Upcoming Public Events
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2026 6:00 PM Clubhouse
Stories from the Field: The Race to Save the Western Monarch Butterfly
Join conservation advocates Mia Monroe and Ole Schell for an evening focused on solutions to restore habitat and protect the future of the western monarch butterfly. Through science, storytelling, and community involvement, they will share the challenges and growing momentum to conserve one of California’s iconic species. Mia Monroe’s work in monarch monitoring and community science has helped track population trends and strengthen public awareness of western monarch conservation. To support monarch recovery, Ole Schell established the West Marin Mon- arch Sanctuary on his family ranch in partnership with the Xerces Society and veteran-led Guardian Grange, where regenerative land management enhances native habitat. Together, they will discuss actions to conserve western monarchs, the importance of native landscapes, and how communities can create healthy habitats for pollinators and wildlife. A garden wine and dessert reception will open the evening.
THURSDAY, OC TOBER 8, 2026 1:00 PM Webinar
League of Women Voters Look at the Statewide Ballot Measures
Registration Opens August 1, 2026
The OAC is grateful to team up with the League of Women Voters of Marin County again this year to share their unbiased description of the Measures and Propositions that will be on the November California Ballot. Ann Wakeley will present their factual presentation, allowing us to learn the facts, so we can make educated decisions about voting.
THURSDAY, OC TOBER 29, 2026 1:00 PM Clubhouse
The End of the Anchor Outs in Richardson Bay
Registration Opens September 15, 2026
Join Harbormaster Jim Malcolm for a discussion of this multi-year project that required partnerships with shore-side housing agencies, relocations, trust-building and patience. With over 200 illegal boats anchored in Richardson Bay at its peak, this floating community created safety issues for its residents and damaged the Bay’s Eelgrass Protection Zone, a foundational part of the Bay’s ecosystem. In October 2026, the final two unauthorized boats will leave their anchors in Richardson Bay. (Image credit: Marin Independent Journal.)
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2026 1:00 PM Clubhouse
From Harm to Healing: Justice is an Inside Job
Registration Opens September 15, 2026
Jess Nichol, sister of Polly Klaas, will talk with us about her personal story of justice, healing, and transformation. She will share how she ended up as the sister of a murder victim and opponent of the law passed in her sister's name. Drawing on her work inside San Quentin Rehabilitation Center, Jess will describe what it’s like walking into San Quentin every week, and what she encounters inside. She'll reflect on the inner journey that made this work possible, what genuine accountability looks like up close, and why this work has become a source of real inspiration. Jess will also highlight her work organizing with families of murder victims who are calling for an end to life without parole sentences for young people, and why she has come to believe that punishment and justice are not the same thing. (Photo credit, www.jessnichol.com)
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2026 1:00 PM Clubhouse
Book Passage’s Annual Holiday Book Fair
Registration Opens October 1, 2026
Elaine Petrocelli, founder and President of Book Passage, will reveal her list of recommended books for the season. Join this beloved annual event and leave with the perfect gift order for everyone on your holiday list.
Past Public Events
Bees of Marin
Lynette Denison and Jennifer Berry, OAC members and Marin Beekeepers, will provide an engaging talk on the vital role bees play—and review practical ways our own gardens can support a declining bee population. A live observational hive will be available for attendees to see what goes on inside a busy, dark hive while you learn about the history and origin of honeybees, their fascinating life cycle and their seasonal behaviors and needs. Attendees will leave with a deeper understanding of how honey bees contribute to the pollination of 70 of the top 100 human food crops, to the overall health of our environment, and why protecting them is more important than ever.
Women in Film
Zoë Elton is a film curator, writer, interviewer and cartoonist, who’s also a tea-drinker, book nerd, traveler, food-appreciator and yogi. Long-time director of programming for Mill Valley Film Festival in California—described by Variety as a place where “counterculture and Hollywood converge”— she regularly travels the world in search of films to bring to the festival, showing new work by master filmmakers alongside emerging talents. Zoë will discuss women in the film industry.
The Future Of Public Health
Dr. Lisa Santora, Marin County’s Public Health Officer, joins longtime public health and civic leader Teri Dowling for a timely conversation on the health challenges facing our communities today. From mental health and climate-related risks to health equity and emergency preparedness, they’ll explore lessons learned, current priorities, and how Marin is preparing for the future. A reception with community health organizations and light refreshments will follow.
What we know (and what we don’t) about climate change in California
Daniel Swain is a climate scientist specializing in extreme weather and climate events, including droughts, floods, storms and wildfires on a warming planet. Known for making complex climate science accessible, he is a frequent expert source for national media. A Marin County native and lifelong “weather geek,” Daniel earned his Ph.D. from Stanford and holds appointments with UC Agriculture and Natural Resources, UCLA’s Institute of Environment & Sustainability, and the NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research. He also authors the popular Weather West blog, sharing real-time insights on California weather and climate.
A Conversation with Maria Muldauer
Maria Muldaur, folk and blues singer and Mill Valley resident for 40+ years, will share stories from her life. She was part of the American folk music revival in the early 1960s, and recorded the 1973 hit song “Midnight at the Oasis” and numerous albums in the folk, blues, early jazz, gospel, country, and R&B traditions. She plays 100+ shows a year around the country.
The Great Backyard Bird Count
Becca Rodomsky-Bish, Project Leader at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, will offer an engaging look into one of the world’s most accessible and impactful participatory science events—the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC). Celebrating its 29th year, she’ll share the history of how the GBBC has grown from a modest national initiative into a global birding event uniting hundreds of thousands of people of all ages and skill levels each February in a shared mission: to count birds and help scientists track changes in bird populations over time. Creating an enjoyable opportunity to connect to people and nature, Becca will describe how the GBBC works, how to participate, and the tools available to help beginners and seasoned birders contribute with confidence.
A Civic Conversation
Dick Spotswood, longtime Marin Independent Journal political columnist, civic commentator, and transportation advocate, will share insights on the evolving political landscape from a local perspective. A fixture in Bay Area journalism for over two decades and a former Mill Valley City Council member and mayor, and a recent representative on regional transportation and civic boards, Dick focuses a unique, nonpartisan lens on government, elections and infrastructure planning. He will discuss how the plethora of separate Marin County agencies causes duplication of resources, how they could be more efficiently managed, and how changes like these are needed to bring our governmental agencies into the 21st century for all Marinites. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from one of the Bay Area’s most trusted voices in public affairs.
Artistic Preview of Marin Theatre Productions
Lance Gardner, Marin Theatre Executive Artistic Director, and Carey Perloff, American Conservatory Theatre Artistic Director Emeritus, will talk about their collaboration on the critically acclaimed 2025 production of Waste, as well as Marin Theatre’s upcoming production of Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard, both directed by Perloff and starring Gardner. We will have an opportunity to tour the theater.
