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BREEZE
NEWSLETTER OF THE UNIVERSITY SECTION CLUB, INC.
BERKELEY, CA
SPRING 2010
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
How swiftly the weeks and months have passed! It seems hardly possible that March is already half gone. We have two very successful events behind us, and as this edition of the Breeze is being readied for printing we will be visiting Santa Cruz Campus for the Intercampus Exchange, where a lecture on the Hubble telescope is one of the program highlights.
At the end of January we gathered at I-House for the Winter Dinner. It was an enjoyable evening with a sumptuous dinner and an enlightening talk by Ananya Roy, who gave us sobering insight into the problems and challenges of global poverty as well as describing some of the ways that poverty can be alleviated.
Our traditional fundraiser, the Beehive Luncheon, was a lively, well-attended event. Tables were decorated so beautifully with cheerful daffodils in blue vases. Blue and gold balloons added to a festive ambiance. As usual, the poached salmon and salads were delicious, and there were enough cookies to satisfy the famous Cookie Monster. At the jewelry table generous donations of necklaces, brooches and earrings meant that there was plenty to please the eager crowd it drew. There were many gift certificates to bid on at the attractive Silent Auction tables and the Attic Treasurer’s table had its share of admirers. Laid out on the Crafts Table were delicate pieces of handwork, cards, and more. In the opposite corner wine was served for a small donation. The attractively wrapped raffle baskets made many winners happy. What a day it was! We made a record profit. Look inside for the treasurer’s Beehive report and for the report from Delia Taylor and Carole Frank, the Beehive Luncheon Chairs. They have mentioned the many people who helped in one capacity or another.
Julia Wenk,Trudi Frei, Ananya Roy, Danielle de Fontaine, Mary-Ellis Adams
The Spring Business Meeting will be held at 9 AM on Tuesday, May 11th, at the home of Emily Benner. I encourage all Section Chairs to make an effort to join us and share a brief description of a meeting from this past year. There will be a very nice music program. Parking is limited and in a two-hour zone, so please carpool! We will try to have a number of parking permits available for that day.
This has been a wonderful and rewarding year for me. I have enjoyed being your president and would like to thank the following who have made a special effort these past months to ensure that the University Section Club continues in its endeavor to interweave philanthropy with social and intellectual stimulation: the Board of Directors, the Events and Special Projects Chairs and the Section Chairs. You are a dedicated group of volunteers!
Sincerely, Julia Wenk, President
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SPRING BUSINESS MEETING
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Home of Emily Benner
All members welcome!
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Winter Dinner
Friday, January 29, was a damp evening outside but there was warmth and color inside the I-House for Section Club’s Winter Dinner. The Great Hall buzzed with members and spouses and friends all nibbling on the delicious Indian appetizers. Joan Finnie did her magic in the banquet hall with white Cymbidiams and jasmine in her globe vases and sparkling candles on mirrors. Danielle de Fontaine, Winter Dinner chairman, welcomed everyone and thanked Terry Schooler for handling reservations and table seating and Lois Markovich for the programs and art work. Dinner was excellent and served with efficiency and helpfulness by the I-House staff.
Joan Finnie, Joan Glassey, Sara Knight
Our President, Julia Wenk, introduced our speaker, Professor Ananya Roy, who gave a powerful and impassioned talk about programs to help the poor of our world from Bangladesh to Rwanda. Her pictures helped us to focus on these micro economic grants, which often help small money-making projects developed by and employing women, thus making sure the seed money reaches those most in need (like seed money from Section Club’s SOS). She told about small coffee farmers in Rwanda who cannot get their beans to the co-ops because of the terrible dirt roads. This led to a
Jacob Seigel Boettner riding his “Coffee Bike,”
painted in green, yellow and blue, the colors of the Rwandan flag.
bicycle designer to build a “coffee bike”, an elongated, strengthened bike, able to carry 485 pounds of coffee beans. These
were then sold to farmers through a micro-loan program, called Project Rwanda. Cal student, Jacob Seigel-Boettner, spent a summer of fieldwork teaching Rwandans how to assemble and repair these bikes as part of his major in the Blum Center for Developing Economies. (See page 7) He returned to make a film about their use and was surprised to find them used as family transportation as well as village ambulance. Professor Roy exposed parts of the world, which many of us do not see. It was a fascinating evening.
Joan Glassey, Co-Chair Winter Dinner Committee
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43rd Beehive Luncheon and Auction
There was rain outside and lots of fun inside for about 200 diners who enjoyed the delicious luncheon prepared by Section Club members and then went shopping.
Heartfelt thanks go to the following people as well as many others who contributed to make the day such a success:
Beverages: Dolores Williamson, Linda Vida, Jean McKenzie and Will Oldham
Salmon: Judy Gordon, Mary Lee Noonan, Audrey Richards, Sara Knight, Sally Stevens, Sarah Diamond, Sandra Sackman, Elizabeth Cecchetti, Marian Gardiser and Sigvor Thornton
Cucumber Salad: Sigvor Thornton
Salads: Lynn DeJonghe, Traudel Prussin, Dorothy Kaplan and Susan Hopkins
Cheeses: Jacqueline Eberhard and French Section
Cookies: Adventure, German and Music Sections
Servers: Betsy Minkler, Grace Wahlberg, Judy Thompson and Gerda Janos
Food Sales: Sheila Kahan, Sylvia Rock and Ruth Tobey
Daffodils and Decorations: Norman and Janet Pease and Joan Finnie
Kitchen Caterers: Susan Guerguy and Marianne Greene
Dining Room Set Up and Clean Up: Dorothy Kaplan, Grethe Clarke, Danielle de Fontaine, Kathy Graburn, Rita Kohi, Genevieve Dreyfus, Miriam Cairns, Janice Lieu, Connie Fraser
Reservations and Nametags: Rita Purcell
Cashiers: Melinda Buchanan, Natalie Hahn, Jacqueline Desoer and Rita Purcell
Auction: Sigvor Thornton, Nancy Oldham, Joan Jenkins with Marjorie Sauer, Sonja Velez, Susan Carter, Cindy Neureuther, Susan Klipfel, Grace Kobayashi, Meoy Gee, Naomi Lidicker, Jerri Mariott, Mariam Cairns, Mary-Ellis Adams, Julia Wenk, Sandra Gilbert, Millie Bennett and Heidi Hartmann
Generous contributions were made by several businesses: Safeway, Costco, Hartmann Studios, Monterey Market, Semifreddi’s Bakery, Trader Joe’s and Peet’s Coffee and Tea
By Delia Taylor with Coordinators: Carole Frank, Betsy Minkler and Mary-Ellis Adams
BEEHIVE 2010
INCOME
Prepaid Fee $3,825.00
Fee at door $1,080.00
Small items Auction $ 808.50
Special items Auction $6,525.91
Jewelry $1,620.25
Crafts $ 774.00
Raffle $1,984.00
Flowers $ 206.00
Bargain Table $ 405.84
Wine $ 256.00
Donation $ 400.00
Food $ 509.50 Total Income $18,395.00
EXPENSES
Church rental $1,847.70
Salmon $ 591.53
Luncheon expenses $ 135.78
Stationery $ 452.62
Kitchen caterers $ 330.00
Total Expenses $3,357.63
NET INCOME $15,037.37
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Trudi Frei and Sigvor Thornton
Silent Auction
I was on the Silent Auction committee with Joan Jenkins and Jerri Mariott for the UC Section Club Beehive this year. The first part was the solicitation; getting donations from businesses.
This went well as we had a list of benefactors from last year and as long as we had a letter with the letterhead stating who we were and what the money was used for, businesses were willing to give the gift certificates. We had over 100 donations, which was quite ample.
On the day of the Beehive, upon arriving at 8:45 AM, the tables were being placed in their positions by a most efficient janitor. We ended up with 4 large tables and 3 small tables. The tables were decorated with royal blue tablecloths and small vases of beautiful flowers and bright yellow signs showing each category. It was quite stunning!
Next we had to check the bid sheets and the master list, making sure it was all coordinated, since we had last minute donations and some of them were not on the master list. This took some time and luckily we had an extra helper to start putting the bid sheets on a sturdy paper and placing them in proper order on the tables.
The bidding began at the opening, which was about 11:30 AM. It seemed as if the bids were coming in slowly and really did not get going until after lunch…and before we knew it, it was closing time. People paid for their items and then picked the items up from Joan and me. This was quite hectic!
The good part is that most everything was bid on and we made over $5,000. Most everyone was pleased with their winnings. It seems that the food items, the restaurants, the dinners and the services were hot items. I’m glad so many members and guests participated and were pleased with the outcome.
Sandra Gilbert
The Queen Bee’s Story
Our Beehive Luncheon and Silent Auction is a very special event. Every year it appears from “nowhere”, almost as if by magic. Around 9:00 a.m. on an often rainy Tuesday in February cars begin to line up outside of the Unitarian Church in Kensington. People emerge from their vehicles carrying card tables, equipment, boxes, food and drink, pails of daffodils and beautiful baskets with decorative bows and trailing ribbons. A flurry of activity starts in all spaces. White table cloths float over the tables and busy hands set more than 200 places. Balloons are blown up and make an otherwise solemn
Linda Vida and Jean McKenzi
room festive. The daffodils find a new home in small blue vases. Out in the atrium all types of treasures begin to see the light of day as they emerge from their boxes. In the kitchen platters of fish are dressed up, salad is tossed with colorful vegetables, and delectable cookies of many genres are piled on to plates.
Punctually at 11:30 the event officially starts. The jewelry table draws an instant crowd. Others study the bid sheets or discover an attractive treasure on the bargain table while balancing a glass of wine in the other hand. Engaging raffle ticket sellers with good business instincts make their rounds. By noon the atrium is buzzing with activity and everything is in full swing. Old friends greet each other. New acquaintances are made and the noise level rises. Then the lunch gong sounds.
There can hardly be a tastier luncheon than home-poached salmon with pasta, cucumber and green salads. Add a piece of French cheese and a slice of baguette to your plate and, well, what more could you ask for except perhaps a few of the marvelous cookies and a cup of coffee to top it off.
After lunch all hands are busy searching in pockets and purses for a string or two of raffle tickets and soon 400 ears are cocked to hear the winning numbers. One beaming face after another comes to claim a basket. When the last is gone the dining area empties quickly. Now there is renewed energy around the auction tables as people add to the bid sheets. A ringing bell announces a table’s closure and the winning bidders eagerly collect their goods. By the time the final auction bell has rung, the clean-up crew is already well into their routine in the dining area and kitchen, where the leftovers sale is a big hit. Delicious salmon for sale at a good price! Twelve homemade cookies for $3.00! In the atrium the din lessens as people leave, but at the overwhelmed treasurers’ table the auction is still in full swing. Twenty-dollar bills are flying from one outstretched hand to another. Then all is over and the activity starts in reverse order like a movie running backwards. Boxes are packed up, card tables folded, and cars loaded with all that is left. Punctually at 3:00 p.m. the church is vacated. Not a table, not even a scrap of paper is in sight. You would never guess what vibrancy, generosity and industriousness had reigned in there for the preceding six hours.
The queen bee is content
Fan Albritton, Julia Wenk and Heidi Hartman
Raffle Baskets
Due to spirited selling and buying, the raffle was a tremendous success this year, bringing in $1,984!!! We had 15 baskets bulging with delicious, attractive and interesting items generously provided by various sections. Many thanks to all who helped make this one of the best raffles ever in Beehive history!
Mary-Ellis Adams
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Intercampus Gathering
On Monday, March 22, twenty of us boarded the bus at 7:30 AM for Santa Cruz to participate in this year’s Intercampus gathering. It was a beautiful day, and after a pleasant ride with little traffic, we arrived at the Santa Cruz campus in time to enjoy a continental breakfast and a warm welcome from Chancellor George Blumenthal.
The first speaker on the program was Bruce Margon, Vice Chancellor for Research, and he gave an extremely interesting talk about the Hubble Space Telescope and the photos, which have been taken. I was afraid that it might be “too scientific” for many of us, but it was really fascinating to see the many varied pictures of stars being created or even dying.
We were treated to a delightful concert by the choral group of UCSC Women’s Club – Fiat Musica and then another interesting talk about the setting up of the UC Santa Cruz Grateful Dead Archive and how the library was able to get the archives.
Lunch was a buffet and many of us enjoyed the break on the patio with excellent food. This was followed by another talk on The Genome 10K Project: A Genetic Map of 10,000 Species. While many of us are not really familiar with genome information, we all came away with a little better understanding of genomes, DNA, etc.
We ended the day by going on one of four tours. Everyone seemed to enjoy theirs and my group going through the Arboretum had a great time. Then it was on to the bus, and back to Berkeley by 5:15. Oh, the joy of the carpool lane!
Sally Stevens, Chair
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Grants Report
We have given out one more grant since our January meeting. We gave $1000 to a graduate student with minors in math and computer science with a 3.9 GPA.
She had a dental emergency which cost $2000. The dentist agreed that she could pay off the other $1000 over a period of time. In her thank-you note, she said: “I cannot really find the words to express by gratitude for your tremendous generosity and for your virtuous act of kindness and understanding.”
Donna Oliver, Chair
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SOS
The Sylvia Elberg Memorial Fund has given 14 grants worth $6547 since August 28, 2009. That means that we gave two grants worth $935 since last I wrote. Both of these grants were to cover co-pays and ambulance rides connected to emergency appendectomies. I expect an increase in requests as we get nearer to the end of the academic year and the students run out of financial aid. I would like to share bits of some of the thank you notes we have received.
“Most wonderful Members of the University Section Club, Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Your generous award served as an answer to my prayers and went a long way to helping me commute to my doctor’s office.”
“Dear SOS Committee, I just wanted to thank you so much for helping me with my emergency room and ambulance expenses. It has been a rough semester for me academically (because I missed classes), health wise and financially (the medical expenses were not an anticipated expense in my limited full scholarship budget). I thank you for lifting this weight from me.”
The last one I will share with you is from one of the students who received one of the most recent grants. He wrote “I am grateful to be one of the recipients of the Sylvia Elberg Memorial Fund offered by the SOS Committee, to help finance my hospital bill. Thanks due to your generous support, I free myself from financial burden; today I have scheduled to pay all of the bill in full within this month. From now on I can be back to my graduate study with 100% concentration. Thank you again. I do appreciate your understanding and support for an international student, which is far more than the thanks I try to say.”
It is letters like these that make this job so rewarding.
I invited our liaisons to our Beehive. I wish to share a little of the letter I received from the new Director of the Disabled Students’ Program. Paul Hippolitus was planning to come but found he had to be out of town that day. He wrote, “I very much looked forward to this event not only because of the good work of the University Section Club, but also because of my desire to thank you and the members for your continuing support of the Disabled Students’ Program and our students. During my first six months in this position the DSP staff has told me about your organization’s long standing support and good work.” This letter was accompanied by a generous check. I was truly touched.
As an aside, two of our liaisons who were invited to the Beehive, won raffle baskets.
In my last article for the Breeze I wrote about some of our results of our SOS Spring business meeting, where we distributed our SOS funds: the Peer Advising Group for SLAS/EOP, the Bear Pantry Project, and the piano at University Village. We also helped with the purchase of five light scribe Smart Pens that can be use to take notes. They include a digital recorder that creates a sound file that can be indexed to a student’s notes. We also gave money towards a student stipend to help launch a new group called Veteran Outreach for Women through the TRSP Center and we donated some funds towards replacing worn out sofas in the TRSP Center. Lastly we gave funds towards a speaker and film during Mind-Body Awareness Week as requested by the University Health Center.
Our SOS Spring Business Meeting this year will be on Tuesday, April 20, from 2-4 PM in the Class of ’42 Room of the Tang Center. At this time we will review funding requests from our SOS Campus liaisons, which are intended for special projects or equipment that aid groups of students. Anyone interested in this process is welcome. We will also be looking for volunteers to be the contact persons for our campus liaisons. If you might be interested in being a contact person, please let me know. I am looking for a volunteer to take my place as contact person to the Tang Center.
Finally, I am happy to report that Audrey Richards has volunteered to be co-chair of the SOS Committee with Beverley Bolt for 2010-2011.
Thank you for the privilege of allowing me to be the Chair of the SOS Committee for the last two years. I have loved it! It is the most rewarding job of the Section Club.
Betsy Smith, Chair
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JAPAN DAY EVENT AT THE CENTRE
Japan Day at The Centre is always a big treat and March 11 was typically colorful and entertaining. There were lots of Japanese artifacts, including two gorgeous kimonos, which Libby Kanowitz brought to share as she spoke about her many years of travel in Japan.
The entertainment was provided by two very talented visitors, Hiroko Hayashi on the flute and Mutsuko Dohi on piano. Mutsuko studied in Russia and is married to a Russian.
These two also did a sushi making demonstration, which resulted in a sushi-eating event.
Judy Gordon, Co-Chair
Upcoming Events At The Centre:
April 29 –SPRING CONCERT with the Section Club chorus
May 6 – MOTHERS’ DAY with making cards
May 13 - POTLUCK LUNCHEON Please participate by bringing a special dish from your country.
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Volunteers Needed at The Centre
The Centre is a resource to support our International Student and Scholars and their families. Come join us to meet and socialize with them. A weekly event is held every Thursday morning from 9:30 AM to noon at the YWCA on Bancroft Way. You may want to improve on your languages as well. Contact any of the following Chair members:
Grace Kobayshi, Marjorie Sauer, Judy Gordon, Heike Feltes, Sylvia Rock
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Report of the Nominating Committee
Nominees for the 2010-2011 Board of Directors
President Mary-Ellis Adams
President-Elect Melinda Buchanan
Past President Julia Wenk
Secretary Lynn DeJonghe
Secretary-Elect Sue Watz
Corresponding Sec. Susan Klipfel
Treasurer Rita Purcell
Treasurer-Elect Mary Kay Duggan
The members of this committee deserve a vote of thanks from the University Section Club. They worked very hard to recruit a slate of officers for the coming year. The members are: Geneviève Dreyfus, Dolores Williamson, Mary-Ellis Adams, Julie Wenk and Sonja Vélez.
Sally Presser, Chair
PROPOSED BUDGET 2010 – 2011
Income
Dues 11,000
Thrift 1,000
Interest 300
Beehive 15,400
Total Income 27,700
Expenses
Bulletin 4,000
Fall Reception 500
Breeze 1,000
Bulk Mail Fee 200
Tax Board 50
Operating Expenses 300
Insurance 2,200
Board Expenses 300
Web Site 100
Intercampus 150
Miscellaneous 400
Total Operating Expenses 9,200
Disbursement
SOS 4,500
Student Grants 6,000
Elberg Fund 7,000
ISSC 1,000
Total Disbursement 18,500
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Sisterhood of the Pin
Section Club members rapidly purchased nine of the ten Dove pins, obtained by members, Terry de Luca Schooler and Joan Finnie, our ambassadors to jeweler Celine et Jeanne. The tenth one was presented to Professor Ananya Roy at the end of her Winter Dinner speech. Every new owner is now proud to wear the pin and be part of the “Sisterhood of the Pin.”
Terry and Joan have graciously offered to procure more pins. However, you will need to pre-order them. To do so, please contact Terry or Joan. Send a check made out to “University Section Club, Inc.” for a sum of $110.00 to the attention of the TREASURER, University Section Club, UC Berkeley, Tang Center, 2222 Bancroft Way 94720-4300
On the memo of your check please write: Dove Pin.
Geneviève Dreyfus
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June 26, 2010 - Sad News
Doris Fine's husband, Philip Selznik, professor emeritus of law and sociology, died last week.
http://berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2010/06/16_selznick.shtml
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From Winter 2010 Breeze
In Memorian
Leona Greenbaum Wilson
October 30, 1929 – November 13, 2009
Friends and family gathered on November 1, 2009 to celebrate Leona’s 80th birthday. She said good-bye to a loving circle of people the way she liked to live: entertaining in her beautiful garden with a profusion of food and the sound of a talented harpist while conversing over interesting current events. Married to UC Berkeley Professor, Allan Wilson, Leona stimulated his work on Human and Molecular Evolution and helped to spread his ideas and achievements both before and after his death. The Italian Section deeply mourns her loss and her generous and outgoing personality.
Ciao, Leona!
Giulia Massari,
Eleanor Thune
Eleanor was a remarkable woman, one whom her family called a Renaissance woman of innate intelligence. She was born in Sparks, Nevada in 1919 and died November 7, 2009.
When her family moved to San Francisco, Eleanor discovered a life-long passion for tennis, which she played from age 14 to 86, some 72 years. She graduated from UC Berkeley in 1941 with a BA in Economics. She developed another passion for bridge while living at International House for her junior and senior years.
After graduation she worked at Shell Development until she married James C. Armstrong in 1942. Since Shell did not employ married women, she had to quit. During World War II she was able to work at Bechtel as a draftswoman.
Eleanor gave birth to 4 children, 2 boys and 2 girls. She and her husband built a home that was designed by architect, Bernard Maybeck, without contractors in Kensington.
In 1966 Eleanor married John Thune with whom she traveled the world. She climbed the Matterhorn, Mt. Fuji twice and hiked 500 miles in Nepal to the base camp of Mt. Everest. Later she worked part time at International House and was a docent at the Lawrence Hall of Science. She participated in numerous organizations, including the University Section Club. The Book Section so enjoyed having meetings at her home, which resembled a small museum, full of artifacts from her travels. Eleanor lived a full life with her share of challenges while always maintaining a calm and positive can-do spirit.
Lola Harris with
Christine Armstrong Peters
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From Fall 2009 Breeze
In Memorian
Lois Griffin Stevenson, 1925 – 2009
Lois Stevenson was an artistic woman, beloved by her family and countless friends, with particular interests in music, theatre and literature. With her passion and energy, she encouraged performance in many venues. At her Memorial Service to honor her life and abiding love for literature and drama, friends from the Drama Section performed three literary vignettes. Bert Miller read a description of Elizabeth Bennett from Pride and Prejudice that could have been written about Lois herself. Jane Austin was Lois’ favorite author, so the team of Gloria and Robert Bloom performed the tender scene in which Mr. D’Arcy proposes marriage to Miss Elizabeth Bennett. And, finally, to remember Lois Stevenson’s most recent production for the Drama Section, Neil Simon’s Come Blow Your Horn, Nancy and George Leitmann replayed a hilarious scene between a powerful, but somewhat befuddled mother and her son, who is trying to save her from the truth of what is going on. We heard a gorgeous performance by her daughter, a professional violinist, and many moving statements from family and friends. It was a memorable celebration of an extraordinary lady’s life.
Elizabeth Balderston
Mary Dee Vermeulen, 1916 – 2009
Mary Dee Vermeulen, born December 10, 1916 in Los Angeles, CA, widow of the late Professor Theodore Vermeulen of UC, died on April 9, 2009 at the age of 92 of respiratory failure following heart surgery in March. A resident of Berkeley since 1941, she was alert and optimistic to the end. She attended Belmont High School in LA, graduating as valedictorian in 1934, and graduated from UCLA in 1939. She remained active in UCLA alumni affairs on the board of directors of the Helen Mathewson Club, providing scholarships to needy students. She also remained active at UC Berkeley as a member of the Emeriti Association and the Section Club. Her closest friends had been, and remained, high school classmates and faculty members and their wives. In her earlier years she was very active in the Foreign Student Housing Committee, and in her later years she was involved and helpful with the UC Faculty Club staff at Emeriti events. In 2006, with the help of her husband’s former students and colleagues, she was instrumental in establishing the Theodore Vermeulen Endowed Chair in Chemical Engineering at UC Berkeley. She is survived by her sons and their wives, six grandchildren and ten great-grand children. She took great pride and pleasure in her family. A memorial service was held at the UC Faculty Club on June 20.
Sue Cork
Leona Wilson
Leona died Friday evening November 13, peacefully in her sleep. She
was 80. She was an active member of the Italian section and until recently in
Adventure section.
There will be a memorial service Monday November 30 at noon at the
Sunset mortuary, Colusa at Fairmount, El Cerrito. Friends are
encouraged to speak about their memories of Leona.
University Section Club, Inc. |
2222 Bancroft Way Berkeley, CA 94720-4300 |
A Non-Profit Organization in the State of California Email: usectionclub@berkeley.edu |