Category Archives: Penn Clubs

May 6, 2013 · 6:14 pm

Memories of Penn: Guest Blogger

Author: Jay Hansen, W’85

I met Craig during our freshman year at Penn. I lived at Hill House and Craig felt “exiled” to live at Kings Court English House. Craig had a friend, Diane, from high school who lived near me in Hill House. Diane introduced all of us. As I recall, Craig had a difficult roommate situation his freshman year. He used to complain about it all the time. Luckily for Craig and us, Craig has mellowed since those days in the early 1980s as the world was starting to change.

We are very excited to have Craig come to speak to the Penn and Wharton Alumni Association of Michigan on May 21, 2013. In his role as the chief financial and administrative officer of Penn (reporting to President Gutmann), Craig will have some unique insights into what is happening at Penn now and what has changed since we graduated or last visited campus, a glimpse into some of the challenges and complexities involved in running one of the world’s premier institutions of higher learning, as well as a preview of some of master plans for the future of the campus. In addition, Craig will talk about ties between the ground-breaking community revitalization work that Penn did with West Philly and the direct ties it has with similar work being done here in the Midtown area of Detroit.

It is truly an honor to have Craig take the time to come speak to us and we are really looking forward to it.

A photo drawing of the new plans for Hill Field starting in 2014, courtesy of Penn Facilities and Real Estate services.

A photo drawing of the new plans for Hill Field starting in 2014, courtesy of Penn Facilities and Real Estate services.

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Filed under Alumni Perspective, Campus Life, Clubs, Guest blogger, Memories of Penn, Penn Clubs

April 18, 2013 · 7:53 pm

It’s #PennTimeToShine

By Kiera Reilly, C’93  @KieraReilly

Did You Know…that Penn’s Making History campaign celebration, Time to Shine, is tomorrow? Over 14,000 alumni, students, faculty, staff and guests will celebrate on Penn Park with headlining acts Train and John Legend, C’99. The event is free, but registration closes at noon EDT tomorrow, April 19th. Register here. The show will go on, rain or shine. Please note backpacks and umbrellas will not be allowed in Penn Park.

Read the article in The Daily Pennsylvanian today about the event.

During the event, screens around the park will showcase your Instagram photos with the #PennTimetoShine hashtag. Can’t make the event? Share your Penn Pride with us – post your photo of you and your friends or your clubs on Instagram (wearing your Penn gear) with the hashtag #PennTimetoShine and you’ll be featured during the celebration (and of course you can follow along on Instagram and twitter too).

The Regional Clubs team already got into the spirit:

Penn Alumni Regional Clubs director Tara Davies' post.

Penn Alumni Regional Clubs director Tara Davies’ post. L-R: Molly Rand, Marge Tinsley, Laura Foltman, Tara Davies, Kiera Reilly and Casey Ryan (not pictured: Denise Bowden).

 

 

Casey Ryan, C'95, post. Follow Casey on Instagram @IrishWombat

Casey Ryan, C’95, post. Follow Casey on Instagram @IrishWombat

Kiera Reilly, C'93, post. Follow Kiera on Instagram @KieraReilly

Kiera Reilly, C’93, post. Follow Kiera on Instagram @KieraReilly

Please like our photos on Instagram!

Penn Alumni (PennAlumni)

University of Pennsylvania (UofPenn)

Penn Alumni Regional Clubs team:

Tara Davies (TaraAnnDavies)

Kiera Reilly, C’93 (KieraReilly)

Casey Ryan, C’95 (IrishWombat)

 

 

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Filed under Campaign, Casey R., GAN, Kiera R., Making History, Molly Rand, Penn Clubs, Photos, Social Networking, West Coast Regional Office

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April 5, 2013 · 10:46 am

yPenn in New York: An Insider’s Perspective

Authors: Marvin Rocha and Nicole Svonavec, GeD’09

Last month, yPenn launched its inaugural yPenn Speaker Series at The Penn Club of New York. The Speaker Series connected young alumni in the New York Area with CEO and Chairman of Travelers Companies, Trustee Jay Fishman (W’74 WG’74). The following is an excerpt from Jessica Trief’s write-up of the inaugural yPenn Speaker Series event.

On Monday night, I attended the yPenn Speaker Series at the Penn Club of New York with Jay Fishman, CEO and Chairman of The Travelers Companies.   I was pleasantly surprised by the turnout and appreciative of the value of the event and Mr. Fishman’s insights.

The event began with a cocktail reception on the 10th floor where we spent time catching up with fellow young alumni. Despite there being more than 40 people, the space felt intimate and there was ample opportunity to chat with Mr. Fishman. As expected, many of the alumni attending the event were financial professionals, but there was a surprising amount of diversity. I, for example, a young alumna who works at a brand consultancy was happy to connect with an ’06 alumna who started her own gorilla marketing company.

 When Mr. Fishman spoke to the group he provided great advice for us young alumni. He briefly discussed the economic state, but really focused on the essentials of professional development. He told us to keep our options open rather than narrowing them and specializing. He emphasized the importance of learning both how to receive and deliver feedback. He said the people you work with are even more important than where you work and you should always feel like you are learning. He recommended treating every project given to you, whether perceived as important or not, as an opportunity to demonstrate your ability and skills.  In addition he fielded questions from the group about Sheryl Sandberg’s most recent career advice, his daily responsibilities at Travelers and his involvement on many prestigious Boards.

Mr. Fishman was a strong start to this yPenn Speaker Series. He is truly an admirable leader.  He takes a long-term point of view calling financial performance a marathon, not a sprint. He takes few, but calculated risks and he hasn’t strayed from his strategy.  Forbes had an article about him called “Wall Street’s Honest Man” and said “he has nothing to hide.” In fact, he is a remarkable tale of straight-talking his way to success.”  He was truly inspiring, motivational and engaging.

jay fishman 3 11

 We look forward to expanding our yPenn Speaker Series programming soon.

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Filed under Alumni Perspective, Events, Penn Club of New York, Penn Clubs, y-Penn, yPenn

March 29, 2013 · 5:39 am

Penn Club of Utah Fourth Annual Day of Service

Author: Art Warsoff, W’83

The Penn Alumni Club of Utah had their Fourth Annual Day of Service on February 23rd. Each year, we donate canned goods and help sort food at the Utah Food Bank followed by a networking lunch at Red Iguana, our favorite Mexican restaurant in the city. Other Ivy League and East Coast alumni clubs are invited to this annual tradition. This year, the Diplomats of Franklin & Marshall again joined the Quakers for a fun event. Everyone looks forward to this great tradition.

Utah IMG_1394

Utah IMG_1395

Utah IMG_1396

Utah IMG_1397

Hurrah, Hurrah, Penn Club of Utah! Thank you for your service!

Submitted by Kiera Reilly, C’93

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February 22, 2013 · 11:13 pm

Penn Serves LA: Finding our Inner Artists at Inner-City Arts

Inner City photo 1 v2

More than 70 local Penn alumni and family members turned out in force on the last Saturday in January to work alongside the children of Commonwealth Avenue Elementary School at Penn Serves LA’s third “sold out” community service event. Volunteers and children were asked to make their own shadow puppets and perform in a show featuring storytelling and world music. Famous children stories from around the world were acted out by the participants. Using black paper cardstock paper, tissue paper, and bamboo rods, volunteers were taught the ancient art form of shadow puppets. The first use of shadow puppets were believed to have been 2,000 years ago in China to entertain the Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty.

The event was held at Inner-City Arts, a nonprofit art center located in the heart of downtown Los Angeles. Inner-City Arts helps underserved children and teens engage in a process of self-discovery through art. The center serves at-risk youth from all over Los Angeles to give the opportunity for arts education both in their schools and at the center.

The award-winning contemporary building, designed by Michael Maltzan and Nancy Goslee Power, provides an inviting, open, and free environment for safe exploration, creativity, designing, growing and learning.

Inner-City Arts Campus in Downtown Los Angeles

Inner-City Arts Campus in Downtown Los Angeles

“We are so thrilled to expose Penn alumni to Inner-City Arts,” shares Denise Winner, W’83, one of Penn Serves LA directors. “For future events we would love to get more alumni to nominate their favorite nonprofits who could use a group of dedicated volunteers for a day event.”

“We founded this group to give our time to needy communities and to expose them to the talent that Penn alumni can offer their organizations. Serving together as alumni is just an added plus,” shares Leanne Huebner, another Penn Serves LA director. “Our hope is that some participants volunteer more often with the selected nonprofits if they so desire.”

Penn Serves LA’s fourth event, on Saturday, March 9th, is already SOLD OUT. The group is volunteering to renovate a home for a family in need through Habitat for Humanity. The event is being co-sponsored by the Southern California Regional Advisory Board (SCRAB), Wharton Club of Southern California, and PennClubLA.

Children enjoy the excitement of their work displayed.

Children enjoy the excitement of their work displayed.

Families, Children and Alumni show off their puppets.

Families, Children and Alumni show off their puppets.

Are you active in community service? Want to get your favorite nonprofit involved? If you have a nonprofit in mind for a future Penn Serves LA event, let us know. Our initiative provides alumni with the unique opportunity to showcase their favorite charitable organization. Send us an email at pennservesla@gmail.com with your name and Penn affiliation, the organization you would like us to serve, why you got involved and how Penn Serves might help.

 Penn Serves LA is an initiative to encourage Penn alumni, parents and family across all schools and all years to come together and serve those in need through established nonprofits working in underserved communities. Children and spouses of alumni and parents of current students are also invited to participate (please check age requirements). Penn Serves LA is regularly scheduling service events throughout the year. You can read about our first event at Turning Point Shelter in Santa Monica, and our second event at the Midnight Mission. Penn Serves LA is working in partnership with PennClubLA, Wharton Club of Southern California, and SCRAB.

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Filed under Alumni Perspective, Alumni Programming, Clubs, Events, GAN, Guest blogger, Los Angeles, Penn Clubs, Penn Serves LA, Photos, Volunteering, West Coast Regional Office

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January 25, 2013 · 9:26 am

Happy 307th Birthday Ben Franklin!

Ben Franklin

By Kiera Reilly, C’93  @KieraReilly

Every year, Penn Alumni clubs around the world gather to celebrate Penn’s founder, Ben Franklin. Many clubs celebrate on Ben’s birthday, January 17th, but others celebrate throughout the month of January.

The Penn Alumni Regional Clubs website lists all of these celebrations. There is still time to raise a toast to Ben in Baltimore (Jan. 31st), Seattle (Jan. 27th) and Westchester and Rockland Counties, NY (Jan. 31st).

The Penn Club of Portland (Oregon) gathered on January 17th to raise a toast. Here’s how they notified members:

Benjamin Franklin visited Ireland in 1771 and was invited to sit with the members of the Irish Parliament rather than in the gallery with other visitors. He was the first American to be given this honor. While touring Ireland, he was moved by the level of poverty he observed. Since Ireland’s economy was governed by the same trade regulations and laws of Britain that governed America, Franklin feared that America could suffer the same effects should Britain’s colonial rule continue. So, we are honoring this event on Benjamin Franklin’s 307th birthday on Thursday, January 17th, at where else?

Kells Irish Brew Pub

210 NW 21st Avenue

Portland

Join in celebrating Ben Franklin’s 307th birthday with Penn alums and friends. Beer lovers have long claimed that Franklin’s love of beer led him to say: “Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.” Wine lovers and Walter Isaacson know that the actual quote was: “Behold the rain which descends from heaven upon our vineyards, there it enters the roots of the vines, to be changed into wine, a constant proof that God loves us, and loves to see us happy.” The good news is that both will be available (along with a happy-hour menu until 6:30pm) to continue the proof.

Look for friends, smiling faces and/or small Penn flag.

RSVPs, while not required, are always appreciated.

Club president John Vosmek, C’61, said, “We never had more than 10 at one time – people came and went, but it was all fun.”

Here’s a toast to dear old Ben!

The Penn Club of Portland celebrates Ben Franklin on January 17, 2013.

The Penn Club of Portland celebrates Ben Franklin on January 17, 2013.

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Filed under Alumni Programming, Ben Franklin, Clubs, Events, GAN, Historical, Kiera R., Penn Clubs, West Coast Regional Office

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January 8, 2013 · 9:22 am

Celebrate Chinese New Year in Philadelphia

Author: Stephanie Yee, C’08

January 1st has come and gone. Now it’s time to prepare for another new years celebration: Chinese New Year!

2013 is the year of the snake.

2013 is the year of the snake.

The Penn Alumni Club of Philadelphia is celebrating Chinese New Year by going to dim sum on Sunday, February 3rd, only one week before Chinese New Year. Think of dim sum as Chinese tapas. There is a huge selection of sweet and savory dishes and something for both vegetarians and meat lovers.

A sample of dim sum dishes.

A sample of dim sum dishes.

This event is great for anyone who is looking for an alternative to the typical brunch. Dim sum is affordable, fun, and always delicious! Sign up for the event here. See you at Joy Tsin Lau. I will be the one eating the turnip cakes.

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Filed under Alumni Perspective, Penn Club of Philadelphia, Penn Clubs, Philadelphia, Stephanie Y.

October 9, 2012 · 4:30 pm

Looking to Expand Your Professional Network?

Author: Emilie Kretschmar

On Tuesday, October 16th at 6:30 p.m. the Penn Alumni Club of Philadelphia is offering a speed-networking event at the Irish Pub in Center City (2007 Walnut Street, Philadelphia). This is a great opportunity for anyone looking to advance his or her career, to network with other professionals, or to explore new job opportunities.

During the event, each participant will have the chance to meet at least ten other Penn alumni for six minutes each. Your schedule of professional “dates” will depend on the preferences listed on your registration form. Take advantage of your Penn alumni status and expand your professional network.  Click here to register now.

Homecoming attendees participated in a speed-networking event last year.

If you can’t make this event or you live outside the greater Philadelphia area, great news! This event is just one of many offered by the Penn Alumni Club of Philadelphia and other Penn Alumni Clubs around the world. Check out the Penn Alumni Regional Club’s website to connect with your local club and get involved.

Meet new colleagues and explore new career paths at a Penn Alumni speed-networking event.

Meet new colleagues and explore new career paths at a Penn Alumni speed-networking event.

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October 4, 2012 · 10:11 pm

A Toast to Penn in Northern California

By Kiera Reilly, C’93  @KieraReilly

Schlein grapes.
Photo by Helaine Kaplan Prentice, CW’71, PAR’07, and Blair Prentice, PAR’07.

A few weekends ago, I traveled one bright sunny Saturday afternoon to the wine country north of San Francisco. There, the Penn Club of Northern California hosted a wine tasting made possible by the generosity of Phil “Spike” Schlein, C’57.

Penn Club of Northern California board members Phil Crosby, C’92, his daughter Shannon, and Beth Topor, W’80, welcome alumni and friends to Schlein Vineyards.
Photo by Kiera Reilly.

Spike opened his family vineyards and gardens in Oakville, Napa Valley, for touring and a wine tasting. The Schlein family (Spike’s children Kathy, C’83, and Ted, C’86, are also alumni) honored the club with a similar event three years ago, and were happy to welcome local alumni again.

The Schlein vineyards.
Photo by Kiera Reilly

Spike helped facilitate the wine tasting, and shared his story of becoming a winemaker, and the history of the vineyards that he’s owned for over thirty years. Everyone enjoyed the garden setting and delicious lunch buffet. Beth Topor, W’80, vice president of membership and communications for the club, shared information about upcoming events, and club co-president Tom Eliaz, ENG’02, encouraged alumni to share their ideas for future events and to get involved with activity planning. Alexandra Feinson, C’11, undergraduate admissions counselor for Northern California, attended and spoke to the group about Penn admissions. After lunch, Spike led everyone through a tour of the vineyards.

Photo by Kiera Reilly.

Photo by Kiera Reilly.

Alumni enjoying lunch and conversation.
Photo by Helaine Kaplan Prentice, CW’71, PAR’07, and Blair Prentice, PAR’07.

Club board member Phil Crosby, C’92, and his daughters Kate and Shannon give away Penn goodies.
Photo by Kiera Reilly.

The Penn Club of Northern California thanks Phil Schlein for opening up his winery and all the alumni who attended and contributed to our Club Book Scholarship Program. They raised $1,855 and with Phil’s generosity providing the food and beverages, 100% of the proceeds goes to scholarships for local Penn students! We also thank Arthur and Lindsay, two of their past scholarship recipients who spoke on the value of your donations. If you were unable to attend the event and would like to contribute to scholarships, click here, every dollar helps!

Phil “Spike” Schlein, C’57, toasts the group and Penn.
Photo by Helaine Kaplan Prentice, CW’71, PAR’07, and Blair Prentice, PAR’07.

Photo by Helaine Kaplan Prentice, CW’71, PAR’07, and Blair Prentice, PAR’07.

Phil “Spike” Schlein, C’57, leads a tour of his vineyards.
Photo by Helaine Kaplan Prencie, CW’71, PAR’07, and Blair Prentice, PAR’07.

Enjoying the vineyards.
Photo by Helaine Kaplan Prentice, CW’71, PAR’07, and Blair Prentice, PAR’07.

What a treat to enjoy a relaxing afternoon in a beautiful setting and enjoy the conversation of fellow alumni.

Here’s a toast to Penn! And a toast to Phil Schlein!

Hurrah, Hurrah!

Penn Club of Northern California board members thank Phil Schlein for hosting the club.
L-R: Phil Crosby, C’92, Beth Topor, W’80, Phil Schlein, C’57, Carine Blanchet, C’92, Tom Eliaz, ENG’02.
Photo by Kiera Reilly.

Click here to join the Penn Club of Northern California, sign up for their email newsletter and get involved with the club. You can also find the club on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter @NCPennClub.

For more information on Schlein Vineyards, click here.

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Filed under Alumni Programming, Clubs, Events, GAN, Kiera R., Penn Clubs, Photos, West Coast Regional Office

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October 2, 2012 · 1:55 am

Penn Pro bono Alumni Consulting (PennPAC)

Author: Stephanie Yee, C’08

When I became Chair of the Social Impact Committee of the Penn Alumni Club of Philadelphia, I made it our goal to host at least one service project per month. These monthly volunteer events have become wildly popular, and many of them sell out. We partner with a different non-profit in Philadelphia every month, and we are always looking for new ways to give back to our community. In addition to these one-day volunteer events, Penn alumni in the Philadelphia area can get involved in short-term projects through PennPAC.

Penn alumna, Jackie Einstein Astrof, C’93, founded PennPAC (Penn Pro bono Alumni Consulting) in 2010 as a way to engage Penn alumni together in rewarding, socially impactful work. As Chair of the Social Impact Committee of PennNYC, Jackie understands the importance of regional engagement and community engagement of Penn alumni. Through PennPAC, Penn alumni utilize their intellectual and professional skills to assist non-profits in their communities through short-term projects. In 2011, PennPAC joined forces with the Wharton Club of New York (WCNY), and in fall 2011, PennPAC launched its first projects in New York City.

Jackie reached out to me that fall about launching PennPAC through the Penn Alumni Club of Philadelphia, and I thought it was a brilliant idea. As External Vice President and Chair of the Social Impact Committee of the Penn Alumni Club of Philadelphia, I know there are many Penn alumni in the Philadelphia area who are always looking for new ways to give back to our community. With much excitement, I launched PennPAC Philly in spring 2012. Here is a sample of our current and past PennPAC Philly projects:

Spring 2012 Project:
Students Run Philly Style offers running training programs for youth. SRPS connects students with adult mentors who help them imagine and accomplish goals to succeed in life. Volunteers on this project will develop recommendations for SRPS to increase their visibility in the Philadelphia community.

Fall 2012 Project:
12+ is a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering students in underserved communities to achieve college access and completion. Volunteers in this project will increase and improve 12+ development through strategy and outreach. Note: 12+ was founded by a Penn alumnus, and the current CEO is a Penn alumna. Talk about a Penn connection!

Even though our Penn Alumni Club of Philadelphia volunteers love one-day volunteer events, many of them have expressed interest in longer-term projects. PennPAC is the perfect way for our volunteers to work closely with a non-profit in Philadelphia for 8-10 weeks. Penn alumni can get involved in PennPAC in many ways. The first step is to apply online:

Click here for the PennPAC Philly application.

Click here for the PennPAC NYC application.

Feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions about PennPAC Philly. You can email me at philly@pennpac.org. I look forward to growing PennPAC through the Penn Alumni Club of Philadelphia, and I hope to see PennPAC launched in more cities in the near future!

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Filed under Alumni Perspective, Alumni Programming, Penn Clubs, Philadelphia, Social Networking, Stephanie Y., Volunteering