The Faculty Club Newsletter

July 2004

           I hope you are having a profitable summer, with time to enjoy our foggy mornings and sunny afternoons. We are continuing our summer events, so mark your calendars now. We are planning 2005 events; please let me know of any specific events you would enjoy. Jack Coons (chair of the Events Committee) and I will welcome your suggestions. Thanks to all of you who attended the Indian dinner. We had a good crowd, and everyone seemed to enjoy the meal. We are starting to plan some more upgrades with the House Committee. I will keep you informed as progress is made. Our newly renovated hotel rooms are available for your visitors. If you haven’t seen these new rooms, please stop by the front desk on your next visit to the Club and we will be happy to give you a tour. If you have any comments or suggestions, please feel free to drop me a note or call me. I look forward to seeing you at the Club. Thank you.

        Dear Fellow Members, Your Board has approved the 2004/2005 Club budget. The last year ended with $3,068,000 in sales and many improved services and renovations, and a very small profit. Critical plant replacement (e.g., commercial dishwasher) and facilities upgrade remain. The Board is pleased to announce two significant changes for the new fiscal year. First, free wireless connection for all rooms. Members and their guests with laptop computers will now have free Internet access in common rooms and bedrooms. There will be a small charge for room rental meetings to cover costs. We thank Controller Syed Haque for his hard work in setting up the system and, particularly, member Bruce Bargmeyer, who volunteered his expertise. Secondly, minimal member dues increase. We are sensitive to maintaining reasonable employment benefits to our staff in face of increased costs of insurance, etc. After three years of no change the 2004/2005 budget provides for a $1 per month increase in dues across all member categories. Please remember the 15% member discount on a single Club lunch exceeds this COL increment. Increased membership will delay further such increases-do help recruit new members. Sincerely, Bruce A. Bolt, President

       Our artist for the month will be Tim Higbee. After 20 years of seafaring both for oceanographic research initiatives and cargo vessels, Tim received a BA in Architecture from UC Berkeley, followed by work on an MA in Design in the College of Environmental Design. He has taught nautical sciences and arts with an undergraduate academic program conducted on land and under sail. Most recently he has been working closely with students in the Berkeley Department of Art Practice. Tim’s current show reflects his recent explorations of Chaco Canyon and Canyon de Chelly along with studies of the human figure. The prints, incorporating intaglio and lithography techniques, explore the idea of closeness to and distance from places of origin. Contact: higgsdesign@mindspring.com.

        The Club is in the process of creating an e-mail list of members. The list would be used only to announce Club events and for other Club business. No one outside the Club Board and Management would have access to the e-mail addresses. Anyone who preferred not to receive e-mail from the Club could opt out of the list at any time. The Secretary would be delighted if you would send your e-mail address to him at: dmelia@socrates.berkeley.edu with the subject line “TFC.” Many Thanks,
Daniel Melia, Secretary

       This month enjoy a choice of two continuing delicious entrées, or the daily chef’s special, at the bargain dinner in the Kerr Room. This is the biggest dining bargain in Berkeley. Come any weekday evening before 6:30 and enjoy a three-course dinner for the remarkable price of $12.95, including a choice of soup or salad, and dessert. These dinners are a great idea for evenings when you’re going to a basketball game or an event at Zellerbach.

       On July 16th join Jack Coons and a group of enthusiastic but not necessarily talented singers who will gather at the Club to show that members do not need to be entertained all the time. They can entertain themselves (and the waiters serving them dinner) with renditions of old favorites whose melodies are familiar to all of us. This year our leader and accompanist will be the talented Stan Fong, well known throughout the East Bay for his work with choral groups, both high and low. This will definitely be one of his more exciting assignments. Reception at 6 p.m., dinner at 7, and singing till exhaustion sets in. The cost will be $35 per person, all inclusive. Reservations at ext. 224.

        What a way to introduce potential new members to the Club! Why not invite a couple of non-members to this ever popular event and give them a folder on membership at the same time? Choose someone you owe a dinner to and take care of one of those social obligations that sneak up during the year. Start the evening by tasting some of the many wines on offer from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on the Glade. Order forms will be available if you find something you like. Then move indoors for dinner, with dancing to the Tim Ross trio from 7 to 10 p.m. Date: September 17th. Cost: $40 per person, all inclusive. Reserve now.

       Our summer winemaker’s dinner has now been set for August 13th. Spottiswoode Winery’s Lindi Novak will be presenting some of their finest wines for your enjoyment. Our chef will be planning a special dinner to complement the wines, and those attending will have the opportunity to purchase at highly advantageous prices. Spottswoode is a family owned historic winery on the western edge of St. Helena, on a 46-acre estate established in 1882 by one of the early pioneers of viticulture in the Napa Valley. The Novak family bought the estate in 1972, restoring the house and replanting the vineyards. Lindy, our presenter for the evening, oversees national marketing for her family’s winery and is a graduate from the UC Berkeley Geography department. The reception will be at 6 p.m. with the dinner at 7 p.m. Cost: $60 per person, all inclusive. Reservations at extension 224.

       An unusual event on September 3rd – an evening with Jeff Davis, the University Carillonist. Jeff will be playing a special concert on the University carillon for us, will join us for dinner, and then talk about the art of playing the bells. The pre-dinner reception will start at 5:30 p.m., with drinks and snacks on the terrace outside the Kerr Dining Room where you can linger for the bell recital beginning at 6 p.m. Those who would like to enjoy the bells more intimately are welcome inside the Campanile itself.You may pick up a glass of wine and walk over to join Jeff. You have to be at the Campanile elevator by 5:45 – the door is locked promptly at that time. (You will be let out in time for dinner!) More details on Jeff in the August Newsletter. Meanwhile, reserve now at extension 224. Cost per person: $30.

        Remember that you can enjoy the convenience of the Club’s morning breakfast special. From 7 to 10 a.m. you can come by the Kerr Room and for $2.99 enjoy juice, eggs, coffee, and toast. Pick up a newspaper on the way to campus and relax after that commute or uphill bike ride.