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Institute of
Architects 2017 Firm Award. The building is specifically designed to be a civic forum, with auditoriums, the Meyer Sound Constellation system, Copper Loop hearing technology, informal conversation areas, audio-video production facilities, digital information screens and other unique elements to serve the club's mission. It is also a historic restoration of a building that was the first headquarters of the International Longshoremen's Union. The club's HQ is environmentally sustainable, with features including cooling with outside air, paneling with wood reclaimed from the original building on the site, LED lighting and tile and carpeting with recycled content. It is also located close to public transit facilities serving the Bay Area.
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automobile and industrial accident compensation, and legislative procedures. The long-standing mandate of many such studies has been "to investigate and discuss problems affecting the welfare of the
Commonwealth and to aid in their solution." Many policy innovations in California—such as public defenders' offices and a printed voter explanation booklet to go with ballots—originated in studies and discussions at the Commonwealth Club.
27:
192:
State
University. Medals (gold and silver) and cash prizes are currently awarded in the categories of Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, First Work of Fiction, Californiana (fiction or nonfiction relating to California), Juvenile Literature (up to age 10), Young Adult Literature (age 11–16), and Notable Contribution to Publishing. The winning books are selected by an independent jury.
333:. Their goal was cooperation on civic betterment in spite of political and ideological differences. Speakers were invited to address club members to inform them about different perspectives on important issues, after which in its early days the club membership often issued reports, statements, or recommendations on public policy issues.
182:
The
Commonwealth Club occasionally comes under criticism from people who think it represents one or another political philosophy, and they often center upon criticism of specific speakers with whom the critics disagree. But the club's more than 400 events a year feature speakers from a wide range of
155:
The
Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California has over 20,000 members and organizes hundreds of programs each year on topics ranging across politics, culture, society, and the economy. Around 100,000 people attend these events in person annually. The club has 56 employees and an annual budget of
355:
The club has hosted numerous world-class speakers including many U.S. presidents and other major political leaders in the United States and abroad, business leaders, and influential social activists. Speakers receive no honoraria. The club's digital and pre-digital speeches and other records since
175:
In addition to hosting speeches and panels, in the late 1990s the club resumed its early role initiating public policy projects. These have included Voices of Reform, a nonpartisan effort to bring together
California's policy makers and opinion leaders to improve state governance. Voices of Reform
628:
One current initiative is
Climate One, directed by Greg Dalton, which convenes leaders from business, government, and civil society to discuss a low-carbon, global economy. Climate One holds private leadership roundtables as well as public discussions and gives the annual Stephen Schneider Climate
393:
In
September 2017, the club celebrated the opening of its first owned headquarters, a 24,000 square ft, $ 33 million building, on the San Francisco waterfront at 110 The Embarcadero. The building was designed by Leddy Maytum Stacy, a San Francisco architectural firm and winner of the American
241:
Justice—co-founded the organization with Adams. The original name for the Club was "The Agora," which in Greek means an open place of civic assembly, but it was quickly changed to "Commonwealth Club," connoting a quest for the common good. The first president of the club was merchant, author, and
191:
The
Commonwealth Club sponsors the California Book Awards, which were initiated in 1931 to honor "exceptional literary merit of California writers and publishers". The California Book Awards are funded by an endowment from Dr. Martha Heasley Cox, late Professor of American Literature at San Jose
163:
The club has radio broadcast its fora since 1924, and current broadcasts are carried weekly by about 230 public and commercial radio stations across the nation. Local residents in the Bay Area can view televised programs from The Club on KGO TV, and the club live streams or archives video of its
610:
Over the years a number of issues have been studied in depth by club leaders, member committees, or scholars commissioned by the
Commonwealth Club. Among the topics studied have been direct democracy (the initiative process), air pollution, a statewide water plan, restrictions on child labor,
562:
Growing out of Study Sections that were formed in the club's early days, today the club has fifteen ongoing member-led fora, each of which meets frequently to host speakers and engage in discussion on topics including the arts, bay gourmet (food and wine), Asia-Pacific affairs, business and
160:, and attorney and foreign policy expert Philip W. Yun. Club events are broadcast on many public and commercial radio stations in the longest-lasting continuous radio program in the nation. Recordings of these programs are deposited at Stanford University's Hoover Institution Archives.
693:
Because the club is strictly non-partisan and does not take positions on issues, when a project matures to the point that policy prescriptions are being considered, as in the case of Voices of Reform, the club assists the project to become a separate entity from the club itself.
213:
newspaper. At its first meeting, Adams read a paper now regarded as the founding document of the club, in which he wrote "I have no fear of lack of following so long as it is self-evident that we only propose to find truth and turn it loose in the world
570:
An intensive look at a single subject is sponsored each August through the club's Platforum, where events are held daily throughout the month on the topic, examined from the perspective of many different fields. Annual Platforum topics have included
418:
The list of notable speakers and speeches numbers in the thousands and includes domestic and foreign political and military leaders, Nobel prize-winning scientists, authors, activists, and artists. A book of important club speeches,
624:
From 2003 to 2007, the project "Voices of Reform" examined the need for improvements in state governance in California. VOR led to the establishment in 2008 of the independent reform organization California Forward.
594:
Inforum is the club's division for younger community members. Since its founding in 2002 Inforum has engaged a new generation in civic discussion through its lively and controversial programming.
621:
The club produced "Final Choice", a documentary that aired on PBS in 1998. It followed the families of three terminally ill individuals and explored the issue of physician-assisted suicide.
591:(2010). The Platforum series include not just lectures and discussions, but often meals, travel, and experiential learning such as kayaking on San Francisco Bay (Cool Clear Water).
199:
with World Affairs of Northern California to form The Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California. It is headquartered in the Club's existing home on the San Francisco waterfront.
176:
became the independent organization California Forward. Similarly, the club's California Media Project merged into California Watch, part of the Center for Investigative Reporting.
1088:
629:
Science Communication Award. Climate One guests have included then–California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Google chairman and CEO Eric Schmidt, Chair of the
1083:
44:
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156:$ 11.5 million. It is currently headed by an expert on international security and arms negotiations, former Pentagon official and businesswoman,
563:
leadership, environment and natural resources, grownups (second half of life issues), health and medicine, humanities, international relations,
91:
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63:
179:
The club also offers travel programs, with educational trips abroad each year to destinations such as Turkey, Southeast Asia, and Iran.
1093:
70:
363:, dedicated to serving the needs of people in their 20s and 30s interested in non-partisan public affairs. In 2007, the club created
618:
published by Prentice-Hall. Vaughn Davis Bornet, a recent Ph.D. recipient from Stanford University at the time, authored the book.
367:
to bring together academics, industry, and activists on all sides of energy and climate change issues for discussion and planning.
77:
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gave only her third public speech since taking office at the club. Other major recent speakers include former Vice President
379:
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A 2011 speaker series on social entrepreneurship, including interviews with leading social entrepreneurs, produced the book
59:
905:
147:. Founded in 1903, it is the oldest and largest public affairs forum in the United States. Membership is open to everyone.
550:
352:, as well as citizens from professions such as business, law, medicine, teaching, the arts, technology and journalism.
183:
viewpoints—conservative and liberal and moderate and radical, religious and secular, pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian.
1020:
344:, and UCSF Chancellor Julius Krevans. Club members include prominent national leaders like former Secretary of State
110:
614:
One of the most extensive of these studies was commissioned in 1953 and lasted until 1956. It resulted in the book
360:
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48:
84:
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The club has its headquarters in San Francisco. Though the majority of its programs are in San Francisco,
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programs on Facebook and YouTube as well as posting them on the club's website. The club's podcast is at
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and Washington, D.C. A second, small office serving Silicon Valley is in Milpitas, California.
630:
826:"Commonwealth Club of California Podcast by Commonwealth Club of California on Apple Podcasts"
336:
Presidents of the club in the second half of the 20th century included actress and Ambassador
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The Commonwealth Club was founded in 1903 by Edward F. Adams, the Agricultural Editor at the
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382:(in the East Bay area northeast of San Francisco), it also hosts occasional events in
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Transactions of the Commonwealth Club of California, Vol. I, No. 1, Nov 15, 1903."
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issues, the Middle East, personal growth, psychology, and science and technology.
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to host her daily radio show before a live audience one day each week. Guests on
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Michelle Meow hosts a panel discussion at the Commonwealth Club in January 2020.
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237:) president Frederick Burk, and William P. Lawler, a judge who later became a
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942:"Architects nail design of San Francisco Art Institute's Fort Mason campus"
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California Social Welfare: Legislation, Financing, Services, Statistics
675:
447:
407:
383:
655:, which was released by Stanford University Press at the end of 2012.
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at The Commonwealth Club have included Black Lives Matter co-founder
585:
For Richer, for Poorer: Surviving and Thriving in the Great Recession
341:
1040:
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1903 are archived at the Hoover Library at Stanford University.
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finalist Jason Brock, comedian Sampson McCormick, Olympic skater
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634:
564:
866:
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The Real Problem Solvers: Social Entrepreneurs in America
658:
In 2018, the club teamed up with LGBTQ radio and TV host
329:, prominent West Coast financier and first president of
992:"New coalition of reformers takes on state's problems"
456:
speech to the group. In 2010, then-Secretary of State
168:
and on the club's website and a bi-monthly magazine,
317:founder J. C. Zellerbach, department store founder
51:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
873:
515:; microcredit entrepreneur and Nobel Prize Winner
195:In late 2023, The Commonwealth Club of California
16:US nonprofit, nonpartisan educational organization
1053:Works by or about Commonwealth Club of California
1075:
1089:Non-profit organizations based in San Francisco
438:speech at the club. While in office, President
285:, San Francisco Mayor and California Governor
1084:Educational organizations established in 1903
297:president and U.S. Secretary of the Interior
137:Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California
906:"Commonwealth Club of California Records"
755:"Commonwealth Club of California records"
442:spoke at the club, as did Soviet Premier
186:
131:speaking at the Commonwealth Club in 2013
111:Learn how and when to remove this message
965:"Presidential Forum and Singles Hangout"
711:"The Commonwealth Club – Silicon Valley"
682:(the first out LGBTQ coach in the NFL),
601:
549:
401:
359:In 2002, The Commonwealth Club launched
122:
1004:
920:"Commonwealth Club moves into new home"
1076:
962:
640:, and General Motors chairman and CEO
321:, California Governor J. N. Gillette,
446:. During his term as Vice President,
233:, San Francisco Normal School (later
963:Ybarra, Michael J. (April 6, 2003).
249:Other initial club members included
49:adding citations to reliable sources
20:
340:, California Supreme Court Justice
13:
853:. Commonwealth Club of California.
217:Four prominent California leaders—
143:educational organization based in
14:
1105:
1094:1903 establishments in California
1063:"Commonwealth Club of California"
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780:"Commonwealth Club of California"
60:"Commonwealth Club of California"
1048:Inforum at the Commonwealth Club
325:winery founder Carlo Rossi, and
172:, is available to club members.
25:
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1005:Shapiro, Ruth A., ed. (2012).
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423:, was published in 2004 by
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875:"Colonel Harris Weinstock"
202:
1013:Stanford University Press
670:, scientist and educator
432:Franklin Delano Roosevelt
293:founder William P. Roth,
851:"California Book Awards"
649:The Real Problem Solvers
495:; Federal Reserve chair
239:California Supreme Court
219:University of California
967:. Style & Culture.
535:, and business leaders
414:anchor Dan Ashley, 2013
311:William Chapman Ralston
287:James "Sunny Jim" Rolph
227:San Francisco Chronicle
210:San Francisco Chronicle
664:The Michelle Meow Show
607:
559:
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187:California Book Awards
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127:Former U.S. President
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493:Arnold Schwarzenegger
450:delivered his famous
410:in conversation with
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1067:C-SPAN Video Library
994:. February 24, 2008.
922:. September 13, 2017
814:– via YouTube.
733:"Broadcast Stations"
525:Chesley Sullenberger
501:Christopher Hitchens
466:Francis Ford Coppola
440:Dwight D. Eisenhower
338:Shirley Temple Black
323:Italian Swiss Colony
223:Benjamin Ide Wheeler
45:improve this article
805:"Commonwealth Club"
735:. Commonwealth Club
589:The Ascent of Woman
554:Education advocate
533:Kareem Abdul Jabbar
521:Victor Davis Hanson
490:California Governor
421:Each a Mighty Voice
388:Southern California
295:Stanford University
267:Bechtel Corporation
145:Northern California
944:. October 16, 2017
759:Hoover Institution
608:
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541:Richard Kovacevich
531:; former NBA star
486:Madeleine Albright
416:
303:Bank of California
279:Levi Strauss, Inc.
133:
970:Los Angeles Times
672:Tam O'Shaughnessy
638:Rajendra Pachauri
444:Nikita Khrushchev
291:Matson Navigation
273:, members of the
261:, U.S. President
139:is a non-profit,
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558:speaking in 2013
523:; airline pilot
505:Michael Crichton
474:Condoleezza Rice
331:Wells Fargo Bank
315:Crown Zellerbach
299:Ray Lyman Wilbur
244:Harris Weinstock
242:public official
229:managing editor
170:The Commonwealth
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517:Muhammad Yunus
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684:The X-Factor
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668:Alicia Garza
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653:Ruth Shapiro
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642:Rick Wagoner
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587:(2009), and
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529:Leon Panetta
519:; historian
497:Janet Yellen
464:; filmmaker
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101:January 2024
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43:Please help
38:verification
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948:November 4,
926:November 4,
835:November 4,
810:November 4,
789:November 4,
688:Adam Rippon
631:Nobel Prize
482:James Baker
470:John Cleese
468:; comedian
365:Climate One
277:who headed
275:Haas family
1078:Categories
698:References
676:Sally Ride
581:How We Eat
499:; authors
448:Dan Quayle
430:President
408:Rob Reiner
384:Sacramento
307:Union Bank
221:president
151:Activities
71:newspapers
739:March 11,
717:March 11,
633:–winning
380:Lafayette
342:Ming Chin
784:Facebook
764:June 11,
598:Projects
583:(2008),
579:(2007),
575:(2006),
436:New Deal
398:Speakers
309:founder
301:, M.D.,
269:founder
253:founder
1055:at the
886:May 14,
462:Al Gore
361:Inforum
203:History
85:scholar
1019:
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412:KGO-TV
197:merged
166:iTunes
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651:, by
92:JSTOR
78:books
1017:ISBN
978:2017
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812:2018
791:2018
766:2020
741:2014
719:2014
635:IPCC
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