Recent Newsletters

2008,  January-December

January  8  January 15  January 29 February 5 February 12 February
19February  March 4  March 11  March 18  March 25  April 1  April 8
April 15  April 22 April 28  May 6  May 13  May 20 May 27  June 3
June 10  June 17  June 24  July 2

June 24:

The Amherst Club met June 24, 2008  with 38 members and guests present.

VP Jacquie Price called the meeting to order. She thanked all those who makethe lunch successful.

She read several Haiku poems that distilled novels.

Guests:
 Kathy Rice and Allen Davis connected to Greenfield Community College.

Announcements:

Ruth Miller thanked Tina and Mike Berins for the club's pot luck lunch
Roger Webb said the Directory is out.
Ruth Hooke said "A Look at Iran" will be heard June 26 at 7 p.m. at Grace Church.
Vivienne Carey said "Romeo and Juliet opens this week  at Hampshire Shakespeare in Hadley. She is in it.
Ruth Black said Mohawk Trail Concerts begin this week.

Speaker:

Bonnie Isman introduced Greenfield Community College President Robert Pura, who has been a teacher and administrator
for 30 years. He earned a degree at Miami Dade Community College and the University of Texas at Austin.

He said GCC with 5,000 students is the only college in Franklin County, theonly point of access for those seeking higher learning. 
The school transfer rate is 50 percent compared to 24 percent nationwide, higher than any other community college in the country.
It transfers more students  to Smith College than any other community college. GCC is the first step to an undergrad degree. People
are coming from out of state because of the transfer rate. Small classes and faculty and staff who are committed to thestudents are
an advantage.

Career programs are offered in nursing, massage, police and fire. GCC hadthe second highest pass rate on the nursing exam.
Access and cost are the keys for GCC since college costs are escalating. GCCreceives strong support from the community and the
college is committed to serve the community. GCC offers the Early Transition program for ARHS students and now Greenfield
High students that has transformed student's lives. The Club supports theprogram. One graduate received a Fulbright.GCC is involved
in greening initiatives on several levels. It offers classesin photo voltaics to prepare a workforce for industry that will help the are
economically. It is looking at its carbon foot print and thinking of photovoltaics and geo thermal energy. Since students drive should
GCC switch to afour-day schedule, help students with fuel costs? Construction of the firstgreen performing arts center in the country
is underway.

He recommends comparing the 1947 Truman Commission Report and the SpellingsReport re: higher ed.
GCC will look at student housing but for single parents not the traditionaldorm.

Vivienne Carey won he wine and we sang Happy Birthday to her.

Ruth Hooke won the raffle.

Your scribe,
Phyllis Lehrer




June 17:

Jacquie Price opened the meeting with a reading of  “Why I wake up in the morning” by Oliver

Guests:

Nancy Gregg introduced her friend Dottie McCaffrey

Announcements:

Ruth Hooke: meeting about nuclear energy at Bangs Center Wednesday at 7 pm

Arthur Kinney: a major grant is allowing the gala performance of “As You Like It” on 9/21

Ruth Miller and Tina Berins: Lawn Party at Tina’s house

Phyllis Lehrer: Vivienne is in the Hampshire Shakespeare production

Rachel Mustin: was man collecting for the DNC a scam?

Claude Tellier: the 1704 production in New Salem is very good

Jacquie Price: get to know new members; let us know of ailing members

Harry Brooks: sent email to program comm.. members regarding preferred month.

 

Speaker:

Cynthis Barstow, President of See to Shop

Food nutrition labeling began in 1990. There are yellow labels which rate whole grains

There are 147 eco labels, a book, Label Reading for Dummies has been published

77% of shoppers state that labels influence purchases

Nature’s Promise is Stop and Shop’s private label

3^rd party certification indicates that certain standards were met.

Organic Standards—there are 200+ pages of rules

Basically, no pesticides, no synthetic fertilizers, no antibiotics or growth hormones, not genetically modified

Washing may not get rid of pesticides, some are systemic

Meat: certified humane, antibiotic and growth hormone free; antibiotics are used at a sub-therapeutic level and may interfere with our need for antibiotics when sick.

Cloning: not really sure if it is harmful

Mad cow—mostly in older animals

Salmon—use wild caught. Farm raised used antibiotics and pesticides

Genetically modified: the results are unknown

The President of the AMA suggets organic and freshly grown foods

 

The raffle: Iso Stern won the wine, Rachel Mustin won the $10.

Reproted by Sara Berger

June 10:

President Jim Wald called the meeting to order at 12:58 p.m. with greetings to membes & guests.

Guests: 

Barbara Francis was the guest of Carolyn Holstein 
Ivor Miller (son) and Ben Miller (grandson) were guests of Jean Miller

 Announcements:Avenue, Amherst, on June 22:  1:30 – 4:30 p.m.

Tina Berins called members attention to the yellow sheet on the tables with details of theLawn Party at her house 272 Linclon Avenue,
Amherst, on June 22:  1:30 – 4:30 p.m. There was also distributed a sign-up sheet for contributions of food & drink.All are encouraged to
contact Tina and come.

Ruth Hooke announced that the Hampshire Choral Society will give a concert this Sunday,June 15^th in John M. Green Hall at Smith College at 3 p.m.

Jean Miller announce that the women’s chorus, “Wings” will perform at the Unitarian Meeting House in Amhest on Friday June 13 at 8 p.m.

Harry Brookes requested that members of the new Meetings Committee contact him about organizational matters before July 1^st to plan programs for the
next year.

Ruth Miller had 3 announcements:

Ø      Band Day at UMASS will be Oct. 25 at 1 p.m.  It’s a great show.

Ø      “Young at Heart Chorus” will perform June 24^th in the evening

                Ø      There is a concert at the 1793 Meeting House in New Salem on July 12.  Contact Ruth about car-pooling.

Roger Webb thanked all of those who responded to his request for Club mail pick-up.Roger Webb thanked all of those who responded to his request for Club mail pick-up.

 

Roger Webb thanked all of those who responded to his request for Club mail pick-up.Roger Webb thanked all of those who responded to his request for Club mail pick-up.

 

 

Jim Wald commented upon the state of technology in 19^th Century Amherst, and to how the introduction of a few of these strongly changed the character and importance of the town, such as having access to both north/south and east/west railroad connections.  With that he called upon Bonnie Isman to introduce today’s speaker.

           
 Speaker:

 Bonnie Isman introduced our speaker:  Kristopher Pacunas, Director of Infromational Technology for the Town of Amherst, by saying that he has worked for Amherst since 2002 and his department has changed her employment life in more ways than she wishes to think about, but mostly for the better.  She went on to list the large number of technologies in all departments of the Town of Amherst.

 

Kris spoke to the points of e-government.  E-government is the use of informational technology for governmental services, for engagement with citizens and institutions and business within the town, and for the management of town departments.

 

E-services are the use of technologies to provide services to the community of the town through internal and external websites and information access.

E-commerce is the interaction of the business aspects of the town.

E-Management is the accomplishment of the tasks of the various departments of the town government, including the school departments and the libraries.

E-democracy of the town is the affairs related to the election process and related record keeping.

 

Driving Force for e-government:

 

Demand:  The delivery of governmental services through the use of informational technologies is the expected norm of today’s population and institutions within the town.

Fiscal Impact:  The volume of governmental business of the Town of Amherst has grown enormously during the last two decades.  Information technologies have assisted in meeting these increasing demand without the need to increase human staffing.

 

Initiatives:

 Connect CTY:  Mass Notification Services:  This offers the various departmentsof the town government to notify by telephone any or all
groups within the town of critical information from a general disaster alert to a broken water main on a  single street to school snow days.  It
uses a telephone directory data base.

CommunityWireless Network:  (Mesh Network).  Currently in the town centerCommunityWireless Network:  (Mesh Network). 
Currently in the town center north of Main Street there is free wireless internet access.  This is the result of cooperation between the town
and the IT research at UMASS.  Research grants through UMASS provided the funding and the population of Amherst benefited.

Overhaul of Town Websites:

            www.amherstma.gov             General Government services

            www.amherstpd.org              Police Dedpartment activities

            www.amherstlsse.org            Leasure Services activities

                        Major Requirements:

                                    ADA Compliance

                                    Improved Security

                                    Comprehensive Content Management System

                                    Equal compatability on all major platforms:  PC, Mac, etc

 

Kris finished his presentation with a view of the new homepage of the Amherst Town website, which will become operational as of July 1, 2008.  The current website has upward of 1500 users per day with the expectation that this number will increase with the improved site design.

 Kristopher Pacunas, Director of Information Technology for the Townof Amherst:

Telephone:  (413) 259-3222                email:  pacunask@amherstma.gov

 

 

Weekly Raffle:

 

                        Winner of the wine:            Harrison Gregg

 

                        Winner of the cash:            Ruth Hooke

 

Submitted by your scribe of the day, as his last such contribution:

 

Jim Scott

 

June 3:

President, Jim Wald called the meeting to order at 1:58 p.m. with greetings to membes & guests.

 

Guests: 

Tina Berins presented her neighbor and guest. Bruce McInnis

Announcements:

Jim Wald commented that the new order of Amherst Club mugs is now here. Members may reclaim the mugs
that they donated for recent speakers.

Nancy Frazier thanked those that came to her assistance during her absence.

 
Tina Berins called members attention to the yellow sheet on the tables with details of the Lawn Party at her house
272 Linclon Avenue, Amherst, on June 22:  1:30 - 4:30 p.m.

 There was also distributed a sign-up sheet for contributions of food & drink.

 

 Tina Berins also announced the 5^th Annual "Light up the Night", a fund-raising evening for "Family Outreach of Amherst",
 Saturday, June 14, 2008 at the home of Bruce  & Betsy McInnis @ 76 Lincoln Ave., Amherst.  Notes on the tables.

 

 Bill Hart, acknowledged his infrequent presence at recent meetings, his loss, but added his family is celebrating the successful
graduation of his second son from Carleton College in Minnesota.

 Bill also announce that South Congregational Church will sponsor its annual Spring  Supper of  Chicken Salad, Asparagus and

Strawberry Shortcake for desert this coming Sunday, June 8.

 Roger Webb announced that the new 2008 Amherst Club Directory will go to press at the end of this week.  This is the last chance
to review and change entries of your identity.

 
New Members Inducted:  
   
Bruce and Virginia (Ginny) Chilton
Jean Miller introduced the Chiltons to the Club and Jim Wald inducted them. The Chiltons come from Northport, L.I., NY, and now reside for
several years at 10 McIntosh Dr.in South Amherst.

 
Speaker:
 
Bonnie Isman intrduced our speaker, Nicholas Thaw, Executive Director, 1794 Meetinghouse, Inc.  New Salem, MA

 
 Thaw repeated several times in his talk that the 1794 Meeting House is only 25 minutes from downtown Amherst, and conceptually a
quantum leap away.  This historic building  is the home of the North Quabbin Center for the Performing Arts, the only such facility that
sevices their 9-town mission area in the North Quabbin region.  That mission is to engage educate, and entertain the people of the North Quabbin
Region and beyond.  They engage their membership by production of an annual musical performance, written by, directed by, acted by and witnessed
by local people of the community.  This facility is the cultural soul of their community.  There are some 30 performance of the arts throughout the year.

As to the Eductation mission of the orgainization, 1794 Meeting House has, like many area non-profit organizations, cut back on their commitments. 
Whereas they used to sponsor many school programs for their area schools, now they only sponsor an intern to assist the Executive Director.  Also,
 they continue to sponsor 2 scholoarships to local high school graduates who express a commitment to go to college with an interest in the arts. Unfortunately,
there is a lack of such students in the local area.  However, they do award  the "1794 Meeting House Award" to students of the 9^th, 10^th, and 11^th grade in
area high school levels who excel in the arts: performing, plastic, visual, written and otherwise.  Thaw commented that the 1794 Meeting House is probably
the only civic center with no  indoor plumbing.  However, the building is a destination of archetectural historians because of the authenticity of its construction
and style.  They come from all over to see this building.  He also commented that this is a tough time for non-profit supported organizations like his with the
decreasing governmental fundings as well as decreasing discretionary funds available from private sources.

 

Thaw left us with several thoughts:

 

1.         Support local artists:  They are the expression of the soul of the community.

 

2.         Join their varied program at the 1794 Meeting House for events from June through

October as outlined in the brochures available on the tables.

 

Website for further informations is:

 

            Website:           www.1794meetinghouse.org                       Tel:  (978) 544-5200

 

 

                        Weekly Raffle:

 

                        Winner of the wine:       Elsie Fetterman

 

                        Winner of the cash:       Claude Tellier

 

        Submitted by your scribe of the day:

 

        Jim Scott

May 27:

The Amherst Club met May 27 with 29 present.
 
Vice President Jacquie Price presided offering some humorous opening comments.

Bette Kravetz brought her daughter Sharon Meyers.

Tina Berins will host a  club potluck June 22 at 1:30 p.m. Croquet and badminton will be available.
Ruth Miller said  to mention the Amherst  Club when dining at Butterflies.

Speaker:

Bill Darrity introduced Judith Roberts who was an Ada Comstock scholar atSmith and attended Harvard Graduate
School of Education.She taught ESL classes and was at the Center for New Americans. She is theExecutive Director
of the Literacy Project.

She explained that the Literacy Project offers three classes: basic literacy, pre GED and GED classes for students  17 to
76 years old in Amherst,  Northampton, Orange, Ware and Greenfield. Two teachers are at eachsite and there are 100
volunteers for the 600 students. The classes, which have 8-10 students,  are free, funded by state andfederal grants and
donations. There is a small waiting list.

The program is about  learning and economic empowerment. With high schooland community college credits salaries can
double. We give them a hand upnot a hand out. The GED is a passport and with it residents can get a driver's license,
library card, register to vote and help children with homework. 75 percentgo on to community college.
One in seven adults in the Pioneer Valley don't have a high school diploma,she said. On the other hand, 42 percent of adults
have advanced degrees,five times the national average.
   
One teacher feeds students  since they come in hungry.Child care and transportation are an issue.
She said the agency collaborates with others and referrals are made.

Elsie Fetterman won the wine and Jacquie won the raffle.

Your scribe,
Phyllis Lehrer

May 20, 2008:

At 1:00 President Jim Wald called the meeting to order and welcomed the members.

 

Guests:
There were no guests today.

 Announcements:          

 Carolyn Holstein announced that The Emily Dickinson Society is looking for Amherst residents who would be willing to house in their homes
attendees from around the world at a conference at the Emily Dickinson Homestead in the first week in August.  Anyone interested should contact
Carolyn for information and the necessary forms.

 Glen Gordon announced the birth of his fourth grandson.

 Glen Gordon also announced that this coming Sunday, May 25^th, at 2 p.m., at the Bangs Center, the Senior Center will have a Year-End Celebration
 at which he and his sister will offer musical entertainment of musical show tunes and songs.  She starred in a Broadway show.

 Jim Wald and Carolyn Holstein made a presentation to Hubb Smith, for his long-time service as Amherst Club Treasurer,   The gift was a Josh
Simpson glass “world” globe on a clear plastic stand.  Hubb thanked all for their concern.

 Jim Wald made a series of summary comments of Club events over the last year.  Among the things mentioned was the success of this year’s
Love Notes, the formalization of the bylaws and the offer by the archives at Jones Library to store the archives of the Amherst Club.

 
Jim Wald, in recognition of today’s primary elections as well as the ongoing Amherst Town Meeting, shared some humorous quips from campaign
trails of the past.

 

Annual Amherst Club Elections:

 Carolyn Holstein presented the nominees for the 2008/2009 Officers and Committee Heads.  There was a call for a single ballot of those presented,
which was voted unanimously.  See the minutes of the 2008 Annual Meeting for names of nominees.

 As Co-Chair of the Nominations Committee, Carolyn thanked all those who volunteered to serve in the coming year.  Jim Wald thanked all those
 who have served during the current year,

 Raffle Results at today’s meeting:  Wine Winner:  Connie Conn            Cash Winner: Jim Scott

 Meeting adjourned at 1:20 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted by today’s scribe,

Jim Scott

May 13, 2008:

                   Recognition Day for the recipients of the 2008 Love Notes Grants

At 12:55 President Jim Wald called the meeting to order and welcomed the members and the recipients of the 2008 Love Notes Grants.  
 The room was full.

Guests:

Besides the Representatives of the 16 grantee organizations there were no guests today. 

Announcements:          

 Kathleen & David Scott will be away from mid June through August this summer, and they are looking  for a house sitter.  Please contact them for
further information.

 Ruth Miller reminded members of the Chinese dinner option at Butterfly’s June 18 @ 1:30 p.m.  Contact Ruth for details.

Tina Berins announced a Club Pot-Luck luncheon at her house on Lincoln Ave. in Amherst on June 22 at 1:30 p.m.   Details later.

Carolyn Holstein and Nancy Brose, as Co-Chairs of the Nominating Committee, announced a completed slate of 2008/9 Club Officers
and Committee Chairs, which will be distributed to members by email very soon in preparation for the election at the meeting next week.

Ruth Miller presented Craig Hollingsworth of the Gypsy Wranglers, with  a Plaque of  Recognition for their performance at the 2008 Love Notes,

There was a loud round of applause from club members.

Recognition Ceremony:

 Jacquie Price, Vice President and Chair of the Allocations Committee, led the celebration of the recipient organizations by calling a representative
 of each to come forward to be recognized.

Amherst Senior Center:           
Lisa White with Nancy Pagano said that the grant would support the Outreach Senior Clinic which would bring services to seniors in their homes.

A Better Chance:
Michael Hawkins described that the ABC Program has helped more than100 young men gain an education at Amherst Regional High School
since the program’s origin in 1968.  More than 98% of these have graduated from college.

ACT NOW!:             
 Nancy Fletcher described this program for girls  in which the participants write, produce, act, plus record digital movies as a means of developing
self-confidence, teamwork and new sets of skills.  Grants support the costs of this program.  There will be a showing of last year’s movies at the
Amherst Cinema on June 8^th  at “ShineFest”.  Call 253-2547 for further information.

All Out Adventures:      
 Susan Tracy with Philippe Galaski described this Easthampton organization which provides outdoor recreational activities to people with handicaps.
The grant will be used to purchase a second reclining tricycle, thus doubling the ability to provide services to people of all ages, such as rides on the
 Norwottuck Rail Trail.


 Amherst Family Center:           
Joanne Levenson, with parent Deb Logan and her infant daughter,stated that the grant will facilitate the delivery of services especially to parents
of infants, many of them single parents, to develop strategies for better living.

.Amherst Survival Center:          
 Cheryl Zoll was unable to attend today.  The grant will be used to purchase a computer so that the Center will become a place for the distribution
 of Food Stamps.

 Ann Whalen Wellness Program:          
 Juana Trujillo, Service Coordinator, with Jean Haggerty, Director, and Donna Crabtree, Nancy Shroeder, and Joan Logan described that the grant
money will purchase first aid kits and medicines for the residents of the Ann Whalen House.

Food Bank of Western Massachusetts:        
Megan Pete, Services Coordinator, explained thatthe grant will assist in the Brown Bag Program in which senior clients receive a monthly bag with
about 15 pounds of food stuffs, which makes a huge difference to recipients in need.

Greenfield Community College Foundation:
 Sarah Scarchilli-Janus with Dr. Allen Davis and Kathy Rice represented the cooperative program with Amherst Regional High School forabout 20
students in which they attend GCC and complete their high school graduationrequirements in a more successful environment.  The grant underwrites
expenses for the advising luncheon sessions.

Hampshire HealthConnect:               
Georgia Moore with Margarete McCarroll and TamaraO’Connell state that this grant supports this Cooley Dickinson Hospital program forclients with
 little or no insurance to provide medical services to 500 Amherst families who would not otherwise get them.

Jones Library ESL Center:     
Lynne Weintraub explained that this grant will make possible therewrite this summer of the study guide for the citizenship exams which are being revised
for next fall.  A goal of this Center is to train clients for this exam.

Men’s Resource Center for Change:           
Sara Elinoff Acker described that the Center is dedicated to help end domestic violence by programs to help men redirect their lives into useful, caring
 and productive behaviors.  The grant will support client expenses.

Not Bread Alone:
 Hwei-Ling Greeney was unable to attend today’s meeting.  The grant willgo to support the Wednesday evening dinner program that Hwei-Ling created.

Reader To Reader:           
David Mazor said that the grant enables this program to distribute copiesof “Extraordinary Girls” to all the schools in Amherst by leveraging assistance
in the $3,000 expense.

Safe Passage:      
LaWanza Lett-Brewington said the grant sponsors the volunteer training program to assist delivery of services to clients of this domestic violence prevention
program.

Youth Action Coalition:           
Erica Ann Flood stated that the grant will provide materials and snack food for this Tuesday/Thursday afternoon program for 10 girls that teaches photography
and darkroom techniques.  There will be a group exhibit at the Food For Thought Bookstore in Amherst on June 5^th where postcard photos of the girls’ work
 will be sold.

There was no raffle at today’s meeting.

 

Respectfully submitted by today’s scribe,

Jim Scott

May 6, 2008:

President Elect Jacquie Price opened the meeting at 12:55 p.m. with the reading of a poem by Mary Oliver

                 entitled "Children, It's Spring".

 

Guests:    Larry Siddall introduced his guest, Dorien Miller, the wife of today's speaker and long-time friend

                 of Larry's.  She is involved with fiber art in Northampton.

 

Announcements:    Ruth Miller announced the Butterfly's Chinese Food dining opportunity on Sunday,

                                    May 18 at 1:30 p.m.  Contact Ruth for further details and location and transport.

 

                                Arthur Kinney announce that last Saturday Roger Webb, Vivienne Carey and their Morris

                                    Dancing friends performed at the Renaissance Center Spring Festival.  Arthur

                                    suggested that this group could be incorporated in to this years Love Notes

                                    performance.  Whereupon Roger suggested that the group could perform for a future

                                    Club meeting.

 

                                Carolyn Holstein, Co-Chair of the Nominations Committee, annouonced that a full slate

                                    of candidates (except for three persons to act as Scribes for the Meeting Notes) has

                                    been assembled for next year to be voted upon at the upcoming Annual Meeting.  Any

                                    persons willing to fill this/these positions, please contact Carolyn Holstein or Nancy

                                    Brose, Co-Chairs of the Nominations Committee.

 

                                Ed Koczur announced that copies of the Amherst Club Directory (Summer 2007) are

                                    availalable next to the Name Tag box.

Speaker:
 

Larry Siddall introduced today's speaker, Dr. Jeffrey Zesiger, Palliative Medical Physician at Cooley

Dickinson Hospital in Northampton.  Larry described his association with Jeff and his wife, Dorien,
going back to Oberlin, Ohio, where Dorien's mother was a classmate of Larry's.

Jeff Zesiger was educated at Dartmouth College and University of Vermont Medical School.  He had

been practicing Internal Medicine in Northampton for about 20 years when he became interested in

Hospice Care.  Over the last decade he has become certified as a Palliative Care Physician, the first
 in Western Massachusetts.  Now, he says, he has colleagues in other medical centers in the area.

 

Jeff Zesiger described his work as a palliative care physician as a manager of care-giving team for a particular patient which
attempts to give the patient dignity, support and concern to him/her-self as well as to address the symptoms of the condition
or conditions that may be bringing pain and discomfort to the patient.  He said that "palliative" derives from a Greek/Latin word
pallios meaning to cover, cloak, shield or protect.  In this way he asks his patients and their family members, "What would you
 like to have happen to you?"  "How can we, the care-giving team, make you feel better about yourself?"  This team not only
includes doctors and nurses, but also social workers, therapists, clergy and others, who will get together with Dr. Zesiger once a
week to assess the patient's progress and condition.  He described it as "Symptom Management Care".

 

To Bill Darity's question about whether palliative care is now included in medical school curricula, Zesiger responded that yes, now
medical students are being exposed to this form of physician-patient interaction.   To the question about insurance coverage for palliative
care, he responded that in most cases it was covered by major insurance companies, at least for stated periods of time.  The last question
was asked by Larry Siddall dealing with physician-assisted suicide.  To this Zesiger replied that only in Oregon is such a event legal under
 very controlled conditions, and it has been his experience that patients who consider this, frequently change their minds when conditions
 of chronic pain and depression are treated effectively.  Many in the audience admitted that they are rapidly approaching the need for palliative
care in the future.

 

Finally, Zesiger encourage everyone to have current health care proxies and a living will documents distributed to family members, primary
care physicians, clergy and friends.

 

 

The wine was won by Bonnie Isman, while the cash raffle was won by Jeff Zesiger, himself, who donated it to the Club.

 

 

Respectfully submitted by

 

Jim Scott, Scribe for the Day

April 28, 2008

The Amherst Club met April 28 with 38 present, called to order by President Jim Wald who read about the origins of the humanities
and liberal education.

Guests:

Rotary Club President Steve Kravetz was introduced, the guest of his mother.

Announcements:

The Renaissance Center is having its annual sonnet fest Friday at 4 withpoet Stan Koehler. All Shakespeare all the time. Free.
The annual Renaissance Festival will be held Sunday from 11-4 with Morris Dancers, dancing by our own Roger and Vivienne at 3, theater, music,
children's events, food. Rain or shine because of a tent. 
Eat Chinese food May 16 or 18. What's your pleasure? Call Ruth Miller.

Speaker:

Arthur Kinney introduced Joel Martin, who is the dean of the UMass Collegeof Fine Arts and Humanities. He was dean and chair of the religious
 studiesdepartment at UC Riverside and was at Princeton. A history professor, he has written several books and is interested is Native American studies
.
The college has 300 full -time faculty,  2,200 majors and 5,000 studentstaught annually by distinguished faculty, who have won many awards. The
majors range from African American studies to classics, music and English,history, language and literature.

He outlined improvements in faculty, teaching and facilities. Twentytenure-track searches have been successful. An IT director has been hired
and there will be better use of technology, such as Web tutorials. The newstate-of- the-art studio arts building will have a gala opening Sept. 19

 Martin spoke about the valley as special and beautiful and attracts manyartists, writers, illustrators and poets. This coupled with all the creative
faculty and students generates  what he calls a creative economy that he is trying to document. The creative types are called Bohemians ( by an author)
and there is a Bohemian Index that has a direct correlation with economicdevelopment. He wants to improve the college's relation in the  region and
community, to play a key role in the creative economy.The university is a major contributor to economic development, createscreative people, educates
people, a Bohemian factory. Creative people can transform the world. "We have an impact. This is a magic place."

A total of 4,500 alums will be surveyed: what do they do and their role inthe Pioneer Valley. 

He has sponsored grants for: Center for Design Solutions;  summer writingprogram for at-risk students in Holyoke and Springfield;  Youth Shakespeare
Program with the Renaissance Center, Enchanted Circle Theater and HampshireShakespeare Company and Holyoke students.    

Dee Waterman won the wine from Spirit Haus. Sara Berger won the raffle.

Your scribe,
Phyllis Lehrer


April 22, 2008:

V.P. Jacquie Price opened the meeting with a reading about G-d and baseball. It was very funny and well appreciated.

 

There were no guests.

 

Announcements:
Bonnie Isman told us about the Amherst Art Walk on May 1^st including a talk on watercolor techniques by Susan Tilton Pecora.
 There will be a workshop on making bird houses. Claude said their carpool is full and encouraged others to form another carpool.

Arthur told us about a Renaissance Center lecture on the wife of a draper in Tudor London. There will be performances of Measure for Measure
 at the Black Box Theater.

Speaker:

 

Arthur introduced our speaker, our own Rachel Mustin, Ph.D. The title of her talk was ‘Podunk, Tuxedo and Mugwump,’ the way American Indian
 words have entered the English language. There is a social construction in languages, e.g.:

            How = let us begin

            Ugh =  Yes

Many Indians prefer that name to “Native Americans.”

The Algonquin languages had most words adapted. They include the Cheyenne and Blackfeet to the Mic Mac and Mackinaw of Maine. They have
a strong oral tradition with many meanings to a word. They do not have tenses or a sense of time.

By the way, podunk means swampy place, tuxedo means wolf, and mugwump is someone who is indecisive (sits on a fence with the mug on one side
and the wump on the other).

Many of the place names are Indian. The early settlers of Amherst requested the name ‘Norwottuck,’ but were given the name ‘Amherst.’ Quabbin
 is a meeting place of waters.

Massachusetts means ‘great blue hill.’ Rivers, mountains, and lakes have Indian names, many of which were transliterated. In 1643, Roger Williams
 published a dictionary of Narragansett words.

Mohawks were viewed by some as terrible, and others as wonderful.

19^th century literature such as Hiawatha were influential, 20^th century slowed the introduction of Indian terms in English.

Indians are our most impoverished minority.

 

Kathleen Scott won the wine; Vivienne Carey won the $10.

 

Reported by Sara Berger who hopes she made sense of a wonderful talk.

April 15:

Guests:

Estella Olevsky was the guest of Ruth Black. Estella told us  about the Venezuelan Youth Orchestra which will perform Thursday 
evening at the Jones Library.

Announcements:

President Jim Wald then told us about the discussion at the Board  meeting about the price of food going up at Hickory Ridge. Even if we 
went to soup and a sandwich, the price would not change. Everyone  agreed that the location is excellent. Hickory Ridge will purchase a 
new pull-down projection screen. The dues will increase by $10/ quarter. Elsie asked if those who could not afford the increase could 
go to a Board member to be relieved of it. Hub said he would handle  the requests as Board member and Treasurer.

Arthur Kinney announced that Kathleen Scott will be signing her new  book at the Amherst Book Store on Friday evening. Harry Brooks 
announced that Democratic Party meetings are coming up.

Speaker:

Arthur introduced our speaker, Joe Larson, Director of the  Environmental Institute. Joe talked about his other group, Preserve 
UMass.

There are 23 historic buildings on the campus in trouble. Old  Chapel and the University Club/Stockbridge House are on a Registry of 
Historic Places. Joe called the campus a living museum of  architecture from 1728 to present.

Preserve UMass wants to hold off on demolition until a survey is  done. They brought in expertise. Experts agreed a problem exists, 
with a list of 10 most endangered. The Mass Building Authority  started taking down a historic building—the old stucco cow barn. It 
had been top of the line when built, but couldn’t be converted. No- one had filed for permits. Demolition was stopped for 7 weeks. There 
were no environmental issues.

The UMass Building Authority claims not to be a part of the  university, but is the contracting arm of the Trustees. State 
operations are subject to statutes. UMass will conduct a survey of  the buildings. UMass Lowell also has some historic buidings.
Historic buildings can be on State or National Register of Historic  Sites. This designation offers no protection from demolition, but 
adaptive reuse allows the building to be used without changing the  exterior very much. Blaisdell House, the oldest on campus, was moved 
and now is office space.

The State Historical Commission will need to review the assessment of  the contractor. Some people are challenging the authority of the 
Commission. The Historical Commission requires documentation of old  building that cannot be adapted for reuse. There are people with 
expertise and imagination to adapt for reuse. The only real  protection is local historical districts.

Recorded by Sara Berger



April 8, 2008:

The Amherst Club met April 8, 2008 with 40 present.

President Jim Wald called the meeting to order.

Guest:
 Millie Marnin

Announcements:

Jacquie Price read the list of Love Notes recipients, our raison d'etre. They will be recognized at the May 13 lunch.
Renaissance programs Wed. and Friday.
The club will have a potluck at Tina's house some Sat. or Sun in June.
Interst in any summer group activities call Ruth Miller.
Marcia Ball will be at the Iron Horse April 16.

Connie Conn, the daughter of the late Jean Chapman, was inducted into theclub. She lived in Anchorage Alaska where she was a food and beverage
manager in hotels  for 25 years organizing many events. She lives in Hadley, helps at the First Congregational Church, Hospice and our Love Notes

Speaker:
   
Arthur Kinney introduced our speaker, Elizabeth Sharp, who has a doctoratein history from the University of Delaware, was director of education at
the Smithsonian for 20 years, is president of the Amherst Historical Society andon the town's 250th anniversary history committee.She wrote
 "In the Shadow of the Dam" about the Mill River dam break in May1874 that left 139 dead and 70 homeless. It was the greatest dam disaster up
to that time and made the front page of the London papers.

Betty read excerpts from the book including an eyewitness account.The Mill River Reservoir Company built the dam in 1855 to harness water
power for the 74 factories along the river. The dam covered 100 acres andheld 600 million gallons.The dam had been leaking for 8 years. When the
reservoir became full, it broke. It was fast, destroying everything in a minute. In 10 minutes the water receded.

The incident caused panic in New England with 100 dams and the possibilityof other breaks. Five parties were found guilty: mill and dam owners,
 builder, engineer andthe state. However, no one was prosecuted. The cause of the flood, badconstruction, has been suppressed. It's not in local
history books.  She noted the outcomes of the disaster: it made engineering moreprofessional, changed concept of relief, role of press was strong,
changedpublic safety and some laws. Everything was rebuilt. New England isresilient.

She is willing to take a group to visit the site, which is on privateproperty.

Zina won the wine and David Scott won the raffle.

Your scribe,
Phyllis Lehrer


April 1, 2008

President Jim Wald called the meeting to order April 1, 2008 with a readingof an Emily Dickinson poem since April is National Poetry month.
The Renaissance Wednesdays  continue at 4.

Announcements:

The board will meet next Tuesday at Roger and Vivienne's, 293 Potwine Lane. Be prepared to stay longer since there is much business.

Speaker:

Sara Berger's husband, Sy, did the  introduction. He said his wife majoredin biology in college but stopped in her junior year when they married.
Years later she completed her degree in zoology at the Indiana University. She has worked with roaches, fruit flies, scorpions, eagles and okapis. She
has been president of the Amherst Club, JCA, member of Town Meeting, theLeague of Women Voters and Planning Board.Besides the mystery of
science, she like mysteries and that was the subjectof her talk.

Sara has been the editor of Mysterious Women,  a quarterly publication thatreviews books by women authors for six years. She said it was founded
as wasSisters in Crime because women were ignored by reviewers and the best sellerlists.

Sara reads about  three books a week and does most of the 30 reviews in thenewsletter. Members Doris Holden, Phyllis Lehrer and Nancy Gregg have
alsocontributed. She receives books from publishers and authors. The books by male writersare donated to Reader to Reader. If she doesn't like a book
she will notread it. She doesn't have the time.

She attends conferences, one was in Alaska and meets authors and fans, mostof whom are women.  She has served on a panel.
She like the books published by Poison Pen Press. With some books she knows who done it by the first two chapters. Authors she cited: Laurie King,
Dana Stabenow, Sue Masse, Earlene Fowler.She doesn't review Janet Evanovich. After 13 books the heroine hasn'tlearned anything and is rescued by
two men. She likes intelligent women,humor and a little romance.
Some women authors, -Donna Leon is one, use a male protagonist.Donis Casey is a new find. Jean Keating self publishes.She spoke about
Ariana Franklin's "Mistress of Death" set in the 12thcentury, the time of Henry II, featuring a woman doctor and her Muslimbodyguard.
She defined a cozy as book where the body is never seen, it's not hardboiled and there is usually a cat.

Vivienne Carey won the wine and Miriam Dayton won the raffle.

Your scribe,
Phyllis Lehrer



March 25, 2008

The Amherst Club met March 25 with 41 present.
President Jim Wald called themeeting to order

Guests:

Harry Brooks introduced School Committee member and candidate ChrystelRomero.

Announcements:

The LWV Candidates Night is being shown on ACTV. LWV Book Sale pricing andsorting center is in the South Towne Commons. Collection
 begins next week.
There is a March 30 fundraiser for the University Gallery
Renaissance Wednesdays continue at the Center. Pancake Breakfast Sat. 8 a.m.to noon with syrup tapped from the trees.
Mindfulness conference April 6 9:30-4:30
Visit Mt. Holyoke Art Museum
Film UMass, 7 p.m., March 27
Hampshire  College talk Fri. at 5:30
Jim visited a Love Notes beneficiary, the Survival Center, and received athank you  note from Not Bread Alone, another beneficiary.

Speaker:

Harry Brooks introduced our speaker Gerry Weiss who attend UVM, is a psychotherapist and chairman of the Select Board.

He spoke about human services, the budget and election. The good news: health insurance increase is projected at a 6 percent
increase instead of 12 percent saving hundreds of thousands of dollars.  Thesavings was used to fund human service agencies and keep
War Memorial Poolopen. A half time post has been cut in health dept. and a half time postadded to the police dept. There is still a $500,000 shortfall.
State aid is down and town doesn't have local options taxes. For municipal finance information visit www.lwvamherst.org and www.massinc.org 
He explained the residential and commercial tax base ratio, compared us toNorthampton figures and the need to look at economic development.
However,he said the town is not ready to hire a ED director. It would take $5-6million in assessed value to fund the post since $1 million generates
$16,000 in revenue. 90 percent of our tax revenue comes from residential and 10percent from commercial.
Town Manager Larry Shaffer is working on a project in North Amherst. We needto evaluate economic impact on town before bringing anything in.
He has served on the board for four years and said that was a long time. Hesaid he is ready to take unpopular positions. Independent thinking is
important on the board but not so independent that one can't work withothers.
He explained his "Sanctuary City" Town Meeting bylaw proposal for the policenot to turn in undocumented people. He said he knows undocumented
meansillegal.

Your scribe
Phyllis Lehrer



March 18, 2008

Guests:

Bill Darity introduced Judith Roberts, Director of the  Greenfield Literacy Project.
Lois Barber introduced Ginger Burn

Announcements:

March 19th is the 5th Anniversary of the Iraq War;
Dee Waterman said we need more mugs, after which a frantic search for who  has the stock of them ensued;
Larry Siddall reminded us of the  exhibits at Mt. Holyoke College;

We all thanked the staff for the  Irish meal which included corned beef and cabbage;
George Washington  declared March 17th Evacuation Day when he drove the British out of  Boston.

Speaker:

Thomas W. Cole Jr. Interim Chancellor of Umass. He is a  second generation college president. He offered some perspective on 
the university:

A student went to college and her first letters home were very  loving. Her Christmas letter said, “the dorm burned down because of a 
pot party, but she didn’t care becsue she was moving to Alaska with  Bill to have their baby.
P.S.The dorm did not burn down, but I got a ‘D’ in Chemistry, and I  wanted you to keep it in perspective.”

There will be 5 new buildings to be opened next 2 years. There are  challenges of maintenance, ‘Amherst 250’ aims to replace faculty who 
left, 150 are already on board. New faculty also need start-up money.30,000 students applied for 4000 spaces, there are 12,000 students 
living on campus. The students come from 100 states and countries. Of  the 200,000 alumni, most live in Massachusetts; there are excellent 
programs for adult students.

The university reaches all parts of the earth, the operating budget  is 800 million dollars,  there is a 1.5 billion affect on Hampshire 
County.Along with the excellent research, faculty give a lot of pro-bono  service in the Valley and Springfield. Town and Gown walls have 
broken down with the police and fire agreements.

There is an intensive search for a new chancellor, Cole will give his  advice and experience.

There is a good relationship with the international students, and an  International House is on the radar.

The state supports 20% of the university, it used to be 80%. We get a  big bang for the buck.

Health Services are struggling and need new space, the Marching Band  is raising money for a permanent house. Most of Cole’s time is spent 
in meetings.

Ginger Burn won the wine, Claude won the $10.

Reported by Sara Berger who hopes she spelled everyone’s name 
correctly this time.



March 11, 2008

The Amherst Club met March 11, 2008 with 35 members and guests present.

President Jim Walk called the  meeting to order.

Guests: Ginny and Bruce Clinton (Jean Miller) Diane and Otto Stein (Harry Brooks).

Announcements:

The League of Women Voters needs 2,599 square feet of space to price andsort books for its annual sale. Call Cynthia Brubaker with ideas.
Visit the Mount Holyoke Art Museum exhibits
Hear  Jim Hightower talk at Mount Holyoke Art Museum auditorium Wednesday at7:30 p.m.
Attend Renaissance Center  Wednesday  talks at 4 p.m.
Hear Irish music at the Harp Thursday.
Cards were signed for June Gordon and Bobbye Hertzbach.

Speaker:

Harry Brooks introduced Carol Gray, who attended Wesleyan, Middlebury,University of Havana, Western New England Law School and Georgetown.
 She isan attorney who was a public defender, lived in many states and countriesand teaches at GCC, Western New England and Hampshire College.
She is a TownMeeting member.

She spoke about Guantanamo, Geneva Conventions and law. She reviewed thecombatant status review transcripts from the tribunals. She read from
someof the transcripts.

 Detainees do not have due process. They don't have access to lawyers, don'tsee the evidence and can't call witnesses. Fewer than a dozen have been
charged criminally. There were 700 detainees, now there are 200 plus. Somehave a personal representative who is not a lawyer and  not confidential.
Some detainees are juveniles which would be against the Geneva Conventions.Pakistan arrested a large percentage of the detainees. There was a $15,000
payment for each capture. enough to feed a Pakistani soldier's family foryears.

She read the legal language about torture. She showed slides of Guantanamo and some of the detainees.

Claude won the wine and Vivienne won the raffle.

Your scribe,
Phyllis Lehrer

        

 March 4, 2008
 Guests:

Elsie Fetterman brought Stephanie O'Keefe, candidate for Select Board
Harry Brooks brought the speaker, Robin Kline

Larry Siddall auctioned off several bottles of wine and 2 lbs. of  coffee, all left over from Love Notes.

Announcements:

Condo for sale or rent,
Concerts, Renaissance doings, 
Celtic music at Harp 3/13 at 7:30
Art exhibits at library include a  photo exhibit by John Roberts of Japan at the end of WWII
 Lectures and films at Hampshire College.
Therese Donahue was given a gold star  by the Massachusetts Cultural Council for one of her programs.

Speaker:

Robin Kline, Director of Volunteers at Cooley-Dickinson  Hospital.
She talked about the roles of volunteers at the hospital. 
Cooley-Dick is a medium-size community hospital—135 beds, not a  teaching institution. There are surgical robots available, despite 
the size.
The ER sees 37,000 patients/year.
There are many programs, utilizing 1800 staff and 300 volunteers/year/
Volunteers go through a rigorous screening and training, with  emphasis put on avoiding infections, and maintaining confidentiality. 
The hospital Auxiliary is an organization of volunteers and is 150  years old. It runs the gift and coffee shops, and contributes the 
profits to the hospital.
Therapy dogs are used where possible, and they go through lots of  screening and hurdles.
Pre-med college students help with various tasks. The youngest  volunteer is 15, the oldest is in her 90s. Volunteers gave 32,000 
hours in 2007. They can do some things that staff cannot do.

Raffle: Joan Hanson won the wine, Flo Stern won the $10.

Reported by Sara Berger


February 26, 2008

The Amherst Club met Feb. 26 with 33 present on a snowy afternoon.President Jim Wald called the meeting to order with reading aboutmanuscripts.

Announcements:

Larry Siddall auctioned off wine, gift certificates and a purse, leftoversfrom our Love Notes.
Talk on C.S. Lewis Feb. 29 at 4 p.m. at the Renaissance Center.
Founders Night is March 5 at 7:30 p.m. at the Jones Library
Talk in ID Shakespeare March 8 at the Renaissance Center.
Celtic music at the Harp March 13.
Vivienne Carey said the notes from the debriefing are on line.
Thanks extended for the up coming speaker list.
Reminder: Put guest's name next to member's name  for billing purposes.

Speaker:

Bonnie Isman  introduced Tevis Kimball, special collections curator at theJones Library since 2001. Tevis worked at the R.I. Historical Society and
for Fleet Bank.
Tevis said special collections began with Library Director Charles Green in 1921 when he purchased the Lucius Boltwood papers of local history.  It's a
very valuable collection because much of what he copied is no longer extant. Green also collected Emily Dickinson and Robert Frost material and the
library holdings are among the best in the nation for those two. Scholars come form all over the world to view the material that includes four
original poems and 11 letters by Dickinson.

George Cutler, a trustee, donated photographs. There are 37,000 in the collection and some are on line.The department has the papers of author Julius
Lester, David Grayson (RayStanard Baker)  and Clifton Johnson of Hadley. The Specila Collections focus is Amherst history, Amherst authors, Amherst
genealogy, Pioneer Valley history, state and New England history.

There are always items to be found in the archives. For example, there is an aluminum record of Robert Frost but there is no equipment to play it.
Special collections includes family papers, maps, town records, newspapers.
Special collections is open Tuesday-Friday 10-5; Monday/Saturday 2-5.  Allare invited.
She read newspaper accounts (1891, 1955) of the original Amherst Club thatthrough its efforts improved the civic and social life of the community.  

Ruth Hooke won the wine and Ellen Kosmer won the raffle.

Your scribe,
Phyllis Lehrer





February 19, 2008

Guests:

Guests:  Harry brooks brought Wei Ling Greeney, candidate for re- election to the Select Board;
Honoré David brought Catherine  Sanderson, candidate for School Committee

Announcements:

Love Notes Thank you luncheon;
Eclipse of the moon  Wednesday night, starting around 7:34 pm, total at 10:26 pm; 
Activities Comm. announces Celtic music at The Harp restaurant on  March 13th;
Love Notes—310 tickets sold, approx. $16,000 to give away.

Jim read funny definitions

Speaker:

Michael Hanke designer of museum exhibits.
He illustrated  his talk with slides of his work. Hanke worked on the Mashantucket  Pequot museum at Foxwoods in Connecticut.
He works with the curator  for what they want to say, then the designer fills out the space,  starting with drawings, scale models, and the real thing.
The diorama  there is 35 feet tall. The village is 200 ft. long and 100 ft. wide.
He worked at a coal mine exhibit in Blue Heron, Kentucky, using old  photos and oral history.
We saw some of the exhibits at Ellis Island, and further north, Fort  Trumbull in New London, CT. There has been a fort on the site since 
Revolutionary War days.
Hanke worked on the FDR museum and archives, also at various factory  sites in Brooklyn, NY. He went to Machu Pichu, the summer home for 
Incan Emperors, and, closer to home, the Emily Dickinson museum.
All  in all, it was a fascinating look at the exhibits and what went into  producing them.

Reported by Sara Berger



February 12, 2008

The Amherst Club met Feb. 12, 2008 with 46 members and guests present on asnowy afternoon.

President Jim Wald called the meeting to order with a reading from CharlesDarwin on emotions in animals and people since it was
International DarwinDay.

Guests:

Nancy Brose, Connie Conn; Elise Fetterman, Kevin Hutchinson; JudyEiseman, Eileen Simonson.
 
Announcements:

Prevent War in Iran: Feb. 20,  7 p.m. American Legion Hall, Hadley withseveral speakers
Historical Society Founder's Night Feb. 13, 7:30 p.m. Jones Library followedby champagne reception at the Strong House, Doug Wilson and
Steve Puffer tobe honored,  Polly Longsworth speaks

LOVE NOTES:

Bring food -bite size- and beverages to Nancy Brose, Triangle Street home bynoon on Saturday
We have a good collection of wine but could use more.
Need some volunteers to clean up when the party is over.
Give ticket money to Jim Scott next week, not at the concert. Or drop it offat his home in the next few days
Pot luck debriefing Feb. 23, noon, at Roger and Vivienne's, Potwine Lane. Sign up sheet next Tues.
Give receipts to Hub to be reimbursed for expenses. Keep selling tickets.

Speaker:

Arthur Kinney introduced free lance editor John Bollard who taught at UConn,UMass, Yale, Smith, Mount Holyoke and is an executive director
of an AfricanAmerican biography project.He is president of the Hampshire ShakespeareCompany.
His theme was Valentine's Day and how it all got started. There is littleconnection with the day and the saints (there were several St. Valentines
and for two, their feast days were in Feb. and May.) Bollard read severalpoems and showed slides of poets, illuminated manuscripts.
It was poetry that led the way to Valentine's Day and Chaucer was the start.He read from Chaucer's  poem about the parliament of birds, (birds pick
their mates that day) in Middle and modern day English. From that we nowhave love, poetry and flowers.
He read other poems and from other poets. Christine de Pisan was theprofessional women writer who wrote many poems after she was widowed as a
young woman. She wrote a 100 ballad piece that alternated between a Lord anda Lady, two are set on Valentine's Day.

 Kathleen Scott won the wine. Bette Kravetz won the raffle.

Your scribe,
Phyllis Lehrer



February 5, 2008

Speaker:

After a flurry of Love Notes announcements, our speaker, Ruth Hooke  was introduced.

Ruth spoke of her trip to Bolivia with eight other women, including a  translator.  Conquistadors had ruled the land, but the indigenous 
people organized and changed the constitution. They had marched from  the lowlands up to La Paz at 1200 ft. The new president is 
indigenous, from two tribes.

The president’s motto is “Coca is not cocaine”. Coca is popularly  chewed, drunk as tea, eaten as candy. It is part of the culture. The 
green leaf is used a form of tranquilizer for hunger and for pain.  The president allows each family to grow a coca field of about 1/3 
the size of a football field. If land lies fallow for seven years, the indigenous can take it over  and plant crops. The government
(and the US) was trying to stop coca  in the 80s and 90s with much damage and harm to families.

Ruth had a slide show to go along with her talk, and brought samples  of some of the local products.

Reported belatedly by Sara Berger



January 29, 2008

The Amherst Club met Jan. 29 at the Hickory Ridge Country Club with 55members and guests present.

Announcements:

President Jim Wald said that the club was receiving a free lunch because wedidn't meet last week to accommodate Linda. Jim said it reflects the warm
and trusting relationship we have. Elise Fetterman arranged a free ad forLinda in the Love Notes program.

Guests:

Claude Tellier brought Ginger Burns and Bill Hart brought Vicki Hart
Arthur Kinney noted the Renaissance Center newsletter on the table.
 RuthHooke mentioned a program that was held Tuesday at the high school. LoisBarber could be heard on the  "Living on Earth" program on NPR.
Tina and Larrry spoke of the party. Sign up to bring sweet/savory food orwine, soda. The food should be easy to serve and cut into bite size pieces.
Beverages can be bought to the club next week.
Roger said to sell tickets.

New Members:

Bette Kravetz- nurse, ran the Amherst Nursing Home solowhen her husband died and  is now president of the Center for Extended Care.
 She bakes bread, is member of the Association of Retarded Citizens and JCA.
Aaron Hayden - project manager at Amherst College,  Planning Board chair, on Hitchcock Center board, Morris Dancer, an early instrument player
.
Phyllis Lehrer did her annual misperformance (using Music Man theme ) to
inspire ticket sales.

Speaker:

Bonnie Isman introduced  Emmy-nominated,  HBO film writer and teacher  Dan Giat, who has an MFA from the American Film Institute.
He lives in Pelham.

Giat gave a marvelous talk about storywritng, how one has to be engaged tocare. If one feels indifferent after a  play or movie, the mechanics failed.
If you leave and feel moved and not manipulated, fully experience ordeal ofprotagonist,  you get a catharsis. The resolution of stress offers beauty
and harmony, you find contentment,  this is what drama does.

He provided two examples: Walter O'Malley of the Brooklyn Dodgers and HenryHill of the Music Man. O'Malley didn't make a great story since there
was noresolution. He had no insight after he moved the Dodgers to LA. Hill while aswindler had an unconscious objective - he needed love in his life.
He foundit so the ending is satisfying. The play still resonates after 50 years.

Giat spoke of Community Theater and the camaraderie it offers. The AmherstLSSE group is a miracle,  top notch, attracting great talent, resources  and
dedicated volunteers. He is in charge of providing free tickets to those whocan't afford them. Donations are welcome.

Larry Siddall won the raffle and donated his winnings to the Club. Phyllis Lehrer won the wine, which she donated to the party.

Your scribe,
Phyllis Lehrer 

January 15, 2008

Vice President Jacquie Price led the meeting in place of the absent  Jim Wald.
We got off to a slow start as the computer monitor did not  agree to come on as requested. It finally did.

Speakers:

Our speakers were Janet Chevan and Martha Hanna of the Amherst League of Women Voters.
They explained the Town’s finance structure and how  the percentages of aid have been lowered while expenses have  increased.
With the help of numerous colored graphs, it made sense,  but I cannot give the details here.
Needless to say, our finance  picture is getting worse. The Town is looking into alternative health  insurance plans, but these must be
agreed to by the employee unions.

There will be no meeting next week (January 22nd) as the Hickory  Ridge Club needs the space for a reception following the death of one 
of their employees. We send our condolences.

Reported from memory by Sara Berger

January 8, 2008

The Amherst Club met Jan. 8 at Hickory Ridge Country Club with 46 memberspresent on a balmy day with temperature in the 50s.
President Jim Wald called the meeting to order with his three goals:
increase food donations to the Survival Center we have reached 400 pounds; increase Love Notes donations; and new members.

Guests:
Ed Kozcior son Matt, California fire fighter
Nancy Brose: Connie Conn
Elsie Fetterman: Bette Kravitz

Announcements:
 Vivienne Cary said its five weeks to Love Notes. Put posters around town Phyllis Lehrer has more tickets if you need them)
Claire Hopley will feature Love Notes in Bulletin article. Roger Webb wantsto know if anyone has the small Amherst Club banner about 12 feet long.
Nancy Foster: Thursday, 7 p.m., Jones library  program "What Has Our CountryBecome"
Dee Waterman: Doris Abramson, Amherst native, UMass theater prof, died. She read her poetry to us recently.
.Program of readings in New Salem begin Jan.16
Harrison Gregg: Dee will read Doris' poetry at Love Notes
Bonnie Isman: Food for Fines (goes to Survival Center) until Jan 19.
Photo op: Jones Library has stuffed life size bear. Program on bears Saturday at 3
.

Ruth Miller with great head gear presided over the annual worst giftexchange which had nice prizes.
Trudy Darrity's musical dancing flowers brought great delight to members. She received the Cultural prize.
Lois Barber's correct statue of David won the Romantic Cruise prize
Ugliest gift prize went to Nancy Frazier for her ceramic what not or what is it
Most historic prize: Harrison Gregg's wooden carved Doves (eagle)
Environmental: Nancy Brose power breather
Shakespeare: Lorraine Desrosiers Chia head
Child in all of us: Flo Stern's hand puppet
Beautiful: Connie Conn's red decoration with tassel
Useless: Jacquie Price's drawer divider
Historic: Roger Webb's steamboat whistle
Romantic  Suzy Lowenstein's fly swatter
Best crafted: Larry Siddall's ceramic salt and pepper shakers
Smell Ed, Hub and Therese next week - they got scented bath soaps and salts.

Ellen Hosmer won the wine, Lorraine Desrosiers won the raffle.


December 18,  2007
Guests:
Ruth Hooke brought Jim Wald’s mother who is a new resident at  Applewood
.
Announcements:

There were many Love Notes announcements.
Lois Barber brought some of her watercolor cards to sell  as gifts.

Speaker:

Nancy Folbre, an Economist, spoke about “Whose Priorities?”In the field of Macroeconomics, she told us that less than 1/3 of  state universities are paid by tax
payers.Taxes are not going up, but are very complicated.Due to globilization, students and their families are less rooted in  one place. Industries can and do threaten
 to leave, thereby getting  tax breaks. The decline in corporate taxes shifts the burden onto  those less able to pay.

The “War Among the States” is the competition between the states for  industries (thus jobs and tax monies).Workers without college degrees are losing out, but
 globilization is now affecting collge educated also. There is an increase in global  college education.There is a fear of talking about tax increases. Local communities are 
facing a money crunch.

There will be no meetings on the 25th or January 1st. The next is 
January 8th and will include the ‘worst gift exchange.’

Recorded by Sara Berger


 December  11, 2007

President  Jim Wald welcomed Club Members at 12:55 p.m.

Guests:   

Roger Webb & Vivienne Carey brought Amherst newcomers  Jonathan &Stephanie Westphal, who have moved into a house on Middle Street.

Announcements:

Jim Wald reminded members that there would not be meetings on December 25^th andJanuary 1^st.  After next weeks meeting, (12/18), the next meeting will
 be Jan. 8^th
Jacquie Price announced that Love Notes printed materials (tickets, etc.)will be picked up this Friday and will be distributed to the committee chairs at next week’s meeting

Lois Barber shared an Earthwatch poster and other printed materials urging a switchfrom fossil fuels to renewable resources that will be distributed to delegates at theConference on Global Climate Change in Bali, Indonesia.

Ruth Miller announced that Lewiston Taylor (James Taylor’s brother) will perform at theIron Horse on Saturday, January 5^th.  Ruth went on to explain to the new members of the Club the nature and fun of the “Worst Gift Exchange”, which this year will take place at the January 8^th meeting.

 Speaker(s):    

Dee Waterman, acting as Director, led club members in the casting and production of a
“Who Done It” playlet, created by Dorothy Johnson of New Salem, MA.
Jean Miller was cast in the part of the Assistant Director.

 Scene I:  Margaret & The Detective:

 Phyllis Lehrer was first cast as Margaret Plumbbottom, Maid/servant girl, with Harrison
Gregg as the Detective.  The first read-through reveals that something dire has occurred
in this dysfunctional household.

 “Cut!!  Stop!!  That’s enough for now.  Thank you very much.  Take your seats”

 The next casting included Bobbye Hertzbach as Margaret and Larry Siddall as the
 Detective.  Same lines with new interpretations by the new actors.

 “Cut!!  Stop!!  That’s enough for now.  Thank you very much.  Take your seats”

 The Director and Asstistant Director huddled to make the casting decision for the parts of
Margaret and the Detective and retained Bobbye Herzbach and Harrison Gregg,
respectively, for these parts.  Phyllis and Larry left the stage crestfallen and in tears.

 
Scene II:  The Wife & The Detective:

 Bill Darity is cast as the new Detective and Nancy Foster as the Wife.  The reading of

the lines revealed that the Doctor (Head of Household) has been murdered, and the Wife

is a new bride of the Doctor.  The grown children are from a previous marriage and are 

referred to only indirectly.

 “Cut!!  Stop!!  That’s enough for now.  Thank you very much.  Take your seats”

 New casting of actors with Glen Gordon as the Detective and Trudy Darity as the Wife.
More action in the same scene.

 “Cut!!  Stop!!  That’s enough for now.  Thank you very much.  Take your seats”

 The Director and Assistant Director again huddle to make their decision that brings joy to

some and sadness to others, with Glen Gordon and Nancy Foster cast for the final

reading. 

 

Scene III:  The Doctor’s Partner, George & The Female Detective

 
Lorraine Desrosiers tries out for the Female Detective with Chris Blauvelt as George. 
The plot thickens as we find that the relationship between the partners is cool at best.  An
argument over money has occurred between the partners to create dramatic tension.

 “Cut!!  Stop!!  That’s enough for now.  Thank you very much.  Take your seats”

 The final trial casting has Zina Tillona