Tag Archives: penn alumni

October 20, 2015 · 2:43 pm

Penn Serves LA: Harvesting a Garden for Veterans

By Jane Gutman, CW’73, PAR’14, PAR’16

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In the midst of our intense and bustling city of somewhere between 13 and 18 million people, we find a few parks and refuges from the crowds. And for those whose budgets won’t allow for multi-thousand dollar initiation fees, there are also a handful of golf courses where anyone can pay to play. Penn Serves LA enjoyed the convergence of many treats for our recent project in July. We gathered at a wonderful, pastoral spot, which is also a golf course open to the public AND we had a bit of summer rain – a real slice of LA heaven.

With gardening gloves and trowels in hand, thirty-odd alumni, friends and children brought the raised bed gardens at the Veteran Administration’s Heroes Golf Course back to life. No special skills were needed to hoe, weed, trim, harvest, re-plant and re-stake these beds, and it was the most satisfying work. After less than three hours our Quakers had literally transformed the gardens from their sad state of affairs, to flourishing boxes of green glory…and in the process we picked basket after basket of zucchini, eggplant, tomatoes, herbs and more.

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The Executive Director of the Heroes Golf Course, Bruce Rosen, provided the group with a wonderful history of the VA in Brentwood. The golf facility itself, a 9-hole 3-par course, is most inviting and now all the more so because it is ringed by healthy raised vegetable beds, the produce of which is offered to any veterans who choose to come by and partake.

We are grateful to Bruce and his associate Aviva for providing us with plentiful mulch, plants, tools and enthusiasm …and to the vets who worked alongside of our Penn volunteers. We hope people will support our veterans and this course by coming out to play a round, and meanwhile check out the fruits (and vegetables) of some fine Penn gardening labors…and let’s all hope for a little more rain!

About Penn Serves LA

We invite the Penn community in Los Angeles (alumni, parents and kids) to join us at a future event, to help spread the word and to help us plan future activities. Join us, meet new Penn people, demonstrate what service means to your kids and friends, and help fellow Quakers make a little bit of difference in our complex city!

Upcoming Penn Serves LA events:

If you have an established nonprofit that you would like us to consider for future events or announcements, please let us know. We are looking for new nonprofits to serve in meaningful ways.

Questions? Reach us at pennserves@gmail.com. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

The Penn Serves LA Team

Jane Gutman, CW’73, PAR’14, PAR’16 | Denise Winner, W’83 | Leanne Huebner, W’90 | Kiera Reilly, C’93 | Aileen Level, C’99, GED’00 | Irene Park, C’05 | Jeff Weston, C’05

Penn Serves LA has many terrific projects for all ages on the calendar for the coming months.

Read about our previous events:

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Filed under Alumni Perspective, Kiera R., Los Angeles, Penn Serves LA, Volunteering

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July 1, 2014 · 7:09 am

Seattle Alumni Put on Aprons for an Evening to Help Alleviate Poverty

By: Haley Shapley, C’06

Thanks to a little help from the Penn Club of Seattle, at least one person will be able to transition from the streets to a job in the hospitality industry.

It was all part of Guest Chef Night at FareStart, a culinary job training and placement program for homeless individuals in Seattle. Since 1992, FareStart has provided opportunities for nearly 7,000 people to transform their lives, while also serving more than 6 million meals to disadvantaged men, women, and children.

The tables are set for FareStart's Guest Chef Night, with Penn Alumni Club of Seattle members as guest servers.

The tables are set for FareStart’s Guest Chef Night, with Penn Alumni Club of Seattle members as guest servers.

Each Thursday evening, prominent guest chefs come to work with the students as part of their 16-week food-service program. The three-course meal is served by volunteers, which is where Penn alumni came in.

Chef Sam Hassan explains the evening's menu.

Chef Sam Hassan explains the evening’s menu.

Although none in the group had any restaurant experience to speak of, on April 24 we got a crash course in the art of serving, learning the importance of checking back within two bites, refilling waters regularly (and not touching the rim of the glass!), and how to properly carry a tray. Chef Sam Hassan of Maple Falls Cafe provided a tasting of the Mandioca Frita, NW by SE Pasta, and Mango Raspberry Cobbler beforehand so that we’d be able to answer questions about the ingredients when guests inquired (Just what is yuca? Ask us; we know!).

The featured servers tonight - the Penn Club of Seattle!

The featured servers tonight – the Penn Club of Seattle!

Penn Alumni getting trained

Penn Alumni getting trained

Six hours, countless pitchers of water, and a few cramped fingers later, we’d served 169 diners, raising a total of $7,116 for FareStart’s training programs, including donations of $181 and tips of $1,327. All in all, it’s more than enough to give one student safe housing, the full 16-week culinary program, and comprehensive wrap-around services.

It's a full house.

It’s a full house.

The program has a 90 percent job placement rate within three months for students after graduation, and each Guest Chef Night includes a graduation ceremony with those who’ve completed the 16-week program successfully. On our night, we watched two grads get ready to move on to the next stage of their lives, including Tina, who didn’t miss a single day. “It’s made me stay focused instead of every day wondering what’s going to happen,” she said.

Rupi Sureshkumar, Maria Seredina, and David Blum watch the graduation festivities.

Rupi Sureshkumar, Maria Seredina, and David Blum watch the graduation festivities.

Bob, who moved to Seattle in July with a big plan that fell apart, was equally grateful. “I thank this program; it really rescued me,” he said. “I learned a lot and I appreciate it. This program is ingenious to solve the problem of homelessness and poverty.”

Bellies full of delectable ingredients like shaved Parmigiano, smoked fish, and Chantilly cream, we scattered into the night back to our respective homes — energized by the experience and humbled by the fact that we made a contribution, however small, to the students being able to have homes to return to as well.

Penn alumni enjoy a hard-earned meal at the end of the evening.

Penn alumni enjoy a hard-earned meal at the end of the evening.

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May 28, 2014 · 8:19 am

70 Years Since Graduating and He’s Still Got the “Hurrah!” for Penn

By Kiera Reilly, C’93 @KieraReilly

I always tell people that Commencement Day at Penn is the happiest day on campus, and this year, on May 19 as Penn celebrated its 258th Commencement, was no exception. In Alumni Relations, we help with the alumni processional portion of the event – alumni from every undergraduate class at Penn carry flags from their graduating year and march into Franklin Field after the graduates.

We arrive early in the morning, so we can “get robed” in our caps and gowns, and then wait for the alumni to arrive. The alumni robing is near the academic processional staging area, and I happened to be looking at President Gutmann and commencement speaker John Legend’s, C’99, chairs when the University Mace was delivered. Leslie Kruhly, the Secretary of the University, leads the academic procession carrying the mace.

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The staging area for the academic procession. The University’s mace was just delivered.

Me and my colleague Casey Ryan, C'95. We lead the alumni procession down Locust Walk and into Franklin Field.

My colleague Casey Ryan, C’95, and I are robed and ready to go. We led the alumni procession down Locust Walk and into Franklin Field.

After everyone is robed, we wait a bit before we get the cue to begin. Here everyone is lined up waiting for the academic procession to pass.

The alumni procession waiting for the academic procession.

The alumni procession waiting for the academic procession.

 

Then we march down Locust Walk to the front of the Sweeten Alumni House. It was a beautiful day and everyone on campus was lining the walk cheering and clapping for the alumni.

Alumni flag bearers line Locust Walk to congratulate the newest Penn Alumni!

Alumni flag bearers line Locust Walk to congratulate the newest Penn Alumni!

The alumni flag bearers then line Locust Walk and wait for the graduates. The graduates march down Locust Walk through our line of alumni flags, and the alumni cheer, clap and congratulate the newest members of Penn Alumni.

Some graduates casually walk by, others pose for pictures with their friends, or their parents and family try to capture a candid moment of them walking to graduate. And in the midst of the several thousand graduates passing us by, at the front of the alumni flag line, was Harry Gross, W’44. Harry graduated in 1944, that’s seventy years ago for those of you having a bit of trouble with the math. He wore a fun Red and Blue hat, and as he sat in his chair holding the Class of 1944 flag, he was arguably the most popular man on Locust Walk. Yes, everyone wanted to wave to President Gutmann and take a selfie with John Legend, but Harry was the star.

Graduates thanked him for coming. They shook his hand, they said wow. And when they said congratulations, Harry simply replied, “Congratulations to YOU!” And then he told them that they’d be in his same spot in seventy years!

Me and Harry

Posing with Harry

Congratulations to Penn’s Class of 2014! We’ll see you in 2084 (and we hope every year in between).

Hurrah, Hurrah, for the Red and the Blue!

Commencement from the alumni flag bearer's view.

Commencement from the alumni flag bearer’s view.

Here’s Harry leading the alumni processional into Franklin Field.

Watch videos of President Gutmann’s commencement speech and John Legend’s address here (and also photos of the day).

See all the Penn Commencement tweets #PennGrad.

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Filed under Alumni Perspective, Class of 1993, Commencement, Kiera R., Notable Alumni, Photos

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January 13, 2014 · 6:23 pm

Penn Serves LA: Holidays are a Time for Giving

By Jane Gutman, CW’73, PAR’14, PAR’16

Holidays are a time for giving, and also for giving back. Fourteen years ago a man named Tom Bagamane and his sister decided to pack forty grocery bags and hand them out to homeless people they saw near home and work. The weekend of December 12 – 15, 2013, volunteers with The Giving Spirit headed to all parts of Los Angeles and handed full duffle bags to 2,600 homeless people. The bags were not dropped off in parks or near shelters, rather The Giving Spirit volunteers found isolated people and interacted with them in the process of handing over a bag filled with fresh and canned food, socks, hats, rain gear, toiletries and the like, along with an industrial strength blanket.

Giving Spirit group Dec.13.2013

On the Friday night of that weekend, over fifty Penn Serves LA volunteers of all ages congregated at a church in West LA to help to make greeting cards and pack Tupperware and ziplocks with necessities for The Giving Spirit’s bags. As Mr. Bagamane told the Penn crowd, The Giving Spirit knows it cannot cure homelessness, but it hopes to make the holidays and the coldest part of winter just a little easier for “our friends living on the street.” He asked the Penn alumni how it would feel to never hear your name spoken or to line up with your kids just to have a roof over your head for a few hours.

Giving Spirit 1 Dec.13.2013

Giving Spirit 2 Dec.13.2013

The Penn group pitched in for a few hours – some hauling heavy boxes, some joining the assembly lines, some binding blankets. It was a cold night, but we had lots of company and warm food provided by local restaurants…and we were reminded yet again how very lucky we are not to live in a tent or a box on the street. After a fulfilling and collegial evening, our Penn alumni headed back to their cars and homes, and over the Penn shirts they had donned many wore The Giving Spirit t-shirt emblazoned with, “GIVE HOPE LOVE”…and that’s what the holidays are all about!

Giving Spirit 4 Dec.13.2013

Giving Spirit 3 Dec.13.2013

All alumni, Penn parents, families and their children are invited to the next Penn Serves LA event on Sunday, February 23, 2014, from 4:00 – 7:00 pm at One to One Outreach. Back by popular demand, we will return to assemble and deliver boxes of food to the low income, food-insecure of South Central Los Angeles. Children over 8 years are invited to attend. Bring a bit of joy and relief to those in need with us. Click here to sign up for this event.

About Penn Serves LA – Started in 2012, Penn Serves offers a way for direct community service for local Penn alumni and their children to serve Los Angeles’ most needy populations. We partner with established nonprofits and grassroots organizations for one-time volunteer opportunities. So far, we’ve served meals to the homeless, delivered food to low income families, planned activities with immigrant children, and so much more. Please contact us if you’d like to help at a future event via email at pennservesla@gmail.com or visit our website.

Read about our past events:

November, 2013 – Sending Holiday Warmth to our Troops

August and September, 2013 – Serving the Environment and LA Leadership Academy

May, 2013 – One on One Outreach

March, 2013 – Habitat for Humanity

January, 2013 – Inner City Arts

September, 2012 – The Midnight Mission

June, 2012 – Turning Point Shelter

 

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

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January 12, 2014 · 8:05 pm

Penn Alumni Clubs Toast Ben Franklin

#PennToastsBen

Ben Birthday Bash

By Kiera Reilly, C’93  @KieraReilly

Penn’s founder, Benjamin Franklin, is celebrating his 308th birthday on January 17, 2014. Join Penn alumni in a city near you for this year’s festivities!

Cities/clubs celebrating this year include: Baltimore, Boston, Houston, Las Vegas, Lehigh Valley, London, Long Island, Los Angeles, Metro NJ, New Haven, Northeastern Pennsylvania, Northern California, Orange County, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, San Antonio, San Diego, Shanghai, Seattle, and Westchester/Rockland Counties.

Follow the fun on Twitter with the hashtag #PennToastsBen

Baltimore

Penn Club of Baltimore

Friday, January 31, 2014

5:00 pm -7:00 pm

The Party Room/Area at The Greene Turtle

1606 Whetstone Way

Baltimore (South Bmore/Fed Hill), MD 21230

Join the Penn Club of Baltimore for appetizers and a cash bar to celebrate the birthday of Penn’s founder, Ben Franklin. Start the New Year with your follow Penn alumni. For questions or to RSVP, contact pennbalt@yahoo.com.

Boston

Penn Club of Boston

Thursday, January 16, 2014

7:00 pm

Max Brenner

745 Boylston Street

Follow on Twitter: @PennClubBoston

Celebrate Ben Franklin’s Birthday with desserts at Max Brenner!

Did you know that Benjamin Franklin was born on Milk St in Boston, MA in 1706? He then went on to attend Boston Latin School, ran away to Philadelphia at the age of 17, and eventually helped found the University of Pennsylvania and went on to become one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. Today, his legacy lives on in the field of politics, philosophy, science, and education.

Join us on January 16th at 7pm at Max Brenner’s as we celebrate the legacy of the illustrious man and founder of Penn, Ben Franklin. RSVP is required. RSVP through the Penn Club of Boston website or by sending an email to stephanieh@pennclubofboston.org. RSVP Here!

Houston

Penn Club of Houston

Thursday, January 16, 2014

6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Camerata

1834 Westheimer Road

Houston, TX

713.522.VINO

Follow on Twitter: @PennClubHouston

Penn Houston is celebrating Ben’s 308th birthday at Camerata, a cool, recently opened Montrose wine bar that has a laid-back vibe and amazing wine list. First glass and apps are on the club! Join us to kick off 2014 with familiar faces and new friends as we reminisce on Ben and good old Penn. Advance registration required via our website.

Registrants & Fees:                       Registrant Fee

Child/Guest of Member                $ 5.00

Child/Guest of Non-Member        $ 10.00

Member Penn Club of Houston    $ 5.00

Non-Member Penn Club of Houston   $ 10.00

More info on Camerata: Popular among bar and restaurant critics, Camerata was named in December as the 3rd hottest wine bar in the country by Eater National and has been featured by Texas Monthly, Houston Press, Culturemap, the Houston Chronicle, and Eater Houston, to name a few. Owned by Paul Petronella and directly adjacent to his restaurant Paulie’s, Camerata offers an ever-changing bottle list from ex-Uchi Houston beverage director David Keck in a space that draws a hip, younger crowd.

Parking: Camerata is located on Westheimer, between Driscoll Street and Morse Sreet. Parking can be find on either side street, and entrances are on Westheimer and the back of the restaurant.

Las Vegas

Penn Club of Las Vegas

Friday, January 17, 2014

6:00 – 8:00 PM

Banger Brewing (downtown)

Follow on Twitter: @PennLV

The Penn Club of Las Vegas is excited to host the Vegas Ivy Plus community for a beer tasting in honor of Big Ben’s Birthday. There will be discounted drinks for our group as well as a tour of the brewery. Beer + education = win win for us and Ben.

We hope you can make it and are looking forward to seeing you all there. Last year we had a great turnout and a great time. Note: Ben Franklin wigs optional (kidding).

Questions, email: Lea Artis, C’08 at leartis@alumni.upenn.edu. (And even if you can’t, make sure you’re on our email list!) PS. Visit our new website PennLV.com for all upcoming events and news.

Connect with PCLV on: Facebook  |LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram

Lehigh Valley

Penn Alumni Club of the Lehigh Valley

Thursday, January 16, 2014

6:00 – 7:00 PM Happy Hour

7:00 PM Dinner

Rodizio Grill Brazilian Steakhouse

2805 Lehigh Street (just off Rt. 309)

Allentown, PA

“Take time for all things; great haste makes great waste”

The Penn Club invites you and your guest(s) to Ben’s Birthday Bash (“eve”) celebrating Benjamin Franklin’s 308th birthday.

Two menu options: The Full Rodizio – $28.99 – Enjoy a variety of rotisserie grilled meats carved table side, glazed pineapple, a gourmet salad bar, and authentic Brazilian appetizers, all Unlimited! Gourmet Salads – $16.99 – Enjoy unlimited authentic Brazilian appetizers and unlimited trips to the gourmet salad bar, featuring over 30 hot and cold items. Rodizio is 100% MSG free, 100% Peanut free, and 95% Gluten free. We hope to see you there. Please rsvp and indicate if you are joining us for Happy Hour, Dinner or Both (hopefully both!) We need to give the restaurant an accurate count so that they can accommodate us properly.

RSVP to Joan at info@pennclublehighvalley.com.

London

Penn Club of the UK

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

7:00 pm

21 Covent Garden

21 The Market

WC2E 8RD London

In celebration of Ben Franklin’s birthday, we are celebrating our beloved founder’s special day with drinks. Come join us at 21 Covent Garden from 7 PM, where we will have a reserved area in the bar overlooking the Covent Garden Piazza. Feel free to bring a Ben Franklin-related item… We’ll buy a drink for the person with the best or most unique item!
Looking forward to seeing you and raising a toast to dear ol’ Ben.

Questions? Email the club at pennalumniuk@gmail.com.

Long Island

Penn Club of Long Island

Thursday, January 23, 2014

7:30 pm

Vespa

Great Neck, NY

Join us in celebration of Ben Franklin’s Birthday, Ben’s Bash. There will be a brief Club meeting, followed by dinner.

Los Angeles

PennClubLA

Friday, January 17, 2014

7:30 – 9:00 pm

The Churchill

8384 W 3rd St

West Hollywood, CA 90048

Note: Location change, no longer at The Pikey!

Follow on Twitter: @PennClubLA

Ben Franklin Birthday hat 2

Happy New Year Penn Alumni! We would like to invite you to come celebrate Ben Franklin’s birthday with fellow classmates at The Churchill this Friday! Help us cheers to dear old Ben! Find more information and RSVP here.

Metro NJ

Penn Club of Metro New Jersey

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

7:30 PM

Birthday Cake and Open Board meeting

Follow on Twitter: @PennClubMetroNJ

All Metro NJ Penn Alumni and Penn Parents are invited to join us for Ben Franklin’s Birthday Bash at the home of Carol Michaels. After an open board meeting, there will be refreshments including Ben’s birthday cake. RSVP here.

New Haven, CT

Penn Club of New Haven

January 19th, 2014

6:30pm

Linsly Chittenden Hall, 63 High Street

New Haven, CT

Ben Franklin’s Birthday Celebration and Speaker Event

Join us for a presentation entitled “Callings and Culture-Picking: Lessons on Work and Food from the Wilds of Psychology” (topics that were of great interest to Ben!) by Penn Psychology Professor Dr. Paul Rozin and our own Dr. Amy Wrzesniewski, C ’94, of the Yale School of Management, followed by refreshments and birthday cake! The event is free, but RSVP via email to robpennclubnh@gmail.com.

Northeastern Pennsylvania

Penn Club of Northeastern Pennsylvania (NEPA)

Sunday, January 12, 2014

11:30 am – 2:00 pm

East Mountain Inn, in the Bistro

Off Exit 170-A of I-81

Ben Franklin Bountiful Buffet Birthday Bash

with Special guest speaker

Gregory E. Johnson, CFP®

Director of Gift Planning

University of Pennsylvania

Attire for the day is casual. Buffet will be served (cash bar). The price for the event is $30 per person. If you like to avoid the rush please include your dues of $15 for 2014.

RSVP no later than Thursday, January 9th by calling 570.208.3130, ext. 147 or by e-mailing me at AndrewPasonick@penneastern.com.

Northern California

Penn Club of Northern California

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

6:00 – 8:00 pm

O3 Bistro & Lounge

524 Van Ness Avenue

San Francisco, CA 94102 (Google Map)

Follow on Twitter: @NCPennClub

Penn’s founder, Benjamin Franklin, is celebrating his 308th birthday in January 2014. Join Penn alumni for this year’s festivities! Join us as we mingle with familiar and new alums and play Ben Franklin and Penn trivia! Event details here.

Cost: $10 with advanced registration, $15 at the door (ticket includes appetizers and one drink)

RSVP: Click here to purchase tickets

Orange County, CA

Penn Club of Orange County

Thursday, January 16, 2014

5:30 – 7:00 pm

Bluewater Grill at the District

2409 Park Ave.

Tustin, CA 92782

Follow on Twitter: @PennClubOC

Please join Orange County area alumni us for a fun evening of networking and remembering Ben. Also, bring ideas of events you would like to see our club take on this year!

RSVP to penncluboc@gmail.com so that we know how many will be in attendance. We look forward to seeing you there and starting off 2014 in celebration!

“In wine there is wisdom, in beer there is Freedom, in water there is bacteria.”

― Benjamin Franklin

Philadelphia

Penn Club of Philadelphia

Saturday, January 11, 2014

11:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Lecture series brunch at The Plough & the Stars, 123 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Private guided tour at Benjamin Franklin Museum, 317 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106

Follow on Twitter: @PennClub

Ben Franklin’s Birthday Bash! Lecture Series Brunch and Private Museum Tour

Come celebrate the University of Pennsylvania’s Founding Father’s 308th Birthday at the new Benjamin Franklin Museum in Philadelphia!

Join us for a lecture series brunch at The Plough & the Stars restaurant in Old City with Penn Professor John Milner, Adjunct Professor of Architecture Historic Preservation and two project directors from Quinn Evans Architects, the architecture firm responsible for renovating and expanding the Benjamin Franklin Museum in Philadelphia. Following the brunch, we will experience a private guided tour of the new Benjamin Franklin Museum in Old City.

Cost: $25 for members; $40 for non-members

RSVP: Click here to buy tickets!

http://www.pennclubphilly.org/article.html?aid=832

Phoenix, AZ

Penn-Wharton Club of Arizona

Thursday, January 16, 2014

5:30 pm – 7:30 pm

University Club of Phoenix

39 E. Monte Vista

Phoenix, AZ 85004

Follow on Twitter: @Penn_Wharton_AZ

Join fellow alumni as we once again celebrate Ben’s Birthday at our annual Ben Franklin Birthday Bash. This is always one of our most popular events, so be sure to sign up early.

DETAILS Appetizers and a birthday cake, Cash Bar

COST: $20

Appropriately, at this event we honor our Ben Franklin Sponsor members. We appreciate the additional support; you and a guest are invited to this event at NO CHARGE. Red & Blue Society members and a guest attend all events at NO CHARGE. Special Invitation to our Young Alumni to join us at NO CHARGE.

RSVP: Click here to RSVP!!!

Portland, OR

Penn Club of Portland

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

5:30 – 7:00 pm (or until the last person leaves)

Kells Irish Brew Pub.

210 NW 21st Avenue

(betw. NW Davis St. and NW Everett St.)

Portland, OR

Ben Franklin portrait

Benjamin Franklin’s 308th Birthday Happy Hour

While touring Ireland in 1771, Benjamin Franklin 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’s observation, that America could suffer the same effects should Britain’s colonial rule continue, fueled his passion for independence. So, once again this year, we are celebrating Benjamin Franklin’s 308th birthday with a nod to Ireland on Wednesday, January 15th (actually two days before his birthday) at Kells Irish Brew Pub.

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

RSVPs, while not required, are always appreciated to club president John Vosmek at John Vosmek john.vosmek@vosmek.com.

San Antonio, TX

Penn Club of San Antonio

Friday, January 17, 2014

11:30 AM

Youz Guyz South Philly Cheesesteaks

316 Pat Booker Road

Universal City 78148

The Penn Alumni Club of San Antonio will continue our tradition of celebrating Ben’s Birthday Bash on Friday, January 17. Once again we will gather, starting at 11:30 A.M., at San Antonio’s Philly cheese steak emporium and our informal clubhouse, Youz Guyz South Philly CheeseSteaks, phone 210-659-8930. Be ready for Quizzo while we munch our lunch.

RSVP by Monday, January 13, to Elaine Ayala, eayala@express-news.net, 210-250-3402.

San Diego, CA

Penn Club of San Diego

Friday, January 17, 2014

6:00 pm – ?

Eddie’s

3501 30th Street

Follow on Twitter: @PennClubSD

The Penn Club of San Diego will celebrate Ben’s Birthday Bash! A small corner is being reserved at 6pm at Eddie’s! Cheesesteaks, Tastycakes and other menu items will be available for purchase.

RSVP by emailing pennclubsd@gmail.com.

Seattle, WA

Penn Club of Seattle

Bowling for Ben

Sunday, January 12, 2014

5:00 – 7:00 pm

The Garage Bowling and Billiards

1130 Broadway (on Capitol Hill)

Seattle, WA 98122

Follow on Twitter: @PenninSeattle

Join the Penn Alumni Club of Seattle in celebrating Ben Franklin’s 308th birthday with an evening of bowling, billiards, food and drink at the great space known as “The Garage” on Capitol Hill in Seattle. Bowling begins at 5:00 PM. You can bowl, schmooze, eat and drink, play some billiards and just enjoy the company of local Penn alumni and parents. Cost for the night will be $10, which includes bowling and shoe rentals. $20 includes bowling, shoe rental and a Penn Club of Seattle t-shirt! (Food and drink will be on you).

RSVPs are required at http://www.pennclubofseattle.com/item/554706. Space is limited so sign up today!

Shanghai

Ben Franklin birthday hat

Penn Club of Shanghai

Thursday, January 23, 2014

7:30 – 9:30 PM

Sarment Wine Bar

Reel Mall, 1601 West Nanjing Road

( 南京西路1601号2楼202-1室, 近常德路)

Wines start from 45RMB. Buy two glasses get one free.

Ben Franklin’s Birthday Bash and Standing Committee Elections

To kick off the Penn Club’s events in the new year, we are commemorating our University’s founding father, Ben Franklin, with a birthday bash in his honor. Please join us for some drinks and good times with your fellow alumni!

During the birthday bash, we will hold our annual standing committee (i.e. board) elections. We encourage all alumni interested in helping shape the future direction of our club to take part in the election by either running for a position or simply by attending and voting during the elections. The position that are available for election:

Chairman (President)

Secretary of the Treasury (Treasurer)

Secretary of Propaganda (Secretary)

Secretary of Internal Affairs (Webmaster)

Secretary of Labor (Professional Events)

Secretary of Education (Educational Events)

Secretary of Civil Affairs (Community Service Events)

Secretary of Social Affairs (Social Events)

Secretary of Recruitment (Secondary School Committee)

If you are interested in learning more about running for a position, please email us at penn.club.shanghai@gmail.com. We will accept nominations for positions until Tuesday, January 21.

Westchester/Rockland Counties, NY

Penn Club of Westchester and Rockland Counties

Saturday, January 25, 2014

7:30 pm pub fare and drinks

9:30 pm Penn Alumni Band, “The Velcrows”

MTK Tavern

30 East Main Street

Mt. Kisco, NY

(914-218-3334)

Ben’s Birthday Bash featuring Penn Alumni Band “The Velcrows” at MTK Tavern

This year we are heading to Mt. Kisco to enjoy great food and drinks while enjoying the music of a Penn Alumni Band!

Mingle with fellow alumni while enjoying pub fare and drinks from 7:30 to 9:30PM, and then Randi Nielsen, W’84, Robert Birkenholz, ME’82, and Mike Rosenman, C’76, will be performing with their band, The Velcrows, at this fun venue! MTK Tavern is located in Mt. Kisco, an easy walk from the train station if you would rather not drive. The evening will conclude with a cake to celebrate Ben Franklin’s birthday!

RSVP/PAYMENT (includes cover charge and from 7:30-9:30PM: food and wine/beer/soft drinks): Through January 20th: $50 for members  and $60 for nonmembers; From January 21st through January 25th: $60 for members and $70 for nonmembers; Use the red link below to rsvp and pay by MC/Visa or to pay by check, email the event chairperson, Wendy Weinstein at wendy.weinstein.karp@gmail.com with the number of attendees and then send a check payable to “The Penn Club of Westchester & Rockland Counties” and write “Ben’s Birthday Bash” on the memo portion of the check. Please send the check to Club Treasurer: Pamela Harpaz, 12 Woodmill Road, Chappaqua, NY 10514.

For questions or additional information, please contact the event chairperson: Wendy Weinstein at  wendy.weinstein.karp@gmail.com.

Click here to buy tickets!!!

Philadelphia

Celebration in Philadelphia honoring Ben Franklin

Celebration! Benjamin Franklin, Founder, will present the Franklin Founders Award to Dr. Edward O. Wilson in recognition of his lifetime of work in the natural sciences, and his insights into the genetic basis of the social behavior of animals, including humans. Recognized worldwide as a leading authority on ants, Dr. Wilson has used his findings on social species to develop cutting-edge theories about human behavior. His 2012 book, The Social Conquest of Earth, looks at altruism and conflict in human society. Dr. Wilson, who received the Pulitzer Prize in 1979, is an emeritus professor at Harvard University.

The day’s Philadelphia celebration includes a free morning seminar on the topic of Observing the World, featuring:

Robert McCracken Peck, Senior Fellow, Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University

Dr. Douglas W. Tallamy, Chair of the Dept. of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware

A procession up 5th Street to Dr. Franklin’s grave will be followed by a luncheon honoring Dr. Wilson.

AGENDA

9am-10:30am Seminar, Franklin Hall (free)

11am-11:30am Procession and wreath-laying at Franklin’s Grave (free)

11:45am – 1:45pm Luncheon at The Chemical Heritage Foundation, 315 Chestnut Street

Please visit www.ushistory.org/celebration for more information and registration

Click here for Registration / Luncheon Tickets

 Don’t forget to post your photos and fun with the hashtag #PennToastsBen

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December 13, 2013 · 9:06 am

Ancient Rome and Instagram in Los Angeles

By Kiera Reilly, C’93  @KieraReilly

Last month, members of the Southern California Regional Advisory Board (otherwise known as SCRAB) gathered to hear my classmate, Darius Arya, Ph.D., C’93, speak about storytelling cultural heritage through modern means, namely via social media tools such as Instagram and Twitter. Dar lives in Rome and is the CEO and co-founder of the American Institute for Roman Culture.

After re-connecting with him and his wife Erica Firpo, C’94, while in Rome this past May, I’ve been following them both as they share local scenes via Twitter and Instagram (Erica via @moscerina and Dar via @SaveRome). When I heard Dar would be in Los Angeles in November, I asked if he would speak to SCRAB about his work, and he graciously agreed.

An example of Dar's Instagram from a few weeks ago with this caption: The curve. Romans perfected the arch. Here, in Trajan's Markets they turned it on its side (and lined it with shops) to hold back the Quirinal Hill #culturalheritage #rome #archaeology

An example of Dar’s Instagram from a few weeks ago with this caption: The curve. Romans perfected the arch. Here, in Trajan’s Markets they turned it on its side (and lined it with shops) to hold back the Quirinal Hill #culturalheritage #rome #archaeology

The group gathered at Culina – a modern Italian restaurant at the Four Seasons Beverly Hills. Everyone sipped Prosecco and munched on bruschetta while waiting for everyone to arrive. We then sat down for a family-style dinner while Dar spoke about utilizing digital media to engage a global audience and tell stories about cultural heritage.

DSCN1344 Denise Winner-Roz Pinkus

SCRAB co-president Denise Winner, W’83, and Roz Pinkus, CW’64, PAR’94, GPAR’17

Marty Caan, W'69, PAR'11, and Jack Tauber, C'73, PAR'08

Marty Caan, W’69, PAR’11, and Jack Tauber, C’73, PAR’08

DSCN1351 Rob Weingarten-Salvador Brau-Pam Weingarten-Nora Brau

Bob Weingarten, C’74, PAR’12, Salvador Brau, C’67, Pam Weingarten, PAR’12, and Nora Brau,.

DSCN1350 Eric Reiter-Darius Arya-Jackie Bral

Eric Reiter, W’97, our speaker Darius Arya, C’93, and Jackie Bral, PAR’15, PAR’15

Table

Our elegant family-style dinner table at Culina.

It was an interesting lesson to hear how modern tools can reach a vast global audience and help share the stories of ancient roman culture, and hopefully help to further preserve these ancient sites.

My Instagram from the event @KieraReilly

My Instagram from the event @KieraReilly

For more on ancient Rome, follow Dar’s informative posts on his Instagram account @SaveRome.

For more information on the American Institute for Roman Culture, see their website at: http://romanculture.org/. You may also see Dar as he appears frequently in History, Discovery, and National Geographic documentaries and pursues projects relating to cultural heritage management, preservation, promotion, outreach, and communications.

SaveRome Rome in Snow

Dar’s Instagram from Dec. 12: Winter blues. Getting jealous of all the great winter shots I’ve been seeing on IG. Sure Rome has its Christmas atmosphere: trees, nativity scenes, light, fair in Piazza Navona, smell of roasted chestnuts are on the air, and the Lungotevere sycamore trees are becoming bare… But we really just have two district seasons: wet and dry– no snow… With some exceptions. Almost two years ago snow fell in Rome for the first time in over 20 years. So I cheer up with memories from that magical moment. #latergram #culturalheritage #rome #archaeology

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November 22, 2013 · 4:06 pm

Los Angeles Alumni – Already Excited for Alumni Weekend 2014

By Kiera Reilly, C’93  @KieraReilly

Alumni Weekend 2014 seems so far off. With fall colors decorating campus and cool temperatures descending for Homecoming, it is hard to imagine the campus will be full of full green trees and thousands of alumni in only six months.

This week, spearheaded by the Class of 1989, Los Angeles-area alumni from the classes of 1979, 1984, 1989, 1994, and 1999 gathered at the home of Penn Alumni President Julie Beren Platt, C’79, PAR’05, PAR’08, PAR’12 and her husband Marc, also C’79, PAR’05, PAR’08, PAR’12, for a pre-reunion party.

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This same reunion cycle partied five years ago in anticipation of their reunion, also at Julie and Marc’s home, so 1989 Reunion Chair Lolita Jackson, ENG’89, decided that everyone should gather again, and they did! The Class of 1989 had the largest showing at the gathering, no surprise since they’ll be celebrating their 25th reunion in May. The other classes enjoyed gathering early in the reunion year, and mingling with other local alumni.

The Class of 1989 had a strong showing!

The Class of 1989 had a strong showing!

Julie welcomed and thanked everyone for attending – and said that she is looking forward to her 35th reunion. Lolita Jackson and Beth Kean then took over a Penn trivia contest – there was a friendly competitive spirit in the audience and a few hecklers – but it was all in good fun.

Julie Platt welcomes everyone while Lolita Jackson, ENG'89, and Beth Kean, ENG'89, look on.

Julie Platt welcomes everyone while Lolita Jackson, ENG’89, and Beth Kean, ENG’89, look on.

Penn trivia contest - hotly contested!

Penn trivia contest – hotly contested!

At 8:00, the Class of 1989 headed out to an after-party (it seems that after graduating, the “after” parties become earlier…) and the rest of the group left for home soon after.

If the enthusiasm and energy of these Los Angeles alumni is any indication, Alumni Weekend 2014 will be a smashing success – and one you won’t want to miss!

Hurrah 1994!

Hurrah 1994!

Looking good 1999!

Looking good 1999!

Connect with your class on Facebook to be informed about other pre-reunion gatherings and Alumni Weekend details:

Class of 1979

Class of 1989

Class of 1994

Class of 1993 (yes, we’re already thinking about our 25th in 2018!)

See all the photos from the event here.

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October 28, 2013 · 1:56 am

Penn Serves LA: Serving the Environment and LA Leadership Academy

By Kiera Reilly, C’93  @KieraReilly

Penn Serves LA, the community service initiative launched in 2012 by Jane Gutman, CW’73, PAR’14, PAR’16, Leanne Pyott Huebner, W’90 and Denise Winner, W’83, continues to offer events to bring Penn Alumni in Los Angeles together to serve.

On August 24th, a group of Penn Alumni and their children gathered for a day of environmental cleanup and nature restoration at the Canyon at Chadwick School on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. The group learned about the local habitat, wildlife, conservation and environmental challenges impacting the community from the leading Southern California bird expert and past President of the Southern California Audubon Society.

The Penn Serves LA crew as we start the day.

The Penn Serves LA crew as we start the day.

We started our efforts by bringing cleared brush up the canyon to a holding area at the top of a steep hill. It was steep and sometimes difficult to grab the prickly branches, but we developed an assembly line and quickly moved a huge pile to the top of the hill. Then, we hiked into the canyon for shade, a water and watermelon break (thank you Denise!) while we learned about efforts to bring back the natural habitat of the canyon and rid it of invasive vegetation. After our break, we set out with shears, clippers and other gardening tools to clear back plants, bushes and trees from the trail. I tasted some of the wild lemonade berries – tart and sweet. The sun was hot, but many hands made quick work.

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You can see more photos of our work that day here.

Next up, Penn Serves helped at the L.A. Leadership Academy in the Lincoln Heights area of Los Angeles on September 28th. Our mission was to help move classroom supplies into the new school building and interact with some of the college bound students and their families. The school is a charter school that is devoted almost solely to serving children in poverty, 95% of its student body is on free and reduced lunch.

How many Penn alumni does it take to lift this heavy desk onto a dolly?

How many Penn alumni does it take to lift this heavy desk onto a dolly?

Three plus one (representing the College, Wharton and Engineering no less!).

Three plus one (representing the College, Wharton and Engineering no less!).

Although we initially thought we’d be painting, it turned out that the school scheduled our Saturday to be a move day, and we would be helping the students, their families and school staff move fifteen classrooms worth of furniture and supplies from the front building into the new middle school in the back. The Penn group, which included many former Penn Serves participants, quickly got to work moving desks, chairs, books and science supplies. Down a long hall, then a flight of stairs and through the old school, into the courtyard and into the new building – things that seemed light when we started became heavy pretty quickly. But everyone was in good spirits. We stopped for a lunch break, and the school principal gave a special shout out to our group as other than the families that were there, we were the only ones helping. In the course of moving things up and down the stairs, we learned that the school’s founder, Roger Lowenstein, was the college roommate (at the University of Michigan) of Wharton Professor Michael Useem! What a small world. After lunch, we got to work setting up the science classroom (and reminiscing about our own science classes as we unpacked lots of glass beakers).

Everyone in the school community helped with the move.

Everyone in the school community helped with the move.

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Here some of us take a lunch break (the others were still moving!).

You can see more photos of the day here and on the Penn Club of Los Angeles’ Facebook page.

If you live in Los Angeles, I encourage you to join us at an upcoming Penn Serves LA event – the service activities planned benefit a variety of non-profits in the area, and each service project is in a different part of the city. This provides an opportunity for alumni to join in a project that is of particular interest, or in a more convenient location, and also offers the opportunity to learn about the many organizations serving the Los Angeles community.

The next event is planned for Sunday, November 17. We’ll be writing letters to American troops at the Red Cross. For more information and to RSVP, visit the PennClubLA website.

About Penn Serves LA – Started in 2012, Penn Serves offers a way for direct community service for local Penn alumni and their children to serve Los Angeles’ most needy populations. We partner with established nonprofits and grassroots organizations for one-time volunteer opportunities. So far, we’ve served meals to the homeless, delivered food to low income families, planned activities with immigrant children, and so much more. Please contact us if you’d like to help at a future event: pennservesla@gmail.com.

Read about our past events:

May, 2013 – One on One Outreach

March, 2013 – Habitat for Humanity

January, 2013 – Inner City Arts

September, 2012 – The Midnight Mission

June, 2012 – Turning Point Shelter

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October 11, 2013 · 6:27 pm

First September with the Penn Club of Northern California

By Beth Topor, W’80, and Jenny Zhan, C’10, W’10

NorCal First Sept_0865

The Penn Club of Northern California welcomed the Class of 2013 to the Bay area with what else – a wine tasting! This First September celebration was held on Saturday, September 7, at DogPatch Wine Works, the newest winery to open in San Francisco. The crowd of just under 100 wine tasters included undergraduate and graduate school alumni with more than half of the attendees from the Class of 2013! We enjoyed seeing classmates reunite, not knowing each had been fortunate to land in San Francisco. It was great occasion for Quakers to mingle, nosh and sample wines; white and red, but alas no blue.

NorCal First Sept_0878-1

Tom Eliaz, ENG’02, president of the Penn Club, welcomed the new alumni to the area with a toast, and encouraged all to get involved with local Penn activities which include interviewing high school students and volunteering with the Club. Tom introduced the Club Board members and Interviewing Chairs who were enjoying the tasting but also ready to answer questions about how all alumni can become West Coast Ambassadors for Penn.

Tom concluded by inviting all Northern California alumni to “Time to Shine” on Thursday October 10th, hosted by Penn President Amy Gutmann. This reception will be followed by a YPenn happy hour for our young alumni classes 2004 – 2013. Over 400 alumni registered to attend.

NorCal First Sept_0853

Each year, Penn Alumni Clubs around the world host First September events to welcome the most recent graduating class and alumni new to the area. Be sure to join your local domestic or international club and learn more about their upcoming events.

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September 27, 2013 · 6:21 pm

Penn Cares with the Penn Club of Northern California – Habitat for Humanity

By Betty Huang, ENG’12, GEN’12, and Jenny Zhan, C’10, W’10

Donning hard hats at 8:30AM on a chilly and grey Saturday morning, volunteers from the Penn Club of Northern California joined in on ground-breaking work with Habitat for Humanity of Greater San Francisco. The work was more physically challenging than usual because we were doing foundation work, that is, a lot of shoveling, waterproofing, wheelbarrowing, and moving dirt around. Despite the difficulties, it was very gratifying getting in on a project from the very beginning: Habitat had just received permits for a 28-unit single family development named Habitat Terrace, an ambitious project in the Oceanview neighborhood and the organization’s largest development yet in San Francisco.

NoCal Penn Cares 2 - 1

We are proud to contribute to Habitat’s mission to provide a helping hand to families in need of improved living conditions. The homes that we helped lay the foundations for will be sold to families at no profit and financed with 0% interest mortgages. In addition, new owners will put 500 hours of work into their own homes. It will take over 100,000 volunteer hours to finish this Habitat Terrace development in the next 2 years, and the Penn Club of Northern California is looking forward to seeing the project through. Thank you to all our volunteers on August 17th, and if you live in the area, please join us in serving our community!

NorCal Penn Cares 2 - 2

NorCal Penn Cares 2 - 3

NorCal Penn Cares 2 - 4

Read about our experience helping at the San Francisco Food Bank here.

Read about Penn Serves LA helping at Habitat for Humanity here.

The Penn Softball team volunteered at Habitat for Humanity in New Jersey last year – here’s the link to a story and video about their experience.

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