIGNATURE

DATE

___ I/We have read the Terms and Conditions for this program and agree to them.

SIGNATURE

PLEASE RETURN THIS FORM ALONG WITH YOUR DEPOSIT TO: Commonwealth Club Travel 555 Post Street San Francisco, CA 94102 You may also fax the form to 415.597.6729

Terms and Conditions: DEPOSIT & PAYMENTS: To make a reservation, a deposit of $500 per person is required by check or credit card. Please mail your check (payable to “Black Sheep Adventures, Inc”) or charge instructions, with your completed reservation form to the address on the reservation form. You may also fax in your reservation form or call our office or call (415) 597-6720. Final payment is due no later than December 28, 2015. If you want to pay your final payment by check there is a $50 “payment by check” discount.

CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS: Your deposit and payments are refundable, less the following cancel fees: • 91+ days prior to trip start date, $200 per person • 61-90 days prior to trip start, $500 deposit • 0-60 days prior to trip start, No refund We recommend trip-cancellation insurance; applications will be sent to you.

CST: 2096889-40

Tour can also be cancelled due to low enrollment. Neither CWC nor Black Sheep Adventures accepts liability for cancellation penalties related to domestic or international airline tickets purchased in conjunction with the tour.

MEDICAL INFORMATION: Participation in this program requires that you be in good health. It is essential that persons with any medical problems and related dietary restrictions make them known to us well before departure.

RESPONSIBILITY: The Commonwealth Club of California and our ground operators and suppliers act only as agents for the travelers with respect to transportation and arrangements, and exercise every care possible in doing so. However, we can assume no liability for injury, damage, loss, accident, delay or irregularity in connection with the service of any automobile, motorcoach, or any other conveyance used in carrying out this program or for the acts or defaults of any company or person engaged in

conveying the passenger or in carrying out the arrangements of the program. We cannot accept any responsibility for losses or additional expenses due to delay or changes in air or other services, sickness, weather, strike, war, quarantine, force majeure or other causes beyond our control. All such losses or expenses will have to be borne by the passenger as tour rates provide arrangements only for the time stated. We reserve the right to make such alterations to this published itinerary as may be deemed necessary. The right is reserved to cancel any program prior to departure in which case the entire payment will be refunded without further obligation on our part. No refund will be made for an unused portion of any tour unless arrangements are made in sufficient time to avoid penalties.

The Commonwealth Club of California accepts no liability for any carrier’s cancellation penalty incurred by the purchase of a nonrefundable ticket in connection with the tour.

National Tech

I

What should the country’s high-tech plan be?

n 2009, President Barack Obama created an office with a typically boring and convoluted Washington title: assistant to the president, associate director for the Office of Science and Technology Policy.

The person holding that position is more popularly known as the chief technology officer or CTO of the United States and is tasked with addressing how technology policy, data and innovation can help the country.

On September 30, we will meet the current U.S. CTO, Megan Smith, who will be in conversation with Khan Academy founder Sal Khan in what looks set to be a fascinating discussion about what technology should and can deliver in our lives and our broader society.

The Club also hosted Smith’s predecessors Todd Park (in 2012) and Aneesh Chopra (in 2010). In their presentations to the Club, Park and Chopra discussed the priorities of their office, and technological assistance for the administration’s health-care policies was high on the list for both of them.

Smith comes to the Club to talk about several priorities, including regulatory reform, tech’s role in welfare services, and something that has been a high-profile challenge to Silicon Valley: increasing the numbers of women and people of color in the high-tech industry. That last objective is one we have explored before, including a recent Inforum program with Sal Khan once again, that time talking with Kimberly Bryant, the founder of an organization called Black Girls Code. And just a few days after Smith talks to the Club, Aurora Equity Managing Partner (and Commonwealth Club Board of Governors member) Jaleh Daie will discuss Women in

U.S. CTO Megan Smith. Photo courtesy the White House

Tech: Can Silicon Valley Women Have It All? (October 2).

With gender and racial disparities highlighted by major Silicon Valley firms that have released employee demographics, and with high-profile lawsuits in the news, Smith should have a very interested audience.

—J. Zipperer

M O N 24 | San Francisco

M O N 24 | San Francisco

Vox Mundi: Sound and Voice

Why Music Therapy Matters for SpecialNeeds Students

Why Music Education Didn’t Disappear

Silvia Nakkach, Composer; Former Psychotherapist Val Serrant, Traditional Drum Performer

Silvia Nakkach, classical Indian musician, and Val Serrant, drum/ steel drum percussionist, will display the richness of their indigenous musical traditions from their different backgrounds, through performance and dialogue. They will also engage audience participation in the healing power of music, so prepare yourself to personally embrace why music matters around the world.

MLF: THE ARTS Location: 555 Post St., San Francisco Time: 6 p.m. program Program Organizer: Anne W Smith Cost: $20 non-members, MEMBERS FREE, $7 stu.

Notes: In association with the CA Institute of Integral Studies & the Vox Mundi Mystery School of Sound & the Voice.

San Francisco

East Bay/North Bay

Susan Rancer, Registered Music Therapist Henny Kupferstein, Graduate Student; Musical Savant; Autism researcher

Many parents dream of their children studying piano. For parents of special-needs children, this dream can be realized through channels that honor children’s individual strengths and needs. Non-verbal and special-needs students often do not have the opportunity to realize their musical gifts. Hear about a methodology and evidence-based practice for successful musical and educational outcomes.

MLF: HEALTH & MEDICINE Location: 555 Post Street, San Francisco Time: 11:30 a.m. check-in, noon program Cost: $20 non-mem., MEMBERS FREE, $7 stu.

Program Organizer: Bill Grant Silicon Valley

Michael Hammond, Music Teacher, Berkeley Public Schools

Under Proposition 13, music education in California elementary schools could have easily disappeared due to the lack of state funding. Fortunately, private funding has stepped up in many communities, for example Berkeley’s 1986 local tax, the Berkeley Schools Excellence Project (BSEP). Join us as Hammond tells his stories of teaching music to Berkeley’s newest generation and making music matter in their lives.

MLF: HUMANITIES Location: 555 Post Street, San Francisco Time: 5:30 p.m. reception, 6 p.m. program Cost: $20 non-members, MEMBERS FREE, $7 students (with valid ID) Program Organizer: George Hammond

AU GU S T/S EP T EMBER 2015

THE COMMO N WE AL TH

33

www.commonwealthclub.org/events

F R I 21 | San Francisco

August 24 – 27

M O N 24 | San Francisco

T U E 25 | San Francisco

T U E 25 | San Francisco

Singing for Our Lives: Music in the Time of AIDS

Orchestra Music Grown Locally

How We Listen to Music

Jon Bailey, Conductor; Composer; Professor Emeritus, Pomona College

More than 1.2 million people are living with HIV infections in the United States, and gay and bisexual men are the ones more severely affected. Jon Bailey, artistic director of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles for 13 years, uses his past experience and knowledge during the dark time of the AIDS crisis to speak about how the power of music can create a community and heal spirits.

Michael Morgan, Music Director, East Bay Symphony Orchestra and Festival Opera, Walnut Creek

Award-winning Michael Morgan will address orchestras, their communities, and what is currently being written in the Bay Area.

Morgan is famous for his diverse and adventurous programming, showcasing the work of new composers, and representing a wide range of ethnic backgrounds.

Morgan believes that music is the catalyst for pulling a community together.

Gabe Meline, Music Editor and Curator, KQED Arts

Streaming has given everyone instant, and mostly free, access to any type of music they wish.

This music revolution seems like a giant leap for listeners and aspiring artists alike. However, Gabe Meline sees this as potentially harmful to both the art and to the industry. How can the industry make any money when listeners can stream a song for free? How does a musician get the time their song deserves when the average listener has an increasingly diminishing attention span?

www.commonwealthclub.org/events

MLF: LGBT

MLF: THE ARTS

MLF: SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Location: 555 Post St., San Francisco Time: 5:30 p.m. reception, 6 p.m. program Cost: $20 non-members, MEMBERS FREE, $7 students (with valid ID)

Location: 555 Post St., San Francisco Time: 5:30 p.m. reception, 6 p.m. program Cost: $20 non-members, $8 members, $7 students free (with valid ID)

Location: 555 Post St., San Francisco Time: 5:30 p.m. reception, 6 p.m. program Cost: $20 non-members, $8 members, $7 students free (with valid ID)

Program Organizer: Wes McGaughey

Program Organizer: Lynn Curtis

Program Organizer: Gerald Harris

W E D 26 | San Francisco

W E D 26 | San Francisco

T H U 27 | San Francisco

Mozart and Masonic Semiotics

The Crossroads of Food & Rock ‘n’ Roll

Changing Times and Indian Classical Music

Steven Machtinger, Attorney; Violist; Independent Mozart Scholar

see website for panelists

Mahesh Kale, Indian Classical Music Performer

Steven Machtinger and the London Quintet return to The Commonwealth Club for the Music Matters series, this time exploring how Mozart expressed Masonic attitudes toward death and immortality in the third movement of his G minor String Quintet of 1787.

MLF: HUMANITIES Location: 555 Post St., San Francisco Time: 5:30 p.m. reception, 6 p.m. program Cost: $20 non-members, $8 members, $7 students (with valid ID) Program Organizer: George Hammond

34

THE COMMO N WE AL TH

In recent years, the confluence of food and music has become more apparent with festivals like Outside Lands. Both industries seem to overlap and intertwine as longtime music industry vets are leaving their careers to open restaurants, and people who are passionate about food and music are finding ways to incorporate the two. In this panel discussion, moderated by Dan Stone, you’ll hear from several Bay Area luminaries who’ve helped shape our city’s food and music scenes.

MLF: BAY GOURMET Location: 555 Post St., San Francisco Time: 6:30 p.m. check-in, 7 p.m. program Cost: $20 non-members, $8 members, $7 students (with valid ID) Program Organizer: Cathy Curtis

AU G U S T/S EPT E M BE R 2015

San Francisco

Since the time of its evolution a few thousand years ago, Indian classical music has undergone several changes in its form. Every time there was a social impact on Indian civilization, its classical music morphed, lending itself to the changing times.

Kale’s talk will touch upon how the music adapted itself to major social impacts right up to the recent times of globalization, which poses a new challenge to the music, yet continues to demonstrate how much music matters.

MLF: HUMANITIES Location: 555 Post St., San Francisco Time: 5:30 p.m. reception, 6 p.m. program Cost: $20 non-members, $8 members, $7 stu.

Program Organizer: George Hammond

East Bay/North Bay

Silicon Valley

THU 27 | East Bay

F R I 28 | San Francisco

The Gift of Music: Building Sanctuaries of Learning and Hope

Music from the Inside Out: Film and Q&A

Death With Interruptions

Cyrus Ginwala,

Left Coast Chamber Ensemble Thomas Laqueur, Librettist,; History Professor, UC Berkeley

Music Director, SFSU Owsley Brown III, Producer; Director Sandy Tolan, Journalist; Author Eugene Rodriguez, Executive Director, Los Cenzontles Cultural Arts Academy David Stull, President, San Francisco Conservatory of Music – Moderator

Late filmmaker Daniel Anker’s most personal film is his engaging documentary, Music from the Inside Out, released in 2004, about the Philadelphia Orchestra. Because Anker was a lifelong musician himself, his film offers special insight into musicians’ lives and their creative energies and illuminates further why music matters. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to see it on the big screen, followed by a Q&A. MLF: BAY GOURMET Location: The New Parkway Theatre 474 24th

Location: San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Sol Joseph Recital Hall, 50 Oak St., SF Time: 5:30 p.m. check-in, 6:30 p.m. program Cost: $20 non-mem., $8 members, $7 stu.

Street, Oakland Time: 6:15 check-in, 6:45 film, 8:30 Q&A Cost: $28 non-members and members Program Organizer: Cathy Curtis

MLF: THE ARTS Location: 555 Post St., San Francisco Time: 5:30 p.m. reception, 6 p.m. program

Program Organizer: Norma Walden

Notes: The New Parkway offers dinner fare, beer and wine available for purchase.

Cost: $20 non-mem., MEMBERS FREE, $7 stu.

Program Organizer: Marianne Ryan

M O N 31 | San Francisco

M O N 31 | San Francisco

T U E 01 | San Francisco

Middle East Discussion Group

Body Music: An Interactive Lecture and Demonstration

by Keith Terry

Human Need not Apply: The Age of Artificial Intelligence

Each member of this inspiring panel employs music to grapple with pressing social issues.

Join us as we hear how Brown, Tolan, Rodriguez and Stull use their work to positively influence the community.

Make your voice heard in an enriching, provocative and fun discussion with Club members as you weigh in on events shaping the face of the Middle East, North Africa and Afghanistan. Each month, the Middle East Member-Led Forum hosts an informal roundtable discussion on a topic frequently suggested by recent headlines. After a brief introduction, the floor will be open for discussion. All interested members are encouraged to attend. There will also be a brief planning session.

MLF: MIDDLE EAST Location: 555 Post St., San Francisco Time: 5:30 p.m. program Cost: FREE Program Organizer: Celia Menczel

San Francisco

East Bay/North Bay

Keith Terry, Percussionist; Rhythm Dancer; Educator

The oldest musical instrument in the world is the human body, on which any surface can be used for rhythmic possibilities. Clapping his hands, stamping his feet, slapping his chest and popping his cheeks are just few ways Terry plays his body as an instrument and creates “body music.”

Experience Terry’s electric performance that inspires audiences of all ages to join in on the fun.

MLF: THE ARTS Location: 555 Post St., San Francisco Time: 5:30 p.m. reception, 6 p.m. program Cost: $20 non-members, MEMBERS FREE, $7 students (with valid ID) Program Organizer: Lynn Curtis Silicon Valley

Jerry Kaplan, Entrepreneur; Technical Innovator; Author; Futurist

Computers with artificial intelligence, or AI, date back to the 1950s, and since then, the technology has advanced to new levels. Join us as Kaplan informs us of the several eye-opening possibilities, such as robots transcending the factory floor, working alongside human laborers of all kinds, and how the law is likely to recognize AIs as “artificial persons” for many purposes.

MLF: SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY Location: 555 Post St., San Francisco Time: 5:30 p.m. networking reception, 6 p.m. program, 7 p.m. book signing Cost: $20 non-members, $8 members, $7 stu.

Program Organizer: Gerald Harris Notes: Photo by Todd Rafalovicwh

AU GU S T/S EP T EMBER 2015

THE COMMO N WE AL TH

35

www.commonwealthclub.org/events

MLF: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Soprano Nicky Einfeld, cellist Leighton Fong and members of the Left Coast Chamber Ensemble perform excerpts from an opera about what happens when death, after taking a break, agrees to come back to work on the condition that she gets to send victims a week’s notice. Thomas Laqueur will introduce the program and speak about Nobel Prize winner Jose Sarramago’s novel on which the opera is based.

August 27 – September 1

T H U 27 | San Francisco

September 1 – 10

T U E 0 1 | S i l i co n Va l l e y

W E D 02 | San Francisco

T H U 03 | San Francisco

Bill McDermott: CEO of SAP

SCOBLE on Startups 2015: Context, Cloud and Bleeding Edge Tech

North Beach Walking Tour

SAP is the world’s market leader in business software, with more than 291,000 customers in 190 different countries. McDermott, as the CEO, leads millions in executing SAP’s vision and strategy to make the world run better and improve people’s lives. Learn tips from McDermott about leading with purpose and his thoughts on leadership in today’s competitive global market.

Location: Santa Clara Marriott, 2700 Mission College Blvd., Santa Clara Time: 6:30 p.m. check-in, 7 p.m. program, 8 p.m. book signing Cost: $25 non-members, $15 members, $10 stu.; Premium: $55 non-members, $45 members Notes: Underwritten by Accenture.

Robert Scoble, Chief Startup Liaison, Rackspace; Author, Age of Context: Mobile, Sensors, Data and the Future of Privacy In conversation with Kevin O’Malley, President TechTalk / Studio

Top tech evangelist Robert Scoble travels the world looking for what’s happening on the bleeding edge of technology.

Join Scoble to learn about the latest and greatest startups, trends and devices he’s uncovering for 2015 and beyond.

MLF: BUSINESS & LEADERSHIP Location: 555 Post Street, San Francisco Time: 5:30 p.m. networking reception, 6 p.m. program, 7 p.m. book signing Cost: $20 non-members, $8 members,

Join another Commonwealth Club Neighborhood Adventure! Explore vibrant North Beach with Rick Evans during a two-hour walk through this neighborhood with a colorful past, where food, culture, history and unexpected views all intersect in an Italian “urban village.” In addition to learning about Beat generation hangouts, you’ll discover authentic Italian cathedrals and coffee shops.

Location: Meet at Victoria Pastry Café located at 700 Filbert Street (at Columbus Ave) across from Washington Square Park Time: 1:45 p.m. check-in, 2-4 p.m. tour Cost: $45 non-members, $35 members Notes: Limited to 20 people. Must preregister. Tours operate rain or shine. Photo by Flickr user Clemson.

students free Program Organizer: Kevin O’Malley

www.commonwealthclub.org/events

T U E 08 | San Francisco

T H U 10 | San Francisco

T H U 10 | San Francisco

Book Discussion: The Pope and Mussolini

Analyzing Police Encounters with the Public: Some Methods for Reducing the Use of Force

Pope Francis: Climate Changer?

Geoffrey Raymond, Professor and Director of Graduate Studies, Department of Sociology, UC Santa Barbara Nikki Jones, Professor of African American Studies, UC Berkeley

Pope Francis’ entrance into the fray on climate change sent shock waves across the political and religious worlds. The Catholic leader’s encyclical linking hard science and biblical passages has prompted a discussion of stewardship across faiths. Bingham and Fitzgerald will discuss the impact of Francis’ proclamation on the debate over climate action, and the impact that moral voices have had on other social movements.

Pius XI, who was pope during Mussolini’s rise to power in the 1920s, arranged to accept Il Duce’s political dominance in return for assurances of rights and privileges for the church. Over time, Pius XI became conflicted about fascism and Italy’s alliance with Nazi Germany. He prepared a statement condemning the Nazis as he was dying in 1938, but others in the Vatican prevented the original draft from being distributed. Kertzer explores ecclesiastical skullduggery and intrigue, including information revealed in recently opened Vatican archives.

Location: 555 Post St., San Francisco Time: 5:30 p.m. program Cost: $5 non-members, MEMBERS FREE Notes: The author will not be present at the book discussion

36

THE COMMO N WE AL TH

Recent headlines of police encounters give the impression of an unavoidable descent into violence. However, the timely research of Professors Raymond and Jones show various methods that reduce police overreaction during dangerous situations.

MLF: HUMANITIES Location: 555 Post Street, San Francisco Time: 5:30 p.m. reception, 6 p.m. program Cost: $20 non-members, $8 members, $7 stu.

Program Organizer: George Hammond

AU G U S T/S EPT E M BE R 2015

San Francisco

Rev. Canon Sally Bingham, President and Founder, Interfaith Power and Light Paul J. Fitzgerald, SJ, President, USF

Location: 555 Post St., San Francisco Time: 6:00 p.m. check-in, 6:30 p.m. program, 7:30 p.m. networking reception Cost: $20 non-mem., $12 members, $7 stu.

East Bay/North Bay

Silicon Valley

M O N 14 | San Francisco

T U E 15 | San Francisco

Crime and Punishment

Longevity Explorers Discussion Group: Better Aging. You. Your Parents.

Jeh Johnson: Security Challenges Confronting the Homeland

John Mindermann, Author, In Pursuit

Monday Night Philosophy arrests your attention with John Mindermann’s insights from his book In Pursuit (coauthored with Brian Solon). Gathered from nearly a decade on the SFPD and his career as an FBI agent, the book details his riveting experiences, including June 17, 1972, when Mindermann just happened to be called in to investigate a burglary at the Watergate complex. You cannot get any closer to history than this.

This regular discussion group will be exploring new and emerging solutions to the challenges of growing older. Not only will we be uncovering interesting new products at the intersection of aging and technology, we will also be conducting a series of ongoing deep dive discussions into topics like brain health, apps for seniors, hearing, and wearables for seniors. The discussions will be facilitated

by Dr. Richard Caro, co-founder of Techenhanced Life, PBC.

Jeh Johnson, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Dr. Gloria Duffy, President and CEO, The Commonwealth Club - Moderator

MLF: HUMANITIES Location: 555 Post St., San Francisco

MLF: GROWNUPS Location: 555 Post St., San Francisco Time: 6:30 p.m. program

Jeh Charles Johnson was sworn in on December 23, 2013 as the fourth Secretary of Homeland Security. Secretary Johnson also oversaw the development of the legal aspects of many of our nation’s counterterrorism policies. In this era of ISIS and homegrown terrorism, hear this high-level official discuss the latest challenges and strategies for protecting Americans.

Time: 5:30 p.m. networking reception, 6 p.m. program, 7 p.m. book signing Cost: $20 non-members, MEMBERS FREE, $7 students (with valid ID)

Cost: $5 non-members, MEMBERS FREE, students free Program Organizer: John Milford Notes: In assoc. with Tech-enhanced Life, PBC

Location: 555 Post St., San Francisco Time: 11 a.m. check-in, noon program Cost: $25 non-members, $15 members, $7 stu.

Program Organizer: George Hammond

Premium: $40 non-members, $30 members Note: Attendees subject to search

T U E 15 | San Francisco

T U E 1 5 | S i l i co n Va l l e y

Science and Practice of Mindfulness Meditation in Sports, Work and Life

Erica Jong in Conversation with Isabel Allende

Week to Week Political Roundtable and Member Social Silicon Valley

Erica Jong, Novelist; Author, Fear of Flying & Fear of Dying Isabel Allende, Novelist; Human Rights Activist

Larry Gerston, Ph.D., Professor of Political Science, San Jose State University; Political Analyst, NBC Bay Area; Author, Reviving Citizen Engagement John Zipperer, Vice President of Media & Editorial, The Commonwealth Club – Host Additional panelists TBA

Meditation is an ancient practice often used to improve mindfulness and to reduce stress, but is it just another spiritual/ religious paradigm? Our panelists will discuss the underlying science of meditation and answer any of your questions.

Jong blew conventional thinking about women, marriage and sexuality out of the water with her first novel, Fear of Flying. Chilean author Isabel Allende launched a feminist force with her first novel, The House of the Spirits. Join these game-changing women discuss love, sex and the power of women to change the world.

MLF: PERSONAL GROWTH/ SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY Location: 555 Post St. ,San Francisco Time: 5:30 p.m. networking reception, 6 p.m. program, 7 p.m. book signing Cost: $20 non-members, $8 members, $7 stu.

Program Organizer: Eric Siegel

Location: 555 Post St., San Francisco Time: 5:45 p.m. check-in, 6:30 p.m. program, 7:30 p.m. book signing Cost: $25 non-members, $15 members, $7 stu.; Premium: $50 non-mem., $40 members Notes: Part of the Good Lit Series underwritten by the Bernard Osher Foundation

San Francisco

East Bay/North Bay

Silicon Valley

Week to Week is headed back to Silicon Valley! Join our panelists for informative and engaging commentary on major news, audience discussion of the week’s events, and our news quiz!

Location: Schultz Cultural Hall, Oshman Family JCC, 3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto Time: 6 p.m. social with wine & snacks, 7 p.m. program Cost: $20 non-members, $10 members, students free

AU GU S T/S EP T EMBER 2015

THE COMMO N WE AL TH

37

www.commonwealthclub.org/events

T U E 15 | San Francisco

JoAnn Dahlkoetter, PhD., Clinical Psychologist; Olympic Coach; Author, Your Performing Edge Philippe Goldin, Ph.D., Psychology, Neuroscience; Assistant Professor, UCDavis; Researcher, Stanford

September 14 – 15

M O N 14 | San Francisco

September 16 – 23

W E D 16 | San Francisco

T H U 17 | San Francisco

T H U 17 | San Francisco

Living Fully: Reimagining End-of-Life

Waterfront Walk

The Stress Shield: Three Ways to Upgrade Your Brain, DNA and Hormones As You Age

BJ Miller, MD, UCSF; Executive Director, Zen Hospice Project

Despite being a universal experience, death usually is a topic looked at only when unavoidable. As Executive Director of Zen Hospice Project and faculty at UCSF, Dr. BJ Miller is changing the conversation around the end-of-life experience. Informed by a life-threatening accident and work as a palliative care and hospice physician, Miller, a leader in the movement dedicated to a humancentered model of care, advocates quality of life all the way to the end.

Rick Evans’ new walking tour explores the historic sites of the waterfront neighborhood surrounding the future Commonwealth Club headquarters.

Hear the dynamic stories of the entrepreneurs, controversial artists and labor organizers who created this recently revitalized neighborhood. This tour gives you a lively overview of the historic significance of this neighborhood and a close look at the ongoing development.

Sara Gottfried, M.D., Author, The Hormone Cure and The Hormone Reset Diet

www.commonwealthclub.org/events

MLF: HEALTH & MEDICINE

Mission & Steuart) Time: Arrive by 1:45 p.m. in order to check in. The walk departs at 2:00 p.m. sharp and

Groundbreaking science now theorizes that approximately 10 percent of disease is genetic, and 90 percent is due to the way you eat, move, think and supplement. Dr. Gottfried practices functional medicine, a systems-based approach to address health from your DNA to your habits. In this talk, you will learn to customize a plan meant to best serve your health goals and strengthen your “stress shield.”

Location: 555 Post St., San Francisco Time: 6 p.m. program Cost: $20 non-members, $8 members, $7 stu.

Program Organizer: Mark Zitter

finishes at about 4:30 p.m.

Cost: $45 non-members, $35 members Notes: Tour operates rain or shine. Limited to 20 participants. Tickets must be purchased in

MLF: HEALTH & MEDICINE Location: 555 Post St., San Francisco Time: 6 p.m. program

Note: In association with Zitter Health Insights

advance and will not be sold at check-in.

Cost: $20 non-members, $8 members, $7 stu.

Program Organizer: Patty James

T U E 22 | San Francisco

T U E 22 | San Francisco

W E D 23 | San Francisco

Nob Hill Walking Tour

SOCAP Preview 2015: Funding What Matters in Our Local Economies

The Wilder Side of Life

Explore one of San Francisco’s original “Seven Hills”.

Because of great views and its central position, Nob Hill became an exclusive enclave of the rich and famous who built large mansions in the neighborhood.

Visit the city’s largest house of worship, four landmark hotels, and discover architectural tidbits and anecdotes. A true San Francisco experience of elegance, urbanity, scandals and fabulous views.

Location: Meet in front of Caffe Cento, 801 Powell Street, San Francisco Time: Arrive by 1:45 p.m. in order to check in. The walk departs at 2:00 p.m. sharp and finishes at about 4:30 p.m.

Cost: $45 non-members, $35 members Notes: Tour operates rain or shine. Limited to 20 participants. Tickets must be purchased in advance and will not be sold at check-in.

38

THE COMMO N WE AL TH

Location: Meet in front of Boulevard Restaurant, 1 Mission Street, San Francisco (corner of

Kevin Jones, Founder, Good Capital; Co-founder and Convener, Social Capital Markets Jenny Kassan, CEO, Cutting Edge Capital Michael Shuman, Co-founder, Cutting Edge Capital; Author, Local Economy Solution; Founding Board Member, Business Alliance for Local Living Economies Kevin O’Malley, President TechTalk/Studio – Moderator

Leading investors and philanthropists discuss how the full diversity of the community builds local economy.

MLF: BUSINESS & LEADERSHIP Location: 555 Post St., San Francisco Time: 5:30 p.m. program Cost: $20 non-members, $8 members, stu. free Program Organizer: Kevin O’Malley

AU G U S T/S EPT E M BE R 2015

San Francisco

Tom Stienstra, Outdoors Writer, SF Chronicle

The life of an outdoorsman can be dangerously exciting. From leading a fiveweek expedition to find Bigfoot, to being charged by a grizzly bear, the list of stories Tom Stienstra has is extensive. Join us as Stienstra showcases his experiences through dramatic photos and elaborate tales collected throughout his career.

MLF: ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL RESOURCES Location: 555 Post St., San Francisco Time: 5:30 p.m. networking reception, 6 p.m. program, 7 p.m. book signing Cost: $20 non-members, $8 members, $7 stu.

Program Organizer: Ann Clark Notes: Co-sponsored by the SF Chronicle

East Bay/North Bay

Silicon Valley

F R I 25 | San Francisco

M O N 28 | San Francisco

The Revolution in Small Satellites

Bread From Stones

Middle East Discussion Group

Mike Safyan, Director of Launch and Regulatory Affairs, Planet Labs

Keith David Watenpaugh, Associate Professor of Modern Islam, Human Rights and Peace Studies, UC Davis

Make your voice heard in an enriching, provocative and fun discussion with Club members as you weigh in on events shaping the face of the Middle East, North Africa and Afghanistan. Each month, the Middle East Member-Led Forum hosts an informal roundtable discussion on a topic frequently suggested by recent headlines. After a brief introduction, the floor will be open for discussion. All interested members are encouraged to attend. There will also be a brief planning session.

A revolution is happening in the space industry. What used to be the domain of nation states and a handful of big corporations is now accessible to students and startups. Planet Labs, a local San Francisco startup, is launching fleets of small satellites to image the entire Earth every day. Mike Safyan will tell the story of how Planet Labs went from garage to orbit and created an unprecedented view of the Earth’s changes.

Hear Watenpaugh, a noted Middle East historian and educator, discuss his latest book, Bread from Stones: The Middle East and the Making of Modern Humanitarianism. Watenpaugh will elaborate on the development of helping victims following the mass violence, genocide, displacement of millions, the collapse of the Ottoman Empire and the advent of late colonialism in the Middle East.

MLF: SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY Location: 555 Post Street, San Francisco Time: 5:30 p.m. reception, 6 p.m. program

MLF: MIDDLE EAST Location: 555 Post St., San Francisco Time: 11:30 a.m. check-in, noon program, 1

Location: 555 Post St., San Francisco Time: 5:30 p.m. program Cost: FREE

Cost: $20 non-members, $8 members, $7 stu.

Program Organizer: Gerald Harris

p.m. book signing Cost: $20 non-members, MEMBERS FREE, students free (with valid ID) Program Organizer: Celia Menczel

Program Organizer: Celia Menczel

M O N 28 | San Francisco

M O N 28 | San Francisco

T U E 29 | San Francisco

Humanities West Book Discussion: Dante’s Divine Comedy (Books 1 & 2)

Socrates Café

Dale Russakoff: Who’s in Charge of America’s Schools?

September 24 – 29

T H U 24 | San Francisco

MLF: MIDDLE EAST

MLF: HUMANITIES Location: 555 Post St., San Francisco Time: 5 p.m. program Cost: $5 non-members, MEMBERS FREE, students free (with valid ID) Program Organizer: George Hammond Notes: This program is in association with Humanities West.

San Francisco

East Bay/North Bay

MLF: HUMANITIES Location: 555 Post St., San Francisco Time: 6:30 p.m. program Cost: $5 non-members, MEMBERS FREE, students free (with valid ID) Program Organizer: George Hammond

Silicon Valley

Author, The Prize: Who’s in Charge of America’s Schools?

Listen to Dale Russakoff, expert journalist, deliver a story of high ideals and hubris as reformers face off against entrenched unions, skeptical parents and bewildered students. The focus is a $100 million prize given to Newark schools by Mark Zuckerberg. The Prize is a titanic struggle over the future of education for the poorest kids, and a cautionary tale for those who care about the shape of America’s schools. Join us as Russakoff explains how the prize seems to have enriched everyone except for Newark’s students.

Location: 555 Post St., San Francisco Time: 5:30 p.m. check-in, 6 p.m. program, 7 p.m. book signing Cost: $20 non-members, $12 members, $7 stu.

AU GU S T/S EP T EMBER 2015

THE COMMO N WE AL TH

39

www.commonwealthclub.org/events

Join us for a discussion of hell and purgatory within Dante’s Divine Comedy, led

by Lynn Harris. We will use the Clive James’s translation, which was decades in the making and renders the entire epic as a coherent and compulsively readable lyric poem. Yet the translation reproduces the same wonderful momentum of the original Italian, propelling the reader along the pilgrim’s path from hell to heaven, from despair to revelation.

On one Monday evening of every month the Humanities Forum sponsors Socrates Café at The Commonwealth Club. Each meeting is devoted to the discussion of a philosophical topic chosen at that meeting. The group’s facilitator, John Nyquist, invites participants to suggest topics, which are then voted on. The person who proposed the most popular topic is asked to briefly explain why she or he considers that topic interesting and important. An open discussion follows, and the meeting ends with a summary of the various perspectives participants expressed. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Month ## – ##

MAKE A DI

Only one organization has been mak beyond for more than a century — influencing policy, and giving voice to

You are vital to ensuring that this Please show you

Go to commonweal or call (415 www.com-

TAKE THE BOARD LIST FROM PAGE 7 OF APRIL/MAY MAGAZINE AND MAKE IT A HALF-COLUMN BOX (WE’VE DONE IT IN THE PAST) —JZ.

40

THE COMMO N WE AL TH

AU G U S T/S EPT E M BE R 2015

San Francisco

East Bay/North Bay

Silicon Valley

Month ## – ##

IFFERENCE

king a difference in the Bay Area and — informing, entertaining, inspiring, o people from countless points of view.

www.commonwealthclub.org/events

is work continues into the future. ur support today.

althclub.org/donate 5) 597-6726

San Francisco

East Bay/North Bay

Silicon Valley

AU GU S T/S EP T EMBER 2015

THE COMMO N WE AL TH

41

September 29 – October 3

T U E 29 | San Francisco

W E D 30 | San Francisco

W E D 30 | San Francisco

The Future of Digital Competition in Asia

Chief Technology Officer of the U.S. Megan Smith

Seven Keys to a Successful Job Search

Peter Cowhey, Obama Advisor; Dean of UCSD’s School of Global Policy & Strategy; Former FCC International Chief

Asia’s changing digital landscape will reshape global growth, build new industries and drive innovation, while challenging personal privacy and national security. How are new rules that guide competition being set? By whom? More than 50 percent of the global market is at stake - for IT and telecom equipment, e-commerce and the Internet of Things.

Cowhey will unravel the complexities and the impact.

MLF: ASIA PACIFIC AFFAIRS Location: 555 Post St., San Francisco Time: 6 p.m. program Cost: $20 non-members, $8 members, $7 stu.

Program Organizer: George Baeder

Mary Eileen Williams, M.A., NCCC, Job Search Expert; Author; Blogger; Speaker; Radio Host

In conversation with Sal Khan, Founder, Khan Academy

It’s no secret that the U.S. government needs a tech upgrade, says U.S. Chief Technology Officer Megan Smith, who is committed to shaking things up. President Obama’s tech mandate is far more than just moving on from floppy disks – initiatives of the Office of Science and Technology Policy include getting more women and people of color in tech jobs, pushing regulatory reform, and delivering better digital services such as welfare registration. And next, Megan’s wants to expand online networks in Africa.

Location: The Grand Ballroom, The Fairmont Hotel, 950 Mason St., San Francisco Time: 6 p.m. check-in and VIP reception, 7

Williams aims to provide mature applicants with critical information on navigating today’s competitive job market, including how to brand yourself for success, make yourself marketable, differentiate yourself from the competition and create a powerful presence both in-person and online. Drawing from her 20 years of experience, she’ll also discuss networking and the “halo effect,” and the ups and downs of compensation MLF: GROWNUPS Location: 555 Post Street, San Francisco Time: 4:45 p.m. reception, 5:15 p.m. program Cost: $20 non-members, $8 members, $7 stu.

Program Organizer: John Milford

p.m. program See website for cost

www.commonwealthclub.org/events

T H U 01 | San Francisco

F R I 02 | San Francisco

S AT 0 3 | S i l i c o n V a l l e y

Michigan Governor Rick Snyder and William Clay Ford: Growing The U.S. Economy

Women in Tech: Can They Have It All?

Richard Dawkins, Evolutionary Biologist; Author, The Selfish Gene, The God Delusion and Brief Candle in the Dark: My Life in Science

Rick Snyder, Governor, Michigan William Clay Ford Jr., Executive Chairman, Ford Motor Company Greg Dalton, VP, Climate One – Moderator

Based on their experiences in Michigan, Snyder and Ford have a positive economic tale to tell, with implications for the country. In Snyder’s first term, the state passed four balanced budgets, eliminated a $1.5 billion deficit and reformed tax and regulatory codes. Ford, Jr. has been its chairman since January 1999. Join us for a unique conversation about business, energy, and innovation.

Location: 555 Post St., San Francisco Time: 12:15 p.m. check-in, 1 p.m. program Cost: $20 non-mem., $12 members, $7 stu.; Premium: $35 non-members, $25 members

42

THE COMMO N WE AL TH

Jaleh Daie, Ph.D., Managing Partner, Aurora Equity

Technology has always been a male dominated industry even in the midst of the women’s liberation movements. With the ever-expanding Silicon Valley, the gender gap in the job market becomes ever more prevalent as the industry becomes increasingly one-sided. Dr. Jaleh Daie, a leading female VC in Silicon Valley, discusses her own career as she established herself in a male-majority industry. Join us for a conversation about what we can do to attract more young women to technology and what women can bring to the technological table.

Dawkins has been central to kick-starting new conversations and debates surrounding creationism and intelligent design.

His gene-centric view of evolution helped popularize the radical new understanding of Darwinism. In the sequel to his bestselling memoir, Dawkins offers a candid look at the remarkable events and ideas that encouraged him to shift his attention to the intersection of culture, religion, and science.

See website for location, time and cost

MLF: BUSINESS & LEADERSHIP Location: 555 Post St. San Francisco Time: 11:30 a.m. check in, noon program Cost:$20 non-mem., MEMBERS FREE, stu. free Program Organizer: Kevin O’Malley

AU G U S T/S EPT E M BE R 2015

San Francisco

East Bay/North Bay

Silicon Valley

the UPSIDE of

STRESS Can you make use of stress?

Excerpted from “The Upside of Stress,” May 21, 2015.

KELLY MCGONIGAL Health Psychologist; Lecturer, Stanford University; Author, The Upside of Stress: Why Stress Is Good for You, and How to Get Good at It

W

hen we say, “I’m stressed out; this is stressful,” it’s not synonymous with things like depression, or shame or anger. Stress is actually much more complex. This is what I call the “stress paradox.” When we’re stressed out, we often don’t like it. We don’t like how it feels. It actually motivates us to find something that we can do to change the way we feel. So, there’s something inherently distressing about stress.

In my experience and my training as a health psychologist, I was taught to talk only about that one side of stress: that stress can make you sick, that stress can make you unhappy, that stress can destroy your relationships. I was never really taught to think about stress as a signal of something good or something meaningful in our lives.

I certainly was not taught how to use stress so that we can experience more of the connection with others – the sense of meaning and the sense of growth – rather than wasting a lot of energy and time trying to get rid of

the stress or fixing those feelings instead of engaging with life.

How people think about stress seems to have a very big effect on the way that stress influences their health, happiness and their productivity at work. People who view stress as harmful, and particularly people who think they should try to avoid stress for that reason, are more likely to experience stressrelated health problems; they are more likely to be depressed; they’re more likely to be overwhelmed by the stress in their life; and they’re more likely to be distracted, or unproductive or burnt-out, in the workplace.

On the other hand, people who held a more positive view of stress – not necessarily seeing stress as always good but being able to see the good in stress and think about ways to embrace and use it, rather than avoid it or suppress it – they were healthier; they were better able to find meaning in the stressful circumstances of their lives. They also felt more productive and more engaged at work.

Three things describe the people, or the communities, who are good at stress, who don’t experience that collapse in the face of stress. The first is that they find ways to engage with meaningful choices or actions even if they can’t control the source of their stress. They look for things that they can do or choices they can make that continue to move them in a direction of hope and action, rather than looking for ways to disengage from their lives, from their relationships or from the challenges. The second is that they use that stress, or that adversity, as a catalyst for strengthening relationships and building communities of support, instead

of isolating themselves or entering a sort of inner narrative that says, “I’m the only one dealing with this.” The third thing is that they have a growth mindset toward adversity and stress, that they believe it’s possible, no matter how difficult this is right now, no matter how overwhelmed they are, or no matter how much they would never have chosen this circumstance, that at a future point in time, this experience would have strengthened them in some meaningful way.

They’re able to look back at past adversity and see ways they have been strengthened, and actually appreciate some of those benefits and appreciate their own strengths.

The upside of stress is the fact that human beings have biological, psychological and social capacities for transforming those stressful circumstances into positive action, into connection and compassion, and into learning, growth and meaning, and that they’re actually built into the very thing that we most fear, which is our physiological experience of stress. Finding the upside of stress isn’t so much about trying to find a way to convince yourself that you’re glad your boss is a jerk or that you lost your job, or whatever the situation is. It’s not about trying to spin the positive lining on that.

It’s really more about finding a way to trust yourself in stressful circumstances and turn what we thought of as an enemy – our own pounding hearts and our own racing minds and thoughts – to turn that into a resource because that’s really what it is, and we wouldn’t have a stress response if it wasn’t there to help us engage with the challenges in our lives.

AU GU ST/SEP T EMBE R 2015

THE COMMO N WE AL TH

43

Is America losing its sense of community? Excerpted from “Citizen Engagement: Policies to Renew National Community,” June 18, 2015.

LARRY GERSTON Professor Emeritus of Political Science, San Jose State University; Author, Reviving Citizen Engagement: Policies to Renew National Community

DOUG SOVERN

KCBS Radio Political Reporter – Moderator

A

merica is adrift, and I don’t use that term lightly. Simply put, so many of us are disengaged. Large numbers of people today have no faith in our political institutions. Voting statistics are increasingly dismal, and those who vote are increasingly uninformed; that’s a bad combination.

Large numbers have no faith in our economic system. Low-wage jobs were [worked by] 21 percent of all workers before the Great Recession and 58 percent of all workers after the Great Recession. No wonder they have no faith in our economic system.

We’re all going down. Four years after the recovery from the Great Recession, two million fewer people have full-time jobs compared to 2007. Many more are working, but many are cobbling together two, three jobs just to make a go of it.

Large numbers have no faith in our social structure. Government ignored school segregation; with the obliteration of Brown v.

Board of Education – it’s all but gone. Forget this notion of desegregation at all speeds.

Schools today are incredibly segregated. As of 2012, 80 percent of Latino students and 74 percent of African-American students attended schools with non-white majorities.

Unlike in the past, there seems to be little holding us together. More than ever, we live in an “I got mine, go get yours” environment, and I don’t think that’s the greatest way for us to be engaged as a nation.

So you look at these things: the political,

44

THE COMMO N WE AL TH

LARR GERST

AU GU S T/S E PT E M B ER 2015

Photo by Ed Ritger

RY TON

the economic, the social structure. The col- that I earned here, and put it over there, lected sentiments underscore the extent to and bring it back in through taxes. I want which America suffers today from weakened to keep it all to myself.” I got mine, you citizenship. We’re a detached nation. We go get yours. That was in 2010. In 2014, are no longer invested. Why? What’s hap- 3,000 of the wealthiest Americans in the pened? Whatever happened to the greatest country, who made their money here, took generation? Whatever happened to build- it somewhere else and never brought it ing the country after the war? Whatever back because they didn’t want to pay taxes. happened to these things? Well, here we Of those who remain, more than 500,000 have to talk about the characteristics of wealthy Americans have stored more than what I call a hollowed-out society: lack of one trillion dollars offshore, and as long as investment, institutional discrimination, they are going to keep it there, they are not corporate abandonment. Those three factors going to pay taxes. When you don’t invest, loom large as explanations for why we are you don’t get much back. As other nations so hollowed out today. Let’s look at them soar past us, we’re leaving Americans behind. one at a time.

We’re leaving America vulnerable. This isn’t Lack of public investment: This is sup- something happening in a day or a week. posed to be the number-one country in This is happening over time. It’s happening the world. The statistics don’t show that. In in our education system. It’s happening in infrastructure, we’re our infrastructure. seventh – that means It’s happening in all six others are ahead. ore than ever we live in the things we need You don’t need to be to do to stay great. a math whiz to know an ‘I got mine, go get yours,’ Second, we suffer that. In income, from institutionalwe’re 24th – poor environment, and I don’t think ized discrimination. highways, airports, that’s the greatest way for us We have a form of energy distribuvoter suppression tion systems – we’re to be engaged as a nation. that is nothing else all down in those but sophisticated things. Go to an airracism. You might –Larry Gerston port in Europe. Go remember hearing to the Hong Kong about the Shelby v. airport. Go to the Bangkok airport. My good- Holder case in 2013. That’s the case that ness, you’ll see cities there. You’ll see incred- basically ripped apart what we call Title V ible infrastructures where people are brought of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. What it said together by high-speed rail, and they’ve spent was that if you’re going to change the way the money to make it right. All right, go to you register voters and your voting rules, SFO. It’s another world. You wonder which you must let us know. The Supreme Court one’s the third-world country and which one’s overturned that. Those [new] laws alone the first-world country. Our public education allowed states to come up with their own ranks 15th in per capita expenditures among rules – shorter time limits, more demands the world’s 30 most industrialized nations. in terms of requirements for people to We’re right in the middle. That means there’s vote, identification – and those laws alone a lot of nations going by us. reduced participation by 2 percent in 2014.

Much of this relates to the disdain for When you’re talking about 2 percent in taxes by those who could afford to pay the closely monitored elections, that’s a lot. The most. Even though the United States has result? Disenfranchisement and hopelessone of the lowest income tax rates among ness. Particularly among whom? Among all industrialized economies, apparently for minorities and the poor. a number of people with wealth, it’s not low If you look at education, we are a naenough. The wealthy Americans these days tion with different opportunities. High are giving up citizenship rather than pay- school graduation rates – consider this for ing their fair share of taxes. These numbers a moment: whites, 83 percent; Latinos, 71 are growing. In 2010, 1,300 people said, percent; African-Americans, 66 percent.

“I don’t want to have to take the money These things are not by coincidence; it’s not

“M

”

Photo by Rikki Ward

AU GU ST/SEP T EMBE R 2015

THE COMMO N WE AL TH

45

Photo by Rikki Ward

by the luck of the draw. The performance differences [between] races are found as early as the fourth grade. Thanks to segregated schools and skewed public investments, with poor education foundations, minorities never catch up. By the eighth or ninth grade, they are dropping out because they are giving up. After that, who knows? There’s no future if you don’t have an education.

So given this data, is there any reason to wonder why minorities feel left behind?

Because they are.

Let’s not forget women. As of 2010, women received 57 percent of all bachelor’s degrees, 67 percent of all master’s degrees, 53 percent of all Ph.D.s. Women are the ones who are getting education today. I see it in my classrooms all the time. It happens with similar training – they’ve got the experience, they’ve got the credentials. Women are still paid less than 80 percent of [what] men with the same experience, the same credentials earned. That’s unconscionable. There’s no reason for this other than discrimination.

So we talk a good game when it comes to equality, but providing it is at an all-time low.

No wonder so many citizens are disengaged.

The third element here is corporate abandonment. Let’s start with taxes. Officially, the corporate tax rate is 35 percent, and you hear corporations moaning and groaning about this all the time: “We’ve got the highest tax rates in the country. Blah, blah blah.” [But] 65 percent of all corporations pay no taxes. That’s a pretty good figure.

Why? Because of thousands of pages of loopholes. I’ll give you a couple examples.

46

THE COMMO N WE AL TH

As of 2012, Apple paid nothing. Ditto for GE. Verizon paid nothing. Facebook paid nothing and received a $469 million refund. Now that’s good math. So when we hear all this moaning and groaning about how corporations can’t make it, just look at what they are doing with taxes and how they are working it to their benefit. There’s something wrong with that. There’s some pretty good tax escapes: storing two trillion dollars offshore, inversion – merging a U.S. corporation with a company in a low tax country so that you can pay lower taxes.

Let’s look at their employees for a moment, the people who make the corporations successful. With respect to their employees, corporations have forsaken benefits in the name of greater profits. The haves and have-nots story here is just all over the place.

In 1965, the typical CEO earned 20 times the average [salary at] his or her company.

In 2011, the typical CEO earned 260 times the average [salary] at his or her company.

At some – Dollar General, McDonalds, Starbucks – as much as a thousand times as the average worker in their company.

How about defining benefits, retirement, all that stuff? Working 35 years to know that you’re going to have something from your company? Those pensions have given way to 401k’s, and some of those programs are underfunded. The workers have been left behind while the C-level folks go on and prosper.

So what can we do about this? How can we make America whole again? How can we make everyone appreciate the need to

AU GU S T/S E PT E M B ER 2015

do his or her part? I think there are a few things we can do. One, we have got to invest in public education. I’m talking about longer school days, longer school years.

Look at how we are [compared] to other countries. We sometimes [have] 30 school days less than others. That catches up to us. I’m talking about requiring every child to learn a second language. Why are we the only country where English is so sacred and nothing else? Are we that arrogant? Other countries around the world teach English as the second or third language. They’ve already learned a second language. When talking about bolstering education, we need meaningful job programs instead of cutting back in the community colleges and the places where they have these programs that teach people how to be solar technicians and other jobs like that. We need to have more of those, not less. We need a collocation of universal American values beginning with civic learning. It just scares me to death how many students don’t really know what democracy is, and that democracy depends upon citizen knowledge and citizen involvement. It includes a whole range of things, such as tolerance, compromise and other elements that we leave out of the classrooms because we’re too busy giving tests.

So first we talk about bolstering education. Second, we need to restore our rights and, just as important, we need to restore our obligation. Now, we’re all good about rights. We’re not so good about our obligations. This is a real weak spot. I would argue that if we are part of this great country, and if we want to make it better, we should have mandatory national service for two years or so upon leaving high school. Let’s all join up together. Participants would receive a modest wage during their work period, and a lump sum at the end. They could spend that lump sum on college, job training, other uses; you name it, whatever they want to do. Think about the labor; think about the talent with tens of millions of young people unleashed.

They could be working with the police as assistants; they could go into the military; they could be going into forestry; they could be going to hospitals, you name it. There are so many areas [in which] we need people to help make our lives better. These kids, after working a couple years, will have a better appreciation for who they are, and what they’re doing, and where they are going to go. We all

talk a good game about patriotism. Patriotism is not about waving a flag. Patriotism is not about citing an amendment or two from the Constitution. Patriotism is about citizen commitment to ensure that flag always waves.

Third, we need to talk about substantive tax reform. The cost of all tax breaks in this country came to $1.2 trillion in 2013, far exceeding, by the way, the deficit that year, which was almost half. The deficit was $700 billion. Corporations should be taxed for their profits wherever they occur – if it’s here, if it’s in Iceland, if it’s in Mongolia, it doesn’t matter. Just because you moved people over there does not mean you are not a U.S. corporation. They should be taxed for their profits, pure and simple. That’s a lot of money. They are not paying their fair share.

As far as a defined-benefit program, Congress should make it mandatory. There’s a loyalty [when] you work for the company, and the company takes care of you. You give them your all for 30 or 35 years, and when you leave, they make sure you’re whole. That once was the case; it’s not the case now. That has to be reversed.

Regarding personal income taxes and capital gains, tax rates should go up with income. There’s something so screwy with a person who is selling $100,000 of stock and pays 15 percent and a person who sells a billion dollars of stock and pays 15 percent.

Does it take a math genius to figure this out?

Apparently so. That’s got to change. We’ve got a class now of super billionaires who are paying the 39 percent maximum with the rest of the people who are making $200,000

to $400,000 a year. That just doesn’t make sense. Combined, these changes would bring in enough money to wipe out the annual national budget deficit and pay for what I’ve already asked for: pay for the education, pay for the job training and pay for the national service programs. All of that would come without any additional costs if we just made some commonsense changes.

The bottom line is, it’s time for this

“P atriotism

is not about

waving a flag... Patriotism is about citizen commitment to ensure that flag always waves. ” –Larry Gerston country to embrace all of its members, not just the privileged. Only when everyone has the same opportunities to learn, only when everyone has the same opportunities to work up to their potential, will there be full citizenship. Only when everyone shares the same rights, only when everyone shares the same obligations, pays their share, earns their way through, will there be meaningful citizenship.

Only when everyone and every corporation pays their fair share, will there be equitable citizenship. We know that the United States is a country of unlimited potential. Absolutely, but you know what? It’s time we lived up to

it. It’s time we did what we talked about.

Only then will we be a re-engaged society that truly lives up to those words: “Liberty and justice for all.”

From the question & answer session with political reporter Doug Sovern SOVERN: People want to know how they can help. How can they get more engaged?

How can they get involved?

GERSTON: Part of the answer is so basic.

The first thing we need to do is become knowledgeable about what is going on. That means reading a newspaper. That means looking at things besides cable television.

That means digesting what’s going on out there, reacting to it, discussing it, becoming part of the solution. So many of us [turn] away, don’t want to be part of it. We need an attitude adjustment, a big one. People have to come around to this, and if they don’t, I can promise you, less than 50 years from now, this [won’t] be the American century.

It’ll be somebody else’s century, and it will be something that we did to ourselves.

I start with newspapers. Read it, understand it – and not just newspapers alone. If you go online, there are some great online sites. But if you go to these sites that are one sided, that’s not going to help. You don’t want to hear what you already believe. You need to be challenged. Our ideas need to be challenged, and in doing so we become better people for it. It’s a matter of investing in ourselves which will allow us to invest in the country.

Photo by Rikki Ward

AU GU ST/SEP T EMBE R 2015

THE COMMO N WE AL TH

47

Photo by Sonya Abrams

BROOKS continued from page 11 CORDELL: Much of The Road to Character has a religious feel to it. For example, you make 70 references to sin, 6 references to grace and numerous references to God. So this feels like a religious book with a focus on Christianity. Is that the case? Is this a religious book?

BROOKS: I don’t think it’s a religious book. I think it’s a secular book. But I do believe in religious terminology. The first thing I should say is that I believe there are wonderful people in the world who are complete atheists and wonderful people who are completely faithful. In the book, there are several atheists, or at least agnostics: Dwight Eisenhower, George Marshall, George Eliot. And some, like Dorothy Day and St. Augustine, were obviously religious.

People can make up their own minds whether they believe in God or not – but I do think the words that we inherit from Western civilization and from theology, from Judaism, Christianity and Islam, are useful words.

It’s very hard to think about moral life unless you use those words. For example, I did not know how many times I used the word sin. That’s a lot, but it’s a big word for me. I think I like it for a number of reasons.

First, when you use the word sin as opposed to weakness, it reminds you that life is a moral drama. Second, a weakness is something we have individually, but a sin is something we have collectively. We all sin and we all have the same sins – selfishness,

48

THE COMMO N WE AL TH

self-centeredness – and it’s something we combat communally, so it reminds us how we’re all in it together. Unless you can see your own sin, you can’t confront yourself.

I had trouble finding a good definition of sin because the reason we got rid of it in our culture was because it was used to suggest that we were depraved. It was

“ W hen

you use the

wo rd ‘s i n’ a s o p p o s e d to ‘weakness,’ it reminds you that life is a moral drama. ” –David Brooks used to crack down on sex. It was used by people who were smug and self-righteous.

But to me, sin is about having your loves out of order. This is Augustine’s definition. We all love a lot of things in life. We love success. We love fame. We like to be popular. We like truth. We like our family. We love friendship.

But we all know that certain loves are higher than others. We all basically know that our love of truth is higher, or should be higher, than our love of money. But sometimes we get our sins out of order.

For example, if a friend tells you a secret and you blab that secret at a dinner party to be interesting, you’re putting your love

AU GU S T/S E PT E M B ER 2015

of popularity above your love of friendship. And to me, that’s sin – getting your love out of order. We do that all the time.

I think it’s useful to have that word. If you don’t have a word like sin or redemption or grace, the idea of being loved more than you deserve, you don’t have a vocabulary to think about your own life.

CORDELL: Has writing this book made you a happier person?

BROOKS: You know, it’s funny you say that. I teach the book as a class. I taught it three times, and one of my best students, who’s now a Rhodes scholar, at the end of the course, he said, “You know, since taking this course, I’m a much sadder person.” I took that as a high compliment because if you’re skating through on the surface of life feeling so pleased with yourself, and you’re a student at Yale, and you’re getting a Rhodes scholarship, maybe you need something to be sad about and something to be introspective about.

So I confess, I probably am a little sadder, but also I’m more emotional; let’s put it that way. I have higher highs and lower lows. You might as well live life to the fullest and experience it, as opposed to living it at the level of Twitter.

CORDELL: Can you comment on religious freedom and the gay marriage collision? Paint for us a platform of coexistence and mutual respect without violating one’s own conscience.

BROOKS: I’m a big supporter of gay marriage. I wrote a column in 2003 say-

ing gay people shouldn’t only be allowed to marry; they should be coerced into marrying. If your friends are gay, you should say, “Are you getting married?

Are you married yet? Did you get married yet?” That’s long been my position.

But I know many people who are [conservative] Christians, Orthodox Jews and Muslims. They don’t have “a thing” with gay people, but they have these prescriptions, these rules about gay marriage. I don’t agree with them, but I see them as good people struggling the best they can with this issue, trying to find the right thing. There’s so much progress that has been made, I think it would be a mistake to turn it into a big culture war issue.

CORDELL: What is the best innovative way to support or to teach kids character in K-12 schools?

BROOKS: The most important thing is the quality of the teachers. I don’t know about you, but I barely remember what my teachers taught me, but I remember who they were.

We all have had people in our lives who just communicated by the way they were in the world – their kindness, their regularity, their constancy, their ability to show up – how one should behave.

Just two quick examples: One, I’m not Catholic; I don’t know much about Catholic theology, but I like the way Pope Francis conducts himself. The message is the person.

I used to do a show with a guy named Jim Lehrer. Onscreen, Lehrer had a very stoic expression. But offscreen, when I was talking, his face was quite expressive.

When I would say something that was egotistical or embarrassing, I could see the little mouth curl downward. When I said something he liked, I could see a little crinkle of happiness in his eyes. For the 10 years I did the show, I tried to avoid the mouth crinkling down, and I tried to get the eyes. That’s sort of how mentorship works. He didn’t ever say anything to me, but I just saw his reactions, and I wanted to earn his respect. That was an education for me.

CORDELL: In visiting Monticello, you commented that you were impressed that Thomas Jefferson had covered the walls with portraits of people who served as

inspirations for him. So whose portraits believes in using government to enhance cover your walls? social mobility, to give poor boys and girls BROOKS: The people in the book are like him a chance to succeed. on my walls; the Bayard Rustins of the As someone raised by my grandfather, world, the Dorothy Days, the Augustines I had very much an immigrant mentality – my big heroes. and a great desire to They’re more intelmake it in America. lectual heroes than have higher highs and So Hamilton is the personal heroes. I embodiment of that have personal he- lower lows. You might as well for me. roes, too.

The second One is Alexan- live life to the fullest and person is Edmund der Hamilton. He Burke, a philosowas a young boy. experience it as opposed to pher whose work is He lost his mom, organized around living it at the level of Twitter. who died in the bed the phrase, “epistenext to him when mological modesty,” –David Brooks he was 12. His dad that we should be had split. He was modest about what adopted by his grandfather, who died with- we know, and we should respect the gifts in a year. By 14, he had lost everybody. And that were handed down to us by our ancesby 25, he was George Washington’s chief of tors. staff and a war hero. By 35, he had written If you take those two thinkers and you the Federalist Papers and was a lawyer. By put them together, I haven’t any original 45, he had retired as secretary of Treasury, thoughts. I just borrowed from them. So and he created a system of government that they’re two heroes of mine.

“I

”

Photo by Sonya Abrams

AU GU ST/SEP T EMBE R 2015

THE COMMO N WE AL TH

49

BLUME continued from page 9 I think there’s that something in there.

It’s the creative energy. I mean with me, I think it could have gone any way, writing or whatever else.

RINGWALD: Did you ever do anything else? Did you ever act or dance?

BLUME: No, but I want to.

RINGWALD: I heard you’re tap-dancing now.

BLUME: I do. I like to dance.

RINGWALD: Have you always loved musicals?

BLUME: Always. I have one fantasy left.

RINGWALD: Which is?

BLUME: Musical theater. [Starring Sally J. Freedman As Herself] on the stage.

RINGWALD: Wifey really did scandalize my mother, and still does to this day. All of these things that we are not supposed to talk about or we’re supposed to be ashamed of, you talked about with such humor and grace. I feel like you’ve been a guide for me and, I think, all of us.

I just want to know, how did you do that?

You have this image, and you want to be a certain way, and also you have your family, who I presume has been reading your books all this time. How did you overcome that barrier? Or did you even feel that?

BLUME: I actually never felt it while I was writing. I must be some other person when I go into that little room to write.

I was lucky [as an adolescent], I had friends, we talked about it. We didn’t know anything, nobody told us anything. My friend had a book, and we all looked at the book. The book didn’t make any sense. My father tried to tell me about the menstrual cycle, and it wound up [being] something about the lunar cycle, so every time the moon was full, I would go to the window and look at the moon and say “Ah, all the women in the world are doing this now.” I couldn’t wait. I was very excited about [it].

I was a late developer. I really, really wanted to get my period. [Laughter.] I wanted it!

RINGWALD: How late were you?

BLUME: I was 14. My mother was 16.

RINGWALD: I was 12. I guess that’s sort of average.

BLUME: My daughter and her friend asked their Ouija board when they were going to get their periods.

RINGWALD: And what did the Ouija board say?

50

THE COMMO N WE AL TH

Photo by Ed Ritger

“Wifey really did scandalize my mother, and still does to this day. Talking about all of these things ... we’re supposed to be ashamed of.”

–Molly Ringwald BLUME: The Ouija board said 14.

RINGWALD: Your books have been an incredible comfort for me, because it’s scary when your body changes, when everything changes. I think that there are periods of life, and you’ve managed to cover just about all of them, because you’ve written books for very young readers and then grammar school, or elementary school, middle school. You’ve pretty much covered every generation.

BLUME: So let me just tell you, for all of the women who ask me to write about Margaret in menopause: It’s not going to

AU GU S T/S E PT E M B ER 2015

happen. But – and this is not a spoiler, so I can tell you – in the first two pages of In the Unlikely Event, Miri, who is the major protagonist, does get a hot flash.

RINGWALD: So what’s next? You’re going to be on book tour for a little bit.

BLUME: Yes, until July 20-something-orother, and if I survive, then I’m going to take a break.

RINGWALD: I think you deserve it.

BLUME: After Summer Sisters, I said to George, my husband, “I’m never doing this again. Ever.”

RINGWALD: The book tour or the writing?

BLUME: The writing. It was three years of torture; very painful, very difficult.

Then I wanted to write for young children, and so I wrote a series of four books based on The Pain and the Great One for little children. Then I got hit over the head [with an idea for my newest book]. So I can’t say what’s going to happen. I mean years and years ago, I knew if you asked me “What’s next?” there would be another book and another book and another book, because I couldn’t not do it. It was there, and it came out, and it took me from being sick in my 20s to being healthy and alive and anxious to get up every day. But then I met George, and I got a little happier and, well, I didn’t have to do it so much.

RINGWALD: Do you find that you write more when you’re happy or you write more when you’re unhappy?

BLUME: I would say in the beginning, angst is very good for the writer. Now it doesn’t have anything to do with happy or not happy.

RINGWALD: You just have a writing habit.

BLUME: I don’t have to write. I can be happy without writing. I think [I’m] not happy without a creative project, because the creative juices keep going and going.

Eventually they have to come out in some way, and so you have to do something, right?

RINGWALD: I was just telling my friend Meredith last night that I feel like writers or any artists – we have to find some way to get it out. Otherwise, you just go crazy.

BLUME: Yes. And I would have. As it was, in my 20s, I was sick all the time. Exotic illnesses.

RINGWALD: Like the character Sandy.

BLUME: Yes, like Sandy in Wifey. Yes, exactly.

RINGWALD: Did you think they were related to your dissatisfaction, your frustration? Once you found that creative outlet and that success, did those illnesses go away?

BLUME: They did. They went away before success. They went away when I was writing.

They went away because there was a way to let all that stuff out. I’m much older now, and I realize that I don’t want to spend five years on one project – unless, of course, it was a musical of Sally J. Freedman.

RINGWALD: Have you ever pursued that or spoken to any composers about that?

BLUME: I actually am talking to somebody about it, but I don’t know if it will happen.

It’s just fun to think about.

I’m thrilled that I finally finished this book. It’s an emotional book, but I think ultimately, even though there’s a lot of tragedy in it, it leaves you with the feeling that life goes on, and there is hope and joy and love.

RINGWALD: I wonder how things would be different if you had written your books in a digital age.

BLUME: I’m so glad I didn’t have to do that. I have a lot of younger writer friends who write today. I think a lot of that gets in the way of your story. You want to tell a story, and you don’t necessarily want it to be about electronics. I might just leave it out.

That was the great pleasure about writing about 1952. You put your angora sweater in the refrigerator, and you danced with your boyfriend to Nat King Cole, and you talked on the telephone, but communication was so different. So different.

RINGWALD: People ask me the same question about The Breakfast Club. They say, “What would it be like if that was done today?” I think there’s no way they could remake this movie today, realistically.

BLUME: When you see a contemporary movie that uses a lot of electronic devices, it’s very specific. But not every contemporary movie does; you might see a cellphone, but you don’t have a lot of people walking around texting.

RINGWALD: I think right now, the filmmakers are figuring out ways to get around it. Because it’s one of those things you can’t ignore because it is definitely here to stay, and it’s changing the way that we make films. It’s changing the way that we tell stories. We have to acknowledge it in some way, but figure out a way to make it interesting and still about people because

all the feelings are the same.

BLUME: They are.

RINGWALD: That never changes.

AUDIENCE QUESTION: This is a question for both of you. Do you think the Internet and social media makes it easier to be a young woman in this world right now?

RINGWALD AND BLUME: No. RINGWALD: I don’t think it does at all.

BLUME: It probably makes it harder.

RINGWALD: I think it makes it exponentially harder.

BLUME: Everything is out there. Every-

“It’s one thing for all of you to think I was the greatest parent in the world, but really, I was just a parent floundering like ever y other parent. ” –Judy Blume Photo by Ed Ritger

thing is there. Everything I say. Things I don’t want people to know, but I said them anyway. [Laughter.] It’s all out there.

RINGWALD: I’ve been in the public eye for a really long time and [I am] very protective of myself, and that’s really because of my parents. My mother always said – which is not the greatest thing for a writer, but I think it’s good, very protective for a public person – “Never put anything in writing that you wouldn’t want to see on the cover of The New York Times.”

BLUME: Oh, I know that one. I forgot to tell that to my kids.

RINGWALD: Yeah, and I say that all the time to my daughter, because I didn’t grow up with the Internet. I got the Internet in my early 20’s. I’m not a digital native.

I feel like it’s so hard to impress upon children the importance of privacy. That’s something that we have always had, for the most part, in our country, that we’re in danger of losing now. It’s really important that we don’t support our own loss of privacy, because people are already trying to do it for us.

AUDIENCE QUESTION: You both have portrayed iconic roles of adolescence, and I’m wondering if you can share a story, as mothers, if there’s been a moment when you’ve drawn upon those iconic portrayals in your own parenting.

BLUME: What I wrote is pretty separate from where I was as a parent. I wanted to be honest and truthful with my kids the way I wanted to be honest and truthful in my books. But it’s one thing for all of you to think I was the greatest parent in the world, but really I was just a parent floundering like every other parent and not always knowing how to deal with the situations.

AUDIENCE QUESTION: Forever, which I had out of the library for longer than I care to admit, is a really honest, frank, very open look at teenage sexuality, and it came out in an age when most young adult books wouldn’t touch that.

I’m wondering if you got any pushback from your publisher or your editor about putting that kind of openness out there.

If so, how [did] you advocate for the importance of it?

BLUME: Ok, first, I have to tell you, there was no such category as YA books.

Everybody thinks I write YA books. I never wrote YA books until – I mean, Forever

AU GU ST/SEP T EMBE R 2015

THE COMMO N WE AL TH

51

would have been published YA, but there was no category called YA. All the books that you’re talking about today, Margaret and Sally and all of those, they were what we called [then] middle-grade books. They were kids’ books. Then I wrote Forever – it was a very open, free time. The 1970s were a great time for writers and readers and, yes I know, for a lot of stuff.

I met my husband at the tail end of the ’70s, and he moved in two days later.

That was 35 years ago. So the ’70s were different, but the publishers were willing to take chances. A lot of us came of age at the same time – Norma Klein and Norma Fox Mazer and Richard Peck and probably a lot

RINGWALD: Thank you, Randy!

BLUME: I wrote Forever, and it’s dedicated to her.

MATHILDA GIANOPOULOS (Molly Ringwald’s daughter): Have you ever stopped writing a book or stopped working on a creative project because you felt like you’d lost inspiration or [have] you just [said,] “Well, I’ve come this far. I’ve got to keep going”?

BLUME: In the very early days before I was published, I wrote some really bad things, which are in the cupboard, and there’s a big message on the box to my kids: “If you publish these after my death, I will come back and haunt you.” But once I really got

I guess the answer is that no, I haven’t found that, but I know a lot of people do, and that’s okay. What I tell kids is, “If it’s not for school, and if it’s not due, just write.

If you get sick of it, just put it away. It’s okay, start something new. The more you write, the more you learn.”

RINGWALD: I’m one of the only teenagers in the ’80s that really didn’t have The Breakfast Club to guide me, because your experience when you’re in it is completely different. I’m just curious, who was your Judy Blume?

BLUME: Well, we didn’t have YA books.

I finished reading children’s books early and by 12 and 13, I was in my parents’

of the writers that you all grew up with.

When I wrote Forever, I wrote it for the worst reason in the world. You never write a book because somebody asks you to, but my daughter, who was 14 and was reading a lot of books in which, if a girl succumbs to this thing, something terrible will happen, she will die, she will be sent away forever.

Boys never had any feelings – and I had a son – and girls never had any interest in sex. [Laughter.]

But Randy asked me, “Mother, could you write a book? Could there be a book in which two nice kids do it, and nobody has to die?”

started telling stories and being published, I don’t think that I ever stopped. I don’t think there was one that I gave up on, but that’s probably because they run around in my head for a long time before I commit to writing about them. There are tough moments when I think, “Ugh, this isn’t working. What am I going to do?” That’s when you go for a bike ride or a run, or you bounce a ball against the wall, or you do something.

Take a shower; very good ideas come in the shower. The entire idea for Superfudge came to me while I was in the shower. So I’m very clean all the time.

bookshelves in the house, and I will say, my parents gave me one of the greatest gifts of all by making me feel that reading is a good thing, something to be celebrated.

They were never afraid of what I was reading. Reading was good, and they liked to read, so they were happy that I liked to read. There was never a time when I was told, “You can’t read that book.” They weren’t judgmental in what I was reading.

So I was curious about the grownup world, and I satisfied a lot of my curiosity with those wonderful books.

RINGWALD: American writers? European writers? Russians?

52

THE COMMO N WE AL TH

AU GU S T/S E PT E M B ER 2015

BLUME: John O’Hara, Saul Bellow, even Ayn Rand – God help us – was on my parents’ bookshelves. But, as far as I knew, these books were just really good stories.

When you’re young, you read over what you don’t get, and I read it for the stories.

We had a book called Seventeenth Summer.

We all loved Seventeeth Summer. We all read it in junior high and it was a very true book, but other than that, I read adult books.

AUDIENCE QUESTION: Nowadays, there’s a lot of media access to sex and whatnot through “The Kardashians,” “The Real World” and Fifty Shades of Grey. You were one of the first of your time with publishing books along these lines. What

call it challenged. Not that I know of. I mean I don’t know about all of it, but we have so many things to help now. We have the National Coalition Against Censorship, which changed my life when I found them and began to work and speak out, because it always feels better to speak out and work and be determined; not just for my stuff, but right now Sherman Alexie is being hit right and left with people trying to ban his wonderful book.

RINGWALD: Toni Morrison is banned in some places. It’s incredible.

BLUME: Where it started was the extreme religious right, but it’s gone to the left with trigger warnings. What is this? You’re in

sixth grade experiences and my relationship with God. That had nothing to do with organized religion, but God was my confidant and friend and someone I could speak to, and I just let it out. It came out in six weeks because it was there, and it was ready to come out. Everything was new and spontaneous and exciting.

RINGWALD: When you finished, did you know that it was a hit?

BLUME: Oh, no! I didn’t think anyone would even publish it. I didn’t know that I was really a writer until I read it in The New York Times. It was a review of Margaret, and it was in a roundup of seven books, and I still remember the feeling, [reading,] the

Photos by Ed Ritger

kind of backlash did you face, if any, with your publications back then?

BLUME: Again, because it was a different time, I didn’t get the backlash until 1980.

Everything changed with the presidential election of 1980. The censors then came out of the woodwork overnight.

They came waving books into schools and libraries, and if those schools and libraries weren’t prepared with policies in place, frightened principals [and] teachers took the books off the shelves.

RINGWALD: Your books are still being banned, aren’t they?

BLUME: “Challenged.” [Laughter.] We

college. Do you need trigger warnings?

What are you going to do when you’re out of college? You’ve got to learn how to deal with it.

AUDIENCE QUESTION: What inspired you to write the book, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret?

BLUME: I think it was the first book where I really let go. I had written two books and published two books before it, but I call them learning experiences. With Margaret and Sally J. Freedman especially, I just said, “I’m just going to let it rip” – what I remembered about being that age; what I remembered very clearly from my own

best book of the seven was Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, and I was like “Oh my God, maybe I’m really a writer. Maybe I can really do this.” It was so exciting.

RINGWALD: Well, I think the world says a resounding yes, and we’re so grateful to you that you have done this.

What is your 60-second idea to change the world?

BLUME: I do think, especially as I grow older, that being kind and thinking about the other person [is ideal]. I think I’ve become much more kind. I would love everybody else to, too.

And eat pasta.

AU GU ST/SEP T EMBE R 2015

THE COMMO N WE AL TH

53

INSIGHT

D R . G LO R I A C . D U F F Y P R E S I D E N T & C E O

Water Wars – From the Top of the Watershed

C

alifornia continues to MCSD was required to immediately stop diverting water from struggle with the drought, two of its three springs – Upper and Lower Elk Springs – into and the state has placed a storage tank that provides water to the town, from which the emergency restrictions on water overflow exits into Squaw Creek for its journey south to Lake use. In June, the State Water Re- Shasta and beyond. What this meant is that, after receiving the sources Control Board rescinded curtailment notice from the state on June 19th, the manager of the permits of some of Califor- the MCSD, Wayne Grigsby, literally went out into the forest to nia’s water rights holders to divert the pipes transporting the water into the town’s tank from these water from springs and streams in two springs and shut them off. watersheds all over the state. This The result of this was . . . 3,000 gallons of water per minute includes rights holders ranging from the two curtailed springs then flowed out onto the forest from farms and ranches to major floor. After 112 years of being diverted, the natural paths these agricultural growers, towns, cities springs had taken into waterways have been blocked by mudPhoto courtesy of Gloria Duffy and power companies. flows, logging and vegetation growth. Eventually the water will We have a home at the top of the Sacramento-San Joaquin hopefully percolate into the state’s aquifer, but for now the water watershed, one of California’s most important water sources, in is flowing onto the ground rather than going into waterways to the tiny town of McCloud at the foot of Mt. Shasta. Water has be carried into the state’s water system. been a topic of controversy here, even before the state’s water The immediate result of this is that the water flow available crisis. Six years ago, after a six-year fight, Nestle abandoned a for users south of McCloud has been diminished by 4,320,000 plan to build a giant water bottling plant gallons per day. This is exactly the opin McCloud after then-California Attorney posite of the effect the state water rights General Jerry Brown threatened to sue Siscurtailment is supposed to have, which is n e w o n d e r s i f t h e to make more water available for the state’s kiyou County for not properly evaluating the environmental impact of such a facility. state’s approach to water water users, for fish and wildlife, and to It was interesting, during our vacation distribute the water more evenly to users in McCloud in July, to see the impact of conservation is producing throughout the state. the state’s new water regulations in one Naturally, this outcome has created specific case, where the town services t h e i n t e n d e d r e s u l t . something of a furor in little McCloud. management, the McCloud Community The local populace has pointed out the Services District (MCSD), is one of the counter-productive result of dumping the holders of the water rights being restricted. water from the springs onto the forest floor The MCSD owns the rights to three springs, Upper and and urged Grigsby not to comply with the state notice. But there Lower Elk Springs and Intake Springs, which produce copious are no exemptions granted by the state for the curtailment, and pure water fed by glaciers on Mt. Shasta. Normally, these springs very large daily fines for not complying. Board members and feed the small town’s water supply, then the excess flows down Grigsby are protesting to a number of state officials, and the into Squaw Creek, which flows south through the town into MCSD is filing a letter with the State Water Resources Control the McCloud River, which feeds Lake Shasta, which then flows Board protesting the curtailment order. down into the Sacramento River. This water flows into the SacThe curtailment of the springs has created another problem. ramento Delta, with some taken into canals and pipelines that Squaw Creek had a robust trout population, so now an operation provide water supplies to communities as far south as northern has been launched to rescue and relocate the fish from the creek San Diego County. in which the water level has decreased and the water temperature MCSD acquired the rights to its three springs between 1903 has increased, making it inhospitable for fish. and 1914. These rights were taken over by the MCSD from the McCloud is a tiny microcosm of the state as a whole. But lumber company that formerly operated in the area. Other wa- one wonders if what is happening here indicates what is actually ter rights holders obtained their rights prior to 1903, and they happening more broadly with the water rights curtailment and will be the next group to be restricted if the drought continues. if the state’s approach to water conservation is producing the The curtailment of water rights by the state means that intended result.

O

54

THE COMMO N WE AL TH

AU GU S T/S E PT E M B ER 2015

Journey to Cuba Havana & the Viñales Valley December 7–14, 2015 (7 nights) Explore old Havana’s history and architecture. Meet with tobacco farmers and enjoy a private flamenco performance by some of Cuba’s best dancers. Discuss U.S. foreign policy during a visit to the U.S. Interests Section. In the Viñales Valley, take in views of the dramatic limestone mogotes. Through a series of discussions and guest speakers, learn about art, history, education, religion and the economy. $4,995 per person, based on double occupancy (includes round-trip air from Miami to Havana)

Additional dates in 2016 Havana and the Viñales Valley: February 15–22, 2016 Havana, Trinidad & Cienfuegos: April 3–10, 2016 Please visit the Upcoming Trips section of our website for details and reservation forms.

“The speakers were all great.” – Larry Friedman “You

completely undersold our recent trip to Cuba. I was completely blown away by all the things we were able to do and see in a short time.”

– Nikki Young

“Don’t change a thing.” – Joyce Turley Nicholas

Commonwealth Club Travel CST: 2096889-40

Detailed brochure available at: commonwealthclub.org/travel Contact: (415) 597-6720 • travel@commonwealthclub.org Photos: PRDH/flickr

The Commonwealth Club of California 555 Post Street San Francisco, CA 94102

Purchase event tickets at commonwealthclub.org or call (415) 597-6705

PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID IN SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA

or (800) 847-7730 To subscribe to our free weekly events email newsletter, go to commonwealthclub.org and click on “MY CLUB ACCOUNT” in the menu at the bottom of the page.

PROGRAMS YOU WON’T WANT TO MISS Tuesday, September 15

Tuesday, September 15

Erica Jong & Isabel Allende Erica Jong, Novelist; Author, Fear of Flying and Fear of Dying Isabel Allende, Novelist; Human Rights Activist Before there was 50 Shades of Grey, there was Erica Jong. In 1973, Jong blew conventional thinking about women, marriage and sexuality out of the water with her first novel Fear of Flying. Isabel Allende launched a feminist force with her bestselling novel The House of the Spirits. Join us as we engage in a dialogue with these gamechanging women about life, love, sex and the power of women to change the world. for event details, see page 37

Jeh Johnson U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Charles Johnson was sworn in on December 23, 2013 as the fourth Secretary of Homeland Security. Prior to joining DHS, Secretary Johnson served as general counsel for the Department of Defense.

As general counsel, Johnson oversaw the development of the legal aspects of many of our nation’s counterterrorism policies and co-authored the 250-page report that paved the way for the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” in 2010. In this era of ISIS and homegrown terrorism, hear this high-level official discuss the latest challenges and strategies for protecting Americans.

for event details, see page 37

Wednesday, September 30

Saturday, October 3

Megan Smith & Sal Khan

Richard Dawkins

Megan Smith, Chief Technology Officer of the United States Sal Khan, Founder of Khan Academy

Evolutionary Biologist and Author of The Selfish Gene, The God Delusion, and Brief Candle in the Dark: My Life in Science

It’s no secret that the U.S. government needs a tech upgrade, says U.S. Chief Technology Officer Megan Smith, who is committed to shaking up things. Initiatives include getting more women and people of color in tech jobs, pushing regulatory reform, and delivering better digital services such as welfare registration. And next, Megan’s team has their eyes on expanding online networks in Africa.

Dawkins has been central to kick-starting new conversations and debates surrounding creationism and intelligent design. His gene -centric view of evolution helped popularize the radical new understanding of Darwinism. In the sequel to his bestselling memoir, Dawkins offers a candid look at the remarkable events and ideas that encouraged him to shift his attention to the intersection of culture, religion and science.

for event details, see page 42

for event details, see page 42