Editor’s Desk

Commonwealth The

October/November 2021 Volume 115, Number 5

BUSINESS OFFICES The Commonwealth, 110 The Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA 94105 feedback@commonwealthclub.org

VICE PRESIDENT, MEDIA & EDITORIAL John Zipperer

HEARST EDITORIAL FELLOW Corey Rose

PHOTOGRAPHERS: Kassin Dela Cruz, Bill Grant, Ed Ritger, Rikki Ward, John Zipperer

ADVERTISING INFORMATION

John Zipperer, Vice President of Media & Editorial, (415) 597-6715, jzipperer@ commonwealthclub.org

The Commonwealth (ISSN 0010-3349) is published bimonthly (6 times a year) by The Commonwealth Club of California, 110 The Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA 94105. Periodicals postage paid at San Francisco, CA. Subscription rate $34 per year included in annual membership dues. Copyright © 2021 The Commonwealth Club of California.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Commonwealth, The Commonwealth Club of California, 110 The Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA 94105; (415) 597-6700; feedback@commonwealthclub.org

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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/watch-listen, or via our free podcasts on Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts or Spotify; watch videos at youtube.com/ commonwealthclub.

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EDITOR’S DESK

Photo by Bill Grant

The Morning Crew

Here’s a peek behind the scenes of life at The Commonwealth Club of California: Each morning, for the 16 years that I have had the pleasure of working here, I would arrive before all but one of my coworkers. I almost never got there before George Dobbins, who has headed up our program staff for more than 22 years. From now on, I guess I will be the first one into the office. After more than 2 decades shepherding our programs, George has retired.

Since we were the only two people in the office at 7:30 in the morning, we would have time to talk, one of us visiting the other’s office. We’d talk business, thinking about meetings or any challenges our departments needed to collaborate on. But then we’d talk about lighter topics, and our conversation would inevitably turn to people in the news, movies and television. It seemed as if practically any person I’d mention, George would have a story to share about that person.

Before hanging his hat at the Club, George had a long career in media, working everywhere from Disney to CNET to various local stations. As a producer and editor, he worked with everyone from Ron Reagan, Jr., to D.L. Hughley to William Shatner (of whom he was a big fan, and he had always hoped to get Shatner on a Commonwealth Club stage some day). As you can imagine, having produced programs with big-name guests, he had great behind-the-scenes stories to share with me, but he always downplayed my suggestion that he needed to write a book about his experiences.

At the Club, George dealt with Presidents Jimmy Carter and George H.W. Bush, plus actors, scientists, authors, governors, comedians, and more. Liberals and conservatives and everyone in between. We estimate he produced more than 9,000 programs at The Commonwealth Club. And for all of them, he represented the Club with dignity and a friendly, helpful face.

That’s George on the left in the photo at the top of this page, being honored on his retirement by Club president and CEO Dr. Gloria Duffy and ABC 7 news anchor Dan Ashley.

So long, George. I wish the best for you and your beloved Rosie. And I hope William Shatner says hi to you some day. To all of the 9,000-plus speakers he dealt with over the years, he represented the Club with dignity and a friendly, helpful face.