 |
Local GB Group News
Last year, in Santa Rosa GB, we read Erasmus' In Praise of Folly. This poem was posted on our group's internet forum by one of our regular participants, Ed Orr.
Polly's Folly
Like most, I called my parrot Polly,
But taught her only one word: folly.
(Erasmus praised it in a book
and found it everywhere he looked.)
When Erasmus heard my bird
Utter this astounding word,
The die was cast, the plans were laid.
Folly, it seems, must be obeyed.
So Folly's minions we became
To play a most amusing game.
Our prey we'd lure with food and drink.
Erasmus at the bird would wink,
Then ask our guest to please expound,
On his pet subject, most profound.
Eagerly he'd speak his view,
Proud that every word rang true.
When he sank back into his chair,
One cackled word then filled the air.
Our laughter we could not contain,
As pride soon melted into pain.
Invariably we'd discover
With Folly's help he'd soon recover.
And so it was some harmless fun
Until the day it came undone.
Erasmus came without a guest
To have some tea with me and rest.
As I had him there all alone,
I asked if he would hear my poem.
Its images I'd polished long,
And knew that they were bold and strong.
I poured them forth with force and feeling,
But in a moment I was reeling.
When I had finished my own bird
Uttered his infernal word.
Those feathers there upon the floor
Show that she'll say it nevermore.
No more will she make my pulse quicken.
Did you know they taste like chicken?
|
|
Many of our new subscribers have requested back issues, so you may have received this twice. We cannot separate those requests within our email list. You will also receive the July/August, 2007 issue. The September issue will be sent after September 15, 2007.
June, 2007
Dear Great Books Supporter,
This is the second E-Newsletter from the Great Books Council of San Francisco. We are continuing the Great Books discussions founded by Robert Hutchins and Mortimer Adler of the University of Chicago in 1947. GBSF (serving Northern California) is a volunteer organization of motivated readers. We coordinate over 40 existing groups, provide leader training and sponsor literary events in scenic locations.
If you know someone who might be interested in receiving this E-Newsletter, just click on the "Forward email" link at the bottom of this page. Enter your friend's name and email address and we will send him or her a copy.
There are a number of links (click here) available for more information. You may have to double click where it says click here depending on your email program. You can reach our website by clicking on "More about us" in the Quick Links box or by clicking on the GBSF logo at the top of this page.
|
|
Discussion Leader Workshop
July 21, 2007, 9:30-4:30, in Walnut Creek
The workshop is designed for experienced and new leaders, with a chance to practice in small discussion groups, with friendly feedback. Bring a bag lunch. Send $15 to register with Mary Wood, 1001 Shoreline #207, Alameda, CA 94501 Directions and advance materials will be mailed.
|
|
Long Novel Weekend
August 25 & 26, 2007, Walker Creek Ranch, Near Petaluma, CA
In case you've never attended a Long Novel Weekend at Walker Creek Ranch, here's a little bit of what you can expect.
It's a working ranch - complete with crops, pastures, livestock and a vegetable garden - owned and operated by the Marin County Office of Education. School groups from the county go there for week-long stays largely during the school year. A plus for us is that the vegetables they serve in the dining hall are picked fresh daily from the ranch's own gardens. If you enjoy a good salad, this is the place for you.
The location is in rural northern Marin County a few miles west of Petaluma and is situated in a small valley. For a long or short walk in the woods, there are well marked trails. But without taking a step, chances are you'll see California quail, wild turkeys, deer and other wildlife by only looking out of your window. It's a peaceful place to spend a summer weekend.
Food at Walker Creek Ranch is well prepared and varied. Lodging accommodations are comfortable. Although not gourmet cuisine or the creature comforts of a fine hotel, you'll receive good value for the price you pay.
August days are usually clear and warm with little wind. Evenings may be cool and fog from the ocean isn't unusual during early morning hours. This year's Long Novel Weekend is only a day or two away from a full moon so night won't be quite as dark as it might otherwise be.
The cost is $140 per person. Time is running out! You still have the opportunity of spending a Great Books weekend at Walker Creek Ranch, but you need to sign up soon. Very soon. Besides, you'll need some time for reading this year's long novel, The sound and the Fury,Vintage International Edition (ISBN 0-679-73224-1) by William Faulkner. This, although quite a challenging book, is one of the great classics of American literature. So don't miss it. For more information and a registration form just double click on the picture of the ranch above or contact Chuck Scarcliff, ckdxs@sbcglobal.net or 916-428-4672 with your questions.
|
|
Discussion Leader Tips
Laughter is a Great Books secret ingredient. I cannot recall a successful GB discussion, including my own Shared Inquiry for Theatre discussions in London, that did not include humor at all its wonderful and awful levels. Enjoy!! --Ted Kraus
|
|
22nd Annual Poetry Weekend
November 10-11, 2007, Westminster Retreat in Alamo
I see by the calendar that the Poetry Selection Committee is meeting this weekend in Berkeley. This may be an opportune time to peruse some ancient history (ten years ago) to reminisce. From Reading Matters, Fall 1997: Poems discussed during the weekend (theme: love and marriage) were by Rumi, Taslima Nasrin, Gregory Corso, Alan Williamson, Sharon Olds, Pablo Neruda, Archibald MacLeish, Frank O'Hara, Gerard Manley Hopkins, Mary Oliver, Rainer Maria Rilke, and Czeslaw Milosz.
Kim Addonizio was a hit as guest speaker at Poetry Weekend '97. "I want a red dress," begins poet Kim Addonizio in "What Do Women Want?", her piece that caused a stir at Asilomar '95. "I want it flimsy and cheap, I want it too tight, I want to wear it until someone tears it off me." To read the rest of her poem click hereKimAdd. Our own Chuck Scarcliff answered with a poem "What Do Men Want?" about a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. To read the full report and Chuck's poem click here and then click on Chuck Scarcliff Answers Lady in the Red Dress.
The cost for the weekend is $150. For more information click here. Previous participants will automatically receive applications. If you have NOT been to the Poetry Weekend before, please contact us for an application. We will send out all applications starting mid-August, 2007. Contact: Theda or Oscar Firschein at 650-854-3980, or email oscarf1@earthlink.net.
|
Roy Harvey was on the front page
of the Marin Independent Journal, Saturday, June 9, 2007.
Roy is featured as the oldest runner (81) in the Dipsea race, from Mill Valley over Mt. Tam to Stinson Beach. He follows the steps of Jack Kirk, now a legend for having run the Dipsea into his 90's. For more on this story, click here.
|
|
What I learned at the Annual Picnic, June 3.
by Jim Hall
I have been participating in and leading Great Books discussions for more than twelve years, but I had not attended the annual meeting, picnic, and book discussion. Mary Stuart rode down with me from Santa Rosa. Mary had been to the picnic many times before, so she navigated, in spite of which, we found the picnic grounds anyway. Just kidding, Mary. We took a direct route over the hill through Albany and got there easily. Everything was set up when we arrived. Rob Calvert was supplying name tags color coded for each discussion group. Tom and Jan Vargo had set up awnings for shade for the food tables. Brent Browning had the coals going on the barbeque. This was all superbly coordinated by Kathleen Conneely.
First order of business was lunch: plenty of appetizers, salads, and desserts. Everyone brought something to share. Next was the annual meeting and election of new officers. Brent Browning presented the budget and new officers were chosen for the Great Books Council of San Francisco: Kay White, president; Jim Hall, vice-president; Linda Coffin, secretary; Roy Harvey, treasurer.
Next was a discussion of No god but God by Reza Aslan. There were four groups led by Tom Cox, Rudy Johnson, Mary Wood, and Brian Mahoney. I arrived later than the others at our assigned table and had to sit in a collapsible (meaning ready to collapse) canvas chair which left me with my nose at table top level. I felt like the proverbial little kid at Thanksgiving dinner without even a large dictionary to boost me up. As the tallest person in the group, the "Are you standing in a hole?" type remarks were not appreciated. Nevertheless, I was looking forward to the discussion. The esteemed Tom Cox was our leader. For more, including the book discussion, click here.
|
Gift Certificates
are available all year to fully or partially cover any GBSF event. For more information contact Lou Alanko at ilovetoread@sbcglobal.net and put Great Books in the subject line.
|
|
Asilomar '07 Comments
The Saturday morning discussions of The Bell by Iris Murdoch were pounded by a rain storm but they turned out to be the most popular session of the weekend.
Some comments from the evaluations:
Asilomar ambience is worth all the traffic jams, rain storms, and packing. HAIL ASILOMAR!
Some acoustics difficult, especially with rain.
Do the TRIVIA quiz again on Saturday night.
Asilomar rating for "Your Total Great Books Weekend Experience" was 4.63 out of 5.00, slightly higher than last year's rating of 4.56.
Special thanks to Barbara McConnell, Event Coordinator, Sheri Kindsvater, Registrar, and Karen Schneider, Saturday night's TRIVIA quiz entertainment.
Be sure not to miss next year's 50th Anniversary Asilomar '08!
|
|
Thank you for your interest in Great Books. We packed a lot into this e-newsletter. Try the links (click here) to read the rest of the articles on the picnic and Roy Harvey. Is there something you would like to know that we can add? This is your e-newsletter, so let us know.
Be sure to forward this email to your friends who might be interested in Great Books. Just click on Forward email at the bottom left.
Sincerely,
Jim Hall
Great Books Council of San Francisco |
|
|
