> From: Elizabeth Sarmiento <http://www.gmail.com/~smartyardscoop> > Date: Fri, 29 Nov 2019 15:15:48 -0800 > To: Zack Pallin <http://www.gmail.com/~zpallin>, "Choy Yan Yin K." <http://www.gmail.com/~yanyinchoy> > , Jenne Thompson <http://www.sbcglobal.net/~jrthomson>, Jeanette Ramos <http://www.gmail.com/~jearamos23>, Maria Javier <http://www.gmail.com/~mljavier12>, > Kenneth Rosales <http://www.gmail.com/~kenneth.a.rosales>, Doug Rabert <http://profiles.yahoo.com/dkrabert>, "<http://www.sbcglobal.net/~diane_solomon>" <http://www.sbcglobal.net/~diane_solomon>, Peter Drekmeier <http://www.tuolumne.org/~peter>, > Drekmeier Peter <http://www.earthlink.net/~pdrekmeier>, http://www.laurastec.com/~laura, > Melissa Hippard <http://www.gmail.com/~mhippard>, Lepe Chris <http://www.gmail.com/~lepe.christopher>, Chris Lepe <http://www.transformca.org/~clepe>, > Esperanza Sanz <http://www.gmail.com/~espe.sanz>, Duende Jyn <http://www.gmail.com/~duendejuego>, KyMy <http://www.gmail.com/~codenamethundercat>, Olson > Eric <http://profiles.yahoo.com/e_g_olson>, Elizabeth Sarmiento <http://www.gmail.com/~elizabethsarmientoolson>, Richard Hobbs <http://www.msn.com/~richhobbs> > , Rob Yanagida <http://www.gmail.com/~grootslegaljustice>, Jane > Burgunder <http://www.gmail.com/~jburgunder>, Taisiya Kupriyanova <http://www.gmail.com/~taisiya.kupriyanova>, http://www.gmail.com/~adrianalapoeta, Carolyn > Spitz <http://www.earthlink.net/~carolynspitz>, Noelle <http://dummy.us.eu.org/noelleg>, Paul J Gonzalez <http://www.pauljgonzalezartstudios.com/~paul>, Monika Rose <http://www.monikarose.com/~monika>, http://www.post.harvard.edu/~amy_adams, Daniel Fonseca <http://www.oasishomedesign.com/~danf>, Mamta Panchal <http://www.gmail.com/~mamtapanchal06>, > vivek tripathi <http://www.gmail.com/~mail2vivek88>, "Noren K. Caliva" <http://www.gmail.com/~norenkcaliva> > > Dear friends, > > “In normal life we hardly realize how much more we receive than we give, > and life cannot > be rich without such gratitude. It is so easy to overestimate the > importance of our own achievements compared with what we owe to the help of > others.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer > > We have so much gratitude, and love for life and for all of you, our dear > friends > and family. So many moments of grace, and kindness! Despite some > challenges, > like the reality of grieving the passing of loved ones- friends and family > members of our > friends, as well as the loss of other life forms. In gratitude for having > had those who left us this > year, although to soon, in our lives and the experience of honoring our > feelings without the distractions that come with the holidays. > > It was so beautiful to see many of you during our Friendsgiving gathering > on Nov. 9th. > Thanks for your contribution, generosity and for sharing your thoughts of > gratitude with > all of us, especially to Yan Yin Choy, Zack Pallin and Jeanette Ramos for > helping with this. > > I've been asked to share each other's contact, and info some of those who > announced, an event, organization...ways you make a difference in our > community). I could write a book about all of > you and the many ways you make a difference and inspire me... here's a > little about a few of > you. > > 1) *Richard Hobbs* <http://www.msn.com/~richhobbs>, ED and founder of Human Agenda told > us about > the 17th Annual Human Rights Award Banquet, on Sat. Dec. 7th, 6-9pm > <https://www.humanagenda.net/events/17thannualhumanrightsbanquet>. Want to > join us? > We're sponsors and have a few extra seats. Let us know if you're > available. It'll be fun and inspiring! > > 2) *Chris Lepe *<http://www.transformca.org/~clepe> Regional Policy Director for > TransForm <http://www.transformca.org/transform-staff/chris-lepe>. A mover > and shaker, who keeps his cool, remains kind and is a lot of fun to be > around. You'll see him riding his > bike, in the bus and train- walking the walk! > > 3)* Daniel Fonseca* <http://www.oasishomedesign.com/~danf>, an artist, who designs and > is an expert in Accessory Dwelling Units > * - https://www.facebook.com/DanielFonsecaColombiano/ > <https://www.facebook.com/DanielFonsecaColombiano/>. * > > 4) *Laura Stec* <http://www.laurastec.com/~laura>, a great chef and educator, > Author of *Cool > Cuisine: Taking The Bite Out of Global Warming *a must have in your shelves > and you can learn more about Laura's inspiring work, in her fun WEBSITE > <http://laurastec.com/#>. > > 5) *Peter* *Drekmeier* <http://www.tuolumne.org/~peter>, Policy Director- check it > out Toulumne > River Trust <https://www.tuolumne.org/our-work/>. Great work, loads of > opportunities to be part of their actions... and fun too! > > 6) *Paul J. Gonzalez* <http://www.pauljgonzalezartstudios.com/~paul> and *Monika Rose *< > http://www.monikarose.com/~monika>. My Gaia, these two are amazing environmental > advocates... > expressed their love for our natural world and do their education very > powerfully and beautifully. Check it out, > https://www.facebook.com/PaulJGonzalezArtStudios. > > 5) *Rob Yanagida* <http://www.gmail.com/~grootslegaljustice>, a kind, quiet and > wonderful leader in the movement of advising / representing / navigating > cooperative and non-profits issues. Rob applies his skills, honed over > decades, to help build sustainable enterprises with socially-conscious > practices and is a founding member of Smart Yards Co-op and Smart Yards > Education (our non-profit). > <https://communitycooplaw.wordpress.com/?fref=ts> > > And, and, and...did I forget someone, your talents, gifts, ways you > contribute to life sustaining, peace, justice...please feel to share and > how we can support you and together build community. > > And this, will not be complete without THIS > < > https://drive.google.com/file/d/1259E5covUEX3bxxJc7MRMYTsGTv6zxZ4/view?usp=sharing> > short video made with a few images I took during our gathering. > > With love and gratitude! > Elizabeth and Eric > > *Elizabeth Sarmiento* > > *Founder & Manager * > > *Smart Yards Co-op <http://smartyardscoop.com> *A Sustainable Landscaping > Cooperative > > *--------------------------------------------- * > > *Email: http://www.gmail.com/~smartyardscoop <http://www.gmail.com/~smartyardscoop> Phone: (650) > 704-3462 544 Snyder Ave. Suite 101, San José, CA 95125*