February 2001


Notes from Kerry
Art in City Hall
Do"s & Docents
Citywatch News
Community Events

Notes From Kerry
In 1901, 65 elected officials and prominent citizens were asked to give their views about a specific topic to be placed in a box for 100 years. The City of Detroit opened this "centennial box" on New Years Eve. The most prominent letter was of course by the presiding Mayor William C. Maybury. He said, "We are well aware that the century closing has been marvelous in its achievements and we might be fairly excused for believing that the limit of possibilities has been accomplished in many ways, but on the contrary, we do not so believe, because the past has taught us that what seemed so impossible has been already accomplished and we would be therefore not greatly surprised at greater accomplishments in the future. We travel by railroad and steam power from Detroit to Chicago in less than eight hours and to New York by several routes in less that 20 hours. How much faster are you travelling? We talk by long distance telephone to the remotest cities in our own country, and with fair degree of practical success. Are you talking to foreign lands and to the island of the sea by the same method?"

I was fortunate enough to be provided the opportunity to look at all the sealed letters about subjects such as Women"s suffrage, chamber of commerce, Jewish people in Detroit, transportation, etc... In less than 100 years how far we"ve come is extraordinary, and technology moves at increasing speed every day. What do you think the people in 100 years will think when they open our timecapsule? Will they be laughing as I did when I read the letters of 1901? I choose to think they will believe our citizens are as enlightened and forward thinking. Looking at the items we determined should go into the timecapsule to reflect our times made me proud to be a San Franciscan.

Art in City Hall
by Rupert Jenkins,
Arts Commission Gallery Director
email: rupert_jenkins@ci.sf.ca.us

Our current exhibitions continue through February. Robert Gumpert"s photojournalism series on the SF criminal justice system has generated terrific response from visitors from inside and outside the building. A former Life editor, brought to the exhibition by her daughter-in-law, told me that the work reminded her of some of the very best photo essays published by Life in its heyday. And several of our sheriffs have commented that the images from the Jail and the meaner streets of the Tenderloin are a reminder of just how pleasant it is for them to reassigned to City Hall! Also ongoing are watercolors by Suzanna Mah Fong; drawings by Jan Wurm; quilts by CherryMae Golston; collages by Stefan Komozi; and paintings in the McAllister lobby from the International Children"s Art Museum .

As always, please feel free to contact me by email with any questions, requests, or feedback concerning the art program.

Do"s & Docents

Docent Orientation/Training & Informational Sessions (1 hour) February"s Class Schedule

For those people in the building who are volunteering to become docents and for those who are interested in attending an informational session to see what this is all about, the following is a schedule of training and information sessions for the month of February.

Session 2
  • February 6, Tuesday 12 noon, Room 408 6 p.m., Room 408
  • February 8, Thursday 11 a.m., Room 408
  • February 10, Saturday 1:30 p.m. (meet at the Van Ness kiosk by the elevators)

Session 3

  • February 13, Tuesday 12 noon, Room 408 6 p.m., Room 082
  • February 15, Thursday 11 a.m., Room 408
  • February 17, Saturday 1:30 p.m. (meet at the Van Ness Kiosk by the elevators)

Session 4

  • February 20, Tuesday 12 noon, Room 408 6 p.m., Room 082
  • February 22, Thursday 11 a.m., Room 408
  • February 24, Saturday 1:30 p.m. (meet at the Van Ness Kiosk by the elevators)

Session 5

  • February 27, Tuesday 12 noon, Room 408 6 p.m., Room 408

For more information on volunteering for a Docent call 554-5780.

Citywatch News

February Viewing on CITYWATCH SF Cable 26:
Meet the Supervisors, Clean City Summit and Stories of SF

Interested in hearing discussion of public vs. private ownership of power facilities? Watch San Francisco Cable Channel 26 for live coverage of San Francisco"s Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) meetings.

Live Tuesday, February 27 at 3:00 p.m. To introduce the new Board of Supervisors, CITYWATCH presents taped declarations of each of the Board member (each segment 15 minutes).

"Meet the Supervisors" airs Mondays at 1:00 PM, preceding the live Full Board meetings. Please note that not all members will be shown the first Monday, and further segments are scheduled throughout the month.

On February 1, Mayor Willie L. Brown, Jr.,will convene the first-ever Clean City Summit, a half-day event that will set the stage for a year-round attack on trash and graffiti. The Summit will be videotaped for weekend playback.

"The Clean City Summit" airs Saturday, February 3 at 9 p.m. Special event coverage has begun on "The Story of San Francisco" lecture series. The premiere episode features a presentation by Gladys Hansen, the Founder and Curator of the Museum of the City of San Francisco. Ms. Hansen speaks of the courage and will applied by SF citizens, who after the Great Earthquake and Fire of 1906 rebuilt our City into the remarkable multi-cultural center it is today. (45 minutes)

"The Story of San Francisco" airs Sunday, February 4 at 1 p.m. and Wednesday, February 7 at 8:30 p.m.

Live coverage and playbacks of Board of Supervisors" meetings, as well as meetings of the City"s commissions, councils and special events, can be viewed on CITYWATCH, SF Cable Channel 26, and via the Internet: www.sfgov.org/citywatch/ Check site for a complete program guide, or call 557-4293 for times.

Please send comments to: citywatch@ci.sf.ca.us

Community Events Thursday, February 1
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Black History Celebration
Open to the Public
Location: Rotunda
Event Contact:
Monica Zanetti, 554-6079

Thursday, February 15 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Transit First
Commuter Check Program
Open to the Public
Location: NLC
Event Contact:
Monica Zanetti 554-6079

Tuesday, February 27 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Lecture: The History of African Americans in the City of San Francisco
Presented by: The African American Historical Society Donation: $6
Benefits The Museum of San Francisco
Location: SLC
Event Contact:
Monica Zanetti, 554-6079