Las Vegas Chapter Bulletin
December 2014/January/2015
Issue 149
Mailed Bi-Monthly
Inside this issue
UNIVERSITY ON WHEELS
Bruce Magid, Dean of Brandeis International Business School , will be our guest speaker at the 2015 University on Wheels brunch on January 4, 2015. The event is scheduled to begin at 11:30 A.M. and will be held at Canyon Gate Country Club, 2001 Canyon Gate Drive. Please see the flyer which is included for the menu and reservations.
Proceeds from the event will benefit the Sustaining the Mind Campaign at Brandeis
University.
Front Page -University
on Wheels
2. University on
Wheels (cont.) &
President’s Message
3. President’s Message (cont.)
4. On the Town
5. Study Groups
Dr. Magid will speak about the new world economic order and how America’s dominance and leadership is being challenged by China and Russia. He will also discuss the
political chaos in the Middle East and how that conflict is diverting the attention from
the increasingly tough challenges with regard to energy, climate change, nuclear proliferation, water shortages, and the continued lack of basic social services to a large portion of the word’s population.
Bruce R. Magid, PhD has served as Dean of Brandeis International Business School
since 2007. He holds the Martin and Ahuva Gross Chair in Financial Markets and Institutions. He serves as Executive Director of the Perlmutter Institute for Global Business
Leadership. Previously, he was Dean of the College of Business and Lucas Graduate
School of Business at San Jose State University. Prior to this role, he was the founding
Executive Director of Michigan State University’s online degree and certificate programs.
He began his career as an advisor to the Minister of Planning, Republic of Venezuela.
He then joined Bank of America and over a 20-year career held positions in Venezuela,
Brazil, and the United States. He served as Director of Economics, Latin America
6 .University on
Wheels Flyer
7. Brandeis Briefs
8. Tributes Flyer
9. Jewish Film Festival
& Meet Your Board
Members
10. Save The Date
11. On The Campus
UNIVERSITY ON WHEELS (cont.)
Division, Director of International Economics and Policy Research, Executive Assistant to the Chairman and
CEO, and Managing Director, Latin America Corporate Finance.
He received a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy, and a PhD in International Relations from the Fletcher
School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service from
Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service. At Georgetown, he received the Constantine McGuire
Medal. He was the recipient of the Circumnavigators Travel Study Grant, Organization of American States Research Fellowship, and the Shell Foundation’s International Studies Fellowship. Dr. Magid lectures and consults
on geopolitics, the global economy, and international business. He specializes in Latin American business and
financial markets.
President’s Message
STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE
There is an expression used in baseball, “stepping up to the plate.” I can think of no
other expression that can be used when our volunteers undertake some difficult, unplanned responsibility. Picture us in one of our committee meetings with a group of
volunteers sitting around a dining room table, coffee cups in hand, braced for the oncoming discussion. A major task required for our coming event is read from the
agenda. Silence follows. Then one of our volunteers says, “I’ll do it.” We all breathe a
sigh of relief.
Why do they do it? Time spent on Brandeis tasks cuts into time for reading books, visiting with friends, taking trips, and finding sales with irresistible bargains. My husband has taken over many household tasks so
that I can spend more time carrying out the duties of a Brandeis National Committee chapter president. You
don’t do this sort of thing just to make friends.
Brandeis members love our study groups, but the efforts of volunteers go way beyond study groups. Our
volunteers are deeply committed to the mission of Brandeis National Committee. Why do they spend their
time and effort for the benefit of Brandeis University? We are bombarded for requests for contributions to
good causes. We pick and choose our donations to nonprofits carefully. Speaking for myself, I wish I could
give a million dollars to all my pet causes, or even a million dollars to one of them. But I choose to give my
efforts and money to a university whose mission struck a chord in my heart even though I never went there.
(However, I did go to an excellent university, but I was accepted on the basis of an entrance exam, not
grades).
(cont. on Page 3)
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President’s Message
(cont. from Page 2)
Brandeis is one of the youngest private research universities, and it is already known for its academic excellence and outstanding research. Brandeis is not a Jewish university, but it is the only nonsectarian Jewishsponsored university in the country. The university is proud of its diversity, with 15% of its undergraduate
school from 65 countries and 32% of its graduate school from 99 countries.
The emphasis Brandeis places on social justice is the major reason why I am so devoted to the university. The
concern with social justice is part of the university’s mission and speaks to its core educational commitments.
Its programs do not seek to promote a particular ideological agenda, but rather to spark creative thinking
about complex social problems. When I went to college, social justice was not an issue. We were expected to
achieve in our areas on a very high level, but social justice was never part of the equation.
At Brandeis, students have unsurpassed access to faculty who are renowned for groundbreaking research,
scholarship, and artistic output. The science faculty has superstars in neurodegenerative diseases. Professors
bring new knowledge straight from the field or laboratory to the graduate and undergraduate classrooms.
Undergraduates, from their very first year, enjoy leadership positions and research opportunities typically
available only to upper-class and graduate students.
The volunteers of Brandeis National Committee help to make this possible. As president of the BNC Las Vegas
chapter, I am so grateful to those who step up to the plate and make this wonderful organization so successful.
Meera Kamegai,
President
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On The Town
November
Our group was so delighted by our visit to the Lion Habitat Ranch where our docent introduced us to many of the lions (by name) who are living out their retirement being cared for
by devoted handlers led by Cristina Cueller. We got very close to
the lions where we were face to face with these amazing creatures. If you missed it, try to go and see on your own.
December
On Wednesday December 3 our group will be visiting Three Square Food Bank at 4190 N.
Pecos Road where we will have a docent-led tour of the facility which helps feed the more than 315,000 Las Vegans
who struggle with hunger. Of that number 125,000 are children. We will meet at the center at
10:45 for our 11:00 am tour. After the visit to the food bank, we will proceed to have lunch “on
our own” at the Eastside Cannery at 5255 Boulder Highway. To participate, send a $20 check
made out to BNC to: Arlene Krane, 2552 Banora Point Drive LV NV 89134. $10 of each participant’s contribution will go to help with the Food Bank.
Directions
From the West
Take Summerlin Pky E. Merge onto US-95 S. Merge onto I-15 N via Exit 76A toward US-93N/Salt Lake city. Take the
Craig Road exit, Exit 48. Keep right to take the Craig Road E ramp. Merge onto E Craig Rd/NV-573. Take the 1st right
onto N. Pecos Rd. The Three Square Food Bank will be on the right.
From the East
Take Sun City Anthem Dr. Turn left onto Volunteer Blvd. Turn right onto Las Vegas Blvd S/NV-604. Turn right onto
Silverado Ranch Blvd. Merge onto I-15N. Take the I-15N Express which becomes I-15 N and then becomes I-15 N
again . Take the Craig Rd exit, Exit 48. Keep right to take the Craig Rd. E ramp. Merge onto E Craig Rd/NV573. Take
the 1st right onto N. Pecos Rd. The Three Square will be on the left.
January
On Wednesday, January 7 our group will be back at the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Arts to see the magnificent Faberge
Revealed collection on a docent led tour at 11:00 am sharp. The group will assemble at 10:45 in front of the Gallery.
The name Faberge is synonymous with refined craftsmanship, jeweled luxury, and the last days of the doomed Russian Empire. Faberge Revealed will offer a rare opportunity to view a dazzling array of more than 200 elegant
objects by the celebrated jeweler to Russian Tsars Alexander III and his son and successor,
Nicholas II, including four imperial Easter Eggs. Visitors will be treated to a stunning array of enameled
picture frames, gold cigarette cases, hardstone animals, decorative boxes, and jeweled brooches. Following our tour, we will have lunch “on our own” at the Bellagio Café.
To participate send a $21 check made out to BNC to Arlene Krane at the above address. Those who are
members of the Gallery will send an $11 check.
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Study Groups
How are we doing?
Basic Modern Hebrew, French or Spanish.
Most of the Study Groups are doing very well. A few
groups did not make it for lack of enrollment. We
hope you are enjoying your other classes. If you ran
into any problems, please let Gay Lynne Kegan or Arlene Krane know. We will try to help.
Responding to Facilitators
Please remember to respond to your facilitator as
soon as you receive their message with a Yes or No.
Your cooperation is crucial to the success of our Study
Groups. Please let advisors know if you wish to be
added to a group and/or you have decided not to continue with a class.
Already Planning Ahead
Even though we are not too far into this year’s Study
Groups, we are already looking forward to next year’s
programs. We have had many suggestions and have
asked for the Board’s reactions. Now, we are asking
you to react to these proposals. Do they interest you
or someone you know (even a college level person)
(by name only at this point). We came up with one we
are pretty sure will interest you — meeting our City
Leaders where we ask the Mayor, the Attorney General, Members of the City Counsel and/or would be
Clark County Commissioners and so on. Others that
have been proposed are: Current Issues, Care Givers
Support Group, Opera and/or Music Appreciation; a
group of singers who visit to entertain at Senior Centers, Transitions in Women’s lives, classes in
What will Your Contribution Be??
You each have to look deep in your hearts and think
about how you can make our new Study Programs
more successful. Most of you have a special talent you
can share. Think of just one thing you could contribute. If you can’t , come up with someone who could.
We appreciate your help. Call Gay Lynne Kegan or Arlene Krane and we’ll help follow your suggestions.
Arlene Krane
702-255-6667
arkrane@gmail.com
Gay Lynne Kegan
702-233-8218
glynne@aol.com
.
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Brandeis National Committee, Las Vegas
Geopolitics
Energy
Social Justice
Bruce Magid, Dean
Brandeis International Business School
University on Wheels Brunch at the
CANYON GATE COUNTRY CLUB
Sunday, January 4, 2015 at 11:30 A.M. Cost $40
Menu: Bagels and Cream Cheese, Sunburst Salad, Vegetable Frittata, Tilapia,
Fresh Fruit, Roasted Potatoes, Pound Cake with Berry Compote and Beverages
Send your reservation and $40.00 per person to Marilyn Shocket, 8837 Cortile Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89134
Name:_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Email:______________________________________ Telephone:______________________________________________
Seating Preferences ___________________________________________________________________________________
Make your reservation by December 26, 2014—Be an angel for $50—Be a benefactor for $60
Proceeds from this event are dedicated to the Sustaining the Mind campaign for research in
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neurodegenerative diseases and scholarships for science students
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Good Wishes for October- November Birthdays
DECEMBER
JANUARY
BRANDEIS BRIEFS
1 Lenore Seidman
4 Sue Schweitzer
6 Stan Farber
7 Ellen Scully
10 Gladyce Ehrlich
11 Adrianne Rubin
18 Ruth Kaplow
21 Linda White
25 Denise Needleman
25 Lori Barnes
25 Phyllis Eisenberg Helfer
25 Lorraine Coleman
1 Lois Kline
2 Edith Einhorn
25 Janet Seidel
25 Nancy Lebish
Condolences to Lorraine Coleman
on the death of her husband,
Howard.
Condolences to Carole Slack on
the death of her husband, Don
Condolences to Steve Taylor and Evelyn Brunner
on the death of Steve’s mother.
Get Well Wishes to Gale Labovitz, Stan Farber
and Meera Kamegai, and Edie Edwards.
Congratulations to Charlotte Kuklin on becoming
a GREAT Grandmother.
Congratulations to Ellen Scully on the birth of
her GREAT Grandson, Samuel David.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU?
Don’t see your birthday listed here? We would like to
acknowledge your birthday - but we need to know
when it is. My birthday is in October. When is yours?
Email me your birthdate (day and month only) and I
will do the rest.
Arlene Zonder
Congratulations to Gale and Mort Labovitz on
the Bat Mitzvah of their granddaughter Rachel.
Without the news that I receive about our members from our members, there can be NO
Brandeis Briefs. Please contact me and lets
share the good and sad news with each other.
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Books are the carriers of civilization. Without books, history is silent, literature dumb, science crippled, thought and
speculation at a standstill. — Barbara Tuchman
BOOK FUND TRIBUTES
For information on how to order, call Eunice at 702-395-2569
or send an email to Eunice70@cox.net
You can also print and complete this form. Mail it with your check to
Eunice Willard
10416 Chimney Flat Court
Las Vegas. NV 89129
$5 Blue & White Tribute Card
$105 Judaica Collection
$10 Goldfarb Library at Night Card
$205 Research Journal File
$18 Louis Brandeis Portrait Card (Chai)
$505 Major Book Collection
$40 LRJ with Newly Designed Inserts
$505 Journal Guarantor Endowed Fund
$60 Medical Science Journal Folio
Other Major Donations
Send Tribute to:
NAME (please print)
ADDRESS:
CITY:
STATE:
Send Tribute From:
NAME
PHONE NUMBER:
ZIP:
ADDRESS:
CITY:
STATE:
ZIP:
CHECK ONE:

IN HONOR OF:

IN MEMORY OF:

OCCASION:
Birthday, Anniversary, Special Thank You, New Grandchild, Get Well, Bar Mitzvah, Congratulations, etc.
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JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL
The Jewish Film Festival is coming in January and our BNC Chapter will participate
as a sponsor again this year. A complete list of films should be available
shortly, along with the dates that each will be shown. In the past, the movies
have been shown at the Adelson Educational Campus and the SouthPoint Casino,
among others.
Passes will be offered for $50.00 and individual tickets will be $10.00 each.
Gale Labovitz will take reservations for the passes and the tickets. Please contact her at :
mogalab@cox.net or
702 - 254-9978.
Meet Your Board Members
Ronnie Sander
I was born in the Bronx, New York and raised in Mosholu Parkway. I graduated from Bronx Community College and
Lehman College with a Bachelor of Arts.
I joined the Blood Program of new York in the late 70’s and transferred over to the American Red Cross in 1981. I
managed the staff and all the volunteers. I was also responsible for fund raising and honoring people who did charitable work, such as Alzheimer's and Dementia organizations in the New York City area.
I left the Red Cross in the early 90’s and decided to go back to school to learn computers. I was later certified in the
New York City Public School System as a Paraprofessional. This meant assisting the teachers in the classroom either
with the whole class or one on one. This was very gratifying and I would love to do the same in Las Vegas. I also
volunteered with the League of the Hard of Hearing in the children’s division. I also worked with an organization
that trapped and released neighborhood feral cats.
I joined Brandeis in September of 2013. I enjoy participating in the Study Groups, which I find educational and I think
the teachers are superb.
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SAVE THE DATE
BOOK & AUTHOR LUNCHEON
SUNDAY, MARCH 8, 2015
TOURNAMENT PLAYERS CLUB SUMMERLIN
Proceeds to benefit the
Sustaining the Mind Campaign
This year’s authors will be:
Jon Ralston, host of the statewide TV program, “Ralston: Reports.” He will speak about his book, The Anointed One,
an Inside Look at Nevada Politics. The book deals with Kenny Guinn and his landslide election to Governor.
Arlene Krieger has written five books mainly about Las Vegas entertainers. Her book, Tony Sacca, Las Vegas Ambassador of Entertainment, takes the reader on a 50 year journey of hard work, parties, exotic cars, women and stardom.
Tony Sacca started in show business with his twin brother at the age of 12. He is the host of the longest running
local entertainment television show and will entertain us with story and song.
We are happy to announce that we will honor Gale and Mordecai Labovitz with the Chapter Outstanding Service
Award for their 12 year service to our chapter and a lifetime of commitment in serving the Jewish Community in
Maryland and Las Vegas.
WE NEED YOUR HELP
We will be posting a special bulletin on the website in January along with letters that you may use to request items
to go into our wonderful opportunity baskets and forms to complete for our ad book. In the meantime, think of
businesses and friends you can ask to donate product, services, or buy an ad. We need lots of bodies to make this a
successful event. To volunteer, contact:
Evelyn Brunner at 702-823-3065 or evelyn.brunner@cox.net
Jo-Ann Geller at 702-656-1666 or socialadylv@embarqmail.com
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ON THE CAMPUS
Fein Gift Lets Recruitment Efforts ‘Go West’
Longtime benefactor Edward Fein has committed $5 million to support scholarships, one of the largest gifts
in the university’s history dedicated to ensuring that Brandeis maintains its core mission to educate the best
students without regard to financial need.
Fein’s gift will support scholarships that target students who hail from California, Arizona and Nevada,
providing a significant boost to Brandeis’ efforts to attract high-achieving students from the West.
“We thank Ed Fein for this generous gift, which permits Brandeis to support our students through scholarship aid, and to continue to expand our recruitment efforts in the West,” President Frederick Lawrence says.
“This scholarship program will help us further raise the profile of Brandeis in the western United States.”
The gift grew out of a meeting between Lawrence and Fein, a retired Wall Street analyst and stockbroker,
whose decades-long philanthropic focus has been innovative educational programs, and Jewish continuity
and engagement. As Fein spoke of his affection for Brandeis and his desire to provide more young people
from the West with the opportunity to attend the institution, Lawrence relayed his interest in recruiting
more students from the region and in strengthening the university’s financial aid funding.
And so was born the Edward Fein Scholarship Program, a fortuitous melding of a donor’s vision and an institution’s mission.
Fein, a Brooklyn native, who owns homes in Arizona and Nevada, has generously supported Brandeis for
more than a decade.
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Brandeis University
Brandeis National Committee
Las Vegas Chapter
2133 Sierra Heights Dr.
Las Vegas, NV 89134
FIRST CLASS
BNC Mission Statement
Brandeis National Committee is an organization committed to providing philanthropic
support to Brandeis University, a distinguished liberal arts and research university founded by the American Jewish community. Its membership remains connected to the university through fundraising and through activities that reflect the values on which the university was founded: academic excellence, social justice, non-sectarianism and service to
the community.
Submission Deadlines
The Bulletin is published on a bi-monthly basis. The deadline for copy is the first of the month
preceding the month of publication. The deadline for the March/April 2015 Bulletin is
February 1, 2015.
Publisher and Editor: Linda Rubin, linda@therubinsite.com, 702-240-3879
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