Marinfo NOWN E W S F O R M A R I N S H A R E S A N D M A R I N T E R N S

VOL 43 ISSUE 6JUNE 2020

A team of 14 learners is the Outstanding Intern Team of the Year for their dedica-tion at the Marin District Attorney’s Office. The team members, nominated by Assistant District Attorney Otis Bruce Jr., helped provide research and case coordination in the

DA’s Office as members of the summer 2019 intern group, which was supported by the county’s Marinterns program.Students handled case files, wrote and argued court motions, interviewed potential witnesses, and prepared for court appearances.

“Once they’re a docent, they never leave,” says Libby Garrison, the Cultural Services Department staff liaison for the Marin County Outstanding Volunteer Team of the Year. She exaggerates – but just slightly. These dedicated volunteers conduct over 250 tours of the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Civic Center annually for more than 4,000 visitors.

As Team of the Year honorees, the 14 docents will receive certificates of commendation from the Board of Supervisors. They are Jim Allen, Joan Brown, Dennis Conway, Roy Fidler, Laura Griffith, Tierney Hamilton, Ted Kreines, Spencer Michels, Adrienne Niedermann, Noel Ryan, Joel Schwarz, Ilene Taekman, Lynda Pearson, and June Miller.

Civic Center Docents: Volunteer Team of the YearBy Scott Harrop

(Continued on page 3)

Top Intern Team: DA's Summer Students By Tiyona Pariani

Docent Ted Kreines (wearing hat) leads a Civic Center tour.

MARI

NSHA

RES

FILE

PHO

TO

(Continued on page 2)

PHOT

O BY

JON

MAD

ARAN

G (2

019)

Left to right: District Attorney Lori Frugoli, honorees Rebecca Meshel, Mikayla Phillip, Sawyer Rasmussen,Vanessa Sibrian, Mikael Boyer, Legal Process Intern Nina Segedin, honorees Matt Hyman, Christopher Cullinane, Intern Team Supervisor and Assistant District Attorney Otis Bruce Jr.

STAFF Anne Starr, Coordinator of Volunteers 415-473-7167•AStarr@marincounty.orgJoy Fossett, Student Internships Coordinator 415-473-7447•JFossett@marincounty.orgRobyn Madias, Newsletter Distribution 415-473-7407•RMadias@marincounty.org

VOLUNTEERSWriters: Shirley Trimble, Scott Harrop, Tiyona Pariani, Natalie Dybeck, Pilar Goodman, Clariss AjanelCopy Editor: Pamela RossDesign Consultant: Eleanor LauGraphic Design Aide: Courtney Pittman, Afsaneh BohlouliIntern Writing Coach: Ed RemitzAdministrative Aides: Joanne Elder, Deborah Fox, Deborah Gregor

June 2020 Marinfo NOW 2

It’s a wonderfully committed group. Even now, despite being on coronavirus lockdown since March, they are sched-uled for discussions on Zoom calls.

Libby, who was hired in 2015, reflects the enthusiasm of the docent team: “I leapt with glee and joy to be able to revamp the program.”

But the program’s inception dates back to 1979. That’s when Joan Brown, who was looking for a new start after 15 years as a teacher, was delighted when she was hired to set up a volunteer pro-gram, which she named Civic Center Volunteers and headed for 33 years. Her first ad in the Marin Independent Journal for volunteers received 55 responses in just two days.

Soon after, in answer to requests to tour the facility, tours began and a volun-teer wrote the first docent manual. The docent program was staffed in the Civic Center Volunteers office for many years and later was transferred to the Cultural Services team. The program marks its 40th anniversary this year.

Libby, who brought tour experience from her previous job with the Walt Disney Family Museum, was delighted to support the docent program when she joined the county. The Civic Center building, completed in 1962, already drew visitors from all over the world.

The building was about to be nominated for the UNESCO World Heritage Program. She set the volunteer team to rewrite and fact-check tour scripts, and to intensify docent training. As the docents delved deeper into the building’s heritage, each added different emphasis, inspiration, and interest to their tours.

In 90 minutes, docents lead engaging, informative, and educational walking tours about the history and architecture of the building. Its designer, Frank Lloyd Wright, is an iconic figure to students of American architecture. Many county employees say the building is a joy to work in. It features movable walls to accommodate different needs, sooth-ing indoor gardens, and natural light. Wright even designed some of the original furniture: it was built by inmates at San Quentin Prison’s woodshop

Meanwhile, a virtual tour was developed for people who can’t visit in person. Docent Adrienne Niedermann and Libby did the recording for that project.

The docents are a varied and talented group and hail from careers in architecture, advertising, marketing, teaching, design, and more. Time only strengthens their commitment. As Joan says, “It’s a wonderfully fulfilling job if you like meeting people, and you like Frank Lloyd Wright.” Now retired, Joan leads tours for visitors and for new employees.

Docent Jim Allen, a retired middle-school teacher, specializes in youth tours that offer hands-on activities to make field trips educational and fun. They aim to inspire kids to think critically about their community and about the world around them.

Marinfo NOW readers will also remember our profile of the former PBS journalist, dedicated Frank Lloyd Wright fan, and Civic Center Docent Spencer Michels. (See the April 2020 issue online.)

This stellar docent team reminds us of the power of volunteering. Joan com-mented, “The more you give, the more you get back. It’s a tremendous sense of satisfaction.” __________________

Interested in leading tours after it’s safe to gather again? Contact MarinShares Coordinator of Volunteers Anne Starr, AStarr@marincounty.org.

Civic Center Docents: Volunteer Team of the Year(Continued from page 1)

Docent Dennis Conway and visitors at the Civic Center patio fountain.

Docent supervisor Libby Garrison gives a virtual tour.

CULT

URAL

SER

VICE

S DE

PART

MENT

FILE

PHO

TO

SOUR

CE: A

DRIE

NNE

NIED

ERMA

NN &

LIB

BY G

ARRI

SON

June 2020 Marinfo NOW 3

“They were a true team—a very respectful, smart, gregarious, engaging group— professional at all times and on every level,” said Otis, a 30-year veteran of the DA’s Office. “They were dedicated to our office staff, the community we serve, and their respective assigned projects.” He said the students “were extremely grateful for their internship experiences and were committed to service above self.”

This internship program is part of a statewide diversity project launched last year by the California District Attorneys Association. Otis has represented the Marin DA’s office in the state project since its founding. He is deeply committed to help-ing prosecutor offices conduct outreach to youth from diverse backgrounds, encouraging them to develop their strengths. The program also aims to introduce students to public service as a potential career path.

The team comprised 14 members: Elliot Blum, Mikael Boyer, Christopher Cullinane, Larnell France, Samantha Gatton, Matthew Hyman, Sophia Martin, Tiara Mead, Rebecca Meshel, Francesca Padilla, Mikayla Phillips, Sawyer Rasmussen, Vanessa Sibrian, and Hajra Yacoobali.

Team member Samantha Gatton, a Golden Gate University Law School 2020 graduate, learned much in the program. “It is a reit-eration of how to be a part of an office, how to be a part of a team, and how to holisti-cally be the leader within that team,” she said. “It is a way of looking at the problems faced and being given the tools to accom-plish those tasks.”

Hajra Yacoobali, a 17-year-old intern entering her senior year at Tamalpais High School, was curious about how the DA’s Office works. “I learned many things about the law I did not know, along with how the office works as a team,” Hajra said. “From this experience, I have carried myself more professionally.”

Tiara Mead, an intern from Novato and graduate from George Washington University, plans to attend law school soon. “Being able to give back to my community and learn more about a field I hope to work in one day just seemed like an amazing opportunity,” Tiara said. “Working at the DA’s office reaffirmed my desire and moti-vation to go on to law school.”

Team members will receive formal resolu-tions of commendation from the Board of Supervisors. Traditionally the Board holds an annual recognition ceremony but limits on gatherings during the pandemic have precluded that in the interest of health and safety.

__________________

For details about internships, contact Student Internships Coordinator Joy Fossett of the Marinterns program at JFossett@marincounty.org or 415-473-74

Top Intern Team: DA's Summer Students(Continued from page 1)

PHOT

O BY

JOH

N AL

IOTT

I

District Attorney Lori Frugoli and Intern Team Supervisor Otis Bruce are delighted that their team is the Marinterns Team of the Year.

Left to right, standing: Intern Team Supervisor Otis Bruce Jr., and honorees Sophia Martin, Sawyer Rasmussen, Mikayla Phillips, Vanessa Sibrian, Francesca Padilla, Tiara Mead, Hajra Yacoobali, Mikael Boyer, Samantha Gatton, Christopher Cullinane, Rebecca Meshel, Matthew Hyman. Seated: Judge Paul Haakenson. Inset:Top Larnell France, Bottom Elliot Blum

PHOT

O BY

CAS

I HOB

BS (

2019

)

June 2020 Marinfo NOW 4

41 YEARS Michael St. John (Fairfax), Marin Search and Rescue Volunteer, Sheriff’s Office

36 YEARSBrian Saunders (San Rafael), Administrative Aide, Department of Finance

28 YEARSJason Downing (Tomales), Volunteer Firefighter, Tomales Station, Fire Department

26 YEARSRobert Eichstaedt (Larkspur), Environmental Steward, Marin County Parks

24 YEARSKevin Parkhurst (Rohnert Park), Stafford Lake Disc Golf Steward, Marin County Parks

18 YEARSMaureen Blumenthal (Inverness), Shelver, Inverness Library

17 YEARSJohn Polman (Corte Madera), Driver, Fire Department

16 YEARS Carole Sherick (San Rafael), Library Beyond Walls (LBW) Liaison, Marin County Free Library

15 YEARS Evelyn Jaffe (Tiburon), LBW Liaison, Marin County Free Library

14 YEARS Jacqueline Ford (Novato), LBW Liaison, Marin County Free Library

13 YEARSCorinne Downing (Tomales), Volunteer Firefighter, Tomales Station, Fire Department

12 YEARSJackson Ratcliffe (Corte Madera), Stafford Lake Disc Golf Steward, Marin County Parks

11 YEARSJeri Ireland (Novato), Patrol Volunteer, Marin County Parks Debra Ziegler (Corte Madera), Shelver, Corte Madera Library

10 YEARS Sean Seely (San Anselmo), Fire Lookout, Fire DepartmentJeff Young (Dillon Beach), Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service/Auxiliary (RACES/ACS) Volunteer, Sheriff’s Office

8 YEARSDavid Atkin (San Anselmo), Sunita Ellenby (Sausalito), Elijah Post (San Francisco), Fire Lookouts, Fire DepartmentFrank Woolard (Greenbrae), Air Patrol Volunteer, Sheriff’s Office

6 YEARSRusty Howson (Mill Valley), Stafford Lake Disc Golf Steward, Marin County Parks

5 YEARSStan Green (Greenbrae), Financial Abuse Specialist Team (FAST) Volunteer, Health & Human Services (HHS)

4 YEARSRonald Bruno (Corte Madera), Steward, Marin County ParksDeborah Stephenson (Mill Valley), FAST Volunteer, HHSWillem van Dam (Novato), Trail Maintenance Volunteer, Marin County Parks

3 YEARSChristy Kieffer (Sausalito), Mounted Patrol, Marin County Parks

2 YEARSHailey Carlton (Fairfax), Student in Parks, Marin County ParksDeborah Fox (Corte Madera), Event Aide and Administrative Aide, Human ResourcesRika Gopinath (San Rafael), Environmental Steward, Marin County ParksDylan Leifer-Ives (Fairfax), Teen Advisory Group Intern, Fairfax Library Lynn Merlo (San Rafael), Preservationist, Corte Madera LibraryAnn Shores (Corte Madera), RACES/ACS Volunteer, Sheriff’s Office

1 YEARPeg Rutt (Novato), LBW Liaison, Marin County Free Library

HHapappypy AAnninniveversarrsaryy!! We congratulate these volunteers who celebrate their anniversaries this month and thank them for their ongoing involvement.

Kristine Ball (Mill Valley), Steward, Marin County ParksBeverly Birnbaum (Novato), Steward, Marin County ParksMark Birnbaum (Novato), Steward, Marin County ParksHailey Carlton (Fairfax), Student in Parks, Marin County ParksRick Duncan (Mill Valley), Steward, Marin County Parks Bryan Hendon (Fairfax), Fire Lookout, Fire DepartmentKen Huang (Tiburon), Steward, Marin County Parks Susan Kim (Novato), RxSafe Marin Vista Intern, Health & Human Services Department (HHS)

Walter Lemmermann (Sausalito), Patrol Volunteer, Marin County ParksKeila Lopez (San Rafael), Pre-Law Intern, Public Defender’s OfficeAlycia Matz (Novato), Steward, Marin County ParksEmily Milstein (Mill Valley), Volunteer Attorney, Public Defender’s OfficeAimee Montroy (Woodacre), Fire Lookout, Fire DepartmentAilya Naqvi (Oakland), Volunteer Attorney, Public Defender’s OfficeAlexa Pal (Bolinas), District 4 Intern, Board of Supervisors

Michael Pechner (Fairfield), Fire Lookout, Fire DepartmentSteve Quarles (Mill Valley), Fire Lookout, Fire DepartmentJulia Reinhard (San Rafael), District 2 Intern, Board of SupervisorsRobert Rowlands (Mill Valley), Fire Lookout, Fire DepartmentGary Stabile (San Rafael), Steward, Marin County ParksSydney Starke (Rohnert Park) Pre-Law Intern, Public Defender’s OfficeTed von Glahn (San Rafael), Covid-19 Contact Investigation Project Aide, HHS

WWho’sho’s NNewew && Welcome!Welcome!