President Allen Hanson called the meeting of
the Amherst Club to order at noon on January 31th, 2017, at the Monkey
Bar/Bistro 63, and welcomed us all. Allen noted that the January 24th
meeting had been postponed to the 31st because of a snowstorm that
closed the Amherst schools – when the schools close, the Club does not
meet.
Now that we are meeting only twice each month, on the second and fourth Tuesday, we are looking for a member to host a brown bag lunch on the third Tuesday of the month. Jean Miller kindly invited us for January 17th and thirteen members showed up for a pleasant event. Paul Bacon has stepped up for February 21st. Thank you both! If anyone would like to host March 21st or April 18th, please let Allen know. To encourage us, Allen announced that the Club will reimburse anyone hosting a lunch up to $40 for the drinks and/or dessert they provide. Because of the meeting’s postponement, there is no speaker today. Instead, Andrew Fisk of the Connecticut River Watershed Council will speak on February 14th. Allen announced that Pip Stromgren is organizing a fund to name a room at Cooley Dickinson Hospital’s new Comprehensive Breast Center for Ellen Story, our long-serving state representative. The amount needed is $10,000 by April 30th. If you would like to donate please send your gift to http://www.cooley-dickinson.org/giving/ and note that your gift is in honor of Ellen Story. Allen announced the happy news that the Jones Library is honoring member Arthur Kinney, founding director of the UMass Center for Interdisciplinary Renaissance Studies, along with Cammie McGovern, with the Fourth Annual Samuel Minot Jones Award for Literary Achievement on Tuesday, May 2nd at 6 pm in the Mead Art Museum at Amherst College. Therese Brady Donohue reminded us that it is time to pay our quarterly dues. Future Speakers: February 14th: Andrew Fisk Ph.D., Executive Director, Connecticut River Watershed Council. This organization advocates for the environmental well-being of the entire Connecticut River, February 28th: Kathryn Buckley-Brawner, Executive Director of Catholic Charities for the Diocese of Springfield. Kathryn is overseeing the arrival and settlement of the refugees who were scheduled to arrive soon in Northampton from Syria and other stricken areas – she may be able to clarify for us what their status is now. March 14th. Jade Alessandro Mace on Herbs both Culinary and Medicinal. Announcements: Sunday, Feb. 12th, 1-3 pm. Local jazz artists Lincoln Allen and David Picchi will be playing during brunch at Bistro 63/The Monkey Bar! We know how good the food is – so come along and chill out! Sunday, Feb. 12th, 2 pm. Annual meeting of the Amherst Historical Society at the Jones Library. Jane Wald and member Jim Wald will receive Conch Shell Awards. Grace Church will receive the President’s Award. Julie Dubrow will present a lecture on Mabel Loomis Todd. Ongoing – come to the O’s Bar on route 116 in Sunderland on Thursdays for bluegrass! Come about 8 pm and look for Ruth Miller! Bring your own food, and buy drinks at the bar. There is also a pool table. Enjoy! Allen noted that the Shutesbury Athletic Club has music on Fridays. You can join for a modest fee. Raffle: Allen Hanson won the wine and Jean Miller won the $10. Your scribe, Linda Honan |
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