President Roger Webb called the meeting of the Amherst Club to order at noon on Tuesday, May 12th, 2015, and welcomed us all.
Barbara Freed invites all who are interested in reviewing and providing feedback on this year’s fundraiser to come to a meeting at her house on
Wednesday May 13th at 7 p.m.
Roger congratulated member Jacquie Price for selling her Hadley house in record time – one day! Jacquie in turn thanked her realtor, member Dee
Waterman, whose professionalism and expert advice brought about the very successful sale! Good luck to Jacquie on her move!
Please note: when suggesting future speakers to Claude Tellier, please give him the names, description and contact information in WRITING!
Amherst Town Activities:
Jim Wald brought us up to date on town activities, at Town Meeting and elsewhere. He noted that the news is generally good, with money
from the increased CPA surcharge going to many worthy projects.
Announcements:
Saturday, May 16th, 2015, 8:30-2:30, rain or shine! Amherst Garden Club Plant Sale on the Amherst Common. Ellen Kosmer urges us to come and buy
interesting plants for our gardens.
Sunday, May 321st, 2 p.m., Book launch of member Eileen Kennedy’s book of poems, “Banshees”, from Fluffy Press at Pioneer Valley Co-Housing
Common House, 100 Pulpit Hill road, Amherst. See EileenPKennedy.com.
Every Friday evening (except major holidays) AMHERST INTERNATIONAL FOLK DANCING, Bangs Community Center, 7:30 to 10:00 pm. Special event!!!
Saturday, May 30 Bulgarian Music and Dance Party, with Cherven Traktor, Member Barbara Freed plays in the house band once each month.
Dancers at all levels welcome. You do not need to bring a partner.
NEWS: 2015 Summer schedule: The Bangs Center closes early on Fridays during the summer. In June, July, August they will be dancing either at
the Whately Dance Barn or at the Unitarian Meeting House, on a crazy mix-it-up schedule listed on web site.
Snapshot:
Therese Brady Donohoe reminisced about a glamorous time in her life, living in London, England with her family, studying the art of teaching
ballet at the Royal Ballet School. It was a time of highs and lows – meeting her most famous acquaintance ever, Dame Margot Fonteyn, passing
her exams, but suffering with her daughter through surgery.
Activities:
Friday, June 19th, 2015 Skinner Museum, 33 Woodbridge St., South Hadley 2:00 PM. Tour by the museum's curator, Aaron Miller. He is on the
staff of the Mount Holyoke College Art Museum, which oversees the Skinner Museum. The Skinner is a fascinating place, full of a wide range
of artifacts that Joseph Skinner collected on his travels. For more information, please Google the Skinner Museum.. The building itself is a
former 19th century Congregational Church rescued from the Quabbin.
Please let me know if you would like to come along. It should be an enjoyable outing. (Unfortunately, the museum does not have a wheelchair
ramp.) Larry Siddall for the Activities Committee, lsiddall@crocker.com .
Raffle: Barbara Freed won the wine. Nancy Brose won the $10
Speaker:
Claude Tellier introduced our speaker, Joshua Goldstein. A cousin of member Philippe Galaski, Joshua spoke on his book "Winning the War on
War; The decline of Armed Conflict Worldwide”. Joseph noted that much of the world is at peace, contrary to our perceptions. Syria is the
worst war happening today, but nuclear arsenals are greatly reduced from cold war days. The UN army is the largest army deployed today, larger
than the US military on its own. Economic Development trumps civil war as a method for change. The UN trumps war and should be strengthened.
Joshua recommends Steven Pinker’s book, The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined.
Your scribe,
Linda Honan
