BRANDEIS
UNIVERSITY
N AT I O N A L
WOMEN’S
COMMITTEE
Dedicated to the suppor t
of Brandeis University
and its Libraries
imprint
Spring 2004
Grad Gives Back
A Salute to Volunteers
Adrienne Rosenblatt ’61
The National Women’s Committee
attracts a certain type of member—
intelligent, energetic, curious about
the world around them, and com
mitted to the future of Brandeis
University. In this issue we salute a
few of the thousands of members who
have led the way to a better Brandeis
by inspiring donors to give, drawing
new members into the organization,
and helping members stretch their
minds through study groups.
H A RTFORD CHAPTER
B
est-selling authors have grown
accustomed to hearing from
Hartford Chapter member
Adrienne Rosenblatt ’61, as she seeks
to enrich her three book groups with
additional information, new insights,
even personal appearances. She has
made contact with fellow Brandeis
graduates Letty Cottin Pogrebin ’59 (a
former dormmate, Sachar Award winner, and author of Three Daughters
)
and Olaf Olafsson ’85 (The Journey
Home), a Time Warner executive in New York and one of
Iceland’s leading writers, for her Thursday night book
club, which has been meeting monthly for 32 years.
Brandeis professors
Joyce Antler and Larry
Fuchs have contributed
to the chapter’s “Aging
Wolves” group which
concentrates on
women’s issues, aging,
and Jewish writing.
Her third group,
“Changing Lives
through Literature,”
was formed to read an
anthology by the
same title compiled
by a relative,
Professor Robert
Waxler of the
University of
Massachusetts
■
volume 25
■
number 3
Dartmouth, and his
colleague Jean
Trounstine MFA,
’75, another
Brandeis alumna.
4-5
They put
GINNY SCHULTZ
together this
SHIRLEY POLLOCK
book of readFRANCOISE MARCUS
ings as an alter6-7
native sentencCAROLYN LATZ
AUDREY BERNSTEIN
ing program
CONNIE AND HY
which allows
FLEIGENHEIMER
felons to
change their own lives through com8
AL GOMER
pulsory attendance at this course in
10-11
place of prison time. The book and
CHAPTER/MEMBER
course explore issues of violence, identiNEWS & EVENTS
ty and voice, friendship and love, and
family through readings by famous authors.
Study groups are not the only programs
that benefit from Rosenblatt’s “Brandeis connection.” Janice Abrahms Spring ’71, author of
best-selling books on infidelity and forgiveness, is
the latest of many Brandeis graduates to speak at a
Hartford Chapter event. The chapter also offers several
faculty-authored brieflets each year.
“When I joined the National Women’s Committee, I felt
a great responsibility to the chapter and to the University,”
she explains. “I am very grateful for the education I
received at Brandeis. I also have much love and enthusiasm
for the National Women’s Committee and hopefully I
have been able to inspire future generations of Brandeis
students through my work for Admissions.”
In addition to her endless work for the Hartford
Chapter—an annual summit that C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 9
Vo l u n t e e r
Profiles
P R E S I D E N T I A L
BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY
Perspective
NATIONAL WOMEN’S COMMITTEE
imprint
First Church
in Roxbury
PRESIDENT
C a rol Ke r n
E X E C U T I V E D I R E C TO R
Kathleen Cragin Brittan
D I R E C TO R O F P R O G R A M M I N G &
P U B L I C AT I O N S
Beth Bernstein, M.A. ’ 9 0
E D I TO R
Mary Pat Pr a d o
DESIGNER
Wendy C. Simpson
i m p r i n t is publi shed for
the members of the Brandei s
University National Women’ s
Committee. We welcome report s
of chapter accompli shments and
information about members that
would be of interest to our
readers. Materials submitted
for publication should be type written and include a contact
name, phone number, and
email address, if available.
Photographs should be fully
identified on a separate
piece of paper .
DEADLINE:
July 1, 2004
BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY
N AT I O N A L W O M E N ’ S
COMMITTEE
P. O. Box 549110
MS 132
Waltham, MA
02 4 5 4 - 9 110
7 81 - 7 3 6 - 41 6 0
b u n w c @ b ra n d e i s . e d u
w w w. b ra n d e i s. e d u / b u n w c
2
BY CAROL KERN
A
ccording to the Oxford Universal Dictionary
, a volunteer is someone who offers one’s
services for some special purpose, to offer to perform something, or to communicate information on one’s own initiative. Brandeis University National Women’s Committee volunteers involve themselves in all of the above—and more. Throughout the two years as your
National President, I have encountered, time and time again, volunteers extraordinaire,
women and men who fundraise, create exceptional programs and events, recruit members,
facilitate study and special interest groups—all in the name of the Brandeis University
National Women's Committee—all in service and support of Brandeis University.
Have you ever thought about what our world would be like without volunteers? The
world around us is complicated and challenging and crises happen on a daily basis. At
Brandeis University so many of these challenges are met, in order to make our world a
better place for us all.
The 55th Anniversary of Brandeis University and the National Women’s Committee
coincides with the 10th Anniversary of the Benjamin and Mae Volen National Center for
Complex Systems. Research scientists and students in the fields of biology, biochemistry,
chemistry, computer science, physics, and psychology come together to study the brain. It
has been designated a National Center of Excellence by the U. S. Congress because of the
scope and importance of its work.
The Center for Middle Eastern Studies will open its doors officially in September 2004.
Astonishingly, no chair existed in Israel studies in America when the University established
one two years ago. In addition, the International Center for Ethics, Justice, and Public Life
will offer the first master’s degree in co-existence in the United States.
Volunteering to support Brandeis University through the National Women’s Committee
enhances the University’s pledge to meet the needs of its students, the community, the
nation, and the world. Without the essential research tools that we help provide in every
form, it would be an unimaginable task for the University to create these innovative centers.
I am always inspired by those who sincerely give of themselves and their resources. It
becomes who you are and who you become and creates a chain effect. As I leave office at the
beginning of June at the National Conference, I am grateful that I have gained so much as a
volunteer for the Brandeis University National Women’s Committee. My mantra for the
past two years has been “Brandeis—it’s in our name and because of this we all stand taller.”
To those who have served with me and to those who have volunteered in chapters and
regions throughout the country, thank you for sharing my vision and for supporting the
mission of our organization.
Joyce Krasnow Nominated President
J
oyce Krasnow of the Los Angeles Chapter has been nominated
president of the Brandeis University National Women’s
Committee for a two-year term, to commence July 1, 2004. A
former chapter and region president, she has been a member of
the National Board since 1992 and is currently chairing the 55th
Anniversary Fund. Joyce and her husband Paul have three children, including Marc, a 1983 graduate of Brandeis, and “four
fabulous grandchildren”.
Gerda Klein to Recei ve Sachar Awar d
BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY
NATIONAL WOMEN’S COMMITTEE
Holocaust Survivor, Human Rights Activist
In
1939, 15 year-old Gerda Weissmann Klein’s life
changed forever as German troops invaded her
home in Beilsko, Poland. Her brother Arthur was
ordered to a labor camp and she was cruelly separated
from her parents and sent to a slave-labor camp in
1942. She never saw her family again. She spent the
next three years in a succession of slave-labor camps,
until she was forced to walk in a 350-mile death march
that ended in the Czech town of Volary. There she was
liberated by American soldiers, including a young
Jewish lieutenant, Kurt Klein, who would soon
become her husband.
Klein will receive the Abram L. Sachar Silver Medallion at the National Women’s
Committee Conference at Brandeis on June 4. She has captivated audiences worldwide with
her powerful story about surviving the Holocaust. Her autobiography, All But My Life, has
been in print for 46 years in 55 editions and has attained the status of a classic. The Kleins’
story is also portrayed in the film “Testimony,” which is a permanent exhibit at the U.S.
Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington.
Klein and her late husband spent their life together trying to make the world a more positive place, especially for children. They founded the Gerda and Kurt Klein Foundation in
1998 to promote education which teaches tolerance and respect for others, and encourages
community service focusing on ending hunger. The National Women’s Committee partnered with the Foundation and the Center on Hunger and Poverty at Brandeis to bring the
Foundation’s kNOw Hunger curriculum and service learning programs into communities
through education, active promotion, and mentoring.
Mission
To provide financial support
for Brandeis University and its
Libraries. It connects Brandeis, a
non-sectarian university founded
by the American Jewish community, to its members and their
communities through programs
that reflect the ideals of social
justice and academic excellence.
NATIONAL OFFICE STAFF
The National W omen’ s Committee
staff, located on the Br andei s campus,
provides admini strative, programming,
fundrai sing and membership support
for the entire organization. Please
contact the following staff members
with any questions or concerns
or email bunwc@br andei s.edu
E X E C U T I V E D I R E C TO R
Kathleen Cragin Brittan
b r i t t a n @ b ra n d e i s . e d u
7 81 - 7 3 6 - 41 6 2
D I R E C TO R O F D E V E L O P M E N T
The Campaign for Brandeis: Creating Connections
B
randeis University has raised $347 million toward the $470 million goal of “The
Campaign for Brandeis,” or 74 percent of its
goal. The National Women’s Committee,
which pledged to raise $22.9 million for the
campaign, has reached 86 percent of its goal.
Its contribution to the campaign will include
an endowment to support technological
advancements in the Brandeis Libraries,
scholarship and fellowship funds, and continued support from chapters for annual operating funds for the Libraries.
The “Campaign for Brandeis” was
launched at the University July 1, 2000 to raise
funds for endowment, scholarships and fellowships, faculty chairs, and capital projects
including new dormitories and science laboratories. The campaign has already funded the
$25 million Shapiro Campus Center, the $21
million residential “Village,” a new academic
center for the International Business School,
$69 million for scholarships and fellowships,
and 15 endowed faculty chairs.
“The founding values of Brandeis—social
justice, non-sectarianism, academic excellence,
and strong ties to the Jewish community—
drive the University’s mission today to create a
better world through research, scholarship,
and service,” said Brandeis President Jehuda
Reinharz in announcing the campaign.
“With this mission in mind, we focus on
creating close connections among students,
faculty, alumni, and friends,” he added. “The
Campaign for Brandeis affirms our commitment to the personal encounter and collaboration of teacher and student and will advance
the world-class reputation of the University
for future generations.”
Janice Fineman
f i n e m a n @ b ra n d e i s. e d u
7 81 - 7 3 6 - 41 7 9
D I R E C TO R O F P R O G R A M M I N G
P U B L I C AT I O N S
&
Beth Bernstein, M.A. ’ 9 0
b e r ns t e i n @ b ra n d e i s . e d u
7 81 - 7 3 6 - 41 9 0
D I R E C TO R O F M E M B E R S H I P
Mollie Morris
m o r r is @ b ra n d e i s. e d u
7 81 - 7 3 6 - 41 6 6
ACCOUNTING MANAGER
B a r b a r a Gilman
b g i l m a n @ b ra n d e i s. e d u
7 81 - 7 3 6 - 41 6 5
D I R E C TO R O F M A R K E T I N G
&
MEMBER SERVICES
Barbara Selwyn
bselwyn@brandei s.edu
781-736-4168
3
C e l e b r a t i ng 55 Y e a r s
Infectious Enthusiasm Brings in Members
Ginny Schultz
WASHINGTON, D.C.
A retired professional soprano and voice teacher, Ginny
Schultz packs a lot of energy and enthusiasm into her 4´10˝
frame. An avid reader from an early age, she was first attracted to the National Women’s Committee 18 years ago because
of the book connection. “I made a few suggestions and the
next thing I knew, I was on the board,” she recalls.
She was co-vice president of book sales for the
Washington, D.C. Chapter for her first nine years before
switching to membership. She and her co-vice presidents
Lynne Groban, a retired dental hygienist, and Abbey Brahin,
a retired psychiatric nurse with a lot of administrative experience, have brought unprecedented enthusiasm, creativity, and
determination to this important job, bringing in more than
100 new members to this older, established chapter this year.
“I really care a lot about this group,” Schultz says. “I wanted to do the best job possible.” When she and her team heard
that some people found the chapter a little aloof, they decided
to move in the other direction, holding a warm and fuzzy
“Teddy Bear Tea” for their new members event. “We wanted
to make sure people really felt welcome,” she explains, “so we
combined the elegance of a tea with the warmth and friendliness of teddy bears.” From the invitation and name tags to the
center piece (a stuffed bear on a swing) and welcome bags of
goodies, more than 100 members were treated to good food
in a beautiful home and heard presentations on Brandeis
University, the region, study groups, and Book Fund.
Aiming for an “upward spiral” for their chapter, the membership team is working together, with Schultz and Groban as the
“front women” and Brahin working on the computer behind the
scenes, and sending out welcome letters to all new members.
They are also poring over the new member background and
Hooked for Life on Brandeis
interest sheets, trying to move new people onto the board, and
making hundreds of phone calls to get them involved. Members
who bring in two members or more may enroll in a study group
free of charge. Their efforts seem to be paying off, as the chapter nears its membership goal for the year.
“I had my children very young and studied music privately,”
Ginny Schultz relates. “I wasn’t
able to attend college, so for
“I wasn’t able
me to be working for Brandeis
to attend college,
University is a thrill. And the
women are wonderful—so
so for me to
intelligent and empathetic.
be working for
Since retiring, Brandeis and
Brandeis University
tennis have taken up a wonderful place in my life!”
is a thrill.”
Ginny Schultz
Shirley Pollock
LOS ANGELES CHAPTER
“In 1981, a few years after I had moved to Los Angeles, my
sister invited me to my third Brandeis event, ‘University on
Wheels.’ To enter the restaurant where it was held, we walked
through a beautifully carved open-mouthed fish. Little did I
know as I walked into the belly of this fish that I would
become hooked for life on Brandeis.
4
“During lunch, a friend of my sister’s asked me why I had
not joined Brandeis. I said that no one had asked me. I was
promptly introduced to the LA Chapter president and membership chairman and before I knew it, I was writing a check
for my dues. Within two weeks, I was invited to a task force
meeting. I admired the dedicated women who greeted me,
of Volunteer Power!
agreed to be nominated as the next membership chairman,
and became thoroughly involved from that point on.
“I rose from membership chair to chapter president, to the
national chairman of the national travel program, ‘Brandeis
Abroad,’ to Western Region president, and on to a national
vice presidency. I have remained active with my chapter as
major donor funds chair, while holding different positions on
the National Board. I have to say, my favorites were fundraising for the Pathways project, the Millionth Book Campaign,
the Librarian’s Chair, and the 55th Anniversary Fund.
“I cannot explain why I have such a strong affinity for
Brandeis University…possibly because I was not able to
attend college myself. Perhaps, I feel that the study and special interests groups offered by BUNWC are extension college courses and provide my continuing education. The
National Women’s Committee and the University are such a
source of pride for me that I know I will continue to be a
major donor and a fundraiser as long as I am able. It is such a
satisfying and gratifying moment when someone tells me they
will make a major gift to the University of $1,000, $5,000,
$10,000, or more.
“I wasn’t always a go-getter for funds. Initially, I hated to
ask for gifts and hated even more the rejection that sometimes
comes along with that task. But when I attended a National
Women’s Committee fundraising workshop, I came away
inspired. Over the years, I have learned that people really will
listen when you have something wonderful to present…and
there is no University more worthy of our pride and discussion than Brandeis. Because I have established myself as the
major funds solicitor for my chapter, people now come to me
to talk about making a gift. Oh, what a great feeling that is,
and you can have it, too!”
A Partner in the Trenches
Francoise Marcus
REGION PRESIDENT
Francoise Marcus supported her favorite
causes with her wallet only, until she
discovered the National Women’s
Committee eight years ago. Since
then, she has shared her knowledge
of art and culture with the Gotham
Chapter in New York City, served as
chapter president, built a successful
study group program, and became
president of the New York-New
Jersey-So. Connecticut Region.
A native of France, where she says
groups like the National Women’s
Committee do not exist, Marcus was headed for medical school when marriage and
children intervened. She later earned a graduate
degree in linguistics, ran an art gallery,
and worked for the Museum of Modern
Art. She was introduced to the
National Women’s Committee by her
sister-in-law, who invited her to give
a talk on buying art.
After serving as president of the
380-member Gotham Chapter for
two years, she decided to tackle study
groups. “I started by surveying what
the members wanted and didn’t want,”
she reports. “I found that when they do
something with Brandeis, they want to be
uplifted; they want to learn something new;
and they want to just enjoy being with their
friends.
C O N T I N U E D O N N E X T PA
GE
5
C e l e b r a t i ng 55 Y e a r s
M a rcus continued from page 5
“We started small and didn’t even charge initially,” she
adds. “We now have 65 members participating in groups
such as Film Noir by Brandeis Professor Laura Quinney,
Puccini, and a ‘hidden child of the Holocaust’ group. My
co-chairs Helene Stern and Pat Glickman have been doing
a very good job running the study groups since I became
region president.”
Marcus has applied that same ability to listen and understand what members want to her work as region president.
“You have to know the group of people very well,” she points
out. “You really have to work at it. You aren’t planning for
yourself, after all, but for the group.”
In leading the region of 21 chapters, she puts a great deal
of emphasis on communication and sharing. “I am trying to
increase to the maximum communication between the region
and chapters,” she explains. “I want to truly be an additional
level of support, get in the trenches with them and help them
solve problems. I want them to know they are not alone.
You’ll never be in a rut, if you’re connected. If I’ve had success in this job, it’s been my ability to prove that when I said,
‘I’ll really be here for you,’ I was.”
Eyes on the Prize
Carolyn Latz
MINNEAPOLIS CHAPTER
When Carolyn Latz sets a goal for herself, she gets “tunnel
vision.” This determination and concentration allows her to
focus like a laser beam on the task at hand and bring all of her
considerable social, political, and intellectual skills to the job.
This chapter president’s focus now is on helping the 800member Minneapolis-St. Paul Chapter win its first Louis
Award in five years by reaching its membership and fundraising goals. A true professional volunteer with a great love of
Brandeis, books, and learning, Latz has been a member of the
National Women’s Committee since 1975. She remembers
vividly the ceremony at which she was installed as a Life
Member of the National Women’s Committee in 1983. “That
was very important to me,” she recalls. “I remember the hotel,
the room, even the dress I wore.”
Latz has also served as president of Hadassah and as the
first Jewish president of the Rotunda Club, an organization
for spouses of members of the state legislature. She helped
her husband win several terms in the legislature, a position
more recently taken over by one of her sons. She has combined her love of Brandeis with her extensive political and
community experience to help build and strengthen her chapter, first as a vice president of membership and now as president. “I’ll call anyone,” she says. “I’ve been calling my mentors in Scottsdale and Florida to get help with planning. And
we’ve been doing a lot of phoning to get members to events.”
Always working around the seasons, the chapter holds its
book and author luncheon in September, before many members head south for the winter. Study groups, the Lunch
Bunch, trips to the symphony and galleries, and events in
beautiful homes, featuring original art and live music, get
them out of the house with friends during the winter. The
6
chapter’s major fundraiser, a garage sale, has been welcoming
back the snowbirds in April for 20 years. A special treat this
spring was a talk by FBI whistleblower Kathleen Rawley. “I
try to meld together the diverse personalities and interests of
the members,” Latz points out, “from art and music, to politics and the FBI!”
“I get a great deal of satisfaction out of my work for
Brandeis,” Latz says. “Higher education is very important to
both me and my husband. Our four children all have
advanced degrees. I’m proud of our association with such a
great University, I like working for a cause and I love people.
It’s a great match.”
of Volunteer Power!
Selling Books for Brandeis
Audrey Bernstein
BOCA RATON CHAPTER
AudreyBernstein just finished another typical “Brandeis week”—meetings for Institute
Day, the National Nominating Committee, and the book store; a gala for former
National Women’s Committee President Belle Jurkowitz ’55; and a chapter program
she “slipped into” her schedule. A retired social studies teacher from Long Island,
Bernstein admits she moved to Florida with her husband in 1987 with great fear and
trepidation, convinced she was coming to a cultural wasteland. She joined the Boca
Raton Chapter of the National Women’s Committee, and the rest is history.
“I went to a new member’s tea and found myself the editor of the chapter’s bulletin,” she recalls with a laugh. Always an innovator, she soon became vice president
of study groups and started the first summer study groups in Florida. Her collaboration with the assistant director of the Delray
Playhouse is now a yearly event, drawing 1,500 members from three chapters to a series of readings.
Bernstein has served as chapter president, region president, and national vice president, and has been recognized by the
University as a President’s Councilor, but her greatest love may be selling books for Brandeis. She and Adele Denton started a
Brandeis Book Store in Boca Raton seven years ago run by Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Pompano/Ft. Lauderdale, Trails, and West
Boca. She managed the store for two years and Denton took over when she was elected region president. Last year, she started
planning a store for the Lake Worth area, just outside Palm Beach.
“Book sales are just too much work,” Bernstein observes. “This is an alternative.” The new store opened in Green Acres,
Florida in October, 2003, with six chapters participating—Central Palm/Lake Worth, Lakes, Palm Beach East, Palm Gardens,
Wycliffe, and West End.
“What can I say?” Audrey Bernstein adds. “I’m not a bridge player or a golfer. Given my connection to the Jewish community
and my experience in education, the National Women’s Committee was the perfect choice for me. I’ve always said, we get much
more out of our work for Brandeis than we give—the wonderful study groups, the three couple’s groups my husband and I
belong to, and the very special kind of women you meet in the National Women’s Committee.”
Brandeis Book Stores
Plaza of the Boca Hamptons
9070 Kimberly Blvd., Bay 47
Boca Raton, FL 33434
(561) 852-2650
12 Sewall Avenue
Brookline, MA 02446
(617) 731-0208
Lakeworth and Jog Road
Green Acres, FL 33467
(561) 963-5256
RK California Club Mall
850 Ives Dairy Road
Miami, FL 33179
(305) 651-7566
3343 North 7th Avenue
Phoenix,AZ 85013
(602) 241-3166
Books On Line www.brandeisbooks.com
Partners for Brandeis
Connie and Hy Flegenheimer
PHOENIX CHAPTER
Hy Flegenheimer, who married his beloved Connie six years
ago, says he had to say “I will [join Brandeis],” before she
would say “I do.”
They have since become not only a devoted couple, but a
couple completely devoted to Brandeis. A retired journalist
and writer, Connie helped draw more than 800 people to
the Phoenix Chapter’s Book and Author Day this year as
publicity chair. Hy does such a good job as bulletin editor
that the publication has become the talk of the chapter.
They paired up on the 1999 Christmas Eve Movie Night,
which Connie reports “was a social and financial success for
Brandeis,” and co-chaired “Book Marks” for the chapter’s 2002
Book and Author event (the designation made for people who
pay more than the base price to support and attend the event).
Hy got so many contributions for the ad book that is published
in conjunction with the event
C O N T I N U E D O N N E X T PA
GE
7
C e l e b r a t i ng 55 Y e a r s
Flegenheimerscontinued from page 7
that he became known as the “Ad Man” and was honored by
the chapter as a Man of the Year in 2002.
Phoenix received the Chapter of the Year Award in 2000
when Connie was president. Hy was at the National
Conference on campus to cheer her on as she accepted that
and several other awards for the chapter.
Connie lost her first husband 11 years ago; Hy lost his wife
17 years ago. When a mutual friend tried to get them together over brunch, Connie was hesitant. “You have to eat,” her
friend said. “You don’t have to marry the guy.”
“We have a wonderful marriage,” Hy declared.
“He’s been very supportive of Brandeis,” Connie adds. “It
was part of our agreement.”
“This couple has given of themselves to Brandeis more
than anyone I know,” says Harriet Hirshberg, co-president of
the Phoenix Chapter. “Connie is still mentoring me and my
co-president Joan Bream. She’s always there for us.”
“This past summer Hy volunteered to edit our bulletin,
and soon it became the bulletin everyone talks about,” Joan
Bream adds. “He has moved our bulletin, and in a sense, our
chapter ‘beyond the box.’ We are so very lucky to have both
Hy and Connie on our team.”
“It is a real pleasure working together,” says Connie. “We
get a great deal of satisfaction out of helping provide an education for future deserving students at Brandeis.”
Stepping Up to the Plate
Al Gomer
LOS ANGELES CHAPTER
The men of Brandeis want the same things as the women of
Brandeis, Al Gomer discovered when he joined the Los
Angeles Chapter ten years ago—to get together with friends
and share experiences, to see new places, and to learn new
things. So, eight years ago he formed the Los Angeles Men’s
Group with its motto, “friendship and fellowship.”
“We’re mostly retired guys who miss the fellowship of
other men we enjoyed while working,” this retired businessman and mediator explains. Like their wives, the men have
found like-minded souls in the National Women’s
Committee, he reports, the kind of interesting, educated,
stimulating people who characterize the membership of the
whole organization.
After several years of lectures, excursions, breakfast meetings, and modest fundraising, the Men’s Group Steering
Committee decided that the men should be doing more for
Brandeis. “We were kicking around ideas for raising more
funds, including raising the fee for the Men’s Group and raising the fees for our events, but I figured, let’s think big!” said
Gomer. He set a goal to raise $20,000 for scholarships and
started calling on individual members to contribute $1,000
8
each. When this Imprintwent to press, he had reached
$17,000 and had every confidence he would make his goal.
“I’ve been through the more obvious contributors and
now it’s getting a little tougher,” Gomer admits, “but I have
had people turn me down initially and then come back with
a donation. One man said no and then gave $1,000 in memory of a deceased loved one. Another said no, but changed
his mind and called me the day he came home from the hos-
of Volunteer Power!
pital after suffering a major
health problem.”
“Like the women, the
This program encouraged
men have found likeother members to make smaller
minded souls in the
contributions and when fellow
Men’s Group member Irv Kierman
National Women’s
gave his annual pitch for donations
Committee, the kind of
for the year-end income tax
interesting, educated,
deduction, the response was very
stimulating people
satisfying.
who characterize the
Asked how much work he does
membership of the
for Brandeis, Gomer replies,
“None! What I put in is a lot of
organization.”
fun. You know, men are used to
Al Gomer
accomplishing things. After they
retire, many find they have become
members of the ‘Honey-do’ club—honey, do this; honey, do that.
So, my involvement with Brandeis allows me to accomplish
something I think is important.”
When Gomer and his wife, Sossee, celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary recently, half of those in the room were family
and the other half Brandeis. “It was an important personal day
for us and they belonged there,” he observes. “I don’t know what
we’d do if it wasn’t for Brandeis. It really keeps us going.”
continued from page 1
Adrienne Rosenblatt ’61
sets the agenda and study group offerings for the coming year, presiding at chapter meetings, editing the bulletin, and providing informal
leadership for several study groups—Rosenblatt annually coordinates more than 50 off-campus interviews and numerous college
fairs across the state as long-term chair of the Brandeis Connecticut
Alumni Admissions Council. She is a President’s Councilor and
served on the National Board of the National Women’s Committee
for many years, as a vice president, as treasurer, and as chairman of
study groups and many other programs.
“I’ve always been fiercely proud of Brandeis, of the superb education it provides, the friendships I have made, and the fact that it has
enabled me to keep learning throughout my life” she says,
“Particularly important at Brandeis is learning how to learn, how to
think. And I have made so many wonderful friends through the
National Women’s Committee. Almost every time we travel, my
husband Joel (class of ’61) and I connect with Brandeis friends in
various parts of the country.
“Brandeis has fulfilled my needs—intellectually and socially—for
all these years. It has been a major part of my life. In the summer of
2005, we plan to move to Jupiter, Florida where we look forward to
making new Brandeis connections.”
bB
Rose Art Museum
Receives NWC Gifts
he Rose Art Museum at Brandeis has added the
works of two major contemporary painters to its
collection with the help of National Women’s
Committee (NWC) members and their families. Terry
Winters, who emerged as a major artist in the 1980s,
donated his 1987 painting “Station” to The Rose in
memory of his mother, Mary Winters, who was a
member of the Delray Beach, Florida Chapter.
Winter’s work has been exhibited in London, Munich,
Madrid, and Switzerland, and at the Museum of
Modern Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art,
and the Guggenheim Museum in New York City.
“Mary was so devoted to Brandeis,” recalled NWC
member Jackie Silver of Delray Beach. “In the very
beginning of the Brandeis Book Store in Boca Raton
nine years ago, she was a willing volunteer. I know she
would be very pleased that her son gave a painting to
The Rose in her memory.”
The Rose received a generous gift of Fred
Tomaselli’s 2002 painting, “Web for Eyes” from Lynn
P. Warner before she died in 2002. Warner, who was a
life member of the San Diego Chapter, also funded the
Lynn Warner Student Curatorship Endowment, which
provides an opportunity to educate Brandeis art students at the Museum.
Both paintings are in this year’s exhibition, “In the
Spotlight,” which features the museum’s recent acquisitions. “These are two artists we were very pleased to
add to The Rose, which is primarily a painting collection," said Joseph Ketner, Henry and Lois Foster
Director of the
Museum. In addition to his painting, Terry
Winters persuaded Universal
Limited Art
Editions to donate
a related print to
The Rose, and
another patron of
his loaned a related etching for the
show. The three
pieces were hung
Station by Terry Winters
together.
T
9
CHAPTER/MEMBER
news
MEADOWBROOK, NY celebrated the
LAKES, FL raised $8,000 through its Goods and Services
55th anniversary of the National
Women’s Committee with a
Festival of Arts luncheon that featured painter Toby Weissman, photographer Herbert Barach, and
other artisans. A violin performance and fashion show of wearable
art accompanied the luncheon.
Auction. Here Carl Isbitts (center) and Lenny Tishberg (right)
display items as auctioneer Mike Blackman takes bids.
PALM GARDENS, FL
MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL past presidents joined 150 other mem-
bers for a very successful fall luncheon. Back row (L-R): Sandra
Mandel, Etta Fay Orkin, Francie Lurie, Jane Gurstel, Sharon
Traub, Donna Gellman, Carlyn Blum, Nancy Strauss, and Rhoda
Redleaf. Front row (L-R): Bonnie Kail, Harriet Friedman, Carolyn
Latz (current president), Sylvia Druy, and Erna Fishhaut.
enjoyed a University
Outreach talk by Dr.
John Bush Jones on
“Musicals or
‘Jewsicals’? The Jewish
Presence in American
Musical Theatre.”
Pictured left to right are: Barbara Alden, Dr. Jones, chapter
President Meryl Natelli, and Estelle Rosen, past president.
BOCA RATON’s luncheon
to benefit the Library
Work Scholar Fund
attracted 180 people and
raised $3,000. Left to
right are committee
members Marion Levin
(chair), Edith Zwick,
Henny Aronson, Bernice
Popkin, Reba Gore, and
Rosalind Schacknow.
CONCORDIA, NJ welcomed
Brandeis University Acting
Librarian Susan Wawrzaszek
to an open meeting, where
she is pictured (center) with
chapter Co-Presidents
Elaine Pepperman (left), and
Paula Simon (right). She
described how the Brandeis
Libraries are digitizing rare
books, microfilming whole collections, and providing reference
librarians 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
10
NORTHERN VIRGINIA’s Museum of the Month study group
enjoyed their visit to the Udvar-Hazy Center of the National
Air and Space Museum at Dulles Airport.
PHOENIX member and National Women’s Committee President
Carol Kern (2nd left) and her husband Allan hosted a five-course
gourmet dinner for ten as part of the chapter’s annual Book and
Author Event auction. Book and author chairs (L-R) Shelley
Plous, Sue Karp, Truda Chick, and Stacey Chulew pitched in to
help with the dinner. The guests used their maj jong “kitty” of
$900, which
they had
been building
for years, to
bid on the
dinner. The
auction
raised a total
of $8,000 for
Brandeis.
Brandeis Takes You to the Movies
PHOENIX put on another block buster Book and Author Luncheon
with the likes of Sidney Blumenthal
’69 (The Clinton Wars), shown left
with his wife Jacqueline, and John
Lescroat (The Second Chair). Seven
best-selling authors drew 820 people
to the event and 140 to the private
Bookmark
reception
for donors
and authors
the night
before.
ATLANTA co-presidents Cathy
Schwartz (far left), Robin Mintz (second
left), and Melanie Zucker (far right) welcomed NWC
President
Carol Kern to
their spring
luncheon in
Atlanta.
Kudos
THE FLORIDA REGION honored Belle
Jurkowitz ’55 for more than 50 years of service to the National Women’s Committee (NWC),
including a three-year term as president. The
event was celebrated in conjunction with the
55th anniversary of NWC and Brandeis
University. She was the first and only alumna
to serve as president of the organization.
NASSAU NORTH, NY members have
enjoyed two interesting lectures recently—
“Heroines & Harlots of the Bible” and “The
Jew, the Arab, and the Soul of the Legal
Profession in Israel.”
RANCHO BERNARDO, SAN DIEGO, AND SAN
DIEGUITO, CA celebrated Israel’s
Independence Day at a JCC community event.
SARASOTA’s gala Birthday Bash and
Brunch celebrated the chapter’s 25th
anniversary and the 55th anniversary of
the National Women’s Committee.
With a New Genre of Study Groups
Introducing "The Screening Room: Brandeis at the Movies"
Part I: The 10 Deadliest Films of Alfred Hitchcock
A collaboration by Thomas Doherty, associate professor of American Studies,William Flesch, associate
professor of English and American Literature,and Andreas Teuber, associate professor of Philosophy.
Study the greatest films in history with the help of three of our most popular study group authors.
Professors Doherty, Flesch, and Teuber bring their gifted insights to Hitchcock with a brief commentary
and suggested discussion questions for ten of his scariest and best films.
More New Study Groups
Six Contemporary North American Short Stories (S 115)
By William Flesch
Associate Professor of English and American Literature
Back by popular demand, Professor William Flesch brings us another great study group that explores short
stories by some of today’s most interesting American writers. This syllabus considers these six very different stories from the The Scribner's Anthology of Contemporary Short Fiction: Fifty North American Stories
Since 1970, edited by Rosellen Brown, and asks you to think about what makes them interesting, unusual,
worth reading, and original: Girl by Jamaica Kincaid; Pet Milk by Stuart Dybeck; Errand by Raymond
Carver; Meneseteung by Alice Munro; Emergency by Denis Johnson; and The Shawl by Cynthia Ozick.
Making the Tough Decisions: Business Ethics and Corporate Responsibility in the 21st
Century (BR 63)
By Michael M. Appell, MA ’79,Adjunct Professor
Brandeis University International Business School
Calls for corporate social responsibility take place against the backdrop of an increasingly complex global economy with growing economic,social, and environmental inequities.This brieflet asks each of us to
become decision makers who must consider global perspectives, even as we grapple with the potential
local impact of business decisions on our families and communities.
What would you do if you overheard "insider information" regarding a stock you owned or if you learned
one of your overseas suppliers appeared to be bribing local officials in what he termed "standard practice?
In all cases, this brieflet will ask you to examine as fully as possible your own motivations and reactions,
while taking into account the impact your decision would have on you and other "citizens of the world."
JOIN OUR ALLIANCE WITH SCIENCE
Make a $55 gift for the new Medical Sciences Learned Research
Journal Folio and provide vital science journals to advance basic
medical science research at Brandeis.
A perfect way to support research in the medical sciences at Brandeis
and honor or memorialize a family member or friend
Call your chapter Book Fund chair or 888-TO BUNWC (888-862-8692)
11
Put your Assets to Work for You AND for Brandeis
6% (at age 65)
to 11.3% (age 90)
Receive
*
Annual annuity income for life from a Brandeis Charitable Gift Annuity.
Safe…Guaranteed
■ I would like to learn how I can get a safe, guaranteed income for
life while making a gift to Brandeis.
Name ________________________________________________________________________________
Address______________________________________________ ________________________________
City_____________________________________ State _______________ Zip _____________________
Phone _________________________________ Best time to call _______________________________
*For current interest rates or for the wording to use to ensure ensure that a bequest is directed to
Brandeis or its Libraries,contact Judy Diamond,Brandeis University National Women’s Committee,
P.O. Box 549110, MS 132, Waltham, MA 02454-9110, 781-736-4167 or jdiamond@brandeis.edu.
Do it for you…
do it for her.