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Saratoga Sampler
Using high-tech knowledge to help low-tech people
By Mary Ann Cook
LIGHT TO THOSE OFF THE GRID: Dr. Charly Kleissner is a philanthropic entrepreneur who uses his high-tech knowledge to help impoverished people throughout the world set up systems they can maintain themselves. He's a key mover in the seeding and start-up phase.
His help is twofold--funding and business know-how. The Kleissners have established a foundation that helps fund projects for people off the grid, literally and figuratively. Five projects in different countries are in the works at the moment.
In Sri Lanka it's an electrification project: Farmers plant fast-growing trees called dendro. Branches from the prolific trees are harvested to produce wood chips. In turn, the wood chips are burned to produce the power for the electrification. Kleissner sets up the system, then teaches the residents to operate and maintain it.
"We don't give them fish; we don't teach them how to fish; we teach them a new system of fishing," he says. The idea is a renewable system, tied in with reforestation in countries adhering to the Kyoto agreement. Because of his contacts with reforestation projects, Kleissner can arrange loans at reasonable rates.
The Los Gatos entrepreneur creates hybrid business structures, counting on practices used in his for-profit work to be effective for social change in nonprofits. Kleissner has worked at Ariba Inc., RightPoint, NeXT, Digital Equipment and H-P and is on the board of for-profit companies and nonprofits.
He holds master's and doctorate degrees in computer science from the University of Technology, Vienna. In 2004 he received the Distinguished Alumnus award.
PRESIDENT'S CLUB HONORS: Forozandeh Yousefi, branch manager of Saratoga's Bank of the West, has been named to its Presidents Club in recognition of his outstanding sales and service performance in 2005. In addition, he won a weeklong trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, sponsored by the bank.
Each year the top 10 percent of the bank's managers are honored. Winners and spouses travel to a different resort destination each year. Members are selected based on how their branch unit performs relative to similar units in similar markets. The two others so honored were Cheryl Farley of the Campbell office and Kathleen Miller, San Jose.
FASHION SHOW: Sarah Rainville is 16 but already something of a fashion maven. For the past year she has been designing and making clothes, using materials already on hand, such as discarded dresses, curtains or tablecloths. These she morphs into fashion firsts by dint of needle and imagination.
During spring break the resourceful teenager held a fashion show to exhibit some of these creations. Models serving in the show were all Saratoga High students--Jasmine Massoumi, Carmel Lev, Kendall Callaghan, Shamita Jayhaumar and Nikki Yamamura. Reads like a U.N. roll call, doesn't it?
Word of the show spread through the models' mothers, who said they definitely wanted to attend. Soon others responded, so the event eventually drew dozens of attendees. On the walls of the host home were posted sayings from famous fashionistas and philosophers.
My favorite, from Ralph Waldo Emerson, of all people: "Being perfectly well dressed gives a feeling of tranquillity that religion is powerless to bestow."
NEW $ DIRECTOR: Rollie Pirkl has been named the new chief financial officer of Community Hospital of Los Gatos. Pirkl will be responsible for the budget, data analysis, financial reporting and planning. "Rollie has over 25 years experience in financial health care and will be a strong addition to our team," CEO Gary Honts said.
A seasoned hospital administrator, Pirkl most recently was finance director of Catholic Healthcare West, overseeing three hospitals and various joint ventures. Earlier he was controller at Redding Medical Center.
MYSTERY WRITER: Lora Roberts, Palo Alto mystery writer, will speak at the May 3 meeting of Friends of the Saratoga Libraries beginning at 9 a.m. in the library. Roberts is the author of nine mysteries, and her most recent is The Affair of the Incognito Tenant: A Mystery with Sherlock Holmes.
Roberts, a medical editor and researcher by day, haunts used book stores when in London to make sure her stories are true to the Holmes era.
CHOCOLATE AFTERNOON: These Saratoga purveyors will participate in Rivers of Chocolate April 30 at the Mountain Winery, a benefit for EHC LifeBuilders: Cooper-Garrod Vineyards, La Fondue, Saratoga Chocolates, Savannah-Chanelle Vineyards, Sent Sovi, The Basin, The Mountain Winery and The Plumed Horse. For tickets: 408.539.2121.
SPA OWNER/ARTIST: Nilou Rahimi will host an open studio at Nilou Day Spa May 6 and 7, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., in Quito Shopping Center. Born in Iran, Rahimi immigrated to Europe and then to the Bay Area, and her paintings reflect these cultural influences, plus the energy she gets from interacting with others.
Got a tip for Saratoga Sampler? Send email to maryanncook@earthlink.net.
