Central
Coast Chapter Minutes for May 19, 2018
Meeting to
Order: 1:05 PM
Pledges of
Allegiance & SAR
Attendance:
11 including 8 members
Sunshine
Report: Gary Cooper was welcomed back.
Guest
Speaker: John Siler introduced Rachel Ross from Morro Bay. Rachel described her
early career as one of a wordsmith but in fact is more eclectic than that.
Rachel was born in San Francisco but grew up in LA. She possesses a degree in
Sociology from UC Santa Cruz. Rachel is the mother of two. Rachel has been a
radio host, a KQED documentarian who worked with Bill Moyers, an improvisational
comic and a story-slammer.
At present,
Rachel performs reboots (stories reaffirming Jewish traditions), story slams to
SRO crowds at Top Dog Café in Morro Bay and does similarly at Linnea's Café in
SLO for open mike night.
Rachel
decided to share the story of her parents and the Jewish experience in the 20th
century. Rachel’s father typed his autobiography late in life and in just 4
days. Leonard Ross was born in NYC to Polish Jewish immigrants but orphaned at
age 13. Rachel’s mother, Estelle was born in 1915 in Winnipeg, Canada to
Russian Jewish immigrants. During the Depression, Leonard obtained a GED, a BA
and a Law degree. During the same period, Estelle moved to San Francisco and
made clothing. In WWII, Leonard stationed in England, served as a logistics
officer in preparation for DDay. After the war, Leonard visited Dachau
concentration camp and he recounted that surreal experience. Rachel read
excerpts from Leonard’s manuscript.
Back at
home, Leonard was invited to come to CA and be an Electric Vacuum Cleaner
salesman. In 1947, Leonard and Estelle met on a double date, married and went
into the clothing business. They were successful.
Rachel next
shared an anecdote from when she was a student a San Francisco City College and
as a part of a class on Russian Civilization, she traveled to the USSR. Her
hotel was spartan and faced Red Square. The constant military presence and an
insect bite sent her home prematurely and much to her relief.
Rachel’s
presentation was warmly received and she was presented a certificate and
cannon.
Guests: Ray
Duquette from the Kern Co. chapter and Dan Friend a potential new member.
Secretary’s
Report: None
Treasurer’s
Report: Current balance is $3583.34.
Old
Business: Secretary Scrimiger made a short report on the CASSAR Spring Meeting
in Concord, CA.
New
Business: Props to Dr. Miller for helping with the traveling Viet Nam Wall installation.
Closing
Ritual
Adjournment
Respectfully
Submitted,
Chris
Scrimiger
Chapter
Secretary
