October 14-16 is HOMECOMING 2005! Floatbuilding begins Monday, October 10, in the Multipurpose Room, through Friday, October 14. The Parade of Floats begins at the Student Center on Saturday, October 15, at 10 a.m. This event is followed by the Hofstra vs. University of Maine football game at 1:30 p.m. and the Alumni Pride Victory Party at 4:30 p.m. in the tent at Shuart Stadium. We'll see you there!!

Are You Meeting with Success? Workshops for beginning and experienced planners – learn how to plan a successful event on the Hofstra campus. Sponsored by the Office of Event Management. Call x3-4067 for more information.

Join the Group!Created by the Office of Event Management (especially for planners who WANT TO KNOW about the latest news in event planning), the Hofstra Event Planner Portal Group provides information at your fingertips. Send suggestions for subjects of interest (we do the research!), find vendor information, articles, messages, photos and more!Join us by logging on to the Hofstra Portal, and click on the Groups and Event Planner Group links.

Tools That Planners Can Use! Log on to the Hofstra Office of Campus Life Portal to find directions to venues at Hofstra, including the Student Center, Scott Skodnek Business Development Center, Monroe Lecture Hall, the John Cranford Adams Playhouse, the Leo A. Guthart Cultural Center Theater. Help your event guests by including this valuable information on promotional pieces. Also available is the new Interactive Campus Map, which provides easy directions to get anywhere on campus!

Featured Web Site! Visit the Long Island Convention and Visitors Bureau Events Calendar to sample an October event on beautiful Long Island! How about participating in a One-Day Trip to Block Island, or the 14th Annual Long Island Heart Walk, Fall Wildlife Festival at the Theodore Roosevelt Nature Center, Port Washington Antiques Street Fair, Fall Apple Festival and Fair, Lighthouse Harley-Davidson Weekend for A Cure, Eighth Annual Jones Beach Sprint Triathlon and Relay? Enjoy!

Event Programs at the Institute –The Institute for the Development of Education in the Advanced Sciences (IDEAS) offers a variety of opportunities for people to experience science. IDEAS and HCLAS jointly offer Discovery Nights at Hofstra, lectures on science topics by Hofstra professors for the general public and students of all ages, with telescope observation sessions weather permitting. IDEAS also offers professional development workshops for teachers. The Institute's advisory board consists of Hofstra faculty and administration, as well as representatives of local school districts, science museums and science research facilities. Professor Janice Koch, director, adds, "Our Institute seeks to provide authentic, well-crafted and intellectually enriching science experiences."

About Advertising-Advertising is a challenging task for any new program, and it evolves with trial and error. To get the word out to teachers, students and the public, look continually for new venues for advertising as well as new audiences to serve. Lectures have been advertised on National Public Radio as well as the Long Island section of the Sunday New York Times.The Hofstra Cultural Center calendar has produced great results. Students and faculty are helping to explore new ways to reach the Hofstra student population.

On the Web: There is a multi-pronged approach to promoting the goals of the Institute. The IDEAS Web site provides information on all currently scheduled events for the fall 2005 semester. Our Web site has been expanded to include streaming video of recorded presentations. (Contact Ron Chalmers, senior coordinator, Distance and Distributed Learning, for more information). The video can then be viewed by classes or by anyone on their own schedule. Lectures are free of charge and refreshments are served. Dr. Vita Rabinowitz of Hunter College will speak at Hofstra on Thursday, October 6, on "What's Sex Got to do with It? Issues of Gender and Success in Science." Check the Web sitefor other events this semester, or contact Dr. Janice Koch at x3-5777 or Janice.Koch@hofstra.edu, or Project Coordinator Eloise Gmur at x3-5792.

The Newsletter - The Chailights Newsletter, from the Hillel Center for Jewish Life, is a monthly e-newsletter sent to students who sign up to receive it on the Hofstra Hillel Web site or by filling out information cards at Hillel events. Chai is the Hebrew word for living.

Making a Connection - In the newsletter, contests are used to provide a fun exercise, some competition, and an opportunity for students to meet. Contestants compete for prizes, such as gift certificates to Best Buy stores, by coming to the office or sending an e-mail.Either way a connection is made, and follow up can be continued. All Hillel events require a 24-hour in advance sign-up, either in the office or at another event, at the Atrium table or on the Web site. E-vite software, which most students use, is used to create invitations for events and to track interest. An event calendar is available at all Hillel events, in the office and on the Web site.(A new six-page, full color Hofstra Hillel Alumni brochure is now available.) Alumni are encouraged to attend events and receive the newsletter.

To Subscribe or Attend an Event - Send an e-mail to hofstrahillel@hofstra.edu. To subscribe to the newsletter or for more information about the programming of this active campus organization, visit the Hofstra Hillel Web site.In October, Hofstra Hillel presents some unique events, including Ladies Night with dinner and a movie onOctober 11, a First Year Hillel Students (FYSH) Holiday Program on October 6, and an Annual Alumni Reunion on October 16. Hillel events are open to all students, faculty, and alumni.

The Network - The Fitness Network has grown to almost 500 employees interested inimproving the quality of their health. Events, including those offered as part of the Employee Training and Development Program Health and Fitness Series, provideeducation, support and relaxation, as well as ongoing dialogue and feedback for the program planners. The Fitness Network e-mail service provides reminders of events to create a higher level of involvement. Pat Montagano, senior assistant dean of students and director of recreation/intramurals, explains, "Our focal point is getting ourselves to the point that we think about the quality of life that we experience. We provide each other withsupport and opportunities to work as a team towards individual goals."

E-mail Communication - The Fitness Network members receive e-mail messages with a combination of recipes, health tips, updates on programs, event announcements and even fitness trivia quizzes with prizes. Opportunities for team participation, like the recent Light the Night Walkathon at Hofstra, add a group component to health. These options improve the quality of the experience and keep members interested in becoming even more aware of health as they interact with new people with similiar concerns.

Becoming a Member - All Hofstra employees are eligible to participate in any of the Health and Fitness series or Fitness Network events. Fall 2005 offers a variety of programs, including the popular Weight Watchers, Fitness Walks, Shape, Firm and Tone workouts, Basic Weight Training and Yoga classes, and nutrition seminars with Helene Konsker. Contact Pat Montagano to join the network!