MIT Women’s League

April/May 2008 newsletter < Weight training and aerobic conditioning to enhance mobility and well-being will be a few of the topics discussed at the Catherine N. Stratton Aging Successfully lecture on April 23.

< Designed in the Exercise and Aging: 1960’s by architect I.M. Pei, the Outrunning Father Plaza in Time includes a reflecting pool, a colonnade, and a three-story April 23 • 4-6 pm stained glass Mapparium that Wong Auditorium in MIT’s Jack C. Tang visitors can view Center will be the venue for the 21st from the inside. Annual Catherine N. Stratton Aging Successfully Lecture on April 23rd from 4:00-6:00 pm. A collaborative project of First Church of Christ the MIT Medical Department and the MIT Women’s League, this year’s lecture will and Mapparium Tour focus on the effectiveness of exercise as we age with particular emphasis on the April 16 • 12:30 pm The MIT Women’s benefits of strength training. League, founded Our tour will allow us to experience the inside of the First Church of Christ, Scientist in 1913, strives to Popular media, alumni magazines and our health providers urge us to exercise (The Mother Church) built in Boston in connect women in regularly, to do “aerobic conditioning” 1894 in the American Romanesque style. the MIT community with some vigor so that this recurrent The large domed Extension completed in through activities, exercise benefits our cardiovascular 1906 combines Renaissance and Byzantine architectural concepts and houses one of interest groups, and systems, enhancing mobility and general well-being. Current evidence would add the world’s largest working pipe organs, volunteer service strength and weight training to our with 13,290 pipes. We’ll learn about Mary opportunities, exercise agendas with additional proven Baker Eddy, an important New England woman who was the Discoverer and Founder enriching their lives results. Increasing muscle mass and strength may improve balance, promote of Christian Science. and the broader MIT agility, reduce the fear and tendency of community. falling—and thus fractures—and take Our tour of the Mapparium will take us to ^ The stained glass some pressure off inflamed joints. the middle of the world via the glass bridge globe Mapparium, that spans the world-famous, three-story, housed in the stained-glass globe designed by architect Each of our distinguished panelists has library, was built vast experience in the effectiveness of Chester Lindsay Churchill in 1935. From between 1932 and exercise and strength training for older this perspective, we’ll see how ideas have 1935 by Chester adults in all settings. They will share crossed through time and geography since Lindsay Churchill. their research, clinical stories and how then and changed the world. to’s on improving our mobility and trying to avoid unnecessary frailty as we age. Please call the League office at 253.3656, (continued on page 2) or email [email protected] to reserve your place and obtain travel information. Exercise & Aging: Outrunning Father Below, The Longfellow < MIT Professor Time National Historic Sangeeta Bhatia Site in Cambridge will be the League’s (continued from page 1) preserves the home guest speaker for Moderator: of Henry Wadsworth the Annual Meeting William M. Kettyle, MD, Director of Longfellow. on May 16. MIT’s Medical Department, Internist, Endocrinologist, and Geriatrician, will employ his award-winning teaching skills to outline our topic, and assure a lively Annual Meeting discussion on the various research and May 16 • 12 Noon practical outcomes of strength training as well as cardiovascular-focused The League’s Annual Meeting will be held exercise. Friday, May 16, at 12 noon in the Emma Rogers Room, 10-340. We invite you to Panelists: join us for our business meeting, at which Anne Fabiny, MD, Chief of Geriatrics at a summary of the League’s activities and Cambridge Health Alliance, Assistant business of the past academic year will Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical Longfellow House be presented, and new and returning Board School (HMS), will discuss the issues May 7 • 12:30 pm officers for the slate will be introduced and realities of strength training for and elected. We will hear from MIT Professor the older adult. Her research on falls, Located at 105 Brattle Street near Harvard Sangeeta Bhatia and enjoy the company assessment of their contributing factors of MIT women over a delicious lunch. and fall prevention, illustrates the Square in Cambridge, this historic house was the home of Henry Wadsworth value of muscle strengthening, balance Our guest speaker Sangeeta Bhatia, MD, training and walking to help prevent Longfellow from 1837-1852. Known as a scholar and educator, he is perhaps best PhD, is Professor of Heath Sciences falling initially, and repeated falls as and Technology and Associate Professor well. known as one of America’s most famous and best-loved poets, who captured his of Electrical Engineering and Computer country’s history and culture in poetry, for Science. Her work as director of the Jonathan F. Bean, MD, MS, MPH, Laboratory for Multiscale Regenerative Medical Director of Spaulding Cambridge example, The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere and The Song of Hiawatha. Technologies focuses on using micro- Outpatient Center; Director, Research and nanotechnology tools to repair damaged Training and Education at the HMS The house, given to Longfellow as a wedding liver tissues and to detect, monitor and Department of Physical Medicine treat cancer. In 2003, MIT Technology and Rehabilitation, is a physiatrist gift, today houses the family’s collections— from family papers, paintings, sculpture, Review awarded her its TR100 Young conducting research-based assessment Innovators Award and in 2006 The Scientist and treatment for neuromuscular and historic furnishings and decorative arts to Chinese and Japanese objects, included her as one of the “Scientists to rehabilitative issues in older adults. Watch.” She holds 12 issued or pending He will present the science behind his Arts and Craft items and archeological and architectural pieces to its library. patents for both clinical and biotechnological clinically-tested investigations and applications of engineering principles. interventions to rehabilitate older adults with mobility problems. We’ll meet at 12:30 pm for a one-hour guided tour of the house and its artifacts To reserve your place at the luncheon meeting, please contact Sis de Bordenave Evelyn O’Neill, BS, is the Manager of and afterwards stroll in the newly rehabilitated historic garden. Contact at 253.3656 or email [email protected]. Outpatient Exercise Programs at the Cost of the luncheon is $15. Hebrew Rehabilitation Center, and one the League office at 253.3656 or email of the developers of the Fit for Your Life [email protected] by May 1 to reserve a exercise program used internationally. place. Fees are $3 per adult, children free. An expert in strength training and April 10 and May 8 exercise for the elderly, she teaches health care providers the importance Connections On the second These informal of the correct method of “how to do” Thursday on the monthly open houses these exercises in any setting. She will month during with coffee, tea illustrate her talk with images from her the academic year, and sweets began in work. the Women’s 2001 and continue League hosts to provide ways A question and answer period will follow Connections in for the League to the presentations. the Emma Rogers meet and welcome Room (10-340) newcomers and to from 4 pm to 6 pm. stay in touch with its members. League Interest Groups Honor Circle and Classes

to Meet in May! Exercise Your Mind

May 16 • 10 am to 11:30 am Book Discussion Nancy Hollomon The newly formed “Honor Circle,” [email protected] women who have served the Women’s Barbara Donnelly Family History Fanatics League as former first ladies, former Sharon Catto chairs and former board members, will [email protected] hold its second meeting on Friday, May Dottie Mark 16, from 10 am to 11:30 am, in the [email protected] newly refurbished Brown Living Room Honorary Matrons of McCormick Hall. The dorm is located Kathryn Ham Looking Together on Amherst Street, near the corner of League Office Amherst Street and Mass. Ave., across MIT Japanese Wives Group from MIT’s main entrance. Kimie Shirasaki

At our first meeting last fall, former first Exercise Your Body lady, Kay Stratton, humorously shared with us personal glimpses of her life as Birdwatching Mary Deyst a young girl growing up on a farm in Nancy Sweeney Virginia, meeting her husband, Jay, and MIT Gardeners’ Group her life as first lady. Peter Houk, Director League Office of the MIT Glass web.mit.edu/ Lab will present a womensleague/gardeners Our May program promises to be equally talk on the Lab’s Middle Eastern Dance enjoyable. After light refreshments we projects and activities Loni Butera at the Honor Circle will have a presentation by Peter Houk, [email protected] meeting to be held the director of MIT’s Glass Lab, who Sailing on May 16. will talk about the lab’s extra curricular Sailing Pavilion glass blowing classes, sales and special sailing.mit.edu projects, and will include samples of the exquisite work done by the lab. Get Creative Adventures in Eating Following this meeting, if your time Mary Niell permits, we hope you will attend the Deanne Sferrino MIT Glass Lab Women’s League Annual Meeting and Chorale ^ The exquisite glass ^ Pumpkin making lunch (information elsewhere in this Elizabeth Parr pumpkins were created is overseen by Peter [email protected] by students and Houk, director of Newsletter). Parking is available behind Kresge Auditorium. Call the League office web.mit.edu/womensleague/ instructors in MIT’s the Glass Lab, who womenschorale Glass Lab, where the took over leadership at 253.3656 for details and to let us Flower Arranging MIT community can in 1997, and has since know if you can attend this “reunion” Mabel Nevins learn and practice the expanded the glass of former League board members. [email protected] art of glassblowing. making programs to Informal Needlework The Great Glass include intermediate Lillian Alberty Pumpkin Patch, top, and advanced students, Beth Harling came to MIT in 2001 as well as taking Japanese Tea Ceremony after a residency in on many special Kyoko Wada, [email protected] California and was projects and an annual Jennifer Recklet founded in 1995 by fundraiser for the web.mit.edu/chado/www/ Bobby Bowes and MIT Lab. index.html alumnus Mike Binnard. Needlework Priscilla Gray Scrapbooking & Card Marking We hope you Our next 4/23 5/28 Teri Chung Notable [email protected] can join us and Connections are Book Discussion: Book Discussion: web.mit.edu/scrapbook encourage you to April 10 and The Worst Bread and Roses, Tech Community Crafters bring a newcomer, May 8. We look Hard Time: The Bruce Watson Brenda Blais, bmblais@mit. a colleague, or a forward to seeing Untold Story edu friend along with you! of Those Who you. Come when Survived the Groups meet weekly, you can and stay Great American bi-monthly or monthly. for as long as your Dust Bowl, Contact the above women can. Timothy Egan to learn more or email [email protected]. < Founded in 1888 and a United States Slate of Officers National Historic Landmark, the Boston Vote at Annual Meeting • May 16 Public Library is one of the largest public The Nominating Committee is pleased to library systems in announce the following slate of elective the country. It was also the first library officers for the Women’s League Board to to allow visitors to be voted upon at the Annual Meeting on borrow books and take Friday, May 16, 2008: them home to read.

Deborah Liverman, Vice Chair for Service Projects, 2008-2010; Diana Strange, Treasurer, 2008-2010; Suzanne BPL Art and Collins, Nominating Chair, 2008-2010. Kate Baty, Chair, and Sandra Boynton, Architecture Tour Vice Chair for Social Activities, will continue for one more year of their two- May 28 • 11 am year terms. Janet Plotkin will serve as Vice Chair for Programs for 2008-2009. Enjoy a Spring day with friends, plan The tour will include mosaics, paintings, for a walk, and come to Copley Square marble and murals. We will see the Additional nominations for the above and the Boston Public Library. The murals of Pierre Puvis de Chavannes positions may be made by endorsement BPL is a magnificent building and and John Singer Sargent (whose murals in writing by twenty-five (25) active resource in the Back Bay, housing some are also at the MFA) and other works members filed with the Secretary ten of the city’s best art treasures. The by Augustus St. Gaudens (uncle of days before the annual meeting. library, completed in 1895, was designed Rose Standish Nichols whose home is by architects McKim, Mead and White now a museum on Beacon Hill) and New names may be added to the in theRenaissance Revival style. The Daniel Chester French, sculptor of the appointed board. A complete list of all addition, designed by Philip Johnson, Abraham Lincoln statue in the memorial board members will appear in the annual was built in 1972. in Washington D.C., who designed the report distributed at theAnnual Meeting. bronze lobby doors. We will proceed For more information, call the Women’s up the grand staircase, be awed by the League office at 253.3656. Bates reading room named after Joshua Bates, the first benefactor of the BPL, view the Abbey Room and walk up to the Spring Craft Fair Chorale’s 75th Sargent Gallery. The tour is approximately an hour and May 15 and 16 • 9 am to 5 pm Anniversary Concert is limited to 15-20 participants. Those who can linger will have the opportunity The Spring Craft Fair in Lobby 10 is the May 18 • 3 pm to enjoy lunch at either Novel, which ideal place to find a Mother’s Day gift, overlooks the Italianate courtyard birthday gift, hostess gift, graduation This spring, the MIT Women’s Chorale with the famed Frederick MacMonnies’ gift or any other type of gift. During will perform its 75th Anniversary Bacchante statue and fountain, this two-day sale, crafters will be selling Concert in the Elizabeth Killian Hall, or choose Sebastians Map Room Café, beautiful handmade soaps as well as 160 Memorial Drive, Cambridge, (14W). located in the former map room. handmade wooden puzzles. Jewelry The program includes pieces sung by the in a wide range of styles and material Chorale during its seventy-five years: Please call the League office at 253.3656, including dichroic glass, an amazing works by Bach, Mozart, Mendelssohn, or email [email protected] to reserve material developed for the aerospace Handel, Schubert, part of the Hasse your place and obtain travel information. industry, will be for sale as will scrap- Miserere, Rutter, Aaron Copland, an booking supplies, pottery, hand-knit example from the Chorale’s library of children’s items and more. Don’t hesitate Hebrew songs, and a special arrangement to stop by and browse. for women’s voices by Chorale member Sally De Fazio of Felix Mendelssohn’s If you are a crafter and would like to There Shall A Star Come Out Of Jacob. display your work at the fair, email This 40-voice concert choir is conducted craft fair coordinator Brenda Blais at by Nancy Kushlan Wanger who, along [email protected]. She will be happy to with the Chorale, celebrates her 35 years send you an electronic application as conductor. Chelsea Ashton is the and provide you with the particulars. accompanist. The concert is free and open to the public. To learn more, visit its website, http://web.mit.edu/ womensleague/womenschorale/. Transition House Host Program As many of you know, the MIT Women’s In 1961, Helen Padelford started the League is working with Transition House, Hosts to International Students Program a local shelter for women and children and ran it for 9 years. Among her victims of domestic violence, providing successors was Kate Baty, the current it with specific monthly donations. League chair. During her 16-years of These requested donations are greatly running the program, it spun off to the appreciated and very important to the Institute with Kate as its coordinator. support of the residents. We thank everyone who has contributed in the Imagine arriving at MIT as a 17-year- past and thank you in advance for your old from halfway across the world. future support. The requested donation In the first two weeks you encounter items for upcoming months and the temperatures both hotter and colder due dates are: than you’ve ever experienced. You can’t identify most of the foods, and you are April 28 bewildered by the casual familiarity Towels (new or like new). between male and female students. Having a friendly person to help with May 27 the transition and answer questions can Toiletries, such as shampoo, soap, make your life a little easier. The MIT toothpaste, toothbrushes (full size, Hosts to International Students Program please). is currently looking for new hosts/host families who could offer hospitality and Most recently, we were pleased to friendship to new students. Current hosts ^ Students involved assist a family moving from temporary in the MIT Hosts to include faculty, staff, alumni/ae, and International Students housing to permanent housing with friends of MIT, including singles, families Program locate their items to furnish their new home. A with young children, and retirees. home countries mother and her two boys, ages 7 and on a globe with staff 11, were settled into a place of their Many hosts invite their students to member Janet Fischer, own with donations of a TV, microwave, share holiday dinners, and students right. Since 2002, Fischer has been a comforters, sheets (twin and full), generally love the chance to partake in host to students from comforters (twin and full) and towels. a new set of foods and rituals. Hosts Kenya, India, and Typically, when a family is settled into might answer questions about puzzling Zimbabwe. permanent housing, they need these phenomena such as decorating lawns in items as well as a small sofa or love December with plastic reindeer sporting seat, a coffee table, and some pictures illuminated red noses, or carving faces to fill empty walls. Although we may in pumpkins in October. Depending on not be able to provide everything on their interests, hosts and students might this basic wish list, anything we can enjoy local excursions, or share common is appreciated. Many of us have these interests such as going to museums, items sitting in our basements or attics playing sports, or watching movies. and could supply an item for a family. To that end, we are forming an email To find more information about this MIT list for people who would like to offer volunteer program, check: http://web. items to a family getting settled. Send mit.edu/iso/resources/host_program. your email address, name and item you Potential hosts should contact Janka would like to provide to wleague@mit. Moss at [email protected], call 253.3795, edu. We will notify you when your item or visit the International Students Office is needed. in Room 5-133.

To learn about other ways you can support Transition House, please visit its website at http://www.transitionhouse. 9/9 Check the League org/. Looking Ahead 2008 English calendar on its Classes registration. website at http:// web.mit.edu/ 9/11 womensleague/ to First day of 2008 learn more about English Classes. programs scheduled during the summer months. General Information

MIT Women’s League The FX Is 50! Summertime Newsletter is published four times during the Save the Date! • November 2008 FX Volunteers academic year. The deadline for the Sept/ The MIT Student Furniture Exchange The Furniture Exchange (FX) can use Oct issue is August 1. (FX) is celebrating its 50th Anniversary your help for 2 hours or more in the All items should be sent this year and will be holding celebratory summertime: to the Women’s League office. open houses during the first week of November 2008. We will be supplying the Tuesday & Thursday • 10am-4pm Please call the League MIT community with discount coupons (busiest from 2pm-4pm) office for a hard copy during that time and we look forward to First Saturday of the month • 10am-1pm of the newsletter and you joining us to celebrate our 50 years for answers to questions of service to our MIT students. You can come once, you can come more you may have. The than once, but come and help office can also arrange for your membership. In the meantime we would love to hear (no heavy lifting). You will meet All area codes are 617 from you with any special Furniture fascinating people! unless otherwise noted. Exchange memories, stories, or photos you might be willing to share. We would Staff Associate love to put a media piece together Sis de Bordenave League Chair to exhibit during our celebration. Please Kate Baty feel free to contact Judy Halloran at Honorary Chair 253.4293 or [email protected]. Priscilla Gray Design Metcalf Design Photography Boston Public Library Donna Coveney Furniture Exchange League Office MIT Glass Lab MIT Music & Theatre Arts National Park Service

^ Never been to the Stop by and visit the Furniture Exchange? store at 350 Brookline Many beautiful Street, Cambridge, and unique pieces to see their extensive are available for use, stock of furniture, and the inventory is glassware, tableware, always changing. and more! MIT Women’s League 77 Massachusetts Avenue Room 10-342 Cambridge, MA 02139-4307

617.253.3656 phone 617.253.5433 fax [email protected] web.mit.edu/womensleague/

MIT Women’s League

April/May 2008 newsletter