Presidents' Message

Dear Brandeis Members,

We hope you are taking the time to relax, travel a bit and recharge yourselves over the summer, because we have a busy year ahead. We, your Board and committee members, have been gearing up for what promises to be a very productive and fun year.

Summer Camp is in full swing, and for those 228 of us in Arizona and on Zoom, we’ve been taking advantage of the many activities being offered. Many thanks to Harriet Schwartz and Ronee Siegel for their efforts in coordinating a fabulous array of activities this summer, and thank you to all of our activity leaders for donating their time in making this the place to spend your summer!

In June, we started a Past Presidents Council for our Chapter, and our talented group has already met once, with another session planned. We look forward to working with this wonderful group as we pursue innovative ideas and programs.

The Study Group Guide will be available August 3; registration opens September 3. Study Groups commence the first week in October. Remember that your membership must be up to date to participate. Judy Green and Betsy Silber and their fantastic team have been working all summer to bring us more than 110 groups from which to choose, many of them new. Kudos to Georgia Heller for once again producing a fantastic Guide.

Book & Author, our signature fundraising event, is on the calendar for March 1 at the Arizona Biltmore. If you want to know who the authors are sooner, come to the Author Reveal and Volunteer Sign-Up on October 26, also at the Biltmore. Not only will you learn who the 2027 authors are, but you’ll be able to sign up to volunteer for the event, headed by VPs Laurie Burns, Patti Grossman and Brina Pepper. Watch your email for more information.

Our Event VPs, Betsy Gometz, Ellen Kirschenbaum and Marilyn Pomerantz, are planning a stellar Welcome Back Buffet on Sunday, November 1. This is a perfect time to reconnect and meet new people after the summer. If you are a new member or just want to meet others, we will have a New Member table or two. Please let us know that you want to sit there. You will receive detailed information closer to the event. We hope to see everyone there.

And, if this isn’t enough…we have a new website design. It will debut in August. We’re looking forward to a year of learning, friendships, connections and fun!

 Warm regards,

Judy Rosen and Carol Kadet, Presidents

In the next few weeks, when you visit www.brandeisphoenix.org you'll notice something exciting: a completely redesigned website! Don't worry, you're in the right place. It's still our Brandeis Phoenix website, just improved and with a fresh, new look.

Our original website was created to bring all our information together in one convenient place for members. It has been a reliable resource for finding information, registering for events, and staying up to date on everything happening in our chapter. As times have changed, so have our needs. Today, we want our website to do more than serve our members. We also want it to introduce Brandeis Phoenix to others in the area by showcasing who we are, what we stand for, and why so many people enjoy being part of our community.

Upcoming Events

Book & Author

Laurie Burns • Patti Grossman • Brina Pepper

2027 Book & Author Event Chairs

Betsy Gometz • Ellen Kirschenbaum • Marilyn Pomerantz

Event Vice Presidents

Membership News

Membership Milestones since our last issue

• Congratulations to Joan Davis for her Smile on Seniors April Volunteer Story
• Congratulations to Gale Stam on the honor given to her daughter Jessica Yanow, named one of the 2026 Phoenix Titan 100 Honorees
• Our sincere condolences to the family of Adeline Gould on her passing
• Our sincere condolences to the family of Maureen "Mimi" Horwitz on her passing
• Our sincere condolences to Irene Lubin on the passing of her sister, Beryl Ann (Bunnie) Leiserowitz (May)
• Our sincere condolences to Susan Roth and family on the passing of her husband, chapter member Jay Roth
• Our sincere condolences to Ronee Siegel and family on the passing of her sister, Wendy Cohen, a longtime Phoenix Chapter Board member and VP (May)

We welcome our new members:

Jamie Bessler, Eve Danoff, Ron Dobkin, Laurel Eslinger, Cynthia Kohn, Hannah Leary, Sandra Linker, Alicia Messing, Joan Messinger, Jim Pockross, Michele Pockross, Betty Anne Sarver, Jill Steinberg, Ed Zachary

To report life-cycle events here, please contact:

Donna Mills • dmills002@gmail.com

We apologize for any errors or omissions. For inclusion in future bulletins, please contact Donna Mills.

Chapter Roster

To report a change in email address, phone number (cell or landline) or mailing address, please contact:

Carol Kadet • carolkadet@gmail.com

She will update our membership roster and ensure that you receive Chapter mailings and information.

Socials for New and Prospective Members

We hold socials several times throughout the year to welcome new and prospective members

Watch the website for details

Please contact us to attend

We look forward to having you join us at an event, welcoming you at one of our fabulous

functions and making your BNC experience extra special! Coming by yourself? Not a problem.

We usually have a table reserved for New Members!

Membership Committee Meetings

Our next Membership Committee meeting will be Monday, August 24 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm via Zoom.

Ileen Herberg and Marilyn Reinfeld

Membership VPs 

membershipbncphoenix2426@gmail.com

Name Tags

Would you prefer not to wear the stick-on name tags used at Chapter functions?

We are offering personalized, magnetic BNC name tags for $20, including shipping. You can get your name tag by filling out the order form and mailing it to the listed address.

Order Form

Note: Replacement magnetic backs for existing name tags are available; contact the Chapter at info@brandeisphoenix.org

Community Outreach

Community Service is a fundamental part of the mission of BNC. Throughout the year, we collect items or volunteer our time for various nonprofits in the greater Phoenix area, and your support is much appreciated.

Additionally, our Mitzvah Mavens Study Group provides participatory activities for our members to volunteer directly with specific agencies.

Debbie Gordon and Gale Gradus

Community Outreach Chairs

CommunityOutreachBrandeis@gmail.com

.

Mitzvah Mavens Facilitators:

Chapter members made sandwiches for Arizona Friends of the Homeless

Donations

Brandeis Happenings

Brandeis University President Arthur Levine was awarded a lifetime achievement award at the Global Silicon Valley (GSV) and Arizona State University (ASU) summit in San Diego recently.

In this 4-minute video, shown at the summit, colleagues describe Levine as a leader deeply committed to social justice, equity, and fairness, embodying the tradition of tikkun olam (repairing the world). Dr. Paul LeBlanc of the Harvard Graduate School of Education says: "What Arthur is doing at Brandeis, everyone should be watching." 

See the video

General Chapter Information

Chapter Board Meetings

Board meetings are conducted via Zoom

Chapter members are welcome to attend all meetings,

which are generally held on the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 10:00 am,

except for June and July, when there are no meetings

Our next meeting will be held on Wednesday, August 19 at 10:00 am

If you would like to attend, contact Myral Robbins for the Zoom link

Chapter Presidents: Carol Kadet and Judy Rosen

Board of Directors 2026-2027

Report a Change of Contact Information

Privacy Policy

Zoom Protocols

Mission Statement

Founded in 1948, Brandeis National Committee is dedicated to providing philanthropic support to Brandeis University, a distinguished liberal arts and research university founded by the American Jewish community. Its membership is connected to the University through fundraising and through activities that reflect the values on which the University was founded: academic excellence, social justice, nonsectarianism and service to the community.