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As many of you may already know, Dr. Edgar Bendor, the husband of long time faculty member Dr. Susan Bendor died last week. I had the privilege of attending the funeral service on Sunday. What a wonderful gift to be able to be present for someone who has been so active in teaching bereavement counseling during her tenure at this university.
For those of you who would like to make a shiva call, she and her family are sitting on 3/30/2009, 3/31/2009, and 4/1/2009 at her home.

Details can be obtained by contacting my office
212-960-0127
or the mail office
212-960-0800

Toronto Alumni Gather to Discuss Ceremonial Violence as a societal phenomenon

On March 8, 2009, Roslyn '72 and Ben Schultz opened their home to Toronto Area alumni for a presentation and discussion by Dr. Jonathan Fast '99 of :

CEREMONIAL VIOLENCE:

A Psychological Explanation of the School Shootings.

(2008, Overlook)

D.Harvey '06 (l) R.Schultz '72 (r)

Dr Fast provided particpants a list of seminal articles which he informed his research in advance of this presentation. During the discussion alumni were encouraged to include material from their own practice as they asked questions and responded to the speaker. Participants represented a wide variety of social work practitioners, which included but was not limited to individuals working with children and adolescents. All present expressed a desire to become more familiar with this phenomenon which is a pervasive contemporary social issue.

Dr Jonathan Fast '99

The Alumni Book Discussion groups was an idea presented by Roz, who felt she and other Toronto area alumni would enjoy the opportunity to participate in academic reading opportunites. Selected Wurzweiler faculty will assemble reading relevant reading lists which will be available by email to interested alumni. A topic for the next meeting , planned for June 2009, is in process. Interested alumni should email Mark Miller : cmmiller@yu.edu, with thoughts and feed back.

Alumni meet with Dr. Fast.

WSSW Toronto Area Alumni - March 8 , 2009 Dr. Jonathan Fast will make a presentation on Ceremonial Violence in High Schools

Toronto Area Alumni of the Wurzweiler School of Social Work

You are cordially invited to attend a presentation by Jonathan Fast PhD on his new book:

Ceremonial Violence: The Psychological Explanation of School Shooting

a new publication which explores the phenomenon of high school shootings over the past 50 years , follow the hyperlink above for additional information on this fascinating study.

Dr. Fast’s presentation will be followed by a reception hosted by alumna:

Roslyn Schultz ‘72

Refreshments will be provided - Dietary Laws Observed

There is no charge for the event however an RSVP is required. Additional information and address will be available by contacting :

Mark Miller
Director of Alumni Relations
Wurzweiler School of Social Work
212-960-0127
cmmiller@yu.edu
A suggested list of readings is available please contact the alumni office for details.

Job search challenges in current ecconomic climate?

For any Wurzweiler graduate who is currently conducting an employment search I would like to pass along information on an upcoming job fair.

Wurzweiler Alumni are welcome to attend:

The 2009 Metro NY MSW Job Fair
( sponsored by the CSWE Accredited Schools of Social Work in the NYC Metro Area)
*
Friday April 24, 2009
*
11:00 am to 3:00 pm
*
Columbia University
Lerner Hall – Roone Arledge Auditorium
( on the Columbia Campus- Broadway Between 114 and 115th Street)

No Advance Registration
(but you will be required to sign in )

We invite all alumni to participate in this job fair.

Please remember to bring multiple copies of your resume, as :

Representatives from more than 100 Social Service Agencies are expected

You will be participating with graduating MSW students as well as alumni from the various schools of social work in the region.

The Challenge of Licensure - Wurzweiler is here to support you !

FACT:No one takes the LMSW Licensing Examination with the intention of failing.

FACT: Many intelligent people have trouble passing this exam.

I believe based upon my conversations with alumni who continue to encounter challenges with the state licensing exam and my own personal experience in taking the test that :

There are two major reasons that individuals have difficulty with this exam:

1.The obtuse wording of the questions and answer choices provided on the exam

2.Anxiety , which many individuals experience in similarobjective testing situations.

I know the fear of failing the exam very well, infact, I put it off as long possible, about a year after gradutation. Fortunately, I got lucky and I passed it on the first try and, believe me, I am not a great standardized test taker.

Based upon my personal experience taking the exam and the report of other alumni I asked Dean Gelman if we could initiate a structured study series.

The Wurzweiler School is committed to supporting our alumni through this process

SinceAugust 08, I have been conducting six week series of study sessions for alumni. Each series meets once a week for two hours. The groups focus on reading multiple choice questions similiar to those presented on the examination. Hopefully participants improve their test taking skills and are able to identify areas of content in which they are weak, for at home review

These study sessions have been very well received. If you are a Wurzweiler graduate and feel you could benefit from some group review, please call my office:

212-960-0127

or

email me: Cmmiller@yu.edu

The third series ends on March 5 . Series 4 commences after Pesach on April 23.

The following quotes are taken from a few of the emails I have received from past study group participants:

"I PASSED my exam (on the first time)!!!!! Thank you so much for all of your help. I don't think I would not have passed if I didn't take your class. Most of what I studied wasn't even on there; it was more that knew their style that was helpful I think. …."

"I took the test today and I was thrilled when I pressed the button and I found out that I passed. I thought the test was extremely difficult and most of the questions were wordy vignettes with two good answers. It took me almost the full four hours! … but the real test was much more difficult…I found the class extremely helpful both in terms of learning how to answer the questions and how to study. Thank you so much!"

Terry Rolnick Lowenstein ’06 W and her husband announced the birth of their son Moshe Michael in September 2007. Mazel Tov! to Terry and Stuart.

San Francisco Bay Area WSSW Alumni Event: October 28, 2007

Bay Area Alumni Event: October 28, 2007

6:30-8:30pm

George Krevsky Gallery

77 Geary Street

San Francisco, California

George Krevsky, WSSW 1968, has graciously offered his gallery space THE GEORGE KREVSKY GALLERY for an alumni reception on October 28, 2007. The event will occur in the gallery space, where alumi will have an opportunity to enjoy re-uniting with other WSSW graduates and perusing the works of The gallery specializes in 20th century American art in the figurative tradition, emphasizing the Ashcan, Regionalist, Modernist, and Social Realist schools and is committed to showcasing art of the highest quality art that documents the cultural history of the last century. Krevsky has been guided by a philosophy by which directs him to make historically significant fine art accessible to all levels of collectors.

Robert Jacobvitz WSSW 1975 has volunteered to work with the staff of the Krevsky Gallery coordinating this evening of art and reunion. Robert is quite interested in meeting with all of the Bay Area graduates of the Wurzweiler school who might be interested in attending the event or possibly taking a role in the event that evening.

The evening will include comments by the dean and an opportunity for alumni living in or even visiting the Bay area to meet or reuinite and enjoy the wonderful work currently hanging in the gallery. Refreshments will be provided ( dietary laws will be observed).

If you are interesting in participating, either as an attendee or a volunteer, please contact :

CMMILLER@yu.edu and I will pass your name on to Robert.

If you discover that you are not receiving mailings from the school or have simply neglected to update your address within our system, please take the opportunity to let me know who you are and where we can direct mailings.

I look forward to a great turnout on the evening of the 28th and hope to have the opportunity to say hello to each and every one of you.