Published February 9, 2006

Sharon Cohen
photographed by
Rick Bolen/ Special to Fine Life

Cha-Cha’s from Front Row (from left to right): Meg Easter-Dawson, Program Development Manager at Children’s Home; Sharon Cohn; Cheryl Widdis, Cha-Cha’s president; Back Row (from left to right): Julie Atwood; Dianne Anderson; Angelina Messinger; Joanne Foster; Marchelle Carleton; Rebecca Rosenberg; Laura Colgate; Angelina Nessinger; Juli Lorence; Tracy Chin.

Cha Cha’s photographed by Rebecca Gosselin/ Fine Life

It was 1996 and a critical need had materialized: As the state budget for public education steadily diminished, invaluable extracurricular activities were rapidly vanishing from Sonoma Valley public schools. John Meyn chose to help meet the challenge through the work of the young Sonoma Valley Education Foundation. This tireless volunteer then served on the SVEF Board of Directors for a full nine years.

The concept is simple, John says. “We just raise money to help teachers do their job.” He appreciates the independent, direct and personal approach. “The Education Foundation doesn’t just give money helter-skelter, though. There’s a good process and we help one teacher at a time, looking for projects that have a positive impact on an entire classroom. Especially if it can be sustained as an ongoing effort.”

Tim Boeve, director of SVEF, admires two particular talents Meyn brought to the Board; he kept meetings focused and thereby short and he masterfully dealt with insurance and financial matters. But John didn’t just keep the books. Whatever fundraisers evolved, John was always right there participating. He remembers the fun (and hard work) of the “Dancin’ and Draggin’” events at Infineon Raceway. By the time folks have drag-raced, eaten their fill and danced to exhaustion, significant monies have been generated, and John stays behind to wash dishes, put away the tables, and sweep up the debris!
John’s favorite “job,” however, is bartender for the Sonoma Valley Harvest Wine Auction. Great comradery and good fun reign as John pours wine and exchanges stories with so many friends, old and new.

Read more about the Sonoma Valley Education Foundation in the just joan column on the Forum page of today’s Sonoma Sun.

Monetary or hands-on contributions may be offered by contacting Tim Boeve, executive director of the Sonoma Valley Education Foundation, at 935-9566.

Suggestions or comments? Contact joan@justjoanonline.com or leave a message at 933-0101.