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MCGSS Year in Review

The McMaster Chemistry Graduate Student Society (MCGSS) had a very successful 1998/99 year. The year began last September with a departmental baseball game in which the Anal Chemists defeated the IR Sox. This September, the IR Sox evened the score. New graduate students and faculty joined both teams to fill out the rosters. It was an excellent way to say farewell to summer, and recruit new players for the next season.

The 1998/99 executive (from left): Nadine Merkley, Janevieve Jones, John Lehmann, Nada Reginato, Tom Owens, Daryl Vanbesien. Absent: Chris McCrory, John Kaldis

The first major event of the year was the Halloween Party held in the Wentworth lounge at the Phoenix, on October 29th. The Halloween Party is an annual event and the costumes get more creative and interesting each year. The 1998 event was held jointly with physics, for the first time, and produced the largest turnout ever. Prizes were awarded for the best costumes, ranging from superheroes to Sesame Street characters. Some of the prize winners were Randy Frank, once again using the theme of cross dressing, the dancing "Oscar the Grouch" Adrienne Boden, and Lisa Heydorn, for the best belly button. Our judges were Drs. Willie Leigh, Nick Werstiuk and Brian McCarry. Pumpkin carving and a putting contest were also included. The ultimate pumpkin carvers were Aaron Price, Fiona Warren, Marcus Kim, and Chris McCrory.

Bowling at University Lanes in Dundas, including Rock n' Bowl which started after 10 PM, rounded out the fall activities. The 1998 MCGSS Christmas Party followed in December at the Venetian Club in Hamilton. Approximately eighty faculty, staff and graduate students enjoyed a buffet dinner and danced into the night. Randy "Santa" Frank showed up with door prizes and gifts for our much appreciated secretarial staff. Dr. McGlinchey's lab was announced as the most improved lab over the past year and were awarded a gift certificate for the Phoenix by Dr. Leigh. Door prizes were donated by Titles, Andy's Submarines, and glassblower Mike Palme.

Nada Reginato, Randy "Santa" Frank and Nadine
Merkley at the Christmas party.

This year a BBQ was held in June at the Dundas Driving Park. After a long discussion over how to light a charcoal BBQ, Daryl Vanbesien, John Kaldis, John Lehmann, Chris McCrory and Tom Owens grilled the food to perfection. A huge thank you goes out to the secretaries for donating the pop and cookies for dessert. After lunch, softball and beach volleyball games were started. Softball superstars included Tracy "the terminator" Morkin, Dave "It's the shoes" Bayles, and Geoff "precision throw" Mc-Isaac. Two of the star graduate student volleyball players were Bruce "bump" Cook and Steve "Spike" Jenkins. It was good to see the staff, faculty and graduate students enjoying a gorgeous summer day. We hope that the 1999/00 executive will make this an annual event.

Left to right: Paul Venneri, Sam Bennett, Nada Reginato, Ed Lathioor,
Lorne Fell at the departmental BBQ.

Golf day, held in July at Knollwood Golf and Country Club in Ancaster, has been an annual departmental event since 1976. Fifty people attended this year's best ball tournament. Photographs are posted at www.chemistry.mcmaster.ca/golf/. The post-tournament BBQ was held at the Phoenix. Prizes were awarded to the teams with the highest and lowest scores. John Valliant, Dick Tomlinson, Alan Guest, and John Kuehner combined for the lowest score. The next best score came from the graduate student team of Paul Venneri, Kevin Woon-Fat, John Kaldis, and Mustafa Mohammed. The Booby prize was awarded to the team of Janevieve Jones, Poonam Jain, Christina Pagnucco, Anna Shulkin. Prizes were donated by the Phoenix and Knollwood Golf and Country Club.

Bruce Cook, Mark Stradiotto, Nick Toltl and
Mike Rakic on golf day.

Be sure to checkout our website at www.chemistry.mcmaster.ca/mcgss/, for the events for the 1999/00 school year. The society can be e-mailed at mcgss@mcmaster.ca.

Nadine Merkley

MCGSS 1998/99 Executive

President: Chris McCrory Vice President: John Lehmann Treasurer: Tom Owens Executives: Janevieve Jones, John Kaldis, Nadine Merkley, Nada Reginato, and Daryl Vanbesien

1999/00 Executive

Co-Presidents: Nadine Merkley and Nada Reginato Treasurer: Cam Harrington Executives: Tom Bajorek, Anna Trikoupis, Lisa Heydorn, Paul Zelisko, Bill Riddoch, and Steve Jenkins

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