The Commons
Photo by Ed Ritger
TALK OF THE CLUB
George Shultz, 1920–2021
G
eorge P. Shultz had a long resume. He was an economist, businessman, academic, and diplomat; he held four different cabinet positions (labor, budget, treasury and state); he was a prolific author and speaker; and he was a public advocate for ending the nuclear threat and responding to climate change. On February 6, 2021, this widely respected statesman passed away at the age of 100. He was also a good friend of The Commonwealth Club of California, speaking on our stage numerous times over the years, as well as serving as a behind-the-scenes advocate for the Club and its public mission. He even made a strong endorsement of the organization at the groundbreaking ceremony for our new building on San Francisco’s waterfront, telling the gathered dignitaries and reporters, “This is an important moment not just for The Commonwealth Club and San Francisco, but this is an important moment in the history of democracy.” Over the years he would take to our stage to discuss everything from war and peace to economics to racial justice. His first address to the Club was on February 20, 1970, when he discussed “Quality of Life at Work.” Bay Area residents were also able to enjoy the more playful side of George Shultz and his wife, Charlotte Mailliard Shultz, who, in addition to serving as chief of protocol for the state of California and for San Francisco, is a member of the Club’s Board of Governors. The Shultzes could be found seemingly everywhere, from celebrating “Beach Blanket Babylon” to leading a pandemic-era citywide singalong with Tony
Bennett of “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.” We’ll miss you, Mr. Shultz.
Support for the AAPI Community
R
ecent mass murders of Asian Americans and others in Atlanta and Boulder, Co., have highlighted a serious problem with hate speech and hate-fueled gun violence. In late March, Club President and CEO Dr. Gloria Duffy issued a statement expressing “our condolences and support for the AAPI members of our staff, our board, our volunteers and our community, as well as to the communities in Atlanta and Boulder. “The murders in Atlanta resulted from the toxic combination of unaddressed racial prejudice, mental illness and easy access to combat-style firearms, with many of the same factors behind the massacre in Boulder.” For the complete statement, plus links to a selection of Club AAPI programs, visit commonwealthclub.org/supporting-aapi-voices.
Reopening Survey
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espite the challenges of 2020—or perhaps because of them—2021 is shaping up to be a transformative year. We’re hard at work planning for the time when our members and guests can gather in our auditoriums and rooftop terrace for programs and socializing. As we make plans to return to in-person programs, we would like to hear your thoughts. Please complete our short survey and help shape the successful reopening of your Club: surveymonkey.com/r/D3RWJNH
LEADERSHIP OF THE COMMONWEALTH CLUB David Spencer James Strother Hon. Tad Taube Marcel TenBerge Charles Travers Kimberly Twombly-Wu Don Wen Dr. Colleen B. Wilcox Brenda Wright Mark Zitter
CLUB OFFICERS Board Chair Evelyn Dilsaver Vice Chair Martha Ryan Secretary Dr. Jaleh Daie Treasurer John R. Farmer President & CEO Dr. Gloria C. Duffy BOARD OF GOVERNORS Robert E. Adams Willie Adams John F. Allen Scott Anderson Dan Ashley Dr. Mary G. F. Bitterman Harry E. Blount John L. Boland Charles M. Collins Kevin Collins Mary B. Cranston LaDoris Cordell Susie Cranston Dr. Kerry P. Curtis Dorian Daley James Driscoll Joseph I. Epstein Jeffrey A. Farber Dr. Carol A. Fleming Leslie Saul Garvin Paul M. Ginsburg Hon. James C. Hormel Mary Huss Lata Krishnan John Leckrone Dr. Mary Marcy Lenny Mendonca Michelle Meow Anna W.M. Mok DJ Patil Donald J. Pierce Bruce Raabe Skip Rhodes Kausik Rajgopal Bill Ring Richard A. Rubin George M. Scalise Charlotte Mailliard Shultz Todd Silvia George D. Smith Jr.
PAST BOARD CHAIRS AND PRESIDENTS * Past Chair ** Past President Dr. Mary G. F. Bitterman* J. Dennis Bonney** Maryles Casto* Hon. Ming Chin** Mary B. Cranston* Joseph I. Epstein** John Farmer* Dr. Joseph R. Fink** Rose Guilbault* Claude B. Hutchison Jr.** Anna W.M. Mok* Richard Otter** Joseph Perrelli** Toni Rembe** Victor J. Revenko** Skip Rhodes** Renée Rubin** Richard Rubin* Connie Shapiro** Nelson Weller** Judith Wilbur** Dennis Wu** ADVISORY BOARD Karin Helene Bauer Hon. William Bradley Dennise M. Carter Steven Falk Amy Gershoni Jacquelyn Hadley Heather Kitchen Amy McCombs Don J. McGrath Hon. William J. Perry Hon. Barbara Pivnicka Hon. Richard Pivnicka Nancy Thompson
APRIL/MAY 2021
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