February 16 |
The Maker Movement: Fostering a Creative Culture for Open Innovation, Dale Dougherty, President, Make: Community |

Dale Dougherty is the leading advocate of the Maker Movement. He founded Make: Magazine in 2005, which first used the term “makers” to describe people who enjoyed “hands-on” work and play. He started Maker Faire in the San Francisco Bay Area in 2006, and this event has spread to nearly 200 locations in 40 countries, with over 1.5M attendees annually. In 2011 Dougherty was honored at the White House as a “Champion of Change” through an initiative that honors Americans who are “doing extraordinary things in their communities to out-innovate, out-educate and out-build the rest of the world.” At the 2014 White House Maker Faire he was introduced by President Obama as an American innovator making significant contributions to the fields of education and business. Come learn how the Maker Movement is continuing to foster a creative culture for open innovation.
Templates to use for Programs (Two presenters & 1 presenter)
March 2 |
Catherine Devriese and Una Glass, Sebastopol Center for the Arts |
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January 5 |
Julie Tabsharani, Program Coordinator for the Juvenile Justice Center |
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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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 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 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 |
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 |
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.