Wednesday, December 13, 2006

NCSWA's Annual Holiday Dinner: Kenya and India on the Embarcadero

Please join your fellow NCSWAns and out-of-town reporters covering the American Geophysical Union meeting for our largest social event of the year: the annual holiday dinner. We'll meet at Sinbad's, a popular waterfront restaurant in San Francisco, on Wednesday, December 13. This year, we feature special talks by two of our own members about their international adventures in science journalism.

PROGRAM
Our speakers are Ruthann Richter, director of media relations at Stanford University's School of Medicine, and Erika Check, senior reporter in the San Francisco bureau of Nature.

Ruthann and documentary photographer Karen Ande have traveled the back roads of Kenya to document the impact of AIDS on families and children. In two trips, they have trudged through the garbage-strewn shanty town of Kibera, Nairobi's notorious slum; visited with a dying mother of four in her tin shack and followed the progress of the children she left behind; and spent time in the rural village of Tala, where a local couple has created a school for orphaned and handicapped children. Ruthann has covered these stories for the Chronicle, Mercury News, and the Stanford Medicine and Wesleyan magazines. She and Karen have raised $45,000 through many community presentations to support grassroots projects in Kenya.

Erika journeyed to India in February and March to report on whether rapidly growing countries can balance conservation, development, and the rights of indigenous people. She focused on tigers, the subjects of a fierce 'people vs. animals' debate in India. Erika visited three tiger reserves and met with a tribal community facing immense pressure to leave a reserve. She spent time in the jungle with scientists tracking tigers, finding that these researchers have become the strongest advocates for effective and fair relocation projects for the native cultures. The solution, Erika reported in Nature, lies in moving people to areas with better access to schools and hospitals, and better land for farming. But that's costly, and the Indian government has bungled it repeatedly.

Both Ruthann and Erika will show photos from their travels, and we'll have time for stimulating audience feedback.

WAIT, THERE'S MORE
It wouldn't be a holiday dinner without our extra attractions:

* Return of the Door Prize Contest *
Win fabulous science-themed prizes, but only by successfully navigating a devilish maze of science trivia that may or may not be germane to the evening's talks or the AGU meeting. It's unpredictable, lucrative, and only mildly embarrassing.

* Return of the NCSWA Book Exchange *
 Here's your chance to refresh that science shelf in your study with some new (or slightly used) books from colleagues. Bring a few to share on our science book exchange table, and take some home for holiday reading.

* Farewell to a Special Colleague *
AGU press officer Harvey Leifert is retiring after years of running one of the smoothest meeting newsrooms around. Join us as we send him off with a NCSWA toast.

DINNER
Sinbad’s Restaurant

Wednesday, December 13
6:30 - 7:45 p.m.: No-host happy hour
7:45 - 9 p.m.: Dinner and door prizes
9 - 10 p.m.: Presentations

For more than 28 years, Sinbad's has been a San Francisco landmark and one of the city's most famous waterfront view restaurants. Perched upon the bay next to the historic Ferry Building, Sinbad's offers fantastic vistas of Treasure Island, the Bay Bridge and the East Bay hills. Day or night it is truly one of San Francisco's most enchanting views. Dinner is in a private room with table service, and includes salad, potatoes or rice, vegetable, bread and butter, entrée and coffee or tea, along with chocolates.

LOCATION
Pier 2 Embarcadero Street San Francisco, CA 94111
Tel: 415-781-2555

Sinbad’s is conveniently located on the Embarcadero at the foot of Market Street, and next to the Ferry Building. It is within walking distance from downtown San Francisco and is easily available by BART, ferries and MUNI.

Directions: www.sinbadsrestaurant.com/pages/directions.htm
Parking: Sinbad’s offers $3 valet parking, a great value in SF!

MENU (choice of one entrée):

BOUILLABAISSE
Lobster Prawns, Clams, Fresh Fish in a Rich Tomato Broth

ROAST EASTERN PRIME RIB OF BEEF
With Baked Potato and Au Jus

FILET OF HALIBUT CHAMPIGNON
With Shrimp and Mushrooms in a White Wine Sauce

COST
NCSWA members plus one guest: $35 each
Non-members and additional guests: $40 each
Students: $25

(NCSWA is subsidizing a portion of the evening's cost to keep the dinner affordable for members and guests.)

* Please specify your entrée choice(s) with your payment. *
Write your check payable to "NCSWA", with phone number and email written on it, and mail by Friday, Dec. 1 to:

Bob Sanders
1512 Holly St.
Berkeley, CA 94703

The past two holiday dinners have sold out, so send your check soon!

CARPOOLING
For those interested in carpooling, Karen Street again will play transportation matchmaker, matching up those of you wanting a ride with those who are driving. Contact her at karen_street@sbcglobal.net. She will mail out information as
she receives it. Many thanks to all those who have offered rides in the past, enabling people to attend.

We look forward to seeing you again at our holiday bash!