News & Notes
President ’ s Message
By Nicholas Perry MVHA President
Dear MVHA Members ,
The end of summer and the start of fall 2020 have proven to be another tumultuous and challenging period . My heart goes out to those affected by the wildfires around the state , those struggling with the ongoing effects of the pandemic , and those just feeling overwhelmed by the weight of these trying times ( I think that covers just about all of us !).
This newsletter is published four times a year by the MOUNTAIN VIEW HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION P . O . Box 252 , Mountain View , CA 94042 www . mountainviewhistorical . org
MVHA Board of Directors
President : Nicholas Perry Vice-President : Robert Cox Secretary : Jamil Shaikh Treasurer : Emily Ramos Past President : Candace Bowers Historical Data : Melissa Wright Membership : Lisa Roquero Garcia Newsletter : John Cortez Ways & Means : Mark Perry Director-at-Large : Mary Kay Marinovich Director-at-Large : Gil Lane
Newsletter Copy Editor : Cynthia Hanson Newsletter Graphic Designer : Nicholas Perry
MVHA Board of Directors Email : info @ mountainviewhistorical . org Voicemail : ( 650 ) 903-6890
Like many people in the Bay Area , in fall I always look forward to the crisp , clear days , the college football games , the multitude of cultural events , and the building anticipation for all the traditions of the holiday season . So much of that has been upended this year . Crisp , clear days traded for unprecedented heat waves and wildfire smoke . Festivals and events canceled or made virtual . College football games held , but without the fans , bands , and pageantry . And instead of anticipation , the looming uncertainty over how to maintain holiday traditions in the face of the pandemic .
But while all this is going on , I ’ ve found comfort in the small things I once took for granted . Time spent with family in my social bubble is that much more precious . A hike on a day when the sea breezes have cleared out the smoke feels that much more invigorating . A friendly wave from a neighbor while taking an evening stroll is that much more appreciated . And despite everything going on , it ’ s still autumn . Halloween decorations are still going up and trees are changing color ; the change of seasons can still be seen and felt .
And speaking of change , November marks the end of my two-year term as the president of the MVHA . Pending the election at our annual meeting on November 1 ( see page 4 for more information ) someone new will be writing this column in the next edition of the Mtn . Review . I will still serve on the MVHA ’ s Board of Directors as “ Past President ” and will remain just as involved with the organization as I am today . Instead of seeking reelection , I feel at this time it ’ s better to create space for new members to join the Board . We have some great candidates and I ’ m excited to see the MVHA continue to build our “ bench ” of organizational leaders . The more people who are actively involved in our organization , either by serving on the Board or volunteering in other roles , the more institutional knowledge we build , and the more resilient and adaptable we become to change . And if 2020 has taught us anything , it ’ s the importance of being resilient and adaptable !
And on that note , I encourage all members interested in helping us accomplish our mission to get involved ! Our Board meetings are open to all interested ; they ’ re virtual now and easy to access from wherever you may be . We ’ re a friendly and diverse group that always welcomes new faces . Just email us at info @ mountainviewhistorical . org if you ’ re interested .
In closing , I ’ d like to thank everyone for their support during my time as your president . I ’ ve truly enjoyed serving in this role and am proud of what we have accomplished over the past two years . We ’ ve debuted a beautiful new website , grown our membership , learned how to host virtual events , fostered stronger partnerships with other local organizations , and begun to proactively create a vision plan for what we hope to accomplish in the coming years . But there is still much more to be done ! I look forward to continuing to work with the Board and all of our members on making the MVHA one of the most diverse and dynamic local history organizations in our region .
Take care , — Nick
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