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Who are they and why are they here?
Have fun!
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She is an American actress and singer who has won six Emmy Awards for her television work, a Tony Award and is a 2011 American Theatre Hall of Fame inductee.
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He was an American political and social activist who co-founded the Youth International Party.
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He is an American political commentator and author. He is a three-time Pulitzer Prize winner who is a weekly columnist for The New York Times. He has written extensively on foreign affairs, global trade, the Middle East, globalization and environmental issues.
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He is an American author, journalist, and musician. His books have sold over 40 million copies worldwide. Having achieved national recognition for sports writing in his early career, he is perhaps best known for the inspirational stories and themes that weave through his books, plays and films.
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She was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on March 30, 2022 as the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, with the rank of Ambassador. As Special Envoy, she leads efforts to advance U.S. foreign policy to counter antisemitism throughout the world. She is an American historian and academic, best known as the author of the books Denying the Holocaust, History on Trial: My Day in Court with a Holocaust Denier, The Eichmann Trial and Antisemitism: Here and Now.
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We hope you enjoyed this quiz - the answers are at the end of this bulletin.
Warmly,
Ellen and Leith
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What is a Bookmark Donor? | |
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Bookmark Donors are those who contribute to the event, over and above attending the luncheon.
As a Bookmark donor at various levels, you will be invited to a Cocktail Reception with the Authors
on Sunday, March 12, the evening preceding the Book & Author luncheon.
Bookmark donors at the most generous levels will have the opportunity to spend even more quality time with the
authors at an intimate dinner following the Cocktail Reception, as well as receiving preferred seating at the luncheon.
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Travel Share: Transportation for the 2023 Book & Author Luncheon and Bookmark Cocktail Reception
We are establishing Travel Share, a new service for people who cannot drive to or from either the luncheon or the
cocktail reception. If you need help driving, meeting, or even booking Uber or Lyft, we are happy to help you do so.
For more details, please contact:
Truda Chick • chick360@gmail.com •480-686-8747
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Our centerpieces will WOW you! Once you see them, you may want to purchase one or more!! Please plan ahead by bringing a $25 check or cash for each one you will purchase on the day of the Book & Author luncheon.
Quantities are limited, so don't miss out on this special opportunity!
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Book & Author in the News | |
The Jewish News wrote an article about our event. | | |
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Jan Lebovitz • Carol Kern • Linda Ullman
2023 Book & Author Event Chairs
Photo: Gale Gradus
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B&A Planning Session and Walk Through | |
Deadline is approaching • Register now! | |
Proceeds from the event, as well as a portion of the proceeds from every book sold at the event, will benefit BNC’s library campaign, The Legacy of Louis: Inspiring Inquiry. Scroll down for more information about the campaign. | |
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Amazing how time flies! We are starting to plan for Summer Camp (June, July and August, 2023.) Put on your thinking caps and let us know if you wish to lead a Summer Camp activity. Please send us an email with a brief description and if the activity is in-person or on Zoom and we will contact you.
Ronee Siegel and Harriet Schwartz, Summer Camp Chairs
bncphxsummercamp@gmail.com
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Dance Fever
A great time was had by all!
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Spotlight on Study Groups | |
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Study Groups Need Facilitators! | |
We are having another successful Study Group season, with 81 study groups. The chapter continues to attract new members and a major part of that attraction is the availability of many and varied study groups in which people can participate.
To continue this success, we need your help. As we begin to think of next season (yes, your Study Group Team is already looking ahead), we are looking for facilitators with ideas for new groups.
Ask yourself the following questions:
- Is there anything you are specifically interested in seeing offered as a study group? (Note: we especially welcome input from members of our men's study groups.)
- Are you interested in starting a group (hiking? film? lunch?) that meets on weekends?
- Would you enjoy participating in or leading a limited group discussion (4 sessions) on a favorite topic or activity?
- Do you have a special interest, talent or skill that you want to share with others?
- Are you a winter resident who wants to create a group (i.e. weekly Mah Jongg or Canasta) which starts later in the year?
- Do you want to meet interesting people and make new friends?
If you answered “yes” to any of these, please email the Study Group VPs at phxstudygroups@gmail.com
SPECIAL NOTE ABOUT FULL GROUPS: Even a group that has reached its maximum enrollment may have openings from time to time - if you are interested in a particular group, contact the facilitator(s) to see if space is available. Very often there is! A $5 guest fee will apply.
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Wednesday, March 8
1:00 pm at the JCC
12701 N. Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale
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On March 8, the Men of Brandeis will hear from Mayor David Ortega of the City of Scottsdale.
He will speak to the MOB at 1:00 pm at the JCC. As usual, the members of the MOB will enjoy a nosh at the J’s Milk and Honey restaurant beginning at noon.
In 1978, Mayor Ortega came to Scottsdale as an apprentice architect, fortunate to work for Bennie Gonzales FAIA, the award-wining architect of the Scottsdale City Hall, Library, Arts Center and Civic Center Plaza. Bennie shaped the allure of Scottsdale by designing with a deep respect for the Sonoran Desert and contemporary Southwest flair. Like his father before him and his daughter after, Ortega attended the University of Arizona.
Ortega, who opened his own firm in the 1980s, said his architectural background has influenced his views as a local leader. “I believe my buildings should be postcards for people…and I’ve always promoted that part of Scottsdale, because it’s got its own cachet and we can build on it,” Ortega said.
Mayor Ortega was a City of Scottsdale Councilman from 2000-2004. Before that, he served on the Scottsdale Development Review Board for ten years. He also served on the City of Scottsdale and SUDD Joint Planning Committee.
In 2019, Ortega reappeared on the local political scene, attending a handful of Council and Planning Commission meetings to oppose high-profile downtown developments like Southbridge Two and the Sunday Goods dispensary.
In 2020 he won the election for Mayor of Scottsdale for a term of four years.
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Guests (men and women) are welcome for a $5.00 guest fee.
ALL participants must RSVP to the facilitator in advance in order to attend.
For additional information or to RSVP, contact the facilitator:
Leith Baletin • lbaletin@gmail.com • 480-874-9434
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Monday, March 20
12:30 - 2:00 pm at the JCC
12701 N. Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale
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The speaker for March 20th will be
Trish Dolasinski.
Trish Dolasinski, Ed.D. is an author, freelance writer, editor, and assistant adjunct professor at Grand Canyon University. She is published in local and national magazines, has facilitated writer’s groups, and has been both a regular and guest book review columnist.
A preschool through college teacher for over four decades, a retired school principal and educational consultant, Dr. Trish excitedly offers her debut novel: Beyond the Pettus Bridge is written from her personal experience as a Yankee newlywed and teacher in the Deep South in the late 1960s.
She is married to her college sweetheart, Frank, and lives in Scottsdale. Dr. Trish has two adult children and eight grandchildren.
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Participants must RSVP to the facilitator to attend. Guests are welcome for $5.00.
Merrill Kalman • mskbflo@aol.com
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Decorating cupcakes with the Cake Decorating study group
Photos: Allan Reinfeld
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Loom Knitting
Photo: Nyles Gradus
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The Mitzvah Mavens at St. Mary's Food Bank | The Mitzvah Mavens helped to clothe 50 children at Washington Elementary School | | | |
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The 33rd Annual Book & Author Event
Sunday, March 12 • Cocktail Reception with the Authors • 5:00 - 7:00 pm
Monday, March 13 • Luncheon/Authors/Boutiques • 9:00 am - 3:30 pm
Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort at Gainey Ranch
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Spring Event and Board Installation
Details coming soon
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Membership Milestones
- Congratulations to Stephanie and Hal Klopper on the birth of their granddaughter, Maisie Adalae, daughter of Katie and Danny Klopper
- Congratulations to Stephanie and Hal Klopper on the marriage of their daughter, Courtney, to Corey Salter
- Best wishes to Judy Lohr-Safcik for a speedy recovery
- Our sincere condolences to the family of life member Elaine Gerber
- Our sincere condolences to the family of life member Marcia Roth (June 2022)
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We welcome our new member:
Alex Morrow
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To report life-cycle events, please contact:
Marilyn Reinfeld • mkr1227@cox.net • 480-620-5601
Chapter Roster
To report a change in email address, phone number (cell or landline) or mailing address, please contact:
Carol Kadet • carolkadet@gmail.com
She will update our membership roster and ensure that you receive Chapter mailings and information.
| A Coffee/Tea for New and Prospective Members | |
We hold these gatherings several times throughout the season to welcome new and prospective members.
Our recent event was held on Friday, January 27, attended by 18 new members and 12 prospective members
The next one will be on Monday, April 3 from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm.
For more information or to attend, contact Membership VPs
Gale Gradus and Kathleen Witkin at phxbncmembership@gmail.com
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Name Tags
Would you prefer not to wear the stick-on name tags used at Chapter functions?
We are offering personalized, magnetic BNC name tags for $15.00, including shipping. You can get your name tag by filling out the order form and mailing it to the listed address.
Order Form
Note: Replacement magnetic backs for existing name tags are available; contact the Chapter at 480-359-7262
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Community Service is a fundamental part of the mission of BNC. Throughout the year, we collect items for various non-profits in the greater Phoenix area, and your support is much appreciated.
Additionally, our Mitzvah Mavens Study Group provides participatory activities for our members to volunteer directly with specific agencies.
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Mother's Day is coming up, and this month we are collecting jewelry for Janice's Women's Center and Sojourner Center.
Why not “play it forward?" Rosie’s House accepts used instruments. They are a non-profit organization that provides music education to low-income children.
Gently used handbags, totes and purses for Purse-Impressions, are still welcome. They collect new and used handbags, fill them with toilet articles and distribute them to women coming out of rehab. You can read about this charity on the Purse-Impressions website.
We’re still collecting bras, and pill bottles without labels. Safety caps only, please. You DO make a difference!
We look forward to more opportunities to serve the community this year. For more information or collection addresses, please contact us.
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Wendy Cohen and Ellen Kirschenbaum
phxbnccommunityoutreach@gmail.com
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Knit A Mitzvah
Do you Knit? Do you Crochet?
Help us make Scarves, Newborn Baby Caps,
Lap Blankets and Chemo Caps
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We donate newborn baby caps and lap
blankets to Honor Health Medical
Center, scarves to Sojourner Center
and chemo caps to
Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center.
For more information, please contact:
Ronee Siegel
ronees@aol.com 917-273-0393
Joan Davis
davis6j@gmail.com 602–499-8357
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FEEL GOOD WHILE DOING GOOD!
For more information, see our website.
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Mitzvah Mavens
Participants in this study group volunteer at a variety of Valley non-profit organizations. We meet at the specific locations of the organizations on various dates, lending helping hands as needed. If there are activities that can be done at home, participants will be notified.
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The Legacy of Louis: Inspiring Inquiry
The Brandeis National Committee is proud to announce its newest campaign, The Legacy of Louis: Inspiring Inquiry, as the university nears its milestone 75th anniversary in 2023.
The campaign will reinvigorate the Brandeis Library's mission to empower its community to become scholars, creators, and innovators through the creation of two interactive additions to the Library. The first will be the construction of a research archive of original letters, photographs, documents and family objects that shed light on the life and the lasting contributions of Justice Louis D. Brandeis.
The second addition to the Brandeis Library will be the creation of a new Judaica reading room in the library. This space will provide the Brandeis community with a place to engage with Jewish texts outside of the typical classroom and religious environments. By presenting Jewish texts in conjunction with writings from cultural and religious traditions from around the world, the room will serve scholars and students alike.
In 1948, the BNC (formerly BUNWC) was founded alongside the university to provide philanthropic support and now, nearly 75 years later, continues to support the mission and principles upon which Brandeis was founded.
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Many people don’t realize that the institution we support with our philanthropic work, Brandeis University, is named for Louis Dembitz Brandeis (1856-1941), the first Jewish Justice of the Supreme Court and one of the most brilliant minds to ever serve the court. Louis Brandeis graduated first in his class from Harvard University and began practicing law in Boston. He became known as the “people’s attorney,” due to his passion and work in social justice movements and pro bono work on behalf of the public interest. He made an indelible mark on the law and social justice reforms. His method of arguing cases using fact-based evidence became known as the “Brandeis Brief,” which became a staple of American Constitutional law.
Brandeis University was established seven years after Justice Brandeis’s death, when the American Jewish community decided to build an institution that embodied Justice Brandeis’s values: academic excellence, social justice and service to the community. These are the major tenets today of this great University, and of the Brandeis National Committee, of which Phoenix represents the largest chapter.
So, as you support and attend our chapter events and study groups you can reflect on the legacy of this great man and the values that we hold so dear today.
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The Legacy of Louis Campaign | |
Ellen Widoff to Stephanie & Hal Klopper • In honor of the birth of their granddaughter, Maisie Adalae Klopper. Proud parents are Katie and Danny Klopper | | |
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Ellen Widoff to Stephanie & Hal Klopper • In honor of the marriage of their daughter, Courtney, to Corey Salter
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Helen Greenberg to Nancy Sacks • Best wishes for a speedy and complete recovery | | |
Ellen and Joe Widoff to Nancy Sacks • Best wishes for a speedy and complete recovery | |
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To make a donation online using a credit card, go to giving.brandeis.edu/bnc
In order to include your online tributes in the bulletin, please email the details -
Fund, Donor(s), Recipient(s) and Occasion only - to Beth Messer at bethmae721@gmail.com
This list is current as of the date of publication. We regret any errors or omissions.
For future corrections or inclusions, please notify Beth Messer.
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Brandeis punches above its weight in social science research | |
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Feb. 13, 2023
The bottom line: Brandeis University is a leading institution when it comes to research in the social sciences, according to data from the National Science Foundation.
The data, released as part of an annual report from the NSF, shows that Brandeis ranked 17th in the country in funding social sciences research in 2020-21. In all, $34.3 million was invested in social sciences research at Brandeis in the 2020-21 fiscal year.
The natural, mathematical, and computational sciences and engineering comprised over 75 percent of the $89.7 billion in research expenditures by higher education institutions across the country in fiscal year 2021, and social sciences just 3 percent.
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Researchers from the Heller School's Lurie Institute
for Disability Policy in discussion
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Brandeis’ ranking in social science research expenditures puts it beside research powerhouses including the University of Michigan; the University of Wisconsin; the University of California, Berkeley; UCLA; USC; Harvard; Duke and the University of Pennsylvania.
“As a modestly sized and young institution, Brandeis’ annual research expenditures cannot compete with those at the largest research universities, with far larger faculties and vast expenditures in medical and engineering research," said Steven Karel, vice provost for research at Brandeis. “Brandeis has had to make strategic decisions about choosing research areas to focus on where it can compete effectively. Historically, one such area was social science and especially social policy. To see Brandeis ranked so highly in a report shows that we can continue to produce high quality research and attract sponsored funding. It should be a real point of pride across campus.”
More
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Did you miss one of Brandeis' virtual events and would like to access a recording of it?
Visit the on-demand Virtual Event Library.
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General Chapter Information | |
Founded in 1948, Brandeis National Committee is dedicated to providing philanthropic support to Brandeis University, a distinguished liberal arts and research university founded by the American Jewish community. Its membership is connected to the University through fundraising and through activities that reflect the values on which the University was founded: academic excellence, social justice, nonsectarianism and service to the community. | |
ANSWERS to the Presidents' quiz
Who are they?
Tyne Daly, Abbie Hoffman, Thomas Friedman, Mitch Albom and Ambassador Deborah E. Lipstadt
Why are they here?
They are all Brandeis alumni, and exemplify the motto "From Here to Anywhere."
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