Selected text from the Association's Michaelmas Term 2002 newsletter appears below. (In the interest of protecting our members' privacy, some content from the printed version of the newsletter has not been reproduced here.)

Please note that for the most accurate event information, click here.

Michaelmas Term 2002

President's Letter

Dear Fellow Oxonian,

The Oxford Alumni Association of New York's long tradition of creative and diverse programming continues this term with an exciting selection of events. As many members are aware, speakers from the political and diplomatic spheres have been an integral part of the OAANY's events calendar since our founding almost a decade ago. We are pleased to continue that tradition by welcoming representatives from India and Pakistan. In particular, our distinguished guests will be India's Ambassador to the United Nations, V.K. Nambiar, and the recently appointed Pakistani Ambassador to the United States, Ashraf Jehangir Qazi. As highly experienced diplomats, both are sure to provide important and timely insights into a region of great importance to the world community. We will also welcome Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs William Burns, who will address the Bush Administration's policies in the Middle East, and the Russian Federation's Ambassador to the United Nations.

Continuing yet another long tradition, the Association will host its annual holiday party on December 2nd. What better way to banish thoughts of oppressive wintry weather than to meet fellow alumni in the welcoming environs of the Princeton Club?

Over the coming year, the OAANY will continue to provide an exciting and select range of events, from wine tastings to networking events, from theatre and music performances to trips outside Manhattan. As always, the OAANY will host a number of stimulating speakers from a wide variety of fields. We welcome your input and ideas.

The most straightforward way you can assist is by renewing your membership. Since OAANY membership is valid for a calendar year, many memberships will expire at the end of the year. As has historically been the case, any new membership dues or renewals received between now and the end of 2002 will ensure OAANY membership through the end of 2003, so we hope you will join us again. A form to join or to renew your membership can be found on page four of this Newsletter.

Finally, on this first anniversary of the terrorist attacks, the OAANY would like to express its condolences to all those who lost family or friends.

YOUNG ALUMNI MIXER

Our popular and informal series of Young Alumni gatherings moves to Puck Fair in Soho on October 22. The atmosphere will be casual and relaxed. There is no cover charge and there will be a cash bar. Guests are welcome, so feel free to bring friends and come ready to make some new ones as we mingle, schmooze, debate and network at this great new Irish pub. Our Young Alumni group is designed for those under 35, but anyone who is young at heart is welcome to attend! Please rsvp to Sara Cross at cncsacnyc@yahoo.com.

BODLEIAN LIBRARY
400TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

A special dinner to mark the 400th Anniversary of the founding of the Bodleian Library will be held in New York on October 28, 2002. Sotheby's York Avenue headquarters will be the venue for this gala. A special feature of the evening is a selection of treasures from the Bodleian Library specially brought to New York for the occasion. The chairmen for the event are Mr. Gerald Levin, Former CEO of AOL TimeWarner, Mr. Douglas Smith, Vice Chairman of VoiceStream Wireless, and Mr. Howard Stringer, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Sony Corporation of America. The evening will also honor three exceptional Oxonians: Tim Berners-Lee, creator of the World Wide Web, Rupert Murdoch, Chairman and CEO of News Corporation and well-known author, P.D. James. Tables of ten will be available for booking with prices ranging from $10,000 to $50,000. There will also be individual places available for $1,250 and up. For more details and registration information please visit www.northamerica.ox.ac.uk.

TALK BY WILLIAM BURNS, BUSH ADMINISTRATION ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR NEAR EASTERN AFFAIRS

The OAANY continues its long-standing distinguished speaker program with a presentation by William Burns, Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs at the State Department. Assistant Secretary Burns, described by the BBC as the "US Middle East point man", was formerly the US Ambassador to Jordan. He has many years of experience in handling Middle East issues, including working on the Wye Plantation negotiations in 1998 and serving as Middle East specialist for the National Security Council. Assistant Secretary Burns was a Marshall Scholar and holds a degree in International Relations from Oxford. We are delighted to have this opportunity to hear from a senior member of the Bush Administration. If you would like to be placed on the reservation list for this event, please contact Charlie Douglas at charlie_douglas@nyc.bm.com or at (212) 614-4998.

The OAANY has secured a small number of discounted tickets to hear the New York Collegium, an ensemble of singers and musicians who perform music of the Baroque period on authentic instruments and using historically accurate techniques. The new Music Director of the Collegium, Andrew Parrott, is an Oxford alumnus. The New York Collegium will perform G.F. Handel's grand oratorio, "Israel in Egypt," after which we are invited to attend a special reception with the Music Director and performers.

BRITISHAMERICAN BUSINESS INC.
YOUNG EXECUTIVES NETWORKING RECEPTION

BritishAmerican Business Inc. (BABi) invites all Oxford alumni to their Young Executives Networking Reception, sponsored by The Economist. This substantial event will provide an opportunity for young business-oriented professionals to meet and network with others from a wide range of businesses and organizations, many of whom have a particular emphasis on or interest in international business issues. The cost for this event is $35 for Oxford alumni, the same as the BABi member rate and a substantial discount from the regular BABi non-member rate of $65. Space is limited, so please rsvp to Charlie Douglas at charlie_douglas@nyc.bm.com or at (212) 614-4998.

TALK BY V. K. NAMBIAR, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF INDIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS

This fall, the OAANY welcomes V. K. Nambiar, Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations. Before assuming his present appointment, Ambassador Nambiar was India's High Commissioner to Pakistan. Prior to that post, he held a series of important diplomatic assignments for India, including Ambassador to China, High Commissioner to Malaysia, Ambassador to Afghanistan and Ambassador to Algeria. Ambassador Nambiar's extensive experience in international diplomacy, particularly in Asia, makes him well positioned to provide a fresh perspective on many of today's most important policy issues. If you would like to be placed on the reservation list for this event, please contact Charlie Douglas at charlie_douglas@nyc.bm.com or at (212) 614-4998.

TALK BY SERGEY LAVROV, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF RUSSIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS

On November 21, the OAANY will host Sergey Lavrov, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations. Ambassador Lavrov has held this post for eight years and in his role as a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, he has been involved with many of the United Nations' most important decisions. As the U.N. again faces key decisions on a number of issues this fall, we look forward to hearing Ambassador Lavrov's views. If you would like to be placed on the reservation list for this event, please contact Charlie Douglas at charlie_douglas@nyc.bm.com or at (212) 614-4998.

ANNUAL HOLIDAY PARTY

By scheduling our ever-popular holiday party at the start of December, we hope to help you launch the festive season in style. This year's holiday party will be held at The Princeton Club. The cost is $35 for members and $40 for non-members, payable at the door. The OAANY's holiday party has been a tradition in New York for many years and is always very well attended. Space is limited, so please rsvp by contacting Charlie Douglas at charlie_douglas@nyc.bm.com or at (212) 614-4998.

TALK BY ASHRAF JEHANGIR QAZI, AMBASSADOR OF PAKISTAN TO THE UNITED STATES

In December, the OAANY will host Ashraf Jehangir Qazi, the newly appointed Ambassador of Pakistan to the United States. Before assuming his present appointment, Ambassador Qazi was Pakistan's High Commissioner to India. Prior to that, he held a number of high-ranking positions in the diplomatic service of Pakistan, including Ambassador to Russia, China, the former East Germany and Syria. Ambassador Qazi's extensive experience in dealing directly at the highest levels of international relations enables him to provide first-hand insights into many vital foreign policy issues. The proposed dates are tentative. If you would like to be placed on the reservation list for this event, please contact Charlie Douglas at charlie_douglas@nyc.bm.com or at (212) 614-4998.

OTHER NEW YORK AREA EVENTS! Many other groups and organizations regularly contact the OAANY with information about events they are organizing to which all Oxford alumni are invited. These organizations include other alumni groups, other British organizations in this area, and other European-related groups. Their events include lectures by distinguished leaders from the worlds of diplomacy, politics and business, luncheons, boat cruises, parties, concerts and many other events. These occasions allow Oxford alumni to mix with members of other groups and are generally open to all Oxford alumni, whether or not they are OAANY members.

QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? NEED MORE INFORMATION? E-mail Dan Schlein at president@oxalumny.org or at info@oxalumny.org!

The Wine Corner
The Wines of Fall

By Peter Morrell
Senior Wine Advisor, Chairman - Morrell & Company

A very hot summer is over and the cooling winds of autumn are beginning to make themselves felt. The light whites and reds of summer are no longer appropriate. It is time once again to drink more powerful white and more robust red wines.

The powerful whites include big, rich, creamy California Chardonnays and white burgundies from the Cote de Beaune: Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet and Chassagne-Montrachet. For the adventuresome, white Rhone Valley whites from Hermitage in the northern Rhone and Chateauneuf Blanc from the southern Rhone carry a whallop. They have the weight and body of a red wine with the mineral/spicy flavors of a dry white wine.

Fall is a wonderful time for red Bordeaux. With three good to excellent vintages in a row - 1998, 99, and 2000, there is an abundance of delicious, elegant Bordeaux available. Red Burgundy is an excellent Fall red wine as are its American counterparts, the impressive Pinot Noirs from Oregon and the increasingly excellent California Pinots from The Russian River Valley and the Santa Barbara district. Top Tuscan reds such as Chianti Classicos and their contemporary big brothers, the so-called Super-Tuscans (usually blended with a healthy dose of Cabernet Sauvignon) are also fine choices for the fall. So are the refined and complex red wines from Rioja in northern Spain.

Cheers!
Peter J. Morrell

All OAANY members will receive a 10% discount at Morrell & Company
www.morrellwine.com