February 2022 Newsletter
e-Mail Edition
Our Website: www.bncla.NET 

Our e-Mail: labrandeismensgroup@gmail.com
FEBRUARY 16, 2022 ZOOM GENERAL MEETING

Presentation will be via ZOOM

Wednesday
February 16, 2022
10:00am - 11:00am


Here's the Link to Join this ZOOM Meeting:


Guest Speaker: Allison Shultz, Ph.D.

Assistant Curator of Ornithology at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles
Topic: From Dazzling Greens to the Darkest of Blacks: How and Why Birds are Colorful.
For all of those times in Life when many of us might have been called a "bird brain", this month's speaker actually is one! Or, rather she studies them, so she knows what she's talking about, and any of us fortunate enough to know as much as she does, is a smart owl indeed!

Doctor Shultz will focus her presentation on the hows and whys that various habitats determine the patterns of biodiversity in bird species. She is an eminent ornithologist who integrates research across evolutionary moments in order to gain an understanding of the processes that cause singularity and survivability within a species.

Whether you're as dumb as a dodo, pretty as a peacock, mad as a wet hen, or just crazy as a loon, this is the one presentation that you'll not want to duck! So, let's all be prepared to flock together and perch on our Zoom nest, and then spread our wings to soar like eagles with the knowledge the we gain from listening to Dr. Shultz. This might be the last chance that any of us will have to finally find out who killed Cock Robin, or if it's truly possible to catch a bird by putting salt on it's tail.
JANUARY 2022 ZOOM GENERAL MEETING
Guest Speaker: Greg Tranah

Topic: People with Exceptional Traits - How Research Focused on Unique People Leads to Novel Discoveries.

Dr. Tranah presented a program relating to how the uniqueness in individuals and groups of peoples can result in novel and revealing discoveries in science and human nature.
SADLY, A ZOOM GENERAL MEETING IS THE NORM AGAIN THIS MONTH
As Covid-19 and its variants continue to resist our struggle to regain normalcy, the first monthly meeting for the year 2022 finds the LABMG reluctantly returning to ZOOM.

As all surely understand, there is still considerable concern regarding the wisdom of large group gatherings, and therefore out of an abundance of caution we continue to gather by ZOOM until it is safe to do otherwise.
SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP ACTIVITIES

The Special Interest Groups (SIG) have long been a way for members to meet and socialize outside the bond of monthly breakfast meetings. Several SIGs have been affected by Covid-19 restrictions, but others are up and welcoming to any and all BMG members.

Members desiring to join a SIG, or desiring more information can contact Bernie Schiffer at 1-323-855-1789, or at email schiffer_b@yahoo.com
HISTORY SIG - ZOOM

The History SIG is being hosted by Louis Bernstein. For more information, check with Louis at 1-310-275-7736, or email him at louislaw@icloud.com 
WESTSIDE WALKING GROUP

The Westside Walking Group is continuing weekly perambulations each Thursday morning at 9:30am in Palisades Park near the intersection of Ocean Avenue and Marguerita Avenue, Santa Monica. Members walk to the Fairmont-Miramar Hotel near Wilshire Boulevard, then mask up before going inside for conversation, coffee, and cookies while sitting outside next to the koi pool. The one-way distance of these excursions is less than a mile. For additional information please contact Bernie Schiffer at phone 1-323-855-1789, or email schiffer_b@yahoo.com.
CURRENT EVENTS SIG - ZOOM

The Current Events Group has resumed meeting in person at 10:00am, on the third Tuesday of each month. Discussion is moderated by SIG chairman Louis Bernstein. Members are expected to be vaccinated to attend. For additional information please contact Louis at phone 1-310-275-7736, or email at louislaw@aol.com.
LEGAL SIG

The Legal SIG is back in court and convening monthly. The last couple of gatherings have been on Zoom, but any members wanting to sit in jury, or needing more information, should contact SIG host Michael Goldberg at phone 1-310-968-3068, or email: mlgoldberg@msn.com. This is a vaccinated, well-attended group and no prior legal background is required.
CHESS SIG - ZOOM

Members of the Chess SIG have been meeting and playing chess via ZOOM. Anyone interested in joining this group are encouraged to contact Howard Green at 1-310-429-7721, or email at howbetgren@aol.com.
SPORTS DISCUSSION SIG - ZOOM

The Sports Discussion SIG is temporarily on timeout due to the recent and untimely passing of chairman John Harris. It will resume when a new chairman is selected.
MEN'S INTEREST GROUPS
UPCOMING ACTIVITIES 
The Brandeis Men's Group has a number of Special Interest Groups (SIG) which are either meeting in person, meeting via ZOOM, planning to meet via ZOOM, or anticipating an eventual return to normalcy. To find out more about the various groups, or to suggest adding new ones, contact Bernie Schiffer
(1-323-855-1789), or the individual group chairman below.
  • History Group - Louis Bernstein, 1-310-275-7736
  • Westside Walking Group - Bernie Schiffer, 1-323-855-1789
  • Current Events Group - Louis Bernstein, 1-310-275-7736
  • Opera/Chess Group - Howard Green, 1-310-429-7721
  • Legal Cases Group - Michael Goldberg, 1-310-968-3068
  • Sporting Events & Viewings - On hiatus.
STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING
BRANDEIS MEN’S GROUP STEERING COMMITTEE MINUTES
 
Wednesday, January 26, 2021

Chairman Louis Bernstein called the meeting to order at 10:07.In the absence of the Recording Secretary, the undersigned, Mike Goldberg was appointed as
the minute taker.

Chairman Bernstein advised members of the funeral for John Harris and the open house at his house following the funeral. He urged all members to attend the open house.

Bernie Schneier gave the Treasurer’s Report regarding the report previously circulated. A considerable discussion ensued regarding the mechanism for making a donation to the L.A. Brandeis Men’s group through the Brandeis National Committee.

Howard Green gave the Membership Committee report that there are no new members. He suggested that this might be due to the spread of the Omicron variant. It was pointed out that there would be no in-person February meeting.

A considerable discussion ensued as to how to notify members (and the Caterer and Culver City) that the February meeting would be via Zoom
and that hopefully, the March meeting could be an in-person meeting.

Interest Groups Reports:

Bernie Schiffer reported that the walking group has 6 or 7 hardcore members and that it is possible to join the walkers half-way if the walk is otherwise too long.

Howard Green reported that the chess group meets every second week (varying days depending on the members’ schedules) and that novice players are encouraged. The next meeting of the Chess Group will be Friday, Feb. 4 at 1:00pm.

Louis Bernstein reported that the Opera Group did not meet this month.

Mike Goldberg reported that the Legal Affairs Group meets the first Tuesday of every month and that it previously had been meeting in-person, but that the last meeting, and likely the next meeting will be via Zoom. The next meeting will be Tuesday, Feb. 1 at 1:00pm and will discuss the statutory definitions of insurrection and treason.

Howard Katzman reported for the Speakers Committee that the next speaker will be a scientist from the Natural History Museum who will discuss the coloration of birds.

Stan Weinberg reported that Bernie Schiffer and Al Dubin have joined the telephone committee.

Louis Bernstein advised that the caterer and Culver City needed to be advised that there would be no in-person meeting in February.

There was no Old Business and no New Business, and accordingly, at

10:47am the Chairman entertained a motion to adjourn.
BNC - WOMEN UPCOMING ACTIVITIES
BRANDEIS NATIONAL COMMITTEE (BNC)

BNC Mission - The 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, Non-sectarianism, and Service to the Community.
Greetings from Brandeis National Committee -
LA Chapter! 

WOMEN GENERAL MEETING CALENDAR 2022

  • Feb, 24: W. Ralph Eubanks, Author Journalist and Public Speaker: From Welty to Ward: A History of Literary Greats of the South 1:30-2:30 p.m. This is a Zoom meeting and registration is required.*

  • Mar. 24: Steve Sohmer, UCLA Instructor: Kill the Poets! The Nazis’ Destruction of the Jewish Community of Vilna, Lithuania

  • Apr. 15:   First night of Passover. Wishing you peace and happiness for 2022.

  • Apr. 21: Cindy Arons, Historian and Tour Guide for the Smihsonian Art Museum: Conversations About Race and American Art

  • May 26:  tbd

  • Jun. 23: tbd
 
Note:  There will be a charge of $18 for the Feb. and March meetings, sponsored by BNC, LA Chapter.

*For further information and registration contact Ruth Rose, 1-323-651-1833.

**JOIN US AND BRING A FRIEND**
DUES...DUES...DUES...DUES...DUES...DUES
2020 - 2021
All members are reminded that in order to belong to the Los Angeles Brandeis Men's Group (BMG - annual dues $50), one must first join the Brandeis National Committee (BNC - annual single dues $60).

Last Spring, the Brandeis National Committee sent notices for the 2021 - 2022 annual dues. BNC membership is July 1 - June 30 of each year, and membership dues can be paid in one of three ways. Take your pick:

1. Write a check made out to BNC for $60 (single membership) or $100 (couple) and send to Treasurer Bernie Schneier.
Bernie Schneier
311 Bora Bora Way, #204
Marina del Rey, CA 90292

2. Or, forward a $60 check made out to BNC to Brandeis University at their mailing address.
Brandeis University
MS122
415 South Street
Waltham, MA 02453
Phone 1-781-736-7767

3. Or, the quickest way to renew the $60 BNC membership is to click on the below link and go online:

Your BMG annual dues in the amount of $50 are also expected for Los Angeles Brandeis Men's Group members, and can be mailed to our Treasurer. If there are any questions please contact Treasurer Bernie Schneier. 

Bernie Schneier
311 Bora Bora Way, #204
Marina del Rey, CA 90292
 
Nota Bene: This year the BMG dues have been increased to $50 per annum. The additional amount allows a member to participate in as many SIG's as desired, without incurring additional fees. All funds support Brandeis University.
 
Let's support our BMG and BNC by paying our annual dues!!!