The Friends of English assists the Department in several areas:
funding graduate fellowships and other student awards, underwriting faculty and student research, and sharing the Department's academic programs with the Los Angeles community. As you will see in the Membership Invitation, the Friends will be hosting many exciting, challenging and informative events. The range of events is staggering:
from Three Book Clubs hosted in private homes and facilitated by outstanding UCLA English professors to Hammer Events [hosted by UCLA’s well-known author/professor Mona Simpson and nationally-recognized poet/professor Stephen Yenser]. And the Friends have planned many special events, including a stimulating lecture about MOOC [What’s a “MOOC” you say? Come to our November 17th event, and listen to a spirited pro and con about one of the newest trends in education]. Although most of the Friends’ programs listed in the Membership Invitation are self-explanatory, the Friends’ website provides additional details. As well, invitations and timely email announcements will keep you informed. However, one aspect of the Membership Invitation seemed to warrant some additional explanation. Many of you will notice that the dues levels have been increased. You also may be surprised to learn that the dues levels have not been increased since 1990. As a result, the amount of annually-contributed dues had decreased substantially in terms of real dollars given. The Friends’ primary mission and purpose is to support the UCLA English Department. That support includes preserving and expanding literary studies and an appreciation of English in all its many forms. To continue to fulfill the Friends’ mission, the Board of Directors voted unanimously to increase the dues at all levels. However, to provide a reasonable transition to the new giving levels, the Board also decided that those who wanted to remain at current giving levels for the 2013 -2014 Friends’ year should have an opportunity to do so. For that reason, the Membership Invitation contains a split dues schedule. Those members who want to remain at their existing level may do so by paying their dues on or before October 31, 2013. Those members who are interested in increasing their commitment to the Friends of English are, of course, more than welcome to do so. The Friends of English thank you for your support. THE UCLA FRIENDS OF ENGLISH BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Kathryn Ballsun, President
Board of Directors:
Ali Behdad
Claudia Bestor
Caryl Carothers
Helen Deutsch
Brian Evans
Louise Greenberg
Marcia H. Howard
Rachael Kartsonis
Jacob Lang
Kathleen Bonann Marshall
Astrid Preston
Mona Simpson
Sunday Taylor
Ann Tidwell
Patricia Waldron
Patty Wilson
Stephen Yenser
Ex Officio:
Judith Linde
Staff:
Irene Suico Soriano
Caleb "Q" Na