UPCOMING EVENTS
Philadelphia: Supper Club le Swarthmore is gaining momentum! The group meets once a month, always at a different restaurant, to enjoy tasty cuisine and good conversation. Everyone is welcome. Check the Alumni Events Web site for each month's details, or contact Connection Chairs Bruce Gould '54 at brucegould54@hotmail.com or (215) 563-4811 or Jim Moskowitz '88 at jimmosk@yahoo.com or (610) 604-0669. Sign up for the Philadelphia Connection listserv to be informed electronically.
Pittsburgh: Connection Chair Melissa Kelley '80 arranged for tickets to the Pirates/ Phillies game in June at the brand-new PNC Park--quite a feat because the entire season at this two-tiered, 38,000-seat stadium is completely sold out. If you are interested in attending, contact Melissa at mkhaver@aol.com or (412) 321-4932.
Swarthmore: A Swarthmore Alumnae Women's Tennis Match is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 6. Save this date for the first-ever Women's Tennis Team alumnae match. If you have questions or want to sign up, contact Rani Shankar '98 at rani-shan-kar@yahoo.com or (617) 628-5075.
RECENT EVENTS
Boston: Saccos Bowl Haven, a '50s-style bowling alley featuring candlepin bowling, was the site of a Boston Connection Event in February. Connection Chair Leah Gotcsik '97 and Ahna Dewan '96 arranged this nostalgic event for alums and their families.
Chicago: For Connection members who could not get to campus for Alumni Weekend, Marilee Roberg '73 arranged for a Swarthmore experience in Chicago instead. The Connection attended the City Lit's production of Jeeves and the Mating Season, based on a novel by P.G. Wodehouse. After the performance, there was a question-and-answer session with the cast, followed by dinner at a local restaurant.
London: Lucy Rickman Baruch '42 arranged for Swatties to hear Serena Canin '88 play in the Brentano String Quartet at Wigmore Hall. The group enjoyed an informal get-together before the concert.
New York: Jazz guitarist Lou Garrett '97 debuted his new quintet "Into the Fall" and new compositions at one of New York's premiere creative jazz venues The Jazz/Cabaret Room at The Cornelia Street Café. Thanks to Sanda Balaban '94, Connection chair, for making this event happen.
The New York Connection got some exercise and raised money for a worthy cause by participating in the AIDS WALK 2001 in May. Connection Co-Chair Debbie Branker Harrod '89 led the Swarthmore team in this worthy event.
North Carolina: In April, Connection Chair George Telford '84 arranged for a Wildflower Hike in Eno River State Park with Durham naturalist Milo Pyne. Pete Campbell '62 summed up the event: "Thanks so much for a wonderful Eno naturalist tour reminiscent of Swarthmore springs wandering the woods of Crum Creek--but without the anxiety of pending exams to diminish our ability to enjoy every moment."
Philadelphia: Co-chairs Bruce Gould '54 and Jim Moskowitz '88 sponsored several events to keep the winter doldrums away from Connection members. In February, U.S. Representative Rush Holt (D-N.J.) presented "A Swarthmore Perspective on Congress." Former Swarthmore Physics Professor Rush Holt was elected to the House of Representatives in 1998. Last year, he was re-elected from his largely Republican district in the second-closest major race in the nation! (And the first was….)
In March, the Connection enjoyed an evening of classical music featuring cellist Lynn Harrell at the Curtis Institute of Music. April showered the Philadelphia Connection with two exciting presentations by Swatties. Tom Sgouros '82 and Judy the Robot answered the age-old question: If you build a robot smart enough to do the dishes, will it also be smart enough to be bored?
The group also enjoyed the Pig Iron Theatre Co.'s newest original work, Anodyne. Pig Iron Theatre Co. is an international touring dance-clown-theater ensemble based in Philadelphia. The company's four artistic directors are Swarthmore alums--Solveig Holum '97, Daniel Rothenberg '95, Fernando van Reigersberg '94, and Quinn Bauriedel '94--as is managing director Lars Jan '00.
In May, Jim Moskowitz '88, who developed the Franklin Institute's new Sports Challenge exhibit, hosted an event for alums and their families at the exhibit. Jim shared his experiences of how the exhibit was created and helped everyone get the most out of their visit.
Philadelphia Recent Graduates: This fledgling group is off to a terrific start! In February, the group's first event was at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. In April, Sarah Keith '94 graciously hosted an event at her apartment in Philadelphia's Old City. Approximately 30 young alumni spent a few hours mixing and mingling. A number of them went on to two local clubs, where Graham Richmond '95 and Meghan Hayes '93 were performing. This event was the second in what will, it is hoped, become an occasional outing for recent graduates living in the Philadelphia area. For information, contact Ben Stern '96 at benjaminstern@hotmail.com, Geoff Cline '96 at geoffcline@- alum.swarthmore.edu, or Kristen Lockwood Cline '96 at kcline@morganlewis.com.
Seattle: This Connection literally rocks. Connection Chair Deb Read '87 had to reschedule her wine-tasting event in February because of the earthquake that hit the Seattle area the day the event was scheduled. Don't worry, Seattle, there will be more events in the future!
The last weekend in March was a busy one at Swarthmore. Family Weekend, the Lax Lecture, and Alumni Council's spring meeting brought many alumni and visitors to campus. Clocks were moved forward one hour, and students ventured into the icy water of Crum Creek for the annual regatta held on April Fool's Day--coincidence?
The Alumni Council convened its spring meeting on Friday evening with a reception and dinner, followed by a presentation by Provost Jennie Keith and members of the Athletic Review Committee. The Saturday morning general session was composed mainly of reports.
President Alfred H. Bloom gave the Council an update on many issues affecting the College, followed by a lively question-and-answer session. After reports on the February Board of Managers meeting and recent activities in Alumni Relations, the Council members were delighted to hear of the success of this year's Extern Program from Cynthia Graae '62, national coordinator of the Extern Program.
Many thanks to those alumni who have sponsored an extern in their workplace or hosted an extern in their home. Connection chairs reviewed their regional events for the year&emdash;it's amazing how many events took place all around the country.
The Council's three Working Groups (College Advisory and Support, Alumni Support, and Student Support) discussed specific issues and determined action plans for the coming months.
The Career Planning Office sponsored a Career Networking Dinner on Saturday. This dinner matches students with council members who shared their experiences in the workplace and is a wonderful opportunity for alumni-student interaction.
Steve Lin, the College's Web editor and Internet coordinator, showed a proposed new College Web site design and fielded questions from Council members regarding College Web services.
The meeting was adjourned by Elenor Reid '67, who served at her last spring meeting as Council president. On Alumni Weekend, she will hand over her duties to Rich Truitt '66, who will be Alumni Council president for the next two years. The College, and the Alumni Relations Office in particular, greatly appreciates all of Elenor's fine work on and thoughtful guidance of the Alumni Council.
Co-Supreme Sages Anne Matthews Rawson '50 and James Fligg '50 invited Garnet Sages on a two-day spring outing to explore two Western Pennsylvania homes designed by Frank Lloyd Wright: Fallingwater and Kentuck Knob. Phil Gilbert '48 made the arrangements to visit these homes, and the Sages are grateful for his efforts.
Forty-four Sages joined Director of Alumni Relations Lisa Lee '81 on this trip in April. Although they departed while a spring snow was flying, the weather cleared, and the Sages were able to enjoy the first few days of springtime in western Pennsylvania.
The group was delighted to be accompanied by Kaori Kitao, the William R. Kenan, Jr., Professor of Art History. Professor Kitao, who retired this spring, gave a talk during the trip on "Architecture and Art."
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