Wednesday, February 15
7 pm

DOWNTOWN BOOK CLUB

The next Downtown Book Club meeting is February 15 at 7:00 p.m. to discuss Joan Didion's Year of Magical Thinking. The club will meet in at Alexis Lewis's apt at Presidential Towers on West Madison Street. Discounted parking is available. RSVP Susan Proctor '83 susanproctor@comcast.net and Alexis Lews '05 at amlewis@mtholyoke.edu. See you then!!

Sunday, February 26
11 am

MARY LYON BRUNCH

February 28 is Mary Lyons birthday and the Chicago Club, like most Mt. Holyoke clubs around the world, traditionally host brunches in her
honor. The brunches start at 11 a.m. and are potluck. RSVP to the
hostess for the brunch you plan to attend. Please also coordinate the dish
you are bringing with the hostess. See you there!

You should have received a postcard about the brunch. If not, contact Amy Schuppert Smith '98 at ajsmith1837@gmail.com to update your information.

In Oak Park:
Tess Mitchner '98
415 S. Wesley, Unit 26
(708) 445-7252 home
tessmitchner@hotmail.com

-or-

In Chicago (West Loop):
Susan Proctor '83
411 South Sangamon Street, #4B
312-492-7366 home
slproctor@sbcglobal.net

Saturday, February 25
10 am - 1 pm

Click here for registration
(pdf, 29k)

BRUNCH @ THE CHOPPING BLOCK

Chicagos seven sisters college consortium presents Brunch at the Chopping Block (222 Merchandise Mart) on Saturday, February 25, 2006 from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. Plan to take part in a fun and entertaining two-hour interactive cooking class and enjoy an appetizer and full meal throughout the duration of the class. Youll also have time before and after to meet other alumnae.

Menu for brunch includes: smoked salmon, vegetable and cheddar frittata, stuffed french toast, maple & black pepper bacon and crepes with bananas foster. Additionally, the chopping block is offering what they call a hot table15% discount on purchases of any equipment like that used in the demonstration and 10% off other items in the store including le creuset, allclad, utensils, cookbooks, spices, and much, much more. Guests are welcome!

The cost is $40 and attendees must register prior to Tuesday, February
21. Make checks payable to: Seven Sisters College Consortium. Mail your check (so that it arrives no later than February 21) to: Lou Levine (20 East Cedar Street, #4F, Chicago, IL 60611). Contact Lou Levine at
312-664-6088. Note: if space is still available, walk-ins will be
accommodated on the day of the event at a cost of $50.

If you have an event suggestion or would like to organize an outing, contact Amy Schuppert Smith '98 at ajsmith1837@gmail.com or (312) 996-3376.

MEMORY HOUSE

Sandy Shinner ‘72 directed Memory House by Kathleen Tolan now playing at the Victory Gardens Theater, 2257 N. Lincoln Avenue in Chicago. This production about a mother-daughter relationship runs through October 23. There will be a small group of alumnae attending the October 8 and October 15 performances. However, there isn't an organized group, seat section or discount price. For more information on the play and upcoming performances, visit http://www.victorygardens.org/.

Saturday, October 15
5:30-7:30pm

Chicago's Seven Sisters College Consortium presents South American Wine Tasting and Tapas from Café Iberico on Saturday, October 15, 2005 - 5:30 PM until 7:30 p.m. at the Wine Discount Center (1826½ North Elston Avenue in Chicago, www.winediscountcenter.com.

The cost is $25 and reservations are accepted on a first-come first served
basis. Reserve your place by returning your check and the form below no
later than October 7, 2005. Last year sold out. Guests are welcome. Call
Lou Levine at 312-664-6088 for more information.

Click HERE for the form (PDF)

October 18 -- 7pm

The Downtown Book Club will meet on Tuesday, October 18 at 7:00 p.m. at Susan's house in the West Loop (street parking, Blue Line). The first selection is My Year of Meats by Ruth Ozeki. This book was the common read for the incoming class of 2009.

(http://www.mtholyoke.edu/lits/library/guides/commonreading2005.shtml). RVSP to Susan Proctor '83 susanproctor@comcast.net or (312) 492-7366. Please also bring suggestions for the next selection. Even if you can't attend, connact Susan if you're interested in future gatherings.

The North Shore Book Club continues to meet monthly. Contact Ann Alexander '49 at (847) 446-0523 or ASALEX35@aol.com.

The MIT Club of Chicago invites our Club to attend a lecture entitled “New Directions In Energy Generation and Distribution” by Chip Schroeder, president of Distributed Energy Systems (MIT '70 and '72) on Wednesday, October 19, 2005, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Morgan Stanley (70 W. Madison St., 4th floor in Chicago). The cost is $15 and light refreshments will be served. Rising prices for fossil fuels are creating new interest in the use of hydrogen, wind, solar, and other forms of renewable energy, and also for new ways to generate and distribute energy. One of the thought leaders and fastest growing companies in the field is Distributed Energy Systems of Wallingford, CT, which was named last October to the Deloitte Technology Fast 500. This publicly traded company (symbol is DESC) is currently working with the US Department of Energy, Consolidated Edison, the California Hydrogen Highway Network, the Alaska Village Electric Cooperative, the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund, and many other commercial and governmental units in the US and overseas.

For more information, please call Sandy Harlow 847-604-8611 or e-mail sharlow@aol.com. Register at https://alum.mit.edu/smarTrans/user/Register.dyn?eventID=4155&groupID=156.

Shatha K. Al-Muttawa '03 kindly offered to coordinate a Club bike ride on the Skokie trail to the Chicago Botanical Gardens on Monday, October 24, at 11:00 a.m. The proposed route starts at the Chick Evans Golf Course parking lot at 6145 Golf Rd in Morton Grove, and is a three-hour ride, plus time at the gardens. However, the route and starting time is a little flexible based on what's best for the interested parties. Family and friends are welcome. Don't forget your helmet and bike lock. Take advantage of the last of the good weather! If you are interested. RSVP to Shatha at shatha.almutawa@gmail.com or (773) 573-2864.

The Club thanks Tess Mitchner '98 for her assistance as the admissions co-coordinator of Chicago area alumnae, and welcomes Julia Vaughan '04 as the new co-coordinator. As of October 1, alumnae represented MHC at three college fairs. There is a short list of local alumnae who have expressed a willingness to assist with college fairs, interviews or events. Typically, there are 3-5 college fairs in the fall and another 3-5 fairs in the spring. We need enthusiastic alums to attend the 3-hour fairs. Also, perspective students who are unable to visit Mount Holyoke are interviewed in December and January. Again, we need volunteers to take 30-60 minutes to do in-person interviews. Please consider adding your name to the list of volunteers. Contact Jennifer Travis '97 at jtravis123@yahoo.com or (773) 244-9454, or Mary Ann in the Admissions office at mkokoszy@mtholyoke.edu.

The Seven Sister Consortium is planning an event in conjunction with the Chicago Humanities Festival. The Mary Lyon Brunch is the last Sunday in February. The Young Alumnae Holiday Dinner will be the first week of December. If you have an event suggestion or would like to organize an outing, contact Amy Schuppert Smith '98 at ajsmith1837@gmail.com or (312) 996-3376.

Have ideas for future events or service projects? Let us know! Contact Amy Schuppert Smith ’98 at (312) 996-3376 or ajsmith1837@gmail.com.

Tuesday, September 20
6:00 to 9:00 pm

The Columbia University Club of Chicago is hosting a mixer on Tuesday, September 20, 2005 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Vines on Clark (3554 N. Clark) near Wrigleyfield. This event will also be a clothing/food /school supply drive for the Hurricane Katrina evacuees and for the Chicago Public Schools. Cash bar. Raffle prizes. For more information, contact Rebecca Nathan (Rebecca.nathan@ubs.com) or Chris Stacey (cstacey3@yahoo.com) or visit Columbia's web site.

Join fellow alumni and learn to make tamales from the head chef at Rique's
Regional Mexican Food at 5004 N. Sheridan in Chicago (accessible by the CTA Red line) on Sunday, March 6 at 11:00 a.m. The cost is $40 and includes lunch.

RSVP by Friday, February 18 to Carrie Ruzicka '99 at 773-769-5669 (H) or 312-456-4006 (W) or cruzicka@comm.umass.edu

MARCH 8

5:30-8pm

Universal Experience: Art, Life, and the Tourist's Eye...
Museum of Contemporary Art Cafe

220 East Chicago
Chicago, IL

Occupying the entire MCA building as well as its outdoor spaces, the works in the exhibition Universal Experience: Art, Life, and the Tourist's Eye- ranging from large scale installations and sculptures to more intimate photographs and videos- focus on the phenomenon of international visual artists whose work responds to their experience of traveling and living within various cultures. Addressing issues related to tourism that include spectacle, architecture, authenticity, history, souvenirs, and anthropology, Universal Experience will feature work by more than seventy artists including Vito Acconci, Doug Aitken, Darren Almond, Matthew Buckingham, Chris Burden, Maurizio Cattelan, Abraham Cruzvillegas, Peter Fischli and David Weiss, Katharina Fritsch, Thomas Hirschhorn, Ilya and Emilia Kabakov, Jeff Koons, Mathias Muller, Gabriel Orozco, Martin Parr, Andrea Robbins and Max Becher, Thomas Schutte, Simon Starling, Thomas Struth, Rirkrit Tiravanija, Kyoichi Tsuzuki, Piotr Uklanski, and Andy Warhol.

Two MCA docents will conduct tours of the exhibits during the evening. Wine, beer, soft drinks and hors d'oeuvres will be available. Cost: $25 Reservations accepted on a first-come first served basis. If space is still available, walk-ins will be accommodated on the day of the event at a cost of $30. Reserve your place by returning your check and the form below no later than March 3. Guests are welcome. Checks are payable to "Seven Sisters College Consortium" and should be mailed so that it arrives no later than March 3 to: Lou Levine, 20 East Cedar Street, #4F, Chicago, IL 60611.

Questions? Call Lou Levine at 312.664.6088

Why do people from all over the world come to Chicago just to look at our
buildings?

Alice Sinkevitch, MHC '75, executive director of the Chicago chapter of the
American Institute of Architects and editor of the AIA Guide to Chicago, 2d edition, will co-present a talk on Chicago architecture on Saturday, March 12 at 11 a.m. in Suite 1049 at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago. Alice and a local architect will discuss past triumphs (The White City), current marvels (Millennium Park) and future plans (???). She will also reveal Chicago's influence across the globe.

"Make no small plans," and RSVP by Wednesday, March 9 to Amy Smith '98 at (312) 996-3376 or ajsmith1837@gmail.com. The cost is $5. Guests are welcome, but everyone must register in advance for building security. CTA
accessible, meter and garage parking is available.

The club will sponsor another service project with the Glass Slipper Project, an organization that provides prom dresses and accessories for girls who can't afford them on Saturday, April 16, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Volunteers will be "personal shoppers" for the girls and help them select dresses, shoes, purses, etc. Last year, club members had a blast. The Project is currently seeking donations, especially plus sizes. Visit their website at http://www.glassslipperproject.org/

For registration or more information, contact Tess Mitchner '98, Service Chair, at tessmitchner@hotmail.com or (708) 445-7252.

This year's Mary Lyon Brunch will be Sunday, February 27. There will be three brunch sites (Thank you hostesses!). Please reply directly to the hostess and coordinate your dish with her.

Susan Proctor '83 in the West Loop
susanproctor@comcast.net

Vicki Burke '92 in Flossmoor
vicki@pcplumber.net

Marion Bridwell Taicsich '81 in Wheeling
teacherspet331@cs.com

The North Shore Book Club meets monthly. On January 18, Patty Jaquith '63 is hosting a discussion of Mansfield Park by Jane Austen at 7:30 p.m. Upcoming selections include Stalin by Montifiore with Nancy Zuraw '52 on Feb 21 and Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri with Ruth Milgrom '35 on March 12. Anyone interested in joining them for one book or for long-term should contact Ann Alexander '49 at 847-446-0523 or ASALEX35@aol.com.

The Club will make a return trip to the Greater Chicago Food Depository on January 22 from 1:30-4:30 p.m. with dinner to follow. This is a fun and meaningful way to volunteer a few hours to help Chicagoland's hungry. Please consider participating. Friends, family and significant others are invited. RSVP to Tess Mitchner ‘98, Service Chair, at tess.mitchner@teachforamerica.org or (708) 445-7252

Downtown Book Club

The club meets monthly. Our next meeting is Thursday, January 23 at 6:30 to discuss Invisible Man by Ellison. We will meet at the Phoenix in Chinatown (2131 S. Archer Avenue). It's right off the Red Line or the 62 Archer bus and there is street parking. Contact Amy Schuppert for more information at 312.996.3376 or aschupp@uic.edu

Mary Lyon Brunches around Chicagoland. Sunday, February 23 is the date for the Chicagoland brunches.

Downtown Book Club
Monday, March 10th to discuss Upton Sinclair's "The Jungle."

Monday, April 14th to discuss W. Somerset Maugham's "The Razor's Edge."

Both meetings are at 6:30 at Taste of Siam (600 South Block of Dearborn near Harrison).
Blue Line: LaSalle stop
Red Line: Harrison stop
Near-by Buses: 22, 36, 129, 62, 29
Meter and Pay-lot parking

GLOBAL TRENDS IN THE NEW CENTURY: IS THE WORLD GETTING BIGGER OR SMALLER?
The Seven Sister/Ivy League Round Table and Chicago Council on Foreign Relations will host an evening of socializing and stimulating discussion with fellow alumni on Wednesday, March 12, 2003 at the Intercontinental Hotel (505 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago). The reception will start at 5:30 p.m. followed by a panel discussion and Q&A at 6:30p.m. The event will be co-chaired by Marshall Bouton, President of the Chicago Council on Foreign Relations, and Michael Moskow, Chairman of the Chicago Federal Reserve Bank and a former Deputy U.S. Trade Representative. The cost is $28 in advance or $35 at the door.

Our panelists will include distinguished leaders with first-hand knowledge of global business, technology, political and social issues. Panel discussion will be moderated by Jerome McDonnell, host of "Worldview" on WBEZ Chicago Public Radio. Panelists are:

• Mel Bergstein, Chairman/CEO, Diamond Cluster International, a global consulting firm focusing on growth strategies and technology solutions. Mr Bergstein is a Wharton graduate, and is on the advisory board of a venture capital fund focused in Europe.
• Pastora San Juan Cafferty, Professor, University of Chicago. Dr Cafferty's research interests include cultural diversity, race and ethnicity, and immigration. She is affiliated with the university's Center for Latin American Studies.
• Jo-Marie Greisgraber, Policy Director, Oxfam America. Oxfam is a leading international development organization dedicated to creating solutions to hunger, poverty and social injustice around the world. Dr.Greisgraber is a graduate of Georgetown University.
• Fred Steingraber, Managing Partner, Board Advisors LLC, and past Chairman/CEO of AT Kearney, which he led for 18 years (helping build practices in 35 new markets). He has an MBA from the University of Chicago.
  

Pastora San Juan Cafferty, Professor, University of Chicago. Dr Cafferty's research interests include cultural diversity, race and ethnicity, and immigration. She is affiliated with the university's Center for Latin American Studies.

Click here for a flyer (pdf format)

Alumnae Volunteer Training.

Chicago Club members are invited to join the Alumnae Association Clubs Committee Meeting on April 5 for lunch, an afternoon club planning session, and dinner.

12:15 Meet the committee for lunch at NiX restaurant in the Millennium Knickerbocker Hotel (163 East Walton Place, Chicago)

2:15 Reconvene meeting in the Parlor CD room of the Knickerbocker with clubs committee and local club officers

5:30 Dinner at the Grand Lux Cafe (600 North Michigan Ave., Chicago)

RSVP to Tara Eastcott '00 (teastcot@mtholyoke.edu) by MARCH 3

ROMAN HOLIDAY in GRANT PARK

On Tuesday, August 17th, the city will show Roman Holiday (starring Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck) as part of the Outdoor Film Festival. Join club members at Butler Field (Columbus & Monroe) for a picnic at 7:30 pm before the movie starts at dusk. Contact Amy Schuppert Smith ’98 at (312) 996-3376 or ajsmith1837@gmail.com if you plan to attend. Guests welcome.

The next Ivy/Seven-Sister dinner will be on Friday, August 20th to hear the Grant Park Symphony at Millennium Park. The concert starts at 6:30 p.m., so I'll be there at 5 to snag a good spot. Let's say our event will start at 5:30, but feel free to arrive earlier or later as your schedule permits.
I'll have a bunch of red balloons so you can find me easily. The concert is Britten's War Requiem.

In keeping with past tradition, no RSVP's for the event. Also, this will be a potluck, please bring something to eat based on the schema below.
Match the first letter of your first name to the category assigned. In addition, everyone should bring a little of whatever they want to drink.
Please bring your own blanket too. If you have citronella candles bring those too! I will be supplying the cups, plates, napkins, and silverware.

A, B, C, D --- DIP: chips and salsa, guacamole, dip, veggies and dip, etc.
E, F, G -- NIBBLES: potato chips, pretzels, popcorn, nuts, party mix, etc.
H, I -- CHEESE: bread and cheese or cheese and crackers J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R -- SALAD: green salad, pasta salad, Asian noodle salad S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z -- DESSERT: fruit or sweets

This will be a good chance to enjoy the new pavilion at Millennium Park and its wonderful sound system!

Rochelle Kopp
Rnkopp@aol.com

CIVILIZED ASSERTIVENESS TALK

Chicago’s Seven Sisters College Consortium and the Chicago Vassar Club present a Fall Networking Program entitled, "Civilized Assertiveness." Val M. Williams will speak on Dr. Judith S. McClure’s (Vassar ’58) trademarked concept of communications. The event is this Saturday, October 2, 2004 at 9:30 a.m. at the Union League Club (65 West Jackson Blvd., Chicago). The cost is $30 and includes continental breakfast, presentation, question and answer session and networking. Call Lou Levine at 312.664.6088 for more information.

At the meeting, learn, among other useful things, six ways to say no; what word should be expunged from your vocabulary, except at funerals; how to take credit for your ideas and work; and how to set limits with manipulative people and to deal with toxic competition. Visit the web site at www.civilizedassertiveness.com for more information.

Val M. Williams, a native of Georgia, holds a master’s degree in Architecture. Val has done extensive research into the effects of the environment on behavior, learning and healing. Val is editor of The Backbone newsletter.

Gather for a bike trip in Geneva on Sunday, October 17, starting at 10:30 a.m. To participate, meet at the Fabyan forest preserve at the Dutch Windmill. There is plenty of free parking and an immediate entrance to the path. The 68 Dutch Windmill is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is on the west side of Rt. 25, in Geneva on the East side of the river (not route 31). http://www.co.kane.il.us/Forest/fp/fabyan.htm

Directions From Chicago and West (about 1 hour):

EISENHOWER EXWY W/I-290 W to E WEST TOLLWAY/I-88 W via exit number 15A- on the left- toward INDIANA/AURORA (Portions toll). Take the Rte 25 exit. North on Route 25 about 8 miles (look for the windmill). Entrance to Parking is on West side.

From North Shore (about 1 hour):

Merge onto I-294 S via the ramp- on the left (Portions toll). E WEST TOLLWAY/I-88 W toward AURORA (Portions toll). Take the Rte 25 exit. North on Route 25 about 8 miles (look for windmill). Entrance to Parking is on West side.

Children, spouses, friends, etc. are welcome. If you plan to attend, please contact Lisa Weissman '84 at lisajweissman@yahoo.com or 847-270-7639 (Day of problems ONLY 847-997-7754).

CHICAGO HUMANITIES FESTIVAL

Ivy League-Seven Sisters alumni are invited to attend a panel discussion as part of the Chicago Humanities Festival in November, followed by reception for our group. Details on the panel discussion are below. Specifics on the reception to follow, but it is expected to be held in the same location (Chicago Historical Society, Clark Street at North Avenue, Chicago) at a minimal additional charge. The panel is $5.

ANNALS OF REVOLT: 1968

A world-changing year of international social upheaval is examined by a panel of historians and actual participants in the events. Mark Kurlansky, author of 1968: The Year that Rocked the World, recounts the years major events and movements. Invited for discussion are Mark Rudd, former U.S. student revolutionary (now mathematics teacher); Daniel Cohn-Bendit, former leader of the French student revolts (now co-president of the Greens/European Free Alliance in the EU Parliament); Edward Mortimer, British journalist who covered the events in France (now Special Adviser to the U.N. Secretary-General); Carol Brightman, American anti-war activist (now a journalist and award-winning biographer); Julian Jackson, professor of French history at Queen Mary College, Univ. of London; and Bobby Rush, co-founder of the Illinois Black Panther party (now U.S. Congressman for the 1st District, Illinois). Presented in partnership with the Ivy/Seven Sisters Roundtable.

Joseph Ellis, controversial professor of history at Mount Holyoke College, and Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award winning author, has a new book, His Excellency: George Washington. A recent interview with Ellis: http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/1004/182549.html Ellis will be visiting two local bookstores on Friday, December 3:

Borders Books at 12:30 pm (150 N. State Street in Chicago)

Book Stall at Chestnut Court at 7:00 pm (811 Elm Street in Winnetka)

The 5th Annual Young Alumnae Holiday Dinner will be Thursday, December 9 at 7:30 p.m. at Buca di Beppo (2941 N. Clark, take the 22 Clark bus or use valet parking). Buca di Beppo serves family-style Italian food and caters to large groups. The cost will be $15-20 a person.

RSVP so that we get a big enough table to Amy Smith '98 at 312-996-3376 or ajsmith1837@gmail.com