Experience Corps Marin Celebrates Another Year

By Susan Sharpe

Last Thursday May 31, 2012, more than 120 members of Experience Corps Marin and their guests came together at the Marin Art and Garden Center in Ross to celebrate the successes of the 2011-2012 school year.  It was the fifth continuous year that the dedicated “boomers” aged 55 and older have volunteered their time and talent as early literacy tutors for students in grades K-3 at five elementary schools in San Rafael. 

Among the notable guests were Gary Anspach, Managing Member of Anspach Financial Group, a longtime sponsor of Experience Corps Marin; Mary Jane Burke, Superintendent, Marin County Office of Education; and Patty Garbarino, CEO of Marin Sanitary Service.  Also attending were Susannah Clark, Aide to Marin County Supervisor Susan Adams, and Jenny Callaway, District Director for California State Assemblyman Jared Huffman. Clark and Calloway both came bearing Board Resolutions from their respective offices recognizing the contributions that Experience Corps Marin has made to local communities.

The staff of Experience Corps Marin was well-represented at the event by Diane Krantz, Director of Community Engagement Programs for Northern California Presbyterian Homes and Services (NCPHS), which sponsors Experience Corps Marin; Judy Loura, Executive Director of Senior Services for Northern California; NCPHS Director of Community Services Ramona Davies; Experience Corps Marin school site coordinators Pam Franklin, Jennifer Lee-Maes and Robin Levy; plus administrative assistant Linda Campbell and communication consultant Susan Sharpe.  Sadly missing was NCPHS Program Manager Susan Kraemer, who was called out of town on a family emergency a day earlier and whose inspiring leadership of Experience Corps Marin was gratefully acknowledged. Also attending with key staff members was Paul Olsen, Director of Experience Corps Bay Area.

By 12noon, all the guests were seated for lunch in the Art and Garden Center’s Livermore Pavilion to hear welcoming remarks from Diane Krantz, followed by volunteer field specialist and site coordinator Pam Franklin who presented a program snapshot listing the year’s accomplishments.