Stephens Alumnae Class of '80 Alumnae E-Newsletter January/February 2008 - Issue 70 Joy Katzen-Guthrie, Editor/Class Agent Frank Sawyer & Barbara Johnson Geller, Co-Class Presidents
In This Issue Message from Wendy B. Libby Archived Newsletters & Photos Address Changes Update from AAB Class of '78 Reunion Weekend Update Creative Writing Newsletter & Stephens Life Stephens Burrall Memories Alumnae/Faculty/Staff Updates Alumnae Club News Stephens College News Closing Comments Final Thoughts		Introduction by Joy Katzen-Guthrie, '80 Class Agent A friend of mine has announced a new class she is offering called "Feng Shui Your Brain." She points out that most of us have a desire constantly to add more to our lives. But the first thing a Feng Shui master does to improve the energy flow in life and in the home ... is to de-clutter. Today's explosion of information and products makes it possible to obtain and do almost anything. As a lover of music, I am fortunate to access, via the internet and the world market, resources that at one time were only available at the time of their creation. In preparing courses on music history, I purchase historic recordings, books, and films that place me in the front row of legendary performances - face-to-face with some of the finest artists who ever lived. It leaves me breathless. Sometimes the volume of information and resources is overwhelming, however, giving us the feeling is that we can never get enough, seek enough, or do enough. At times we must stop taking more in ... appreciate what we already have, keep what remains valuable, and give away what is no longer needed ... not only of possessions, but of emotions and experience. Spring, the season we traditionally associate with cleaning out the old and starting over, is fast upon us - and with it, the opportunity to experience Stephens anew. I hope this season brings you a new awareness and appreciation for all you have, all that comes your way, and for the support and resources you have experienced as you have walked life's path - such as that which we have received from our beloved Stephens. Joy
Message from Stephens President Wendy B. Libby Dear Alumnae, Reunion 2008 Reunion 2008 is on our minds! We're working feverishly here to create an exciting line-up of events for April 24-26, and working just as feverishly to make sure our alumnae know about Reunion 2008: An Ideal Time and are making plans to attend and bring along their Stephens friends! It is a Reunion, regardless of your class year, that no Stephens graduate should miss! There's a Gala celebrating our 175th anniversary, a Fashion Show, Class Dinners, recognition of alumnae who were Ten Ideals, an Equestrian Gala ... and the list goes on. Did I mention Rachel Gross '93's complimentary shuttle from airports in Kansas City and St. Louis? The "Stephens Special" lives! Call up your Stephens friends, connect with long-lost classmates, and come have a grand time with us as we celebrate how great we look as we turn 175! 175th Anniversary Speaking of our quartoseptcentennial (or what we simply call, "our 175th"), we have a broad array of programming planned throughout 2008. Look for a list of these events and ways you can be involved in the celebrations at our soon-to-be-unveiled Web site: www.stephens.edu/175. It launched at the end of January, in conjunction with our campus kick-off celebration, and will feature photo galleries, online communities, message boards, blogs and more - you can participate no matter where you are! Vice President for Academic Affairs announcement I recently shared the following wonderful announcement with our campus community: Following months of searching, deliberating and interviewing, the Search Committee for the Vice President for Academic Affairs concluded its work after the close of classes in December. The committee forwarded its recommendations to the President, and an offer was then extended to the chosen candidate. Dr. Mary Hassinger has accepted my invitation to become the Vice President for Academic Affairs at Stephens College beginning July 1, upon Dr. Rex Stevens' retirement. Dr. Hassinger is currently the dean of the School of Letters and Sciences and professor of chemistry at Viterbo University (a former women's college) in La Crosse, Wis. She will be responsible for enhancing the quality and curriculum of our academic programs, developing the College's assessment process and continuing the academic renaissance of Stephens. Dr. Hassinger has worked in higher education for nearly 25 years. At Viterbo University, she also serves as the director of the U.S. Department of Education's Title III Strengthening Institutions Program, which aims to implement program assessment and active learning across the institution. She has been a member of the Viterbo chemistry faculty since 1983. She has a B.S. in chemistry with a minor in physics from the University of Minnesota-Duluth and a M.S. and Ph.D. in analytical chemistry from Purdue University. We look forward to having her at Stephens, and know she will bring great experience and perspective to her new role! Of course, our confidence has much to do with the fine work accomplished by the search committee. Please join me in congratulating the committee members for their hard work and dedication to Stephens! Michael Bowling Kirsty Buchanan Mimi Hedges Tara Giblin Susan Bartel Kristin Parran, student Carol Julian Deb Duren And thanks to all of you for taking the time to meet with our VPAA candidates while they were here on campus. Your input was vital and very much appreciated in this search process. As always, thank you for your love of Stephens and your devotion. Wendy B. Libby, Ph.D. President Archived Stephens Newsletters And Expanded Online Alumnae Photos! You may view this issue and past issues of this newsletter since summer '07 at: http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs008/1101661286535/archive/1101846741751.html If you are seeking copies of earlier newsletters, contact me at joyfulnoise@earthlink.net to have me resend them to you by email. I have expanded the Stephens alumnae pages on my website at: http://www.joyfulnoise.net/stephens/stephens1.html New direct links by topic to pages from various classes, reunion, and alumnae photo collections have been added at the bottom of each page. Additionally, you can scroll from page to page through a "walk through" link under the bottom photo on each page, which takes you through the pages by number. Alumnae Address Changes UNDELIVERABLE (I have been unable to reach alumnae at the following addresses. If you know of new or alternate addresses for these individuals, please let me know at joyfulnoise@earthlink.net) Renee Aten '80, atenrm@ix.netcom.com Janice Crane Spears '80, JSpears@mfaincorporated.com Samantha Sudduth '03, Azthesbo82@cs.com Becky Fisher Swanberg '85, fishswan@adelphia.net Charla Foster Wash '67, cwash@verizon.net CHANGE: The following new addresses replace previous ones: Becky Behringer Degrasse '60, rbdegrasse@att.net Susan May Daniels '55, susantrav@hotmail.com Sheri Greenberg Gadberry '91, sgadberry@comcast.net Barbara Kabakoff '73, bkabakof@comcast.net Cindy Albery Nichols '82, cnichols0760@gmail.com Sarah Sandberg '97, sarahsandberg@hotmail.com Sara Stevenson Sarna '80, sarna1991@hotmail.com Sarah Greenlee Schweiger '99, sarahgschweiger@hotmail.com Linda "Widdi" Henning Turner '84, widdi@mac.com Davie Carter Westmoreland '64, dcwfreebird@aol.com Pat Pickett Wilbern '50, pwillbern@comcast.net ADD: Mary Allice Greenamyer '80, magreenamyer@exinnhotel.com Update from Alumnae Association Board Sisters! I want to encourage you to connect with other Stephens alumnae on the stephens.edu web site. Click on the Alumnae tab and then on the Alumnae Blog tab and you can read the blogs of several recent graduates who are out in the work world now. I am particularly awed by the writings of Janee Jones, a "Teach for America" teacher in the Mississippi Delta. If you are a blogger elsewhere, I encourage you to sign on to our page and link to your regular site or cut and paste, so that more alumnae can share in your thoughts and life. There also is a tab for the Alumnae Online Community. This is a short format that most typically has been used by alumnae looking for "lost" friends and roommates. It is a bulletin board for announcements by alumnae. There's an announcement about an informal Zeta Phi Delta reunion in March on the site now. I would love to see more contributions to both these web pages. It is exciting to read about the many achievements of Stephens women. On the Alumnae Association Board we have talked for several years about creating an opportunity for alumnae to get the word out about their own businesses and projects. Someday we may master the logistics of an Alumnae Yellow Pages. But in the meantime, the Online Community page is an opportunity for you to say hi and here's my website for the jewelry I design, or to post some of the information that you also send to Joy for this wonderful newsletter. In Stephens Spirit (and see you at the 175th!) Patty Burnett, Class of '67 Alumnae Association Board President PABURNETT@aol.com Class of '78 Reunion Update from Janeen Bjork Hey Class of 1978 and friends, As promised, I'm back with a Reunion 2008 update. CLASS OF 1978 DINNER: We booked the Top of the Tiger for Friday, April 25, 2008 from 7:30-midnight. Dinner is $35, including after-dinner entertainment, wine, taxes and tips. I'm going to need checks as well as your designated entrée and wine preference (white or red) no later than April 11, 2008. We've got choices of chicken, tilapia, and pork. The fixed menu-items are salad, vegetables, potatoes, bread, wine, iced tea, coffee and strawberry shortcake. If you're a teetotaler, let me know, it will save you a few dollars. We opened the dinner up to other classes even before being asked, "Can we crash your class dinner?" At the suggestion of Leslie White Clay (Class of '79) and with encouragement from Mary Ann Tyrrell (Class of '79 co-prez), we have a post-dinner program of entertainment in the works. Brenda De Martini-Squires ('79) is writing a special poem which will get its premiere during the program and Jeanette Poillon ('79) told me she may have a video to share. Deb Conard Baldwin ('77) is loaning us her electric piano and although she will have to get a show launched that night before she joins us, I hope she will let us hear her gorgeous singing voice. There are 45 people who made varying levels of commitment to attend our class dinner. For those who are trying to juggle that weekend with work and family commitments, I wanted to get the agenda to you as soon as I had it. Feel free to call me with any questions you may have. While everyone receiving this email is welcome to join us for dinner or the post-dinner festivities, I'm particularly interested in finding some 1978 classmates to perform. I may be reading bits of emails and providing commentary on my last year as your president. There has been a lot of comedy. For those of you who were mourning the passing of the Regency Downtown (fondly called the Taj or the Taj Mahal by those who remember its Indian restaurant), they will be open rather than being under demolition/construction for reunion weekend. Stephens has a hold on 50 rooms at the Regency. The double room rate is $60 night. If you want to be close to campus, you can't do any better. As for the Regency's amenities ... it's close to campus. Ardith Hamilton Kirchoff had suggested the Stony Creek Inn for those of you who wanted a more comfortable setting and had them set aside rooms for our class. Several people have reserved rooms at the Hampton Inn as well. Correction to my Jewels & Jods: Prince Of Wales Horse Show email. Yes, the emcee and auctioneer will be Buddy Waggoner. No, he is not from Saddle & Bridle magazine. Rather he's an auctioneer, horse breeder and exhibitor from Kentucky.  Media from Saddle & Bridle, The National Horseman, Saddle Horse Report, and other major equestrian publications will attend the event and publicize Stephens' celebration of its 175th anniversary. We have an official schedule of events for the college's 175th birthday celebration and the class of 1978's 30th reunion weekend:  http://www.stephens.edu/alumnae/events/reunion/2008/agenda.asp Roommates and car pools: Judy Taylor Preston and Mary Ellen George are driving to reunion together and have offered to pick up anyone between Columbus, OH and Columbia, MO who wants to ride along. I know there are other people who may be offering rides, looking for rides, or roommates. Let me know if I can help. This is going to be a great weekend. I hope to see you there! Janeen Bjork President, Class of 1978 P.O. Box 454 Old Greenwich, CT 06870 (203) 698-4927 b_janeen@yahoo.com English/Creative Writing Newsletter & Stephens Life The Stephens English/Creative Writing Department through the efforts of Department Chair Dr. Judith Clark and Sigma Tau Delta members, has put together a wonderful newsletter about English/Creative Writing activities and staff.  You may view a copy of the spring '07 issue here. My thanks to Tom Dillingham for sharing this publication with us. ```````````````````````` Additionally, you may view the first online issue of Stephens Life (February 4, 2008) here: http://www.stephenslife.com/ Stephens Burrall Memories Dear Stephens Alumnae, This semester, St. Louis area freshmen at Stephens received a copy of Stephens Burrall Mem'ries, thanks to alumnae who helped with the cost of the books. The purpose of the Burrall intergenerational project is to establish a connection between freshmen and alumnae and to give the freshmen knowledge of the historical significance of Stephens' religious past. I was delighted to receive an email recently from Jennifer Brady, a freshman, and she has given me permission to share her comments. She wrote, "I received the Burrall book and it was fantastic to be able to read about all the ladies that have attended here. I wish we still have a denomination at the school or some sort of religious affiliation. I think it would teach a lot to the young women here. The book actually helped me in my decision to stay at Stephens. In the beginning, I was having a bit of a difficult time adjusting, and I thought that if this many women still love Stephens, and give credit to making them who they are today, then Stephens is right for me. I feel that Stephens will help me find myself, and make a contribution to society." If you haven't shared your favorite memory of Vespers, Evening Prayer, or other Burrall activity, please send it to me. My goal is to have 175 alumnae memories for the 2008-175th anniversary edition. YOU can make a difference. Thank you, Marge Phillippe Kelley, Class of 1952 President, Classic Classes Alumnae Association Board mkelley2@mail.win.org  Alumnae, Faculty, & Staff Updates ALUMS ON BROADWAY! Congratulations to three Stephens Alumnae on Broadway: Becca Ayers '96 just finished Les Miserables at the Broadhurst Theatre on Broadway.  Heather Ayers '93 is performing in Young Frankenstein at The Hilton Theatre on Broadway and Amber Stone '97 is performing in Grease at The Brooks Atkinson on Broadway! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- JANE ELLEN ASHLEY, Haa68jea54@aol.com, Former Faculty We had a first ever Weekend Reunion of 16 of the "wonderful women of Stephens" who worked in Student Life in the late 70's and early 80's. It is going to be such fun! Some of us have been in touch, some have not done so for years. We all have a strong bond to each other, the fine work that we did together and our dedication to Stephens as she was then and is becoming again. See our group photo, which will be included in the Spring Edition of "Ideal Connection," at http://www.joyfulnoise.net/stephens/stephens92.html Row 1: Margie Wade, '65-'82; Cathy Scroggs, '76-'84; Marta Halter, '79-'81; Kathy Davis '81-'85 Row 2: Marilyn White, '79-'94; Connie Beachler, '82-'85; Dianne Reed '81-'99; Susan Komives, '78-'85; Jane Ellen Ashley, '70-'91; Margaret Campbell, '74-present; Debbie Kendig Heida, '79-'81. Row 3: Cheryl Boots, '77-'80. Cherie Dupuis, '90-'00; Betty Kuenzel Fuller, '79-'80 and '83-'85. The Reunion began with the idea of Connie Beachler for Susan Komives and Jane Ellen Ashley to spend a "girls' weekend" together in Columbia in the Fall and grew into what was the first ever "Wonderful Women of Stephens Reunion," January 11-13. The group included women who worked in Student Life at Stephens from 1965 - 1999, some of whom had never met each other previously. Between small group gatherings on Friday evening, a tour of the renovated buildings on campus led by Margaret Campbell, with her usual "splash of panache," lunch at Addisons and our traditional potluck dinner at the home of Cathy Scroggs, we became re/acquainted, shared much love, admiration, joy and humor, some professional networking for those employed in higher ed. today - and fond memories of and admiration for Stephens as she is undergoing her Renaissance. Susan provided a delightful presentation of photos, covering the years that we shared, on her laptop, aided by the work of Ralph Komives. He burned CD copies for each of us. We shared a closing brunch at TK Brothers, where we were joined by Dell Keepers, '75-'83; Mary and Gene Schmidtlein, '59-'93; Irene Alexander, '80-'08; Sue Luger '76-'08; and Bennie Ruth Gilbert as well as some colleagues from Student Life at UMC. We are committed to continuing these reunions in years to come. Quite a testament to each woman, the team of which we were a part and our love of Stephens. ~Jane Ellen ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LESLIE WHITE CLAY '79, clayjlaw@mindspring.com, Dallas, TX Success to Leslie, who started a new job this week as the Director of Community Development with LIFT (Literacy Instruction For Texas), a 40+ year old non profit dedicated to adult and family literacy.    Leslie White Clay, Director of Community Development LIFT 2121 Main Street, Suite 100 Dallas, TX  75201 214.824.2000 ext 230 www.lift-texas.org Forging the Keys to Self-reliance & Hope ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SUSAN MAY DANIELS '55, susantrav@hotmail.com, Salem, SC We have moved from Wisconsin to South Carolina. Since December 4th, our address is: Susan Daniels-Swain, 2 Channel Lane  Salem SC 29676. Our Wisconsin Green bay Shore property sold in 3.5 weeks and we were moving a month later, so it was a VERY active, busy time. Meanwhile I am still up to my ears in photography and was honored with an award of Excellence at a show in Sturgeon Bay WI, and one of my photos was chosen to be published in the Wisconsin Green Fund calendar for 2009. E-mail is still the same: susantrav@hotmail.com Best to all, Susan Daniels, Class of 55 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CATHERINE DAY, '78, McLean, VA Catherine Day's outstanding work is to be found on a number of sites regarding a show and lecture she has been presenting. Rosalind Moulton has sent us these links and mentions that Catherine was one of her first photo students at Stephens. http://loudounextra.washingtonpost.com/photos/2008/jan/26/ http://loudounextra.washingtonpost.com/photos/2008/jan/26/9034/ http://www.nvcc.edu/Loudoun/ArtGallery/Day.html http://www.loyola.edu/gallery/ http://www.fcnp.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2457&Itemid=36 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- JOY HAYNES '93, joy@joyhaynes.com, Washington, DC I went into private practice with my dad this past August. We have an immigration law firm in Washington, DC -  of course, he has been practicing just a little bit longer than me - almost 40 years! So, I have a great mentor in him. I am still acting and producing. I just shot a national Coke commercial that stars Bill Frist and James Carville. You should be seeing it on your television soon -- I play the studio production assistant on a live talk program that they both walk off of. I also just produced and acted in a short film that I am currently submitting to festivals. Hopefully, on the next round of updates, I will have some good news regarding that!   On another note, I am off today to Denver, Colorado to visit Lara Holley '93. I haven't seen her in about five years, so it is a reunion long overdue!  I saw Missy Doty '93 over Christmas, as her parents just moved to Baltimore. I also met up with Heather Ayers '93 in NYC last week while I was up there for the day. Heather is on Broadway in the new Mel Brooks musical, Young Frankenstein!   If anyone is ever in DC, please don't hesitate to look me up! Joy! SAG/AFTRA www.joyhaynes.com 202-448-2919 917-974-0722 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BOB JOHNSTON '70, accie@earthlink.net, Jackson, MS My name is Bob Johnston. I graduated from Stephens in 1970 ... in the rotation of the male students, I was the 5th one to graduate, a year after Rob Doyen and Fred Holmertz. An article appeared in the local Mississippi Newspaper along with a one minute video on my new one man play entitled, THE MAN FROM ALDERSGATE with BJ Johnston. Here is the link: http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008801020320 On the right of the article, is a button taking you to a 90 second video taken at a recent local performance. I hope you will take a minute to read and look at it:http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080101/VIDEO/71231029 (Click on the video titled "The Man From Aldersgate") And please visit the show's site at: www.kareproductions.com I'd love to hear from my Stephens friends. Sincerely, Bob BJ Johnston THE MAN FROM ALDERSGATE with BJ Johnston 1473 Tracewood Drive Jackson, MS  39211 601-951-1761 accie@earthlink.net www.kareproductions.com Play tells story of Methodist founder by Jean Gordon · January 2, 2008 ©2008 The Clarion-Ledger PHOTO ON SITE: Actor BJ Johnston of Jackson plays the role of Methodist founder John Wesley in the one-man play, The Man From Aldersgate, at the Chateau Ridgeland retirement community. A former missionary, Johnston will perform the play five times around the metro throughout the month. Details RIDGELAND - Dressed in a white wig and tall black boots, BJ Johnston walked among the crowd in Chateau Ridgeland's dining room telling the story of one of Protestant Christianity's most influential men. "I felt my heart strangely warmed," Johnston said, playing the role of John Wesley. "I felt I did trust in Christ, and Christ alone, for my salvation." Since last spring, Johnston, 60, has been bringing Wesley's words to life through the one-man play, The Man from Aldersgate. Though Wesley is known as the founder of the Methodism, Johnston's performances have drawn diverse audiences including Baptists, Catholics, Presbyterians, Methodists and people who don't adhere to any particular faith. "It's a play about transformation," Johnston said. "People are very much thinking about their own situation as they see the play." Johnston will stage the play around the metro area five times this month, including performances at Belhaven College and Briarwood Presbyterian Church in Jackson, Lakeside Presbyterian Church and St. Peters by the Lake Episcopal Church in Brandon and Edwards United Methodist Church in Edwards. Johnston has appeared in more than 50 theater productions throughout the United States. Before moving to Jackson five years ago, the Seattle-area native served for 13 years as a missionary in Hawaii, directing the Youth With a Mission College of the Arts at the University of the Nations. In Jackson, he formerly worked as the director of development for the arts at Belhaven College. Though he's not a Methodist, Johnston said he related to Wesley's conversion story and believes anyone can draw inspiration from learning about him. "Beyond my own study of Wesley, I really began to understand more about his life as I read and I began to see there's a tremendous story here," Johnston said. Born in England in 1703, Wesley was an Anglican minister who led a religious revival that started the Methodist movement in England and the United States. The Man from Aldersgate was written by playwright Brad L. Smith and is compiled directly from Wesley's journals. At the beginning of the play, Wesley stops at an inn to rest his horses. When he looks up and discovers the audience, he begins to share his life story. Former Belhaven College dean of the arts Colin Harbinson, who now runs a global arts partnership based at the college called StoneWorks, has seen the original version of the play. "Wesley was a major influence in the Christian world and this play really captures the essence of his character and his mission," he said. "I think it's history and art and entertainment wrapped up in one, with theology being a very strong part." Harbinson worked with Johnston during the 1990s launching major arts festivals in such countries as Russia, China and Bulgaria. "BJ is a very accomplished artist," Harbinson said. "He has always wanted to use that in the context of his Christian faith and his life." Johnston has been performing the play mostly in churches around Mississippi and in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Indiana and Seattle. He recently staged the play at St. Luke's United Methodist Church in Jackson. "I was kind of blown away when I saw it," said St. Luke's pastor the Rev. Heather Hensarling. "One of the things that was so powerful about it was unlike another one or two Wesley interpretations I've seen, B.J. used actual text from journals and letters." Hensarling said Johnston's performance drew mostly church visitors who sat in rapt attention during the 50-minute performance. "You really do get a deeper sense of the struggle of John Wesley in his own commitment," she said. Johnston said the arts can be a powerful vehicle for delivering God's message. "I encourage people to see the arts as a viable way not so much to preach but to see truth and depict beauty," he said. "I see drama like that, as a creative way to get to the truth." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CATHERINE ROGERS JONSSON '77, shalimarstudio@yahoo.com, Sweden I've been busy doing loads of substitute teaching in art and English in the local school district here in Lidkoping, Sweden. In the evenings I'm banging away at the computer organizing my next workshop series. I'm glad to report that the workshops are filling up!  Anyone interested in art therapy with children are very welcome to attend. The workshop website is www.paintedchild.com   The Healing Children through Creativity Workshop and I will be traveling to the following locations: Portland Art Museum, Portland, Oregon, March 20 and 21, 2008 Seattle Central Community College, Seattle, Washington, March 24 and 25, 2008, CEUs available The Anchorage Museum, Anchorage, Alaska, April 10 and 11, 2008, CEUs available HEALING CHILDREN THOUGH CREATIVITY WORKSHOPS Portland - Seattle - Anchorage -  www.paintedchild.com         Child Art Therapy Training Workshops Healing Children Through Creativity with registered Art Therapist Catherine Rogers Jonsson, MFA, MA, ATR All Workshops are limited to 20 participants. _______________________________________   The Child Art Therapy Training Workshop introduces the basic principles and practice of art therapy with emotionally and behaviorally troubled children. This two-day workshop blends theories and experiential exercises offering a thorough introduction in use of visual art as a powerful treatment modality for children. This training event reviews the history of art therapy, important evaluation techniques used by art therapists and six case studies with child client/patient artworks in power-point presentations. This is an experiential workshop! As a participant you are invited to draw, paint and sculpt a variety of art therapeutic exercises that help troubled children identify and express their thoughts, feelings, conflicts, strengths and increase their self-esteem. The Virtual Art Gallery of Catherine Rogers Jonsson www.catherinerogersjonsson.com Catherine Rogers Jonsson at Saatchi Gallery Online: http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/yourgallery/artist_profile/Catherine+Rogers%20Jonsson/181.htm ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- JOY KATZEN-GUTHRIE '80, joyfulnoise@earthlink.net, Tampa Bay Area, FL I will be in China for nearly a month, departing with a current group of thirteen on March 25th to lead my sixth Heritage Tour of China. I have individuals from around the country joining me and recently had someone sign up for the tour, so can still reserve travelers as space is available. If you have an interest, please contact me immediately and I'll send you a detailed itinerary. In addition to the main tour (two weeks) visiting Beijing, Xi'an, Suzhou, and Shanghai, four of us are traveling on a revised ten-day extension through villages, towns, and cities within the exquisite Yangtze River Basin between Shanghai to Nanjing. There is time to join either or both tours. To see more, visit http://www.joyfulnoise.net/tours/china7.html. A beautiful article in the St. Petersburg Times and the Jews of China was featured in December; you can see the full article here. On March 13th I will present a full day of programs (two classes, one concert) for the Baltimore JCC (Owings Mills location) and will return on June 16th for the Baltimore JCC's Learn-Inn Program in Westminster for two additional classes and a concert. On June 23rd I will be returning to the Boca/Boynton Beach area to present a class or lecture/concert for Grand Edventures (TBA) and am now booking additional visits in that area, if you'd like to recommend a possibility. I am traveling more and would love to hear from you if you would enjoy a program in your area. A promotional kit is here, and a listing of sample programs is here Additionally, my schedule in the Tampa Bay/Central Florida region has been intense with classes, lectures, and concerts in addition to my preparation for China. Please visit my online calendar with full details of the above and much more. Joy http://www.joyfulnoise.net ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ERIN KELLEY '86 & LARRY MABREY '88, ATC@avalontheatre.org, St. Louis, MO Please note all the Stephens connections highlighted - it's pretty amazing!  A testament to the talent cultivated at Stephens. Please feel free to contact me with any questions.  ~Erin, erinkelley15@sbcglobal.net Avalon Theatre company is proud to present the world premiere of LITTLE BOSNIA. This groundbreaking play, commissioned by Avalon, focuses on the St. Louis Bosnian community, one of the largest cultural groups in our city. Written by St. Louis native and professional playwright, Cristina Pippa (daughter of Stephens alum Susan Blesi McNary), LITTLE BOSNIA is about the St. Louis Bosnian community and is inspired by interviews with Bosnian refugees and their families overseas.  Directed by Avalon artistic director, Larry Mabrey (Stephens '88), with original music by St. Louis composer, Dan Rubright, LITTLE BOSNIA features a blended cast of St. Louis theatre professionals and local professional Bosnian actors: Saso Cemerski, Jason Contini, Mirza Halilovic, Theresa Hermann (Stephens '06), Anela Islamovic, Elma Mujanovic, Anna Paniccia, and Susie Wall (Stephens '74). The Thursday, April 10 preview performance is already sold out!LITTLE BOSNIA runs April 11 - 20, with performances on Thursdays, Fridays, & Saturdays @ 8 pm; Sundays @ 3 pm. Tickets:  $25 adult; $20 student/senior (60+). Group rates are available for groups of 10 or more. Call the theatre @ 314-351-6482, or visit www.avalontheatre.org. Avalon's performance space is Union United Methodist Church, 3543 Watson Road in southwest city. Avalon Theatre Company fosters opportunities for the St. Louis professional theatre artist and focuses on socially relevant and timely plays and lesser-produced classics and musicals. Avalon operates under a Small Professional Theatre contract with Actors' Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the U.S. and is organized as a 501 (c)(3) corporation. Founded in 2005 by Larry Mabrey and Erin Kelley (Stephens '86), Avalon's production history includes BOSTON MARRIAGE, A WALK IN THE WOODS, MOLLY SWEENEY, CLOSER THAN EVER, and BUS STOP. Avalon is proud to receive support from Fox Associates Charitable Foundation and the Regional Arts Commission. Larry Mabrey, Producing Artistic Director Erin Kelley, Managing Artistic Director, erinkelley15@sbcglobal.net 314-351-6482 atc@avalontheatre.org www.avalontheatre.org www.myspace.com/avalontheatreco ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SAUNDRA LANE '80, saundie@aol.com, Baton Rouge, LA Congratulations to Saundra, winner of the E. A. Pete Goldsby Award in the recent People's Choice competition for Addys ... the highest award in the Advertising Federation of Baton Rouge.  Saundra writes the following: "They called my Dad up and announced that we are the only two relatives in the 54-year history of the award that have ever won. He was the 2005 winner. We also won the People's Choice award for our TV spot that is produced for the 13th Gate Haunted House. They have been my client for 9 years and they were just named the No. 2 Best Haunted House in the US by Hauntworld Magazine. They had over 50,000 visitors in 2007!" Check out Saundra's award at: http://joyfulnoise.net/stephens/stephens93.html Visit http://www.adfedgbr.com/ to see more ... Contact her at The Lane Agency, 6615 Florida Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA  70806, 225-926-6015, fax 225-926-6018, cell 225-413-3032, lane@gerrylane.com, saundie@aol.com, http://www.gerrylane.com/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HELEN LEWIS MOORE '77, iasmusic@comcast.net, Nashville, TN Helen Lewis Moore '77 and her girl band "Queen of Hearts" recently presented concerts on Amelia Island in  Florida and at the famous Bluebird Café in Nashville. Check out Helen's website for her current schedule and her fantastic CDs, 615-294-7495, http://www.queenofhearts.info/, http://www.helenlewismoore.com/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- JANA ROBBINS '67, Janasline@aol.com, New York City Jana Robbins returned to Gettysburg College in January to teach her acting master's classes and speak to students and locals alike about producing as her Broadway musical LITTLE WOMEN plays The Majestic Theater in Gettysburg at the same time. Jana's latest producing project is THE JAZZ AGE by Allan Knee, author of LITTLE WOMEN and FINDING NEVERLAND. The play - with music - about Ernest Hemmingway, Zelda Sayre, and F Scott Fitzgerald will have its World Premier at 59E59 St Theaters is playing through March 3. For more information go to http://www.59e59.org/   Jana Robbins Better World Productions Actress/Director/Producer 212-222-7297 www.janarobbins.com UNLOCK'D winner: Best of Fest Award @ NYMF I LOVE YOU BECAUSE www.iloveyoubecausethemusical.com LITTLE WOMEN www.littlewomenonbroadway.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- KRISTEN SWANSON '79, margeaux572000@yahoo.com There's not much new going on except for the fact I've started riding! It's something I'd been wanting to do for a few years and has turned into something I love! This month I'll start volunteering with the theraputic and special needs program at the riding center where I'm taking lessons. Right now it's basic English equitation, but I'm looking to moving on from there. This past weekend I got thinking back to my days in Columbia and remembered The Prince of Wales Club Horse Show, something I would always attend and was my first real exposure to the horse world. I took a look at the Stephens website and was happy to see the club and the show still thriving. A photo of my first lesson is here: http://joyfulnoise.net/stephens/stephens92.html Kristen ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ELIZABETH SCANLON THOMAS '80, miss_mudpie@yahoo.co.uk, London So many of us '80s graduates enjoyed knowing Tom Dillingham, the English professor. I get him to send me book recommendations every year. He just accepted my friend request to join Facebook, so now he is in but has only one friend - me. Can any of you other Facebookers invite him to be your friend so he won't feel so alone in there? (Plus ask me too -- I need more friends.)   I'm just about to put up his latest reading recommendations on my blog: www.elizabethscanlonthomas.com Please take pity on me and read my blog sometime and leave wonderful comments so it'll look like I have a lot of traffic. Only my family reads it now, and I have to still stand over them and force them to read and comment. :)   I'm working at Nokia in cell phone development at their HQ outside London. My daughter is in her first year of med school, and my son is 14 and at an awkward stage. My husband works for a French bank in London, BNPParibas. Elizabeth Alumnae Club Events  [in order by state] ARIZONA: TUCSON/SOUTHERN ARIZONA CLUB Stephens Alumnae music events (and other events) are being planned for Tucson. For further information, or to participate, please contact Mary Ann Tyrrell '79, Acting Coordinator of the Stephens Club of Southern Arizona, at (520) 760-4543 (phone & fax). ______________________________________________________________________________________________ CALIFORNIA: NORTHERN CALIFORNIA STEPHENS ALUMNAE CLUB To be on the email list for the Northern California Stephens club or to receive the most recent club newsletter or membership form, please contact Margaret Horn '81 at mhorn@vom.com. We are in our 11th year as an active alumnae chapter dedicated to the College and its mission and goals at the same time preserving what we all hold so dear about Stephens College. Last year we were again the recipients of a very prestigious club award given by Stephens at Reunion Weekend. The 2007 AAB Foundation for the Future Award was given to us because we offered invaluable support in the area of scholarship and student retention. The Stephens College Chapter of Northern California donated $1,000 to the School of Design and Fashion at Stephens this past school year in support of their programs. Our own scholarship recipient, Kate Yu, a Junior 2007-8, is a student of that department. Kate is working on a BFA in Interior Design and a BA in Graphics and Fine Arts Design. ~Margaret Hitzmann Horn '81, Club Contact, mhorn@vom.com ______________________________________________________________________________________________ CALIFORNIA: ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA ALUMNAE CLUB The Orange County Stephens Club has recently celebrated its 50th birthday. I am President of the Orange County [CA] Stephens Alumnae Club. We meet about 3 or 4 times a year. All friends and Alums in Southern California are most welcome. ~ Patricia (Patty) Bowman Evans '55, pbe330@webtv.net ______________________________________________________________________________________________ COLORADO: DENVER ALUMNAE CLUB The annual Colorado Endowed Scholarship had been awarded for the 2007-2008 academic year to  Kyra Koelling, Theatre Arts, Boulder, CO and Clair Anderson, Theatre Arts, Elizabeth, CO. The Fund has a current market value of $70,240. Alumnae are encouraged to continue supporting the Renaissance of Stephens through gifts to the Annual Fund and the Colorado Endowed Scholarship Fund. The Club cookbook "Stephens Remembered --Recollections and Recipes" remains available through Ramona Adams Kemper '59, 103 Grand View Circle, Mead, CO  80542, 970-535-6190 or RBKemper@aol.com. The Cookbook will also continue to be available at the College Bookshelf, and as advertised in The Ideal Connection.  (All proceeds support the Endowed Scholarship Fund.) Ramona Adams Kemper '59, RBKEMPER@aol.com ______________________________________________________________________________________________ DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA: STEPHENS CLUB OF GREATER WASHINGTON, D.C. For information about the Stephens College Alumnae Club of Greater Washington, contact President Ann Little, ata_little@verizon.net ______________________________________________________________________________________________ FLORIDA ALUMNAE CLUBS http://www.joyfulnoise.net/stephens/stephens29.html Current Florida contacts are: CENTRAL FLORIDA ALUMNAE CLUB (Greater Tampa Bay Area) - Joy Katzen-Guthrie '80, 727-785-4568, joyfulnoise@earthlink.net & Sarah Greenlee Schweiger, '99, sgreenle@tampabay.rr.com ORLANDO/LAKELAND AREA, Linda Schwartz Barressi '77, 407-415-1020, lindabarr@earthlink.net SARASOTA AREA:  Heidi Griffith '56, hgrif0412@aol.com, 941-928-9510 cell, OCALA/VILLAGES AREA:  Floy Edna Leuenberger '57/'73, fcl@prodigy.net GREATER PALM BEACH AREA: Nancy Gernand '88, nangernand@gmail.com _____________________________________________________________________________________________ ILLINOIS: CALL TO CHICAGO AREA ALUMNAE We have a contact person in Peotone for a group. Her name is Helen Bieronski '47. P.O. Box 416, Peotone, IL 60468-0416, 847-256-6797. I am led to believe that Chicago was once very active. There are lots of women in the area. If anyone is interested in trying to get some folks together, we can provide lists. ~Erin Danneman '00, ered78@yahoo.com ______________________________________________________________________________________________ INDIANA/KENTUCKY Contact 502/244-4808 to Beth Ackerson for details on upcoming events. ______________________________________________________________________________________________ MINNESOTA: MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL ALUMNAE CLUB The Stephens College Alumnae Club of Minneapolis and Saint Paul features regular events and gatherings. Minnesota challenges all other clubs to do everything possible for support Stephens. For details on all club activities, contact: Jackie Jacobson Steele '66-'68, JackJoIron@aol.com ______________________________________________________________________________________________ MISSOURI: COLUMBIA, MISSOURI ALUMNAE CLUB The Stephens College Alumnae Club of Boone County (Columbia, MO) just featured its 2nd Sweet Susie Soiree this weekend. Call Kimberly Lakin Mize '90 to participate in future events, 573-256-7711 or kimberlylakin@hotmail.com With a base of more than 1,000 Stephens alumnae living in the greater Boone County area, the Columbia Alumnae Club has, for many years, provided private scholarship assistance to deserving young local women. With the renaissance of Stephens College in recent years, the number of outstanding local Stephens students has increased. In 2007, the Columbia Alumnae Club established the Stephens College Boone County Scholarship Endowment, seeking to provide local financial assistance in perpetuity, with a fundraising goal of $100,000. ______________________________________________________________________________________________ MISSOURI:  KANSAS CITY AREA ALUMNAE CLUB For more information regarding the KC Alumnae Clubs, contact Kathleen Brandt, 816-960-1052 or stephensalums@aol.com ______________________________________________________________________________________________ MISSOURI: ST. LOUIS AFTERNOON ALUMNAE CLUB The St. Louis Club raises funds to provide a scholarship for a St. Louis area Stephens student and meets on the fourth Wednesday of the month, September-May. For more information on any of these activities, please contact Sally at 314/968-4653 (otherwise known as 968-GOLF) or sally4653@earthlink.net regarding any of these events or joining the club. ______________________________________________________________________________________________ NEW YORK: GREATER NEW YORK CITY AREA ALUMNAE CLUB If you live in the New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut area and would like more information on the Greater New York Area Alumnae Club, please contact Rita Ann Jana '99 at TheatreBFA@aol.com. If you know any new alums that have moved to the NY/NJ/CT area, please let me know. Our alumnae club is a wonderful way to network and connect with local alumnae. ______________________________________________________________________________________________ TEXAS: AUSTIN AREA ALUMNAE CLUB: Please contact Cecilia Hitzmann Howells '83 at chitzm@yahoo.com for information on upcoming events. ______________________________________________________________________________________________ TEXAS: DALLAS ALUMNAE CLUB The Dallas Stephens Alumnae Club has just established an endowment scholarship. We are so excited about the accomplishments the club members achieved in order to make this happen. We have had extremely  successful annual fund raiser luncheons and that money was added to the receipts from the sale of our Halcyon Days Stephens Boxes. Scholarships generated from this endowment will be available to Texas students.   The following 2008 slate of officers has been announced: President, Ginger Simmons, '65 1st VP/President Elect, Charlotte Massey '55, 2nd VP/ Newsletter, Beth Mates '71, Secretary, Jane Ferguson' 55, Treasurer, Mildred Patterson '60 and Historian, Carol Foley '55.   The annual Fund Raiser Luncheon, now being held in the fall, has been scheduled for October 22, 2008, at the Park Cities Club in Dallas, Texas. Becky Beringer DeGrasse '60 is the luncheon chair, b.degrasse@tx.rr.com Our Lunch Bunch group meets at different restaurants around the city each month, and the group attendees change from month to month, so if one is a regular, she will see many alums throughout the year. For details contact  Barbara Leath at bleath@verizon.net or Charlotte Massey at chmassey@sbcglobal.net. ~Mildred Patterson, treasurer Dallas Stephens Alumnae Club, Anniemsp@aol.com ______________________________________________________________________________________________ WASHINGTON, D.C.  (See DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA) ______________________________________________________________________________________________ WASHINGTON STATE: SEATTLE ALUMNAE CLUB Officers (2005-7) for the Seattle Stephens Alumnae Club are Co-presidents Sara Jane Johnson (sarajaneorcas@earthlink.net) & Nona Barker '53 (barkerj411@aol.com), Programs Katie Marble '96 (katie.marble@nordstrom.com). Treasurer Judy Campbell '53.For information on this event or the club, call Mary Lou at 206-523-3774. ______________________________________________________________________________________________ WISCONSIN: MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN ALUMNAE CLUB The Stephens Alumnae Club in Milwaukee continues fund raising to increase the Carol Soik Wisconsin Scholarship payout. So far we've raised $2200 in the past 2 years. For future event information, contact  Anne Ruttger Neafie '78, neafie@wi.rr.com, 262.797.6562 Stephens College News Reprinted From February 2008 issue of Current E-vents, an email newsletter designed to give you an up-to-the-minute look at Stephens College. See this email online here Happy Birthday, Stephens! The Stephens community kicked off its year-long celebration of 175 years with a campus-wide birthday party on Jan. 31 in the Kimball Ballroom of Lela Raney Wood Hall. A packed house of faculty, staff and students gathered for musical entertainment provided by Stephens' vocal jazz ensemble The Velvetones and the Stephens Concert Choir; a special video presentation; and a Peter Pan-themed skit (in reference to former teacher Maude Adams who played Peter Pan on Broadway); and, of course, birthday cake. 2008 Alumnae Awards It's time to nominate Stephens alumnae for the 2008 Alumnae Achievement Award and 2008 Alumnae Service Award. The Alumnae Achievement Award is a way of recognizing alumnae who have distinguished themselves in their chosen field, their community and have a steadfast commitment to the Ten Ideals of Stephens. This award is the highest honor bestowed on our alumnae. Read about last year's Alumnae Achievement Award Winner: Mary Josie Can Blanchard '67 of Washington, DC. Nominate an alumna The Alumnae Service Award is given to alumnae who have given their time, ideas and support to Stephens, their fellow alumnae and current students. Award winners can be members of the Alumnae Association Board or Former Alumnae Board, class or club presidents, alumnae who support admissions through their participation in fairs or hosting events in their hometown, or anyone who generally helps to forward the mission of Stephens College through their volunteer efforts. Read about last year's Alumnae Service Award winners: Wendy Parish Anderson '92 of Austin, Texas, and Michael Quevli '84 of North Hollywood, California (The first male graduate to receive such an award from Stephens). Nominate an alumna If you have questions, please contact Kim Boothe Ritten '83 at (573)-876-7109 or kritten@stephens.edu. The winner for both awards will be announced at Reunion 2008 during the Faculty/Alumnae Bistro on Friday, April 25. Stephens' 175th Web site A special Web site has been created to celebrate Stephens' 175th Anniversary. Be sure to visit the site, where you can share your Stephens memories, download desktop backgrounds, find out about upcoming special events, read up on (or learn something new about) Stephens' history and much more! Visit www.stephens.edu/175/. Stephens events and news View upcoming Stephens College events and sign up to receive events in your email inbox. You also can receive the latest Stephens news stories via email. Sign up today. If you have any questions or would like to learn more about the events or topics mentioned in these newsletters, please contact the Stephens College Office of Alumnae Relations at (573) 876-7110; alumnae@stephens.edu; 1200 E. Broadway, Columbia, MO __________________________________________________________________________________ View more Stephens news/feature stories at: http://www.stephens.edu/news/ Closing Comments I hope to release a next issue in March 2008 before I depart for China. Please send updates for Club events and calendars for next year, address changes, and any news of yourself and other alumnae. Thank you for sharing the newsletter with alumnae, faculty, staff, and friends of the college.  ~Joy Final Thoughts If we chase after meditation, it will never come, and yet to the interested mind, it may appear spontaneously. ~Maverick Sutras Harmony Grace is within you; Grace is the Self Grace is not something To be acquired from others. If it is external, it is useless. All that is necessary Is to know its existence in you. You are never out of its opration. ~Ramana Maharshi Worry is a misuse of the imagination.  ~Dan Zadra The opportunity for brotherhood presents itself every time you meet a human being. ~Jane Wyman A moment's insight is sometimes worth a life's experience.  ~Oliver Wendell Holmes

Email Marketing by