El Dorado County District Attorney Vern Pierson, who has been a prosecutor for 28 years, will speak to us about DNA evidence in the criminal justice system. DNA evidence is a powerful tool for convicting the guilty and exonerating the innocent.
Prior to being elected as District Attorney of El Dorado County in 2006, Vern served in various legal capacities including Deputy District Attorney, Deputy Attorney General and Chief Assistant District Attorney. This is his fourth term as District Attorney of El Dorado County. In addition, Vern serves as the President of the California District Attorneys Association and is the author of the California Evidence Pocketbook.
Vern received a master’s degree from the Naval Postgraduate School, Center for Homeland Defense and Security (CHDS). His thesis argued for re-examination of the role of psychology within extremism and serves as a subject matter expert for CHDS. Vern has three children who each graduated from Oak Ridge High School. His two sons have served in active duty in the 82nd Airborne and his daughter is completing her teaching credential with hopes of being a high school teacher.
The New Year's Eve Social on Zoom was a lot of fun for the attendees. There was just general talk and socializing for the first 20 minutes, and then Roger Hassler suggested that we get on to the assignment: to talk about our most memorable New Year's Eve (or Day), or about the most interesting locale where we celebrated New Year's. Here are just a few examples:
Roger Hassler won an Allstate incentive award which was a three day trip to New Orleans and seats for the Sugar Bowl, Hawaii vs. Georgia. Great fun walking in the French Quarter with everyone wearing their team colors being very spirited but friendly. The pageantry of the game was wonderful.
Dave Tavernetti recalled a story from the longest ago (we're not implying anything by that). He showed us a framed Rose Bowl program (which cost him 50 cents) from the Jan. 1, 1959 game between his alma mater Cal and Iowa. Iowa won the game, but what was more disturbing for Dave is that that was the last Rose Bowl game in which Cal played.
Tom Elken recalls a New Year's Eve on a family ski trip in the Black Hills of SD. Tons of snow fell resulting in the best powder skiing of his life. As part of the festivities, we made like Finns, heating up in the sauna and then rolling in the snow before jumping back in the indoor pool.
President Mike Dugan urged us to read the annual report he sent to all members, listing good projects and fund raisers such as:
The Nicaragua playground and sports field are complete, to which we contributed $11,000 and they are already contributing mightily to their sense of community;
The Bicycle Project once again provided hundreds of bicycles through Northern California to children, veterans, parolees, and the homeless;
The Dictionary Project distributed 291 dictionaries to 3rd graders in several schools;
We provided seven scholarships at $2,000 each to Ponderosa High students for their higher education;
and many more.
Guests and Visitors:
Sara Edwards, Laurie's mother.
Happy (or Not) Bucks
None were solicited for this social
Birthdays in January
Keith Brooks
Anne Eckert
Bill Ettlich
Matthew Lopez
-----Spouses-----
Linda Grieco
Kathe Hughes
Anniversaries in January
Bill and Kathe Hughes
Upcoming Words of Wisdom/Greeter/Front Desk Assignments