Please note that the PA3 has a new website

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Weapons of Mass Construction (Community Service Project)

Join your fellow Princeton alumni for a day of learning, fun, construction and yes, destruction (at least demolition) for a great cause!

*** Update: Over 25 people have signed up so far, from the Class of '58 through to the Class of '12 ... Thank you to those of you who have expressed interest in the upcoming alumni community service day at Isles on September 20th! Over 25 alumni from various classes have already signed up. Unfortunately, we are experiencing some technical difficulties with the evite and some alumni responses were not registered. If you RSVPed via evite and haven't heard from us, would you please email Lori Piranian '06 at piranian@ias.edu, so that we can get a head count and send you the appropriate release forms? If you haven't responded but plan to attend, please RSVP via email to piranian@ias.edu ***

Isles, Inc., a Trenton-based development organization (isles.org) started by Marty Johnson '81 and other Princeton students and faculty in 1981, is coordinating a community service day in cooperation with the Princeton Area Alumni Association's Community Service Committee.

Volunteers will get the chance to work on the renovation of a beautiful, mostly vacant, circa 1895 former textile mill on the Trenton - Hamilton border. Along the northeast corridor rail line, the 6.5 acre site is being converted by Isles into a mixed use, "green" village. It will include offices for public interest and environmental organizations, training facilities for inner city youth, homes, art studios and other spaces.

Because of the unusually "green" approach to Isles' redevelopment plans, Princeton University's Civil and Environmental Engineering fall course titled "Sustainable Design CEE 477" will focus on the mill's unique opportunities and challenges.

The mill is located at One North Johnston Ave, Trenton, NJ 08609. It is about a 12 minute drive from Princeton's campus, just south on Route 1. Volunteers, or "mass constructors" will get the chance to demolish some walls, or paint (clean, latex, low odor), or landscape with bulbs and other plantings. Alumni spouses and children (10 and up!) are invited, so you can involve the family. No experience needed.

In addition to the chance to get some good physical work (therapy?) done, we will learn about community development from one of the leading organizations in the region and country.

When: Saturday, September 20th, 8:30am - 4:00pm. Please plan to arrive between 8:30 and 9:00 to get acquainted and learn the ropes, and stay as long as you'd like. We will meet at the site. Gloves, goggles and tools will be provided. Bring your own lunch, or $6/head and we will order pizza.

Volunteers are invited to bring food items for donation to the Mercer Street Friends Food Bank, which serves over 17,000 low-income men, women and children who reside in Mercer County and neighboring communities. The following non-perishable items are especially needed: canned tuna fish, sardines, salmon, chicken; fruit in light syrup; juices; rice; Parmalat or other shelf-stable milk.

Please let us know if you're planning to attend; we need a head count to ensure we have the right number of supervisors and supplies. When we hear from you, we will email you volunteer guidelines and forms.

Please RSVP by clicking on the web address below:
Web Address: http://preview.evite.com/event/tigers-go-to-isles or contact Lori Piranian '06.

Monday, August 25, 2008

Weekend Little Tigers Playdate

What: Little Tigers Playdate
When: Sunday, September 21st 3:30 PM- 5:00 PM (raindate: Sept 28th)
Where: Marquand Park on Lovers Lane in Princeton
For: PA3 Moms, Dads, Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, etc., and their little ones
RSVP: No RSVP necessary, just show up.
Details: We'll be based at the playground and large sand box near the parking lot off of Lovers Lane. Please bring your own drinks and snacks.
Extra: Also, please bring your gently used items for a diaper, clothes, and/or toy swap. I am sure many of you have a half-used box of too small diapers that deserve a good home.

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Little Tigers Playdate - RESCHEDULED FOR AUG 22nd

The forecast calls for heavy rain on Aug 15th. The playdate and toy/clothes swap has be rescheduled for Friday August 22nd, 10:30 to noon, at Marqand Park on Lovers Lane. See you there!

Saturday, August 9, 2008

PA3 on Facebook Has Moved

Please note that our Facebook group has moved. Because I created this group under the "Princeton" network, only those previously in this Facebook network were able to join the PA3 alliance. Unfortunately, this cannot be changed by Facebook. So, we're moving to an identically-named group which is now under the GLOBAL network designation. Please, then, 'ask to join' this group upon finding it in the Facebook Universe. Sorry for the trouble!

-Rick S.

Monday, August 4, 2008

Watch your emailbox for our upcoming newsletter

EDITORIAL: WHY A NEWSLETTER?

The Association views this newsletter as an essential part of its efforts to build and maintain the organization. Members of the association, which includes all alumni with mailing addresses close to the Princeton campus, will have varying levels of involvement and will have preferred ways of receiving information. Our website/blog (www.princetonaaa.blogspot.com)is the most current source of information about our activities, and it will be accessed by many members. Members who are on Facebook or on LinkedIn are invited to join the “Princeton Area Alumni Association (PAAA)” groups (please note that on Facebook, you need to be a member of the Princeton network in order to join).

We will have special mailings and emailings, but the newsletter will play a complementary role by reaching association members who may have missed or been missed by these other forms of communication and by providing reminders of upcoming events. So far, a publication schedule has not been established, but we anticipate issuing several electronic and paper newsletters per year.

Many thanks to Sev Onyshkevych ’83, chair of the Membership and Communication Committee, for his assistance, especially for providing sample newsletters from other associations, and, even more, for his encouragement.

I retired from the Rutgers University Libraries in 2003. I am an active participant in Graduate School Annual Giving, and I support the Princeton University Library and the Art Museum.

IN OUR BACKYARD

NIMBY (“Not in my backyard”) is an unlovely slogan used by those who object to the possible siting of prisons, waste treatment plants, and other necessary governmental activities that they deem undesirable.

However, having something in one’s backyard can be both a valuable asset and thoroughly enjoyable! We are the "IMBYs" ... being so close to the Princeton University campuses is a privilege of ours, and comes with obligations. On the one hand, we can enjoy and support the many attractions the university has for the alumni, and, through community service we can further enhance the usefulness and the reputation of Princeton University. We can contribute to “Princeton in the nation’s service” in part, and via our Association “Princeton in the community’s service.” It seems to me, therefore, this newsletter could provide an opportunity for alumni to describe their pleasant experiences with university attractions, such as the art museum, and to describe their equally enjoyable efforts to serve through our association. We could also describe our work with various offices or other elements of Princeton to provide new services and to plan events.

Benjamin R. Beede (Politics *62), Interim Newsletter Editor; Email: brbeede@rci.rutgers.edu

Welcome Princeton Area Alumni Association members!

The Princeton Area Alumni Association is back in business! After a decade-long hiatus, we are “roaring” to go…

Our Mission:
The Princeton Area Alumni Association (PA3) consists of the approximately 4,000 undergraduate and graduate alumni of Princeton University who live locally in the greater Princeton, NJ area. The PA3 organizes various social, career/networking, volunteer and cultural opportunities for alumni, , providing Princeton experiences to complement the various activities the University offers students, alumni and the local community.

Newsletter:
This is our first PA3 newsletter. Because it is our first, it will probably be the longest. The newsletter is intended to give members of the PA3 a brief overview of upcoming events, interesting news, contact information for the PA3 leaders, and links to more details. Please join us in any of the events listed on our schedule below, and feel free to provide ideas for future events.

Please Consider Volunteering:
PA3 volunteers are encouraged and necessary to ensure a thriving organization. Feel free to contact a committee leader directly (or the PA3 at princetonareaalumni@gmail.com) if you are interested.

To date:
The PA3 has 1) co-sponsored a very successful career networking event; 2) established an acting leadership group; 3) arranged social events for August and September; 4) adopted by-laws; and 5) created a website. Immediate upcoming endeavors include finalizing the PA3 constitution, exploring opportunities for student/alumni interaction, organizing community service activities, planning more social gatherings, reaching out to “lost” PA3 members, electing officers, and much, much more!

Kristin Epstein ’97, Chair (princetonareaalumni@gmail.com)

Saturday, August 2, 2008

August 13 Happy Hour

The PA3 invites you to celebrate a mid-August Over-the-Hump-Day with a Happy Hour at the Alchemist & Barrister (28 Witherspoon Street; Princeton, NJ; 609.924.5555) from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 13...

Drop by to catch up with other PA3 members and hear about other upcoming events, including the Pre-Rade, a fall football tailgate and more... And, of course, we'd love to get your ideas and suggestions for events you'd like to have this coming year...

Hope to see you soon!

Friday, August 1, 2008

Community Service

The Community Service Committee is getting itself organized. Our initial focus will be on group volunteer activities in the Princeton/Trenton area, and we’ll also be coordinating food drives at PA3 events. Activities will begin this Fall. Let us know (and post comments here on this blog) if you have any ideas. Check back for details!

PA3 Calendar of Events

For our latest events, please check our monthly e-mail newsletter.