The Faculty Club Newsletter

October 2002

           It is good to see the Club return to full activity as the academic year gets under way. The staff and I enjoy seeing familiar faces in the restaurants and at meetings. Our Early Bird dinners continue to be successful; I hope you will drop by the Kerr dining room and take advantage of them. I want to say a personal thank you to all of our staff for working hard to provide good service to our members and guests. I look forward to seeing you at the Club. I am always available if you have any questions, suggestions or concerns.

        On November 1st join representatives from the Iron Horse winery for a sampling of their finest products showcased by a specially designed dinner. These dinners are among the most elegant of the Club's events, and also offer members the chance to buy featured wines at very special prices. The reception begins at 6 p.m. and dinner at 7. The cost, including tax and tip, is $60 a person. Mark your calendar and get your reservations in to Mark at 540-5678 ext. 224.

        The salad bar is open on home game days for a buffet lunch, with seating in the Great Hall, Kerr Dining Room, and the bar. Join us at the buffet, or just drop in before or after the game to meet your friends for a drink at the bar.

        Despite its origins as a useful dining club, there has always been an added element of fantasy about the Faculty Club. Stained glass windows and carved beam ends are not the architecture of a strictly practical institution. Probably the most persistent fantasy is that of a medieval monastery. This fantasy long continued to show up in Club signs. Here's an example quoted by Gil Paltridge in his history of the Club: If any pilgrim monk come from distant parts, if he wish as a guest to dwell in the monastery and will be content with the customs which he finds in the place, & do not perchance by his lavishness disturb the monastery, he shall be received for as long as he desires. But, if he have been found gossipy and contumacious in the time of his sojourn as guest, it shall be said to him that he must depart. If he does not go, let two stout monks, in the name of God, explain the matter to him. Printed in old English gothic script, this notice was for a long time on the Club's bulletin board. The traditional, monastic view of the Club is revived every December as the Monks' Chorus, led by its Prior, Milton Williams, files into Christmas feast. Robed in brown, they bear the boar's head around the room, singing traditional carols. The first Christmas feast was given in December of 1902, with singing led by a chorus of Club members. Over the years this chorus took on its monkish qualities, and by 1914 we have the first records of their existence as a continuing group of singers. And continuity is cherished. Milt Williams has now served as Prior for the past 32 years, succeeding such distinguished Priors as Robert Gordon Sproul. Every few years the Monks have a group portrait made that hangs in the central hall of the Club-with only a few faces changing as new members are recruited to take the place of those who have passed on. The monks sing publicly only at the Christmas parties, but they gather frequently during the year to learn new music, practice for the coming season, and maybe do a little partying. Over the years, our Monks have also become one of the more diverse monastic orders, including Jewish monks, agnostic monks, and who knows what range of other believers and non-believers. At the end of the Christmas feast a new tradition calls for women in the hall to come to the stage and provide the sopranos and altos needed for the celebratory finale of Handel's "Hallelujah Chorus." In today's increasingly tense environment, our happy band of Brothers brings a welcome note of serious frivolity.

        Fall is on its way, and it's time to dig out your dirndl and your lederhosen for the Club's annual celebration of beer, wine, great food, and gemutlichkeit. This year we celebrate on October 17th. reserve now at 540-5678, ext. 224. Join your friends at the buffet dinner (reception starts at 6 p.m. and dinner at 7) and then dance to live band. Not all polkas! Cost: $30 inclusive.

        Edythe Heda, widow of Dr. Burton Heda of Cowell Hospital, works in many media, and shows her oil paintings widely around the Bay Area. Her training as a calligrapher in both Hebrew and Roman scripts also combines with her background as a painter to make the production of ketubahs (Jewish wedding contracts) a form of art especially congenial to her. She talks with young couples about to marry, discovering their interests and shared pleasures, and works these into the decoration of the traditional documents. Each couple takes possession of the ketubah after the wedding, so we cannot show the originals. But since this interesting art form is rarely exhibited, we have put together a show of photocopies.

        Arrive at the Club on any week night between 5 and 6:30 to enjoy a complete meal for the incredible price of $11.95! As the weather cools down, the featured menu will consist of a grilled center- cut pork chop with Yukon gold mashed potatoes, seasonal vegetables, and a sauce of port wine and wild mushrooms, to be followed by pumpkin pie a' la mode. There will also be a changing chef's special. All meals include soup or salad, plus dessert. You can add a couple of glasses of good wine and still pay less for two meals than a single meal, without wine, in a downtown restaurant. Reserve at 540-5678 ext. 0.

        Jerry Lubenow of the institute of Governmental Studies has once again arranged for us to spend an evening just before the November election with Mervin Field, founder of the California Poll and one of the nation's premier political pollsters. On October 31st enjoy cheese and wine, and an enlightening presentation by Mr. Field as he handicaps the California elections. Come prepared with questions. We will gather at 5:30 p.m., with the talk at 6. Cost: $5 per person. Reservations requested: 540-5678, ext. 224.

        Felix and his staff are busy preparing for this, our Centennial Christmas Party, to be held on December 11th, 12th, and 13th. The Monks are practicing their carols, the boar has been shampooed, and the menus are being planned. Jack Coons and his merry crew are planning yet another entertainment. Members will be getting their invitations to the feast in mid-October. Remember that all reservations must be submitted in writing-no e-mail or telephone reservation accepted- and space will be assigned on a first come, first served basis. Watch the mails, and act fast!

        The Golden Girlfriends are surviving spouses of the University of California Faculty Club members to whom the Club extends the privilege of lifetime membership. They meet to enjoy lunch together at the Club. The next meeting will be on Wednesday, October 23rd, and members will be receiving mailed invitations. The program will consist of readings from Zylpha Cockrell's memoirs of life among the Berkeley faculty in the 30's, 40's and 50's. For more information about the group, call Phyllis Brooks at 510-704-9951.

        Please welcome two new members of our management team: Kenna Richards is now our Special Events Manager, and Sharon Stuhr is our Assistant Banquet Manager. They both come with many years of hospitality industry experience and will be great asset to the Club and its management team.

 
 

 
 
 

The Faculty Club Newsletter is published monthly by:  The Faculty Club  University of California  Berkeley. CA 94720-6050  Contributions and comments may be mailed to the Editor, Phyllis Brooks, at the Club, or by e-mail to pbrooks@vdn.com  Board of Directors, 2002-2003:  Bruce Bolt, President  Dick White, Treasurer  Dan Melia, Recorder  Jack Coons Joyce Kallgren  Bill Oldham    Phyllis Brooks  Club Manager: Felix Solomon

Club numbers:  Telephone:  510-540-5678  Fax:  510-540-6204  Reservations:  Kerr Dining Room:  Extension 0  Parties:   Extension 5  E-mail: info@berkeleyfacultyclub.com  Website: www.berkeleyfacultyclub.com  Kerr Dining Room hours Breakfast 7:30-10:00; Lunch M-F 11:30 –1:30; Dinner M-F 5:00-8:30  Bar hours: M-F 11:30-1:30; Happy Hours 4-30-6 30; closes at 8:30 p.m.  Buffet lunch: 11:30-1:30 M-F  Guest accommodations available:  Reservations may be made at 540-5678, ext. 3 or through our website.  Membership: Call Felix, at ext.  9.