Filmmaker nominated for Oscar
  Freeheld, a film by Cynthia Wade ’89, has been nominated for an Academy Award, in the category of Best Short Documentary Subject. The film chronicles the story of the late Laurel Hester, a detective lieutenant in Ocean County, New Jersey. During the final year of Hester’s life, after she had been diagnosed with terminal cancer, she engaged in a struggle with elected county officials to transfer her pension, earned after twenty-five years of fighting crime, to her domestic partner, Stacie Andree, an option for heterosexual couples living together. The film begins with local officials denying her initial request. Wade said she was overjoyed by the news of her nomination. “It was Laurel’s hope that her personal story would make a difference for gay and lesbian couples around the nation,” she said. Freeheld will be included in the list of nominees announced during the 80th Academy Awards ceremony on Feb. 24, 2008, when a winner will be chosen. For an interview with Wade, go to http://www.thereeler.com/sundance_features/cynthia_wade_freeheld.php.
 
  Boats for sale
  The Smith crew team is giving alumnae a chance to capture a piece of Smith rowing history as it puts up for sale three historic wooden rowing shells. The slender boats, from the 1910s and 1920s, remain beautiful to look at but are impractical for modern rowing purposes. “They were used for the rowing team on Paradise Pond when women’s rowing was form-based, instead of speed-based, as it is now,” said crew team member Eliza van Lennep ’09. Proceeds from the sale will go toward new four-person training shells. The boats will go to the highest bidders, with the sale ending March 15. For information, contact van Lennep at evanlenn@smith.edu, or athletic director Lynn Oberbillig at loberbil@smith.edu, or at 413-585-2701. Read more about the boats at www.saqonline.smith.edu.
 
  Focus on Global Warming
  Global warming was the focus of discussions on campus for two days at the end of January as students participated in a variety of programs, readings, games, and workshops to raise awareness of climate change. The events were part of Focus the Nation, an effort by colleges, universities, high schools, and community groups across the country to explore potential solutions to the environmental crisis. Among the programs on campus were a “breakfast at night” that featured food grown locally, a global-warming themed Jeopardy game, and a Webcast led by Stanford climate scientist Stephen Schneider. More information and a list of events are at http://www.smith.edu/green/focus.php.
 
  Making the Possible Real
  Twenty first- and second-year students from traditionally underrepresented groups are participating in a new program aimed at increasing diversity in the sciences. The idea for Achieving Excellence in Mathematics, Engineering, and Sciences (AEMES) grew out of a meeting of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), which raised the issue of diversifying those disciplines. Smith recently applied to HHMI for four years of funding support for the program. AEMES scholars remain in the program for the first two years of their college experience. During those years, the scholars are matched with both a faculty member and an upper-class peer to answer questions about coursework and otherwise mentor them about their academic decisions. The program is being led on campus by Laura Katz, associate professor of biology, and Katherine Queeney, associate professor of chemistry. For more, visit http://www.smith.edu/newsoffice/releases/AEMES.html.
 
  Taking It to the Street
  One of the celebratory activities for the tenth anniversary of the Smith Poetry Center was Poetry All Around, an opportunity for the Smith community to encounter poets reading their work or that of others at locations throughout campus. Enjoy video samples of the event at http://www.smith.edu/news/200708/poetryallaroundvideoplayer.php.
 
  Women of Color Plan Reunion
  A range of speakers, panel discussions, and small-group conversations are planned for “Building Community: A Conference and Reunion for Students and Alumnae of Color,” March 7–9 on campus. Participants will explore diversity at Smith and beyond, establish networks and mentoring relationships with students and alumnae, and discuss a host of real-world issues, from financial well-being to contemplative practices. For information about speakers and to register for the event, visit http://alumnae.smith.edu/education/buildingcommunity.php.
 
  Spreading the News
  When ABC News recently undertook its biggest international expansion, the network turned to Karen Russo ’96 to lead one of its bureaus in Mumbai, India. Russo is one of seven reporters who have been dispatched to locations around the world and given state-of-the-art technology to record, edit, and transmit their stories from the field, giving viewers almost immediate access to news as it happens. Russo joined ABC News in 2003 as an associate producer for Primetime. Before joining ABC News, she was a print journalist and wrote for several publications, including the Boston Globe and the Vineyard Gazette.
 
  LGBT Alumnae Forming Affinity Group
  A small group of LGBT alumnae, their allies, and alumnae with gay children who gathered at Reunion last spring has grown into the thriving Smith LGBT Alumnae Alliance. Boasting 100-plus members, the group comprises alumnae from forty classes and twenty-six states who are linked by a lively online discussion board that allows members to reconnect with Smith through conversations with old and new friends. The group has two events planned for Reunion 2008 in May: a reception hosted by the Alumnae Association and a panel discussion led by professor Susan Van Dyne, chair of Smith’s women and gender studies program. If you are interested in joining or working with the group to become an official affinity group of the Alumnae Association, contact Brooke Trent ’57 at brooketrent@optonline.net, or Hollis Bulleit ’96 at hbulleit@yahoo.com.
 
  A Family’s Journey
  A screening of the award-winning film New Year Baby by Socheata Poeuv ’02 will be held on Thursday, February 28, at 7 p.m. in Seelye 106. The documentary, which has been honored with seven international awards, traces Poeuv’s family’s journey to America under Cambodia’s oppressive Khmer Rouge regime. Poeuv will be on hand after the showing to answer questions from the audience. The event is free and is being sponsored by the Southeast Asian Alliance of Smith College. For more on the film, visit http://www.newyearbaby.net.
 
  Meaningful Connections
  The Alumnae Association’s new Affinity and Special Interest Program provides alumnae with shared interests opportunities to connect in meaningful ways in person or online. Members of the Affinity and Special Interest Committee are available to assist alumnae in forming new affinity groups and working with current group leaders on budgets, bylaws, and training. Committee members include Norma Melgoza ’92, chair; Jessica Doughty ’02; Jisun Han ’02; Kim Hess ’96; Ileana Jimenez ’97; Manjula Jindal ’91; Lynne Noel ’93; and Karen Lathen-Sabur ’74. Currently, there are two active affinity groups: Black Alumnae of Smith College (BASC), http://www.blackalums.com; and Association of Latina Alumnae of Smith (ALAS), http://smith.alumnae.net/default.aspx?Page=CCPGClubHome&WebsiteID=51. For information on forming a group, visit http://alumnae.smith.edu, or contact Betsy Hopkins at bhopkins@smith.edu.
 
  Authors’ Voices
  Listen to alumnae authors discuss their craft. The Alumnae Association’s online audio series, “An Author’s Voice,” currently features ten diverse writers talking about their writing routines, character development, and inspirations, among other topics. The latest author to talk to correspondent Karen Brown is Patty Friedmann ’68, who has written six darkly comic literary novels set in New Orleans. To listen to their conversation, go to http://alumnae.smith.edu/authors/.
 
  A New Lifelong Learning Community
  Hampshire College is creating a new community adjacent to its campus for adults who wish to live in an intellectually oriented community in the Five College area. Homeowners at Veridian Village at Hampshire College will have access to Hampshire facilities, programs, and classes. Smith alumnae are encouraged to find out more at
www.VeridianVillage.com. 
   
  For a compendium of the latest news about Smith, press releases, calendar of events, stories, and media coverage, visit Grécourt Gate, the college’s news and events Web site, at http://www.smith.edu/news/.
   
  *************AASC Programs and Services ***************

Plan a 2008 Adventure with Smith Travel
London Theatre, March 16–22, 2008 (Limited space still available!)
This trip is a must for theater-lovers. During this weeklong extravaganza, you’ll have choice seats to some of the best plays currently on stage in the West End, including The Homecoming with Neil Dudgeon and Nigel Lindsay, and David Mamet’s Speed the Plow with Kevin Spacey and Jeff Goldblum. Providing insight along the way will be Smith’s Luc Gilleman, associate professor of English and expert on Pinter and Mamet. Sign up now and take advantage of cheap flights to London.

Inside Morocco: A Hands on Cultural Exploration, April 12–23, 2008
During this intimate travel experience, you’ll learn about the rich culture of Morocco and see firsthand how everyday life is lived there. Accompanying you will be Smith French professor Jonathan Gosnell and an expert local tour director.

Flavors of France: A Culinary Journey from Paris to Provence, September 8–16, 2008
Eat your way across the French countryside and see just where Julia Child ’34’s love for traditional French food came from. You’ll visit some of the places that inspired her and sample delicious food along the way. Watch for a final itinerary in the coming weeks.
For full itineraries and prices on the above trips, contact Smith Travel at 800-225-2029 or e-mail alumtrav@smith.edu. For a full listing of trips for 2008 and slideshows of past trips, visit http://alumnae.smith.edu/travel. Smith Travel’s 2008 catalog is now available.

Keep In Touch
The Alumnae Association's Online Directory has been expanded and improved to make it easier and more fun to connect with your Smith friends. You can now take advantage of a host of new features. Share your good times and memorable moments by creating your own personal photo album, update your information, and indicate whether you’d like to be a mentor to a Smith student or an alumna, and create friends lists to make it easy to stay in touch with the people who made your Smith years so memorable. To get started, visit http://alumnae.smith.edu, and log in under “Alumnae Directory and E-mail.”

Life for Life Insurance for Alumnae
The Alumnae Association of Smith College sponsors an array of insurance products for alumnae, their spouses, children, and parents.  For example, the Life for Life plan has exceptional features and low initial rates.  Maximum coverage is $1 million and your insurance can increase repeatedly, even if your health fails and you become uninsurable.  This could be the most valuable feature in any life insurance you have. Visit http://www.meyerandassoc.com/ma/aasc or call 800‑635‑7801 for more information about this and other sponsored life, medical, auto, and homeowners insurance.

The Alumnae Association of Smith College promotes association programs and services only.

 

Other useful links:
Smith College Home: http://www.smith.edu
Alumnae Association of Smith College: http://alumnae.smith.edu
Smith Alumnae Quarterly: http://www.saqonline.smith.edu
Shaping the Future of Smith: http://www.smith.edu/future/shaping/
Supporting Smith: http://www.smith.edu/future