The Community

The Affiliates and the Community

Affiliate board meetings provided opportunities for acquainting key faculty and administrative officials with a fairly representative cross section of the community. Board members were in turn given the privilege of meeting many eminent scholars and innovative experts who were crucial to launching UC Santa Cruz. 

Bob Kraft of the Lick Observatory and Aaron Waters, earth sciences professor, spoke to The Affiliate board members during the exciting months leading up to and during the first moon landing. Dr. Waters educated that first moon shot crew on what to observe and collect during their mission. The Affiliates went on to sponsor a public lecture featuring Dr. Waters at Cabrillo College.

During the 1970's many notable community leaders were on the board of The Affiliates. Harry Bright, Connie and Spiro Mello, Judge Charles Franich, Col. William Bartlett, John Coughlin, Wally Trabing and Helen Bertchtold just to name a few.

In 1975 The Affiliates hosted a dinner featuring a lecture from the University of California President David Saxon on the importance of university/community relationships. 

They also hosted the "Dinners for Twelve Strangers" project. The dinners were held at an Affiliates' home and consisted of students, faculty and community members gathering for an evening of breaking bread and discussion. Topics were not pre-determined and conversations were casual and free flowing.