The Faculty Club Newsletter

September 2004

           The new academic year is under way. Welcome back those of our members who have been away. I also extend a warm welcome to all those faculty and staff who have recently joined us. Members, be sure to introduce your new colleagues to the benefits of our unique Club. Do you realize that we are one of the few faculty clubs in the nation that are run by the membership? And one of the most active? Enjoy Berkeley’s warm fall evenings, and a cluster of carefully planned Club events, ranging from a leisurely evening listening to bells and our carillonist to the serious consideration of political matters – and some wine and beer tasting to clear the palate! As always I am glad to hear from you if you have any comments or suggestions. Thank you.

        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? Or choose someone to whom you owe a dinner to and take care of one of those social obligations that pile 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.

       The Golden Girlfriends have resumed their bi-monthly lunches. The next meeting was scheduled for October 20th but will be changed to October 13th. This group is open to all widows of members. We meet every two months for lunch and a short program. A warm and welcoming group. Watch for your invitation. For more information, call Phyllis Schafer at 510-704-9951.

        On September 3rd our University carillonist, Jeff Davis will be playing a special concert on the University carillon for us, will join us for dinner, and then will 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. Dinner after the music. Call for last minute reservations, extension 224. Cost per person: $30.

       Our artist for the month will be Lotfi Zadeh, whose wonderful photographs have given us so much pleasure in the past. Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Studies, his interests center on portraiture. All the negatives were developed and prints made in Professor Zadeh’s home darkroom..

       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 prefers not to receive e-mail from the Club may 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.

       During the summer Law professor John Yoo hit the headlines when he was reported as advising President Bush on the applicability of the Geneva Rules in current circumstances of war and terrorism. His colleague, David Caron, has a different take on these matters. Save the evening of October 1st for an informal discussion/debate between these two distinguished scholar, and enjoy dinner with them afterwards. You may like to check www.berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2004/06/15_yoo.shtml to get a sense of their positions. John Yoo has been on the Boalt Hall faculty since 1993. From 2001-03, he served as deputy assistant attorney general in the Office of Legal Counsel of the Department of Justice. David Caron is the C. William Maxeiner, Distinguished Professor of International Law and has been on the Boalt Hall faculty since 1987. He has been a Commissioner on the Precedent Panel, United Nations Compensation Commission, Geneva, since 1996, and a member of the U.S. Secretary of State’s Advisory Committee on Public International Law since 1993. The cost of the evening will be $30 per person. Reception at 5:30; discussion at 6 p.m., and dinner at 7. Get your reservations in now, at extension 224.

       Remember that every Saturday that Cal plays at home during the football season, the Club is open for pre-game lunches and drinks, and post-game snacks and cocktails. Beat the crowd, park early, and enjoy a short walk to the stadium.

       Traditions, traditions. Here it is, October again, and we dig out the dirndls and the lederhorsen. How’s your yodeling? There’s still time to practice! Join Club members on October 15th for a reprise of one of the Club’s more popular events. Our chef will be planning a special buffet dinner to accompany selected beers (and wines). Then dance the evening away to live music. Reception will begin at 6 p.m. and the buffet dinner will be at 7. Reserve now at 540-5678 , ext. 224. Cost is $35 per person, all inclusive.

        Full details of the Club’s 2003-04 operations will be provided at the annual meeting in April, but members will be glad to know that we have ended the year with our operating budget in the black. The Board has been keeping a careful watch on expenses, and our manager and controller have been doing a great job. Thank you, Felix and Syed. The profit means that we have to borrow less to carry through needed renovations and repairs. We must, for example, replace our dishwasher (around $100,000) and upgrade our salad bar to provide better refrigeration. These are just two of the big ticket items that lie ahead of us.

        See next month’s newsletter for details of our customary pre-election presentation and discussion of issues and prospects. Come to the Club for the meeting and stay on for dinner afterwards.

        In the new academic year we are continuing the Club's bargain 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. Pickup 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.