Events

Fairfax-based Filmmaker and author Len Dell’Amico shares stories and insights from his 2025 book Friend of the Devil, a refreshing and resonant look at his years working with the Grateful Dead and the creative spirit that defined one of America’s most iconic bands. As the Dead’s longtime video director and a close collaborator on concert films and documentaries, Dell’Amico offers a behind-the-scenes view of how music, friendship, and improvisation came together to create something timeless.

In this engaging presentation, Len reflects on the band’s collaborative ethos, the evolution of their live performances, and what the Grateful Dead can still teach us about creativity and community today. 

A brief examination of America's two primary adversaries - China and Russia - and their relative military strength versus the ongoing US military build-up and the emerging defense partnerships in the Asia-Pacific.

Travel back in time with local author Scott Fletcher when he shares his new book: More Moments in Marin History: Familiar Tales & Untold Stories. Based on photographs taken from the Marin History Museum's vast image collection, the presentation tells the story of the people, businesses, organizations and events that have shaped the county we all call home.

Rotarians are invited to the State of the City with Mayor Max Perrey as he outlines priorities and the City's plans for the future. Highlights will include the City's current and future fiscal outlook, plans for infrastructure and facility enhancements, emergency preparedness, ongoing environmental stewardship and climate resilience work, and initiatives to improve the quality of life for Mill Valley residents and workers. Mayor Perrey will be joined by City Manager Todd Cusimano and Sea Level Rise Project Manager Mari Swim. Following the presentation, a Q&A session will offers participants the opportunity to pose questions and share suggestions.

A daughter and niece of two scientists that worked on the Manhattan Project, the secret undertaking to develop the first atomic weapons; she grew up with the knowledge and shadow of the cold war, and the long-term effects it had for herself and others with the same legacy of being so close to the origins of the creation of the bomb. A shadow followed the author throughout her life and was the motivation to find others who had this personal history with a parent who worked on the project and discuss their experiences and feelings around this shared history. 

A performance by the Heath De Fount-Haberlin Band.

The band is composed of Vocalist April Grisman, Guitarists Liberty Ellman & Heath De Fount-Haberlin.

By sharing some of the many stories Jim has heard from his personal experiences hosting Death Cafés and volunteering with Final Exit Network, he hopes attendees will be inspired to become more comfortable discussing this stigmatized topic. He spent much of his life not realizing that he was death ignorant, likely in death denial, and desperately in need of death education. He has learned that the more conversations and the more planning, the greater solace one can achieve, the deeper appreciation of  life’s preciousness, as well as leaving a generous gift to our grateful, grieving loved ones. 

From 1848 to 1881, a small utopian colony in upstate New York—the Oneida Community—was known for its shocking sexual practices, from open marriage and free love to the sexual training of young boys by older women. And in 1881, a one-time member of the Oneida Community—Charles Guiteau—assassinated President James Garfield in a brutal crime that shook America to its core. Sharing fascinating research from her latest book, New York Times bestselling author Susan Wels will weave together these explosive stories in a tale of utopian experiments, political machinations, and murder.

The United States started a war by bombing Iran and assassinating its leadership. It has relentlessly destroyed military, missile, and naval assets.  

No war was declared - No authorization from Congress. No discussion with the American people before sending their sons and daughters into harm's way.

 This talk will look at the geography and history of Iran. The deterioration of relations between the US and Iran starting with the CIA actions of the 1954 coup that put the Shah in power.

I will ask some questions about reasons for the US (and Israel) to initiate this war, and speculate about the real reasons for this attack.

And make some comments about "who wins - who loses" ... and who profits the most.

Alec Scott will speak about the institutions that have helped make San Francisco San Francisco. The remit of his book, Oldest San Francisco (Reedy Press) was to identify the oldest businesses, cultural organizations, charities in the city -- and to try to tell the city's story through those. Here are potted histories of some Gold Rush-era businesses and non-profits -- the oldest restaurant (Tadich Grill), bakery (Boudin), hardware store (Center) and children's charity (Edgewood). The city's longtime obsession with food is reflected in short profiles of San Francisco's oldest chocolate maker (Ghirardelli) and on the taquerias that helped introduce and popularize the Mission Burrito. Here are the stories of America's first non-sectarian free clinic (the Haight-Ashbury), its first proper senior center, and the oldest (and now last remaining) cable car. A short talk about some of the institutions that have given San Francisco its distinctive feel. 

The first Rotarians in 1926. Accomplishments over a century. Who would have predicted these all male Rotarians could become pioneers in feminism? Where we are and what will Mill Valley Rotary be in 2126.