September 2008 E-Letter

Save the Date! President McAuliffe Comes to New York City, Thursday, October 23

Bryn Mawr Club of New York City Connections

• Bryn Mawr Book Club discusses The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough (September 3)
• Seven Sisters Mothers Group Meeting (September 13)
• Auditions for The Metropolitones (September 27)

Bryn Mawr Club of New York City Events On The Horizon

• Young Alumnae go to Harvest Fest 2008 at Stone Barns (October 4)

Bryn Mawr Club of New York City Connections On The Horizon

• Bryn Mawr Book Club discusses Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen (October, date and time TBA)

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Bryn Mawr Club of New York City Connections

The Bryn Mawr Book Club Discusses The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough, September 3

The Book Club's discussion of The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough, the Club's annual summer "trashy novel," rescheduled from August 6 to Wednesday, September 3, will feature two special guests with first-hand insights into the publishing and marketing of the novel and the author. Paula Diamond, '58, was Director of Subsidiary Rights at Harper & Row in 1977 and, in her own words, "conducted an obsessive year-long campaign leading up to the pre-publication auction of The Thorn Birds paperback reprint rights for a sum that established a publishing record." Paula will be accompanied by Jim Fox, who, as a lawyer for Harper & Row, took part in the negotiations with Colleen McCullough. Come hear the stories Paula and Jim have to tell and talk about The Thorn Birds, which The Boston Globe described as "the kind of book the word 'blockbuster' was made for."

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Seven Sisters Mothers Group, September 13

The group of mothers that met a couple times earlier this year for discussion and support, moderated by Magda Pecsenye, '94, and hosted by Nancy Kirk, '59, has grown into a standing group across the Seven Sisters graduates in New York City. The Seven Sisters Mothers Group gets together monthly to discuss and commune on issues surrounding pregnancy, childbirth, infants, toddlers, and children of all ages. We are hoping to harness the diversity of experience of the women in the group to share non-judgmental support and conversation that cuts through the layers of mother-rhetoric. Seven Sisters alumnae will be the core of the group, but other mothers are welcome; so reach out to others and bring your friends.

Lap babies are welcome; light refreshments will be provided. Please RSVP to Nancy at NancyKirk9@aol.com.

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Auditions for The Metropolitones, New York City's Premier Seven Sisters Vocal Band, September 27

If you graduated from a Seven Sisters College and love to sing, consider joining New York City's hottest female "vocal band," The Metropolitiones. The 'Tones are seeking experienced and enthusiastic singers on all voice parts and will be holding auditions on Saturday, September 27. The audition will consist of range, ear and musicality testing followed by a solo song of your choice, time permitting. A cappella experience, percussion and beatbox a plus.

Auditions will begin at 10:00 a.m., end at 2:00 p.m. and last approximately 15 minutes each. Call-back auditions will be held the same day (September 27) from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Those invited to call-back auditions will be notified shortly after completion of first-round auditions at 2:30 p.m.

The Metropolitones' performance season generally runs from September to June with a slowdown during July and August. The group rehearses once a week for two hours in Manhattan; rehearsals may be more frequent as performances approach. If you are interested in trying out, e-mail director@metropolitones.com to obtain an application form and schedule an audition time. To learn more about the 'Tones, visit their website at www.metropolitones.com.

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Bryn Mawr Club of New York City Events On The Horizon

Young Alumnae Go to Harvest Fest 2008 at Stone Barns, October 4

The Young Alumnae (classes 1998-2008) will be going to Harvest Fest 2008 at Stone Barns Center in Pocantico Hills, New York on October 4. Harvest Fest will feature music and entertainment, a large farmer’s market full of goodies to satisfy every appetite, hay rides, workshops and farm demonstrations, and much, much more! Feel free to bring friends, family, children, and significant others.

RSVP to Liana Sterling by September 22 at liana.sterling@gmail.com. You are responsible for purchasing your own tickets, which must be purchased online. Tickets purchased by September 24 will be mailed; tickets purchased after September 24 will be held at will-call. Ticketing information is posted on Stone Barns Center’s website at www.stonebarnscenter.org.

Liana will be traveling to Harvest Fest from Grand Central on Metro North; you can meet her at 9:45 a.m. at the central kiosk to catch the 9:56 a.m. train to Tarrytown (cabs will be available at Tarrytown to go to Stone Barns Center). When you RSVP, please specify whether you will be traveling with the group or arriving separately. If you are traveling to Stone Barns on your own, meet the Bryn Mawr Young Alumnae group at the Center’s Entrance at 11:15 a.m.

For more information about Harvest Fest 2008 and Stone Barns, visit the Center’s website at www.stonebarnscenter.org.

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Bryn Mawr Club of New York City Connections On The Horizon

The Bryn Mawr Book Club Discusses Water For Elephants by Sarah Gruen (TBA)

The October meeting for Book Club has yet to be scheduled, but it it time to start reading the October selection, Water For Elephants by Sarah Gruen. The Publisher's Comments on Powell's Books, www.powellsbooks.com:

An atmospheric, gritty, and compelling novel of star-crossed lovers, set in the circus world circa 1932. When Jacob Jankowski, recently orphaned and suddenly adrift, jumps onto a passing train, he enters a world of freaks, grifters, and misfits, a second-rate circus struggling to survive during the Great Depression, making one-night stands in town after endless town. A veterinary student who almost earned his degree, Jacob is put in charge of caring for the circus menagerie. It is there that he meets Marlena, the beautiful young star of the equestrian act, who is married to August, the charismatic but twisted animal trainer. He also meets Rosie, an elephant who seems untrainable until he discovers a way to reach her.

Beautifully written, Water For Elephants is illuminated by a wonderful sense of time and place. It tells a story of a love between two people that overcomes incredible odds in a world in which even love is a luxury that few can afford.

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THE BMC OF NYC E-LETTER
The Bryn Mawr Club of New York City E-letter is submitted to the Alumnae Association for distribution on the first business day of each month. Items for the e-letter should be submitted to the e-mail address below by the 27th of the prior month. If you have news to share with the New York City BMC alumnae community, if you would like to have information about an upcoming event included, or if you just have a question for the Club, please contact us at brynmawrclubnyc@gmail.com. For address changes, go to http://www.brynmawr.edu/alumnae/updates.htm.