Photo by Dr. James Yan (proud MHC spouse of Pearl Wu ’87 and dad of Victoria Yan ’18).

Happy April, NorCal Alums! This is the time of year when high school students have heard back from colleges and are deciding where they’ll matriculate. Also this month, current MHC students will celebrate the springtime tradition of Pangy Day, where the campus will “erupt in a flurry of festivity, energy and enthusiasm after a New England winter”. We’re celebrating both of these exciting occasions at our admitted students’ social on April 13th in San Francisco, and while we won’t have a ritual maypole, we will be offering food, fun, and festivities! Read more below.

Upcoming Events

Graphic by WE Design Studios.

Pangy Day Admitted Students Social

We’re excited to welcome all the new Blue Lions (MHC class of 2028) to the vibrant Mount Holyoke community! Join us in San Francisco on Saturday, April 13, from 3:00 – 5:00 pm to congratulate and offer advice to newly accepted students from around the Bay Area. All class years welcome—recent alums and current students are particularly encouraged to attend and share their experiences.

Click here for more about the event.
When: Apr 13, 2024 3:00 PM PDT
Where: Home of Liz Kind, San Francisco
Contact: hannahgroce@gmail.com, wu26t@mtholyoke.edu 
RSVP: Register here

MHC Virtual Book Club: Liliana’s Invincible Summer: A Sister’s Search for Justice by Cristina Rivera Garza

“Part memoir, part true-crime story, Garza’s chronicle is both personal and political.”–The Washington Post

A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: The New York Times Book Review, NPR, The Washington Post, Time, Chicago Public Library, She Reads, Electric Lit. 

Virtual book club meetings happen at 7:00 pm PT on the fourth Wednesday of the month and are open to all alums. You may be able to use the Libby app to check out an ebook/audiobook of this month’s pick from your local library.

Click here for more about the event.
When: ​ Apr 24, 2024 7:00 PM PDT
Where: Zoom
Contact: hannah.lynn.fairbanks@gmail.com 
RSVP: Register here

Happy March, NorCal Alums! Thanks to everyone who showed up for our Cal Women’s Gymnastics Event or Mary Lyon Tea to kick off Women’s History Month. You can check out our upcoming events at any time on our website, and subscribe to our calendar with Google Calendar, iCalendar, Outlook 365, or Outlook Live. We hope you like the new look of our club logo and our newsletter! 

Upcoming Club Events

MHC Virtual Book Club: The Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff. “A radically feel-good story about the murder of no-good husbands by a cast of unsinkable women.”–The New York Times Book Review (Editors’ Choice).

When: Wednesday, March 24, 2024; 7:00-8:00 pm PT
Where: Join us and register for the event on Zoom.
Cost: Free. This event is open to all alums.
Point person: Hannah Fairbanks ’03. Please note that virtual book club meetings will happen on the 4th Wednesday of the month at 7:00p PST.

Join us in April for a free presentation from Climate Reality Projet’s Bay Area Chapter. DATE – TBD

This presentation is to help homeowners take advantage of local, state, and federal programs if they want to lower their homes’ carbon footprints through electrification. There are incentives for everything from induction cooktops to electric heat pumps and home backup energy systems.

Upcoming College Events 

Join Barbara Smith ’69 as she reflects on her time shaping the Combahee River Collective and co-authoring the Combahee River Collective Statement. Smith will also discuss the statement’s relevance to today’s issues, as well as the skills she developed at Mount Holyoke that helped her contribute to building Black feminism. This event is sponsored by the Office of the President & Department of Critical Race & Political Economy and will be livestreamed over Zoom on Wednesday, March 13, at 2:00 pm Pacific Time.

Click here to register for the livestream.

Students—perhaps members of the Suffrage League—wear “Votes for Women ” sashes and march through campus playing instruments. Photo via the Alum Association.

Election Day is coming up soon! Those of you who are registered to vote by mail should have received your ballot already, so remember to return your ballot by 8 pm on March 5 or have it postmarked on or before Election Day! The state of California has a voter’s bill of rights available in multiple languages, so make sure you and everyone you know is aware of what rights you have as a voter. 

Club Updates

Interested in getting more involved with the Club? We’re currently seeking a Vice President, a Communications Chair, an Alum Admissions Representative, and ​​an External Relationships Liaisons! Please peruse the board descriptions and reach out to us by email. We’re always looking for fresh perspectives, new ideas, and look forward to hearing from you.

Interested in hosting an event at your home? Fill out this Google Form, and we’ll reach out if we have an event that could utilize your space!

We’re moving away from Eventbrite and now using Open Collective for dues payments and events. You can make a one-time contribution of any amount, set up a recurring yearly contribution (recent alum / general), or become a Lifetime Member and never pay dues again! You do not need an account to make a one-time donation (read more about guest contributions), and you may keep your contribution anonymous by leaving the name field empty when donating. Your dues payment helps keep our all-volunteer led Club afloat and allows us to continue to host an incredible and diverse slate of events every year.

Click here to pay your dues.

The Mount Holyoke Club of Northern California is a 501(c)(3) organization. Your contributions to the Club may be tax-deductible to the extent allowed by the law and may qualify for your employer’s corporate matching program.

Stay Connected

Connect with the Club on one or more forms of social media:

• Join our Facebook page (open to all) and Facebook Group (alums only)
• Follow us on Instagram and tag your photos from our events with #mhcnorcal
• Connect with our growing professional network on LinkedIn

Other actions you can take:

• Bookmark our website
• Fill out this Google Form if you have an event idea
• Fill out this Google Form if you’re interested in hosting an event at your home and we’ll reach out if we have an event that could utilize your space
• Check out our upcoming events and subscribe to our calendar with Google Calendar, iCalendar, Outlook 365, or Outlook Live
• Email us if you’d like to get further involved with the Club or share feedback
• Meet the Board and peruse the descriptions of open board positions (highlighted)
• Make sure your contact information in the Alum Directory is accurate and update if necessary by following these instructions

Over 120 alums from the Mount Holyoke Clubs of Northern California and The Peninsula enjoyed an evening of lively conversation with President Danielle R. Holley. We asked about the impact of current events on campus, the future of gender diverse women’s education, how President Holley’s transition has been and what alums can do to support Mount Holyoke. To the latter question, President Holley said, “when you can, please give your time, talent and treasure.” 

Time – Volunteer for your local alum club, your class board the admissions office, etc.

Talent – Share your skill/passion/career path with your local alum club, class board or Alumnae Association and make yourself available to connect with current students interested in a similar path. 

Treasure – When possible, donate. Every amount counts and matters, even $5 donations.

We look forward to seeing you at future events co-hosted with the alumnae association and at upcoming club events. Interested in sharing your talent with the board? Or volunteering to host an event? Feel free to email us with questions or interest, or fill out this form at least a month in advance to make sure we get the word out! 

Our very best wishes,

– The Board   

Alum Spotlight
Starting in March (Women’s History Month) the board will be spotlighting and promoting local alums in the arts, with small businesses, or with other creative skills/trades. Keep your eye out and let us know if you’d like to be featured. 

Pay Your Dues
You can pay your dues for the 2023-2024 fiscal year or even become a Lifetime Member and never pay dues again! All dues payments and donations may be tax-deductible to the extent allowed by the law – the Club is classified as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization – and help keep our volunteer-run Club afloat. 

Join the Board
We welcome alums from our entire Northern California region, not just the Bay Area. Our Board meetings are via Zoom, so location truly doesn’t matter. We would love to have representation from throughout our incredibly large region! 

Please peruse the board descriptions and reach out to us by email. We’re always looking for fresh perspectives, new ideas, and look forward to hearing from you.  

Check out our upcoming events below. As always, please reach out if there is programming you’d like to see, an event you’d like to host, or you simply want to say hello. Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram and join our Club’s Facebook Page!

Upcoming Events:

Lunar New Year Celebration
When: Saturday, February 17, 2024. 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Where: Home of Eleanor Chang ’78 in Pacific Heights, San Francisco (address provided upon registration)
Cost: Open to all alums – $15 for recent alums (class of 2019 onward), $20 for all other alums.
Contact: Adrianne Wu ’21

Let’s usher in the Year of the Dragon with warmth, connection, and the shared joy of welcoming better times ahead. We are excited to invite you to join us for a special celebration filled with delicious dim sum, opportunities to connect with other alums, and the spirit of MoHome! 

To ensure we have ample food and space, please RSVP via Eventbrite by Tuesday, February 13th (payment due upon registration). This event will be capped at 25 people. May the new year bring you and your loved ones happiness, prosperity, and good fortune!

MHC – East Bay Book Group: In Person! 
When: Sunday, February 18, 2024. 2:00 pm
Where: Home of Jen King ‘91 in Fremont, CA
Cost: Free. Open to all MHC alums regardless of location or club affiliation
Contact: Jen King ‘91

Please join our new MHC East Bay Book Group for our second meeting on February 18, 2024. The book we’re reading is Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride. We use the Bookclubs app to manage our book group. Please email Jen King if you are interested in joining the book group and you will be sent an invite to the app.

MHC Virtual Book Club: The Fraud: “A novel based on real historical events, The Fraud is a dazzling novel about truth and fiction, Jamaica and Britain, fraudulence and authenticity and the mystery of ‘other people.’” by Zadie Smith.
When: Wednesday, February 28th, 2024; 7:00-8:00 pm PT
Where: Join us and register for the event on Zoom.
Cost: Free. This event is open to all alums.
Point person: Hannah Fairbanks ’03. Please note that virtual book club meetings will happen on the 4th Wednesday of the month at 7:00p PST.

Cal Women’s Gymnastics: 50 Years! 
When: Saturday, March 2, 2024. 
Time: 2:00p – 4:00p
Where: Haas Pavilion. 115 Haas Pavilion, Berkeley, CA 94720
Cost: $18 – adults, $12 – 65+, $12 – youth.
What better way to start Women’s History Month than by supporting Cal Women’s Gymnastics and their 50th year! On Saturday, March 2, 2024 the Bears will be facing the University of Utah in this Pac-12 dual meet.We had a great time last year and even made it on the Jumbotron!

Venue is a college sports auditorium with open general seating. Event can get loud with music, cheering teammates, fans, and the pep-band. Please bring anything needed for sound sensitivity. If you are planning to attend, or have any questions, please email us (mountholyoke@gmail.com) so we can get a headcount. We will send a future link that will tell you how to purchase the ticket(s). 

Alums of Color Meet-Up
When: Saturday, March 16, 2024. 
Time: TBD
Where: San Francisco, CA

Save the date and keep an eye on our socials and March newsletter for info about this gathering for NorCal Alums of Color at a private residence in San Francisco.

__________________________________________
Virtual Programming from the Alum Association

The College is offering a range of virtual programming and opportunities to connect. Learn more on the AA Events page.

_______________________________________________
Let’s Get Social!

To hear the latest about our programming in-between our monthly newsletters, we encourage you to connect with the Club on one or more forms of social media. We hope to see you at an event soon! 

• Join our Club’s Facebook Page 
• Follow us on Instagram – don’t forget to tag your photos from our events with #mhcnorcal 
• Share resources, your virtual events, and more, directly in the Club Facebook Group
• Bookmark our Club website
• Update your contact info in the Alum Directory using these instructions
• Connect with our growing professional network on LinkedIn
• Email us if you’d like to get further involved with the Club or share feedback 
• Learn more about and consider joining the Board 

Happy New Year! ¡Feliz Año Nuevo! Bonne année!

新年快乐 새해 복 많이 받으세요  كل عام وأنتم بخير

The Mount Holyoke Club of Northern California wishes everyone a 2024 full of fun, laughter, love, milk & cookies, and MHC Club Events! Our first event for 2024 is in collaboration with the Alumnae Association and the Peninsula Club as we welcome the 20th President of Mount Holyoke College, Danielle R. Holley to San Francisco on January 18th. Alums are encouraged to come with their insights and questions for a conversation with President Holley, moderated by Trisha Tanner ’00, executive director of the Alumnae Association. Register today! 

The board is excited to plan events for 2024 and, as always, we welcome your thoughts, ideas or interest to host/co-host an event! Feel free to email us with questions or interest, or fill out this form at least a month in advance to make sure we get the word out. Our monthly book club is headed to the movies in January, a Lunar New Year gathering for February is in the works and kick off Women’s History month (March) by supporting Cal Women’s Gymnastics and their 50th year! 

Lastly, we would love to feature MHC images in our newsletters and social media! Do you have images from your time at MHC that you’d like to share? Send us an email. We hope to gather images from across the years! 

Our very best wishes,

– The Board   

Barbara Creed’s SCOTUS Presentation
The MHC Club of NorCal has had the honor of hosting Barbara Creed for several informative and engaging presentations about SCOTUS. If you missed the Nov ‘23 session, “Will the Court Come to Order?” you are welcome to watch it by clicking this link (password: “MHCNov23!”). Keep your eyes out for a 2024 presentation! 

Pay Your Dues
You can pay your dues for the 2023-2024 fiscal year or even become a Lifetime Member and never pay dues again! All dues payments and donations may be tax-deductible to the extent allowed by the law – the Club is classified as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization – and help keep our volunteer-run Club afloat. 

Join the Board
We welcome alums from our entire Northern California region, not just the Bay Area. Our Board meetings are via Zoom, so location truly doesn’t matter. We would love to have representation from throughout our incredibly large region! 

Please peruse the board descriptions and reach out to us by email. We’re always looking for fresh perspectives, new ideas, and look forward to hearing from you.  

Check out our upcoming events below. As always, please reach out if there is programming you’d like to see, an event you’d like to host, or you simply want to say hello. Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram and join our Club’s Facebook Page!

Upcoming Events:

An Evening with President Danielle R. Holley 
When: Thursday, January 18th, 2024. 6pm-8pm. 
Where: Hilton San Francisco – Financial District: 750 Kearny Street, San Francisco, CA 94108
Cost: Free. Registration is required.

You are cordially invited to a reception with Mount Holyoke’s twentieth president, Danielle R. Holley, on Thursday, January 18, 6–8 pm, hosted by the Alumnae Association with the Mount Holyoke clubs of Northern California and the Peninsula.

Gather with Mount Holyoke alums in the Bay area communities to meet President Holley and learn more about her vision (“the future is now”) for our alma mater. Alums are encouraged to come with their insights and questions for a conversation with President Holley, moderated by Trisha Tanner ’00, executive director of the Alumnae Association.

We invite you to encourage classmates and alums in your circles to attend this special evening. Refreshments will be served, and attire is business casual.
Point person: Katie Wynen ’05

January Book Club @ The Movies! 
When: Saturday, January 20, 2024
Where: East Bay, exact location TBD

Our next meeting will be in person (yay!). Saturday, January 20, 2024 in the East Bay (exact location TBD until we get closer to the date depending on which theaters are showing the movie). We will go see an early matinee of the bold new take on the beloved classic, The Color Purple and then grab lunch together for connection and discussion afterward. Please feel free to read (or reread) the original text before the movie in order to compare/contrast. Not required but will hopefully generate lively literary discussion!
Point person: Hannah Fairbanks ’03  

February 2024 Book Club: The Fraud: “A novel based on real historical events, The Fraud is a dazzling novel about truth and fiction, Jamaica and Britain, fraudulence and authenticity and the mystery of ‘other people.’” by Zadie Smith.
When: Wednesday, February 28th, 2024; 7:00-8:00 pm PT
Where: Join us and register for the event on Zoom.
Cost: Free. This event is open to all alums.
Point person: Hannah Fairbanks ’03. Please note that virtual book club meetings will happen on the 4th Wednesday of the month at 7:00p PST. 

Cal Women’s Gymnastics: 50 Years! 
When: Saturday, March 2, 2024. 
Where: Haas Pavilion. 115 Haas Pavilion, Berkeley, CA 94720

What better way to start Women’s History Month than by supporting Cal Women’s Gymnastics and their 50th year! On Saturday, March 2, 2024 the Bears will be facing the University of Utah in this Pac-12 dual meet.

Event cost is $18 – adults, $12 – 65+, $12 – youth. If we are a group of 10+ it will be $8 each. Meet start time is TBD, but typically starts between 12p-2p and is around 90min. Venue is a college sport auditorium with open general seating. Event can get loud with music, cheering teammates, fans, and the pep-band. Please bring anything needed for sound sensitivity. 

If you are planning to attend, or have any questions, please email us (mountholyoke@gmail.com) so we can get a headcount. We will send a future link that will tell you how to purchase the ticket(s). We had a great time last year and even made it on the Jumbotron!

__________________________________________
Virtual Programming from the Alum Association

The College is offering a range of virtual programming and opportunities to connect. Learn more on the AA Events page.

_______________________________________________
Let’s Get Social!

To hear the latest about our programming in-between our monthly newsletters, we encourage you to connect with the Club on one or more forms of social media. We hope to see you at an event soon! 

• Join our Club’s Facebook Page 
• Follow us on Instagram – don’t forget to tag your photos from our events with #mhcnorcal 
• Share resources, your virtual events, and more, directly in the Club Facebook Group
• Bookmark our Club website
• Update your contact info in the Alum Directory using these instructions
• Connect with our growing professional network on LinkedIn
• Email us if you’d like to get further involved with the Club or share feedback 
• Learn more about and consider joining the Board 

Campus in the Snow. Image borrowed from Mount Holyoke News, credited to Trinity Kendrick ’21. Do you have images from your time at MHC that you’d like to share? Send us an email! We’d love to use member images in our newsletters.

Happy December NorCal Alums! 

We closed out 2023 with another excellent SCOTUS Session led by Barbara Creed (Wellesley alum). Keep an eye out for her 2024 presentations. We are welcoming the holiday season on Sunday, Dec 17th with holiday neighborhood strolls in two locations! Join us in Alameda on Christmas Tree Lane (Thompson Ave) or find us in Sacramento in the historic Fab 40’s neighborhood (M & 40th). Register on Eventbrite, dress warmly and get ready for some holiday cheer. 

The board is already brainstorming ideas for events in 2024 and, as always, we welcome your thoughts, ideas or interest to host/co-host an event! Feel free to email us with questions or interest, or fill out this form at least a month in advance to make sure we get the word out.

Pay Your Dues

You can pay your dues for the 2023-2024 fiscal year or even become a Lifetime Member and never pay dues again! All dues payments and donations may be tax-deductible to the extent allowed by the law – the Club is classified as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization – and help keep our volunteer-run Club afloat.    

Join the Board

We welcome alums from our entire Northern California region, not just the Bay Area. Our Board meetings are via Zoom, so location truly doesn’t matter. We would love to have representation from throughout our incredibly large region! 

Please peruse the board descriptions and reach out to us by email. We’re always looking for fresh perspectives, new ideas, and look forward to hearing from you.  

Check out our upcoming events below. As always, please reach out if there is programming you’d like to see, an event you’d like to host, or you simply want to say hello. Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram and join our Club’s Facebook Page!

Our very best wishes,

– The Board   

Upcoming Events:

Christmas Tree Lane Club Stroll
When: December 17th, 2023 at 7pm
Where: There will be two locations!
Alameda: 3200 Thompson Ave, Alameda, CA
We will meet on the corner of Thompson Ave & High Street in front of 3200
Sacramento: Historic Fab 40’s neighborhood (M & 40th)
We will meet on the westbound corner of M St., just west of 40th Street. 
Cost: Free but please register on Eventbrite so we know how many to expect.

Alameda’s “Christmas Tree Lane,” the 3200 block of Thompson (53 houses), has been lighting up for Christmas since the 1930s so it’s a great local spot for some holiday cheer! Dress warmly and bring a warm drink to enjoy while we stroll along the street checking out the homes and their creative and unique decorations. Parking around Thompson Ave is fairly easy, but be prepared to park a block or two away. AC Transit buses to Thompson Ave can be caught at Fruitvale BART. Stroll takes an hour or less. Open to alums, their family and friends. Crowd size can vary. 
Point person: Katie Wynen ’05

Join us in Sacramento for a family-friendly walk through the historic Fab 40’s neighborhood Christmas Lights. Deck yourselves in Mount Holyoke gear and be ready to meet new friends!
Parking in the immediate area may be difficult, so you can park for free in the City Bible Church’s parking lot (1101 51st Street) and take their free shuttle to M and 40th St. More details about the lot and shuttle can be found here: Fab Cab. 
Point person: Bekah (Harkins) Rabiroff ‘03

January Book Club @ The Movies! 
When: Saturday, January 20, 2024
Where: East Bay, exact location TBD
Our next meeting will be in person (yay!). Saturday, January 20, 2024 in the East Bay (exact location TBD until we get closer to the date depending on which theaters are showing the movie). We will go see an early matinee of the bold new take on the beloved classic, The Color Purple and then grab lunch together for connection and discussion afterward. Please feel free to read (or reread) the original text before the movie in order to compare/contrast. Not required but will hopefully generate lively literary discussion!
Point person: Hannah Fairbanks ’03  

___________________________________________
Virtual Programming from the Alum Association

The College is offering a range of virtual programming and opportunities to connect. Learn more on the AA Events page.

_______________________________________________
Let’s Get Social!

To hear the latest about our programming in-between our monthly newsletters, we encourage you to connect with the Club on one or more forms of social media. We hope to see you at an event soon! 

• Join our Club’s Facebook Page 
• Follow us on Instagram – don’t forget to tag your photos from our events with #mhcnorcal 
• Share resources, your virtual events, and more, directly in the Club Facebook Group
• Bookmark our Club website
• Update your contact info in the Alum Directory using these instructions
• Connect with our growing professional network on LinkedIn
• Email us if you’d like to get further involved with the Club or share feedback
• Learn more about and consider joining the Board