The invitation, by e-mail:
PLEASE JOIN US
NEW YORK CITY NETWORKING EVENT
Thursday, July 30, 2015 – 6:30-8:30 pm
The Princeton Club
Nassau Room – 4th Floor
15 West 43rd Street
New York, NY 10036
So it read, the announcement
beckoning all Sagehens in the New York area to an evening of networking, hosted
by a ’77 alumnus, Managing Director of Group Risk Management for a well-known
bank. “Register now!” it directed.
Sagehens?
Yes, I confess I’m not a lion or tiger or wildcat or cougar or eagle, but
a Sagehen, this being the time-honored designation for all those who attend, or
have attended, Pomona College in Claremont in distant sunny southern California. But hardly a loyal and devoted Sagehen, since
I have never attended an alumni gathering or class reunion in all these many
years, and am now in touch with not a single other Sagehen, barring a distant
friend in Florida. About to hit my
keyboard’s DELETE, I held off, beset by doubts and temptations. Should I go or not? After getting more info – bring your business
cards, dress “business casual” -- I amassed thirteen arguments against and thirteen
for.
AGAINST:
1.
I’ve never
consciously networked, hardly know what networking is.
2.
I’m long since
retired, don’t need professional contacts, if that’s what it’s all about.
3.
I have no
business card.
4.
I’m of the class
of ’50, will be the oldest one there, the ancient of days.
5.
What can I say to
a horde of eager young graduates stuffed to the gills with energy, hopes, and
ambitions?
6.
The Princeton
Club sounds posh and exclusive.
7.
The host, a
managing director of Group Risk Management (whatever that is), sounds
intimidating, must reek of prestige and success.
8.
They probably
want money from me.
9.
I can’t wear
shorts, since “business casual” excludes them.
10. Getting there involves braving the rush hour.
11. Rain is predicted.
12. I harbor memories of two horrendous events –
one in my freshman year and one in my junior year – that at the time left me in
shock.
13. I’m eighty-six; be prudent.
FOR:
1.
Out of sheer curiosity,
I should learn what networking is.
2.
I’m a writer,
can’t retire. I can tell them – ever so
discreetly – about my blog, my novel, and the forthcoming book.
3.
I can show them –
ever so discreetly – the postcard with my novel’s title and sexy cover illustration.
4.
As the ancient of
days I can fake an aura of wisdom.
5.
All is grist to
my mill. I’ll do a post for my blog
about them.
6.
The Princeton
Club sounds posh and exclusive.
7.
Maybe I’ll find
out what Group Risk Management is.
8.
Free eats, free
drinks.
9.
I’ll wear a blue
polo shirt, get compliments because blue is one of Pomona’s colors.
10. I’m a veteran New Yorker, can handle
anything.
11. I have an umbrella.
12. Time heals; focus on today.
13. I’m eighty-six; dare!
 |
| This is what I got, when I googled "Networking." Not much help. Bapon.7g |
 |
| And this was no help either. GNOME |
As the time to depart approached, I was
inclined to go, but vowed not to join in any rah-rah stuff, as for instance:
Push
on, Pomona, to a victory,
Push,
Pomona, push!
(Admittedly,
I don’t have the words quite right.) Or,
worse still:
Sagehens, sagehens,
Quack! Quack! Quack!
All
right, that last is probably my invention.
Ducks quack; I don’t know what sagehens do, if anything. In fact, I don’t know what they look like,
except for Cecil Sagehen, an outsized replica that was a symbol and mascot of
the college, until nefariously spirited away by those wicked Occidentals, our
perennial football rivals. (I assume that Cecil was finally recovered.)
 |
| Cecil Sagehen, as marketed on campus today. |
A half hour before my scheduled departure,
it was pouring rain; I was definitely not
going. Then the sun came out …
briefly. So I grabbed my umbrella and
went.
Getting there was not half the fun. At 6 p.m. I exited the subway at Seventh
Avenue and 42nd Street and was assailed by the glaring lights of
Times Square, mobs of commuting New Yorkers, and hordes of tourists taking
photos right and left. Wherever I
headed, the crowd was against me, and here and there I spotted a
depraved-looking individual – always male, always solitary – who looked
pathetically or menacingly out of it. (Ah, the diversity of New York!) I
finally made it up to less crowded 43rd Street and marched
confidently ahead – in the wrong direction.
Seeking Sixth Avenue, I arrived instead at Eighth, had to turn around
and go the other way. (Veteran New Yorker,
indeed!) Finally arriving at 15 West 43rd
Street, I found it fenced off for renovation, went in by an improvised
entrance, threaded my way through a labyrinth of narrow corridors, found an
elevator, and got to the fourth floor.
 |
| Tourists plus commuting New yorkers: it couldn't get worse. Prayitno |
Greeted by welcomers, I was given an I.D.
tag with my name and the telltale “’50,” went in. The Nassau Room was a long room adjoining a
terrace, with a big table heaped with appetizing dishes, waiters moving
efficiently about, and a bar lined with bottles. No sooner in, I was greeted by the host, he
of Group Risk Management expertise, who proved to be cordial and suave – a
delightful gentleman who even laughed at my jokes. He and the viands assured me that the
horrendous trip there was worth it.
More alumni entered -- young and old, but
most of them buoyantly, vibrantly young – and the networking began. The murmur of conversation grew to a babble,
and the babble to a roar. To warm myself
up for the adventure, I helped myself to some rolls or dumplings or whatever –
the food was on the Chinese side and tasty – and a glass of cool white wine
that was sure to relax me into the hubbub of networking. And my contacts began.
A young woman of the class of ’09
approached me and introduced herself as a Brooklyn-based editor and writer,
obviously eager to connect with another writer.
We found lots of things to share:
·
Writers can’t
make a living writing, have to have a regular job and write in their spare
time.
·
She’s on her first
novel, is doing just that – writing in her spare time.
·
She’s nervous
because she’s not sure how the novel will end; my advice: not to worry since
the characters, if fully realized, will take over and dictate the ending.
·
The importance of
the cover illustration, once a book is published; I showed her a postcard with
the title and sexy cover illustration of my gay-themed novel, told how it
hooked readers at a book fair.
·
Writers are lousy
at self-promotion, don’t network enough, would rather be home at their desk or
computer, doing their thing.
·
Was she nervous
here? “Of course! I’m a writer!” No further explanation needed.
·
My out-of-print
biography of Madame Restell, the abortionist, would probably find readers
today, but I lack the time and patience needed to type it into my computer; she
gave me the name of an outfit where I could hire someone for the job.
 |
| That sexy cover. |
Networking? You bet!
So there we were, two writers most at home writing at their desk or
computer, sharing the hopes and miseries of the trade, and giving each other
useful tips. And the age
difference? Irrelevant!
A hush fell over the babbling throng as
the host, the Group Risk Manager, formally welcomed us and announced the
presence of that rarest of rarities, an alumnus of the class of ’50, namely me. Applause, all eyes on the vanishing
species. I flashed what I hoped was a
benign patriarchal smile, seasoned with wit and wisdom. He then introduced the Assistant Director of
Alumni Learning and Career Programs, with whom I had already corresponded by
e-mail, thus learning that collared polo shirts were “in,” shorts “out.” She directed us to the relevant tables – Arts
& Humanities, Social Sciences, and Natural Sciences -- so we could connect
with alumni of similar interests, but urged that the networking be
cross-generational: don’t just talk to your classmates, make new acquaintances
both older and younger. That said, she
turned us loose.
 |
| The Ancient of Days, per a 14th-century fresco. I'm afraid I can't measure up. |
I at once made a beeline for Arts &
Humanities, presided over by a gracious lady of the class of ’72 with whom I
promptly shook hands and exchanged few words.
A bunch of us of all ages clustered around the table, and lively
conversations ensued. A young Pakistani
woman (’08) and I shared a host of comments and insights:
·
Did she like New
York? -- Adored it! Wouldn’t live anywhere else. Had traveled, knew other cities, but on
coming here knew at once that this was where she had to live.
·
Did New York’s
size put her off? -- Hardly. She came from a city of twenty million.
·
Her work? –
Coordinator for Educational Research and Marketing at the New York Historical
Society Museum & Library, where I had once done tons of research for a
historical novel.
·
A Pomona reminiscence
of hers: too much student drinking, really out of hand. – My recollection from
long ago: yes, some drinking, but usually within limits and generally not out of
hand.
·
A unique Pomona
reminiscence of mine: stuck in Claremont without a car one spring vacation
while everyone else headed for the beach, I learned all the exotic trees in
town, especially loved the Mexican pepper tree, whose crushed leaves gave off
an aroma of pepper, and even more, the leaves of the eucalyptus, emitting a
heady fragrance that I found intoxicating, even voluptuous. – Her response: I
grew up among eucalyptus trees, which amazed me, since I thought the eucalyptus
came from Australia. (True enough, but
it has been transplanted throughout the world.)
·
A view shared by
all in the group: New York is not for everyone.
No ill will toward those who, having visited, are glad to go back home
to a more tranquil setting.
 |
| Eucalyptus leaves, giving off the most voluptuous aroma I have ever known. John Tann |
Right next to the Pakistani alumna, wedged
in between her and me at the table, was another alumna who introduced herself
as Leslie Britt, class of ’98, the executive director of Voices UnBroken, a
small Bronx-based nonprofit dedicated to providing young people from minority
communities with the means for creative self-expression. To further explain, she distributed to
several of us a glossy mag with pictures of staff and young people in workshops
in group homes, juvenile detention centers, and prisons, with samples of their
poetry. Her mention of “nonprofit”
immediately triggered memories of my volunteer work years before with another
small nonprofit, the Whole Foods Project (see vignette #8, May
20, 2012). More shared insights
followed:
·
The dreary and
unending task of having to raise money for a nonprofit, when what you really
want to do is fulfill your mission.
·
The sad, grim
truth: no money, no nonprofit.
·
How she was
carefully eased into her position, but even so has had to learn by doing.
·
Did she ever go
to Riker’s Island? – “Of course! Lots of
times.”
·
Riker’s Island:
the very mention of it evoked in me images of the city’s biggest prison complex
on an island in the East River, an overcrowded facility notorious for strip
searches, beatings, rape, suicides, and mentally ill inmates found dead in
their cells after days of neglect. – “All true,” she said. “And there are sixteen-year-olds at Riker’s,” she added: a fact that chilled me to the bone.
·
What does she do
at Riker’s? – Writing workshops, to get these kids to express themselves, to
write poetry, to improve their reading, to work with others, to think about
long-term goals.
·
My take on it:
“You’re creating hope.” She agreed.
I talked briefly to others as well and had
great success with my two well-practiced witticisms:
·
“I’m class of
’50. 1950, not 1850.”
·
A “sales handle”
(marketing tool) for my forthcoming book: British novelist Angela Carter’s
observation: “London is a man, Paris a woman, and New York a well-adjusted
transsexual.”
And I even talked to a waiter, an older
man serving as bartender.
“Is this job boring or doable?”
“It’s a great job,” he answered. “I love it.
It puts me in touch with nice people.”
I then confessed that I’d never been to a
networking event before and was the oldest one there.
“You’re good for another twenty years,” he
said with a grin.
I left him with a look of complicity
between us; a delightful momentary bond.
When I left at about 8:20, things were
still going at a roar. Had I been able
to stay longer, I’m sure I’d have had more lively conversations, but I wanted
to get home to my partner Bob, whose home-care aide left at 8. On the way home I found myself walking west along
West 14th Street past the Salvation Army’s regional headquarters, a
masterpiece of Art Deco architecture that most people stride right past without
giving it even a glance. I lingered
there for a few minutes, peering through a grilled gate into the grotto-like
entrance, savoring another pleasant surprise on this evening of surprises.
So what are my final impressions of this
networking event, unique in my experience?
It was delightful and well worth attending, a festival of success. The attendees were young professionals on
their way up, and older alumni who had some sort of achievement under their
belt and could relate easily to the young.
Ah, but who wasn’t there? The
elderly and sick, the defeated and desperate, the addicts and alcoholics, the
failures, the lost. Given the nature of
Pomona alumni – well-scrubbed middle-class achievers – the numbers of the lost
are probably minimal, but I know too much about human nature to assume they are
nonexistent. More power to the achievers;
I wish them well. But I am sad for those
who, for whatever reason, couldn’t or wouldn’t join us. There are dark stories out there that will
never be known.
 |
| The gateway to the college, with the inspired thoughts of the college's third president, a minister and theologian. But some of us snuck in anyway. Waifer X |
One disappointment, just one: nobody
noticed my blue polo shirt.
I once told an alumna of my suburban high
school that, being the pen pal of a gay inmate serving a twenty-year sentence
for sex with a minor, I hoped to be the class bad boy. Her answer: “You haven’t a chance. We’ve got murderers and international drug
dealers!” With that kind of competition
– never explained in detail -- I knew I was outclassed. Hopefully, Pomona has never harbored any of
those persuasions, though you can never be sure. I’m not in touch with my classmates, but for
the most part I’m certain that the dwindling number of survivors are reasonably
well off and not steeped in turpitude and crime. One, I know, inherited great wealth and owned
a castle in Ireland, and another amassed a fortune as an expert in arranging corporate
mergers. I’m not in their league
financially, but then, neither are a lot of my classmates.
But I’m glad that I now know of an alumna who is committed to helping
young people trapped in the criminal justice system here in New York. Since that event I’ve read samples of poetry
by the kids in her programs:
Incarceration
is a journey
Being
stuck here
I
didn’t know it would hurt me
Optimistic
words, spoken by an attorney
Silence
to my ear…
(J.R., age 13)
Paint
me like I am
Paint
me proudly
With
bright colors
And
a fresh paintbrush…
(N.C., age 15)
It’s
not fun being bullied
Or
harassed by the way you look,
Smell
or act, or your age group
I
think people shouldn’t judge me
I
am my own person
It’s
not about being popular
Or
the best at everything…
(S.F., age 12)
I
wish I could live forever
running
in a field of pink roses
surrounded
by nothing but
a
red rose tree
Why
have things turned terrible?
When
it just started getting better
I
don’t understand
I
forget…
(A.J., age 17)
We all have to follow our dream, whatever
it may be, but Leslie Britt and Voices UnBroken are on the front line, doing
something truly significant. Castles in
Ireland and corporate mergers are all very fine, but this is what really
counts. Without networking, I’d never
have known.
My forthcoming book: No Place for Normal: New York / Stories from the Most Exciting City in the World, a collection of posts from this blog, will probably be available both in a print version and as an e-book in September. The final proofs have been sent to the printer, and the copyright application has been sent off.
Coming soon: Wild New York. Central Park at night: skulkers, prowlers, ravagers, doing things you wouldn't believe. Only for the hardy of heart. Also, West Harlem terrorized, and an aging stud, his fans and many mates.
© 2015 Clifford Browder
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