Update 4-20-10
Hi,
First, the next-to-last fundraising report for the Gibson / Tampio scholarships. All we need is 50 bucks and we're done. If a couple of people still want to contribute, please send your checks to: Rich Eisbrouch, 23030 Dolorosa Street, Woodland Hills, California 91367. Thanks.
Second, a few statistics about the scholarships: This is the 7th year they've been given. Because so much money was donated the 1st year, we didn't have to raise any money the 2nd and 3rd.
Last year -- the 6th -- the money came in very quickly, maybe because I mentioned that I was worried about it coming at all, with the recession having hit. This year the money's been coming in more slowly, but probably no more slowly than in the 4th and 5th years.
About 20 people support the scholarships each year, and probably another 40 have been one-time contributors. 5 or 6 people pledged $50 or $100 bucks annually that first year; and these steady donations have always been the core of the scholarships.
When we announced the scholarships, we promised South we'd continue them for 10 years. That leaves us 3 to go, and I'd really like to meet our commitment.
Third, a bit more about the Distinguished Alumni Awards that South gives to former students. Emily Kleinman Schreiber said the Alumni Association really needs to look at resumes to evaluate the candidates. I asked, "What about people like Father Joe Barnett in Nicaragua? Doesn't 35 years of good work count as a resume?" Emily said the committee still needed to see a resume.
So if you're thinking of nominating someone, please get a resume. Emily also said that the nomination process isn't secret. People can know they're being considered. So you can ask for a resume.
And Emily added that the person being honored needs to come to South to address an assembly. It's like the Nobel Prize -- ya gotta go to Oslo.
Again, please send your nomination and an accompanying resume to Emily Kleinman Schreiber at: cre8em@aol.com. The final selection will be made by South's principal, Maureen Henry, and the district's superintendent of schools, Marc Bernstein. And I'm gonna try to get a resume for Father Joe.
Meanwhile, some suggestions from Bernie O’Brien: Even though I didn’t finish my career at wonderful South High School, in the 23 years that I had the honor of being a member of that staff, I was truly blessed with coming in contact with some really terrific young people. When the school district was handling this award, I nominated a number of alumni for this honor, and I believe Josh Tolkoff was one of the honorees, in addition to the people you listed last week. If I am permitted, here are a few names of people who I would hope the Alumni Association would consider: Chuck Drimal, Dave Abbey, Pete Blumenthal, Jack Pohl, Barry Dolich, Jesse Jupiter, Ray Buckley, Dan Nolan, Jamie Bodner, and Lou Andre. I also know there are others. Good luck to them and best wishes to all.
[Rich -- When I forwarded this list to Emily, she asked, "Why did Bernie send the list to the newsletter instead of to the Alumni Association?" I said I didn't know, but, the way I look at it, Bernie can do anything he pleases.
Still, I have to acknowledge that Bernie was a boys' phys. ed. teacher, so he largely knew the guys. Since half the students at South were girls, it sure would be nice if some women were nominated.]
Next, an easy note, related to the reunion, from Peter Rosen: I’d like to put in a request for a ride, either from LaGuardia or Kennedy or from Newark. I'll plan to land wherever it’s most convenient on Friday, early afternoon, around 1:00. If anyone can help me out, I'll go ahead and make my plane reservations. And there are a couple of drinks, on me, for the lucky chauffeur.
A harder note, from Barbara Dorin Hayden: This is a wonderfully worthwhile benefit as the closing event for MOPLA (Month of Photography LA). It's a silent and live auction, the largest photography fundraiser for HIV/Aids foundations, and it features incredible, vintage and contemporary, black-and-white photography. I've been volunteering behind the scenes and have a piece in the silent auction.
http://www.focusonaids.com/event.html
If you're in Los Angeles, please consider attending, at least for the free Artist's Preview Party. Thank you.
[Rich -- Related, there's an article in New York magazine this week about the fate of St. Vincent's Hospital. It's either going to be torn down or turned into condos. The article points out that "the hospital's greatest moment -- and its darkest -- came in the eighties as it found itself quite awkwardly in the thick of the global AIDs crisis."
Finally, another hard note, perhaps more immediate, from Barbara Blitfield Pech:
I'll do anything to meet a doctor, even spend the better part of 24 hours in cardiac emergency and then in a lovely suite in the Baptist Vascular Center. While there, I enjoyed -- as much as anyone can detach herself from the reality of having a full staff of “hot,” caring, attentive, and kind men (yes, mostly men) in masks with all the proper protection -- picking, probing, poking, and even inserting (ooh, baby) various tubes, needles, pumps, vacuumizers, and whatnots into places that will politely remain nameless.
It started on a dark and stormy night. I picked up a cold, virus, or allergy that I treated as such, with an assortment of over-the-counter drugs, teas, herbs, and honey. After little-to-no relief for 2 weeks, I did break down and go to a mini-clinic diagnostician, who suggested that I continue my own self-medicating, never noting that my blood pressure was elevated.
You get what you pay for. Yes -- Lesson Learned.
Within an hour of my last 2 pill pops of antihistamine, the world changed. Visually, it was the 60s -- with flashing waves of color and then a short blackout.
Not so good in my 60s.
Being of sound mind and horrific family history, I called the paramedics for transport to the priority emergency room. I was immediately advised that as an “over-the-counter drug user” I satisfied the requirements for my ride. Then the fun began -- more attention than I ever wanted. Blood draws and breathing and other admission tests quickly put damage control on Lock Down. My blood pressure was what I once wanted my SAT scores to be, and, despite a barrage of stabilizers, my blood pressure continued to rise.
Not such a good thing.
In addition, one blood enzyme test showed dead heart tissue. This was followed by a question even I had no glib answer for: "When was your last heart attack?"
Oh my God.
You talkin’ to me?
Yozwer!
WTF?
Next, off for brain C.A.T., nuclear heart. An interesting experience -- ONCE in your life. And hourly blood draws. Blood pressure. Temperature. Pulse. Respiration. Pin cushion city. No time for rest -- busy waiting for results that had no promise other than to show I had not only become my mother, I was my father, grandparents, aunts, cousins, and uncles. Maybe this was a good time to hope I was adopted.
Finally, the tentative results came in. For an old broad, I am remarkably... ok. My brain and heart have sustained no damage, and -- hopefully soon -- everything else will fall back into place.
But while I am still black, blue, yellow, purple, and a rainbow of skin colors -- and exhausted from 2 "restful” nights of over attention -- I am again reminded that life is too fragile and short not to appreciate and protect every day of good health. So I recognize, appreciate, love, and thank all the caring, wonderful people in my life. (Extra hugs to # 1 in 407, who actually called his mother more than once.)
One more word, to the good friends who are family and to family who are friends -- who stood, sat, and spoke by my side through these days -- I’m sticking around if only to pay off the monster medical bills that will likely cause another of these “episodes.” All donations accepted. LOL!
Reunion information:
The date: Friday, July 16th to Sunday, July 18th
The place: Hyatt Regency Wind Watch in Hauppauge, New York
The phone number: 631-784-1234
The South '65 e-mail addresses: reunionclass65.blogspot.com
The South '65 photo site: picasaweb.google.com/SouthHS65
Rich
Hi,
First, the next-to-last fundraising report for the Gibson / Tampio scholarships. All we need is 50 bucks and we're done. If a couple of people still want to contribute, please send your checks to: Rich Eisbrouch, 23030 Dolorosa Street, Woodland Hills, California 91367. Thanks.
Second, a few statistics about the scholarships: This is the 7th year they've been given. Because so much money was donated the 1st year, we didn't have to raise any money the 2nd and 3rd.
Last year -- the 6th -- the money came in very quickly, maybe because I mentioned that I was worried about it coming at all, with the recession having hit. This year the money's been coming in more slowly, but probably no more slowly than in the 4th and 5th years.
About 20 people support the scholarships each year, and probably another 40 have been one-time contributors. 5 or 6 people pledged $50 or $100 bucks annually that first year; and these steady donations have always been the core of the scholarships.
When we announced the scholarships, we promised South we'd continue them for 10 years. That leaves us 3 to go, and I'd really like to meet our commitment.
Third, a bit more about the Distinguished Alumni Awards that South gives to former students. Emily Kleinman Schreiber said the Alumni Association really needs to look at resumes to evaluate the candidates. I asked, "What about people like Father Joe Barnett in Nicaragua? Doesn't 35 years of good work count as a resume?" Emily said the committee still needed to see a resume.
So if you're thinking of nominating someone, please get a resume. Emily also said that the nomination process isn't secret. People can know they're being considered. So you can ask for a resume.
And Emily added that the person being honored needs to come to South to address an assembly. It's like the Nobel Prize -- ya gotta go to Oslo.
Again, please send your nomination and an accompanying resume to Emily Kleinman Schreiber at: cre8em@aol.com. The final selection will be made by South's principal, Maureen Henry, and the district's superintendent of schools, Marc Bernstein. And I'm gonna try to get a resume for Father Joe.
Meanwhile, some suggestions from Bernie O’Brien: Even though I didn’t finish my career at wonderful South High School, in the 23 years that I had the honor of being a member of that staff, I was truly blessed with coming in contact with some really terrific young people. When the school district was handling this award, I nominated a number of alumni for this honor, and I believe Josh Tolkoff was one of the honorees, in addition to the people you listed last week. If I am permitted, here are a few names of people who I would hope the Alumni Association would consider: Chuck Drimal, Dave Abbey, Pete Blumenthal, Jack Pohl, Barry Dolich, Jesse Jupiter, Ray Buckley, Dan Nolan, Jamie Bodner, and Lou Andre. I also know there are others. Good luck to them and best wishes to all.
[Rich -- When I forwarded this list to Emily, she asked, "Why did Bernie send the list to the newsletter instead of to the Alumni Association?" I said I didn't know, but, the way I look at it, Bernie can do anything he pleases.
Still, I have to acknowledge that Bernie was a boys' phys. ed. teacher, so he largely knew the guys. Since half the students at South were girls, it sure would be nice if some women were nominated.]
Next, an easy note, related to the reunion, from Peter Rosen: I’d like to put in a request for a ride, either from LaGuardia or Kennedy or from Newark. I'll plan to land wherever it’s most convenient on Friday, early afternoon, around 1:00. If anyone can help me out, I'll go ahead and make my plane reservations. And there are a couple of drinks, on me, for the lucky chauffeur.
A harder note, from Barbara Dorin Hayden: This is a wonderfully worthwhile benefit as the closing event for MOPLA (Month of Photography LA). It's a silent and live auction, the largest photography fundraiser for HIV/Aids foundations, and it features incredible, vintage and contemporary, black-and-white photography. I've been volunteering behind the scenes and have a piece in the silent auction.
http://www.focusonaids.com/event.html
If you're in Los Angeles, please consider attending, at least for the free Artist's Preview Party. Thank you.
[Rich -- Related, there's an article in New York magazine this week about the fate of St. Vincent's Hospital. It's either going to be torn down or turned into condos. The article points out that "the hospital's greatest moment -- and its darkest -- came in the eighties as it found itself quite awkwardly in the thick of the global AIDs crisis."
Finally, another hard note, perhaps more immediate, from Barbara Blitfield Pech:
I'll do anything to meet a doctor, even spend the better part of 24 hours in cardiac emergency and then in a lovely suite in the Baptist Vascular Center. While there, I enjoyed -- as much as anyone can detach herself from the reality of having a full staff of “hot,” caring, attentive, and kind men (yes, mostly men) in masks with all the proper protection -- picking, probing, poking, and even inserting (ooh, baby) various tubes, needles, pumps, vacuumizers, and whatnots into places that will politely remain nameless.
It started on a dark and stormy night. I picked up a cold, virus, or allergy that I treated as such, with an assortment of over-the-counter drugs, teas, herbs, and honey. After little-to-no relief for 2 weeks, I did break down and go to a mini-clinic diagnostician, who suggested that I continue my own self-medicating, never noting that my blood pressure was elevated.
You get what you pay for. Yes -- Lesson Learned.
Within an hour of my last 2 pill pops of antihistamine, the world changed. Visually, it was the 60s -- with flashing waves of color and then a short blackout.
Not so good in my 60s.
Being of sound mind and horrific family history, I called the paramedics for transport to the priority emergency room. I was immediately advised that as an “over-the-counter drug user” I satisfied the requirements for my ride. Then the fun began -- more attention than I ever wanted. Blood draws and breathing and other admission tests quickly put damage control on Lock Down. My blood pressure was what I once wanted my SAT scores to be, and, despite a barrage of stabilizers, my blood pressure continued to rise.
Not such a good thing.
In addition, one blood enzyme test showed dead heart tissue. This was followed by a question even I had no glib answer for: "When was your last heart attack?"
Oh my God.
You talkin’ to me?
Yozwer!
WTF?
Next, off for brain C.A.T., nuclear heart. An interesting experience -- ONCE in your life. And hourly blood draws. Blood pressure. Temperature. Pulse. Respiration. Pin cushion city. No time for rest -- busy waiting for results that had no promise other than to show I had not only become my mother, I was my father, grandparents, aunts, cousins, and uncles. Maybe this was a good time to hope I was adopted.
Finally, the tentative results came in. For an old broad, I am remarkably... ok. My brain and heart have sustained no damage, and -- hopefully soon -- everything else will fall back into place.
But while I am still black, blue, yellow, purple, and a rainbow of skin colors -- and exhausted from 2 "restful” nights of over attention -- I am again reminded that life is too fragile and short not to appreciate and protect every day of good health. So I recognize, appreciate, love, and thank all the caring, wonderful people in my life. (Extra hugs to # 1 in 407, who actually called his mother more than once.)
One more word, to the good friends who are family and to family who are friends -- who stood, sat, and spoke by my side through these days -- I’m sticking around if only to pay off the monster medical bills that will likely cause another of these “episodes.” All donations accepted. LOL!
Reunion information:
The date: Friday, July 16th to Sunday, July 18th
The place: Hyatt Regency Wind Watch in Hauppauge, New York
The phone number: 631-784-1234
The South '65 e-mail addresses: reunionclass65.blogspot.com
The South '65 photo site: picasaweb.google.com/SouthHS65
Rich
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