Rutgers Club of Washington

Alumni Quarterly - Winter 2002

A Word from our President

Brenda Snyder, DC 73

It was a banner year for the Rutgers Club of Washington, D.C. culminating with a win of the William H. Campbell Best All-Around Regional Club Program for 2001 award from the Rutgers University Department of Alumni Relations. The Club's directors and I hope to make 2002 even better.

We started the new year on January 4 with a memorable trip to see Cinderella at The Kennedy Center and a visit with Paolo Montalban, RC 93, who played Prince Charming. Paolo spent time with our group following the play. Paolo himself was extremely charming- he welcomed each of us, signed our playbills, and posed for photos. We were also fortunate to get autographs from other cast members including the remarkable Eartha Kitt who starred as the Fairy Godmother.



Many other worthwhile events are planned for the months ahead. We've added the "Mark Your Calendar" feature at right to keep you informed well in advance about upcoming Club activities.

We've begun the new year with some changes in the Club directors. Thanks so much to Glenn Levine for managing the Club's web page for many years. The Club is pleased to announce that Chuck Divine, RC 67, will take over as webmaster in early February. Additionally, many thanks to Paul Massey, RC 96, for the great job he did planning our cultural events, especially our trips to the theater. The Club is looking for someone to fill this position. Contact me at brenda.snyder@verizon.com if you are interested.

This edition of the newsletter includes the annual request for Club dues. Take a look at the Treasurer's note to learn where your money goes. As an added incentive to pay your dues this year, we plan to generate a Club directory for dues payers only.

Read on for news on the reinvigorated Club scholarship, additional events through the Club's membership in the Capital Alumni Network (CAN), and plans to develop a list of corporate donors.

Let's hope that 2002 puts the DC Club beyond the "best". I am looking forward to seeing you many times this year.

Go RU.

Get Your Tickets to RU vs. G'town Basketball Action at the MCI Center

Phil Keating, RC 81



The Rutgers men's basketball team will be playing Georgetown on Saturday, March 2 at 12 noon at the MCI Center. The Scarlet Knights defeated Georgetown earlier this season in a nationally televised game. Let's show our support to new coach Gary Waters. Join other Rutgers Club of Washington members at the game. See Megan Curcio's column on the next page for information about the pre-game gathering at The Rock.

Tickets are $22.50 each. Please send your check payable to the Rutgers Club of Washington, along with a stamped, self addressed envelope to the address below by Friday, February 8. The seats are located in the lower level of the MCI Center near the end line.

Announcing the Rutgers vs. G'town Pre-Game Gathering at The Rock

Megan Curcio, RC '00

Whether it was football, basketball, lacrosse, or baseball, most alumni remember the days of hitting the bar before the big game. As the men's basketball team gets ready to beat Georgetown once again on Saturday, March 2nd, you can get ready to cheer on the Scarlet Knights with your fellow alumni. We will be gathering before the game at The Rock, 717 Sixth St. NW (right across the street from the MCI Center) at 10:30am. Whether you can still handle a few drinks in the morning, or if you just want to sip some juice or coffee and meet your fellow alumni, please join us at our pre-game event. As we will be serving complimentary light fare, please send an email to me at mcurcio@alumni.rutgers.edu no later than February 25th to let me know if you plan to attend.

In the meantime, if you have Valentine's Day Blues, I have an offer for you... The Rutgers Club is jointly sponsoring a "game-watch" with the Notre Dame Young Alumni Club. Come find yourself a Fighting Irish Sweetheart on Feb. 14, 2002, Thursday at the ParkBench Pub. The Rutgers v. ND game, televised straight from the RAC, starts at 9pm. (The Parkbench Pub offers 22oz bottled beer for $4.) Parkbench Pub 3433 Connecticut Avenue, NW DC (directly across from the Uptown movie theater/Cleveland Park Metro). Contact me if you'd like more information.

On to another matter of interest to some young alumni, we are still on the look out for any "famous" New Brunswick bands playing in the Washington area. If you know of any please drop me an email. Also, please remember that it is time for seniors to start job hunting. So, if you know of a position open in your place of business or would like to dispense some advice on what its like to be in the "real world" to some soon-to-be young alumni, log onto http://careers.rutgers.edu/alumni/main.asp

to register as an alumni advisor. The password is "henry". Thanks to those of you who have already signed on. We have a nice selection of fields represented in the DC- metro area. As most young alumni can remember, the transition into the working world can be difficult, especially in Washington. Please take the opportunity to help make that transition a little bit easier.

Rutgers Club of Washington Community Service Activities

Carol Vilsack, RC85, GSM91



Hello and Happy New Year to all! The new year brings quite a few opportunities for alumni and friends to participate in volunteer activities throughout the DC metropolitan area. First, though, props to all who participated in last November's "Help the Homeless Walkathon". Nine Rutgers team members completed the walk on a beautiful fall day. In recognition of the team's efforts, the Fannie Mae Foundation generously contributed $500.00 to homeless shelters in the area on our behalf. Many thanks to everyone who participated.

Upcoming Event

On Saturday, February 2nd, 15 Rutgers alumni and friends have volunteered to assist a Habitat for Humanity project in Capitol Heights, DC. This rehab project will soon become home to Vernetta Johnson and her two young daughters. Although no carpentry skills are required, the Club plans to improvise wildly and host a small BBQ during lunch. For any club members who weren't able to participate on the second, please note that the club is trying to secure another date in late April/early May to assist with the final touches on the Johnson's new home. Due, however, to the abundance of dangerous power tools on the site, Habitat for Humanity requires that all volunteers be at least 16 years of age.

Hold that Date!

On April 13th, the Rutgers Club of DC will once again participate in "Hands on DC". This annual event pairs volunteer groups and organizations with schools throughout the District of Columbia. Last year's event was well spent at an elementary school in South East DC - a school which was in desperate need of interior painting and exterior landscaping. When the volunteers were finished, the school looked terrific. For more information, please feel free to link over to www.HandsOnDC.org. As the event draws near, we will be sure to send out more information via emails. Please note that this event is a wonderful opportunity to bring the entire family.

Plan Ahead for Our First Annual Golf Event!

In an effort to boost recognition (and funding) of the Rutgers Club of Washington's very own Casper Nannes scholarship fund, we are in the very early planning stages of an annual golf tournament to be held at East Potomac Golf Course, Hains Point, DC. It is hoped that this event can take place on a Saturday afternoon in September, 2002. Questions or suggestions on community service events? Please feel free to contact me at 202/337-1702.

Club Pursues Regional Scholarship



Anne Holtz, RC 95, is managing the new and improved club scholarship program. While scholarships have not been awarded over the last several years, generous alumni have continued to contribute to the fund during the university telephone fund-raising drives. Thanks to that generosity, the fund now totals well over $20,000 and will become an endowed fund at the university.

More to follow as Anne develops the plans for awarding the newly invigorated scholarships to worthy students bound for Rutgers in the Washington, DC area. Contact Anne at aholtz@nahbrc.org if you'd like to help!



The Corporate Exchange

Kris Sbarra, LC 90

"On the Lookout for Local Business PartnersCould Your Employer Be the One?"

A club initiative for 2002 is to gain support from the local business community to help offset the costs of some of the exciting, community-related events hosted by the Rutgers Club of Washington.

We can do this with your help! I am asking for recommendations or referrals for a contact within your organization. Depending upon where you work, this contact may be the Branch or Office Manager, Advertising/Public Relations Manager, or Human Resources Manager. In exchange for sponsorship, your employer can benefit from advertising in our newsletter, from banners or signage at the events, or some other options.

Please contact me via email at ksba2@hotmail.com with your referrals. Reply by March 1st , and receive an article of Rutgers clothing as a token of our appreciation for your assistance.

Thank you in advance for your help and efforts!



Its All About Networking...

Alex Spiegler, CC 00



As our newly appointed club representative to the Capital Alumni Network (CAN), I wanted to fill you in on some of the upcoming events that CAN is sponsoring. But first, what is the Capital Alumni Network???



The Capital Alumni Network is a collegiate organization comprising representatives from over 140 alumni clubs in the DC area. CAN strives to sponsor/host at least four events each year to promote inter-collegial spirit and philanthropy, to provide a forum for networking opportunities to all local alumni clubs, and to act as an information clearinghouse for all local alumni clubs.



Basically, CAN provides a tremendous resource for our club to interact with and share ideas with other alumni clubs on sports, social events, community service projects, and general day-to-day club operations. I have attended only two CAN meetings thus far, but have been extremely impressed with the energy, enthusiasm and clout that this organization brings to the table.



Onto the events...

March 2nd - Capital Alumni Ball at the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center. Mark your calendar for the first-ever, black-tie optional Capital Alumni Ball and Silent Auction. Proceeds from the silent auction will benefit HoopDreams, a Washington, DC-based organization that raises funds for college scholarships for local high school students. Join us for an evening of drinks, dinner and dancing for $65/person. Book a table for 10 for only $600! There will also be a special room rate at the Hilton - $89 for Capital Alumni Ball guests. For more information or to RSVP, please email canprom@hotmail.com



April 13th - Hands on DC- You learned about Rutgers' plans for a team in Carol's Community Service column.



April 27th - Society Ties Casino Night. Since 1997, the annual Society Ties Casino Night has raised thousands of dollars for the fight against leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease, and myeloma. This black-tie event features a silent auction, casino gaming, raffle, live entertainment and dancing. For years Casino Night has been highly promoted and widely publicized by television station FOX 5 and radio station Z104. For more information or to RSVP, please email aurandm@dc-cap.leukemia.org , or call (703) 960-1100.



May 4th - Virginia Gold Cup. This steeplechase event, run in Fauquier County since 1922, is a grandspring tradition and fixture of the Washington Social Calendar. The Capital Alumni Network has tents for alumni clubs to rent out for the day or join other alumni clubs. This all day eating, drinking, and steeplechase watching event was attended by over 50,000 people last year, and is guaranteed to be a blast this year. For more information, go to http://www.vagoldcup.com



For more info on all of these events, or to learn more about the Capital Alumni Network, go to www.dcalum.org or email me at alexander.spiegler@uspto.gov

It's Time to Pay your Dues Rochelle Goldberg, RC 92

Happy 2002! I hope that the new year is off to a good start for everyone.

As someone who has been a member of several organizations requiring dues payments, "voluntary" contributions or some other form of sustenance, I can understand the lack of enthusiasm that you might feel when you receive the annual dues form. I can also empathize with the questions you may have as to why you should pay your dues and where the money goes. Hopefully this column will answer your questions.

The Rutgers Club of Washington provides a great service to local alumni. Throughout the year, the club offers opportunities to gather at sporting events, theater outings, happy hours, talks with visiting professors and community service activities. In addition, the club participates in CAN-The Capitol Alumni Network- providing occasion for Rutgers alumni to meet other local alumni from participating schools and to network with them on social and professional levels. Additionally, the club is in the process of reinvigorating the scholarship fund to help local DC/VA/MD high school seniors attend Rutgers University. Finally, the club dues also support some activities for Rutgers students interning in Washington each summer, via the Rutgers-in Washington program.

Your dues money goes to lowering and sometimes eliminating the participation fees for many of our activities. Your dues money keeps the Rutgers Club of Washington going!

We truly appreciate your participation in our many events. We hope that we provide something for everyone. Please feel free to contact any of the club officers (our email addresses are listed on the last page of the newsletter) with new ideas or events that you would like to see organized. In the meantime, please send your $15 check payable to the Rutgers Club of Washington, 444 North Capitol Street, NW, Suite 728, Washington, DC 20001. More recent alumni will receive discounted dues, as noted in the enclosed flyer. Thank you!







From the Communications Desk Francine Newsome, RC 95

I have some exciting news to share about two area alumni pursuing new career ventures-

Rochelle Goldberg -RC'92, has founded Event Builders, LLC, an independent event planning company. Among her recent projects is the New Mothers Luncheon Group which provides an opportunity for mothers with infants up to 8 months old to get together weekly for lunch and a speaker. The group meets in Fairfax and all are welcome. For additional information, please contact Rochelle at 703-961-9179 or eventbuilders@hotmail.com.

Adam Crain- Long time staffer for US Senator Torricelli, 1985 Tenaeck HS graduate and 1993 Rutgers Eagleton Institute of Politics graduate, has shifted professional gears somewhat. While keeping one foot in DC and New Jersey politics, Adam will have the other foot in the door of the 25 room B&B in Washington, DC he recently acquired named the "Adam's Inn". Conveniently located in the heart of Washington's Adams Morgan neighborhood, Adam's Inn is located just 6 blocks from the Woodley Park red Line metro Station and is the Inn of choice for budget conscious travelers. For New Jersey residents or Rutgers graduates, Adam is offering a winter rates special starting as low as $45-$85/night. Just call 202-745-3600 and mention the NJ/Rutgers special winter rate. For a preview, visit Adam's Inn online at www.adamsinn.com

From the Mason Gross School of the Arts Fall Newsletter comes more alumni news of interest. Locally, Laura Vicari, '87, is a private vocal instructor and sings with the Baltimore Opera Company. On television, you'll see Molly Price, '88, starring as "Faith Yokas" in the NBC drama series Third Watch. Also appearing frequently on NBC is Lloyd Boston, '94, a very suave style contributor on the Today show.

Finally, a reminder that the club newsletter will now be issued quarterly, giving our club leaders plenty of time to plan a season's worth of club activities at once. Of course, some events will be planned with less notice, and we'll share the details on those via the club email and our website- www.rutgersclubdc.org If you aren't getting the club emails, send your name and email address to rutgersclubdc@alumni.rutgers.edu and we'll add you to our list of nearly 400 area alumni receiving information about club events electronically. Rutgersclubdc@alumni.rutgers.edu is our new, permanent email address for the club. You can get log on to get your own permanent email (yourname@alumni.rutgers.edu) via the Rutgers Alumni On-Line Community at http://www.alumniconnections.com/olc/pub/RTG/

Remember, this is your newsletter. If have news you'd like to share, just send it to me at the email address above and we'll include it next time.



Your Club Officers:

President- Brenda Snyder

brenda.snyder@verizon.com



Capitol Alumni Network-Alex Spiegler

alexander.spiegler@uspto.gov



Communications-Francine Newsome

fnewsome_rutgers@compuserve.com



Community Service - Carol Vilsack

cmvilsack@aol.com



Corporate Relations-Kris Sbarra

ksba2@hotmail.com



Events-Cultural

Vacant



Events- Sports-Phil Keating

pkeating@dunncurcio.com



Networking-Steve Oriol

steve.oriol@hotmail.com



Scholarship-Anne Holtz

anneh@nahbrc.org



Treasurer-Rochelle Goldberg

rdgoldberg@hotmail.com



Webmaster- ChuckDivine

chuck.divine@worldnet.att.net



Young Alumni-Megan Curcio

mcurcio@alumni.rutgers.edu



Late Breaking News-

Transition in University Leadership

February 1, 2002

To the Rutgers Community:

After much reflection and discussion with my wife and other members of my family over the past few weeks, I have decided that, at this point when, thanks to the talent and hard work of everyone in the Rutgers community, our well-loved university has marked the achievement of a long list of historic benchmarks, it is time for me to plan to step down from my role as President of the State University of New Jersey. I will return to the faculty upon the installation of my successor.

As it reaches new heights, Rutgers' applications have skyrocketed, and so has the quality of our students. A typical student among the 789 Outstanding Scholars we admitted this fall had SAT scores of 1380 and a rank in class in the 94th percentile. We are equally proud of the fact that our student body is more diverse than ever before.

To our world-class faculty, a whole galaxy of new stars has been added and Rutgers has hit a dizzying rate of growth in funding from the National Science Foundation, more than 172 percent in the past decade. Our external research grants have more than doubled, from $92.8 million in 1990 to $222.4 million in 2001. The individual honors for our stellar faculty have also come thick and fast - Pulitzer prizes, National Academy memberships, Guggenheims, and ceremonial Presidential awards of the National Medal of Science.

Rutgers' first strategic plan pointed the way for us to build on our strengths, but it has been Rutgers' people who brought the plan to life. If our university has made progress, it is because your talent and ambitions and your drive to realize them have been the solid basis on which it has advanced. When we had discouraging setbacks and repeated budget cuts in a tough economy, your strong support was the essential fact that made our efforts fruitful and transformed our plans into accomplishments. RUNet, the broadband network that has transformed our campus was conceived because you told us how necessary it would be to implement your ambitious plans for instruction, research, and service.

Rutgers' $500 million Capital Fund Campaign has been accurately described as "history-making." Only 42 months into a six-year campaign, we have already raised $376.5 million dollars, more than 75 percent toward our goal, a strong vote of confidence in the university and its future by Rutgers' alumni and friends.

Among the great pleasures of the presidency have been the opportunities I have had to work with Rutgers' students. Diverse in many ways, they have in common their lively minds, their ambitious plans for the future, their active social consciousness, and their capacity for enjoying all the opportunities for growth that Rutgers offers them. I am proud of them and of the difference that a Rutgers education has made in their lives.

I have asked the Chairman of the Board of Governors, Gene O'Hara, to institute a search for my successor. The Board Chair and Vice-Chair have asked me to serve until the completion of a successful search, and I have agreed to do so. As always, I feel privileged to serve as the president of this distinguished institution. I will continue to devote high energy and enthusiasm to its leadership, and particularly to Rutgers' $500 million capital campaign.

Sincerely, Francis L. Lawrence