Sailing Science Center News
November 2021
Vol. 5, No. 3
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Welcome to the November issue of the Sailing Science Center News! Our theme this month is Celebration. High on our list of things to celebrate is the SSC taking delivery of its new trailer. The public debut will be at the SSC 2021 Castaway Gala on November 4th. This will be our first gala since the pandemic shut things down twenty month ago. The gala tickets are on track to sell out, but there are still a few left if you act quickly. Join us for an evening of fun and celebration!
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One should never, but never, pass by an opportunity to celebrate.
— j d malouf, The Bag Lady
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November Spotlight - Sabrina Tan |
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Born in the coastal city of Qingdao, China, and now living and working in Shanghai, Sabrina Tan holds the distinction as the SSC’s first volunteer outside the United States. Growing up as an only-child because of China’s former one-child policy, Sabrina found companionship with a nearby cousin. She appreciates how supportive both of her parents have been of her interests and independence—something she thinks is uncommon among her peers. Her interests follow themes that include music, a love of the ocean, sports, language, and communication.
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Asian parents can be very protective, but my parents were very supportive of whatever I was interested in. I think that has helped me to be more of a global citizen. |
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Music
Sabrina started playing piano at age 5, and by age 7 had passed her Level 3 exam with the Chinese Musician Association. At age 11 she passed her Level 10 exam, the highest distinction awarded by CMA. Sabrina joined her school choir in elementary school, eventually leading to worldwide international competition. At age 12 she took up guitar, which she says she particularly enjoys.
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The Ocean and Other Sports
Growing up close to the ocean, Sabrina watched the boats on the bay, and occasionally sailed on her family’s boat. Her interest was strengthened by the sailing events of the 2008 Summer Olympics being held in Qingdao. But her attraction to the water is not just at a surface level—Sabrina is also a certified SCUBA diver. More recently, Sabrina has taken up boxing, which she says she does for cardio training, to manage stress, and to clear her mind.
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Travel, Language, and Debate
Sabrina is well-traveled, having visited Australia, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Tibet, and the United States. She is fluent in Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, and English, and can also speak some Japanese and Thai. I can vouch for her English fluency as indistinguishable from a native speaker. But beyond fluency, Sabrina was also a runner up, and won the Top-Speaker Award, at the Beijing Public Forum Debate in 2018.
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180 DC and the SSC
Sabrina and the SSC first crossed paths during the depths of the pandemic in 2020, while Sabrina was a senior at the UC Berkeley Haas School of Business. She was also volunteering for 180 Degrees Consulting, a consultancy for nonprofits, with more than 150 branches at college campuses worldwide. Sabrina led a team of six undergraduates who conducted a thorough business analysis for the SSC. Because it was during the pandemic, all the work was done remotely! |
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At the SSC we were impressed by the work of Sabrina and her team, while Sabrina was drawn to the mission and approach of the SSC. This led to discovering another of Sabrina’s talents: creating video blogs, or vlogs. Sabrina volunteered at just the right time to help assemble the video clips from the SSC’s May 20 video shoot on the Matthew Turner. At the gala we will debut Sabrina’s efforts from the past five months, with her video that highlights the SSC’s Seven Galleries through our short voyage on the Matthew Turner. It is a pleasure to be working with you Sabrina. We look forward to when you return to California for graduate school. |
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The SSC 2021 Castaway Gala! |
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The SSC 2021 Castaway Gala is just a few days away and is on track to sell out, but we still have some tickets if you act quickly. Join us in this celebration as we acknowledge everyone who has helped us get where we are today. Here are some highlights of your three-hour tour:
Deck Tours of the Matthew Turner*
Viewing the New SSC Trailer!*
The Latest SSC Exhibits
Tropical Drinks & Hosted Bar
Seated Dinner
Silent & Live Auctions
Games & Prizes
Music
Mary Ann's Coconut Cream Pie!
*Deck tours and trailer viewing start at 5:00 pm.
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October Volunteer Activities |
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Call of the Sea Tall Ships Celebration, October 17 |
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On October 17, the SSC showed up at the Bay Model, amid threats of rain, to support the Call of the Sea in their Tall Ship Celebration and Fundraiser. About 150 people visited over the course of the day. Shown above (clockwise) are SSC volunteer Dan Pruzan (see October issue) demonstrating the Land Yacht Table, Jay Palace of Group Experiential Learning donating an exquisite model of the USS Constitution (Old Ironsides) to the SSC, and SSC volunteer Rick Waltonsmith playing around with the old cover to the Coriolis exhibit. |
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The more you celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.
— Oprah Winfrey
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Sign Up and Sail, October 23 |
On October 23, we snuck in between rain showers to sail on Rich Levandov's professionally maintained sloop, Stella Blue. At our November 4 gala we will be offering a skippered charter experience on Stella Blue as one of our auction items. Pictured above (clockwise) are Katelyn DeSchutter, Jim Hancock, Katelyn DeSchutter, Ros de Vries, Steve Ross.
About SSC Volunteer Events
The SSC holds regular volunteer events. Every event is designed to fall into one of six categories:
Example: Beach Cleanup
Example: External Presentations
Example: Museum Visits
Examples: Event Staffing, Office Painting
Examples: Potlucks & Picnics
Example: SSC Sign Up and Sail!
Being of service, learning, growing, celebrating, and having fun, are all part of the SSC culture.
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Everyone is publishing podcasts! On October 27, Latitude 38 published a podcast interview about the Sailing Science Center in its 'Lectronic Latitude online edition. Three days later the SSC took its turn by publishing an interview with 7-time America's Cup competitor Brad Webb (see Hydraulics & Elite Sailing below), and at the same time uploaded a previously recorded interview of Latitude 38 publisher, John Arndt, to our YouTube channel. And if you missed it before, there's Ben Shaw's 2019 Out the Gate Podcast about the Sailing Science Center.
A nod goes out to volunteer, Charlie Deist, for spearheading the SSC's podcast initiative and putting in the energy to produce them.
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Ben Shaw Interviews Jim Hancock |
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John Arndt Interviews Jim Hancock |
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Age and treachery can only go so far.
— Brad Webb
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As this newsletter is being published, the SSC is completing its purchase of a brand new 16-foot trailer, custom outfitted and branded for carrying SSC exhibits. Shown above is SSC Exhibits Team Leader, Lars Anderson, with the trailer prior to it being modified and branded. Come to the SSC 2021 Castaway Gala on November 4 th for the grand debut of the finished trailer. |
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You are celebrated in the light for what you do in the dark.
— Rachel Hollis, Author
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This Month's Newsletter Banner |
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Robin Van Vliet and crew on the J/24, Evil Octopus, celebrate as they bag a beer from a rubber ducky during the 2017 OPBYC Regatta. We need to recognize and celebrate both big and small wins along the way. It is, after all, the small wins that make the big wins possible. |
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Wanted for the Sailing Science Center |
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Photos
Do you have photos to share? The SSC is looking for great shots to use on our website, our newsletter banner, and elsewhere. Photographer attribution will be given.
Volunteers
The SSC needs all manner of volunteers, but especially volunteers who can staff one-day, pop-up exhibitions as docents. Training, lunch, and SSC logo polo shirts are provided. We are holding events at the approximate rate of one per month, but this is planned to increase as we assemble multiple exhibition teams.
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Here is the schedule for the next few months. We hope to see you at some of these events.
Dec - We will be scheduling exhibitions with one or more Oakland high schools. Dates TBD.
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These are things YOU can do to make a difference and Move the Needle
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Leadership Corner - Celebration
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Several years ago, I was working a large event for a hugely successful Oakland-based conglomerate. I was impressed with the past performance of their shares, so when I got a chance, I asked one of their managers what he thought it was that led to their success. His answer surprised me. Read more...
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That's all for this month.
Cheers!
Jim Hancock
President and Founder
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The San Francisco Sailing Science Center is a Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation recognized under IRS Section 501(c)(3), Tax ID 82-3631165. Your donation to the Sailing Science Center is tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law. |
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AN INTERACTIVE HANDS-ON LEARNING CENTER:
DELIGHTING “KIDS” FROM 5 TO 95
PROVIDING STEAM* LEARNING EXPERIENCES
FOCUSING ON THE PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATH
AND KEEPING IT FUN!!!
*STEAM – Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Math
VOLUNTEER EVENT COORDINATOR
Victoria Marcus
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The Sailing Science Center News is published on the first business day of each month. It is sent to team members, partners, volunteers, sponsors and supporters of the San Francisco Sailing Science Center. You are receiving this because you are considered to be in one of these groups. If you wish to be removed from the mailing list, please click the Unsubscribe link below. We do not sell, share or otherwise give out our mailing list beyond our organization. |
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San Francisco Sailing Science Center
One Avenue of the Palms, Suite 16A
San Francisco, CA 94130
510.390.5727
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