Columbia Alumni Association of Fairfield County

Biannual Newsletter – June 2018 Edition

Dear CU Fairfield Alumni,

We started the year with a "Thank You" breakfast in appreciation of volunteers who helped execute our various successful events last year. Without your help, events like the Potluck Picnic in Greenwich, or the Private Sailing of Long Island Sound, among others, would not have been as successful. We ask you to keep lending your hand in running the club we all love.

We appreciated your support and donations to our Book Awards program, which awards topical Columbia Professor authored books to deserving high school juniors in Fairfield County. Our prestigious Book Awards program exemplifies our club's support for the next generation of students while keeping our Columbia University brand top of mind so high-performing students in Fairfield County consider attending Columbia.

For the 62 alums who attended Earth Day in Grace Farms, I hope the scenic experience and the good time you had will encourage you to register for our Potluck Picnic at the Historic Lockwood-Mathews Mansion in Norwalk. The Mid-Summer July 15th event at the Mansion, is an opportunity to chill out with family and friends as you sample various potluck meal choices on the beautiful grounds of this national treasure. This year, we offer you this Potluck Picnic at the beautiful Mansion grounds instead of our traditional Potluck Picnic at Greenwich Polo.

For the rest of the year, we invite you to attend our always-sold-out Sunday August sailing of Long Island Sound in a private 80-foot schooner. Register early to secure a place for you, your family and friends. In addition, attend a Local Alumni Networking (LAN) event near you to meet Columbia alumni in your neighborhood. We started LAN events to bring our club closer to alumni who could not travel far to attend our various events. The LAN will be held September in various towns, near you. Register early and attend to meet alumni from your town and nearby. 

To conclude 2018, we look forward to seeing you at our Columbia Connects event in November, which doubles as our annual general club meeting. You will be introduced to our club’s Board of Directors so you can welcome our newly elected officers. Columbia Connects is a popular event where over cocktails and delectable appetizers, you listen to updates from personnel from our alma mater, the Columbia University we all love.

As always, your feedback on how we can improve our club and deliver more value to you is most appreciated. We ask that you volunteer and become more active by participating in and even running some of our events. Please call me at 203-302-9954 to discuss your ideas, give us feedback or explore how you can volunteer to help. You can also contact any member of our Board listed in this newsletter.

Best regards,

Bernard (Ben) Nneji, Ph.D.

President, Columbia University Club of Fairfield County

Upcoming Events

 June 30 - 9am to 3pm

Food Drive in Support of Operation Hope

Super Stop & Shop Fairfield
760 Villa Avenue, Fairfield

July 15 at 12pm

Mid-Summer Potluck Picnic & Family Gathering

Lockwood-Matthews Mansion

295 West Ave, Norwalk

August:

Sailing Long Island Sound

 September:

Unlocking the power of blockchain and data (Sept 11, 6:15pm)

Weir Farm National Historic Site free Tour (Sept 29, 1:15pm)

October

Danbury Networking Social, Brio Tuscan Grille (Oct 4, 7pm)

Food Drive on Oct 27 to support Dorothy Day Hospitality House at Super Stop & Shop in Danbury

November

Annual Columbia Connects Cocktail Reception

Speed Networking Event

Volunteer Leaders: Ben Nneji, Janie Nneji

Rotating four tables, we built new relationships, and uncovered employment and business opportunities during our speed networking event at Columbus Park Trattoria in Stamford. In addition to exchanging business cards, and our personal elevator speeches, we enjoyed tasty appetizers, drinks and fun conversations.  

Volunteer Breakfast

 Thank-you for all your great work and helping hands during 2017!

Alumni Networking and Book Awards Fundraiser

Volunteer Leader: Lynda Feliciano

We awarded “A Survival Guide to the Misinformation Age,” by David Helfand, a CU Professor, to 37 high school juniors in Fairfield County.

Professor David Helfand signing his book during his speec on  “The Misinformation Age”  

Earth Day Field Trip to Grace Farms

Volunteer Leader: Henry Hu, Alan Sheiner

Thanks to Henry Hu and Alan Sheiner, we celebrated the biodiversity of nature this Earth Day at Grace Farms 80-acre preserve in New Canaan. Our day started with a networking lunch at Grace Farms Commons. Over 60 alumni and their families attended this event during picture perfect weather. After an introductory by Henry Hu to the history of this extraordinary location, we joined the Grace Farms Earth Day program including a falconry demonstration and showcasing of native animals

Beer Tasting and Local Networking

Volunteer Leaders: Alan Sheiner, Shean-Mei Sheu

Columbia University alumni enjoyed a delightful evening of beer tasting, networking and touring the award-winning 7-barrel craft brewery Aspetuck Brew Lab owned and operated by husband/wife team Peter and Tara Cowles (CBS '98). Opened in December 2015, they take a scientific approach to the brewing process, respecting heritage and classic styles, while pushing the boundaries by embracing a healthy appetite for experimentation.

Painting Social Event

Volunteer Leader: Stefanie Mischner

What do you do after the tornado touches down in your town, or your town got hit by a micro-blast, and you have been without power and the Internet for days? You go out to follow Bob Ross’s footsteps to find your inner peace and express your feelings on canvas while socializing with other alumni over appetizers and a good glass of wine.

Meet your Executive Board

Ben Nneji, PhD                                               

President

Alan Sheiner

VP Membership

Bridget Patterson-Marshall

Secretary                                                                         

 Thomas Leder

VP Community Service /  Outreach Programs

 Alex Mancure

Treasurer    

 Xenia Razinski

VP 40 & Under Alumni Group & Social Media Leader

Stefanie Mischner, PhD

VP Marketing & Technology

Meet your Alumni Volunteer Leaders

Lynda Feliciano

Book Awards

Shean-Mei Sheu

Membership support