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March 16, 2023
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Laura Lorman: Inexpensive Travel Options and How to Travel Safely
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Laura Lorman
I got the travel bug from my mother who said she wanted to make me a citizen of the world and because I read travel books by Richard Halliburton. I began traveling the world right out of high school and have now traveled to more than 100 countries and led tours of college students to Europe and Hong Kong. I retired after 31 years in law enforcement and during my career I presented workplace safety classes to colleges, private industry, and governmental entities. If you ask me what my favorite place is that I've traveled to I will always say the last place I visited though East Africa is a special place for me and I go there as often as I can.
Templates to use for Programs (Three presenters, Two presenters & 1 presenter)
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April 20, 2023
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Margaret Press, DNA Doe Project: Investigative Genetic Genealogy
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Margaret Press, Ph.D.
The Sebastopol-based DNA Doe Project was formed in 2017 with one simple, humanitarian mission: identify "John" and "Jane Does" using investigative genetic genealogy. Co-founder Margaret Press inherited a passion for genealogy from her grandmother. When DNA testing refined the genealogy landscape, Margaret joined the impassioned group of citizen scientists who would propel this new field to where it is today. She teamed up with Forensic Genealogist Dr. Colleen Fitzpatrick and the DNA Doe Project began.
On March 5, 2018 the DNA Doe Project solved its first case—Robert Ivan Nichols, the John Doe previously known as Joseph Newton Chandler III. On April 11, 2018, they joined local authorites at a press conference in Troy, Ohio to identify the young woman known as “Buckskin Girl” as Marcia L. King--the first time in history that the world learned of the power of investigative genetic genealogy to solve cold case identifications. In the past five years, the organization’s work has helped identify the remains of more than 97 “Doe” cases, helping bring closure to families across the country.
On March 5, 2018 the DNA Doe Project solved its first case—Robert Ivan Nichols, the John Doe previously known as Joseph Newton Chandler III. On April 11, 2018, they joined local authorites at a press conference in Troy, Ohio to identify the young woman known as “Buckskin Girl” as Marcia L. King--the first time in history that the world learned of the power of investigative genetic genealogy to solve cold case identifications. In the past five years, the organization’s work has helped identify the remains of more than 97 “Doe” cases, helping bring closure to families across the country.
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February 16, 2023
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Dr. Steve Charbonneau, Superintendent, Piner Olivet Union School District, "School District Consolidation"
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Dr. Steve Charbonneau
Dr. Steve Charbonneau has been serving as Superintendent of the Piner-Olivet Union School District (POUSD) since 2020. Previous to his service to Sonoma County students and families, Steve led at two different international schools (Dubai and The Congo). Steve has served in the field of education for nearly 30 years. Steve's wife, daughter, son-in-law, and sister are all teachers.
December 4 |
The Language of Art and the Tools to Create It |
Jennifer Girvin
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December 4 |
Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation |
Anne Morkill, Executive Director, Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation
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Templates to use for Screen Shots for Past Programs Page (2 presenters & 1 presenter)
Anne has worked in wildlife conservation for more than three decades, including 24 years as a wildlife biologist and refuge manager with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Wildlife Refuge System and six years as a wildlife biologist with the Bureau of Land Management in Alaska. She was most recently the manager of the San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex which includes seven National Wildlife Refuges in the San Francisco and Monterey Bay areas and the Farallon Islands. Anne is passionate about restoring native habitats and conserving imperiled wildlife through promoting science-based climate adaption, fostering collaborative partnerships, and connecting people to nature. Christine has been striving to connect people to nature since 1995. In addition to working in the formal education field, she has a background in business administration, volunteer management, and focused experience in environmental education and interpretation. She served as the Education Programs Coordinator for Point Reyes National Seashore Association, then as Point Reyes Field Seminars Director from 2001-07. In 2006 she began volunteering for the Laguna Foundation on the Education Program Committee and joined the staff in 2007.
Duskie Estes
In 2008, Farm to Pantry was launched to serve a need in our local community: to provide a continuous supply of fresh, healthy produce to our most vulnerable neighbors who lack access to it by cultivating a community of growers and volunteers. Since then, Farm to Pantry has delivered more than 5 million servings of fruits and vegetables. In 2021 alone, the organization rescued more than 350,000 pounds of produce which would have ended up in the landfill. Farm to Pantry is committed to rescuing food that would otherwise go wasted and getting it to people in need. “The food is out there; all we have to do is go get it,” explained Duskie Estes, “No one should be left behind.” Come and find out how this amazing organization works and how you might help.
Duskie Estes came to Farm to Pantry after two decades of dedication to ethical sourcing and advocacy for small farmers in her farm-to-table restaurant, ZAZU Kitchen+Farm and her meat company, Black Pig Meat Co. A graduate of Brown University, Estes’s career has included critical acclaim as well as television appearances on Food Network and PBS. Duskie and her husband, John Stewart, operated ZAZU from 2001 through the spring of 2019, when the restaurant was lost due to the flooding of the Russian River. ZAZU was named a TOP 10 best new restaurant and was listed for multiple years in the San Francisco Chronicle’s TOP 100 restaurants. |
Sonoma County Forum offers an exciting array of speakers including leaders in business, education, health care, the arts, and local government. Our speakers provide an excellent way to gain knowledge of the community and learn about its vast resources. Dates, Upcoming Speakers, and their biographies, below.
Upcoming Speakers
January 19 |
Phyllis Rosenfield, Executive Director/President
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Phyllis Rosenfield
Phyllis Rosenfield is the founder and Executive Director/President of Listening for a Change. She has a background in education, social science and fine arts, and has a MA in Equity & Social Justice. She was the photographer and co-creator for “The Sonoma County Survivor Project”, and has served on numerous boards and commissions, including Chair of the Sonoma County Commission on Human Rights and President of the Sonoma County League of Women Voters.
October 6 |
Anne Vercelli, Asst. Director of the SF Chronicle Wine Competition |
Anne Vercelli
Anne Vercelli is a teacher, organizer and leader in the world of wine and food. Vercelli has been with the Cloverdale Citrus Fair/San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition since 1989. As SFCWC Assistant Director, Anne is responsible for assisting in all aspects of the competition. Her responsibilities include the receiving and coding thousands of wines received each year. She supervises a staff of 125 volunteers throughout the competition season. Anne also directs the volunteer work force with the public tasting event at Fort Mason Center every year in February.
The winner of numerous awards, in 1979 she received the coveted position of “Fellowship” of the Escoffier Room Restaurant at the Culinary Institute of American (C.I.A.) in Hyde Park, New York. She obtained her A.O.S. degree from C.I.A. in 1979. Later in the year, Anne represented the C.I.A. as the principle cook for Mr. Edgar Bronfman, Chairman of the Board of Seagram’s in New York City.For more than 20 years, Vercelli honed her skills in the food and wine industry. In 1981 she began teaching Italian cuisine in the culinary department and wine classes in the agriculture department at Santa Rosa Junior College. In 1982, she started working as the coordinator of the Professional Food Competitions for the Sonoma County Harvest Fair, which included hiring and directing six people in support of the competitions.
The winner of numerous awards, in 1979 she received the coveted position of “Fellowship” of the Escoffier Room Restaurant at the Culinary Institute of American (C.I.A.) in Hyde Park, New York. She obtained her A.O.S. degree from C.I.A. in 1979. Later in the year, Anne represented the C.I.A. as the principle cook for Mr. Edgar Bronfman, Chairman of the Board of Seagram’s in New York City.For more than 20 years, Vercelli honed her skills in the food and wine industry. In 1981 she began teaching Italian cuisine in the culinary department and wine classes in the agriculture department at Santa Rosa Junior College. In 1982, she started working as the coordinator of the Professional Food Competitions for the Sonoma County Harvest Fair, which included hiring and directing six people in support of the competitions.
May 5 |
Julie Tabsharani, Program Coordinator for the Juvenile Justice Center |
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A Sonoma County native, Julie says she always knew she wanted to work with children in some capacity. She has been with the Juvenile Probation Department since July 2008 working as a Juvenile Correctional Counselor. She currently coordinates the programs in juvenile hall with volunteers from the community, as well as evidence-based programs that help to build on the youth’s skills and needs. “I enjoy working with youth and getting to know their background,” she said. “Being a parent to four children myself, I feel as if I’m a parent to the youth I work with as well.”
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May 19 |
Karen Johnson, Director, Charles M. Schulz Museum |
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Karen Johnson, Director of the Charles M Schulz Museum, has served as a visionary manager in the business, government and non-profit organizations for the past 35 years. A popular and dynamic speaker, panelist, consultant and trainer, Karen is widely recognized for her expertise in the area of Fundraising, Board Development and Community Corporate Responsibility. She became Director of the Charles M. Schultz Museum in the fall of 2004. Like all of those of her generation, Karen grew up on the Peanuts Comic strips and the Happiness Is book series. In 1968 when she moved to Sonoma County, one of the ideas that thrilled her the most about moving to Northern California was the knowledge that Charles Schulz lived and worked in Sonoma County. It was not till 1987, when she became the Director of the Volunteer Center did she get the opportunity to meet Jean Schulz who served on the Board of the Volunteer Center. She and Karen worked on many community projects over the years. Charles Schulz created one of the most successful fundraisers for the Volunteer Center called the Sweetheart Ball, a dinner dance and ice show. The Sweetheart Ball has become a part of the strip. For the next 13 years Karen had the privilege of knowing Sparky and spending time with him at many community events.
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2020 Program Schedule
DATE |
Speaker |
Jan 7 |
John George "Northern California Computer Crimes Task Force” |
Jan 21 |
Corky (Mary Jean) Quirk, Founder, NorCal Bats |
Feb 4 |
Kristen Madsen, Director of Creative Sonoma |
Feb 18 |
Diane Dragone and Elly Lichenstein of the Cinnabar Theater |
Mar 3 |
JD Bergeron, Executive Director, International Bird Rescue |
Mar 17 |
Caren McNamara, Conscious Container |
Apr 7 |
Melissa Kelley, Sonoma County Regional Parks Foundation |
Apr 21 |
Dr. Fatouma Alimirah, Campisi Lab at the Buck Institute, "The Science Behind Living Better Longer" |
May 5 |
Julie Tabsharani, Program Coordinator, Juvenile Justice Center |
May 19 |
Karen Johnson, Director of the Charles M. Schulz Museum |
Jun 2 |
Forum Exchange (members only) |
Jun 16 |
Phyllis Rosenfield, Listening for a Change |
July 7 |
Serge Labesque, Bees in Sonoma County |
July 21 |
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Aug 4 |
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Aug 18 |
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Sep 1 |
Evan Wiig, Community Alliance with Family Farmers |
Sep 15 |
Tenae Stewart, Art Trails |
Oct 6 |
Anne Vercelli, SF Wine Competition |
Oct 20 |
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Nov 3 |
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Nov 17 |
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Dec 1 |
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Dec 15 |
Holiday party (members only) |
Meetings are held on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month from 7:30-8:45 AM at Legends at the Bennett Valley Golf Course, 3328 Yulupa Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA.
Program Meetings are open to the public.