Friends of the International Center, at UC San Diego Newsletter Volume XXXIX No.1 September 2011 President’s Message • Join the Family Orientation “team” helping international families adjust to life in the U.S. How inspiring it • Participate in the many Wednesday Morning Coffee was on May 3rd to activities (crafts, book discussions, language table, celebrate 50 years of Mommy & Me group—or suggest something new) the Friends activities • Share your cooking skills—in the International in international Kitchen, Cooking in America classes, Ethnic education. So Dinners many dedicated • Help organize or publicize Friends’ events (e.g., people and so many Holiday Lunch, ArtPower dinners, I-Café, Resale successful programs Shop Holiday Sale, Annual Awards Dinner) have continuously • Tutor an international student or scholar extended hospitality • Host an international student or scholar for a few to our international visitors, provided scholarship days (since the I-Center can no longer run this money for students abroad as well as at UC San program, it is now organized by the Solana Beach Diego, and sponsored exciting events for the campus Presbyterian Church) community at the Center. • Help serve at the Orientation Dinner on Wednesday, Now, as we begin our next half-century, we continue September 21 to advance the Friends’ activities in these three arenas. • New ideas? Let us know your idea and how you Despite modern technology, despite the huge growth would implement it. in the numbers of internationals here and students abroad, and despite the increase in the International You can find out more about these volunteer Center staff—it is still the person-to-person interaction opportunities on our website: http://icenter.ucsd.edu/ that we provide that is so necessary, and works! friends, or by e-mailing: [email protected], or by In June, at its annual retreat, the Friends Board calling us: 858/534-0731. Let us know your volunteer agreed that developing our membership is essential interests soon. for the Friends’ programs to continue and to grow. As I take up the reins as President of the Friends, We have already begun work on designing a new I want to thank Eleanor tum Suden for her excellent brochure and developing our outreach methods, as leadership over the last two years, for her example, and well as streamlining our communications procedures her ongoing tutoring. Eleanor continues on the Board for prospective and current members. as our Financial Advisor, handling all the paperwork Right now, please consider what you can do required for our tax-exempt and campus Support to enhance the Friends’ work in support of the Group status. International Center. We are a service organization As we jump now into our 51st year, I look forward and you, our volunteers, make our programs work. to working with our fine Board, and all of you, to sustain the Friends’ spirit and vitality, and to grow to • Volunteer in the Resale Shop to raise money for meet new needs and challenges. scholarships Joan Adamo Page 2 Annual Friends Membership Dinner and Awards Ceremony The Friends Annual Membership Herlien, Horst Hoffmann, Karla Dinner and Scholarship Awards Macias, Sophia Marshall, Tonia Ceremony, held on May 24 at Pizer, Rachel Rigoli, Carol the International Center, went Robertson, Ruby Rosas, Layla San off this year like clockwork. Vice Jose, Kelly Schober), each assuming Presidents Joan Adamo and Barbara the position of table host and helping Fitzsimmons were seasoned co- with service. chairs and knew exactly what to do, Each annual dinner gets as did President Eleanor tum Suden, evaluated carefully. By 2010, the who, among endless other things, number of awards given had grown did a skillful job of seating the guests, to such an extent that the program JoAnn and David Wirth with Bianca Strosnider while Scholarship Committee Chair, became so long that many of the Ruth Newmark, kept track of which students left early to study for their recipients of the So Scholarship, Friends Scholarship recipients final exams, leading to the decision as was Dr. Ernest Mort, retired would attend the dinner and this year to separate the Chancellor’s Dean of Revelle College, who was whether they preferred a regular or Awards (see p. 4) from the Annual seated with the recipients of the vegetarian meal. Gail Fliesbach took Membership Dinner. Although there Mort Scholarship. Past Friends care of the printed programs and was some hesitation that by doing President JoAnn Wirth and her the scholarship certificates. Renate so, we might lose a considerable husband David came down from Schmid-Schoenbein prepared segment of the audience, this fear Northern California and brought the nametags, and Joan Adamo, proved unfounded, as attendance, their granddaughter to the dinner. Barbara Fitzsimmons, Arline Paa, albeit slightly lower than usual, The evening proceeded Renate Schmid-Schoenbein, Alice exceeded 100. smoothly, beginning with time for Blake-Stalker, and Eleanor tum The Friends were pleased to see mingling in the Zonta Lounge, Suden set tables. Candace Kohl among the many guests Associate followed by a Thai dinner served came laden with flowers, including Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Ed outdoors in the central courtyard. gorgeous roses provided by Cathy Spriggs, Dean of Graduate Studies The program began with words Reed from the Del Mar Rose Society; Kim Barrett, and Kim Signoret- of welcome by Eleanor tum Suden blue and gold balloons, compliments Paar, Student Affairs’ Director and a brief business meeting that of the International Center Office, of Development. Regretfully, Dr. included the election of officers added to the festive spirit. The heat Carolyn Kelly from the School of for the year 2011-12. Nominating lamps kept the evening chill at bay. Medicine was detained by having Committee Chair Alma Coles Ginny Young, Jennie Chin, Alma to tend to a student emergency. placed the proposed slate before Coles, John Filoso, and Keiko Kwan So (his wife, Marion, was in the membership. The slate was Hirai worked in the kitchen; Lou Hong Kong) was there to greet the enthusiastically received and Adamo, Nancy and Bill Homeyer, and David Paa tended bar. Carol and Stu Smith, as well as Betty Friends Officers 2011-2012 Burton, documented the event by snapping pictures. Lynn Anderson, President: Joan Adamo Director of the International Center, 1st Vice President: Arline Paa was involved with planning and 2nd Vice President, Membership: Renate Schmid-Schoenbein coordination. A large contingency Recording Secretary: Nancy Homeyer of the International Center staff Treasurer: Jeri Abernathy attended (Lynn Anderson, Danelle Corresponding Secretary: Betty Shor Boone, Kim Burton, Gladys Nominating Committee: Alma Coles, Josie Foulks, Calderon, Tricia Chan, Dulce Candace Kohl Dorado, James Galvin, Charmagne September 2011 Page 3 unanimously approved. Once the Friends Parliamentarian, Betty Shor, Thank you! Obrigado. Gracias. Danke. Arigato. had determined that the number Tak. Merci. Mahalo. Dziękuję. Xie xie. Kiitos. of members voting represented a quorum, the elected officers were Dhanyawaad. Toda. Grazie. Asante. introduced to the assembled dinner guests. Lynn Anderson expressed her thanks to the Friends for their continued support of International Center programs. Ruth Newmark spoke about the Friends Scholarship program, pointing to the fine cooperation between campus staff and volunteers, and acknowledged the financial assistance that make these international scholarships a reality. Students receiving scholarships were asked to come to the podium to receive their awards and to have group photos taken. Many students commented afterwards on how much they enjoyed the exceptional mix of people from different parts of the campus and the local community, and marveled at the ease with which everyone communicated. This exchange of information and ideas is as important to the Friends Volunteer as it is to the students. Our thanks go to all who helped Appreciation Lunch to make the 2011 Annual Dinner and —by Lynn Anderson, Dean of International Education Scholarship Awards Ceremony a rousing success! On May 17, 2011, the International Center hosted the first annual Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon. We recognized all of the volunteers who donate their time and resources to the programs and services of the International Center that support and engage our international students, international Notice of Dues scholars, and study-abroad students. We honored volunteers who work in Increase the Resale Shop, provide tutoring through the English in Action program, plan and offer Wednesday Coffees and our Wednesday Family Orientations, After careful review and discussion, assist with Cooking in America, prepare and serve our delicious Friday the Friends Board of Directors Café lunches, tend the Kitchen Exchange, prepare this Newsletter, serve on decided to increase regular dues to the scholarship selection committee, and so much more. $35.00 per year, effective October Approximately 100 volunteers plus almost the entire IC staff were in 1, 2011. Other categories of dues attendance. We enjoyed a delicious meal together; volunteers received IC remain unchanged. Since the last mugs, pins, and well-deserved appreciation; and we enjoyed a delightful dues increase in 1998, basic operating vocal performance by UCSD Frequency, an all-male a capella group. costs have increased considerably, Eleanor tum Suden’s 75th birthday was celebrated with cake and song. and the Board felt that this change Sophia