From Poet Laureate to green technology advocate, and so much more --- Meet the Incomparable Ronnie Holland

Having lunch with Ronnie is a gift.  Not just because she’s such a great conversationalist, but because the woman is simply mind bending.  There’s no other better term.  Some of us are right brained, some left, but Ronnie is right, left, top, bottom and all around.    So when she became Poet Laureate for Dublin, I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised --- I mean what else was there left for her to do, really?  Well, I need to be careful what I say, because there’s so much more she’ll adventure into, and I can’t wait to see where she goes. 

Meanwhile, I hope you have fun learning a bit more about Ronnie.  I suggest a glass of wine, a comfy chair and an open mind.  Here we go!

 The incredible Ronnie Holland!

Ronnie, I met you and your husband, Michael, many years ago when you were working with my husband, John, at Qantel.  It was an amazing time in the evolution of technology.  How did you happen to be there at that particular moment, and what was your focus and specialization?


Michael and I had just gotten married that year, and I wanted to shift from my variable hours in the hospitality field as a Bay Area tour guide for California conventions to something closer, and in the high tech field. I started as a technical assistant organizing the programming department’s source tapes to maintaining the department capital asset inventory, co-coordinating our department’s test and office layout during the move to a new facility; then I became software systems coordinator (produced software release masters, coordinated company offsite backups, helped keep seven test computers running by ordering or borrowing replacement equipment and working with field service); and finally, manager of a new Qantel Information Center – from concept, layout, budget, publications, database searches, monthly information bulletins, a proposal for computer security and disaster planning, and a presentation skills package. John used to come into the Information Center most afternoons to keep up with developments, so that’s how I got to know him. Many long term friendships were forged at Qantel, including my former office mate; we moved to the same street and have been neighbors for over 20 years!

You’ve had and continue to have a remarkable career, Ronnie.  Before we get to your latest endeavors, please trace your career after Qantel, including the birth of your own company with your husband, Michael, Renaissance Resources.  


Ha, that’s how I got to know you! I started Renaissance Resources (RR) after I left Qantel to accommodate our many interests, with a business name that could evolve with us.  My earliest activities included writing and publishing my own newsletter; business development as an outside sales consultant for a travel agency; preparing sections of financial plans for the company you worked for at the time, and organizing their software files into boilerplates, plus the always fun role of facilitating one of their retreats. RR includes Michael’s IT & Networking side of the business, and my consulting work.

   Ronnie and Michael in Tahoe.

At one time I know you worked with the U.S. Olympic Team as a massage therapist.   When did you embark upon that role, and what made you decide to pursue that unique path?  I think you weigh about 100 pounds and are about five feet tall.  How in the heck did you decide to become a massage therapist in the first place?

To go back to the earliest beginning, my parents knew a wonderful Swedish lady who was our babysitter early in our lives (my two sisters and I).  She used to wake us from our naps by massaging our faces while we pretended to be asleep so she wouldn’t stop! We always awoke from naps with a smile! Later, I heard my mom say often: “If I’m ever rich, the first person I will hire is a massage therapist!” The first time I met Michael was during a party for his college Spanish class, and I volunteered to work on his sore shoulder.

I figured I’d better learn all about it, so I went for the works at the National Holistic Institute in Berkeley/Emeryville: obtained my basic 100 hour certification, then 500 hours (just in case requirements changed later, which they did); then their 1000 hour program, graduating with a Holistic Health Educator and Massage Therapist certificate. In parallel I’ve been a Professional Member of the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) since 1985, pursuing their certifications by becoming a Member of the AMTA National Sports Massage Team in 1988, and passing dual exams to be certified as a Registered Massage Therapist (RMT) and Sports Massage Therapist (SMT) while acting as a Bay Area Delegate to First International AMTA Convention, Toronto (August 1989).  I was also asked to chair the local AMTA chapter’s sports massage program, and with two colleagues formed the Bay Area Sports Massage team. With monthly reports, research on needs of sports from fencing to football (and everything in between!), continuing education, setting skill levels, preparing proposal and documenting events, we grew the team from 4 to 72 members in two years. It was fabulous learning so much about different sports, troubleshooting and helping with pain and recovery. We provided sports massage as a way of educating the public about professional massage at 16 events the first year, (e.g., the San Francisco Zoo Run, Dance for Heart, the Pacific Coast Fencing Championships, Bay to Breakers, the Tevis 100 mile Endurance Cup (Horse) Ride, and the World Corporate Games). I did not travel with the US Olympic Team, but several of us worked on them for several years during their training in Burlingame prior to the Seoul Olympics, and I worked as a National Sports Massage Therapist at the Goodwill Games held in Seattle. I was on the faculty for two years at the National Holistic Institute, and organized and wrote about a research project (published by the Massage Therapy Journal) tracking energy changes during massage using infrared photography, as well as other articles and presentations.

I consider massage therapy a lifetime skill, as I learned with my aging parents, that touch is the last sense to go, and a wonderful way to maintain contact during someone’s final days. Size and weight are not as important as therapeutic intention, leverage, excellent body mechanics and energy. It gives me a good balance in my High Tech/High Touch world.

Tell us about your latest, incredibly timely and fascinating professional venture in energy research, affiliated with UC Davis.  How did your involvement with this unique effort come about?

As you know, Michael and I always look for humor, creativity and integrity in the folks we work with (especially finance and taxes!). I‘ve been blessed to work with several outstanding teams during my career to date. The foundation for what I’m doing now began during the eleven years I worked in PG&E’s Research and Development Department – a dynamic time when the utility industry was shifting from a monopoly to deregulation. I was fortunate to be part of the team working on all the new alternative and renewable energy sources (and later, in energy delivery and control). These were people who continued to push research and policy in private industry or government after PG&E disbanded their world-renowned Research Department. After PG&E, I did consulting work for two research collaboratives (advanced gas turbines; solar photovoltaics) before shifting gears back to the High Tech field. This time I was responsible for all outbound communications for an innovative team of network analysis and troubleshooting software developers – the products used by those managing network security or acting as expert witnesses in prosecuting computer hackers.

When I left the network analysis firm, the former director of our PG&E renewable energy team contacted me about new efforts he was pursuing at UC Davis for California’s renewable energy future goals. My recent communications experience and pace of business in private industry was essential for our new team’s work in developing tools, events and content to coordinate and integrate research done, planned or needed for effective deployment of technologies at the building, community or utility scale. We were able to quickly launch our website http://cal-ires.ucdavis.edu/, even without the web designer and I meeting in person until after launch! Interest in renewable energy integration and deployment continues to grow as California and the U.S. race to meet aggressive energy and climate goals.

So, as with many of you who are extremely technologically savvy, you have this amazing creative side as well.   In fact, you are especially well known in your community as Dublin’s first Poet Laureate, serving a two year community volunteer position from May 2008 to May 2010.  How did that come to be?  What does a Poet Laureate do?

I happened to notice the City of Dublin’s “Call for Poet Laureate,” and realized I met their requirements.  We were about to leave for our 30th Wedding Anniversary trip to Europe, so I quickly sent off my letter of interest, and upon return from our trip, learned that I had been selected to be Dublin’s first poet laureate!

The position of poet laureate is an honorary title, originating from the ancient Greeks' practice of crowning their artists and athletes with laurels. Poet laureate programs vary by locale, with poets serving a tradition of advancing the knowledge and enjoyment of literary arts through public readings, education, and community events.  The position of poet laureate began in the middle ages in England, when Ben Jonson received that honor in 1616. Remarkably, California had the first poet laureate in the United States, honoring Ina Donna Coolbrith in 1915 through 1928. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poet_Laureate_Consultant_in_Poetry_to_the_Library_of_Congress. Currently, 40 states have state poets laureate.  California, and the greater Bay Area in particular, has had rapidly growing laureate programs. The nine-county area has more than half of the state's local (county, district, or city) poets laureate. For photographs of current and past poets laureate in your area, see http://www.poetslaureate.com 

As Dublin’s first poet laureate, I served as a public advocate for the appreciation and advancement of the literary arts by writing original poetry for civic events, doing program and web site content development http://www.ci.dublin.ca.us/index.aspx?NID=276, hosting poetry readings, and collaborating with other poet laureates, literary groups, schools and writers of all ages and experience. During my term, I wrote “poems of place” for Dublin park and community center dedications, Hope Hospice annual events, and read and judged poetry for school events. It’s been great fun being part of the lively poetic tribe!

 Ronnie Holland, Dublin, California’s First Poet Laureate.

I began writing poetry in high school, and then pursued a degree in English from California State University Hayward/East Bay, which included studies with visiting professors Mark Strand (U.S. Poet Laureate 1990-1991) and Timothy Steele.  I draw inspiration from folklore, mythology, the environment, relationships and travels. I’ve been published in anthologies including the 2011 Las Positas College Anthology, Illuminating Echoes, the (first) 2009 California Poets Laureate Anthology Sometimes in the Open, Best Poets of the 20th Century on Man & Environment 1975, and Peopled Parables.

 Ronnie reading at Old St. Raymond’s Church.

With all that you have going on, it’s amazing to me that you have recently published a book of poems, illustrated beautifully.  Tell us about the evolution of the book, Ronnie.  What is the title?  How did you and the artist meet and come together on this lovely creation?

I collaborated with artist Lily Xu for a December 2010 chapbook entitled Where a Painter Meets a Poet, containing 19 poems and paintings.

 Ronnie’s first poetry book, done in collaboration with Lily Xu.

We met at an art, poetry and wellness event in 2009.  I was intrigued by Lily’s remarkable range of artistic styles, and we both realized a commonality of themes.  Initially, we collaborated in several Ekphrasis (poetry written about another art form) events, which led to this book.  Lily sent me her paintings without titles; then like a blind date, the chemistry with a particular piece was realized in an existing or newly created poem.  Usually, poets write to a painting.  For our book, I told Lily the story behind “Stars” and challenged her to paint to the poem, so she created a new watercolor. The third aspect of the collaboration was the publisher, http://www.customsportscards.com/. Dave Farpelha’s selection of the background and border emphasis from each watercolor enhanced the presentation of the poem/painting combinations.  I was also delighted that they could use Green Seal certified paper, manufactured with wind-generated electricity.   With such creative work, both Lily and I encouraged Dave and his partner to expand the fine arts part of their business!
 
Can you share any of your poems with us?

Besides the ones posted on the City of Dublin web site, here is the poem “Stars” mentioned above:

STARS

We saw Frank’s star shoot across the morning sky
As he sped to his next adventure.
We knew its meaning during that walk
Before the news arrived.

Deaths preceded by births, sorrow and joy mingle
With fresh starts on family stories and future reunions.

We look up and honor the stars,
Old friends of the Big Dipper, Cassiopeia, and dazzling blue Sirius.
We honor more recent stars of souls shining back at us
Urging us to glow our brightest while still earthbound,
Beaming their joy, filling the sky with shine.

The edges of our voices soften and dissipate into the fog,
The lights wear halos,
Blurring distinctions between angels and their charges,
Shine on earth, recharge an angel!
We celebrate tonight with lights, reflecting as we go.

© 2008 Ronnie HollandDublin Poet Laureate Emeritus2008-2010All rights reserved.

In addition to all the amazing activities we’ve touched on here, I know you are a passionate gardener, and that you and Michael have spent a lot of time in the past years building a vacation cabin/retreat for yourselves in Mendocino County.  What was your original vision for that home, the land, and how has the process evolved?  What is your current vision for this little piece of “paradise” in your lives?
 
We started spending time in Mendocino every October early in our marriage, and one day said to each other: “We love this area; let’s see what land costs.”  The ensuing adventures are a story in themselves, but briefly - we wanted a retreat where no reservations were required; a place to be physically active; a potential place for retirement; a lovely place where we could protect a set of redwoods, and experience living off-grid.

 Forest Light in Mendocino, by Ronnie Holland.

The ridge-top property was severely overgrown and a fire hazard, so we’ve definitely been physically active making that better, cutting trails, and designing/ building a cozy all-weather cabin, several garden areas, a generator/battery house, and most recently a small barn.

 The barn “before.”

We have a well, are adding additional water storage for fire protection, want to install a solar system when we can afford to, and keep enjoying the property now, while planning potential retirement options for later.

Dare I ask “what’s next” for Ronnie?  I won’t even try to keep up with you!  I gave that up a LONG time ago!!

I like to periodically run myself through two tests:

1)    Ten Faces of Innovation (by Tom Kelley of IDEO): Besides my favorite roles of collaborator, cross-pollinator, set designer, and storyteller, which of the ten roles needs a refresh?
2)    Live Life Backwards: If there’s something I want to do by a particular age, what must I do now to get there?  Reviewing each decade of one’s life, what one learned, and the surprises is both fun and revealing!

Besides continuous learning and  keeping home , hearth and friends together, I see a tremendous need for all of us to share our expertise now, no matter what type or level of skill, with the next generation taking over as the Baby Boomers retire. With the loss of many basic industries overseas and increasing costs of higher education, our entire society and quality of life is already or will be affected by the knowledge loss. Tapan Munroe writes about this problem in his columns, and in a recent book (www.ClosingAmericasjobgap.com). Every possible route to transfer knowledge can be explored: whether it is classes, workshops, conferences, articles, website content, online training and certification, creative arts, incubators, retreats, friendships – as long as we get there. I think this challenge will keep us all doing satisfying work for a long time!

So, in the meantime, LinkedIn is a good place to see periodic snapshots of what’s happening with me: http://www.linkedin.com/in/ronnieholland.

I know readers will want to read your poems.  Also, we have many readers who are also passionate about your current professional venture in energy resources with U.C. Davis.  How can readers reach out to you for more information, and how can we buy copies of your book of poems?

For all of the above, they can email me at ronnie.holland.rr@gmail.com, or visit the Cal-IRES site (see Resources tab for links to other organizations). For more about Lily’s art visit:  http://www.livermoreartassociation.org/onlinegallery/LilyXu/LilyXu.html.

  The barn “after.”

So, great readers, I hope you have enjoyed Ronnie’s words and thoughts and know why so many of us find her to be incomparable.  And trust me --- she’s sincere in her offer to chat with you on-line or perhaps in-person.  She’s interested in EVERYTHING,  truly, and is a great ambassador of people and our notions, imaginations and visions for a better world.  So don’t be surprised when you reach out to her if she also puts you in touch with others with similar interests. 

Where will Ronnie take us next?  I don’t know, but I can’t wait to find out --- and I’m sure we’ll be blogging about her again!

So, as a final note, to both thank and honor Ronnie, here is my Haiku to her: 

Sprite-like, strong and smart, 

student, teacher, leader.  Most, 

a gift to us all.