It’s said that you need to do something for 10,000 hours to master it. By that reckoning, Milpitas resident Don Clendenin is a master at helping people.
The retired electronics worker logged his 10,000th hour volunteering at the Tech Interactive in downtown San Jose this past week, a milestone that prompted a surprise celebration Thursday from the science center’s staff and Clendenin’s fellow volunteers. He was presented with a wooden shield plaque made at the Tech and its first “10,000 hours” pin after a building-wide announcement about his achievement.
“My thing is to help people,” said Clendenin, who works with the engineering department fixing exhibits and logged 150 hours volunteering in his first four months nearly a decade ago. “I’m passionate about problem solving. If something isn’t working, I’ll figure out how to fix it.”
The Tech is just one of the places where Clendenin has devoted his time since closing a 45-year tech career, also serving on Milpitas’ Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Commission and working with other ham radio operators.
He’s done a lot more than fix things at the Tech, where he usually volunteers for a full day starting at 7:30 a.m. about three times a week. Lindsey Munzel, the Tech’s volunteer manager, said he also helped create a 3D printing design to make boxes for the Social Robots exhibit, which is where Thursday’s festivities were held and he cut a burnt almond cake from Peter’s Bakery to share with his colleagues.
“We extend our deepest thanks to Don for the countless moments of discovery and joy he has brought to The Tech Interactive,” Tech Interactive CEO Katrina Stevens said. “His commitment exemplifies the power of volunteering to make a lasting impact on an entire community.”
MOVERS AND SHAKERS: After nearly four years, Kevin Zwick has announced he’s stepping down as CEO of United Way Bay Area in mid-February. Zwick, who joined United Way after more than a decade as CEO of the Housing Trust of Silicon Valley, posted on LinkedIn that United Way was “one of the most inspirational and impactful organizations that I’ve worked with” and credited the staff and board he’s worked with for that.
• Katty Coulson, vice president for information technology at Oracle NetSuite, is breaking new ground as the first Latina board chair for Ronald McDonald House Charities Bay Area. A tech exec dedicated to enhancing inclusion and representation in her industry, Coulson has drawn on her cultural identity since she joined the board in 2021 and says her new role is the “highest call for community service I have ever had.”
• Pretty good trick to retire from one city and be honored by another. Suzanne Wolf retired last fall as director of community services for the city of Fremont but received a commendation at last Tuesday’s San Jose City Council meeting for her 35-year career in public service, revitalizing public spaces like parks, community centers and playgrounds.
Of course, that’s because prior to her seven years working in Fremont — which honored her with a retirement celebration last November — she had been a key member of San Jose’s Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services Department, overseeing city treasures like Happy Hollow Park & Zoo. Councilman Omar Torres, who presented the commendation with Mayor Matt Mahan, pointed out that as a Washington Elementary school student he was grateful for the summer lunch program she spearheaded in partnership with the San Jose Unified School District.
MUSICAL TRIBUTE: The African American Composers Initiative has its annual concert coming up Jan. 27 and 28 at Eastside College Prep in East Palo Alto. “What’s Going On: A Concert of Music by African American Composers” will feature work by nearly a dozen composers including Margaret Bonds, John Wesley Work III, Jacqueline Hairston, Valerie Coleman, John Worley, Valerie Capers and Marvin Gaye.
The performers include soprano Yolanda Rhodes, tenor Othello Jefferson, saxophonists Oscar Pangilinan and Tod Dickow — and co-founders Jodi Gandolfi, Deanne Tucker and LaDoris Cordell will perform a piano “round robin” during a piece by Jeremiah Evans. Tickets to the 3 p.m. concerts are $20 ($10 for seniors, $5 for students). You can get more details and tickets at aacinitiative.org.
HONOR ROLL: Price Middle School in San Jose’s Cambrian School District will receive the Community Merit Award from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) for its efforts to create awareness around mental health issues. In the past three years, Price School has raised $30,000 for NAMI, including $10,000 at its third annual Price Walk for Mental Health last October. The entire student body of more than 900 kids participated along with more than 85 staff members.
Meanwhile, the Chinese American Coalition for Compassionate Care was honored with the Archstone Foundation’s 2023 Award for Excellence in Program Innovation during the American Public Health Association in Atlanta in November. CACCC earned the award in recognition of its Heart to Heart Cafe program, which encourages people to discuss their end-of-life wishes. “This recognition reaffirms our mission and commitment to build a community where Chinese Americans are able to face the end of life with dignity and respect, as well as provide advance care planning tools to the healthcare professionals who serve them, nationally and globally,” CACCC founder and Executive Director Sandy Chen Stokes said.