The Faculty Club Newsletter

December 2005

           It is hard to believe that this is the tenth time I am sending a holiday message to you all. I, along with the rest of the staff at the Club, want to wish all members and their families a very happy holiday season and a great New Year. Most immediately, we are looking forward to welcoming many of you at our annual Christmas parties. The monks are in tune, the decorations are up – now for the feast. With the Events Committee we are planning events for 2006. A preliminary calendar of events is enclosed so that you can mark your calendars. Additions will be announced, as usual, in the Newsletter as they are added. I look forward to working with and serving you in the new year. As always, I enjoy receiving your comments and suggestions so feel free to contact me. Thank you for the many kind notes and useful comments from this past year. Thank you.

       The Club will be closed for regular service from December 23rd to January 2nd. During this time, however, the hotel rooms will be open to accommodate your visiting guests and family

       The boar’s head has been shampooed, Moose has learned the words to all the songs in the entertainment, the staff has put together the plans for dining, and the squires (and one squires) have brushed up tuxedos and evening wear. Now let the happy throng to assemble. Let the trumpets sound, let the Monks process, let the voices of members join in old melodies to waken the bears at the beam ends in the Great Hall, and let’s once again prove that the best start to the holiday season is right here in the Club.

Holiday Celebration at the Women’s Faculty Club

       The last of our own Christmas parties takes place on December 9th. But we would like to suggest an alternative for those who are still free to celebrate on that evening. The Women’s Faculty Club has extended an invitation to all our members to attend their annual Holiday Buffet on that day, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. The evening begins with champagne, appetizers, and a sing-along of traditional holiday favorites led by a group from the U.C. Alumni Chorus. The buffet dinner is always sumptuous and features dishes like roast turkey and baked ham, as well as a variety of vegetables, salads, and a separate dessert delights. The price is $25 per person, plus tax and tip. Reservations may be made with the Women’s Faculty Club office as 510-642-4175 by Wednesday, December 7th. Parking is available at the Boalt parking lot for a separate fee.

       Monk Dick White is once again showing photos of Monks and Christmas party memories. In the picture on the previous page, two faux Monks carry the traditional boar’s head for its formal portrait. Dick is in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences, and is a member the Club’s Board of Directors. He joined the Monks in 1963, after learning that no audition was required for membership. His photos are intended as a recollection of the fun that the Monks have in rehearsals and at the party.

       In addition to the changes in service in the Kerr Dining Room, we are now offering the opportunity for informal, light meals in the Bar on weekday evenings. If you need a quick snack before returning to your department for an early evening meeting, you can now do it in the peace of the Club Bar. The new Bar menu is already in place – check it out.

       Club members do not seem to be able to get enough of the work of Tom Bopp, popular pianist and song stylist. His repertoire ranges from the Gay 90s to – well, we’ve never really determined that! You can hear him in his appearances here at the Club, and at the Wawona Hotel in Yosemite, where you would pay a hefty sum to hear him perform. Another great Club bargain! On January 20th plan to attend this evening of fine food and fun-filled music. Reception at 6; dinner at 7. Cost: $45 all inclusive. Reserve at ext. 224.

       Finally the crab boats are coming in and the terrible longings can be requited. What would a Bay Area winter be like without at least one gluttonous indulgence in crabs, crabs, and more fresh crabs? Our Crab Festivals have been a great success. Plan now for the 2006 version, on January 13th. Enjoy a great crab and seafood buffet with your friends. Reception at 6 p.m., dinner at 7. The cost: $40 per person. Make your reservations now at extension 224.

       The Board of Directors would like to remind all members that this is the time of year when we reward our hardworking staff for their good service to us. We are fortunate to have a dedicated staff – from cooks to cleaners, from office staff to furniture movers. Most of these people are not in positions where they receive tips in the course of their duties, and the Club takes this annual occasion to express our appreciation to them. Members received a form last month asking for contributions to this fund. We are still not at our hoped – for goal, and ask that you think about donating if you have not already done so. You can do it easily by sending an e-mail asking that a certain amount for hits purpose be charged to your account. Or you can drop off an envelope with a check at the front desk.

       As the concert and theater season starts to heat up, it is time to start enjoying the bargain dinners in the Kerr Room, especially before events at Zellerbach Hall. This is the biggest dining bargain in Berkeley. And now you can enjoy our new evening look in the Kerr Room. Come any weekday evening before 6:30 and enjoy a three-course dinner for the remarkable price of $13.99, including a choice of soup or salad, and dessert. Reservations at 540-5678 ext. 0.

       See the January Newsletter for details of the February Winemaker’s dinner (on the 17th) and the Valentine’s Day Dance (on the 14th).

       Whenever Cal Plays at home, fans can enjoy dinner at the Club before going to the game. On Saturdays the offerings will be limited to hamburgers and the like, but during the week you can take advantage of our regular bargain dinners as well.

       After ten years of service on the Board (with one one-year break) your Editor has retired from active service as of this month. My place will be taken by Ken Ribet (Mathematics Department), long-time member of the Wine Committee. I shall continue to edit the Newsletter and serve on a couple of committees. - Phyllis Brooks

       We are continuing the Club’s bargain breakfast special. From 7:30 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 the campus and relax after that commute or uphill bike ride. And tell your friends! You do not have to be a member to take advantage of this special.