See
the details of the Conference
here
About the Asilomar
Conference Center
Asilomar was designed by
Julia Morgan, who also designed Hearst Castle
Read more about Julia
Morgan
Note that our Asilomar
Conference now has a special URL www.asilomar.
pbknca.org
"2006
Program: The
Best of the Monterey Bay Area"
Plan
a special getaway to celebrate "our" twentieth
anniversary
No, I didn’t mean "your" anniversary.
This year is our anniversary – our
twentieth year at Asilomar. Plan now to join
us for this special celebration. The bustle of
the holidays will be over and the chores of spring
will not yet have begun. Our Presidents’ Day
Weekend is the perfect time to join your fellow
members of Phi Beta Kappa and their guests at
Asilomar in Pacific Grove for our twentieth annual
conference/retreat. Don’t procrastinate.
Mark your calendars now, fill out the coupon,
and send your check, so that you do not miss
a great getaway.
We start our
retreat on Friday, February 17, 2006, and end
on Monday, February 20. If you've never heard
of Asilomar, or have never been there before,
Asilomar is a state conference center in Pacific
Grove, a small enclave between Monterey and
Carmel. And those of you who are concerned
about the weather have no cause for worry.
The conditions in February along the coast
are usually better than in summer. Instead
of that season’s cold and fog, we traditionally
enjoy sunshine. And even if it does storm, temporary
inclement weather does little to mar Asilomar’s
beauty and takes nothing at all away from the
excellent company of our fellow Phi Betes.
Our retreat/conference
always begins with dinner Friday evening and
ends with lunch on Monday. During the long
weekend, we provide a mix of interesting, thought-provoking
speakers and activities, as well as ample free
time to enjoy the lovely seaside atmosphere.
People who work sometimes come late and leave
early. It is even possible to "skip" some programs,
as no one takes attendance or gives exams. And
because some of you wanted to know: Dress is
very casual.
The main goal of our conference
is for us to enjoy ourselves in a beautiful setting
in good company, but our secondary goal is to
raise money for scholarships. The $100 per person
registration fee is used to cover conference
costs (speakers' expenses, a.v. equipment rental,
wine with dinner, postage, duplicating, office
supplies, etc.). This past year's profits enabled
us to fund two of our $4,000 graduate scholarships.
(And for those of you who attended in 2005 and
missed this information in the April and September
newsletters, $90.31 of the 2005 $100 registration
fee – which most of you paid in 2004 -
is fully tax deductible.)
How much
does Asilomar cost? This year the cost is $336.55
per adult, double occupancy; single occupancy,
$541.15; youth (ages 3-17), $196.57. This includes
three nights' lodging, and all meals, beginning
with dinner on Friday and ending with lunch
on Monday. Asilomar handles all room reservations.
The theme for
this year’s
twentieth anniversary program is the "Best
of the Monterey Bay Area." Bob Baronian
and his lovely wife DeeDee, who live in Carmel
Valley, have provided us with invaluable suggestions
for topics and speakers. Because of their extensive
help, we have a remarkably strong program lined
up. Dr. William Gilley, a marine biologist
from Stanford’s Hopkins Marine Lab, will
speak to us about the journey John Steinbeck
and his good friend Doc Ricketts took to the
Sea of Cortez. Another Baronian find, Dr. Gary
Glatzmaier from UC Santa Cruz, will do a presentation
on his area of expertise: the earth’s
inner construction from its mantle to its core.
In addition, the Baronians persuaded Grant
Voth, professor emeritus of Monterey Peninsula
College, to enlighten us concerning the Bach-Beethoven
connection.
But, that’s not all. After
trying for a number of years, we have finally
convinced our own Masako Miura’s good friend
(and frequently voted best college teacher in
Santa Cruz) Sandy Lydon to speak to us. He is
keeping to our conference theme with the topic "The
Ten Worst Things That Ever Happened to the Best
Place on Earth." We were also lucky to persuade
one of the pioneer wine producers of the Central
Coast – Doug Meador of Ventana Winery – to
speak to us about the challenges and rewards
of that industry in that area. And Monterey Bay
Aquarium Senior Marine Biologist (retired) Steve
Webster has agreed to lead us on a tide pool
walk, although the tides that weekend will not
be really at an optimum low. (In case of inclement
weather, he will do an indoor program.)
In addition,
we are in contact with and will submit a request
to KSBW-TV in Salinas (they won’t schedule
until the end of November) to have Jim Vanderzwann,
who is the weather anchor there, talk to us.
We would like him to discuss weather and climate
in the Central Coast and Monterey Peninsula,
as well as the recent tsunamis, hurricanes,
and earthquakes. Finally, we plan an Asilomar
ranger-led activity for the closing Monday
morning program. But as those of you know who
have attended Asilomar in the past, it really
does not matter who the speakers are. The lovely
setting and the extremely interesting attendees
are what make our retreat truly special.
Now that
you know about Asilomar in general and this
year in particular, we hope that you will mark
your calendars and join us for our special
anniversary celebration, which will begin on
Friday, February 17. If you attended Asilomar
2005 (or any other of our Asilomar conferences)
and enjoyed yourself, please let your fellow
Phi Betes know and encourage them to join us
in 2006. (Guests are also welcome.) Just contact
me (
); as soon as I receive your check,
I will send you the Asilomar housing form. (Again,
Asilomar handles all room reservations.)
SEE PAGE 6 OF THE HARDCOPY
NEWSLETTER FOR THE ASILOMAR COUPON
, Asilomar Chair
The
Anchor Brewing Company Tour (website)
Come sign up for a tour of a landmark feature
of San Francisco, the Anchor Brewing Company,
home of Anchor Steam Beer. In 1896, when this
brewery was founded by two immigrants from
Germany, Ernst Baruth and Otto Schinkel, Jr.
there already were over twenty four breweries
in the city!
Tours of the Brewery are offered on weekdays
only, and then only by pre-arrangement. Learn
all about the history of the six thousand year
old craft of brewing, and especially the process
of making steam beer. Find out what role Charles
Grimm’s Pacific Street Saloon played
in the Brewery’s past!
The walking tour is limited to twenty persons,
and including the tasting, (for adults only)
lasts about two hours. If over subscribed,
a second tour may be scheduled later in the
year.
Maximum registrants: 20
Date: March 14, 2006
Time: Assemble at 12:45 PM in front office.
Tour begins at 1:00 PM
Deadline: Please register by March 1st
Price: Ten Dollars
Location: 1705 Mariposa Street at the Corner
of De Haro
Directions are available
on their website
Centennial Exhibit of the San
Francisco Earthquake
San Francisco MOMA (website)
It was on the eighteenth of April, not in “75" (1775)
but in 1906. Teddy Roosevelt was in the White House;
Orville and Wilbur Wright of Dayton had flown their
Wright flyer less than three years before at Kitty
Hawk, North Carolina, and a young Swiss patent clerk
had just published some obscure physical theories a
year earlier. Although sliding tectonic plates were
unheard of then, the young City of San Francisco was
suddenly torn asunder by one of the most devastating,
destructive earthquakes in human history. Commemorating
the centennial of that tragic episode, the San Francisco
Museum of Modern Art has mounted a magnificent exhibition
of photographs not only from its existing collection
but also from privately held pictures of the event
as well. Our personally guided tour of this exhibit,
the opportunity of a lifetime, indeed of a century,
is scheduled for Saturday, March 25 at 11:15 A.M. at
the Museum, 151 Third Street in San Francisco.
Public Transit Directions: Take BART to Montgomery
Street Station. Take the New Montgomery Street exit,
and walk over to Third Street. SF MOMA is located on
Third between Mission and Howard.
Driving directions:
From East Bay: Take Interstate
80, exit at Fremont Street. Take immediate left onto
Howard Street and get into the right lane. Go two blocks
and turn right onto Third Street.
From the Peninsula: Take Highway 101 until it connects
to I-80; exit at Fourth Street. Fourth leads onto Bryant
Street. Take a left from Bryant onto Third Street,
until you reach the Museum.
From North Bay: Take Highway 101 to Lombard Street.
Follow Lombard to Van Ness Avenue and turn right; follow
Van Ness and turn left into Golden Gate Avenue.
Continue on Golden Gate Avenue across Market Street
onto Sixth Street.
Turn left onto Folsom Street and proceed to Third Street.
Turn left onto Third Street.
Date: Saturday,
March 25-Cutoff date for reservations
March 15.
Site and Time: Meet in Haas Atrium
of Museum at 11:00 A.M., as soon as the Museum
doors open. Tour begins promptly at 11:15 A.M..
Fees: $ 20.00 per person.
Minimum number of registrants: fifteen
Maximum number: Twenty-five
Parking: Street parking is scarce in the Museum’s
area. Garage parking is available at the Museum’s
garage, located on Minna between Third and New Montgomery.
Minna is one way, accessible from Third Street. Call
415-348-0971 for fee schedule.
Lunch: Not included in fee, but available afterwards,
at Museum’s Caffe Museo.
![[ Yahoo! Maps ]](http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/mp/gr/mplogo.gif)
Map to SF MOMA
San Francisco, CA 94103-3107
Architectural
Tour of the New de Young Museum (Link
to the website)
The de Young Museum has been
a beloved feature of the Bay Area dating back
to the late nineteenth century. For the past
several years it has been closed during construction
of its beautiful new home. The new “state
of the art” de
Young Museum is now a reality! It’s here,
awaiting our critical inspection.
Located in the heart of Golden Gate Park at
50 Hagiawara Tea Garden Drive, the museum is
once again available as a favorite center for
art appreciation and edification Our docent
guided tour, will last about an hour, emphasizing
the art and architecture of the Museum. You
are free to inspect any other collections of
special interest to you following the guided
tour. Lunch, not included in the price of the
tour, may be obtained afterwards at the Museum
Cafe.
More pictures
Date: Saturday, April 1
at 9:30 AM
Parking is available in the subjacent Museum
garage, for three dollars an hour.
Minimum number required for tour is ten registrants.
Registration is limited to thirty persons.
A docent will be provided for each group
of fifteen.
Price is $ 20.00 for adults,
and $ 10.00 for Museum members.
Deadline for reservations is one month prior
to date, i.e. March 1, 2006
Directions: Although public
transportation is available (see here), it
involves a great deal of walking. Automobile
transportation is recommended as the most
convenient mode of visiting the museum, since
garage parking is now available. Possibly
car pooling might be considered.
Directions: From the
north,
take 101 South, exit at California 1 South,
and continue to Fulton Street, adjacent to
Golden Gate Park. Turn left on Fulton, to
10th Avenue. Entrance to the garage is from
Fulton Street at 10th Avenue. The garage
is connected to the museum.
From the south,
take 101 North, turn left on Turk, and turn
left on 10th avenue, entering the museum
garage at Fulton and 10th avenue.
From East Bay, via Bay Bridge to the Civic
Center exit, cross Market to Larkin, and
turn left on Turk, take a left on 10th Avenue
and enter the museum garage at 10th and Fulton.
More directions here
We will meet in front of the
museum, and then walk around to the right to
the Children's Entrance to meet our docent(s).
Map and directions to the DeYoung Museum
San Francisco, CA 94118-4501
PBKNCA Annual Meeting and Awards Dinner
Join
the PBKNCA Board in the charming setting
and collegial atmosphere of the UC Berkeley
Faculty Club to celebrate this year’s
accomplishments. Take this opportunity to meet and
be inspired by the dedication and achievements of
our scholarship and teaching excellence award
winners. Social hour begins at 4 p.m. and
dinner will be served at about 5 p.m. Choose
between salmon, roast prime rib of beef,
or vegetarian. There is a no-host bar during
social hour. Dinner will include house wine,
coffee or tea, plus salad and dessert in addition
to your pre-selected entrée which
comes with rice or potatoes and seasonal
vegetables.
Date: Sunday, April 30, 2006
Time: 4 – 8 pm
Deadline: April 18, 2006
Price: $50 (includes parking)
Directions: The Faculty Club is on the campus of
UC Berkeley (University Avenue exit off I-80). About
a week before the dinner, registrants will be mailed
a “Faculty Club notecard” that will include
driving directions and a foldout campus map with
parking instructions.
Holy
Trinity Cathedral (website)
We Americans pride ourselves on the diversity
of our population. Except for native Americans,
we are all either immigrants or descendants
of immigrants.
One of the most remarkable examples of our
diversity is the Holy Trinity Cathedral, located
in San Francisco. The congregation which first
engendered the Cathedral traces its roots to
December 1857 with the founding of the Greek
Russian Slavonian Orthodox Eastern Church and
Benevolent Society.
At first, chaplains from Russian Navy ships
visiting San Francisco Bay served the spiritual
and sacramental needs of the congregation.
In 1868, an Orthodox Priest from Alaska was
sent to conduct services during Holy Week.
In 1878, another Alaskan missionary became
the first Rector of the San Francisco parish.
Over the years, many distinguished pastors
served the congregation on a regular, full
time basis.
The bell tower of the Cathedral contains five
wonderful bells donated by the Emperor Alexander
III in 1888. The temple itself is illuminated
by a grand chandelier donated by
the last tsar of Russia, Nicholas II. Tradition
has it that he also donated a beautifully decorated
icon of his patron saint, Nicholas of Myra
and Lycia to the Cathedral.
Many other highly valued objects as well as
gorgeous icons are features of the Cathedral.
Today, the Holy Trinity Cathedral is a multinational
American Orthodox community, and the only one
in San Francisco which conducts its services
in English.
Join us in visiting this remarkable institution
in the heart of San Francisco. The Right Reverend
Benjamin, Bishop of Berkeley has kindly agreed
to serve as our guide.
Date: Saturday, May 13, 2006
Time: 10:00 AM. Deadline April 30, 2006
Price: $10.00 per person. Limited to 20 persons.
Directions:
From
Golden Gate Bridge: Follow
signs to “Downtown-Civic Center” From
Lombard, turn right onto Van Ness (Hwy.101)
one block past Union Street is Green Street.
Cathedral is located on your right at corner
of Green and Van Ness.
From Bay Bridge: Take Freeway 101 North to “S.
Van Ness/Golden Gate Bridge” exit. Turn
left onto Van Ness (Hwy. 101) Go up Van Ness,
past Broadway and Vallejo. The Cathedral is
on your left at the corner of Van Ness and
Green.
From the South. Take Freeway 101 North toward
downtown San Francisco. Exit at South Van Ness/Golden
Gate Bridge. Turn left onto Van Ness Avenue,
go past Broadway and Vallejo. Cathedral is
on your left at corner of Green and Van Ness.
By BART: Exit at Market and Civic Center. Walk
up to Van Ness and take MUNI as described below.
MUNI (Public Bus system) On
Van Ness take the 42, 47, or 49 Bus (Adult
fare $1.50, seniors $0.50) to Union
Street. Walk back one block to Green Street.
The Cathedral is at the corner of Green and
Van Ness.
Links to:
Golden
Gate Transit
Larkspur
Ferry
MUNI
BART
Others
Map and directions to Holy Trinity Cathedral
San Francisco, CA 94123-5102
Backstage Tour of Davies Hall and the War Memorial
Complex
The San Francisco Opera House and Veterans Building\
Herbst Theatre
| |
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The Opera House |
Davies Symphony Hall |
Herbst Theater |
|
On Monday, June 19, at 11:00
AM, we shall have an opportunity to tour
three of the major centers of the performing
arts in San Francisco, as well as review
some local and world history. Davies Hall
is celebrating its twenty-fifth birthday, which makes
this a timely opportunity to review the features
of Davies Hall. Because of their proximity, we shall
also have the opportunity to visit its two historic
neighbors on Van Ness Avenue in the Civic Center.
The three structures face San Francisco City Hall.
For the curious, we’ll find out who
Ms. Davies was; learn about the construction of the
War Memorial Complex, and its historic role as the
birthplace of the United Nations. We’ll also
note the site in the Opera House where the United
Nations Charter was signed by President Truman and
other world leaders on June 26, 1945. We’ll
have an opportunity to view some of the glorious
features that characterize both the Opera House and
the Herbst Theatre. Also of historic interest in
the Herbst Theatre are the famous murals originally
commissioned for the Panama Pacific Exposition of
1915, and executed by Frank Brangwyn, a famous Belgian
muralist. The tour will take only an hour or two,
and will be geared to the walking limitations of
the tour group.
Directions: Davies Hall, where the tour begins,
is located at 201 Van Ness at the corner of Grove. Assemble
in the atrium (ticket office lobby) at Davies, located
on the Grove Street side.
From North Bay: Take 101 South, which leads
directly into Van Ness.
From the Peninsula: Take US-101
North toward San Francisco. Take the NINTH ST exit
toward CIVIC CENTER - go 0.7 mi, 9TH ST becomes HAYES
ST - go 0.2 mi, Turn Right on VAN NESS AVE - go < 0.1
mi, Arrive at Davies Symphony Hall.
From East
Bay: Take I-80
West across Bay Bridge; take Ninth Street\Civic
Center exit to Harrison Street; go one
block and turn right into Ninth Street;
cross Market and turn left into Grove.
Date, Time and Site: Monday,
June 19, at 11:00 AM. Assemble in the atrium
(ticket office lobby) at Davies, located on the
Grove Street side.
Minimum Number: ten
Maximum Number: twenty-five.
Cost: $ 10.00
Deadline for registration: June 5, 2006
Parking: Numerous pay-for-parking
lots are located in the area around Davies Hall;
sometimes street parking is also feasible, but
bring change for the meters!
Public transit: Take BART to
Civic Center Station. Take Grove Street exit,
and walk four blocks to Davies Hall, located
at Van Ness and Grove.
Lunch is available, not included in fee, in a
wide variety of restaurants and cafes in the
Civic Center area. Bus service to the Civic Center
area is excellent. See links below:
Links to:
Golden
Gate Transit
Larkspur
Ferry
MUNI
BART
Others
Map to Davies Symphony hall
San Francisco, CA 94102-4595
Addenda Feburary 28, 2006
|
The ENIAC (Electronic Numerical
Integrator and Computer, 1946-1955).
The caption reads "Replacing a bad
tube meant checking among ENIAC's 19,000
possibilities" |
Computer
History Museum Tour, 1401 North Shoreline
Blvd., Mountain View, CA Website
Looking back
over the years, there was that new medium,
radio. The early radios had huge speakers
and earphones, and squawked with static
a good deal. Then television came along
with initial black and white screens not
much larger than an unabridged dictionary
in diameter. After an interval, color television
arrived on the scene. Now, we are immersed
in the computer age, the latest development
in telecommunication. Computers are
still relatively “new” in
that all of the technical bugs haven’t
been eliminated. What could be more timely
than to visit the Computer History Museum
in the heart of Silicon Valley? Some
of the earliest computers models are
on display: Eeniac, Johnniac, Cray 1,
Apple 1, among many of the earliest prototypes.
A map is available on the
Museum's
Directions: From San Francisco, Take
Highway 101 South. Exit Shoreline Blvd.
At the light, turn left onto N. Shoreline
Blvd. After going over the freeway
and crossing though the light (La Avenida),
take an immediate right into the first
driveway.
From San Jose: Take Highway 101 North.
Exit Shoreline Blvd. At the light,
turn right onto North Shoreline Blvd.
Take an immediate right into the first
driveway.
Minimum number: ten
Maximum number: no maximum!
Fee: $ 10.00
Date: Saturday, July 15 at 1:00 PM
Deadline: July 1, 2006
Mission
Murals
Treat yourself to an artistic
display of world famous, fabulous, colorful
murals in the Mission District of San Francisco.
City Guides provides a walking tour, complete
with personal guide, through a most unusual
collection of decorated buildings in an
unforgettable display of people’s
art. Some of the murals depict historical,
Latino legendary figures. Meet at Precita
and Harrison behind Flynn Elementary School.
Some murals may be view here
Public Transportation is
available on Muni lines
12, 27.
Maps and directions are available
via Mapquest
Minimum number: eight
Maximum number: twenty
Fee: $ 15.00
Date and Time: Saturday, September
16 at 11:00 AM
Deadline: September
2, 2006
Walking Tour of the Landmark Victorians
View some of the most colorful and famous
Victorian homes of Alamos Square in San
Francisco with a member of Phi Beta Kappa
as our personal guide! The Painted Ladies
include the world famous Postcard Row.
The walk does entail some upgrade, but
our guide has promised to be considerate
of the physical limits of our group. PBK
member David Paul Cooney will meet us in
front of 824 Grove Street.
Public transportation
is available via Muni 21 and 22.
Maps and directions are available via
Mapquest
Minimum number -eight
Maximum number-twenty
Fee: $ 15.00
Date and Time: Saturday,
October 14 at 11:00 AM
Deadline: October
1, 2006
WANT AD – NEWSLETTER
CHAIR NEEDED
I have been the Newsletter Chair of a committee
of one since the 2001-2002 fiscal year. I
have agreed to stand for election for the
2006-2007 fiscal year but that is the last
year I wish to serve. I don’t wish
to leave the organization in a lurch so I
am giving plenty of notice in the hope there
is someone out there who would like to try
his or her hand at this.
The Newsletter Chair is a Board Member
and, therefore, helps with the operation
of the Association. The primary duty involves
gently prodding other Board Members to get
their input in on time to meet the publishing
deadlines established by the Board, laying
out the Newsletter, formatting everyone’s
input, proofreading and circulating the draft
Newsletter to some key Board Members or former
Board Members, emailing the final draft to
the printer and approving the final product.
There are some other incidental duties that
come up from time to time.
If any of you think you might be interested,
please contact me.
, Newsletter Chair
