Greetings fellow Brown alumni, families and friends!
2024 was another year of innovation for your club filled with exciting and engaging events.
We continued to hold both virtual and in-person events throughout the year including both Brown-alumni get togethers and collaboration with other alumni groups and community organizations.
2024 in Review:
i) January 21. Action & Resolution: Behind the Scenes of the Hollywood Writers Strike. This virtual event, featuring a panel discussion emceed by fellow alum Todd Schulkin ’93, did a deep dive into the causes, resolution and aftermath of the Hollywood Writers Strike of 2023. A video recording of the event can be viewed at https://youtu.be/hsj1iWRPAV4?si=TjpR7HRxmdFMTr64
ii) February 8. Lunar New Year party for Year of the Dragon. 2024’s dinner at the Blue Coral Vietnamese Restaurant in Fountain Valley featured a delicious “chef’s choice” meal followed by games and prizes. https://photos.app.goo.gl/gw3JVQmEuWeMmr8u5
iii) June 10. Dr. Kim Cobb, Director of the Institute at Brown for Environment & Society (“IBES”).The catered event was held at the beautiful home of Shawna Schaffner ’01 and Chris Schaffner in San Juan Capistrano and featured a discussion and Q&A about the role that IBES plays in supporting interdisciplinary studies in climate, sustainability and environmental education. https://photos.app.goo.gl/2PmsfNoRbzeyhG2h6
iv) June 23. Live Beyond Motion, a film by Keith Glassman ’76. This collaboration with local alumnus Keith Glassman, the LGBTQ Center in Santa Ana and Brown LGBTQ affinity group “BAPA” featured a new documentary about the triumphs and challenges of gay male dancers coming of age in mid-to-late 20th Century America. https://photos.app.goo.gl/eQ3cdKxAUxANDk4m6
v) September 26. OC Ivy Plus Mixer 2024.The ever-popular OC Ivy Plus fall mixer took place at a new, outdoor venue – Hangar 24 in Irvine – and featured a no-host celebration with ~20 Brown alumni and 60+ alumni from other Ivy and similar prominent school alumni clubs in the OC.
vi) November 19. Julia Child’s Kitchen – A Conversation with Author Paula Johnson.
This collaboration with three community groups in Laguna Niguel was held at that town’s beautiful Crown Valley Community Center, was organized by BCOC club Treasurer, Carl Schulkin Ph.D. ’64 and featured an encore performance by emcee Todd Schulkin ‘93 in a delightful discussion and Q&A with author and Smithsonian Museum Curator of Food History, Paula Johnson. Event Photos.
vii) November 20. Pre-Holiday Mixer.This mixer at Muldoon’s Irish Pub in Newport Beach featured a Class-of -’88-and-earlier theme geared toward our more seasoned alumni… A dozen folks gathered to celebrate, reminisce and enjoy each other’s company.
viii) December 5. Annual Meeting and Board Election.Hosted by incumbent club VP Chiyo Imai Rowe ’82, your board met to review the club’s progress in 2024, elect the new board for 2025 and discuss the calendar for next year.
Wrapping up the year, your club:
held its annual election in December with some continuing and some new officers:
Co-Presidents Bill McNeely ’72 and Scott Westerfield ‘79
Vice President Arisha Ashraf A.M. ‘05
Treasurer Carl Schulkin Ph.D. ‘64
Secretary/Historian Ed Miskevich ‘79
Appointed Committee Chairs and members
Arts & Culture: Chiyo Rowe ’82 and Angela Dickson ‘88
Diversity: Carl Schulkin and John J. Choi ‘95
Young Families: Hassan Albakri ‘00
Athletic Events: Shawna Schaffner ‘01
Seasoned Alumni: Rosalyn “Roz” Laudati ‘71
Outdoor Events: Marc McReynolds ‘79
bid farewell to board members Kyle McIntyre ’16 and Niloufar Ghavami ’92.
On behalf of the Board, I wish our members, supporters, friends and families a very Happy New Year in 2025. Please let us know how we’re doing. Your energy, enthusiasm, support, ideas and participation are welcome!
For the Board,
-Scott Westerfield ‘79
Co-President, Brown Club OCbrowncluboc@gmail.com
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