Spring Speaker Dinner Event Friday Evening April 25

Come one, come all – the BSLUGS are hosting another fabulous evening for UCSC alumni in West Newton!  Join us for a provocative presentation and discussion with UCSC politics professor Dan Wirls.

"Partisanship and Constitutionalism:  Why We Let the Former Determine the Latter, and Why that is a Very Bad Idea"

Friday, April 25, 2014
7:30-9:30 p.m.
At the home of the Suzmans in West Newton, Mass.
Dessert reception with presentation to follow.

WHAT:  a fascinating talk, interesting discussion with fellow UCSC alums, and delightful dessert created  by chef extraordinaire and our host, Mary Jane Suzman.

WHEN: Friday, April 25
7:30 p.m. dessert | 8:15 p.m. talk begins

WHERE: at the home of Mary Jane and Peter Suzman
14 Leonard Ave., West Newton, MA

RSVP to Beata on Facebook or by email (beata.panagopoulos@verizon.net) by Friday, April 18
Cost: $5 cash at the door

BSLUG Holiday Party on for Sunday PM, Dec. 12

We are happy to announce that the annual BSLUG holiday party will be held:

WHEN:
Sunday, Dec. 12, 3:30 - 6 p.m

WHERE:
Once again (hoorah!) at the home of Mary Jane and Peter Suzman
14 Leonard Street, West Newton, Mass.
RSVP Deadline: Friday, Dec. 3

WHAT:
The party is a fundraiser for the Smith Scholastic Society/Renaissance Scholars Program, founded by Cowell alumnus Bill Dickinson. The Smith Society provides UCSC mentors, scholarships, and collegiate resources to foster children, homeless and runaway youth, orphans, and wards of the court.

Thanks to the marvelous generosity of Mary Jane and Peter Suzman, the festivities will be held for a sixth time at their home in West Newton, Mass. For all of you who have come in years past, you know this is great news. You'll not only enjoy the wonderful company of fellow UCSC alums, but also partake of an extraordinary assortment of scones, various little sandwiches, and festive sweets accompanied by Mary Jane's delicious and aromatic wine punch.

Friends and family are also welcome! It's the perfect way to greet the winter season.

Contact Beata for directions, car-pool arrangements, or any questions.
Email: beatapana@gmail.com
Tel. (h) 617-491-3871

All tax-deductible donations received go directly to the Smith Society/Renaissance Scholars Program. Contributions, large and small, are most welcome.

Suggested donation: $15-25 per person (larger donations will also be much appreciated by the Smith Renaissance Society).

Checks should be made payable to: "UC Santa Cruz Foundation" and write in the memo line: Smith Society Operating Fund SS009F

Mail to: Beata Panagopoulos, 28 Maple Ave., Apt. 3, Cambridge, MA 02139-1130.
You will receive a receipt directly from UCSC.

Spring Speaker Event with Prof. Paul Lubeck--Great Dinner + Thought-Provoking Talk

Each year the Boston Chapter of the UC Santa Cruz Alumni Association, aka the BSLUGS, look forward to hosting a faculty speaker for a dinner-talk event. This year we were very fortunate that the UCSC’s East Coast Regional Team made it possible for us to have a splendid speaker, Dr. Paul Lubeck, who dissected U.S. foreign policy in the Muslim world and clarified many of the complexities of that relationship for us. Our event was a huge success: 18 UCSC alums and friends gathered for dinner, conversation, and discussion at the home of Mary Jane and Peter Suzman in West Newton, Mass. The topic attracted BSLUGs who have never attended previous programs. Prof. Lubeck was a very engaging speaker. If the dinner hadn’t taken place on a week night, we would have been discussing Islamic culture and U.S. politics into the wee hours. We are very grateful to UCSC for providing us the star power for this event!

BSLUGS Host UCSC Sociology Prof. Paul Lubeck Mon. Apr. 26 Dinner/Talk in West Newton

We are happy to announce that UCSC Professor Paul Lubeck*, an expert on political sociology, religion and social movements, will be giving a talk for us called:

"The Cost of Permanent Warfare versus Soft Power - How will the US engage in Civic Diplomacy with the Muslim world."

Dr. Lubeck, who specializes in Nigeria and Islam, founded the UCSC Global Information Internship Program (GIIP) and the Center for Global, International and Regional Studies at UCSC. Check out UCSC press release: "Students forging a new frontier in global health."

• ON THE AGENDA: a fabulous talk, interesting discussion with fellow UCSC alums and a delicious light dinner (Yugoslav filo-cheese egg dish-Gibanica, a big salad, breads, and desserts) prepared by chef extraordinaire and our host, Mary Jane Suzman. (The sooner you can rsvp, the easier you make it for Mary Jane to prepare for the grocery shopping.)
  

• WHEN: Monday, April 26, 6:30-9 p.m. (6:30 p.m. dinner- 7:45 p.m. talk begins)
• COST: $8
• DEADLINE to RSVP: Sunday, April 18
• WHERE: At the home of Mary Jane and Peter Suzman, 14 Leonard Ave., West Newton, MA

RSVP to me and send your checks NOW made payable to "Boston Chapter" to:

Erika Tarlin, 7 Bradford Ave., Somerville, MA 02145

Questions? Contact Beata at tel. 617-491-3871 or by email: beatapana@gmail.com

*Paul M. Lubeck is Professor of Sociology and Director of the Global Information and Social Enterprise Studies Program at the University of California, Santa Cruz. His research focuses on global political economy, civil society and information studies, and the global sociology of Muslim social movements. His recognized expertise lies in the analysis of political, economic, and discursive changes in Muslim world, specializing on Nigeria. His wide-ranging intellectual interests have produced a corpus of work that bridges the boundaries between n scholarship, advocacy and social policy. For the past three decades, Lubeck’s work has extended from organizing cooperatives among Muslim peasants in Niger, to conducting intensive urban field work in Nigeria, Ghana, Mexico and Ghana. More recently, he has consulted with NGOs from the Global South on implementation of information strategies, and advised Nigerian state governments on the regional industrial policy lessons to be drawn from Malaysia. Lubeck’s first book, Islam and Urban Labor in Northern Nigeria: The Making of a Muslim Working Class, was awarded the Herskovits Prize.

BSLUGS Raise $1000 at Annual Holiday Party for Smith Renaissance Society

The BSLUGs rock!! While enjoying the splendid holiday party hosted by the Suzmans' on Dec. 6, the BSLUGs raised $1000 for the Smith Renaissance Society.

A huge "THANK YOU" to Mary Jane and Peter Suzman who made this feat possible!

Happy Holidays to you all from the BSLUG Board. We look forward to seeing you soon in the New Year.

May 2010 bring us Peace on Earth-
Beata, Robin, Paula, Erika, Jill, Mariam, Ian, Carter, and Zoe

Annual BSLUG Holiday Party

This year the BSLUG holiday party will be held:
Sunday, Dec. 6
3:30 - 6 p.m.
At the home of Mary Jane and Peter Suzman
14 Leonard Street, West Newton, Mass.
RSVP Deadline = Friday, Nov. 20

The party is a fundraiser for the Smith Scholastic Society/Renaissance Scholars Program, founded by Cowell alumnus Bill Dickinson. The Smith Society provides UCSC mentors, scholarships, and collegiate resources to foster children, homeless and runaway youth, orphans, and wards of the court. Bill has made an awesome offer to match all donations we raise.

Thanks to the marvelous generosity of Mary Jane and Peter Suzman, the festivities will be held for a fifth time at their home in West Newton, Mass. For all of you who have come in years past, you know this is great news. You'll not only enjoy the wonderful company of fellow UCSC alums, but also partake of an extraordinary assortment of scones, various little sandwiches, and festive sweets accompanied by Mary Jane's delicious and aromatic wine punch.

Friends and family are also welcome! It's the perfect way to greet the winter season.

Contact Beata for directions, car-pool arrangements, or any questions.
Email: beatapana@gmail.com
Tel. (h) 617-491-3871

All tax-deductible donations received go directly to the Smith Society/Renaissance Scholars Program. Contributions, large and small, are most welcome.

Suggested donation: $15-25 per person (larger donations will also be much appreciated by the Smith Renaissance Society).

Checks should be made payable to: "UC Santa Cruz Foundation" and write in the memo line: Smith Society Operating Fund SS009F

Mail to: Beata Panagopoulos, 28 Maple Ave., Apt. 3, Cambridge, MA 02139-1130.
You will receive a receipt directly from UCSC.