President's Report
Chapter President Owen Haxton reports:
Here it is late August and this is my first effort to bring you up to date on Chapter happenings and upcoming activities. Not to dwell on something you already know, but it is important for the membership to recognize that the Chapter has been running these past 54 days on Catherine’s planning and her get up and go. Thanks to last year’s Board and Catherine, the Chapter in July sponsored a bang up reception for the 2010-2011 Grand Jurors and provided the preplanning for the picnic now booked for Tuesday, September 21st in Miwok Park, Novato. Sterling has written a really informative article that you should have received via email. I encourage him to include it on the NewsPage.
The CGJA Membership Relations Committee will hold the first CGJA regional conference August 28th. The Marin Chapter has been asked to arrange facilities for the conference and it will be at the “Club”. Twenty-twoħ representatives from the Bay Area chapters will be attending. We will have to see what the results will be. Dan Mufson, who you met at our reunion last year, will be chairing the conference.
On the approval of the membership, we have submitted a proposal to host the 2011 CGJA Annual Conference in Marin. We have forwarded information on both the Embassy Suites and Four Points as suitable sites. It is the intent of CGJA to select and announce the location of the 2011 conference at the conference in San Diego this fall.
At the Membership meeting August 19, Luncheon meetings were approved for Friday, October 29th at the “Club” if available. Chapter members who attend this fall’s Annual CGJA Conference, in San Diego, will be making a report, and we hope to have an interesting speaker as well. Another luncheon meeting was approved for Friday, February 25th and the Annual Reunion Luncheon was approved for Friday, May 27th at the “Club,” if available. Mark you calendars.
In addition and already announced, Lowell Smith and his wife have (again) offered to provide the setting for a Chapter Christmas party. The date of December 18, 5:00-7:00 PM has been suggested. The membership present voted to accept this kind offer, and information about the event will be circulated to the membership in a timely manner.
Now to your part in the efforts of the Chapter, we need members to step forward and agree to ‘be in charge’ of the various chapter activities. If you were ‘in charge’ last year and are willing to ‘be in charge’ again this year, please email me to that effect. If you are not willing then get your group together and email to me the name of who is willing to be ‘in charge’ this year and I will ask the Board to appoint that willing chapter member.
Looking forward to an exciting year but always keeping in mind, perhaps the most important effort is to encourage this most and best citizens to apply to serve on the 2011-2012 Grand Jury.
published August 30, 2010Committee Reports
Bylaws & Policies and Procedures Committee
Board Liaison and Chair Karen Hern reports:
We are pleased to inform the membership that the Board and membership have now approved posting both the newly revised Bylaws and the Members' Policies and Procedures Handbook on our Web site. Members can now access them easily by clicking on the Bylaws, Policies & Procedures tab in the Members' Area of our index. Each of the documents has a table of contents that will take you to your subject of interest with a single click.
published August 30, 2010
Communications Technology Committee
Chair
Sterling Harwell
reports:
I am pleased to report that Dennis Brown, Gene Dyer, Frank Keenan, and Irwin Taranto have all agreed to continue on as members of the Communications Technology Committee.
We will have our initial meeting for the 2010-2011 term in early September. Anyone interested in joining us, please contact me for details.
We remind all Chapter Members that we are available to coach you in digital skills.
Continuity Committee
Board Liaison and Chair Karen Hern reports:
The other members of the committee are Myra Berkowitz, Gene Dyer, and Sterling Harwell.
published August 30, 2010
Excellence in Reporting Committee
Board Liaison and Chair Karin Hern reports:
The Marin County Chapter of CGJA recently nominated three Marin County Grand Jury reports to the CGJA EIR Committee for consideration for the Excellence in Reporting Awards of 2010:
- Lady Justice Lagging: Defenseless at Arraignment in Marin (2005-06)
- Hogtieing: A Lethal Restraint? (2006-07)
- Marin Clean Energy: Pull the Plug (2009-10).
CGJA
will evaluate the submissions based on a point system that includes
such criteria as the investigation's citizen impact, duration of the
problem, agencies involved, difficulty, and bureaucracy interference.
The reports will be judged on succinctness, completeness, readability,
and substantiated findings and recommendations. Documentation submitted
with the nominations include evidence indicating public and media
support gained and success of the investigation.
Approximately 15
reports have been submitted this year from Marin and other counties.
CGJA will announce any and all winners at the 2010 CGJA Annual
Conference in San Diego on October 21, 2010.
The other 2009-2010 committee members were Bernie Bolger, Sterling Harwell, and Catherine McKown.
published August 30, 2010Membership Committee
Board Liaison and Chair Owen Haxton reports:
The membership number stands at 72, today. There will be some changes, and as soon as various issues settle down a more precise figure will be available.
The big news is a new CGJA program through which members of the currently serving Grand Jury receive an Introductory membership in CGJA. The juror does not pay dues, does not have a vote, but does receive a copy of the CGJA Journal via email. In this manner there is little or no cost to the juror or to CGJA. The hope is that after receiving the Journal for a year, the juror will want to join CGJA after he/she completes there year of service. Currently there are about 350 Introductory members.
published August 30, 2010Orientation & Training Committee
Board Liaison and Chair Catherine McKown reports:
[This space reserved for Orientation & Training Committee reports]
Public Issues Committee
Board Liaison and Chair Woody Weingarten reports:
Hi, all current, past and wannabe Public Issues Committee members:
In an attempt to continue the momentum initiated by Bernie Bolger this past year, and Sterling Harwell before her, I, Woody Weingarten, have accepted the chairmanship of the Public Issues Committee.
Steve Cook has agreed to be my co-chair.
I seek a secretary, whose main function would be to take minutes, and would love a volunteer.
I’d also love an influx of new, active members on the committee -- of all sizes, shapes, genders and opinions (except those who might propose the committee be disemboweled or abolished) -- to join last year’s stalwarts. Just send me your name, phone number(s) and e-mail address, and I’ll make sure you’re kept in the proverbial loop.
Our first meeting of the year will be at Sterling Harwell’s home in San Rafael, at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 7. Anyone who needs his address, or directions, should e-mail him at sharwell@sbcglobal.net.
The first session will be an organizational meeting at which we’ll decide how often to meet and on which day or days. And, naturally, we’ll brainstorm about what we want to accomplish this year. So bring your brains, ideas, notes and good humor.
I apologize for the short notice, but I’m going East for a couple of weeks later in September and didn’t want to wait until October to kick things off.
For those with suggestions, questions or criticism, I can be reached at 459-3434, or e-mailed at voodee@sbcglobal.net.
Woody
published August 31, 2010
Public Outreach Committee
[This space reserved for Public Outreach Committee reports.]
Social Committee
Sterling Harwell reports:
First, please read announcement of our September 21st picnic in Owen's President's Report.
Gail and I went to Miwok Park to check out the site for our picnic. Here is a photo of Area 1, the site of our picnic.
It's a nice little park. Highlights:
- Area 1, Tuulu "Trout" is in a shaded area, has a large barbecue area, a buffet table, 7 picnic tables, and claims a capacity of 70.
- Nearby, between the parking and Area 1, is a large grass field suitable for playing (as well as an American indian museum and toilets). We could bring a croquet set. Others might want to bring other toys (balls, frisbees, kites, etc.)-golfing not allowed, pets on leashes allowed.
- Also nearby are two bocce courts, two horseshoe pits, a smaller but sizeable grassy area, and a childrens' playground. According to their Web site, bocce balls and equipment are available. Phone Novato Parks & Recreation at 899-8200 for details.
We got there by getting off 101 at De Long Av. for a short drive to Novato Blvd. and then approaching the park from the east.
For a copy of the invitation including what's included, what to bring, and how to RSVP, click here.
published August 30, 2010
Member News
Myra Berkowitz
Myra Berkowitz (GJ 2005-6) reports:
Good news from Alaska - Ethan Berkowitz (son of Myra of the "Do it in Secret Club") won the gubernatorial primary and is now the Democratic candidate for governor running against the Republican Parnell who took over when Palin quit.
Kudos to Gene Dyer and his huge salmon in Ketchikan.
published August 30, 2010
We Do It in Secret Book Club
Gail Harwell reports:
The theme was New Orleans when the “We Do It In Secret
Book Club,” GJ 2005-6, met August 3. The book selection was Zeitoun, Bay Area
author Dave Eggers’ true story of a Muslim immigrant businessman who
stayed in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina and was trapped in the
vortex of a city out of control, a Homeland Security frenzy, and FEMA
failures. Hostess Carolyn
Burwell led a spirited discussion and though points of
view varied, the group gave the selection a universal thumbs up. 
The luncheon table had a Mardi Gras theme and attendees Mary Arthur, Myra Berkowitz, Val Garfield, Jan Gross, Karin Hern, Catherine McKown, Roberta Robinson, and Gail Harwell shared a pot luck including blackened catfish, shrimp creole, red beans and rice, and cornbread.
published August 30, 2010
Gene Dyer
Gene and Joyce Dyer are continuing their annual trip to Joyce's hometown of Ketchikan, Alaska. They are shown here, along with Joyce's sister-in-law (center) in front of a new multiple statue representing all types of workers in Alaska.
Here's a picture of Gene with a 42 pound salmon.
They will return in early August.
Genepublished July 22, 2010
We Do It in Secret Book Club
Gail Harwell reports:
Wine was the subject of the book – House of Mondavi – and wine and food pairings the subject of the evening for the June 14 meeting of the We Do It In Secret Book Club (2005-2006 Grand Jury) in the City Librarian’s aerie office atop the San Francisco Public Library.
Karin Hern hosted the group, having placed the winning bid for the wine and food event at a Library benefit. There were tastings of red and white wines with food pairings personally prepared and elegantly served by Chef Phillippe Gardelle of Chapeau! on Clay Street. Members present included hostess Karin Hern, Mary Arthur, Myra Berkowitz, Carolyn Burwell, Jan Gross, Nanette Kuchman, Catherine McKown, Roberta Robinson, and Gail Harwell.
published July 22, 2010