Fireside Meeting - March 2026

The Hillside Club Fireside meetings are held on the first Monday of most months (January, February, March, April, June, October, and November).

They are open to the public and admission is free to members, with a suggested donation for non-members. No one is turned away for lack of funds. The meetings begin with social time for members, a brief Club business meeting, followed by a featured speaker.

Monday, February 2nd will feature:

6:30pm Member Social Time

7:00pm Club Business Meeting

7:30pm A public talk with journalist Joe Dworetzky and attorney David Snyder

The Berkeley Hillside Club is pleased to host a special Fireside meeting on Monday, March 2 to explore the very real threats to First Amendment protections historically afforded to journalists and the public. We will hear from Bay City News investigative reporter Joe Dworetzky about his recent first-hand experience reporting in Minneapolis. His work -- published on the free, public service site LocalNewsMatters.org - comes in the wake of two fatal shootings of citizens by federal agents on an immigration crackdown campaign, multiple large protests with civil disobedience in the Twin Cities and around the country, and the shocking arrests of two independent journalists covering these events. You can read the series HERE. We will also hear from David Snyder, executive director of the First Amendment Coalition (FAC), about the importance of constitutionally-protected reporting and publishing rights, along with the threats to the First Amendment and press rights he sees in California. FAC, based in the Bay Area, is dedicated to protecting and promoting a free press, freedom of expression and the people’s right to know, frequently representing journalists in pursuit of news. You can learn about their work HERE.

The Hillside Club’s immediate past president Katherine Rowlands, who is the board president of the First Amendment Coalition and publisher of the Bay City News regional news service and the free public service website, Localnewsmatters.org will introduce the talk and moderate the Q/A.

Members come early for social time at 6:30 p.m. and the Annual Membership meeting at 7 p.m., followed by the Fireside conversation at 7:30 p.m. for what promises to be an engaging and insightful event.

After the presentation, refreshments and wine will be served.

Fireside Meetings are for civic engagement, a good way to see the club and get to know the members. Club members, our neighbors, and the general public are encouraged to attend.

Also check out other Meetups in Berkeley, Nonprofit events in Berkeley.