ESCOM Newsletter - 03.2015

SENIOR
Production of this Newsletter is supported by the Joan Hopper Trust.
College of Marin Mar. 2015 • Vol. 42, No. 2.
STUDENTS NEWSLETTER
LIFELONG LEARNING, LIFELONG DOING, LIFELONG FRIENDSLIFELONG LEARNING, LIFELONG DOING, LIFELONG FRIENDSLIFELONG LEARNING, LIFELONG DOING, LIFELONG FRIENDSLIFELONG LEARNING, LIFELONG DOING, LIFELONG FRIENDS
SENIOR
Indian Valley Fire Road Photo by Laura Milholland
A ROAD TO LIFELONG LEARNING

2
Emeritus College Newsletter
Published by: Emeritus Students, College of
Marin, 11 times per year
Editor: Sarah Fagan Greenberg
Writers: Gloria Kopshever, Saundra Rosenberg,
Paul and Iris Tandler, Priscilla Wanat, Alicia
Warcholski
Council Liaison: Paul Tandler
Illustrator: Paul Gruner
Layout & Computerization: Art Ravicz
Distribution: Maureen Phillips, Loretta Wolf
Dawe, Jaye Glesener, B.J. Hauge, John Kouns
Clubs Chairman: William Raffanti
Art Chairman: Mehri Dadgar
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
[The ESCOM Newsletter welcomes letters on
any subject, including articles we have already
published and suggestions for the future. Al-
though the letters should be signed, the writer’s
name will be withheld upon request. We reserve
the right to shorten if necessary. Please send
letters to judgeinmillvalley@yahoo.com]
Home, as seen in "Life Changes," February Is-
sue: I am a long time reader of the Emeritus News-
letter and a recent member of ESCOM. I have al-
ways enjoyed the excellent writing in the Newslet-
ter. I recently read Anne Pearson’s story, "Life
Changes," and was inspired to write my own. She
describes a woman who has chosen to move into a
Continuing Care Retirement Community in order
to travel rather than to maintain her large home.
The woman enlisted a good friend to help her go
through a houseful of furniture and "treasures,"
some valuable in themselves and others valuable
because they held memories. This story triggered
my own about an aging woman living alone in a
big house and what I decided to do about it.
Nancy Faw
[Nancy’s article, "Regeneration," is on page 6.]
Aging, as seen in "Mistaken Identity," Febru-
ary Issue: Re "Mistaken Identity": The thing
about aging is we do not believe it will ever hap-
pen to us. If we had believed it, would we have
done things differently? Would we have taken
more time to appreciate what was happening,
looked at things differently, made other choices?
Would we just have held on a little longer to the
special moments and people?
Name withheld upon request
I reread "Mistaken Identity" and saw a lot about
aging had been covered in that article. It is well
written, it flows, and it glows with innermost ex-
periences and feelings.
Michael Sachs
[Correction: Writer’s Workshop continues to
meet on the first Tuesday of each month from
11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. We are sorry for any in-
convenience caused by a mistake in the February
issue announcing a meeting on a Wednesday.]
IN THIS ISSUE
Who doesn't have thoughts about home, family,
travel, hobbies, among other topics? We encour-
age you to contribute your thoughts and/or articles
to judgeinmillvalley@yahoo.com by March 5, our
next staff meeting. For "home," Nancy Faw ex-
plains how her living situation experienced
"Regeneration," page 6, as she mourned her hus-
band's death. Iris Tandler's family essay, "Shout
It From the Rooftop," page 5, shows tender but
powerful love between a granddaughter and her
proud grandmother. Priscilla Wanat's latest travel
piece is "Chennai to Delhi by Rail," page 7. Our
pleasing cover demonstrates Laura Milholland's
lifelong hobby as explored in her ESCOM Inter-
view, page 3. Oskar Klausenstock gifts us with a
beautiful poem, page 10, and there's news, too!
COLLEGE OF MARIN BIDS
FAREWELL TO DR. JASON LAU
A farewell luncheon was held at the Kentfield
Campus on January 28 to honor Dr. Jason Lau,
who was leaving the next day to assume his new
duties in a director’s position at Sonoma State Uni-
versity. Among those attending the luncheon were
College of Marin’s President Dr. David Wain
Coon and numerous faculty members and staff
from both the Kentfield and IVC Campuses. Many
ESCOM members were present, including council
members, who individually voiced a tribute to Dr.
Lau’s "enthusiasm," "energy," and "ability to get
things done, regardless of how difficult they
looked." They noted his many achievements and

3
contributions on be-
half of the Emeritus
Continuing Educa-
tion Programs at Col-
lege of Marin.
ESCOM Council
Presid ent Eric
Sitzenstatter com-
mented about Dr.
Lau's departure, "We
have truly been
blessed to have had
him in our lives. His
efforts for Continu-
ing Education and
Emeritus will keep
rippling for years to come, and he certainly de-
serves this advancement of his career. We are
thankful for his contribution to COM and ESCOM
and the competent staff he left with us."
Marian Mermel, past ESCOM president and pre-
sent ESCOM organizational liaison, said, "Jason's
compassion, kindness and work ethic resulted in
not only an amazing amount of beneficial changes
for Community Education and Emeritus, but the
special relationships he formed. His ability to con-
nect and make so many people feel valuable is
why we all feel his leaving so deeply. One of the
things I so respected in Jason was his openness to
an idea. You could present an idea to him and be-
fore you knew it you were involved in one of his
amazing productions. His energy and ability to
make things happen brought excitement to all of
us. We felt a part of something that would benefit
us all."
In his own remarks, Dr. Lau referred to ESCOM
and members of the audience as his "family" dur-
ing his three and a half years at College of Marin.
As well as offering boxes of candy as gifts for all,
he handed out a farewell gift to every member of
his Continuing Education Staff.
Among the most outstanding additions made to the
Lifelong Learning and Community Education Pro-
grams through Dr. Lau’s efforts were the: (1) Gold
Card Program, (2) Haddie Scholarship Fund, (3)
new registration system, and (4) the recent gain in
new ESCOM membership numbers, primarily due
to easier accessibility to classes.
Dr. Lau spent his early years in Hong Kong, where
he received an AA degree. He came to the United
States after being noticed by a visiting educator
from Iowa, who arranged for a scholarship and an
opportunity for him to pursue his doctorate at the
University of Iowa. Always with an interest in
youth, Dr. Lau became involved in a large pro-
gram known as "Camp Adventure," which pro-
vided children of those serving in the military in
various parts of the world access to a camp-
oriented summer experience. One of Dr. Lau’s
University of Iowa professors described him as
"Quality driven, eager to explore learning opportu-
nities, helpful, creative and unwaveringly positive,
in addition to his having
sustained excellence in
academics, student lead-
ership, service to his de-
partment, his university
and his country of ori-
gin."
ESCOM members ob-
served those very same
qualities.
Alicia Warcholski
THE ESCOM INTERVIEW
Laura Milholland and her
husband Paul are co-leaders of
ESCOM's IVC Digital Cam-
era Club, which meets first
Mondays for photo expedi-
tions and third Mondays for
IVC club meetings from
1–3 p.m. Her cover photo-
graph is located in the Indian
Valley Open Space Preserve, next to the Indian
Valley Campus. The Indian Valley Fire Road pic-
tured attracts dog walkers, joggers, and equestri-
ans, as well as those pursuing a beautiful and gen-
tle walk. A Marin County resident since the age of
two, Laura's adventures in photography began
while honeymooning with Paul in Victoria, British
Columbia, and have continued for over 35 years.
She says, "I can't think of a better hobby to share
with your best friend and partner...we continually
learn about ourselves and each other as we dis-
cover what has been captured through our lenses."
Continued on Page 4

4
Laura's photo galleries can be viewed on her web-
site, http://www.pbase.com/milholland_1.
When did you first take a picture? What cam-
era were you using?
My first camera was a Kodak Brownie that I
worked hard to win in a contest when I was about
nine. The earliest photos I remember taking with it
were on a six-week family trip around the U.S. My
film was all black & white. It fascinated me when
I noticed how different the images were compared
to the reality of color.
What are three important rules you would rec-
ommend for would-be photographers?
First, be prepared; the best camera is the one you
have with you! I grab a camera most of the time I
head out the door; you just never know what will
happen. When I haven't brought my camera, even
on just an errand, I have many times missed un-
usual opportunities. And YES, you can get some
nice photos even with your cell phone. Having a
lightweight option in addition to a
"serious" (meaning "heavy" – LOL) camera is a
good way to go. I do take my tripod and some-
times go for specific photo outings. Planning what
camera gear to take on any trip is always a big part
of our preparations.
Second, look at lots of photos others have taken.
Photos are available in books and online through
Google or photo sights such as Flicker,
PBase.com, 500px and many others. Check out
photography galleries and studios. See what you
like about a particular image. That will help you
decide what kind of photos you want to take. With
time, you'll improve your "eye" as to what makes a
good or great photo.
Third, take lots and lots of photos. In other words,
practice! Try setting your camera on
"P" (Program) instead of "Auto" and try out some
of your setting options. The little +/- is a way that
you can brighten or darken the resulting image, so
as you take it you will get a better exposure with
better color. Using "P" will let you use that tool,
whereas you can't change any settings when on
"Auto." You learn by seeing what you like and fig-
uring out why.
How do you feel about the photoshopping that's
done for ads and magazine covers to, say, make
someone thinner and with perfect skin and hair?
This question inspires debate among photogra-
phers at all skill levels. Each needs to decide his or
her ultimate goals. If it's to sell images for ads and
to magazines, you will definitely need skill in post
-processing work. If you hope to do journalistic
work of any kind, you will still need to know how
to "make the most" out of your original image
without alterations that negate its authenticity.
Much is being done now as "photographic art,"
that really only uses the captured image as a basic
starting point for creating whatever the artist's
mind can conceive and his or her skills can pro-
duce.
In most cases, I try to stay true to what I saw when
I took the picture. I take no issue with creativity,
but I do with deception. As it is with movies, all
the "CGI" (computer graphic imaging) altered re-
ality is more than prevalent in the photography we
are bombarded with every day. Sometimes it's hard
to trust our eyes: is it real or not? Creating or per-
fecting a beautiful image can bring enormous en-
joyment and gratification. I believe there should
also be honesty in putting forth an image as a crea-
tion rather than as a reality.
Do you prefer taking candids or posed photo-
graphs of family members?
I don't consider myself a portrait photographer. I
much prefer to take candids most of the time, be-
cause to me, they give a better glimpse into who
the person is; they're much more filled with life. I
did do a series of monthly portraits of my grand-
daughter over her first year, starting with her at
four-days-old. My goal was a calendar. I did
themes and nice set-ups with props, which were
great fun, and quite challenging as she became mo-
bile. In some sense though, even those pictures
were candids as she didn't really "pose." I just took
many photos to catch a fleeting expression that I
liked.
If you could go anywhere for a photographic
trip, where would it be?
Going to New Zealand has been a dream of mine.
Since nature and wildlife are where my interests
truly are, New Zealand holds a lot of appeal. We
have become close friends with a photographer in
New Zealand. Over the last 12 years, she has
shared some of her gorgeous photos
from both islands. I would love to
meet her in person and have the
chance to go out shooting with her.
Sarah Fagan Greenberg
Continued from Page 3

5
COLLEGE OF MARIN IN THE NEWS
Community Colleges Afford-
able Stepping Stones to Higher
Education Opportunities – In
his State of the Union Address,
U. S. President Barack Obama
brought up the subject of count-
less bright students being priced out of higher edu-
cational opportunities. With 40 per cent of our na-
tion’s college students choosing community col-
leges for their higher education, President Obama
proposed to make the first two years of community
college free. How this will be pursued is yet to be
determined.
Drama Department – College of Marin’s Drama
Department received five nominations for 2014
Excellence in Theatre Awards given by the San
Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle. Out of
four shows in 2014, two were ranked with profes-
sional company performances. Awards will be pre-
sented on March 9, 2015, at the Victoria Theatre in
San Francisco.
Mini Medical School Sampler – a Half-day Pro-
gram exploring the "Field of Medicine and the
Science of Aging Well" – This well-attended
event was held at College of Marin in Kentfield on
January 24, 2005. The program is a part of the
Haddie Mini-Lecture Series sponsored by the
Haddie Emeritus College Scholarship fund for
Older Adults, and has been developed by the U. C.
Davis School of Medicine’s Mini-Medical School
(MMS) in collaboration with College of Marin
Community education. The presentation by U. C.
Davis School of medicine faculty included topics
on: The Anatomy of Aging, New Thinking About
Heart Health, Blood Pressure, Cholesterol, Nutri-
tion Facts and Medications As Related to the
"Older Adult." Since the presentation was so suc-
cessful and well received, as evidenced by the 250
plus audience turnout, it is hoped that Emeritus
members can look forward to future events pre-
sented by the U. C. Davis School of Medicine’s
Mini Medical School in conjunction with College
of Marin’s Community Education Department.
New Executive Director of Development Ap-
pointed – On Friday, January 16, 2015, the Col-
lege Board of Trustees appointed Dr. Linda P.
Frank as Executive Director of Development at
COM. This is a new management position created
after the retirement in June 2014 of former Execu-
tive Director of Communications, Community Re-
lations and Advancement, Cathy Summa-Wolfe.
Dr. Frank’s most recent position was at the Uni-
versity of the Pacific’s Arthur A. Dugoni School
of Dentistry, where she managed a portfolio of 150
major donors as part of the Major Gifts Team, rais-
ing $40 million to finance a new facility in San
Francisco. As a Certified Fund Raising Executive
and a Certified Specialist in Planned Giving, Dr.
Frank has an extensive understanding of bequests,
planned gifts, and trusts as well as a thorough
knowledge of marketing. She has a
Bachelor’s Degree from City College of
New York and Master of Arts and Doc-
torate Degrees from Purdue University.
Alicia Warcholski
Family
SHOUT IT FROM THE ROOF TOP
Someone’s a knockin’, someone’s a knockin’ at
my door. The Wizard of Oz, uh-uh, President
Obama with Malia and Sasha, I don’t think so. It is
my granddaughter, Michelle, who breezed into my
kitchen like a breath of spring on a cold winter
evening. She is carrying two huge bags filled with
dinner she has cooked for us. She opens a cabinet
and grabs the largest pot I own, a pot I have not
used since I was cooking for three adolescent boys
and a very hungry husband.
Into this pot she dumps the contents of two cartons
of Boeuf Bourguignon she has made, beef, pota-
toes, carrots and onions, enough to feed us for two
weeks. She has laced this heavily with her father’s
(my son’s) best burgundy, similar to wine that was
recently stolen from the cellars of the French
Laundry. My mother had been known to sneak a
tumbler of Mogen David into her beef stew and it
didn’t taste much different. Simultaneously, Mi-
chelle puts a pint of water up to boil, and cooks
couscous to go with our dinner.
Michelle is my oldest granddaughter. She is cur-
rently a graduate student at Harvard and will
graduate in May with an MBA. She is wearing
black tights and a black and blue silk shirt.
"You look absolutely gorgeous," I tell her.
Continued on Page 6

6
"Thank you," she says. "You could use a pair of
these tights. They would look great on you. I’ll
send you a couple of pair."
"Yup" I say. "That’s exactly what I need." Men-
tally, I am thinking how will I get them on and
off?
I am beginning to feel dizzy from the fumes com-
ing off the Boeuf. Earlier Grandpa has set the table
for our Sabbath dinner and it does look truly beau-
tiful with my best place mats, best china, best crys-
tal, fine silver and candles. We hold hands, light
the candles and say the blessings and pray over the
wine and Challah, which Michelle has also
brought us, a lovely Sabbath for the three of us.
"Are you coming to my graduation in May?" she
asks.
"We will be trying to get to your Grandfather’s
68th
College Reunion from Washington Univer-
sity," I respond. "I don’t think we can make both."
"What am I going to do with an 8"x10" piece of
paper?" she asks me. She answers herself—"Put it
on a shelf somewhere?"
"Michelle, one pair of your great-grand-parents
came over steerage from Russia," I lecture her
sternly. "The other pair probably came over the
same way from Poland. Send me the 8"x10" piece
of paper. I will blow it up to 20"x60" and mail it to
all my friends. Then I will climb to the top of the
house and shout it from the roof top."
"You are the American Dream, Michelle. The fu-
ture is yours." I walk her to the door.
"Grandma," she says, "I love you the
whole world." Big hugs and kisses.
"I love you the whole world," my eyes
full of tears.
Iris Tandler
Home
REGENERATION
My late husband, David, and I were married al-
most sixty years and for fifty of them lived in the
same house. Our six children grew up in this house
and our six grandchildren have spent many happy
days here. We still all gather together for Thanks-
giving and Christmas and other important family
events.
After David’s death three years ago, I realized that
the ache of missing him will never go away. Eve-
rything in my house is a reminder of him.
I am not one who needs to be surrounded by a lot
of people. I have always savored solitude, but be-
ing alone and being lonely are two different things.
I have been doing all the right things to deal with
my loneliness and sadness. I took a part time job,
started yoga, took some COM classes, joined an
Emeritus club. Five of my children live in the area
and, although I see them and talk to them and text
them (the only way to communicate with grand-
children), they are all busy with their own lives.
After awhile, I entertained thoughts of having my
own small condo on the water and with a view. I
would take only the furniture that fit and the things
that I really love and enjoy. Then I thought of what
moving would be like and how much stuff would
have to be disposed of and how many decisions
would have to be made. Where would the family
go for special gatherings? Could I really dismantle
my children’s childhood home? What if someone
bought my house for the location, tore it down and
built a replacement? I could not bear to see that,
even though it may still happen someday. So I
filed away my dream and faced reality.
My reality was that I had too much stuff that I did-
n’t want or need and wasn’t even mildly sentimen-
tal about. David was something of a pack rat. He
collected. He started projects and didn’t finish
them. He left me with a house and garage full of
his treasures. He had bought several lots of 78 re-
cords and planned to sell them on EBay. He took
eighty commemorative plates someone else inher-
ited and didn’t want. EBay again. David was an
artist and made sculptures of driftwood and stone
and abalone shell. I have four buckets of abalone
shell. Our home office was littered with old com-
puter parts. Who needs four monitors? David did
most of our home repairs over the years. He never
came out of a hardware store without buying more
nails, screws, caulking, tools.
I began to get rid of stuff. I made countless trips to
Goodwill, Salvation Army, and Renew Computers.
I participated in a family garage sale. Do you
know about Image for Success in San Rafael?
They take good used clothing and give it to people

7
just starting jobs who don’t have appropriate ward-
robes. Do you know about The Away Station in
Fairfax, a non-profit that will take your used build-
ing supplies? This is an ongoing project. Although
I have made progress, it will never be done.
Last summer I learned that my daughter-in-law
Victoria (Vic) was losing her rental house because
the landlord wanted to put it on the market. She
was also out of work. Her 24-year-old son and his
girlfriend who both lived with her were going to
find their own place, but Vic and her 20-year-old,
my grandson Sam, had no place to go.
I have plenty of extra room. I thought it over care-
fully and discussed it with some of my kids. I got a
positive response. So I emailed Vic and offered
her and Sam a temporary place to stay. I don’t like
to admit it, but I don’t reach out to people easily. I
had misgivings about sharing my home. Would we
get along? Could we be honest with each other?
Would I get stuck with them? Would it cost me
money? Would I be sorry?
Vic and Sam moved in with me September 1st. We
all settled in much more easily than I anticipated.
After a couple of weeks they told me that they felt
safe in my house. I realized that they were recover-
ing from a nightmare summer—out of work, no
home, a houseful of stuff to store, sell, and give
away. I wanted them to find refuge in my home
and they had.
Vic got a job in October, a promotion and raise in
January, so her life is going well. Sam tried to
move to Los Angeles with his band, but has not
found a job or a good living situation, so is coming
home.
Vic buys most of the food and does most of the
cooking, a big relief for me. (My husband David
had done the cooking; I am out of the habit.) Sam
likes my oatmeal cookies, and I am happy to bake
them for him. We sit at the table after dinner and
talk and talk. I have learned about Vic’s family
and her childhood. She has learned about mine.
We lead different social lives, but share funny sto-
ries about our experiences.
I am seeing the world through the eyes of two gen-
erations, both different from mine. I never antici-
pated that sharing my home with people could
make such a difference in my life. I am no longer
lonely. I don’t like to think about the day they
move on, but I know it will come. And a new
phase of my life will begin. I will stay in my home
as long as I am able. There is a lot of life still to be
lived here.
Nancy Faw
[Nancy Faw was secretary to the President and
Board of Trustees of College of Marin until she
retired in 2001. She then went to work for the
College of Marin Foundation until after her re-
tirement in 2012. She is currently working for
United Professors of Marin but plans to retire
again this spring and volunteer for ESCOM.]
Travel
CHENNAI TO DELHI BY RAIL
In 2000, I visited my friend, Sury, and his family,
in Delhi. I travelled from Chennai, formerly Ma-
dras, on the east coast of India. I'd booked the pas-
sage rather late so was booked into a six berth first
class compartment, rather than the deluxe cabin I'd
hoped for.
The train was supposed to leave at 11 p.m., but
when I got to the station I found it was going to be
an hour late in arriving. I stood around the plat-
form, waiting with everyone else. It was India.
There were people everywhere, mostly sitting or
lying on the station floor. It was hot. There were
beggars. I peeled off one of my stack of 100 brand
new, stapled together 10 rupee notes, worth maybe
25 cents, and gave it to a small beggar woman. She
showed it to all her friends. I felt terrible.
About ten minutes before it was due to depart, the
train arrived. There was no way that the supplies
of food and bedding, and passengers with their
luggage, could be loaded in time for the train to
leave as scheduled. It was chaos. It was India. Ten
minutes later, the train pulled out of the station,
with all and everything aboard. The journey would
last 32 hours.
I shared a compartment with a family, a man of
about my age, his wife, son, daughter-in-law and
grandson. The family had been in Chennai, where
the patriarch had had surgery. The other family
members had stayed for a couple of weeks to care
for him and keep him company Another passenger,
a man who was silent, remained silent to the end
of the trip, so I learned nothing about him.
Continued on Page 8

8
The family members were very kind to me. They
didn't mind that my over large suitcase stuck out
below the bunk. They offered me candy and cook-
ies and chatted with me. The son and his wife had
lived in England for a couple of years where he'd
worked as a construction engineer. The men had
changed from their suits into informal clothes for
the journey. The older woman wore a sari but the
younger wore a shalwar kameez, which is a tunic
and pants combination. My long top over loose
slacks conformed to the dress code, more or less.
The train was air conditioned but we also had an
overhead fan. Four bunks, upper and lower, faced
each other across the width of the compartment,
with an upper and lower on the other side of the
corridor. The compartment was curtained off from
the rest of the carriage and each bunk was cur-
tained from the rest of the compartment. It was
very comfortable and private.
"Wallah" is a generic term that denotes a worker in
a particular job. The bedding wallah distributed
our sheets, pillow, case and blankets, all still warm
from the laundry. A punkah wallah operated our
overhead fan.
Our bedding wallah was a hard working guy. All
through the journey, he went through the train, col-
lecting orders for and distributing tea, coffee,
meals, and at the end worked out the bill and col-
lected payment. It wasn't obvious how he kept
track. I must have looked worried about something
at one point. "No problem, madam, no problem."
He was sensitive, too, and kind.
I love traveling on trains, especially in sleepers.
That great clackety-clack putting me to sleep, my
waking up at stations to peer out at all the bustle
on the platform, and then off to sleep again, clack-
ety-clack.
The next day, I expected and waited for us all to
take on our day time roles—beds to be hooked
back and we'd sit until night time. Nothing of the
sort —it was India. Beds stayed down. People re-
laxed, and chatted and ate and dozed, relaxed and
chatted and ate and dozed some more. It was very
restful. Why not? There was nothing that had to be
done except let the train take us where we were
scheduled to go. Feeling that way was a revelation.
I relaxed and chatted and ate and dozed and read
and looked out the window.
Off and on, I didn't find the scenery very interest-
ing. It reminded me of inland Australia: brown,
straggly and monotonous. There were many, many
villages, with buildings that looked as though they
were falling down or being built, it was hard to tell
which. My friend Sury told me later that in Hindu
philosophy it doesn't matter which — it's all in the
cycle of life. He had tongue in cheek when he said
it, I think…
The farms looked not particularly productive and it
was hard to tell what was being farmed, until we
reached Nagpur, where there were citrus orchards.
The methods were primitive, people working with
their hands in the fields, the women carrying water
in brass jars and plastic buckets, walking to and
from the wells, seemingly at all times of day. I saw
little evidence of motorized farm equipment or
electricity in the villages, until we were close to
Delhi.
On my arrival in Delhi, Sury was on the platform
to meet me. The porter picked up my suitcase and
carried it on his head. It had wheels, but we were
in India and that's how it's done there.
Priscilla Wanat
LARGE TURN-OUT
FOR ESCOM JANUARY MEETING
The Humiston Reading Room
was packed for the Council’s
first meeting in 2015, as eight-
een members and visitors gath-
ered around the conference table. Minutes of the
November 2014 meeting were corrected and
passed, as was the morning’s Agenda.
Dr. Jason Lau, Director of Community Educa-
tion, addressed the gathering in a "farewell" ad-
dress, stressing the close relationship he main-
tained with ESCOM and thanking the Council and
its officers for their cooperation in all of his
achievements. One by one the members spoke to
express their appreciation for his work benefiting
older adult students.
President Eric Sitzenstatter reported progress on
the expansion and rehabilitation of IVC’s Emeritus
Center, which will provide a reading room annex
to that well-used facility. He announced that
Marje Park, who had served as the Council’s Re-
cording Secretary for several years had resigned,

9
and ESCOM member Anne Pearson was ap-
pointed as a replacement. Marje was lauded for the
excellent job she had done and received the Coun-
cil’s appreciation.
Dick Park, Chairman of the ad hoc Bylaws Revi-
sions Committee, introduced changes submitted
during the mandatory comment period and moved
for the adoption of the amended Bylaws and Pol-
icy documents. They are now "the law."
A detailed Treasurer’s Report was submitted by
Art Ravicz, who had previously informed the
Council that he was stepping down as Treasurer at
fiscal year-end, June 30. Numerous Purchase Or-
ders were approved as submitted. Council member
Toni Middleton is slated to be appointed Treas-
urer.
Marlene Knox, reporting for the Marketing Com-
mittee, announced that the theater advertising has
been concluded. Due to the heavy increase in
membership as a result of changes in the fee struc-
ture for EC Classes, the effects of this advertising
on membership cannot be determined, but Marlene
feels that "brand recognition" for ESCOM was
worth the expense.
An art exhibition titled "Line and Shadow," by Ay-
ris Hatton, is currently on display in the Kentfield
Emeritus Center. A reception will be scheduled.
The exhibition will continue into March.
The Curriculum Committee will soon resume its
schedule of instructor interviews, beginning with a
planning session on January 21. Dick Park, Chair-
man, has met with C.O.M. officials concerning the
startup of a lecture series in collaboration with
Book Passage. The first lecture, titled "An Inno-
cent Abroad," is scheduled for February 27, 1:00
to 2:30 p.m., at the College Library. There is no
admission charge and parking will be free.
Council elections are due in April, according to
Paul Tandler, Chairman for Nominations and
Elections this year. He will contact Council mem-
bers whose terms expire at mid-year to determine
their wishes to be on the forthcoming ballot.
Newsletter Editor Sarah Fagan Greenberg is
encouraging our readers to submit stories for fu-
ture editions, including the upcoming Literary Is-
sue.
Karen Hemmeter’s Office Report announced that
ESCOM membership had grown to more than
1200, and additional growth is anticipated.
Changes in data processing services as they pertain
to membership records are complex and will re-
quire good collaboration with the college staff.
Kevin Colgate assists Karen in the performance of
office services.
The Hospitality Committee needs a new chair, as
the present team has resigned. This committee pro-
vides refreshment services at art receptions, at the
Annual Meetings, and at other functions as re-
quired. We need one or more volunteers to fill this
need. Call Karen if available.
Low turnout at the December Holiday
Party engendered a discussion concern-
ing the conduct of these meetings. The
matter was tabled for further considera-
tion at subsequent Council meetings.
Paul Tandler
ESCOM/IVC NEWS/EVENTS/CLUBS
College of Marin Board of Trustees: March 10
Regular Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Building 5, Room
188, Indian Valley Campus. Don’t miss the oppor-
tunity to hear plans for the COM Novato Campus,
especially the repair of ESCOM/IVC community
room. The agenda opens with time for public com-
ments. Trustee Brady Bevis, a Novato resident,
would like to meet those who use the COM/IVC
facilities.
Homelessness Extends Horizons: As a result of
the December flooding of Building 10, ESCOM
clubs temporarily meet in Building 27, room 122,
adjacent to the Internet Café and near the COM/
IVC Library.
Indian Valley Organic Farm & Garden: Satur-
day, March 7, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fruit Tree
Grafting, Propagation, and Scion Swap: This
workshop will cover techniques of winter grafting
and simple propagation by cuttings including after-
care at home and sharing of scion of our favorite
fruit varieties for grafting and propagation.
IVC Digital Camera Club: The 25 members plan
a photo outing on 3/2 followed by meeting at IVC,
on 3/16 when photos shot during the trip are
shared
IVC Book Forum: Pearl Ly, COM Head
Librarian, met with members in the Inter-
net Café adjacent to the library. She pro-
vided handouts detailing all the services of
COM libraries now part of MarinNet and

10
toured the COMIVC branch. Contact Louise Kerr
for an e-copy of 2015 Book List. The book for
March is Drama High, Michael Sokolove, on 3/23.
IVC Foreign Film Club: 3/3 The Fallen Idol, ‘48,
British. Last month Club Leader Annie Longtin
shared her research on G.B. Shaw’s play Pygma-
lion and subsequent stage and film versions, plus
the origin of the title.
IVC Philosophy Club: Thirty-Six Events That
Changed History, the current lecture series by J.
Rufus Fears, PhD, U. of Oklahoma, will conclude
and selection of the next study series will be made.
Get in on the vote!
Smart Tech Talk: 3/18 On the 3rd Wednesday
monthly, this is one ESCOM club that is unpre-
dictable, free-flowing and without format but al-
ways a learning event! Bring a tech question of
any kind, from how to answer a smart phone, how
to post a photo on Facebook, or what equipment to
buy.
Global Issues: 3/20 COINTELPRO 101 This
documentary exposes the official FBI COunter IN-
TELligence PROgram carried out to survey, im-
prison, and eliminate leaders of social justice
movements in an effort to destroy the movements.
The film contains interviews with activists, histori-
cal footage and draws relevant lessons for the pre-
sent and the future.
TGIF Jazz Club: 3/6 Bring a favorite CD or
DVD to share.
Humanities Club:
3/7 Lecture 11, Justinian and the Byzantine Em-
pire; Lecture 12, The House of Islam.
3/21 Lecture 13, Rise of the Carolingians; Lecture
14, Charlemagne.
Film Noir Club:
3/14 The Lady in Question ’40. Brian Aherne,
Rita Hayworth and Glenn Ford. Director Charles
Vidor.
3/28 My Name is Julia Ross ’45. Nina Foch,
Dame Mae Whitty and George
Macready. Director Joseph H. Lewis.
THE GARDEN CALL
I step into my garden heeding a summons
Only my ears can perceive.
Was it the infant's cry of thirst
Of my just-planted rhododendrons?
Or the parched throats
Of my capricious trees?
I go there called by voices
In a language strange, unknown,
The idiom song of a bumblebee.
Only I can vaguely perceive
With the skin of my eyes,
The membranes of my ears.
I sit upon a rough hewn stone
Planted at random here and there
By fire gods beneath my feet.
And listen to the melody
Played by the flutter of a fallen leaf
Or by the wing of a costumed butterfly.
Soft music, vaguely perceptible
Drifts across the fragrant, seed-laden soil
The whisper of a million reedy stems
Of wild oats swaying on the slopes
Bowing in unison to the salty wind
The song, a promise of another day.
I listen to their tune
Of eon days as yet unknown
Unknown to me, to other men
Of days gone by, of days to come,
Of days we shall be one
The earth, the seed, and I.
Oskar Klausenstock
[Oskar Klausenstock, M.D., 92, is a longtime poet
and contributor to the ESCOM Newsletter. He was
born and raised in a small town in Southern Poland,
until World War II, when he was imprisoned in sev-
eral of the most brutal Nazi concentration camps and
lost his entire Jewish family. After his camp was lib-
erated by the U.S. Army in 1945, he used his multi-
lingual skills as an interpreter for U.S. Headquarters.
He studied medicine at Frankfurt/Main University.
Arriving in this country in 1949, he was accepted to
Boston University, School of Medicine followed by
postgraduate specialty trainings at Harvard, Stanford,
and University of California, San Francisco. He was
a captain in the U.S. Army Medical Corps before
beginning the practice of radiology in San Fran-
cisco.]
Gloria Kopshever, 883-7805,
sabenovato@gmail.com.

11
ESCOM CLUBS
Participation in clubs requires an Emeritus Students Activities Card. Feel free
to visit club meetings. A member interested in receiving news/information about a specific
club should send an email address to the club leader. For further information, including
instructions on how to form a club, please call 485-9652.
ADVENTURER’S CLUB: Fourth Mon. of the
month, 1 p.m., location varies. Call Ruth King,
898-5845, for information on next meeting.
BOCCE/PETANQUE CLUB: Every Tues. 9:30
a.m. at Albert Park San Rafael. Bill Raffanti, 883
-4079, billraffanti@yahoo.com.
BRIDGE CLUB: Mon. 1:00 - 4:30 p.m., Cafete-
ria, Kentfield. Lynn Mason, phone 456-2508,
lynn.mason@gmail.com.
CHESS CLUB: Every Wed. except last Wed. of
the month, 1:00 p.m., Kentfield Emeritus. Ron
Evans, 924-0998, brittron@comcast.net.
CURRENT EVENTS CLUB: 2nd & 4th
Thursdays, 10:00 a.m. - 12 noon, Emeritus Kent-
field. Jerry Weisman, 383-1831, gweis-
man@sprintmail.com; and James Kennedy, 388-
3939.
GREAT MINDS OF WESTERN PHILOSO-
PHY CLUB: 1st & 3rd Mondays, 10:15 a.m. to
12:15 p.m. at Kentfield. Contact Arlene Stark,
925-1214, or arlenestark@att.net.
ISLAMIC STUDIES CLUB: Every Fri. night at
7 p.m., Community Room at Sausalito Civic
Center, 420 Litho St., Sausalito. Mehri Dadgar,
927-1388, MEHRIDADGAR@aol.com.
IVC ATELIER CLUB: Weekly on Wednes-
days. Two sessions, 9 a.m. - noon and 1-4 p.m..
Glen Miller, email glenmiller12@comcast.net,
415-457-2459.
IVC BOOK FORUM: 4th Monday, 3-5 p.m.,
Emeritus IVC. Louise Kerr, 883-2823,
Lrkerr210@gmail.com.
IVC BRITISH & FOREIGN FILM CLUB:
First Tues. of month, 1-3 p.m., Emeritus IVC,
Annie Longtin, annie.dance@yahoo.com, 382-
1360.
IVC DIGITAL CAMERA CLUB: Photo outing
1st Monday, time/location TBA; club meeting
3rd Monday, 1-3 p.m., Emeritus IVC. Phone
Laura Milholland, phone 578-2972 or e-mail
milholland_l@hotmail.com .
IVC FILM NOIR DVD CLUB: 2nd & 4th Sat-
urdays, 1-3 p.m., Emeritus IVC. Rudy Ramirez,
491-0522, rudycram@gmail.com.
IVC GLOBAL ISSUES CLUB: 3rd
Friday, 2:00
– 4:00 p.m., Emeritus IVC. Colleen Rose, 898-
0131, colleenrose@juno.com.
IVC GREAT IDEAS IN PHILOSOPHY
CLUB: Thursdays, 1-3 p.m., Emeritus IVC.
Lillian Hanahan, donaldhanahan@comcast.net,
209-9452.
IVC HUMANITIES CLUB: 1st & 3rd Satur-
days, 1-3 p.m., Emeritus IVC. Rudy Ramirez,
491-0522, rudycram@gmail.com.
IVC JAZZ CLUB: 1st Fri., Bldg. 10, Rm.
140. Call Ruth King, 898-5845, for information.
IVC SMART TECH TALK CLUB, 3rd Wednes-
day, 1 to 3 p.m., Eileen Ziegenhagen, 897-2824,
edzjoy@ yahoo.com.
MORAL-ETHICAL & LEGAL ISSUES
ROUNDTABLE: 1st & 3rd Tuesdays, 10 a.m. -
12 noon, Emeritus Kentfield. Cole Posard, 491-
4118, colemanposard@att.net; Arlene Stark, 925-
1214, or arlenestark@att.net.
OPERA AND BEYOND: Last Wednesday of
month, 1-3 p.m., Emeritus Kentfield. Michael
Sachs, michahsachs@gmail.com, phone (415)
298-1939.
SCRABBLE CLUB: Every Thursday, 2:00-
4:00 p.m., Cafeteria, Kentfield. Marlene Knox,
459-1427, marlsteve@comcast.net.
WRITERS’ WORKSHOP: 1st Tues. of each
month, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Emeritus Kentfield.
Treva Strauss, 454-6641, trevastrauss@att.net.

Emeritus Students
College of Marin
835 College Avenue
Kentfield, CA 94904-2590
Return Service Requested
TIME DATED MATERIAL
Non-Profit
Organization
U. S. Postage Paid
Permit No. 8
San Rafael, CA
12
Corner Table is an oil on canvas, 20" by 17," by Ayris Hatton, whose exhibit, Line and
Shadow, Faces and Figures, is currently on display until the end of March at the
Emeritus Center in the Humiston Reading Room.

ESCOM Newsletter - 03.2015

More Related Content

What's hot (8)

Viewers also liked (20)

Similar to ESCOM Newsletter - 03.2015 (19)

ESCOM Newsletter - 03.2015