News & Notes
from The Lotos Club
DECEMBER 2008
Dinner to Honor Traditional Twelfth Night Frolic Eminent Newsman Is Highlight of Lotos Winter Season Neal Shapiro , an a ward -winning The most festive Club event – the Yorkshire pudding and all the producer and news executive, will Twelfth Night Celebration – will trimmings. receive the Lotos Award of take place on Saturday, January 3, Distinction at a Public Affairs beginning with cocktails at 6:30 p.m. Attendees will dance to the music of evening in his honor on Wednesday, The price of $135 includes drinks, the Lee Evans Orchestra in the January 21 (cocktails and dinner, 6:30 wine, champagne and the gourmet Ballroom or the band in the Grill. p.m.; $75). meal. Guests are welcome. Reservations will be taken only on receipt of the Mr. Shapiro is president and CEO of In addition to caroling, led by The reply card. When making Educational Broadcasting Choir of Our Lady of Fatima , The reservations, members should Corporation, licensee of public black-tie evening will feature the indicate their seating preferences: in television stations Thirteen/ WNET Lotos Beefeaters carrying the the Ballroom where the Orchestra and WLIW New York. During his Christmas pig and the bagpipers will be playing; in the Library; or in first year, Mr. Shapiro launched a parading through the clubhouse the Grill Room, which will have its number of innovative programs playing favorite tunes. The pièce de own band. including the New York War Stories résistance is the holiday fare of
(continued on page 6) English Barons of Beef with Astor Biographer
State Dinner for to Give Lecture Book Introduced Meryl Gordon , who recently at Twain Dinner Barbara Cook published a book on socialite Brooke The Lotos Medal of Merit will be Astor, will be the guest at a Literary presented to world-renowned soprano Lecture on Tuesday, January 13 Barbara Cook at a State Dinner in (cocktails, 6:30 p.m.; $25). her honor on Wednesday, January 28 (cocktails, 6:30 p.m.; $125). A full-time magazine journalist, Ms. Gordon has profiled such influential th Ms. Cook recently celebrated her 80 figures as Kofi Annan, Michael birthday with three sold out concerts Bloomberg, and John Kerry, and with the New York Philharmonic at such stars as Nicole Kidman, Susan Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall. Sarandon and Maggie Gyllenhaal. Ms. Cook’s other recent New York Her stories have appeared regularly appearances include her latest in New York Magazine , where she is engagement at the famed Café a contributing editor, and she has Carlyle; her sixth solo concert at written major features for The New Carnegie Hall, where she made her York Times , Reader’s Digest , More , legendary solo concert debut more Elle , Gourmet and Marie Claire . J. Robert Moskin presented the Club’s than thirty years ago; and her historic Ms. Gordon wrote a weekly new book, Members of The Lotos Club, solo concert at New York’s 1870-2007 , at the Mark Twain Dinner in Metropolitan Opera House, where she economics column out of November. Excerpts of Mr. Moskin’s became the first female solo pop Washington, D.C., for five years for remarks appear on page 4. singer to be presented in concert by Gannett News Service, and covered (Photo by Benjamin Gabbe) the MET. economics for USA Today .
N E W S A N D N O T E S
A Note to Members
By Patrick J. Frawley, President Welcome to
the Club “’Tis the season to be jolly.” Each will inaugurate the country’s first Scott Evan Eder (Non-Resident year those words announce a time of African-American president. A), physician, Princeton, NJ. celebration, expectation and hope Whatever one’s personal politics Memberships: Mercer County with the advent of the holiday season. might be, we can be proud as Medical Society; American Medical Most years, it is also a proclamation Americans that a racial barrier has Association; New Jersey Medical of the start of that annual frenzy fallen, just as we continually marvel Society; Wilderness Medical known as holiday gift shopping. Yet at the beauty of our Constitution and Society; International Organization I suspect, based on recent events in the peaceful transition of power from for Women and Development. the local, national and world one administration to another. This Proposer: Barbara A. Margolies; economic realm, that this holiday is an important step in our ongoing Seconder: Alan A. Clemens. season will be different. The holiday struggle to eradicate discrimination Heather J. de Haes-McLeod season, usually jubilant and and prejudice of all forms and kinds, (Overseas), founder/director, Swiss exhilarating for so many, seems quite and is truly something to celebrate. Global Artistic Foundation, muted, and feelings of good cheer Montreux, Switzerland. seem clouded by a sense of anxiety If you are looking for an escape from daily concerns, stop by Lotos over Memberships: Sloane Club, and a concern not only for the Annabel’s, Mark’s Club, Arts Club. the holidays. The Club will be as present, but also for the future. Proposer: Geoffrey Simon; festive as ever, the warmth of the Seconder: Joan T. Kretschmer. Certainly, the economic downturn fireplaces exceeded only by the (for want of a better term) has camaraderie of our members. May Nancy Hall-Duncan (Resident), affected us all – but most especially we all have a holiday season that is senior curator of art, Bruce Museum those who have been directly brightened by a sincere holiday wish (Greenwich, CT), New York City. impacted by job loss or a severe – that we can realize a world where Memberships: ArtTable; American reduction in salary or savings. Some all can live as one and live in peace. Association of Museum Curators; have suggested that perhaps as a American Association of Museums; society we have lost our perspective College Art Association. Proposer: relative to the true meaning of the Audrey S. Amdursky; Seconder: Joyce Cowin. holidays, and that the current economic crisis is an opportunity to James Shinn (Government refocus on the essential spirit of the Service), assistant secretary of holiday season. defense for Asian and Pacific
security affairs, Washington, D.C. Whether you ascribe to that theory or 5 East 66 th Street Memberships: Kenwood Club; not, what is evident is that all of us New York, NY 10065 Harvard Club. Proposer: Merit E. will need to work a little harder to (212) 737-7100 Janow; Seconder: Maurice R. make this year’s holiday season merry (212) 737-9188 (fax) Greenberg. and bright. A kind word, a gentle www.lotosclub.org smile, a simple good deed or a small yet thoughtful and heartfelt gift can News & Notes all help to bring out what is best in the Executive Editor Club Holiday human spirit. Doing so can bring to light all that is common during this Stephenie Ralston The Lotos Club will be closed time of year across faith traditions Design Editor on Thursday, December 25, and diverse cultures – a deep and Sharon Situ Friday, December 26, abiding hope for peace on earth and and Saturday, December 27 th . goodwill toward all. Contributing Editors Bedrooms are open Nancy Johnson It is also an historic time for our every day of the year. nation. In a few weeks, our nation Margaret Diggory
Page Two The Lotos Club
N E W S A N D N O T E S From the Archives
The Panic of 1907 Hits Wall Street…and Lotos by Nancy Johnson, Archivist
In the great financial crisis that struck Heinze ’s interests and manipulated the Morgan the job of distributing federal the country a century ago, The Lotos stock of the United Copper Company, funds to ailing banks. Morgan poured Club was almost ruined by the greed of in which Heinze and his brothers held a in his own money, too, and then one of its members. The Panic of 1907 large stake. A “perfect storm” was convinced other wealthy bankers to paralyzed the American economy, and brewing; it hit in October 1907, when follow his lead to keep the economy everyone blamed one man: F. Augustus Heinze's brother Otto tried to corner the afloat. Heinze. This miner-turned-banker had stock of United Copper. just joined Lotos; his occupation was The Panic of 1907 hit The Lotos Club listed grandly as “Capitalist” in the Otto Heinze did not believe the hard. The Club had wanted to move Club’s member register.* But during seasoned bankers who told him his deal and had found a buyer for its double his first year as a Lotos member, Heinze was under-financed, and he failed to brownstone on Fifth Avenue at 46th lost his fortune and sparked a financial realize that United Copper stock was Street. Anticipating a profitable sale, free-fall that left the country—and The little more than paper, with scant actual Lotos bought a property on West 57th copper behind it. Lotos Club—in financial peril. Street and razed the apartment house that stood on the site. When the Panic A native New Yorker, Heinze returned hit, the buyer for the old clubhouse home in 1906 from Butte, Montana, backed out, leaving Lotos with two where he got rich mining copper, much mortgages and no funds for in demand for the new electrical construction. industry. Heinze used his knowledge of geology, gained at the Columbia As the financial markets had J. P. University School of Mines, and a Morgan, Lotos had its member Andrew series of shrewd, not entirely legal, Carnegie, who loaned the Club the moves to compete with the powerful funds to build the new clubhouse until Amalgamated Copper Company. a buyer was found for the old one. In the long run, Lotos saved money Exploiting a mining statute called The because of Carnegie’s business savvy. Law of the Apex, Heinze was able to dig straight down from a tiny, F. Augustus Heinze was not so lucky. The Panic of 1907 ruined Heinze both seemingly useless parcel of land and professionally and personally. He then tunnel laterally, following a vein of faced sixteen counts of financial ore from its apex on his land into land malfeasance; his relationship with his owned by Amalgamated. When his brothers, who had been his business competitor sued, Heinze sued back or paid off judges to throw the cases out of partners, was destroyed; his marriage court. F. Augustus Heinze failed; United Copper went bankrupt; and his health deteriorated. Although
In 1906, Heinze sold his copper After rising dramatically at first, the price he was not yet forty, Heinze’s hair had interests to Amalgamated for $10.5 of United Copper plummeted. Banks turned completely white. million. Pocketing his settlement, he called in loans Heinze had taken to Heinze died in 1914, at the age of 44, went back to New York and set out to finance his brother's deal. Faith in any after suffering a hemorrhage caused by conquer Wall Street. bank associated with Heinze faltered, and cirrhosis of the liver. His name was customers lined up to withdraw their Heinze dove right in, but he was clearly money. When the Knickerbocker Trust carried on the Lotos roster of members out of his league. While he dabbled in Company, the city’s third largest, went until his death. Fortunately for The banking and the stock market, Heinze’s under, distrust became contagious and the Lotos Club, one member’s folly was former rivals at Amalgamated Copper – country was swept by financial panic. countered by another’s largess.
whose Board included J. P. Morgan, As the crisis intensified, J. P. Morgan *His name is listed in the register and Henry H. Rogers and William intervened with a public-private bailout. Rockefeller – plotted his undoing. They Club yearbooks as F. August Heinze, a Since there was no central federal bank, mistake he apparently never corrected. spread ugly rumors about the health of President Theodore Roosevelt gave
The Lotos Club Page Three
N E W S A N D N O T E S
The Light and Dark Side of Mark Twain: Remarks by J. Robert Moskin
At the Mark Twain Dinner on is I don’t know why. ’” Twain was against ow ning Guantanamo. Most of us – including November 12, before introducing the The great novelist and editor William me – were not taught about the Anti- new book, Members of The Lotos Club, Dean Howells had it right when he Imperialist League of which Mark 1870-2007, Lotos Historian Bob explained at a Lotos dinner what was Twain was a vice president and an Moskin spoke about one of Lotos’ best so special about Mark Twain. He said: outspoken spokesman for a decade known and most influential early “Before us, no people had a humorist until his death in 1910. The Anti- members. with nothing cruel but everything Imperialist League opposed the United kindly in his smile, who never laughed Mark Twain, in 1908, just a hundred States owning colonies and becoming with the strong against the weak, or years ago, addressed a Lotos Club an imperial power. dinner held in his honor. After a toast found anything droll in suffering or had been drunk to him, Mr. Clemens deformity.” That suggests why Mark What bothered Mark Twain was the began in his drawling, gentle way: Twain was so beloved. Philippine-American War, which broke out when we tried to make the I would like to tell you about another “I wish to begin at the beginning, lest I Philippines a colony. We announced side of Mark Twain that you are less forget it altogether. A guest is in an we were bringing democracy to the likely to know about. I recently came embarrassing position, because Filipinos. You see, there is nothing across this more serious side and I compliments have been paid to him. I very new about that idea. It did not think you will agree it has a surprising don’t care whether he deserves it or not. work any better then, in the Far East – relevance for us today. “They say that one cannot live on bread than it does now in the Middle East. alone, but I could live on compliments. We all learned in school about The Spanish-American War in 1898 and The Filipino people objected and I can digest them. They do not trouble fought us tooth and nail for three me. I have missed much in life because the sinking of the Maine and Admiral Dewey and the taking of Manila. We bloody years. Nearly 5,000 American I did not make a collection of soldiers were killed. It was a war compliments, and keep them where I know how we freed the Filipinos and Puerto Ricans and Cubans from Spain. filled with atrocities and torture. That could take them out and look at them was where we learned the water cure, once in a while. I am beginning now. That was when we captured Guantanamo and made it our advanced what we today call water-boarding. Other people collect autographs, dogs, and cats, and I collect compliments. I naval base. And we all know, I trust, This story has echoes today. We have where that has led. have brought them along. I have written good reason to respect Mark Twain’s them down to preserve them, and think Well, from the very beginning, Mark principles. they’re mighty good and exceedingly just.
“Now, here’s one by my biographer: ‘Mark Twain is not merely the great writer, the great philosopher, but he is the supreme expression of the human being with its strengths and weaknesses.’ What a talent for compression!
“Thomas Edison wrote: ‘The average American loves his family. If he has any love left over for some other person he generally selects Mark Twain.’
“Now here is a gold miner’s compliment. It was my introduction to an audience to which I lectured in a log schoolhouse. This is what he said: ‘I Club President Patrick J. Frawley, right, congratulated the team that produced only know two things about him. One is Members of The Lotos Club, 1870-2007 , (left to right), Kathryn Gravdal, Gail Job, he has never been in jail and the other Club Archivist Nancy Johnson, Club Historian J. Robert Moskin, and Mary Kornblum. (Photo by Benjamin Gabbe)
Page Four The Lotos Club
` C L U B D I N I N G
Holiday Season at The Lotos Club Table Talk
Sunday, 14 th Christmas Brunch $60/$20 In December Tuesday, 2 nd A scrumptious buffet with complimentary Bloody 66 th Street Salon, 6 p.m. Marys, Champagne and Mimosas. 11 a.m.; 1:30 p.m. This Salon, part II of “Prelude to the
th Holidays,” will explore the role of Wednesday, 17 Holiday Open House drink in literature, memoirs and A festive cocktail party, 6-7:30 p.m. essays. It will focus on how drink Complimentary for members; $20 for guests has played a role as metaphor, plot device, key to character and Saturday, 20 th English Holiday Dinner $65 narrative strategy in fiction and non- Lovely piano music and a three-course menu fiction. The Salon is chaired by featuring traditional English-inspired dishes. Elyse Bloom Greenfield and John Sussek III . th Wednesday, 24 Afternoon Tea $30 Friday, 5 th Freshly-baked scones, finger sandwiches, Opera Table Talk, 12 p.m. French cookies and chocolates, 2-5 p.m. Lotos member Robert W. Gutman will talk about sex in opera. Wednesday, 24 th Christmas Eve Dinner $85 Thursday, 11 th A superb dinner in a tranquil and elegant setting. Poetry Talk Table, 11:30 a.m. Piano music by Lee Musiker. Lotos member Belinda Pokorny
st will lead a discussion on the poetry Wednesday, 31 New Year’s Eve Dinner $105 of Kenneth Koch and Frank O’Hara.
Champagne and hors d’oeuvres, a gourmet dinner and elegant th piano music, followed by port and Stilton in the Library. Tuesday, 16 History Talk Table, 11:30 a.m.
Lotos member David N. Schwartz
will lead a discussion on Devil Take Reservations are necessary. Please call (212) 737-7100. the Hindmost by Edward Chancellor, described by the moderator as “an engaging account th th of financial market stupidity from 66 Street Salon-20 Century Wartime the South Sea bubble and tulipmania through the crash of the Japanese On Thursday , January 8, 2009, the (Evelyn Waugh); The Foreign th economy in the 1990s.” 66 Street Salon will gather for a Correspondent and The Spies of
discussion of novelists who brought Warsaw (Alan Furst); Three Soldiers their literary perspectives to bear on (John Dos Passos); The Painted Bird events in Europe during and between (Jerzy Kosinski); and The Tin Drum the first and second World Wars. (Günter Grass). Save the Dates Discussion will be informal and wide-ranging. The salon will be held from 6 to 7:30 Thursday, January 22, 2009 p.m. For reservations (required), Literary Talk Table Suggested works to spur discussion call the Club office. Participants with Janice C. Grijns include but are not limited to All who wish to continue the Quiet on the Western Front (Erich conversation at dinner should ask for ***** Maria Remarque); Jacob’s Room separate dinner reservations. Thursday, February 12, 2009 (Virginia Woolf; A Farewell to Arms The 66 th Street Salon is co-chaired by and For Whom the Bell Tolls (Ernest John Sussek III and Elyse Bloom International Talk Table Hemingway); Brideshead Revisited Greenfield .
Page Five The Lotos Club
N E W S A N D N O T E S
A Review
A Far ewell to Elmer from a Friend Vets Celebrate Dear Elmer,
Because I am traveling during your farewell party, I am writing this letter in at Annual Dinner by Peter A. Cheney lieu of a eulogy I was asked to give. Fifteen proud Lotos veterans attended You never gave us a chance to say goodbye. I guess it was your soft- the fourth Annual Veterans Dinner in spoken, urbane way of calling it quits since Keora has been gone and your the Grill Room on Tuesday, loneliness overtook you. I never had the chance to tell you that I thought th November 11 . We are former you were unique—the most gentlemanly gentleman I have ever befriended enlisted men and officers who served or known in my lifetime. Your stateliness and intelligence were never in the Army, Navy, and Air Force compromised by the arrogance or hubris that men of your calling often during World War II, Korea, the Cold develop. Your openness and humility stood tall throughout your stellar War, Vietnam, and Desert Storm. career, an achievement manifested by a multitude of loyal friends. Your Among the group were three past prodigious vocabulary contained no monosyllabic four-letter words. I can presidents of Lotos. In addition, we recall hearing you say “damn” only once, and that word is no longer welcomed our first female participant, included in what is considered foul language. What a role model you were, who was a volunteer with the Israeli even though, unfortunately, civility and ethics have lost their importance Army during the Six Day War in among many in our current, overindulgent society. 1967. The dinner started with a brief How can we manage without you? You, Mr. Lotos, were our monarch. prayer in memory of our comrade in One of my proudest moments as Club president was commissioning your arms, Elmer Baker. portrait, which graces our first floor foyer. When it was presented to you, Each year we welcome new attendees did I notice a tear drop? I think so. It was a proud moment for us all! and look forward to meeting You lightened up my life when, after a Directory meeting, you sampled my additional Lotos veterans who are not “Stoli Gold” vodka – instead of one of your many rarefied libations that yet known to us. Please contact Mark most of us never heard of – and you loved it. We drank many more after Lampl or Peter Cheney and join us that in Roger’s corner of the Grill and toasted each other’s health. Well, next year if you have served. Here’s here’s to you, dear friend. You have left an indelible mark on the Lotos to the men and women currently Club as well as on all who were fortunate to know you. This toast is for you. serving on active duty in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere, and to John Sussek veterans past, present, and future. Thank you.
Neal Shapiro (continued from page 1) CANDIDATES FOR MEMBERSHIP project, Reel 13, Sunday/Arts and The The following candidates await consideration. Confidential comments Jews of New York . concerning these candidates are solicited and should be addressed to the
As president of NBC News (2001- chair of the Committee on Admissions .
2005), Mr. Shapiro led the station’s top- CANDIDATE CLASSIFICATION PROPOSER/ rated coverage of every significant SECONDER news story in recent history – from the Allan J. Riley Resident Stephen J. Riker terrorist attacks on 9/11 and the wars in Real Estate Investor LeRoy Rubin Afghanistan and Iraq, to the 2004 elections and Hurricane Katrina’s New York City devastation. And under his direction as executive producer (1993-2001), Murray M. Teitelbaum Resident Eleanor Vale Dateline became a cornerstone of Education Director, NYSE Euronext Gretchen H. Stone NBC’s primetime programming and the New York City first primetime newsmagazine.
Page Six The Lotos Club
N E W S A N D N O T E S
Literary Sugg estion for Lotosians – A Review American-Made: The Enduring Legacy of the WPA,
When FDR Put the Nation to Work , by Nick Taylor by William A. Johnson, moderator of the Great Thinkers Seminar This review is being written on program without controversy (Father (one quarter of the entire American Election Day 2008, which day most Coughlin denounced it, as did the work force. Thirty-six million family political commentators believe is an Senate’s Dies Committee, the members who were dependent upon historic day in the United States, a predecessor of the HUAC, as did the a family wage-earner were also in “defining” moment in our American Liberty League, the need). civilization, when the providential Communist-led Workers Alliance, hands of time point to a future of Charles Lindbergh, and every kooky The WPA spent $11 billion during hopeful change. A period in our right-winger in the country). its eight-year run, and distributed history marked by an economy in money and projects to 8 ½ million disarray, two foreign wars being The WPA was finally a humane and men and women. In addition to fought, and a society depressed and humanistic attempt to restore the providing jobs, the WPA encouraged bewildered. So, we who truly love lives of millions of American people workers to attend WPA-sponsored our country need to reflect deeply on who were hungry, homeless, and theaters, concerts, circuses, zoos, all what the future may hold for us, and most needy, primarily because they free, followed by a free-meal, for what is surely far more important, had no jobs. The WPA believed that designed by WPA nutritionists. what the future may hold for our if they could “make work,” real grandchildren. work, to improve the fabric of the The WPA’s projects are memorable, American continent, American men for all to see: the construction of One serious way to begin this and women would get off the dole LaGuardia Airport, the process of reflection is to probe into and become proud again because refurbishment of the Statue of the history of our country to see if they were capable of making a Liberty, the Triboro Bridge, the there are any historical parallels to living. Workers were employed to murals at the Smithsonian Art our current national condition; that build roads, bridges, libraries, dams, Museum, the Camp David is, to learn from the past so that we tunnels, and airports, plant crops to Presidential retreat, the 1939 might not be condemned by the past, feed the needy, construct houses for World’s Fair, the Golden Gate but to open our eyes widely to the the homeless, sew clothes, publish Bridge, and a thousand other possibilities of the future. The best guide books to the states, and substantial accomplishments. book I know to help us to see how undertake hundreds of other valuable American writers who benefited national crises have been resolved in projects. from WPA grants included Saul the past is Nick Taylor’s American Bellow, John Cheever, Ralph Made: The Enduring Legacy of the Harry Hopkins, who devised the Ellison, Studs Terkel, Richard WPA: When FDR Put the Nation to program with Roosevelt, saw it all in Wright, and many more. Work . such a simple way. You could redeem an entire population by It is still early in the day and I know Nick Taylor’s book is first of all a giving them something beneficial to nothing yet of the outcome of book that is exquisitely written, do, for our country and for today’s election. But I, with you, historically well researched, and themselves and their families. hope for a new version of America, most appropriate for our times. It is, one that celebrates the strength, furthermore, the first comprehensive The WPA existed for eight years. practice and the underlying wisdom look at the history of the Works When FDR took the oath of office in of the American people. As the Progress Administration, which was March 1933, he promised the WPA did almost a century ago, in the Roosevelt Administration’s American people a “New Deal.” And the middle of a nation that sought a response to the terrible and damaging a New Deal was necessary. Fifteen government that would act with depression of the 1930s. It was not a million Americans were out of work wisdom and compassion.
The Lotos Club Page Seven
N E W S A N D N O T E S
Lotosians in LOTOS EVENTS AT A GLANCE
For reservations, please call (212) 737-7100 the Spotlight Robert L. Bard presented a lecture DECEMBER in November 2008 at Service Monday, 1 st Afternoon Book Discussion (3 of 4) with Jacqueline d’Oncologie at Hopital Salpétrière, S. Aronson, The Air We Breathe by Andrea Barrett the largest teaching hospital in Tuesday, 2 nd 66 th Street Salon, literary roundtable, Prelude to the
Europe, on treating malignant Holidays, Part II rd melanoma. Wednesday, 3 Lotos Conversation with Simone Genatt Haft (Broadway Asia Company) Yo-Yo Ma’s new CD, Songs of Joy Thursday, 4 th Evening Book Discussion (3 of 4) with Jacqueline and Peace, includes collaborations S. Aronson. The Air We Breathe by Andrea Barrett with Dave Brubeck and Renée Friday, 5 th Opera Table Talk with Robert W. Gutman (sex and Fleming . The new album has been opera) described by Mr. Ma as “a party that Thursday, 11 th Poetry Table Talk with Belinda Pokorny (Kenneth celebrates the universal hopes, Koch and Frank O’Hara) dreams and joy animating seasonal Sunday, 14 th Christmas Brunch festivals the world over – Christmas, Tuesday, 16 th History Table Talk with David N. Schwartz (sold Hanukkah, Eid al-Adha, Kwanzaa, out), Devil Take the Hindmost by Edward Yule and New Year's Day.” Chancellor. th George Shearing is featured in an Wednesday, 17 Holiday Open House article, “One Knight at Birdland,” in Saturday, 20 th Great Thinkers Seminar with William A. Johnson, the Spotlight column of this month’s A Writer’s Capital by Louis Auchincloss issue of Vanity Fair . Saturday, 20 th English Holiday Dinner Wednesday, 24 th Christmas Eve Dinner The Zimmerli Art Museum at Thursday, 25 th Christmas Day. Club closed, bedrooms open Rutgers University has acquired all Friday, 26 th Club closed, bedrooms open of the illustrations – sixteen Saturday, 27 th Club closed, bedrooms open watercolor collages – from Takayo st Wednesday, 31 New Year’s Eve Dinner Noda ’s second picture book, Song of the Flowers , for its permanent JANUARY st collection. Thursday, 1 New Year’s Day. Club closed, bedrooms open rd Saturday, 3 TWELFTH NIGHT FROLIC Monday, 5 th Afternoon Book Discussion (4 of 4) with
Jacqueline S. Aronson, The Rector of Justin by
Louis Auchincloss th th th Thursday, 8 66 Street Salon, literary roundtable, (20 century wartime) Yearbook/Cards Friday, 9 th Opera Talk Table with Robert W. Gutman Tuesday, 13 th Literary Lecture, Meryl Gordon (Brooke Astor) Will Be Sent th The 2009 Lotos Club Yearbooks Wednesday 14 Evening Book Discussion (4 of 4) with Jacqueline S.
and membership cards will soon Aronson, The Rector of Justin by Louis Auchincloss th be mailed to all members of the Tuesday, 20 History Talk Table with David N. Schwartz (sold Club. The Yearbook’s useful out), The Zimmerman Telegram by Barbara information includes a roster of Tuchman st members as of June 30, 2008, the Wednesday, 21 Public Affairs Evening, Neal Shapiro (president Constitution, the House Rules, and CEO, Educational Broadcasting Corporation) Thursday, 22 nd Literary Talk Table with Janice Grijns (New Orleans) and a review of the past year. th Saturday, 24 Great Thinkers Seminar (1 of 5) with William A. Members who do not receive their Johnson card or a yearbook by the end of Wednesday, 28 th STATE DINNER, BARBARA COOK the month should call the office.
Page Eight The Lotos Club
THE LOTOS CLUB CALENDAR The Lotos Club Five East Sixty-sixth Street DECEMBER 2008 Reservations Are Important New York City 10065 Call 737-7100 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
DINING HOURS: 1 2 3 4 5 6 Monday through Friday Luncheon 12 to 2:30 p.m. Lotos Conversation, Book Discussion Opera Talk Table, Monday through Friday th Book Discussion The 66 Street Simone Genatt Haft (3 of 4) Robert W. Gutman Dinner 6 to 9 p.m. (3 of 4) Salon 6:30 p.m. 7:30-9:30 p.m. 12 noon Saturday Dinner 6:30-9 p.m. 12:30-2:30 p.m. 6-7:30 p.m. Reservations Beef Wellington Lobster Night Saturday Night Dining
Call (212) 737-7100 Dover Sole Night & Bordeaux (Reserve your lobsters) in the Grill
7 8 9 10 11 Poetry Talk Table, 12 13 Belinda Pokorny 11:30 a.m.
House Finance Committee on Committee Committee Admissions, 6 p.m. 6 p.m. 6 p.m. Beef Wellington Lobster Night Saturday Night Dining
Dover Sole Night & Bordeaux (Reserve your lobsters) in the Grill
14 15 16 17 18 19 20 History Talk Great Thinkers
Table, David N. Holiday Monday -Friday Seminar, (5 of 5) Schwartz, 11:30 a.m. Christmas Brunch Open House Prix Fixe Dinner $44.00 and 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
11 a.m.; 1:30 p.m. Meeting of the 6-8 p.m. Regular à la carte menu English Holiday Directory, 6 p.m. Beef Wellington Lobster Night Dinner
Dover Sole Night & Bordeaux (Reserve your lobsters) 6:30-9 p.m. 21 22 23 24 25 26 27
Christmas Eve Christmas Day Club closed, Club closed, Dinner Club closed, bedrooms open bedrooms open bedrooms open
Dover Sole Night
28 29 30 31 MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR JANUARY
rd No luncheon Saturday, 3 TWELFTH NIGHT FROLIC served today. th Tuesday, 13 Literary Lecture, Meryl Gordon st Wednesday, 21 Public Affairs Evening, Neal Shapiro New Year’s Eve nd Thursday, 22 Literary Talk Table, Janice C. Grijns Dinner th Wednesday, 28 STATE DINNER, BARBARA COOK Dover Sol e Night THE LOTOS CLUB CALENDAR The Lotos Club Five East Sixty-sixth Street Reservations Are Important New York City 10065 JANUARY 200 9 Call 737-7100 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR FEBRUARY DINING HOURS: nd 1 2 3 Monday through Friday Monday, 2 Art Lecture, Phyllis Tuchman th Luncheon 12 to 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, 4 Lotos Conversation, Gordon Crovitz and Minky Worden th New Year’s Day TWELFTH Monday through Friday Tuesday, 10 Library Lecture, Michael Ratner th Club closed NIGHT FROLIC Dinner 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, 14 Special Events Evening, “Friendship and Love: A Lotos 6:30 p.m. Saturday Dinner 6:30-9 p.m. Club Valentine” rd Reservations Monday, 23 Literary Lecture, David Hajdu th Call (212) 737-7100 Thursday, 26 Program Lecture, Edward S. Walker
4 5 6 7 8 Archives 9 10 Art Committee Foundation Committee
Board, 6 p.m. Lunch Meeting 6 p.m. th Opera Talk Table, 12 noon Literary 66 Street Salon Robert W. Gutman Book Discussion Committee 6-7:30 p.m. 6 p.m. 12 noon (4 of 4) Beef Wellington Lobster Night Saturday Night Dining 12:30-2:30 p.m. Dover Sole Night & Bordeaux (Reserve your lobsters) in the Grill
11 12 13 14 Science and 15 16 17 Music Technology State D inner Committee Committee, 6 p.m. Monday -Friday Committee, 6 p.m.
6 p.m. Literary Lecture, Book Discussion Library Prix Fixe Dinner $44.00 and
Public Affairs Meryl Gordon Committee, 6 p.m. (4 of 4), 7:30 p.m. Regular à la carte menu Committee 6:30 p.m. Beef Wellington Lobster Night Saturday Night Dining 6 p.m. Dover Sole Night & Bordeaux (Reserve your lobsters) in the Grill
18 19 20 21 22Literary Talk 23 24 History Talk Public Affairs Table, Janice C. Grijns Great Thinkers Table, David N. House Evening, 12 noon Seminar Schwartz, 11:30 a.m. Committee Neal Shapiro Committee on (1 of 5) 6 p.m. Finance 6:30 p.m. Admissions, 6 p.m. 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Committee, 6 p.m. Beef Wellington Lobster Night Saturday Night Dining Dover Sole Night & Bordeaux (Reserve your lobsters) in the Grill
25 26 27 28 29 30 31
Program STATE DINNER, Special Events Committee Meeting of the BARBARA COOK Committee
6:30 p.m. 6 p.m. Directory 6 p.m.
6 p.m. Club closed Lobster Night Satur day Night Dining after breakfast Dover Sole Night (Reserve your lobsters) in the Grill
T H E LOTOS FOUNDATION
The Lotos Foundation Riverboat Gal a – 2008
The Lotos Foundation presented “An Evening on the Riverboat Gala,” in the style of Mark Twain, on Tuesday, October 21, at The Lotos Club. It included a true show boat atmosphere, ragtime music, a grand prize raffle and a silent auction. Consisting of cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and an elaborate Cajun buffet and dessert, the evening was interspersed with entertainment provided by the outstanding pianist Lee Musiker, conductor and musical arranger for Tony Bennett and Barbara Cook, and the brilliant bass Show Boat baritone, Roosevelt André Credit, star of Harold Prince’s revival of . Gail VanVoorhis brilliantly transformed the entire second floor of the Lotos Club into a riverboat setting, enhanced by candlelight, oil lamps, potted palms, and an entrance arbor with life preservers. The evening’s event chair was Anne Russell, ably assisted by a working crew consisting of Norman Horowitz, Gail Job, Ellen Monk, Gail Jock and Robert Russell. As guests entered, passing through the trellis, they were greeted by having their pictures taken. The photos shown below represent only a fraction of the fun and spirit of the evening, which culminated with the unanimous acclamation that the event be repeated next year, perhaps traveling to another destination aboard a different vessel. (all photos by R. Andrew Lepley)
Joel F. Lehrer purchases raffle tickets
from Anne Russell.
Lenore Kelly and William J. Setzler, Jr., Elaine and Sidney Simon enjoy enter the Foundation Riverboat. the Gala entertainment. THE LOTOS FOUNDATION
Judith Selkowitz and Marie and John Sussek (past Foundation president)view auction items.
Anne Russell, General Manager John J. McGrath and Gail VanVoorhis, designer of “The Riverboat”
Benjamin Schore with a painting by Will Barnet.
A highlight of the evening was the performance by pianist Norman Horowitz and Foundation President Lee Musiker and bass baritone Roosevelt André Credit. Melvin Stecher congratulate Anne Russell on the Gala’s success.