Weekly Bulletin

Author Vijay Prashad to speak on issues of 'race and war'

Author Vijay Prashad, professor of international relations at Trinity College, will give a talk entitled "The Darker Nations: Race and War," on Friday, May 2 at noon in 163 Lincoln Campus Center.

Born in Calcutta, India, Prashad received his Ph.D. in history from the University of Chicago. He also has taught at Syracuse University and Cornell University. Prashad is also a prolific writer, whose works range from political and economic analyses to the histories of different cultures. His works include "The Karma of Brown Folk," "Everybody was Kung Fu Fighting," "War Against the Planet," and "Fat Cats and Running Dogs: The Enron Stage of Capitalism."

The event is sponsored by Asian Americans for Political Action, Asian American Students' Association, Southeast Asian Students' Association, and the Office of ALANA Affairs.

Renaissance Center trails open

Two hiking trails at the Renaissance Center are open to the public the weekends of May 3-4 and 10-11.

The center is located at 650 East Pleasant St.

League of Women Voters book sale

The 56th Annual League of Women Voters of Amherst Book Sale will take place in the big tent on the Amherst Common, Friday, May 2 through Sunday, May 4. Friday and Saturday hours are 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday hours are 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

A variety of books will be for sale at bargain prices.

Faculty Senate meeting

The Faculty Senate will meet Thursday, May 8 at 3:30 p.m. in 227 Herter Hall.

Business Reply Mail permit available to departments

Office 2 Office Mail Services maintains a Business Reply Mail permit that is available for use by all University departments.

Business Reply Mail is an easy to use service that lets customers reply to departmental mailings using pre-printed envelopes that require no postage. Business Reply Mail is ideal for surveys and other mailings seeking a high response. Departments are recharged only for the actual replies received at the U.S. Postal Service rate of 60 cents each for regular letters or post cards up to one ounce. Prior approval is required for all Business Reply Mail to assure that the piece meets the strict USPS guidelines and addressing conventions required to use the Mail Services' permit.

Charlie Apicella, manager of Mail & Distribution Services, is available at 7-1149 or by e-mail (apicella@admin.umass.edu) to answer questions and give departments the required pre-approval to use the permit.

Postal Service offers seminar for non-profits

The Postal Customer Council of Western Massachusetts is sponsoring a seminar for non-profit organizations interested in using the mail to increase fund-raising and communications. The session will cover rules for using the mail and a demonstration of the Postal Service's new Mailing Evaluation, Readability Lookup Instrument (MERLIN).

The seminar is being held Wednesday, May 14, 8:30 a.m.-noon at the USPS Processing and Distribution Center, 190 Fiberloid St. in Springfield.
Pre-registration is required. The fee is $10 per person, which includes a continental breakfast.

Register by mail to P.O. Box 5854, Springfield MA 01101-9723; by fax (731-0330) or online (www.pccwma.com).

Molecular Genetics and Microbiology seminar

Mark Peeples, professor of immunology and microbiology at Rush Medical College, will speak on "Following Fluorescent Respiratory Syncytial Virus Through the Human Respiratory Tract" on Friday, May 9 from 12:15 p.m. in the MGM Seminar Room, S5-310 of the Medical School in Worcester.

TIAA-CREF offers financial counseling

TIAA-CREF is offering individual counseling sessions on May 14-15 and June 11-12 from 9 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. in the Treasurer's Office, 100 Venture Way, 2nd Floor.

Reserve an appointment through the TIAA-CREF Web Center by typing in www.tiaa-cref.org/moc or call Kathleen Maida at (800) 842-2004. Space is limited.

Rep. Story schedules district office hours

State Rep. Ellen Story (D-Amherst) is holding district office hours on Friday, May 9 in Amherst and Granby.

Story will be available at the Granby Council on Aging from 9:30-10:30 a.m. and the Amherst Council on Aging from 11 a.m. to noon.

The hours are set aside for residents to discuss ideas or concerns about state government and legislative matters. No appointments are required.

Story can be reached locally at 256-6300 and her district aide, Jan Klausner-Wise, can be contacted at 253-3690. Story also can be reached in Boston at (617) 722-2692 or by e-mail (Rep.EllenStory@hou.state.ma.us). The mailing address is Room 167, State House, Boston MA 02133.

Disaster child care training offered

Disaster Child Care, a national organization that provides special care for young children impacted by catastrophes, is holding a level I (introductory) training workshop in Winchester, N.H. on May 30-31.

Operated by the Church of the Brethren, Disaster Child Care trains volunteers from any faith, background or profession to work with traumatized children after disasters. Most of the child care programs are set up in American Red Cross assistance centers to help parents while they are being interviewed.

The training will begin at 4 p.m. on Friday, May 30 and end by 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 31. The event is open to all interested persons over the age of 18 who genuinely care for children.

For information, call Maryanne Gallagher at 5-6907 or visit the Disaster Child Care website (www.disasterchildcare.org).

Blood drive

The Hampshire County Chapter of the American Red Cross will conduct a blood drive on Tuesday, May 6 from 2-8 p.m. in Webster dorm, Orchard Hill and 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. in 174 Lincoln Campus Center.

Whipple, Cannella and Sortino to address Sports Luncheon

Football coach Mark Whipple, men's lacrosse coach Greg Cannella and softball coach Elaine Sortino will be the featured speakers at the Weekly Sports Luncheon on Wednesday, May 7 at noon in 1009 Lincoln Campus Center.

The buffet lunch is $6.50. Call 5-4289 for reservations.