Alumni Gatherings


Annual Wall Street Reception
by Ingrid Husisian

New-York area alumni in financial services careers gathered at JP Morgan Chase & Co. May 21 for an evening of networking and fun, thanks to the generosity of Jim Bauer '68 and Lynne Federman '74. This reception, hosted by different alumni each year, takes place in a different business setting in Manhattan every spring. Click here to see photos from the big event.

In her address to alumni, President DeFleur thanked Bauer and Federman for hosting the event and recognized past hosts Mitch Lieberman '80, Mark Zurack '78, Joseph Yakura '83 and Jim Ludwig '81.

"Today's event is poignant for all of us, since it is the first time that we have come together since the terrible events of Sept. 11, and I know some of you were very directly affected," said DeFleur upon requesting a moment of silence to remember those who perished. She also shared news about the Memorial Courtyard, which will be dedicated during Homecoming to Binghamton alumni lost on Sept. 11 and used to memorialize other members of the University community as well, and other University news.

Atlanta alumni have fun under a hot sun
by Paula Brightwell '97, Atlanta network coordinator

On a gorgeous HOT Atlanta Sunday when the temperatures reached into the 90's, a group of Binghamton University alumni gathered with others for the first-ever SUNY picnic. On June 2, we rented a pavilion at Wills Park for the afternoon. Aside from BU, there were alumni from Cortland, Empire State College, Fredonia, New Paltz, Oswego, Plattsburgh and Potsdam.

Conversations were filled with laughter as people reflected on days past. Multiple door prizes were given out and everyone feasted on some southern BBQ. (Personally, I would have preferred a spiedie on good Italian bread, but they don't serve that here in the South. Maybe we can add it to the menu for next year's picnic.) Thanks to those who sweated it out under the park pavilion. I hope you will continue to join us at future events.

For more photos, visit the SUNY Club of Atlanta's website at www.geocities.com/sunyalumniofatlanta .



Atlanta continues to host all-SUNY events

Last year, the alumni volunteer coordinators of the Atlanta networks for Binghamton, Cortland and Oswego pulled their energy together to host events for all SUNY alumni living in Atlanta. Many colleges don't have organized clubs in Atlanta, so this venture allows alumni from different SUNY schools to participate in one local alumni club.

The coordinators are working with several alumni offices to send out invitations, but many people find out about events through word of mouth. "If you know someone who hasn't been included, please pass the word," said network coordinator Paula Brightwell. "Regardless of which school you attended, the primary premise of the club is networking and to allow alumni to help alumni."

Atlanta's all-SUNY network has planned monthly happy hours for the second half of 2002. "In an effort to increase attendance even more, the group decided to pick one central location and hold it consistently on the third Thursday of each month," Brightwell said. "Consensus chose Rock Bottom Brewery in Buckhead. The hope is that this location will be easy for alumni to get to on a monthly basis, so we can see some returning faces. Each event brings new alumni, so you never know whom you will see at the next one." The dates have been posted on the local website at www.geocities.com/sunyalumniofatlanta. "Alumni should remember to check this site for any changes and recaps of the events," Brightwell said.

She added that Binghamton University's Office of Alumni and Parent Relations will send e-mail reminders of events to alumni, and that alumni should make sure the office has their current e-mail address by submitting information via the alumni page at www.binghamton.edu.

"As part of the planning committee, I remain excited about the response to our SUNY Alumni of Atlanta network, and I am always willing to hear about new ideas," said Brightwell. Contact her at georgia_bearcat@hotmail.com or 678-772-8114 with any questions or comments.

Alumni turnout tops at SOM golf tournament

Gary and Rina Meltzer, both '85, hosted the fourth annual Dean's Metro New York School of Management Alumni Challenge June 24 at the Shackamaxon Golf and Country Club in Scotch Plains, New Jersey. Sixty-six golfers played in this year's tournament, a 42% increase from the previous year. The tournament has become an annual tradition and is expected to grow over the coming years. This year's tournament raised over $30,000 in cash and prizes. A portion of the proceeds will be allocated for the merit scholarship fund to benefit students within the School of Management. Scholarships of this nature will help elevate the School's entire profile by attracting top-notch students.

Guests began the day with a hearty brunch followed by a round of golf on a very challenging course. At the conclusion of play, there was an open bar, hors d'oeuvres, a buffet and plenty of alumni and friends catching up with each other and enjoying the camaraderie of their Binghamton past.

The weather was hot and humid, but luckily no rain. As with last year, the tournament experienced several interesting firsts. The tournament offered a fantastic networking opportunity to current SOM students and graduates from the class of 2002. Several very generous donors stepped forward to pay the entrance fee for current students and for new graduates. Not only was the tournament held for fun, but it was also another outreach event to help the SOM build its alumni network. Also, for the first time faculty members joined in the fun. Professors Dennis Lasser and Jeff Goldberger '72 played in the tournament and got a chance to reconnect with some of their former students.

All participants, regardless of their ability to play golf, walked away with wonderful prizes thanks to many alumni donations.

Two prizes were awarded to the "low net team." The team of Hal Levine, Ron Deutsch '79 and Steve Farbman won Binghamton University sweatshirts and the team of Dean, Upinder Dhillon, Bennet Grutman '78, Michael Jordan '89 and Don Green '73 won School of Management golf shirts from Lands End. Larry Hollander '78, Scott Crystal '78, Steve Cost and Bob Massini won low gross team, and were given golf shirts by PricewaterhouseCoopers for their efforts.

Individual prizes were awarded to: Steve Farbman for low net individual, Bob Massini for low gross individual, Christopher Kennedy '99 for the longest drive, Cyrus Brozooyeh '93 and Howard Reba '86 for closest to the pin.

The success of the tournament is rooted in the support it receives from its sponsors and their employees that make it happen. The School of Management would like to thank the following individuals and companies that sponsored a hole:

  • Mark Deutsch '81 and Cathy Deutsch '79
  • Mark Zurack '78
  • Ernst & Young LLP - Michael Cyran '87
  • GE Capital - Luis Acosta
  • PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP - Gary Meltzer '85
  • Deloitte & Touche LLP - Mark Richman '75
  • John Walker '78
  • Ron Deutsch '79
  • William Forgione '81

In addition to our hole sponsors, several companies and individuals stepped forward to donate prizes or provide entry fees for current students and new graduates who helped make the tournament a success. Again, the School of Management extends it's gratitude to the following:

  • Estee Lauder and Steve Blanz '82
  • PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and Gary Meltzer '85
  • John Walker '78
  • SelectWineLLC.com and John D'Aquila '86
  • Barnes & Noble College Bookstores and Rick Watson
  • Scott Lipkin '81 and Professor, John Barden
  • BU Alumni Association, BU Athletics Club and the School of Management

The fifth annual outing will be held once again at the Shackamaxon Golf & Country Club in Scotch Plains, NJ in late spring of 2003. Watch for details as the date draws near.

For more upcoming Alumni Gatherings, check out the Alumni Association's calendar of events! http://alumni.binghamton.edu/events.html

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