Newsletter Archive
Last month we met up for a Galentine’s Day coffee date in Palo Alto. It was a great turn-out, even as a few folks rushed off to watch the local 49ers + Taylor Swift’s boyfriend in the Superbowl. Planning for our Stanford Dish hike later in the month, and April’s Accepted Students Tea.
It has been quite a summer so far! In June we had a fascinating visit from Professor Jon Caris, in July we welcomed our newly matriculating Smithies into the fold at our annual Spring (now Summer) Tea, and every month our Smith College Club of the Peninsula Book Club gets together.
Hiking at Castle Rock! Book club! Country Line Dancing! We had a great time over the past month connecting Smith College Alums! On June 17 we’re hosting Professor Jon Caris at a Faculty Speaker Event in Palo Alto. You should join us in all these adventures. sign up for the newsletter, or become a member today!
Assembling Spring care packages for students currently on campus.
Welcoming newly admitted students and hoping to sway them into becoming future Smith alums!
In April we gathered to assemble care packages for 25 students from the Peninsula Bay Area who are currently calling Northampton home, and we welcomed 10 newly admitted students (and their parents) to a backyard tea where alums made themselves available to answer questions, assuage concerns, and share personal college experiences as these young people make the enormous decision as to where they will spend their next 4 years as a student, and the rest of their lives as alums! Coming up in May: hiking, dancing, and planning for June’s in-person Faculty Speaker Professor Jon Caris.
Dandelion Chocolate Factory Tour & Tasting
In March 12 of us met in San Francisco at the Dandelion Chocolate 16th Street Factory Location for a private tour of an active bean-to-bar chocolate factory, featuring a guided walk-through of the Dandelion chocolate-making process, and plenty of samples.
Galentine’s Day Celebration in Palo Alto
In February we met up at Sweet55 in Palo Alto’s Town and Country Village shopping center for a sweet and festive Galentine's Day celebration.
The 15th Annual Cookie Exchange, December 2023
We ended 2022 with our 15th Annual Cookie Exchange held once again at the home of Joy Sliver ‘96. The new year is absolutely bursting with new events. Join us!
Mountain Day Celebration at Portola Redwoods State Park
In the past two months Young Alums headed to SF for the annual Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival at Golden Gate Park, we celebrated Mountain Day with a hike at Portola Redwoods State Park, a small group gathered to put together the bi-annual student care packages for current Smithies led by Trang Le ‘20, we danced together at a K-Pop dance workshop led by Ellen Dong ‘22, and of course our intrepid book club gathered each month for discussion and socializing.
Annual Spring Tea, including alums and current and new students.
Hiking at Mount Umunhum
Tea Ceremony at Hakone Gardens
As we enter into a new fiscal year, we look back at all the amazing events that took place over the past fiscal year and revel in our own awesomeness.
We’re planning more hikes, and a virtual hot cider party, an annual tradition to welcome newly admitted students and offer them and their families a chance to ask questions and voice concerns about becoming a Smithie.
The Annual Cookie Exchange was great fun!
We ended the year with the Annual Cookie Exchange. Thanks to member Joy Silver ‘96 for hosting us on her beautiful back patio. Also, this month’s hike will take place at Mount Umunhum, and the Annual Hot Cider Party for prospective students and their families will take place via Zoom on Sunday, January 23.
Celebrating Mountain Day 2021 with a hike at Schilling Lake Trail.
Sign up for a new opportunity to meet your fellow local Smithies! Tea Date with a Smithie is a new event format where you can go on a "blind date" with another Peninsula Bay Area Smithie! Click here to sign up for Tea Dates. Also in this newsletter, we plan for our next hike at Pulgas Ridge, offer a micro-volunteer event of care package assembly for current students, and discuss the big news from Smith College about the elimination of loans from its undergraduate financial aid packages and replace them with with institutional grants.
SEPTEMBER 2021
Attendees of the 2021 Annual Meeting of the Smith College Club of the Peninsula enjoyed the sunshine and sisterhood provided by our excellent host Joy Silver '96.
A review of our wonderful annual meeting including financial details, planning for Mountain Day, NEW Tea Date with a Smithie, book club, and more!
SUMMER 2021
Getting ready for an in-person (!!) gathering for the Annual Meeting of the Smith College Club of the Peninsula, including the introduction of the proposed executive slate for the new year (September 2021 - August 2022).
Plus, the Office of Alumnae Relations and Development launched a virtual faculty lectures program for all Smith Clubs to access. online for a limited time.
MAY 2021
In May we co-sponsored faculty speaker Dr. Malkowski, Smith College Associate Professor of Film and Media Studies, presenting No Such Thing as Neutral: Racism and Technology Design. Along with Smith clubs in Smith Clubs in Colorado, Wyoming, Indianapolis, LA, and New Jersey, forty-three attendees learned about the misconception that digital tools are unbiased and equitable for all. Additionally we hosted two online networking nights, and our monthly book club.
This month the Smithie Spotlight falls on Zoe Zandbergen, a rare combination of artist and engineer. Check out some of Z’s incredibly interesting projects at zzandbergen.com.
Z’s Clayfellows are always viewable
and sometimes available at clayfellows.com.
APRIL 2021
We’re looking for a few volunteers for a subcommittee to recruit new Board members. Interested alums should contact club president Alix Davie at alixdavie@gmail.com.
In April we hosted three workshops for resume assistance and networking, an online board game gathering, and an insightful and introspective evening with Lisa Blanchard, the founder and Executive Director of the Grateful Garment Project (TGGP), a non-profit organization that provides victims of sexual violence the clothing and other resources they need to reclaim their dignity and begin the healing process. Also this month, our Smithie Spotlight shines on Joy Silver, Class of 1996 and Alumnae Admissions Coordinator for the club.
MARCH 2021
This month we managed an incredibly successful clothing drive benefiting the Grateful Garment Project, gathered virtually for book clubs, game nights, and networking, and laid the groundwork for a very active April. In this issue we celebrate campus news surrounding the new Nielsen Library, and Smith’s continuing excellence in producing Fulbright scholars. March’s Smithie Spotlight falls on Erika Rodriguez ‘06.
FEBRUARY 2021
In this issue we lay out plans for our events in March, including an online game night, a networking event where you can leverage your fellow alums for resume help, and a clothing drive for the Grateful Garment Project. This month the Smithie Spotlight focuses on Adia Hoag ‘02.
JANUARY 2021
In January we virtually gathered at our annual hot cider party to celebrate the local students who have applied to Smith to matriculate in the upcoming 2021/2022 school year. We had 12 prospective Smithies join us. In December 2020 we celebrated our annual cookie exchange in the best way that we could: by reimagining it as Zoom gathering where we decorated our own gingerbread houses! Plus, enjoy this month’s Smithie Spotlight with club president Alix Davie ‘08.
NOVEMBER 2020
Get all the information you need for December’s annual cookie event, as well as recaps of our November events, including our monthly Book Club, the end-of-year student care packages, and the virtual scavenger hunt event. Enjoy this month’s Member Spotlight with Sally Smith ‘64.
OCTOBER 2020
This month we are revving our engines for the Fall. Read about our plans for upcoming events: our Fall semester student care packages, November’s virtual scavenger hunt, December’s annual cookie event, book club updates, and our Member Spotlight with Indira Deonandan ‘08.
SEPTEMBER 2020
In this issue we invite you to a virtual social hour in conjunction with the Grace Hopper event, give you a recap of the Club’s annual meeting and board elections that took place on Sunday, September 13, and celebrate our first Member Spotlight with Alice Smith ‘61.
ANNUAL NEWSLETTER 2019/2020
Once per year we produce a printed newsletter for our members who prefer to get information outside of the website or other online channels. Click here to get a PDF of this year’s newsletter.
AUGUST 2020
In this issue we outline the process the virtual version of the Annual Meeting of the Smith College Club of the Peninsula, including changes to the bylaws and the proposed executive and appointed slates. You will also find a link to the latest print version of the Annual Newsletter, information about joining the book club, and a call to be a Spotlighted Smithie.
MAY/JUNE 2020
We were moved this month by President McCartney's June letter where she pointed out that "... we must learn how to be more effective allies by truly reflecting on our privilege - and risking that privilege in moments that matter. Beyond vigils, beyond marches, we must commit ourselves to learning and to action."
APRIL 2020
Virtual teas, virtual happy hours, virtual book clubs, virtual admissions events… sheltering in place can’t stop the Smith community. Planning for in-person gatherings is on hold for now, and we cancelled the events that we planned for this past month. Also included in this issue are some tips from Sara Biyabani '84 to help us stay sane and centered during this time, links to the College’s virtual tour of the Annual Bulb Show, and instructions on how to join the first Global Illumination through this facebook event sponsored by the College.
MARCH 2020
Smith College just sent out a notice that, beginning on March 30th, students will be completing the remainder of the Spring semester remotely. This could prove challenging for many students, and that's why we're urging you to contribute to the "Student Aid Emergency Fund" that was set up to help. In lieu of the Spring Exam Care Packages that the Club usually sends, we donated the $400 towards this emergency fund. Also in this issue, the annual survey to help guide activities of the Smith College Club of the Peninsula, an overview of the new Happy Hour events, and plans to pivot scheduled social events to virtual events.
FEBRUARY 2020
We have a new website! Check it out at www.peninsulasmithclubca.org. This month we have two open positions on the Club board: webmaster and membership chair. Contact us if you’re interested in either of these positions. Also in this issue, we look back at this month’s gatherings, including Cocktail Hours and Trivia Nights, plus you’re invited to spend an evening with President Kathleen McCartney and VP for Alumnae Relations Denise Wingate Materre '74 at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View on February 11, 2020. To attend, please register with the College.