International House Newsletter for Alumni and Friends
Out a7 QM’
Newsletter « Fall 2005
WIL Celebrates 15th Anniversary with Merrill Lynch Grant errill Lynch, one of the world’s leading M | financial management and advisory companies, has joined in the celebration of the 15th anniversary of International House’s Women’s International Leadership Program (WIL) this year by awarding a $100,000 twoyear grant for this landmark program.
After the conclusion of the W.K. Kellogg grant, WIL was incorporated into the House’s annual budget and today has evolved to include a mentor project in addition to a series of weekend seminars that provide skills-based leadership training, public speaking workshops, conflict resolution, negotiating technique coaching and field work experience. Mentors over the last few years have included Midori, Ambassador Nancy Soderberg, VP Multilateral Affairs, International Crisis Group (ICG); and
Monsoon Wedding screenwriter Sabrina Dhawan. The current program also has a strong networking component through receptions with previous grantees, Advisory Council members and mentors. “Networking is an essential part of my career. The first-hand experience (through alumnae events) was invaluable—WIL women
learned from and observed others doing the same thing,” says past grantee Nicole Pantos 01, a Senior Associate at Nancy Shear Arts Services,
Founded in1990 with a three-year pilot grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the WIL program was devised to train women for leadership positions in the international community. WIL engaged twenty women in leadership and cross-cultural training through weekend seminars, small group projects developed and implemented by the grantees and group field experiences where WIL participants devoted one week each January to immersing themselves in one of New York’s diverse neighborhoods and then sharing their experiences with the I. House community.
the arts-oriented public relations firm. Instead of small projects throughout the year, WIL grantees complete their experience with one large group project, Women’s Week, held during Women’s History Month in March, in which the grantees offer a full week of programming for the I. House community. Highlights of past Women’s Weeks include speeches by Laura Esquivel, author of Like Water for Chocolate and Catherine Bertini, United Nations Under-Secretary General for Management, roundtables on “Culture and Women’s Rights,” “Balancing Work, Relationships and Family” and other issues directly
affecting women, and cultural events, such as a performance of the The Guys by Anne Nelson and concerts by WIL grantees. For the past 15 years, the WIL Program has worked to nurture a new generation of dedicated, compassionate, international women leaders
and has impacted each grantee in a variety of ways. As past grantee Molly Balfe 03 said about the WIL Program, “I learned skills that would be applicable to my new career, or to any career that I should choose to pursue. The WIL Program did not change who I was, but it brought out my strengths and helped me identify my weaknesses. It gave me a support system of women who are working to become the best leaders, the best women that they can be. These women served as role models, as colleagues, and most importantly as friends.” International House is now pleased to partner with Merrill Lynch to continue the important work of this innovative program. In addition to financial support, Merrill Lynch employees will volunteer their time as mentors and share their expertise in the financial markets. “Financial acumen is important to success in any profession,” stated Claudia J. Kahn, Merrill Lynch’s Senior Vice President of Public Policy and Corporate Responsibility and president of the Merrill Lynch Foundation. “Through this partnership, we hope to build relationships and financial awareness with future women leaders who will have an impact in their respective communities and Continued on page 5
World Council Sets Goals, Picks India for 'O7 Meeting ith unparalleled determination, the World Council of Alumni set several ambitious goals to help strengthen the alumni effort at its June meeting in New York City. The World Council, which was established in 1966 by L.W. Frohlich 37 and celebrates its 40th anniversary next year, is the umbrella organization of the alumni effort and is charged with assisting the House with resident recruitment, alumni networking and fundrais-
ing. The Council meets every two years, alternating between New York City and an international location, to receive updates on activities at the House, set goals and address issues relating to alumni. Council members from North America, Europe, Latin America and South Asia met for four productive days beginning with the dedication and opening of the Soros Room,
where Chair Emerita of the Council Daisy Soros ’51 and her husband Paul Soros’51, were honored for their generous contribution to restore and renovate the Mural Room. In lively discussions, the World Council agreed to increase its membership’s participation in the Annual Fund Campaign to 50 percent in 2006 and 60 percent in 2007. The
Council will also work hard to increase the numbers of alumni contributing gifts, no matter their size, to the House on an annual basis.
Focusing on chapter development as a key to fulfilling its networking obligation, the Council agreed to establish alumni chapters in the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand and India by 2007 and in Washington D.C. and Brazil thereafter. Alumni events will be held annually in these locations and in New York, Canada and Germany (the homes of I. House’s current alumni chapters) and two new locations each year. In addition, registration in the on-line directory among all council members and alumni was encouraged.
The recruitment of diverse and talented residents remains a priority for International House, particularly from under-represented areas such as Latin America, Africa and Eastern Europe. The World Council agreed to make presentations at Overseas Advising Centers and other institutions of note, refer potential
residents and participate in the I. House Ambassador Program, where alumni will serve as resources for accepted residents to answer their questions about life at the House. Continued on page 3
President's Message Sills, Sandra Day O'Connor, Hanan Ashrawi and Mary Robinson to name just a few. It is no surprise that so many wonderful women also lived here as residents early in their lives: the opera stars Leontyne Price 52 and Shirley Verrett 58, South Korean presidential candidate Sook-ja Hong ’63, the German choreographer Pina Bausch ’60, New York Times columnist Flora Lewis ’43, the late Dallas Mayor Annette Strauss ’45, the Ambassador of Barbados to the United Nations, Nita Barrow 61, and the first African American woman elected to the New Jersey State Senate, Wynona Lipman ’50. A towering figure for nearly half a century has been Abby M. O’Neill, granddaughter of Abby Aldrich Rockefeller, elected to the Board in 1958 and still serving as an Honorary Trustee. She has been a generous benefactor and wise counsel to me and my predecessors, and a tireless promoter of the House and its mission. Many alumni looking back will undoubtedly remember women on the staff who had an impact on their lives including Admissions Director Adele Fuller, Programs Director Mary Thompson, Receptionist Grace Cullen, Health Coordinator Mary Lewis, and Programs Director Ellie Spiegel, who helped launch the WIL Program back in 1990. The WIL Program’s Advisory Council has been led all these years by another extraordinary woman, Dr. Patricia E. Taylor. Back in 1924, it was considered fairly radical to house single men and women under the same roof. In fact, the sexes were strictly segregated back then, at least formally. But women have always thrived at I. House, and with innovative programming, including especially the WIL Program, this tradition will last as long as there is an International House.
he 15th anniversary of the Women’s International Leadership Program, which we celebrate this year, gives us an opportunity to reflect back on some of the extraordinary women who have helped
define International House and its mission throughout its history. Considered by her children to be a co-founder of I. House, Florence Edmonds— wife of Harry—was a
major figure from the very beginning. When Harry came home that wintry night in 1909 and told her about his now famous encounter with the Chinese student, it was Florence who said “Can’t we do something about it?” It was she who served the first Sunday Suppers in the Edmonds’ apartment, and who was a highly visible and influential presence from the founding of the House until her death in 1933. No legacy is greater than that of Abby Aldrich Rockefeller, who served on the original building and decorating committees, and was Trustee from 1925 until 1941. The public areas of the House as we know them today—the Main Lounge, the Home Room and the rest—are all the result of her vision and quiet good taste. From the beginning, women were well represented on the Board. Three of the seven original Trustees elected in 1925 were women, including Mrs. Rockefeller. During World War II, the House was led by women. When my predecessor John Mott went off to serve in the war, his wife, Celestine, was made acting director for the duration of the conflict. At the same time, I. House Chairman Henry L. Stimson was tapped by President Roosevelt to serve as Secretary of War, requiring a leave of absence. His role was filled by the then-Chair of the
World Newsletter
A newsletter for Alumni and Friends Vol. 40, No. 2
A publication of International House
Office of Development & Alumni Relations
500 Riverside Drive New York, NY 10027-3916 Staff JOHN A. WELLS
Executive Committee, Catherine McEwen. Mrs. Mott
Director of Development
and Mrs. McEwen made quite a formidable team! The list of accomplished women who have come to the House as guest speakers reads like an elite Who’s Who of the 20th Century: Helen Keller, Pearl S. Buck, Eleanor Roosevelt, Margaret Mead, Shirley Chisholm, Beverly
e& Alumni Relations
ANDRE ALLAIRE Assistant Director of Development for Individual Giving NICOLE DAVIDSON
Dall
4 biner
Assistant Director of Development for Alumni Relations CATHY GALON
Database Manager
LruBOV GRECHEN Development Associate for Corporations
CYNTHIA Kapil THEK Development Associate for Foundations
EARLY 1990S ALUMNI A
Photographers MICHAEL DAMES TAMARA FITZPATRICK
Visit our Web Site http://www. ihouse-nyc.org To Reach Us Development & Alumni Relations Office (212) 316-8423 Fax (212) 316-8416
e-mail: alumni@ihouse-nyc.org
| ustralia, Austria, Brazil, the Cayman Islands, Germany, India, Paraguay,
Turkey, South Africa, the United Kingdom
(212) 316-8438
Fax: (212) 316-7181 e-mail: programs@ihouse-nyc.org Admissions Office (212) 316-8436
Fax: (212) 316-1827 e-mail: admissions@ihouse-nyc.org
HOME
decibel level rose with each new arrival,
and hugs and kisses were shared. Lotte Latekefu 95, Brian Register 94,
Steven Salchow ’90 and Fernanda Stein 94,
Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York in the United States. These are just some of the places from which alumni traveled to attend the early 1990s
artistic stars in their own right during their time at the House, performed musical and dance pieces during an alumni and resident Salon Night. Reunion attendees laughed and told stories during a slide show of photographs from 1990-1995 and relaxed at a picnic on a picture-perfect day on the Sakura Park Patio. The I. House pub was the site of much conversation and dancing during the reunion. Alumni commented on how much it had changed in appearance since their time at the House, but the mood had not. It was indeed festive.
reunion in June.
The brainchild of Co-chairs Fernanda Stein 94 and Carlos de Mathias Home: An Early 1990s Reunion brought nearly 100 alumni together, including World Council of Alumni members, for a weekend of socializing and reminiscing. President Cuneo welcomed these old friends at a reception on the opening night of the reunion, where the
A highlight of the weekend was a dinner in the Home Room, where reunion
and Louisiana, California, Wisconsin,
Martins, Jr. 93, both from Brazil, Coming Programs Office
COME
attendees performed the Candlelight Sunday Supper ceremony and enjoyed
delicious food and each other’s company. When Sunday morning came, all were sad to go, but goodbyes were said and promises to stay in touch made.
A reunion of alumni from 1995-2000 is planned for June 2—4, 2006 at International House. If you are interested in helping to organize the event or would
like more information, please contact one of the co-chairs, Martin Lacher ’96 at lacher@gmail.com or Jaap Biemens ’96 at j-a-a-p@iae.nl.
Public Room Rentals (212) 316-8465 Guest Suite Rentals (212) 316-8436 As a nonprofit organization, a copy of our most recent
annual financial report is available from the Department of State Office of Charities Registration Albany, NY 12231 or from the President’s Office International House 500 Riverside Drive New York, NY 10027-3916
Brian Register ’94, Annabelle Guerrero ’99 and Yontem Akmen 96
Richard Strasser ’9. , Fernanda Stein ’94, V. Dan Tillman ’91, Nikhil §. Bhandiwad ’94, and David C. Manier ’92
Dennis T. Dijkzeul ’92, Cesar G. Cardozo 92, Victorien A, Assi ’94, John G. O’Brien ’93, Demetra A. Adams ’95, Fernanda Stein ’94, D’juro Villaran-Rokovich 94, Rafael Leal-Arcas ’05, Yontem
Akmen ’96, Carlos de Mathias Martins ’93, Charles Quint ’94, Peter Hacker ’92, Todd Theringer ’91
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World
newsietter
Silent Auction and Cocktail Party Supports Resident Scholarships n the evening of Wednesday, October 5th, 0
| International House hosted 150 Trustees,
alumni, residents and friends at Christie’s auction
house in New York’s Rockefeller Center for a Silent Auction and Cocktail Party to raise funds for resident scholarships. The event, held during Christie’s fine art photography preview, was a great success, raising
more than $130,000. Bidding was spirited on a number of luxurious items which ranged from vacations in exotic destina-
Throughout the evening, Trustees Adrian Looney 92, Adam Quinton and Anthony Spikes ’96 took to the podium to encourage guests to bid on such items as a bottle of 1982 Chateau Lafite Rothschild and an original photograph by acclaimed Australian photographer and current I. House resident, Greg Barrett. Through the tremendous generosity of Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A., Inc. and I. House Trustee Hideaki “Harry” Otaka, President and CEO of Toyota Motor
I. House Alumna Wins Lexus
North America, Inc., a new 2006 Lexus RX 400h
of San Antonio, Texas, was named the winner and was shocked to receive the news in the days that followed. “T can’t believe this is happening!” she exclaimed over the phone to Director of Development &” Alumni Relations John Wells who had the happy task
other exclusive locales to fashionable jewelry and accessories to such rare opportunities as lunch with I. House Chairman Paul A. Volcker and a catered dinner for four by the chef and founder of D’Artagnan, I. House alumna Ariane Daguin ’80. I. House President Don Cuneo ’69 welcomed the energetic crowd in a gallery filled with stunning photographs by Richard Avedon, Helmut Newton, Irving Penn, Edward Steichen, Alfred Stieglitz and
Hybrid SUV was donated to International House and raffled off at the conclusion of the event through the Lexus Opportunity Drawing (see sidebar for more). I. House is sincerely grateful to the leadership donors to this event, without whom the success of the Silent Auction and Lexus Opportunity Drawing might never have been realized: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Sigurdur Helgason 45, Daisy and Paul Soros ’51, Leah Rush Cann ’88, Patricia and Rockwell Stensrud, William and Wenke Thoman Sterns and
many other renowned artists of the 20th century.
Chairman Paul A. Volcker.
tions like Mustique, Jamaica, the French Riviera and
With a beautiful silver 2006 Lexus RX 400h Hybrid
SUV parked on the plaza at the entrance to Christie’s and a crowd of guests teeming with excitement and anticipation just inside, the winning ticket for the Lexus Opportunity Drawing was drawn at the conclusion of the Silent Auction and Cocktail Party on
October 5th. I. House alumna Elisabeth Martinez 01
of sharing the news with her. “I bought a ticket because I thought that it would be a nice thing to do. I never thought that I would win!” But win she did, and apparently just in time, as she had been in the market for a new car before Mr.
Wells called with the good news. “I need a new car!” she rejoiced. “This is unbelievable.” Congratulations Elisabeth! And many thanks to Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A., Inc. for donating the Lexus Hybrid SUV to International House and to Trustee Hideaki “Harry” Otaka, President and CEO of Toyota Motor North America, Inc. for helpingto
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facilitate this generous donation.
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Trustee Adrian Looney ’92, Silent Auction Co-chairs and Trustees Joan Gregory ’87 and Leah Rush Cann ’88, and Rockwell Stensrud
World Council Sets Goals @
Continued SORIORET
Alumni worldwide will have the opportunity to volunteer for this program beginning in February. The four-day weekend was not all work. Council members also attended a tour of the United Nations and luncheon with Ibrahim Gambari ’71, UnderSecretary-General for Political Affairs. Gambari addressed his fellow Council members on the challenges facing the United Nations and the SecretaryGeneral’s plans for reform and promotion of greater freedoms. He also examined the special needs of Africa and why they must be recognized and addressed by world leaders. Council members toured Kykuit, the Rockefeller Estate, in Westchester on a perfect spring day and enjoyed lunch by the pond at Philipsburg Manor. They also socialized with New York
Silent Auction Committee member David Sullivan ’96 with Stephanie Bryant and I. House Trustee Anthony Spikes ’96
i
etidicinn
Area alumni at the NYAAC wine tasting and with 1990-1995 reunion attendee’s at the President’s Reception that kicked off that event. The next World Council of Alumni meeting will be held in 2007. After a discussion, which established criteria for selecting international locations, and weighed the pros and cons of hosting a meeting in Turkey or India, the World Council voted to hold its next meeting in New Delhi March 22-25, 2007. The
large number of alumni living in India (over 400), the increasing role of India as a global economic player and the Council’s goal of establishing an alumni chapter there were all deciding factors in selecting India. Details about the 2007 meeting, to which all alumni are invited, will be distributed as
they become available.
JPMorgan
From Toyota Motor North — America, I. House Trustee Hideaki “Harry” Otaka | and Juliet Williams
Chase CEO Explores Keys to Success
“Find a passion, embrace change, do the right thing and have a positive attitude.” This was just some of the advice William B. Harrison, Jr., Chairman and CEO of JPMorgan Chase & Co. and the 2005 John and Nancy Whitehead Corporate Visitor,
shared with I. House residents on
October 24th. Former I. House Chairman John C. Whitehead was on hand to introduce the
speaker. Harrison, who rose to be CEO of the 4th largest bank in the world after more than 30 years in the banking industry beginning at Chemical Bank, discussed his own personal success, the role of today’s CEO and globalization and its impact on several countries.
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increasingly important as globalization accelerates. The pace of globalization has put “enormous pressure on the political and economic systems to adapt to it.” A refusal to adapt, where citizens erect barriers to try to slow globalization, may be detrimentalto a country’s economic growth. The United States, with its diversity and flexibility of labor and capital, has the necessary resources to capitalize on globalization, Harrison argued, but it can be derailed by this same resistance to change. China, which Harrison described as being run much like a large global company, t
is perhaps best poised to ve take advantageof sided
:
“There are some elements of democracy,
After being part of several mergers that created the current conglomerate JPMorgan Chase & Co., it is no wonder that Harrison believes that “size does matter,” but size alone does not guarantee increased profits or build shareholder value. To achieve success through size, Harrison told residents, companies must “build leadership positions, develop individuals and a corporate culture.”
Harrison argued that size will become
Markus Hugelshofer ’87, Victoria Hugelshofer, Martina Schmitz ’87 and Karl Safft ’88, World Council Members from Switzerland, in the newly restored Soros Room.
‘William B. Harrison, Jr. and Tulane University MBA student Alberto Robles of Mexico.
e
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but not much, they hold a strategic view of the world and study best practices. They _
execute this vision and communicate very well,” he said.
ae
Harrison believes that the outlook =
for India, which has a democratic political system that investors and other nations view
as less risky than China’s, is positive. Russia, | on the other hand, may not fully realize | the benefits of globalization because of its reliance on the oil and gas sectors and a government weighed down by corruption. Harrison offered residents several | insights into leadership. Successful leaders,
he noted, “have a vision to make things better, have the willingness and ability to execute this vision and encourage others to follow them.” They are not afraid of change, are willing to take risks and have integrity and a positive attitude. He challenged resident members to find something they love doing and to learn something new every day. ; : a
°o
Wor 1d newstetter
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lumni 1930s
1960s
Nancy Zafris 79, recently
1990s
Joseph Bartaluzzi ’39 published memories of his time at the house, including
Phillip Hardberger 60,
published her second novel, Lucky Strike. Her first novel, The Metal Shredders, was named a New York Times notable book in 2002.
Hawthorne (Hawk) Smith 90 and Adeyinka
meeting his wife on the tennis court, attending Sunday Suppers once a week, singing along with fellow resident
Burl Ives and tasting pizza for the first time, in the in-house newsletter of San Camillo, a residential independent
former Chief Justice of the Fourth District of Texas, Court of Appeals, won the runoff in the election for
Mayor of San Antonio, TX. He took office on June 17th.
Robin Clark ’63, is the
2) Sir William Ramsay Professor of Chemistry at University
living facility in Wisconsin. Anne Dennis ’39, lives near Lake Placid and sometimes goes camping to remote
Upper Ausable Lake. She has to row 2 miles, walk 1 mile
and paddle 1 mile to get there.
1940s Caroline Holt ’40, is a retired public school vocal music
teacher and a private piano and French teacher.
Margaret McAlister ’49, recently retired as accompa-
nist to soloists, vocal and instrumental, and choruses at Hillsborough Community College in Ybor City after twenty-five years in the music department.
London. He was appointed in 2004 as a
Companion of The New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM). Jeong Kil Kim 63, has
authored six books from 2002-2004. One of them is
entitled, Yearning for Unpolluted Soul and is a collection of his columns that appeared in local English dailies in Korea from 1960-1980. Another book in English is Tradition
director in the Harry Potter
and nationally; her support of ecumenical organizations;
her social activism and advocacy for women’s empowerment around the
world; and her inspired leadership as Chairwoman of the Seminary’s Board since 1996.” Sylvia Coward ’54, is retired and is involved with numerous organizations including Hornbrook Neighborhood Watch, Fairchild Medical Center Guild, the National D-Day Museum and the Delta Kappa Gamma— Gamma Nu Chapter. Eleanor Wegener ’54, started the first block organization crime prevention program in
Philadelphia. She is also the founder of the Employment Support Center and helps people start job clubs and act as job coaches. John McDermott ’56, has an eye clinic in California
that is doing well. He is actively involved with the Latvian American Eye
Center in Riga, Latvia. Aly Raafat 56, was a speaker at the Union International of Architects in Istanbul, Turkey in June.
Snoh Unakul ’57, is the Chairman of the TDRI Foundation, Thailand’s first policy research institution. The institution supports
the formulation of policies with long-term implications for sustaining social and economic development in Thailand. He is the former deputy prime minister of Thailand.
World
Newsletter
movies. Martin Charwat ’65, is the President of the World Affairs Council of the mid-Hudson
Valley. He recently was selected as a delegate by the World Affairs Councils of America to attend a one-week program on the EU in Brussels.
Department of Justice. She
(Taipei, Hong Kong, Singapore
- and Shanghai). Having left banking, she is now involved
James Morris ’93, has just published his first novel, The
in movie production while her husband has started his second China-based business.
Escapist, after leaving his job of nine years as a magazine editor. Flora 93 and James now have two children— William, 4, and Haydn, 1.
Warren James ’84, is a practicing architect in New York City and has been appointed Chairman of the Advisory Board of El Museo del Barrio in Manhattan. His work has
Redemption Songs. He resides in Capetown, South Africa with his wife and children, He published his first book,
been regularly mentioned in
a Colorado non-profit organization that undertakes
to hear from old friends.
grassroots advocacy for folk,
acoustic and roots music. In 2005, the Denver Business Journal (DBJ) recognized him as one of Denver’s top “Forty Under 40.”
David Ball ’87, is a Foreign Service Officer working in the U.S. Embassy in Buenos Aires as the Financial
Management Officer.
Amy Goldberg Levin 96, ¥ reports that she has two beautiful boys, Jared (Oct 2000) and Bradley
(Dec. 2002) and a wonderful husband from South Africa.
She is currently Assistant Professor at California State University Northridge which is starting a MSW program
Richard Devir 66, works “down the block” from International House for
in Fall 2005.
Teaching Matters, a nonprofit organization that
Jennifer Worrell ’96, recently _ | moved to Fort Worth, Texas,
to take a position as managing | editor at American Way Magazine, a publication of
technology projects. |
in Washington, D.C. Prior to
that, he worked for the U.S. Congress for 27 years and and for lobbying firms for six years.
1970s Joel Stratte-McClure ’71, moved to Hollywood after working abroad—primarily in Europe, Africa and Asia— for a variety of publications. David Cooper ’78, has been happily married for 23 years. He is a widely published poet (author of two poetry collections, “Glued To The Sky” and “JFK: Lines of Fire” (Burlington VT: PulpBits.com, 2003).
American Airlines. The best
part of the job: unlimited free travel, so she can visit New York City whenever she wants.
Dia in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Paul Otto ’87, has been working for the Brooklyn Public Library and is now assistant in charge of the Business Library. Instead of France, his frequent travels now take him north and south: Hawaii, Alaska, New Zealand and Argentina. Junichi Kobayashi ’89, will be working for Japan Nuclear Fuel Limited (JNEL)
in Rokkasho-mura for two years. His job will be to negotiate with International Atomic Energy Association (IAEA) inspectors from various countries.
Karun Singh ’89, received his Ph.D in Social Work from Columbia in May 2005.
Bangladesh.
governmental agencies and structures, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Juliana Lasta Irisarri 03, and Emilio Pineda ’03, welcomed a son, Emilio Sebastian Pineda into the world on August 6, 2005,
weighing 7 pounds, 8 oz and 21 1/2 inches.
Alexander Mitro 03, has moved to Prague where he continues to work for Citigroup’s Citi Cards program. Nadine Bell ’04 and Michael Unger ’04 are engaged and i will be married at I. House in June 2006.
|
Trudy Chan ’04, was recently
promoted to Promotion Associate at Boosey, Hawkes, Inc. She married Frank J.
Oteri of American Music Center in April.
Dinuk Wijeratne ’04, was recently appointed Resident Conductor of the Nova Scotia Symphony Orchestra
Director of Swallow Hill,
Monclova, in northern Mexico. He would be happy
editora de relevo at El Nuevo
the U.S. Embassy in Dhaka,
Rodolfo Betancourt ’96, is the Marketing and Publicity
his wife and daughter (born in 1994) in his hometown,
Meriemil Rodriguez 67, is
recently took an assignment as resident legal advisor for
Sentiers Nocturnes in 1983 while attending university in Europe.
director in Mexico. He is also an artist who enjoys painting. He is married and lives with
works with educators in New York on educational
lawyer working for the
Emmanuel Wope 95, published a book of poetry available at amazon.com:
David Taylor ’65, and his wife Sue volunteer their time and labor for local organizations: A trip to Ecuador including the Galapagos Islands was a marvelous adventure for them this past January.
William Crosby ’68, recently started his own lobbying firm, The Crosby Group, LLC
Ministry of Justice and State Academy for Civil Servants.
Metropolitan area, on the award-winning PBS show
working in Asia for 18 years
one of the three main units that is working on good gov-
tour of Joplin’s Treemonisha.
Teresa Spitzer ’81, and her family returned to California in 2003 after living and
New York Voices on September 2nd.
works for the UN office in Uzbekistan where she leads
ernance issues, mainly with
Nancy Langston ’97, is a
social and psychological
Adilia Daminova ’03,
continues to sing. Among other engagements, she has been cast as the title role in Paragon Ragtime Orchestra’s
services to displaced African war victims in the New York
Jesus Guajardo ’86, works as an art-history museum state
Anne Hale Johnson 50, received Union Theological
International House and the work they do through Nah We Yone, Inc., a non-profit organization that provides
NYU in 1963.
1950s
featured in an episode about
Irene Simard ’80, retired after having been in charge of Social Services for several hospitals in Montreal.
The New York Times.
John Dartigue ’65, lives in Los Angeles, California and
Thanksgiving Day of 1997. They have two children: Chloe, 6, and Orion, 3. Rita
Akinsulure-Smith ’93, were
1980s
and Policy, his M.A. thesis at
was recently the casting
Seminary’s Union Medal in April for her “lifetime ministry to the church, both locally
4
College
Rita and Andrew Cohen ’97, have been married since
2000s Manuel Reyes Gomez’01, is a Post Doctoral Researcher
in the Machine Learning and Applied Statistics Group of Microsoft Research. He and Shoshana Reiss ’01, who he met at I. House, married
in July. Gaurav Bansal ’02, has moved to Cambodia to work
(Symphony Nova Scotia). His two-season post will see
him programming and directing the orchestra’s Pop, Educational, and New Music concerts, in addition to many special collaborations. He was also invited to conduct
one of the country’s top ensembles for young musicians: the Nova Scotia Youth Orchestra and will join the
for the US State Department for two years.
faculty of Dalhousie University as Lecturer in Conducting.
Olimsho Vatanshoev ’02,
Bora Yagiz 04, has been working at the Operations
emigrated to Canada and works for World Education Services.
Carsten Buschmann ’03 and Sofia Daulatzai 04 are engaged. They live together in Germany and will marry in 2006.
Evaluations Department at the World Bank since January 2005 and keeping in touch
with fellow I. House alumni in the area. He traveled to Malawi as part of the mission in July.
Haruhisa Ohtsuka ’05, is a budget specialist with the Asian Development Bank
in Manila.
In Memoriam Life Trustee Jock Elliott Dies at 84 Longtime I. House Trustee John (Jock) Elliott Jr. died October 29th in Mt. Kisco, NY, after suffering a cerebral hemorrhage. He was 84. A top advertising executive, Elliott led Ogilvy & Mather, one of the world’s largest advertising agencies, for 17 years, from 1965 to 1982, and was Chairman
Emeritus at the time of his death. Elliott was elected to the I. House Board in 1967 and became a Life Trustee in 1984. He was a former Co-Chair of the Development Committee and Chair of the Subcommittee
on Public Relations, in which capacity he
on the Board’s recently created Ad Hoc Marketing Committee. Elliott had recently attended I. House’s Silent Auction at Christie's on October 5th where, dapper and courtly as ever, he was the successful bidder for a strand of pearls for his beloved Elly. A funeral service was conducted at St. Thomas Church in Manhattan on November 2nd.
Josephine Balassone’37_
Charles Marwick ’52
Washington, DC
Edwin Beal ’40
"Lorraine Aldrich ’56
Mitchellville, MD
Sequim, WA
Premier Cru, a 2001 Domaine Drouhin Pinot Noir Willamette Valley, 2001
Ata Rangi Pinot Noir Martinborough, and several more delicious wines. Using wit and her extensive knowledge, Caner bestowed on her fellow alumni a true education about pinot noir wines, including the foods with which to pare them, the identity of the various flavors in the wines and the locations from which they came.
Thomas Ai ’48
Satyendra Jain ’57
Novato, CA
Saint Louis, MO
ona
Cornelius Loew’49
pro bono basis. In the 1980s, he and his wife Eleanor
(Elly) Elliott—a former U.S. State Department aide and Chairman of the Board of Barnard College—jointly addressed an I. House Sunday Supper on the topic of “The Two Career Couple.” The talk was so well received it was reproduced in booklet form. “Jock was generous with his time and expertise in the area of marketing and public relations,’ recalled President Don Cuneo, who noted that Elliott just this summer had referred a top Ogilvy executive to serve
Virgina Madsen and Thomas Haden Church might have been Oscar nominees for their roles in the 2004 hit movie Sideways, but it was the pinot noir wines that were the real stars of the film and of the New York Area Alumni Council’s wine tasting on June 16th. Dilek Caner ’94, founder of Tasting World and the leader of this event attended by nearly 50 alumni and guests, counts the pinot noir grape as one of the most capricious in the wine world. But, it is exactly this characteristic that makes the wine so good, or so bad. Caner, who is the former sommelier at Restaurant Alan Ducaisse and Associate Editor and Tastings Coordinator at Wine and Spirits Magazine, brought only the best to I. House. Attendees were dazzled by a 2001 Schramsberg Blanc de Noirs Brut, a 2002 Joseph Drouhin Chambolle Musigny
Boca Raton, FL
some of the House’s important publications
arranged for Ogilvy & Mather to produce
THE “STARS” OF SIDEWAYS come to I. House
Kalamazoo, MI
William Dittmar ’58_ San Marino, CA
Eilnar Jaderborg’49
Alumni in attendance, which include World Council members and early
Ellen Beam ’59
Lindsborg, KS
Fallston, NC
Phyllis Stevens ’49 Winter Garden, FL
Daniela Passal 60 Jerusalem, Israel
Ared Touloukian’49
— Eduard Feitzinger 62
Oceanside, CA
Asheville, NC
Kay Cima ’50 Chatham, MA
Unnur Helgason Reykjavik, Iceland
1990s reunion attendees, enjoyed these terrific wines from France, New
Zealand, California and Oregon, as well as a reception with plenty of alumni mingling, all for the exceptionally low ticket price of $30.
Evanses Publish Book Former I. House President Gordon W. Evans and his wife, Barbara S. Evans, have published a book, Bed & Breakfast Journey—A Lifetime of Goodbyes. The volume is divided into two sections: the first on the philosophy and joys of running a bed & breakfast (the Evanses opened Between the Lakes B&B in Interlochen, Michigan in August, 1994); the second contains reflections on their lives and careers—25 years with the US Foreign Service and 11 years at International House. Interspersed are anecdotes, photographs captioned in _ Barbara’s trademark calligraphy, and recipes. The book is available for $10 from the B&B:
www. betweenlakes.com.
as
m
-
.
Alexa Fairchild ’03 and Harvey Stark
Andre Eydt 63, Herman “HR” Rottenberg, Laurelyn Watson 95 and Desiree Baxter 98
WIL Celebrates 15th Anniversary
Continued from page 1 professions while also exposing them to careers and opportunities in business.” Candace Browning, Senior Vice President and Head of Global Securities Research and Economics at Merrill Lynch and a member of the Women’s International Leadership Program’s Advisory Council added, “ The Women’s International Leadership Program is helping an exceptional group of women gain the skills they need to succeed as leaders. We are excited about sharing our insights as leaders in the global capital markets with these women, and to bringing their rich perspectives to our employees as well.” “We are extremely grateful to Merrill Lynch for their generous support, which will ensure the continuation of one of our longestrunning, unique, and highly visible leadership training programs for the next two academic years and help prepare another generation of I. House women to combat the challenges they will face as leaders of industry, education and the arts,” said I. House President Don Cuneo.
RBF President Urges US Policy Changes merica’s role in the world was the theme of the 2005 John J. McCloy Visitor, Stephen Heintz, who participated
in a conversation with past McCloy Visitor Robert B. Oxnam
Heintz paid tribute to McCloy, the revered US banker and diplomat who chaired the I. House Board from 1954 until
A public policy expert who spent a number of years in the Czech Republic and held top posts at organizations such as the EastWest Institute, Heintz has been President of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, one of the world’s foremost philanthropic entities, since 2001. Referring to the “seismic changes” that have taken place in the world in the last 20 years, and most recently the impact of 9/11, Heintz urged a revamping of United States foreign
1971, and for whom the speaker program was created in 1988. Oxnam asked Heintz for a “McCloy-like statement of principals” upon which US global policy could be based, and Heintz obliged by listing “respect for the dignity of human life and human rights, economic opportunity and respect for all _ people of all genders and races.” Heintz said that problems facing the world today require a long-term approach in the American tradition of common sense and practicality, with the creation of new rules, formulated by teams of the very best people, by which the US
policy to return to what he described as John McCloy’s vision
will abide.
of team work, fair play and justice.
The “bold ideas” put forth by the US government after 9/11, including pre-emptive military action, a focus on unilateralism to defeat terrorism, and the promotion of democracy abroad, “were divorced from reality and have led us off course,” Heintz said. Regarding global hotspots Iran and North Korean, Heintz encouraged active engagement, using US policy toward the USSR and China in the early 1970s as an example. “We must engage with our adversaries,” he said. Prodded by Oxnam, Heintz called global warming “perhaps the single greatest threat to civilization we face in our generation— even greater than terrorism.” He said that the scientific community is unanimous in agreement that the planet is warming, and that it is caused by humans. He blamed politicians on both sides of the aisle for not adequately addressing the issue, and once again harked back to the late
on October 13th.
I. House Chairman. Front Row: Martin Sturmer, Stephen Heintz, Bob Oxnam, Mawuli Dake, David Saha, Ida Le Blanc, Trustee Bill Moody, Ladan Samar-Bakhsh,
Alex Pang. Back Row: Don Cuneo, Greig Ramirez
“We need people like John McCloy, who spoke the truth and got people to agree.”
World
Newsletter
5
Around the World
TN icRatine IN LANGUAGE: A WRITER'S JOURNEY BRUTE Growing up in communist Romania, Saviana Stanescu was never encour-
aged to pursue a career in the arts. Instead of painting or writing classes, young Saviana and her classmates
Pr
Saviana Stanescu ’04
inspired by the competitive and professional environment she experienced and her eyes opened to the world of theater. At the age of thirty, she spent a summer studying
dramatic writing at the International Theatre Academy in Ruhr, Germany. After feeling like she had lost too many
bers of the Admissions Office, she began to feel safe and
would participate in “work practice” at local factories, or in the warmer
of her creative years under communism, Stanescu became
Arriving in New York in the fall of 2001, Saviana became enveloped in the city’s energy, and the House
months, visit farms for “agricultural
recognized playwright. Stanescu was already a respected intellectual in Romania. In 2000 The Inflatable Apocalypse, a play about the Internet, which Stanescu wrote under a male pseudonym, was named “Best Play of the Year” in Romania. In a televised ceremony, Stanescu shocked the audience when
practice.” But Saviana always had an interest
in creative writing, and when the Berlin wall fell and the dictatorship in Romania was later dissolved, she was eager to “finally do something.” At first she worked as a journalist, writing about freedom from corruption and the arts scene in Bucharest,
helping to build the first free newspapers from scratch. Being part of this building process was challenging, but also inspiring. In 1994 she published her first book of poetry, Love on the barbed wire. “Poems have characters,” says Stanescu whose work
often openly address women’s freedom, sexuality and desire not to be objectified. This was certainly true in Advice for Housewives and Muses, her second published
what she calls obsessed with being an internationally
she, a woman, dressed in a silver ball gown took the stage. It was one of the happiest moments of her life. As more of her plays and poems were published, performed and translated into other languages, Stanescu recognized that much was being lost in the process. To
British contemporary writers group and was later award-
performance studies at New York University. Given all the stereotypes she had heard about New
RESIDENTS TAKE TO “THE STREET” he New York Area Alumni Council’s Walk on Wall Street, which had migrated uptown as more and more financial firms make their home in Midtown, returned to Lower Manhattan this year with a visit to
Merrill Lynch. Twenty residents also visited American Century Investments and Lehman Brothers as part of this annual event. The Walk on Wall Street provides the opportunity for residents to visit financial firms and learn first-hand about various aspects of the industry, the needs of recruiters and tips on job searching in the financial field.
Each session is different and provides residents with an insider’s perspective on firm culture and career paths. At American Century Investments, residents met with Equity Analyst and current NYAAC
President Peter Paone ’96. Paone told the residents about being a buy-side analyst and answered their many questions about the position and the firm. ni
workshops and interaction with her fellow grantees, she developed better public speaking and leadership skills. The work she was able to do as part of Women’s Week
influences her today. The 2003-2004 group of WIL grantees performed a play, I-DEALS, a docu-drama about their lives written by Stanescu. [-DEALS was her first experiment with docu-drama and serves as the model for
personal) of “heroes” in present day society. Stanescu took great strength from the WIL program
the theater. Young actresses performed it in Bucharest cafés and directors adapted it for the stage. The year after the publication of Outcast, Stanescu
was invited to perform the work in the festival in Paris, and for the first time, she traveled abroad. Stanescu was
Saviana described herself as shy, but through the weekend
English, she worked for several years with a Romanian/
McClinton, an American professor pioneering musical theater in Romania, Stanescu later applied for and was awarded a Fulbright grant to pursue a Master’s in
Outcast was a series of connected poems with an
became a refuge in which to write. She joined the Women’s International Leadership Program in 2003, her last year at the House. Prior to joining the program,
a play she is currently working on, HEROES, which
obvious narrative. It resonated strongly with many in
collection, but it was her third book of poems, Proscrisa/ Outcast, that mostly strongly exhibited a dramatic core.
confident about her move.
achieve the notoriety abroad she desired, she knew that she must write in the intended language. Focusing on
ed a fellowship to the British Council Cambridge Seminar at Cambridge University in the United Kingdom. Stanescu discovered that English is a richer, more nuanced language, which allows her to express herself in ways Romanian did not. Following the advice of Calvin
meme ee Sa * me
York City, Stanescu was absolutely terrified about where she would live. The Fulbright Commission recommended International House, and after several emails with mem-
_
explores the meanings (political, historical, literary and
and draws on it in her teaching at in the Drama
Department of New York University and in confronting the reality of gender discrimination in American theater. While women are frequently literary managers, men are
the artistic directors and therefore the ones that make the decisions. Female playwrights also find it difficult to adapt their plays for the stage. There is a prejudice that women don’t
write about important issues, says Stanescu. They only write about women’s issues like pregnancy or domestic
Freunde Returns to Germany for Annual Meeting In 1998 Freunde des International House, which was founded following the World Council of Alumni Meeting in Berlin in 1986, became the pan-European alumni chapter and has since alternated the location of its annual meeting and alumni gathering to cities throughout Europe. After two years in other European Countries, Freunde once again held its meeting on German soil with a weekend of activities in Munich September 9-11. Organized by local alumni Gloria Pfaue 99, her husband Michael and Johannes Tyrell
04 with assistance from Freunde Members Karl Safft ’88 and Kristina Herzog ’94, the weekend, which drew alumni from Frankfurt,
Berlin, Hamburg, Strasbourg and Marseilles, kicked off with an informal dinner party at the Pfaue home. On Saturday, the group convened at the historic Universitat Miinchen for a formal session, the highlight of which was a talk by Dr. Peter Heinrich, CEO of MediGene AG,
Residents with Peter Paone ’96 (center)
Alumnus Albert Pulido ’03, who was first introduced to his current employer as a resident participant in the Walk on Wall Street in 2002, hosted a session at Lehman Brothers. The residents, from seventeen different countries, listened to presentations by members of Lehman’s Diversity Networks, who spoke on how participating in their ethnic and gender-
the innovative German-American biotechnology company. He discussed the firm’s history, the biotech industry in general, and MediGene’s research and development of novel approaches for the treatment of colon cancer and skin cancer. MediGene has the distinction of being the first German biotech company with a drug on the market.
During the Annual Meeting portion of the event, Freunde elected to distribute
$11,000 in scholarship aid to eight deserving I. House resident members. Freunde Treasurer
Clemens Kuechler reviewed the Chapter’s finances and Director of Development & Alumni Relations John Wells reported on recent activities at I. House.
The group toured photographs by famed German fashion photographer Helmut Newton at Kunsthalle der Hypo-Kulturstiftung, and went on to a traditional Bavarian dinner at the famous
Franzikaner restaurant.
The weekend concluded with a visit to the spectacular Allianz Arena, Munich’s immense new soccer stadium that will be the site of the 2006 World Cup. A guided tour featured various seating sections, the opulent sponsor’s lounge and the players’ locker room. The stadium’s architecture—its exterior appears to be quilted and is in fact inflated by piped-in air—is its most distinctive characteristic. At night it glows in blue or red for local teams, or white for visiting teams. The group adjourned to the Seehaus, a traditional Bavarian beer garden located in Munich's famed English Garden before parting ways. The location for next year’s Freunde meeting will be announced in the coming months.
focused networks had enhanced their work experience at the firm. Merrill Lynch, which is helping underwrite the Women’s International
Leadership Program, hosted the final Walk on Wall Street session. Spearheaded by Trustee Adam Quinton, the session featured remarks by Candace Browning, Senior Vice President for Global Securities Research and Economics. Browning discussed her career path and the demands on
research analysts, noting the skills and creativity they need to stay ahead of their competitors in today’s market. Mr. Quinton, First Vice President
for Global Securities Research and Economics, moderated a panel of his colleagues from the leverage finance, local currency trading and private client groups. Residents also enjoyed tours of the trading floors. The day wrapped up with a “Grow Your Network” Happy Hour
where alumni mingled with residents and each other.
6
World
Newsletter
Members of Freunde des International House, e. V. at the Allianz Arena
JIas1q
Your International House Legacy I recently heard from
million bequest the House received from
Edmonds Society, a group of alumni
an I, House alumnus
Richard and Edith Pohl, who met and
and friends committed to the long term
married at I. House in the 1940s.
that the seemingly
prosperity of the House.
While it was quite wonderful to be
As these funds become available,
endless changes in tax
the sole beneficiary of the Pohls’ estate,
future Trustees and future management
laws, particularly
the goal of our planned giving program
of the House will have the resources to
—~
Lenin’s Shoe, for example, a barebones
estate taxes, had
at International House is not to secure a
do the things that will continue to make
production to be performed at the Lark Theater in New York in February, is a
prompted him to
small number of very large gifts, but to
John Wells
I. House the unique living experience
build a growing base of gifts that collec-
it has been for 81 years.
wacky play about freedom, love and
recent months. In making some changes,
the immigrant experience, where Vlady, the son of a Russian Mafioso immerses
he added a paragraph designating that a
himself in the cyber-world of blogs.
review his will in
tively will become an important source of funds in the future.
percentage of his estate be left to International House.
XY
i.
making your existing estate plans known
planned giving option. Establishing a
to I. House, please contact me at jwells@ihouse-nyc.org or by phone
prestigious awards in the United States for
easy this was, and what a wonderful feel-
in the House’s pooled income fund are
to (212) 316-8440.
theater. Stanescu will publish another play,
ing it gave him to know that in a small
attractive alternatives that offer immedi-
Aurolac Blue’s in Playwrights 2006, and
way he had helped endow the future of
ate financial incentives, pay the donor or
continues to have plays performed in arenas like the Berkshire Theater Festival and American Living Room Festival. The best is yet to come for Stanescu.
the House.
a loved one income for life and support
Having already achieved the dream of living in the United States and publishing
=
your planned giving options or in
Outright bequests are but one charitable gift annuity or participating
©
™
If you are interested in discussing
He told me he was surprised at how
Stanescu is the TCG Playwright in Residence at LARK, one of the most
So
The dramatic effect that this simple
International House. These and still
gesture can have was vividly demonstrated
other planned giving options qualify
recently by the incredibly generous $1
donors for membership in the Harry
there, which many Romanians viewed
as the highest level of success possible, she now hopes to integrate her experience in New York with that of growing up in Romania to achieve her ultimate dream—
winning the Pulitzer Prize.
BEQUEST bE
CREATES
$1 MILLION SCHOLARSHIP
FUND
—
he widow of an I. House alumnus has left their entire estate
slightly more than $1 million—
to International House for the establishment of a scholarship fund in the couple’s name. In the days before her death in 2002, Edith Manson Pohl directed in a will written in New Zealand, where
SAVE THE DATE
she was traveling, that all proceeds from the estate go
For these upcoming alumni events
and where we were married.”
> January 12, 2006 (Melbourne, Australia)
gleaned from some papers left in a storage unit in San
to International House, “where I met my late husband, Little is known about the Pohls beyond information
Reception with I. House President
Diego, California. Richard G. Pohl came to the United
Don Cuneo Contact Ross Youngman ’91 at
States from his native Germany in 1938, and resided at
61 (0) 423 798750 or Sam Armstrong ’90 at 61 (0) 407 307102 for more
information
the House while pursuing a graduate degree in engineering from Columbia University. He became a U.S. citizen in 1944.
Edith Manson was born in Austria in 1922, and
> February 2, 2006
married Richard Pohl shortly after she became a US
(New York City)
citizen in 1946. It seems likely the couple met at a
Performance of Lenin’s Shoe, a play by Saviana Stanescu followed by a reception and intimate conversation
with the Playwright > February 2006 Date to be confirmed (New Dethi, India)
Alumni Reception hosted by
program or social activity at I. House, where Richard Pohl maintained an alumni membership after leaving the House in 1941. They continued to live in Upper Manhattan in the early years of their marriage. The Pohls subsequently lived in New Jersey and Maryland, where he worked for Westinghouse, and Florida, where they had a home until the early 1980s.
Harjiv Singh 00
Pohl retired in the 1970s, and then the couple, who had
> February 16, 2006
no children, spent the remainder of their lives traveling
(New York City)
the globe. Their address was a post office box in Reno,
Professional Interest Night
Nevada, and they maintained a storage unit in San
> May 5-7, 2006 (Prague, Czech Republic)
Central and Eastern European Alumni Reunion > June 2-4, 2006 (New York City) Global Alumni Reunion (1995-2000)
Diego, where they typically stayed for short periods in hotel rooms.
Richard Pohl died suddenly of a heart attack on April 19, 1999, while the couple was in San Diego. His date book had indicated the couple planned to drive up the California coast to Santa Barbara the following week. On the April 19 page, Edith Pohl made this entry: “My Dickie died today. How I miss him.”
Visit our website, www. ihouse-nyc.org , for information on all alumni activities or call (212) 316-8425. Register with the on-line directory, www. ihouse-nyc.org/alumni/stay_in_touch, (provide the security code, alumniolc, when prompted) to receive the latest news about I. House and updates on alumni events.
Also left behind was a newspaper article: “Losing your travel companion through death, divorce or illness does not mean the end of your traveling days.” Edith Pohl apparently took this to heart and traveled to New Zealand, where she made friends, Diagnosed with colon cancer in 2001, she left San Diego for the last time that September, and died in New Zealand in January 2002.
Edith e& Richard Pohl ’42
In addition to significant stock holdings in Florida, the Pohls left behind three safe deposit boxes filled with jewelry accumulated on their world travels, and twodozen fur coats, stoles, scarves and muffs in cold storage in San Diego. The best of the jewelry was sold at auction for nearly $40,000 in September. A briefcase recovered from the storage unit included Richard Pohl’s passport. In it were his driver’s license, social security card, a worn wedding picture and an I. House alumni card from the early 1980s. Grants from the Richard G. Pohl and Edith Manson Pohl Scholarship Fund will be designated beginning this year.
World
Newsletter
7
C
who informed me
drama, things that are viewed as minor, but Stanescu, whose plays tackle difficult issues like politics, freedom, and immigration, feels confined by this expectation.
>
Bex,
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Residents Move
In to
Newly-Renovated Floors The second phase of the yearlong, $11 million renovation of the resident rooms and floors of I. House South should be completed on schedule by the end of December, according to the Office of Facilities Management. The first phase of the project was completed in midAugust, when residents moved in to newly refurbished quarters on the 8th floor and above. They became the first to experience the product of a several years-long planning process. The renovation’s goals have been to improve sound attenuation and lighting, increase storage and book space, address heating controls and air circulation, increase and update electrical outlets and sinks and modernize the bathrooms. In addition, rooms are being hardwired with data connections in anticipation of replacing the current DSL system and, for resident safety, the fire safety system is being upgraded and the House is seeking to better meet the needs of disabled persons. Sound attenuation has been achieved by installing new and better windows with sound absorbing shades, new doors, and acoustical ceilings. Better sound absorbing materials, including the new flooring and more wood surfaces, have been deployed, and new hallway carpeting installed. Storage and book space has been increased greatly by providing a raised bed with two 2-drawer dressers underneath, as well as space to accommodate suitcases behind the dresser, and for a mini-fridge in between. Desks now featured a hutch top, and each room features a large 5-shelf bookcase and, where possible, wall-mounted corner shelves near the window and another long shelf above the radiator. Ceiling fans and new temperature-control radiator valves have been installed to address issues of air circulation and heating controls. “The sum total of all these parts is, we trust a more functional, better designed environment that remains true to our principles,” said Cuneo. “While we did not have enough funds to do everything we wanted to at this time, we have prepared for additional steps in the future.” “In reality, we are never done with improving our environment, and this is a major $11 million step along the path,” he added.
The entire renovation project—the first of its kind in nearly 50 years—is set for completion in May 2006.
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Welcome Weeks at International House Some of them arrived bleary-eyed from the airport directly after a trans-continental flight. Others came with friends or family with belongings crammed into multiple cars. A few even moved in from around the corner. But for all them, the first few weeks at International House entailed a flurry of orientation and welcome activities. This academic year International House welcomed 490 resident members from 89 countries and 60 academic and training institutions. Though the relative numbers of resident members from each region has remained con-
8
World
newsietter
rnational House stant, the ongoing extensive renovations have necessitated a one-time planned downsizing of the community. Like generations before them, new resident members often found locating the Dining Hall or the laundry room as challenging as navigating a maze. To help them acclimate with I. House and to develop a sense of community, I. House organized a team of staff and resident volunteers to welcome new members and to provide tours of the House while the Orientation and Social Activities Program Fellows coordinated several activities such as neighborhood tours, ice cream socials on the Sakura Park Patio, a Yankees game and other sightseeing trips. The traditional Welcome Barbecue and President’s Tea with Don and Bonnie Cuneo served as the opening of the academic year and a welcoming event for first-year members. The Orientation Night held on September 8th included a 1949 documentary about I. House and introduced new and returning resident members to I. House staff members and procedures. The Programs Fair on September 15th enabled resident members to learn about Fall Fiesta, Language Exchange Program, Resident Roundtables and Cultural Hours and more. New and returning members also attended two “community weekends” at the Taconic Outdoor Education Center in Cold Spring, New York, where they participated in a series of team exercises designed to foster group decision making and teamwork as well as recreational activities such as hiking and boating.
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Trustee News World Council of Alumni Co-Chair Adrian Looney 92 was elected to the International House Board of Trustees at its meeting on October 13th. Looney, the Global Intellectual Property Leader for Cancer at Pfizer, the worlds largest pharmaceutical company, has been active in alumni activities since he left the House after graduating from Columbia, University, where he was awarded M.A., M.Phil. and Ph.D. degrees. He is a former President of the New York Area Alumni Council and joined the Development Committee of the I. House Board last year. His wife, Ayesha Sitlani, is the daughter of I. House alumnus B.M. Sitlani 56. At the June 15th Board meeting, the departures of three Trustees were announced: Jerome Davis, a senior
administrator at Columbia University, Thompson M. Swayne, a former executive with JP Morgan Chase; and
singer Roberta Flack. These resignations were accepted with regret.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Sunday Supper Welcome Residents The story of Sunday Supper and its role in the creation of International House is known to all who have passed through the House’s doors. The simple suppers that Harry Edmonds and his wife hosted for international students blossomed into the House’s longest running tradition and one that welcomes residents to the House each September. At the 2005 Welcome Sunday Supper on September 25th, Jacqueline Novogratz, CEO of the Acumen Fund, addressed residents, trustees and alumni, who shared a meal and good conversation. The Acumen Fund is a non-profit global venture fund that works to solve the problems of global poverty by delivering affordable, critical goods and services to the poor in South Asia and Africa. The Fund, Novogratz explained, requires each company seeking funding to have the ability to reach at least one million people, be sustainable and address one of their three areas of interest, health, housing and water. Novogratz shared several of the Acumen Fund success stories. In Tanzania, the fund has invested in a company that makes state of the art mosquito bed nets, which help prevent the spread of malaria. The initial production of these nets created more than 100 jobs paying a higher salary than others in similar work. In Pakistan, the fund
has partnered with banks to provide mortgages to lowincome citizens resulting in better housing for these individuals. Novogratz stressed the need for innovative approaches to combat global poverty.
The event concluded with performances by some of I. House’s talented musicians and was followed by another I. House tradition, ballroom dancing. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>
Oh, the Places They Go: I. House Residents Around the World They study at New York’s top universities. They take the bold step to move to the United States and to New York City, alone. They go on to be global leaders. They are the remarkable residents of International House and these are just a few examples of the amazing things they do and the people they are. Patrick Abal, an MPA student at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs originally from Uganda, was sponsored by Pro-Literacy Worldwide Inc. of Syracuse New York for a two-month internship this summer in Ibadan, Nigeria. Through this internship, he became involved in community education. “It was a thrilling experience to see how Nigeria is combating poverty through awareness creation,” he said. > | ad
| Ari Poutiainen, a jazz musician from Finland at Rutgers University, who is also a Fulbright recipient and AmericanScandinavian Foundation Fellow, has been
! commissioned for a composition by his trio, “Farther-Out” to be performed in Finland in January 2006. He also premiered two chamber orchestra compositions in Berlin this fall. mm
A Teachers College student in International Educational Development, Marian Hodgkin from the United Kingdom, is a founding member and project coordinator for Never Again, an international Youth Network. The group, whose majority of members reside
in Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of
Congo, examines past conflict in order to generate ideas for the prevention of future ones while encouraging connectivity, critical thinking and a creative approach to diversity among global youth. An academic journal article she has written on the group will appear in the fall volume of History Workshop Journal.
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