Marin County Grand Jurors Reunion Luncheon, May 20

Forty-one former and current Grand Jurors and eight guests attended the annual Marin County Grand Jurors reunion luncheon at The Club at McInnis Park. Everyone enjoyed reminiscing with old friends, meeting new ones, good food, and the talk by this year's speaker-Thomas Peters, Ph.D., President and CEO, Marin Community Foundation (MCF).

Vice President Catherine McKown presented gifts to: Reva Saper was given a box of See's candy for the earliest registration for the Reunion; to Conrad Kloh for the most years of grand jury service; and a special "gift" to Carolyn Burwell for having found (under her chair) a gift certificate to next year's Reunion, along with a box of See's candies.

The speaker was Dr. Thomas Peters, President and CEO of the Marin Community Foundation. The Foundation is an outgrowth of the Buck Trust. He spoke of the Strategic Plan of the Organization which had an overriding theme of "equity," divided into the following four sections: 1. Achievement Gap of children with emphasis on early education 2. Affordable housing for all - noting that the growing number of seniors in Marin will require a variety of services and that these should be provided by people living in the area. 3. Ending the cycle of poverty. 4. Climate change issues

Questions from the floor included such subjects as:
Public school funding, community health (and Dr. Peters lamented the possible closing of Marin General), facilitating the integration of immigrants and the evaluation of effectiveness of various MCF programs.

A short business meeting followed the luncheon. The following officers were elected for 2008-2009: Catherine McKown, President; Roberta Robinson, Vice President; Irwin Taranto, Treasurer; and Karin Hern, Secretary.

If you are a member of the Marin Chapter, CGJA, you will be receiving a ballot in the mail during the week of May 25 to vote for three Directors at Large for 2008-2009. The nominees are Dennis Brown, Jan Gross, Sterling Harwell, and Patrick Layne. Bios of these individuals will be included with the ballot.

We look forward to seeing you at our monthly business meeting and at next year's reunion luncheon.