If Bill Soberanes were still alive, today, he would be very pleased with the recent get-togethers of a new community action group – The Sages of Petaluma.
In fact, he would be right in the middle of the group, mingling and having his picture taken with each and everyone. Although there have only been two get-togethers, about 25 different Sages have participated. A Sage is anyone over 60, who was either born in Petaluma or has lived here for several years.
“Mr. William Howard Pepper,” founder of Pepper Kindergarten in 1894, hosts the meetings at the Petaluma Senior Center on the fourth Thursday each month from 10:30 am until noon. You do not have to be a member of the Center to participate. Currently, these sessions are conversations that go all over the map. Everyone take parts. These Sages are the types of personalities that Bill Soberanes would have loved to interview and to write about in his Peopleology columns.
The word – action – is used because as the group attracts more people, they will determine its mission. For now, the conversations have centered around memories of growing up and living in Petaluma, as well as how best to share and preserve these memories. With the City’s 150th Anniversary (Sesquicentennial Celebration) coming up in 2008, there are many possibilities. We’re just getting started.
Any reader who would like to become a Sage of Petaluma, please send your name and e-mail address to this blogger at whammer@petalumanet.org and your name will be added to the group’s electronic conference board. Stay tuned.