Sailing Science Center News
May 2024
Vol. 7, No. 9
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Welcome to the May issue of the Sailing Science Center News! The theme this month is Longevity. There is a great deal of research and news these days about longevity and life extension, which is great for health-minded people who have more they want to do in life. Organizational longevity is also of interest, and follows similar patterns. Read How to Live Forever for more thoughts on this topic.
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If you're not going to do something with your life it doesn't matter how long it is.
— John Maxwell, Author, Speaker, and Leadership Expert
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The show area looked like a tornado had hit it. Tents had been destroyed, tables and chairs had been blown over, and vendor exhibits had taken a serious hit. The SSC tent and exhibits had been spared through luck and foresight, but it looked like it was going to be a slow, cold day. As vendors arrived, three Svendsen’s employees worked through the wreckage, replacing tattered tents and mangled metal with fresh equipment. It was a model of teamwork and efficiency. If you had blinked, you would have missed it. |
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Before we could set up in the resurrected space, Amanda Pangelina made the call to move the show indoors. Her pivot turned things around from a cold and marginal day to an energetic and bustling success. The experience underscored both the great teamwork from the Svendsen’s staff, and their ability to make changes to produce great outcomes in the face of unfavorable circumstances.
Amanda is Svendsen’s Purchasing and Inventory Control Manager. She started at Svendsen’s in 1998, the year before she entered high school. Her mother also worked there, making Svendsen’s her second family, with Kris Hansen becoming Uncle Kris, and Travelift Tim becoming Uncle Tim. It was where she learned many of her business skills, and even where she learned to drive! |
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The Saturday seminars were overflowing! |
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For me, it's about keeping Svend's name going and alive.
– Amanda Pangelina
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Founded by Svend Svendsen, Svendsen’s Boat Works is the rags to riches story of a company that found success and longevity as a family business by including its employees as part of the family. Svendsen studied boatbuilding in Denmark before coming to the US in 1956 with little money in his pocket. Through jobs as a New York dock worker and by helping Bay Area yacht builders in Sausalito and Oakland, Svendsen saved enough money to start a one-man business in 1963. |
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In 1966 he moved the business to its familiar former location in Alameda Marina. He grew that business to being one of the Bay Area’s best known boat yards, employing close to 50 people at its peak. He is also known for building the first fiberglass versions of the Nordic Folkboat design (see banner photo above) and for selling Vanguard 15s to create the fleet that still races in Clipper Cove today. Svend passed away in 2013 after 50 years in business. In 2016 the business was sold to Bay Maritime Corporation, becoming Svendsen’s Marine and Industrial Supply, but keeping most of its employees. |
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We need to get all the Alameda kids out on the Bay. The wind's going to blow every afternoon out there. You're going to have fantastic sailing!
– Svend Svendsen
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Svendsen’s continues today as a stellar operation, and as a shining example of a business beating the odds by creating a family culture for its employees and a focus on customer success. We are inspired and honored to have personally known Svend, to have been a customer for nearly three decades, and to continue our association through the Sailing Science Center, working with Amanda and her great team.
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The shorter you sleep the shorter you live.
– Matthew Walker, UC Berkeley Sleep Researcher, Author, and Professor
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The Sailing Science Center launched its 2024 season with four days of events in the month of April. All events were free and open to the public, drawing strong interest in the SSC's activities, demonstrated by robust newsletter and volunteer signups. |
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APRIL 12th & 13th - SVENDSEN'S SPRING FLING MARINE EXPO |
The SSC had a great time at the Svendsen's Spring Fling Marine Expo. This was the third running of the event, and the SSC's second appearance. Organizer, Amanda Pangelina, made it a Friday/Saturday event this year, versus the Saturday/Sunday format from previous years. We were unsure how this would go, but it proved successful, despite unfavorable Saturday weather. As evidence, the SSC 2024 newsletter signups topped the 2023 event's all-time record by three people, at 46 new subscribers. Over the course of two days we introduced the SSC to more than 100 new kids and adults. Our hats are off to Amanda and Svendsen's Marine for a job well done and a brilliant Saturday pivot. |
Katie Blaesing and her daughters on Day 2 of the Spring Fling. Fred King looks on from the side. |
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I wish all science classes were like this!
– Katie Blaesing
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APRIL 20th - CALL OF THE SEA TALL SHIP CELEBRATION |
This was the SSC's fourth year supporting Call of the Sea's (COTS) Tall Ship Celebration. In fact, the SSC's very first public exhibition was the COTS Tall Ship Celebration in 2021, just as restrictions from the pandemic were being lifted. 2024 continued this series of great partnering events, with the SSC reaching 67 kids and 192 adults to share the science of sailing. |
Volunteers in front of the Wave Tank
L to R: Michael Malaga, Will Summers, Victoria Marcus, Lars Anderson
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Every kid in the U.S. should experience these demos!
– Vicky Dehnert
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Kids looking at the Ocean Plastics Reveal Board made by Ashley Ragon |
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What they see is bleached coral |
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APRIL 27th - BERKELEY BAY FESTIVAL |
The SSC collaborated with the Berkeley Yacht Club (BYC) to promote the respective organizations' efforts during this year's Berkeley Bay Festival. The yacht club provided indoor space for shelter, electric power, and water for SSC exhibits. A yacht club member posted signs to direct festival-goers to the club. The signs were less effective than hoped, but it remained a good day. Having seen the festival up close, we are better informed for next year's event. We were glad to be working with BYC and look forward to future collaboration. |
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SSC volunteer, Steve Malton, shows the Land Yachts to a visitor at the Berkeley Yacht Club |
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We are happy to share this photo of April 8th's total solar eclipse, taken by the SSC's very own Lars Anderson from Mason, Texas. The weather was threatening not to cooperate, but a clearing in the clouds at just the right moment gave Lars the opportunity to capture this, and other shots. |
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When we stop playing we start dying.
– Stuart Brown M.D., Founder of the National Institute for Play
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MAY 2nd - RICHMOND YACHT CLUB SPEAKER SERIES
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Thursday, May 2nd 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Richmond Yacht Club
351 Brickyard Cove Rd
Richmond, CA 94801
The SSC will be speaking and sharing exhibits, at the Richmond Yacht Club. Let people at the door know you are attending as guests of the Sailing Science Center. |
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MAY 11th - PANORAMA PARK RIBBON CUTTING
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Saturday, May 11th, 11:00am to 12:30pm
Panorama Park
99 Signal Road
Yerba Buena Island
San Francisco, CA 94130
This important milestone marks the opening of a spectacular park on Yerba Buena Island as part of the Treasure Island Masterplan to incorporate open space in its development. Limited parking will be available onsite. Transit to the island by ferry recommended. |
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MAY 18th - BENICIA YACHT CLUB OPENING DAY ON THE STRAIT
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Saturday, May 18th, 10:00am - 10:00pm
Benicia Yacht Club
400 E 2nd St
Benicia, CA 94510
The Sailing Science Center will be supporting the Benicia Yacht Club during their Opening Day Celebration. Come for music, food, vendor booths, kids games, and more!
Click here to learn more. |
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This Month's Newsletter Banner |
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A Folkboat sails in front of the Palace of Fine Arts on San Francisco Bay. The first Nordic Folkboats were built in 1942. At that time the boats were built of wood. The International Folkboat was introduced in 1967, built of fiberglass by Svend Svendsen and Erik Andreasen (see this month's spotlight above). |
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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 shots to use on our website, in our newsletter, and elsewhere. Photographer attribution will be given.
Volunteers
The SSC needs volunteers! We especially need volunteers who can staff one-day exhibitions as docents. Training, lunch, and SSC logo polo shirts are provided.
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Here is the current SSC schedule through May. Check our online calendar for the latest information.
May 9 - SSC Board**
* Event is open to the public
** Event is open to SSC volunteers
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These are things YOU can do to make a difference and Move the Needle
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Leadership Corner - How to Live Forever |
In the 1990 movie, Joe vs. the Volcano, Joe agrees to jump into a volcano to appease the gods on a South Pacific island, after learning he has a terminal disease. Soon after, the daughter of the man who hired Joe asks, “Did you ever think about killing yourself?”
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We want to give a big SSC shout out to Shiva Strickland and Ariel Harris-Porada, who raised their hands to volunteer since our last newsletter.
We are thrilled with the interest you have shown and look forward to working together.
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AI Notice: Generative Artificial Intelligence was used in the photography above. Images should be considered artistic representations, as opposed to precise depictions of fact.
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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!!!
OCEAN STEWARDSHIP * STEAM EDUCATION * LEADERSHIP
LARS ANDERSON
JOHN ARNDT * ANDREW ROBERTS * ANA BLANCO
*STEAM – SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ART, AND MATH
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The Sailing Science Center News is published monthly. 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
1 Avenue of the Palms, Ste 16A
San Francisco, CA 94130
510.390.5727
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