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Welcome Back!
BNC Phoenix Chapter invites you to an evening of
fun and friendship
with dinner, dessert and libations
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Please join us for An Italian Feast
Saturday, October 14 • 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
North Scottsdale
Buona Sera $36 • Mangia $54 • Grazie $72
(Any contribution over $36 is a discretionary donation to BNC's Legacy of Louis campaign)
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For more information: ruth.bncphx@gmail.com
Ruth Lerner • Terriann Kleiner • Laurie Burns • Brina Pepper
Event Chairs
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A new beginning has been defined simply as allowing ourselves to accept changes that might bring good things to us. While there is an element of uncertainty in new beginnings, it also includes excitement and social adventures.
We warmly welcome all of you, our chapter members, to the beginning of our 23-24 season, whether you are returning from your summer homes and/or vacations, or you spent the long, hot summer in town, helped immensely by our Phoenix Chapter’s Summer Camp.
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Begin to look for letters of welcome from your study group facilitators and remember, due to unforeseen glitches, some of the groups closed prematurely. If you couldn’t register for a group, please be sure to go back and check to see if spaces are now available.
Registration is open for our first event of the season, “An Italian Feast,” which will be held on Saturday, October 14. You can reconnect with all the friends you have missed during the summer and meet new friends as well.
The bulletin and our website are your roadmaps. Everything you need to know about the many activities our coordinators have been planning for you all summer will be found in both resources.
New beginnings also mean the start of the Brandeis class of 2027. We have included a recent brief YouTube video that we hope you will watch. It will bring you a little closer to this special University.
May all of us, the new Brandeis students and our BNC Phoenix Chapter Members who support them, thrive as we step joyfully into our new beginnings.
Ellen and Leith
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Brandeis Canasta Tournament! | |
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Sunday, December 3, 2023
2:00 - 5:00 pm
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Congregation Beth Israel
10460 N. 56th Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85253
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Open to the Public
Men & Women ~ Sign up with a partner or individually
Prizes will be awarded to the top teams at the end of the tournament
$25 per person
Registration opens October 15 and closes November 15
Tournament rules will be emailed prior to game day
Please bring your own cards and a tray ~ No card shufflers permitted
Teams will stay together for all rounds of play
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Questions?
Contact Ken Walter • lw3410@yahoo.com
Rich Kleiner • Jeff Lerner • Ken Walter
Event Chairs
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♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ | | |
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Table Captains
at
Book & Author
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You can be a Table Captain!
It's not too early to be thinking about being a Table Captain at Book & Author.
If you want to volunteer or need more information,
contact Patti Grossman, Terriann Kleiner or Ruth Lerner, Committee Chairs
at psgrossman717@gmail.com
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Spotlight on Study Groups | |
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September was a busy month, almost 2000 slots have been filled in the 89 study groups.
October is the beginning of our 2023-2024 Study Group season.
Many of our wonderful groups will be meeting and you can start enjoying your study group activities.
Registration continues - see below for registration links.
Some groups have reached their maximum, but many facilitators expanded to include members on the wait list.
Other groups still have openings. Some of those with slots still available include:
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5. Have You Read Anything Good Lately?
10. Intermediate Hatha Yoga
12. Current Events
14. Meditation: Pathways to Peace
15. Theater Lovers Happy Hour
16. Camelview Shea 14 - Movie & Discussion
30. Knit A Mitzvah
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33. Men of Brandeis (MOB)
38. Stitchery
52. Let’s Do Phoenix Hikes
70. Intermediate Hiking
71. Second Friday Films
86. Mitzvah Mavens
88. People Who Repair the World
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We are looking to add new and additional groups in January - look for future announcements.
If you have an idea for a new group that you would like to facilitate,
please contact Marcia Langer or Harriet Schwartz
at phxstudygroups@gmail.com or 630-730-1222.
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Registration Information:
If you have not registered, the link is HERE and also on our website
Screen-by-screen instructions are available here
If you have registered, click on the link in the confirmation email you received
that says "Click here to edit your registration information"
If you have registered but cannot find your confirmation email,
click this email and request a copy of your registration email.
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Our chapter’s Study Groups are for the benefit and enjoyment of current BNC members.
Please be sure to join or renew your membership, so you will be able to register for study groups!
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Please contact us if any questions,
Marcia Langer and Harriet Schwartz
phxstudygroups@gmail.com
Study Group Vice Presidents
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On Wednesday, October 4, the Men of Brandeis will open their 2023-24 season with a talk by one of our Chapter's own members, Stan Burech. The meeting will commence at 1:00 pm in the meeting hall at the JCC on Scottsdale Rd. Many of us will gather for lunch at noon at the J's restaurant.
Stan’s background and experience are likely quite different from that of most of our members: he grew up and lived in small towns near Wheeling, West Virginia. His talk will be about a Jew living and practicing law in Appalachia.
Stan graduated from Oberlin College and the University of Michigan Law School. He practiced law before the United States District Courts and the Courts of Appeal for the Fourth and Sixth Circuits. He was a member of the International Association of Defense Counsel and the Association of Defense Trial Counsel. He was a delegate to two national Democratic conventions. Stan served as president of his congregation and on the regional board of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations. He has been a volunteer for Children’s Services, the American Civil Liberties Committee.
He spent most of his life near Wheeling, West Virginia, before retiring and moving to Scottsdale with his wife, Linda, to be close to his children and grandchildren. He has two brothers, one still living back in Wheeling.
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Wednesday, October 4
1:00 pm at the JCC
12701 N. Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale
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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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Welcome Back - An Italian Feast 🍷🍝
Saturday, October 14 • 6:00 - 8:00 pm
Register Here
Book & Author Author Reveal and Volunteer Sign-Up
Monday, October 30 • 1:00 - 3:00 pm
Westin Kierland Resort
RSVP Here
Canasta Tournament 🃏
Sunday, December 3 • 2:00 - 5:00 pm
Congregation Beth Israel
University on Wheels
Friday, January 5, 2024 • 9:30 am - 12:00 pm
Embassy Suites by Hilton Phoenix Biltmore
♥ ♥ Book & Author 2024 ♥ ♥
Friday, February 2 • Luncheon/Authors/Boutiques
Thursday, February 1 • Bookmark Cocktail Reception and Donor Dinner with the Authors
Westin Kierland Resort
Spring Event/Installation
Wednesday, April 17
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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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Brandeis has launched a new Global Service Initiative in honor of their 75th Anniversary. They hope to illustrate how community involvement makes a compelling change and a positive mark on the world. Each chapter is compiling a list of the volunteer hours and organizations to which their members contribute. Our chapter is always involved in community outreach and it’s so nice to be able to acknowledge that!
We have been receiving your volunteer information.
Please continue to let us know:
- Where you volunteer
- How often
- The number of hours you put in
Please submit your volunteer activities to Wendy Cohen at wencohen@cox.net.
So many of you are true community advocates! We thank you all - you DO make a difference!
If you'd like to donate school supplies, Wendy will collect and distribute the items. Ellen is still collecting pill bottles without labels. Safety caps only, please. We are also still collecting purses and bras.
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.
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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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Membership Milestones
- Congratulations to Sara and Jay Leopold on the birth of their grandson, Jasper Blake Leopold. Proud parents are Tracy Anderson and Ari Leopold.
- Best wishes to Carol Kern for a speedy recovery
- Our sincere condolences to the family of life member Valerie Gale
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We welcome our new members:
Arnold Alpert, Carol Caplan, Beverly Cohen, Alan and Eva Cropp, Adrian Erman, Jeff Fagin, DeeDee Friedlander, Debbi Goldich, Alex and Lyhn Green, Robert Karp, Sheldon Karras, Neal Kurn, Carol and Ken Madick, Richard and Sherri Merel, Max Perlman, Beverly Phillips, Ellen Rubin, Ellen Schifman, Leslie Siegelheim, Ann and Mitchel Slater, Ann and Norman Spector, Warren Stadtmauer, Bob and Sharon Stein, Orrin Weinstein, Helen Witt
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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.
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We hold these gatherings several times a season to welcome new and prospective members.
The next Coffee/Tea Social for Prospective BNC members will be held on
Friday, October 20 from 1:30-3:30 pm
For more information or to attend, please contact the Membership VPs:
Gale Gradus and Kathleen Witkin
phxbncmembership@gmail.com
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Online Membership Registration and Renewal is open for the 2023-2024 year - and what a fabulous year we have planned! If you renew or join our chapter now, your membership will be in good standing through June 30, 2024.
In order to take part in Study Groups in the fall, your Membership must be current.
The Membership page of our website has a link to step-by-step instructions for online renewal.
If you have questions about online payments for membership renewals, please contact Irene Lubin at 480-948-3773.
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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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The Nominating Committee will be meeting soon to discuss nominees for the Slate of Officers and Board Members for the 2024-2025 BNC Phoenix Chapter Board. The committee is open to suggestions regarding individuals, regardless of gender, who are interested in serving on the Board with Portfolio or assuming positions on the Executive Committee. Please comment on the qualifications of a candidate and include supporting data. One may self-nominate. The current Board list is here.
All names will be considered by the committee.
Please email your suggestions to the committee chairs by October 20.
Thank you in advance for your participation.
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Announcing the New Historian Group | |
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There is so much to share. Where do we begin? Life moves in linear, circular, and spiral directions -- never ending.
This year, the Historian Group will focus on past and present presidents. We will share their achievements, experiences and insights about their terms as president.
We will also talk about other Brandeis interests, both local and national, depending on priorities and time.
All of you are the center and future as to what keeps our chapter successful and evolving.
~ Helen Abrams, Chapter Historian
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The Legacy of Louis: Inspiring Inquiry
As the university nears its milestone 75th anniversary in 2023, the Brandeis National Committee's current campaign, The Legacy of Louis: Inspiring Inquiry, is halfway towards its goal, thanks to all of you.
This 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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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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The urgency of Alzheimer’s research | | |
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By Kennedy Ryan
While some spend their summer at the beach or basking in the sun, students from the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences are hard at work on their research.
Brandeis Stories spoke with Elizabeth Mahon, a psychology PhD candidate and the winner of the 2023 Brandeis 3M Thesis competition, to learn more about her summer in the lab.
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How would you summarize your research focus in under 300 words?
In the Lifespan Lab, the goal of our work is to assess long-term predictors of psychological and physical health, focusing on factors that can protect against or minimize cognitive declines in mid- and later-life.
I specifically research whether there are certain voice and physiological biomarkers that can predict longitudinal cognitive declines and identify higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease decades later.
My field aims to prevent dementia: if we can identify precursors as early as possible, we could provide intervention that may slow down or even stop the entire progression of the disease itself.
What is your ‘why’? What inspires you to do this research?
About 1 in 3 people over age 65 dies from dementia, with the majority having Alzheimer’s disease.
Full article
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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. | |
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Presidents: Ellen Widoff and Leith Baletin
Editor: Sara Leopold • Assistant Editor: Ronee Siegel
bncphxbulletin@gmail.com
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