May 2012 Newsletter
Stanford Alumni Potluck Dinners
Saturday, May 5
Do you want to connect with fellow Stanford alums in the DC area who work in
the same field as you do, in a small, casual setting? We have just the venue!
Alums Mark Kogan (’09) and Tom Kohn (’83) have created a fun series of potluck
dinners, hosted at alum’s homes, for small gatherings of 10-15 people, with a great
mix of both young and “seasoned” alums. No pressure. No business cards.
Great food and drink. Interesting people. Join us! So far we’ve had themes of
“Capital Hill” and “Foreign Affairs” (and one with no theme at all).
If your field of work is any of the following, and you would like to join us — or
host — please click on the following link to complete a short survey: https://saa.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_7VZ4i3gQHxXbDGQ
We look forward to seeing you!
May 5 – Business
August 4 – Legal
Oct 6 – Journalism/Media
Dec 8 – TBD (please send us your suggestions for this end of year potluck!)
For more information, contact Mark Kogan at markskogan@gmail.com.
Stanford at the Opera
Thursday, May 10 7:30 pm
Kennedy Center
Nabucco – Verdi
WASHINGTON NATIONAL OPERA PREMIERE!
Verdi’s powerful blockbuster about the defeat, enslavement, and exile of the
ancient Babylonian Jews by King Nabucco features a grand and gorgeous score.
Thaddeus Strassberger’s new production will transport you to the lost wonders
of the world to witness a royal family at odds with their nation and each other.
Stanford Day of Service
Saturday, May 12
Volunteers are still needed for projects all over the
globe–and right where you live. The following local
alumni-led service projects could really use your
help.
Pick a project and sign up for yourself, your friends
and your family. Just a few hours of your time can
make a world of difference.
Click the following link to register and learn more
about the local projects:
https://www.cervistech.com/acts/webreg/eventwebreglist.php?org_id=0032&event_category_id=41.
SHARE DC – Join fellow alumns by helping SHARE
DC, A food network that distributes nutritious food
to families trying to save money on groceries and
promote health and wellness, by helping them bag
food for their monthy distribution. The event is from
7am-11am at their warehouse, 5170 Lawrence Place,
Hyattsville MD (off the Deanwood exit on the
Orange line or the College Park green line exit).
Depending on interest a carpool may also be
arranged from those stops.
Goodwill – Join Stanford in helping Goodwill host a
donation drive in Alexandria. Volunteers will greet
donors, help to move items to the donation trucks,
and provide receipts and thank donors. The event is
located at 6354 Walker Lane, Suite 100
Alexandria, VA 22310, and a metro carpool is being
coordinated. This event is from 8am-12pm.
Capitol Food Bank
Join Stanford Alumni in DC at the Capital
Area Food Bank to help CAFB in their DC
warehouse!
This project typically involves packing and/or sorting
donated food. It also can include packing for CAFB
programs, working on the shopping floor, and
assisting with various other tasks at the food bank.
This event is from 1-4pm at the
Capitol Area Food Bank located at
645 Taylor St NE Washington, DC 20017. All of these tasks are considered light/medium labor
and typically involve standing up for up to three
hours. This activity will most likely take place in the
warehouse, so please dress for the weather and wear
closed-toe shoes.
DC: Literacy for Homeless Children
Join the Stanford Black Alumni Association of
Washington, D.C. us at the Bright Beginnings Child
Development Center for Homeless Children for a
day of promoting literacy skills in Pre-K and
Kindergarten youth (between the ages of 3 and 6).
This event is from 12-3pm at The Perry School
located at 128 M Street NW Washington, DC 20001. Bright Beginnings is dedicated to meeting the
immediate needs of children and families living in
homeless environments using a holistic development
model. Bright Beginnings is the only nationallyaccredited
child and family development center in
Washington, DC working to stabilize families living in
crisis shelters or transitional housing.
This project is open to all ages.
Event Organizers:
Lillian D. Bowie & Jamal R. Watkins
240-688-4910 lillianbowie@gmail.com
Book Club Discussion
Sunday, May 20 5-8 pm
Fairfax Station, VA
The book club will meet at the home of Walter and
Diana Wilson to discuss Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn
Ward. The June book is Unbroken: A World War II
Story by Laura Hildenbrand. For information on the
book club, email Alison Westfall at
alisoncolew@hotmail.com.
Ivy Singles Happy Hour
Friday, June 1 6-8:30 pm
Aria Pizzeria Restaurant
13th and Pennsylvania Ave NW, on the Reagan
Building plaza
Washington, DC
Meet alumni at the Ivy Singles Social Club Happy
Hour at Aria Pizzeria in its outdoor covered Fresco
bar with nightly live music.
Aria Pizzeria is busy all spring and summer. Come
enjoy the covered, outside space with hors d’oeuvres
and a cash bar with Happy hour prices.
Cost:
In Advance: $20 (Save on fee and Check-in quickly):
Please mail your check payable to the "Yale Club of
Washington DC" or to "YCWDC" with your school
to Robert Cole, 5008 Sangamore Rd, Bethesda, MD
20816. Checks need to be received by Wed, May
30th . Please note your school on the check memo
line.
Or sign up online here or cut n paste
https://
ycwd.memberclicks.net/index.php?option=com_mc&view=mc&mcid=form_118861 After noon Thurs May 31st the fee is $30 and may be
paid online until 6pm the day of the event.
E-mail questions to Robert at Yaleclubdc@aol.com with Ivy Aria Happy Hour in the subject line.
WDCSA HONORS: LISA LARRAGOITE AND MEGHVI ROIG
Local alums Lisa Larragoite ’88 and Meghvi Roig ’97 received the Award of Merit at the Stanford Associates
Award Ceremony on April 21st at the Koret-Taube Conference Center in recognition of their work as DC/
MD/VA Stanford OVAL co-chairs. Over the past year, Lisa and Meghvi orchestrated approximately 1,000
interviews of area high school students by local alums. Rodney Gilmore, ’82, attorney and ESPN football
analyst, presented their awards.The dinner program also included a presentation by John W. Etchemendy,
Stanford University Provost and Acting President, to Gold Spike recipients Helen Bing and Bob Burke, ’64,
JD, ’67.
Citi Open
(formerly the Legg Mason Tennis Classic)
Saturday, July 28- Sunday, Aug 5
16th & Kennedy, NW
Washington D.C.
The 2012 Citi Open is an ATP World Tour 500
tournament, making it one of the top 20 men’s
tournaments in the world. We have the same 6 box
premium box seats to all sessions as in previous
years (Aisle 36, Section 3). The seats are at the end
of the court and very close to the court. These seats
provide access to the Courtside Club restaurant. We
have two parking passes available for each session at
$15/pass. We also have 4 upper level seats (Section 7,
Row J) at the same end of the court as our boxes to
each session. The Sunday of the first weekend usually
includes main draw matches as well as qualifying
matches. Tickets also include the women’s WTA
International Level Event to be held at the same
facility during this week (last year it was held in
College Park).
Current availability:
| Session | Box | Upper Level | Parking Passes |
| Sat 7/28 (qualifying) 10am | $8 box (6 left) | $5 upper (4 left) | 2 |
| Sunday 7/29 10am | $15 box (6 left) | $10 upper (4 left) |
2 |
| Mon 7/30 4pm | $37 box (6 left) | $15 upper (4 left) |
2 |
| Tue 7/31 4pm | $44 box (6 left) | $20 upper (4 left) |
2 |
| Wed 8/1 4pm | $49 box (2 left) | $25 upper (4 left) |
1 |
| Thurs 8/2 4pm | $55 box (6 left) | $30 upper (4 left) | 2 |
| Friday 8/5 2pm (quarterfinals) | $92 box (6 left) | $40 upper (4 left) | 2 |
| Sat 8/4 (semifinals) 1pm | $67 box (6 left) | $35 upper (4 left) |
2 |
| Sat 8/4 (semifinals) – 7pm | $75 box (6 left) | $40 upper (4 left) |
2 |
| Sun 8/5 (finals) 12pm | $82 box (6 left) | $45 upper (4 left) | 2 |
Please email
wmpegram@comcast.net or call 703-486-0952
indicating the number of tickets desired, the session,
and parking passes desired. Bill will process requests
in the order they are received and confirm availability
by return email and provide instructions for payment.
Get Involved
- WDCSA Co-Ed Softball
Spring is just around the corner and it’s time to
kick off the 8th annual DC Stanford softball season!
The regular season runs from April to July and ends
with a post-season tournament over two weekends
in August. Most regular season games are played
during the week on the Washington Monument
grounds. Players should expect to pay a nominal
team fee to cover league and equipment costs.
The quality of play is at moments brilliant and
at other times hysterically pathetic, but we
always have a good time! If you are interested in
playing, please send an email to
wdcsasoftball@gmail.com (we have a particular
need for women this season to complete our
roster). We hope to see you this spring! - The Capital Alumni Network is seeking to fill the
following (unpaid) positions: –
Business Development Chair
-Second Sports Commissioner
-Community Service Chair
Applications are due May 10th. Click the following
link for more information : www.dcalum.org/content/Openings.aspx
EVENT SPOTLIGHT: HOW TO LEAD THE GOOD
LIFE: LESSONS FROM THE ANCIENT GREEKS
WDCSA members had the privilege to hear Dr. McCall, one of Stanford’s storied professors and speakers
on campus, lecture on the core ethical beliefs of Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, the Epicureans, and the Stoics.
Held at the Embassy of Greece, the event allowed the 90 attendees to explore and confront the
fundamental human issues of justice, absolute versus relative morality, fear of death, fate versus free will, and
the relationship between humans and the divine. The Greek Embassy very graciously provided
complimentary bottles of Greek wine for us to serve. Several audience members were selected by
Professor McCall to symbolize a horse pulling a cart with a dog being dragged behind. See below for the
entertaining photos!
EVENT SPOTLIGHT:
STANFORD PARENTS INITIATIVE MUSEUM TOUR
On Sunday afternoon, April 8th, the WDCSA Stanford Parents Initiative sponsored a small-group tour of
highlights of the Smithsonian Museum of American Arts. Charita Thakkar P’14, MSB ’94, a docent at the
museum, acted as the guide and did a superlative job. Twelve parents (including SPI co-chairs Melissa Clark
P’12 and Chris Shinkman P’98) and one art-loving alum joined Charita for an inside look at one of the lesserknown
gems of the Smithsonian. Afterwards a small group continued on for drinks and appetizers at Proof
Restaurant. This was a truly amazing outing, and we want to thank Charita for generously donating her time
and talents! Plans may be in the offing for a repeat performance in the fall at the Renwick Gallery, where
Charita has just completed her docent training. If you didn’t join us this time, you’ll definitely want to sign up
for the next!
Stanford In the News
- In a novel study of health disparities in the United
States, Stanford School of Medicine researchers
have identified 22 socioeconomic and
environmental variables that together are better
indicators of early death than are race or
geography. - Northwestern and Stanford have finalized plans for
a home-and-home football series to be played in
2015 and 2016.
This month’s newsletter is available for download in PDF format.