Amherst Club lunch notes, April 19, 2011

 

            President Vivienne Carey opened the formal part of lunch early, with an eye out for the arrival of the speaker.

 

Guests:  Bill Venman, guest of Michael Greenebaum

 

Announcements: 

Ruth Hooke announced that on April 25 at 7 pm at Grace Church there will be a play reading of “Voices of Chernobyl” to mark the anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.

Cynthia Brubaker reminded the group of the League of Women Voters Book Sale on the Common on the weekend of May 6. Book donations can be dropped off now at the pricing site on the corner of West Street and Pomeroy Lane below Valley Transporter.

Arthur Kinney announced the Renaissance Banquet on April 30, 6 to 9 pm at the Center with period food, music, and the performance of “The Gravedigger’s Gift.” He assured Michael Greenebaum that although Renaissance guests usually brought their own rare utensils -- a fork-- one would be available for his meal. May 1 will see the Renaissance Festival, 11 to 4, on the meadow, rain or shine, with events galore, music, games, sword fights, and refreshments.

Jim Scott invited all to the Learning in Retirement fall seminar preview on May 1, 2-4, at the Smith College Student Center. Also refreshments.

President Vivienne announced an invitation to a town/gown reception at the UMass Chancellor’s House, May 6, from 5 to 7.  Since she will be away, any two interested members should contact her to represent Amherst Club.

President Vivienne reported that only 10 tickets ($15 each) are left for the Hospice Fashion Show and Tea April 28 at 2:30 at Munson Hall. Those modeling should inform Dee Waterman and Ruth Miller of their garb if they have not done so.

 

Phyllis Lehrer introduced speaker James Young, who is the director of the Institute for Holocaust, Genocide and Memory Studies at UMass, which opened this spring. He described how the center became established and acquired their own space on the campus, following Arthur Kinney’s model for founding UMass’s first center, the Center for Renaissance Studies.

 

James Young said the center incorporated three rubrics, History, Memory, and Education. The center is open 10-3 daily, and also schedules evening events. The current exhibition tells the story of five Jewish families from Europe in 1933-1942.  The goal is to be both a national and regional center in collaboration with other centers and programs, but currently they are the only such institute that has its own physical space, due to generous contributions from friends.

 

In a lively discussion and question period James Young explained how they serve as a repository, provide resources for students, and coordinate with other scholars and groups, like the Yiddish Book Center.

Michael Greenebaum won the wine, Chris Hurn won the $10, the remainder of the raffle going to Amherst Club projects.

 

Rachel Mustin,

Scribe for the Day