Since our Artist in resident program began a year ago we have exhibit-

ed the work of several local artists: Ken Ragsdale, Channing Lefebvre and

Chancellor Nancy Zimpher. We are happy to announce the addition of Joleen

Button to that very talented list.

Possessing an interest in arts and crafts since childhood, Joleen’s parents encouraged her to transform her

hobbies into a career. She has been a part of the local arts community for nearly a decade, through produc-

ing, teaching, and exhibiting. Her works have been showcased in galleries, vacant spaces, restaurants, local

publications and television and have received honors and awards. In 2010 she was chosen by the Albany In-

stitute of History & Art as one of the Capital Region’s top 50 most promising new artists and her work was

part of their Tomorrow’s Masters Today Exhibition and Silent Auction.

Apart from exhibiting art, she has worked as a freelance graphic design-

er, a personal assistant to established national and international artists,

and as an art and graphic design adjunct professor. A multi-faceted artist

specializing in fine art, fashion and graphic design, Joleen has a Bache-

lor’s degree in Fine Art from The Sage Colleges and was the recipient of

a highly selective scholarship to study abroad at Parson’s School of De-

sign in Paris, France.

Her curiosity is communicated through many different forms of art, one of

which is contemporary oil paintings with an old world quality inspired

by the peculiarities of life, such as existence and the passage of time,

beauties of nature and human desire. “Everything inspires me,” says

Button, “the fruit I'm eating, the way a tree falls. Just driving the

highway in the Capital Region can be inspirational -- the land-

scapes, passing trees and the small farms, beautiful architec-

ture.” When asked about her creative process she says,

“As a creative, it is the ideas themselves that determine

what media is appropriate, which can be a bit overwhelming because I am easily inspired

by everything and anything. I go through phases and follow my heart’s desire of what it

wants to create.”

To find out more about Joleen and see the full spectrum

of her work, visit www.joleenbutton.com. And...don’t

miss the chance to meet her, and be among the first to

see her solo exhibit as the University Club’s next Artist

in Residence, at a reception from 6:00-8:00 p.m. on

Friday, September 4th. The reception is free - light hors

d’oeuvres and cash/sign bar. Reservations are neces-

sary. Please call the club at 518-463-1151 if you will

attend...and make plans to stay for dinner and catch Jeff

Strange in the Grille Room that evening too (see page two for details).

2

Join long-time University Club member and historian Dr. Bruce Venter on Monday, Septem-

ber 28th at 6:00 p.m. as he discusses his latest book, The Battle of Hubbardton: The Rear

Guard Action that Saved America (April 2015, Arcadia Publishing). No charge. The even-

ing begins with light hors d’oeuvres and a cash/sign bar reception, followed by Dr. Venter’s

presentation and a book signing. Reservations are necessary. Call the Club at 518-463-1151 or

visit our blog, www.uclubevents.blogspot.com, for more information.

As an administrator for 26 years in the Albany City School District, Bruce Venter didn’t teach much in the classroom,

but that all changed when he retired. He took his passion for history and created his own tour and conference company,

America’s History, schooling people about the American Revolution in a fun and interactive way. He is also 1st vice

president of the American Revolution Round Table of Richmond and frequently lectures on the Revolutionary War, in-

cluding at Fort Ticonderoga’s American Revolution Seminar and is known for his character portrayals of General John

Burgoyne and Charles Earl Cornwallis. His next book, Kill Jeff Davis: Union Raid on Richmond will be published by

the University of Oklahoma Press in 2016.

The Battle of Hubbardton was an engagement in the Saratoga campaign of the American Revolution-

ary War fought in the village of Hubbardton, Vermont. On the morning of July 7, 1777, British forces,

under General Simon Fraser, caught up with the American rear guard of forces retreating after the

withdrawal from Fort Ticonderoga. In the fields and hills around Hubbardton, a tenacious American

rear guard of about 1,200 derailed the British plan for a quick march to Albany. The British won a tac-

tical victory, but they suffered precious losses. The day would turn the tide for the Patriot cause. Bur-

goyne and his weakened force ultimately surrendered at Saratoga on October 17, 1777, paving the way

for a French alliance with the colonies and American independence.

Stop by Friday, September 4th for the

Meet the Artist Reception then head

to the Grille Room for a “back by

popular demand” performance by Jeff

Strange from 8-10 pm.

You may remember Jeff as a founding

member of the internationally-known

Irish folk band Donnybrook Fair. He

was also a long time member of one of the Capital District's

most popular rock bands, The Newports. He has traveled

nationally and internationally with Donnybrook Fair, and

throughout the Northeast as a solo acoustic performer with

3 CD releases to his credit - The Killing Words (1995), In-

visible Life (1997), and Colours (2004). He is known for

his on-stage patter and energetic performances incorporat-

ing a broad selection of Irish, rock, and original music.

Once a long time contributor for Metroland Magazine as a

freelance writer, Jeff has turned his attention to fiction writ-

ing with two novel manuscripts completed and a third in

the works.

The performance is free as part of the UC Foundation’s

participation in First Friday. Ala carte dinner available from

5:30-9 p.m. Reservations please. Call the club at 463-1151.

Did you miss the lobster dinner last

month? Or maybe you were there,

but you just can’t seem to get enough lobster? Well, ei-

ther way you’re in luck! We know summer can be a busy

time and we heard from many people who were disap-

pointed that they couldn’t make it to the lobster dinner in

August because of other obligations, so we’re doing it

again in September.

Stop by for complimentary nibbles, cocktails (sign/cash)

and good company beginning at 5:30 p.m., then head

upstairs for a delicious dinner at 6:30 p.m.

$27.95 includes soup du jour, a salad bar and a 11/4 lb.

served lobster dinner (or steak if you prefer) and, of

course, one of Chef Kevin’s delectable desserts fresh

from the oven. Tax, service charge and beverages extra.

Additional lobsters will be available at market price up-

on prior request.

Call the club at 518-463-1151 by 09/22 to make reserva-

tions. Let us know your entrée choice and whether or not

you would like extra lobster.

Donnybrook Fair

circa 1982

3

The Montauk Club

25 Eighth Avenue,

Brooklyn, NY

718.638.0800

We are happy to announce the addition of the

Montauk Club to our reciprocal club list.

Founded in 1889,

the clubhouse,

was designed by

the famed New

York architect

Francis H. Kim-

ball, and was in-

spired by a palace on Venice’s Grand Canal. The

building was completed in 1891 and its Venetian

gothic architecture, carved mahogany woodwork

and beautiful stained glass windows remain sig-

nature features.

To this day it continues to be a vibrant part of its

Park Slope, Brooklyn neighborhood.

Members organize a varie-

ty of events including talks

by local authors, jazz per-

formances, prohibition era

cocktail parties and Victo-

rian salon parties. Book

and wine clubs are popular

and the bar is always

crowded on Thursday

nights which feature live

music at the piano.

In addition to Club events, the clubhouse is

available for personal and business entertaining.

As a reciprocal guest you are welcome to join

them during their member hours:

Bar: 5:30 – 11pm (Wed – Fri)

Dinner: 6 – 10pm (Wed – Fri)

Brunch: 11 – 3pm (Sunday)

If you plan to visit them, please be sure to make

reservations ahead and be prepared to pay for

services rendered at the time of departure. They

do require a letter of introduction. Contact Mem-

bership Director Ellen Dragonette at 518-463-

1151 or Ellen@universityclubalbany.com.

White short-sleeve 50/50 cotton/polyester jersey fabric relaxed fit

with green lettering, welt collar, rib knit cuffs and double-needle

stitched construction and SpotShield™ stain resistance. Unisex siz-

es M-XXXL. Proceeds benefit the UC Foundation.

Michael Hurt, a long-time University Club member and the Treas-

urer of the University Club Foundation, has been involved with mu-

sic since early trumpet lessons in 8th grade. In Buffalo State Col-

lege, where he elected to minor in Music Education, his studies fo-

cused on guitar, moving from contemporary folk music to Classical

to Jazz. In 1998 he began concentrating on the bass. Over the past

35 years he has performed various musical forms; Soul, R & B,

Dance, top forty, Blues and Jazz and has recorded and served as

Producer of gospel recordings.

Larry Gravett is a classically trained pianist who has been perform-

ing in bands around the Capital district since 1974. The genre of

music he has been performing for the past 36 years covers a wide

range that includes rhythm and blues, rock, disco, funk, and jazz.

Larry has played with a number of local bands which included Kilo,

Little Smoke, Meditative Funk, Sweet Magic, Red Clay, GMP, and

Out of the Box.

Their performance is free courtesy of the University Club Founda-

tion’s participation in 1st Friday. Make plans to join us for dinner

too - ala carte menu will be available from 5-9 pm that evening.

RESERVATIONS PLEASE. Call the Club at 518-463-1151 to let

us know if you will be there.

We are working with the Lark Street BID to plan a special Mas-

querade Ball fundraiser on Friday, October 23rd to benefit

both the BID and the University Club Foundation. You won’t want

to miss it so mark your calendar. More details coming soon. Stay

tuned!

Officers: Nate Maloney, President

Amy Hines-Kramer, Vice President

Tim Varney, Treasurer

Secretary, Robert Crudden

Colleen Ryan, Past President

Directors: Mark Brogna

Teresa Casey

Meredith Helgerson

Jeffrey Hill

David Hochfelder

Geoffrey Hoderath

Ken McCauley

Frank Nemeth

Chuck Seifert

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

1 Lunch Yoga @ noon

2 Lunch 3 Lunch 4 Lunch & Dinner

Artist Reception Joleen Button 6 pm

Jeff Strange 8-10 pm

5 Club Closed

6 Club Closed

7

Club Closed Labor Day

8 Lunch Yoga @ 4:00 p.m.

9 Lunch 10 Lunch 11 Lunch & Dinner

12 Club Closed

13 Club Closed

14 Lunch Yoga @ noon

15 Lunch

Yoga @ 4:00 p.m.

16 Lunch 17 Lunch 18 Lunch & Dinner

19 Club Closed

20 Club Closed

21 Lunch & dinner Board Meeting

22 Lunch

23 Lunch 24 Lunch 25 Lunch & Dinner

LOBSTER DINNER Cocktails 5:30 Dinner 6:30

26 Club Closed

27 Club Closed

28 Lunch & dinner

Yoga @ noon

Bruce Venter Presentation 6 pm

29 Lunch Yoga @ 4:00 p.m.

30 Lunch OCTOBER 1 Lunch

2 Lunch & Dinner

Jazz with Larry Gravette

and Michael Hurt Grille 8-10 pm

3 Club Closed