Chapters

CHICAGO

On February 6, the Chicago chapter hosted its fourth-annual dim sum brunch to celebrate the Chinese New Year (Year of the Rooster). More than 30 alumni, spouses, friends, and children joined us this year at Three Happiness restaurant in Chicago's Chinatown. Moreover, we had graduates from five decades represented: the '60s, '70s, '80s, '90s, and '00s! The dim sum, tea, and conversation were plentiful as the brunch once again proved to be our most popular event. Gung Hay Fat Choy (Have a prosperous and good New Year)!

NEW YORK CITY

We love New York in spring—how about you? The New York chapter is planning spring and summer events to get people outside, eating well, and even venturing into the outer boroughs. Planned events include a dim sum outing in March, an April tour of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden's cherry blossoms, a June wine-tasting and winemaking talk centered on Oregon wines, and a July trip to Coney Island for a Brooklyn Cyclones game. Our career and networking night in January was a big success, drawing about 60 recent and not-so-recent grads to discuss working in the New York area, forging connections, and comparing resources.

Kees Schouten '98 (kschouten@gmail.com) has taken on leadership of the alumni book club; Constance Chang '01 (constancechang@hotmail.com) is the contact for the alumni bridge club. Please contact Lauren Asher '95 (lasher@hotmail.com) or Will Swarts '92 (wswarts@hotmail.com) for questions about the chapter or to get involved with the steering committee. View news of the chapter and a photo of our Secret Santa wrapping party.

PORTLAND

The Portland chapter is working closely with the sports center and the alumni office on the new online ski cabin reservation system in an attempt to make sure it works for everyone. We've had a very good time attending some of the Portland Arts & Lecture Series this winter. Coming up, we have a picnic in August and our fourth-annual trip to Westwind in October. We are currently recruiting new members to the chapter steering committee; if you'd like to get involved, please send email to pdx-steering@lists.reed.edu.

We announce many of our events via email now, so if you're interested in Portland events, please make sure the alumni office has your current email address (send updates to alumni@reed.edu).

RAINIER

The Rainier chapter spent the long but not so grey winter months meeting over books at the monthly reading group, and beers at the monthly brewpub gathering. In December a fistful of us met at the Garage on Capitol Hill to bash some pins together. In February we were joined by the lovely Robin Tovey '97 and handsome Paul Gronke at the new Seattle Library. Professor Gronke considered "The Death of Liberalism?" After the talk and subsequent discussion a knot of Reedies burst into the hall and raced to the stacks to try and get their hands on copies of the books on Professor Gronke's suggested reading list.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

The annual summer picnic is scheduled for Sunday, August 7 in our usual haunt: Carlson Park in Culver City. Mark your calendar! The book group meets monthly, usually in the afternoon of the second Sunday. Alumni visiting from out of this area are invited to inquire ahead for particulars, read the book, and join the discussion. Watch future issues for a probable solstice celebration in early December. For further information, call Robert Hadley ‘53 at 310/391-1427 or send email to BobPatHadley@aol.com.

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Planning for the D.C. chapter's annual picnic has begun; we're aiming for late July or early August—watch your mail for the flyer. We also have our annual meeting coming up and need people with ideas and a bit of energy for the chapter's organizing committee; for example, we'd like someone to help coordinate an activity next Earth Day. Please contact Leslie Overstreet '71 at 703/765-7059 or aha42@worldnet.att.net.