alumnae association
President’s letter
Photograph by Juliana Sohn
alumnae association
News & Notes
Passing the Torch…and Farewell
Special Events Highlight Regional Groups
As my term as president of the AABC comes to an end, I find myself grasping for something to connect all my years of education and service to the college I love. So, on a warm day in early spring, I took a slow walk through campus and I found her: the iconic statue of a female torchbearer donated by the Class of 1902 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Greek Games. Strong, proud, and fearless, she has watched over Barnard for almost 90 years. She was there to greet me on the day I walked through the gates for the first time, and she was there to say farewell when I graduated. She has been a constant as I returned to campus for countless meetings and reunions over the past three decades. She has been there for all of us and has literally weathered every storm for over a century. She is showing signs of age, but is still inspirational. Like so many Barnard alumnae, she faces the challenges of the world with spirit. Therefore, I was excited to learn that the Class of 2014 Senior Fund will go toward the restoration of this wonderful symbol of the strong Barnard women who attend and graduate from this college. As one senior put it, “She will shine once again.” I am excited to support the senior class with a challenge gift to encourage participation in this effort to restore the statue to its glory. My own march forward for Barnard is coming to an end for now. Proud of my service to the College, I will cherish my memories of the many alumnae from past decades, recent graduates, and everyone in between. It has been my privilege to meet and work with so many wonderful women. I want to take this opportunity to thank all the alumnae with whom I have served as board and committee members, and regional club leaders. The most gratifying part of being AABC president is to be in the company of intelligent, creative, and inspiring women. And it has been an honor to meet and work with all the current student leaders who will become alumnae. A special thank-you to Erin Fredrick and her hard-working Alumnae Affairs staff, who strive to make every event, every meeting, and every program a success. Together, we have succeeded in bringing the Alumnae Association to a new place and reconnecting more alumnae to the College than ever before. I plan on returning for events and reunions, and to spend time with our students. I will be here to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the College next year, although my days of planning and leading are coming to an end. But on that spring day as I sat near Spirit of the Greek Games, a relay runner carrying the torch, I saw in her a symbol for me: this June I too will pass the torch to other women who will lead the way for the College— Barnard proud!
Regional Networks The Barnard regional alumnae network is made up of highly valued groups of interesting and intelligent volunteers who open their personal networks to their Barnard sisters. This year, many of our clubs devoted their gatherings to discussing the professional and personal balancing acts that women engage in to be successful in all facets of their lives. Regional clubs have discussed these issues through book-club meetings, receptions with President Spar, professional-development workshops, and conversations with our own alumnae experts. This regional network allows our alumnae the opportunity to explore topics of personal interest while also connecting with their Barnard sisters to bridge the gaps between graduating classes, and build lifelong relationships based on the life-changing experience of a Barnard education. If you are interested in learning more about any of the Barnard clubs or regional events, visit alum.barnard.edu, call 212.854.2005, or e-mail alumnaeaffairs@ barnard.edu. Barnard wants to connect with you, wherever you are, and we look forward to expanding these connections in your communities throughout the world. Celeste L. Rivera ’04, manager, regional alumnae programming
Sincerely, Mary Ann LoFrumento ’77 President, Alumnae Association of Barnard College Alumnae Trustee
The Barnard Club of Los Angeles Celebrates the 100th Birthday of Ethel Booth ’32 Alumnae in Los Angeles gathered at the home of Marcia Gordon ’77 in March to celebrate the 100th birthday of one of 34
the club’s most active members, Ethel Booth. Ethel regaled the group with stories about Barnard and the world in general as she experienced it over the last century.
Northern California Club Shares a New Student Tradition With Alumnae —With a Twist On the last day of classes each fall and spring semester, students gather at 11 p.m. in the gym to enjoy the campus tradition of Midnight Breakfast. This Barnard tradition was created to build community spirit and has become a cherished event over the past 15 years. Students get to destress and eat well before they hunker down to study for exams. More than 1,000 students attend, most of whom wear pajamas, robes, sweats—anything goes—and many won’t change from that attire until they’ve taken their last final. Lisa Lin ’98, president of the Barnard Club of Northern California, was there at the beginning of this Barnard tradition and continues it today. For the last three years, the Barnard Club of Northern California has hosted Midnight Breakfast for alumnae at a local restaurant, using the event to raise funds for their Barnard scholarship fund. The event has been so popular that they need to book two seatings at the restaurant, and have raised approximately $2,000 each time for their scholarship fund. The success of this venture has inspired alumnae in other regions to plan their own Midnight Breakfast–style events to allow young alumnae to relive a newer Barnard tradition while introducing it to earlier classes.
The Barnard Club of the Triangle Annual Dinner This past October, the Barnard Club of the Triangle (North Carolina) hosted Elizabeth Gregory ’78, director of the women’s, gender & sexuality studies program at the University of Houston, at its annual dinner to discuss work-life balance and examine why women are choosing to pursue options such as having children later in life. Approximately 40 alumnae attended, and they spent the evening networking and planning their calendar of events, in addition to listening to Dr. Gregory.
The Barnard Club of Central New Jersey Honors Lida Orzeck ’68 at its Annual Scholarship Luncheon Over 100 women attended the annual Barnard College Club of Central New Jersey luncheon organized by Renee Swartz ’55 at the Molly Pitcher Inn in Red Bank, N.J., in support of raising scholarship funds to send a young woman from Monmouth County to Barnard. Lida Orzeck ’68, CEO of Hanky Panky, was honored and spoke to the attendees about women making their way in the workplace.
Barnard Magazine Spring 2014 35