2011 Picnic, Annual Meeting, and Book Discussion

We met at Berkeley’s Tilden Park on Sunday, June 12 for a fun picnic with a higher turn-out than in recent years of more than sixty Great Bookies.  The weather was sunny with a bright blue sky and a cool breeze to keep everyone comfortable.  The food, as usual was great and Grill Chef Brent Browning, pictured at right, was kept busy.

Brian Mahoney, Treasurer, presented detailed financial information to be examined by anyone present who wished to do so.  The organization is in solid financial shape. 

Jim Hall introduced Duncan Calvert.  Duncan is the 17 year old son of Rob Calvert, who is the son of Bob Calvert.  Bob and his wife Carol were participants for many years.  They still live in North Berkeley.  So far as we know, Duncan, in participating in today’s discussion of The Things They Carried, is the first third generation participant in our council’s book discussions. 

Jim Cooke drew attention to a front page article with pictures in today’s Marin Independent Journal featuring GBSF leader Roy Harvey, past Treasurer and longtime participant.   Roy is absent because he is in the famous Dipsea race, from Mill Valley over Mt. Tamalpais to Stinson Beach.  According to the article, Roy, 85, is to be awarded the title “Dipsea Demon,” as the oldest participant, running in the event for his 30^th time.  Roy and his wife Jimmie first met at our Asilomar Spring Conference and married about a decade ago. 

As outgoing president, Jim Hall expressed appreciation for all in GBSF who helped to make his term successful. Events this year were well attended.  The three mini-retreats were at or near capacity, as was poetry weekend.  Three new discussion groups were launched in San Francisco and one each in El Cerrito and Berkeley.  The Berkeley group, led by Carol Hochberg, is our first devoted exclusively to poetry.

Election of Officers: Jim introduced Rick White, nominations chair, who announced the slate of officers of GBSF for the coming year approved by the Executive Committee.  They are Marge Johnson, president; Rob Calvert, vice president, Brian Mahoney, treasurer;  Rick White, secretary.  Jim called for further nominations of which none were offered.  He then called for a vote on the slate of candidates.  Approval was unanimous.

Meet Marge Johnson:  It's been said that if you want something done, ask a busy person. So here's Marge Johnson, our new president.  Marge is fairly new to the Executive Committee, but by no means new to Great Books. She is a regular at Asilomar and the Long Novel Weekend, attending with her husband Rudy, long active as a discussion leader. She and Rudy met at Stanford and have been married 53 years.  Marge first taught handicapped children, then became a real estate broker. She retired from that in 2000 and has since devoted her time to travel, "our favorite pastime"—she and Rudy have traveled widely—to cultural activities, and to their three grandsons. When Marge and Rudy are not attending the theatre or the symphony, or going to and from the airport to visit family, they volunteer at city functions and tutor foreign students.  Marge is eager to be of service in her role as president and seeks the assistance and counsel of everyone who can help her make this "the best year ever."

As her first act of office, Marge Johnson thanked Laura Bushman for managing this picnic and announced that Laura has agreed to do it again next year.  Marge praised Jan Vargo for the excellent large print name tags provided.  She said that since so many participants took effective responsibility for carrying out the Council’s activities, she had been told “there would be nothing to the job” of president.  She requested of the group that during her term she receive any praise that was to be offered and that any questions go to Jim.

We adjourned the meeting and Laura convened four groups to discuss The Things They Carried, by Tim O’Brien.  This book, about men who served in Viet Nam, brought out some widely divergent opinions.  Most agreed that war could play havoc with some people’s mental stability, but, while concurring, some thought that after awhile people should “just get over it” and get on with their lives.  Is this award winning book history, memoir, or fiction?  Does it matter?

For a different treatment of similar subject matter you might consider attending our Great Books in Wine Country event on October 2, 2011 where we will discuss The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit by Sloan Wilson in the morning and view the movie adaptation in the afternoon.  There is still time to register, click here.