Murray Hill Institute Benefit:  Fifth Annual Dinner Dance  
On October 5th, 140 people from the tri-state area enjoyed an evening of  dancing and good cheer at the Fort Lee, NJ, Hilton.  The event raised nearly $10,000 to support Murray Hill Institute’s programs. The MHI Board of Directors extends a huge “Thank You” to the dedicated members of the dinner committee who worked so hard to make the event a success: Daisy Castillo, Edna Cheng, Dory Dolores, Beth Edejer, Gina Sevilla, Martha Swanzey, and Tessie Tabile.  A highlight of the evening was the premiere of a DVD on Murray Hill Institute and its programs. Our special thanks go to Allan Balagot, who produced the DVD for us.  (Click here to see a photographs from the evening) Plan to join us next fall for an evening of enjoyment.

Culture and Core Beliefs Lecture Series
On Friday evening, October 19, Prof. Robert P. George, McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence and Director of the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions, Princeton University, gave the fifth lecture in Murray Hill Institute’s “Culture and Core Beliefs” series.  Prof. George spoke on
“Embryo Ethics: Justice and Nascent Human Life.”  Check our website for a report of this event, which will be posted shortly.

Morgan Stanley Foundation Grant
Murray Hill Institute recently received a $2000 grant from the Morgan Stanley Foundation, as part of their Volunteer Incentive Program.  Marisu Rodriguez, a project manager in information technology at Morgan Stanley, volunteers in our Evenings of Conversation for Young Professionals, which forms part of our Mentoring Program. The Board of Directors of Murray Hill Institute is most appreciative of this support from Morgan Stanley.

Evenings of Conversation for Women in Media
Last spring, we began a series of Evenings of Conversations for Women in Media in response to requests for networking events following our “Conversations with Soledad” luncheon last February.  The first of these Evenings, featuring Melissa Tamplin, was held on June 27. For a report of this event, click here.

We are pleased to announce the second Evening of Conversation for Women in Media, to be held on Wednesday, November 14, 7:30 pm, at Murray Hill Place. Alice Rhee, Producer for NBC News and MSNBC, will speak on “Media Ethics: Managing the Essential Relationship between Reporters and Their Sources.” 

Please RSVP to info@murrayhillinstitute.org if you wish to attend this event; space is limited.  For further details and a downloadable flyer, click here.

Fashion Forum   
A wine and cheese reception to benefit Fashion Forum was held on October 11 at Alderton House, a cultural center at 117 East 70 Street, New York, NY.  Anna Vitz, the chair of Fashion Forum and a student at NYU, gave the keynote presentation to over fifty guests, after a montage slideshow exhibiting past events.  Victoria Mier, designer at Elie Tahari and a member of the board of Fashion Forum, introduced her fellow board members with lively visual aids.  Mariane St. Maurice informed those present how they could contribute to Fashion Forum: by offering contacts of young women who may be interested in future events, or by putting Fashion Forum in touch with women who could volunteer as speakers, serve in an advisory capacity, or provide  financial support.  The evening closed with a Fashion Forum tradition—a raffle—with a beautiful coffee and tea basket as the prize.

Fashion Forum is an educational and advocacy group organized by college and young professional women for young women in the New York area to explore fashion history and positive new fashion trends, and to support fashion and advertising industries in their efforts to focus on a dignified and respectful image of women.  Fashion Forum is in partnership with Murray Hill Institute; MHI supports Fashion Forum by publicizing its events and linking Fashion Forum with volunteers.

The fall calendar for Fashion Forum follows. Each event takes place on Saturday afternoon, 3 to 5 pm at Alderton House, 117 East 70th Street, New York, NY. Please RSVP to FASHIONFORUM@YAHOO.COM if you wish to attend.

On October 27, 2007, Trish Anderson, founder of Domestic Construction, a clothing design company, will speak on “Fashion Identity.”

On November 17, Kristina Graeber, sales representative for Andrea A. Ranow textile documents, will speak on “The History of Dress.”