Briefcase

Advertising Club
Seeks Nominations for
Pynchon Award
SPRINGFIELD — The Advertising Club of Western Mass. is seeking nominations for the 97th annual William Pynchon Award, the area’s oldest and most prestigious community-service recognition program. Established in 1915, the award honors individuals from all walks of life who go beyond the call of duty to enhance the quality of life in Western Mass. communities. Educators, social activists, philanthropists, clergy, physicians, journalists, and business leaders have received the award in years past. To nominate an individual, submit a one-page letter explaining reasons why the nominee should be considered. Included should be brief biographical information, outstanding accomplishments, service to the community, organizations he or she is or has been active in, and the names, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses of at least three people who can attest to the nominee’s contributions. All nominees will be considered and researched by the Pynchon trustees, comprised of past and present presidents of the Advertising Club. The 2011 award recipients will be announced in early fall. The awards dinner and ceremony will be held on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2011 at Chez Josef in Agawam. Nominations must be submitted by the end of business on Friday, July 22, 2011 to William Pynchon Trustees, Advertising Club of Western Mass., P.O. Box 2823, Springfield, MA 01101 or by e-mail to [email protected].

MacDuffie Property Acquired for School
SPRINGFIELD — The former home of the MacDuffie School in downtown Springfield has been acquired by the owner of several private alternative schools, with the intention of creating a boarding school for inner-city youths. John Foley, who is also the founder of Project 13, a Holyoke-based program that encourages middle-school students at risk of dropping out to stay in school, closed on the property on July 1. He plans to create the Commonwealth Academy, which will be a nonprofit institution with funding from private donors and the government. The MacDuffie campus, which includes some of the oldest homes in the city, was extensively damaged by the June 1 tornado that plowed through the city. Foley said he intends to continue using the homes as residences for the students.

UMass Chancellor to
Step Down in 2012
AMHERST — Before stepping down as UMass President on June 30, Jack Wilson announced that Robert Holub, chancellor of the flagship Amherst campus, will leave that position next year, and sooner if a replacement is found. The announcement came on the heels of a May report in the Boston Globe stating that an evaluation committee recommended against reappointing Holub after his existing contract expires on July 31. In a statement, Holub said he would leave sooner than July 2012 if another chancellor is able to begin before his new term expires.