Carlo Filice

Carlo Filice:

Passion for the Big Questions

By: Michael Reiff

For more from Bigger Impact co-founder, Joseph Norman, visit www.normanized.com. 

Enjoy the read about...Carlo Filice...below! Thanks for your readership!

Carlo Filice, current chair of the philosophy department at SUNY Geneseo, will instantly put anyone at ease. His personable demeanor is relaxed and natural, and his wide breadth of ideas concerning philosophical concepts quickly indicate his expertise and forward-thinking in the field. Filice has lived a complex life, and is constantly looking towards the future for new projects, ideas and ways to improve the lives of his students through expanding their understanding of the world around them.

Filice grew up in Italy in what he considered a “middle age setting;”as a boy he tended two or three goats. His family and neighbors were mostly illiterate, but understood the importance of education: he was sent to a country school at an early age. Filice noted that when he got older he was made to walk to a city school in Cosenza, a mile away, and the juxtaposition of city and rural life had an impact on him. This gave Filice an early extra perspective on the two cultures.

Growing up in the most southern tip of Italy in the town of Calabria, near Sicily, Filice quickly learned how to read and found a passion for Italian comic books, snatching scraps where he could to collect and read.

Filice began his love of philosophy when he attended high school in Chicago in the United States. While in Italy, Filice was on track to becoming an engineer. However, after taking a year of engineering classes in Italy, he moved to the United States to attend high school, where he was placed in an advanced English course. He remarked, “I don’t know why I was stuck in that class.” Still, Filice was not one for business or science courses, and so he took the English class which involved Shakespeare, poetry and existentialism. Through the later subject, Filice read such works as Albert Camus’ The Stranger and Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughter House Five. It was through this first English class that Filice began his interest in philosophy, which later developed into a passion.

From there, Filice continued reading the works of Camus, Sartre and Rousseau, engrossing himself in some of the biggest minds in philosophy. Upon going to college at Western Illinois University, Filice chose to double major in philosophy and English. Along with philosophical books, Filice loved novels. “I must have read more novels than most English majors,” he said. Filice remembered reading the works of Dostoyevsky, Herman Melville’s Moby Dick, and Thomas Mann’s The Magic Mountain.

After being turned down for masters programs at Stanford and Harvard, Filice remained at the Western Illinois University for another couple of years. He said that he didn’t get burned out from all of the work, and even went as far as acquiring a second Ph.D. in Italian Literature after having gotten his first in philosophy. Filice takes pride in the fact that throughout his college career he received assistantship positions to help him pay for college. Because of that work, Filice was able to finish his formal education debt-free.

Dr. Filice's Office in Welles Hall

Filice first received work at Western Illinois, then taught at Ithaca College in New York State, and then finally moved to Geneseo, where he has.been teaching ever since. “[Geneseo] is where my home is,” he said. Filice has taught at Geneseo for around two decades. His office plants, which he waters daily, have been with him just as long.

Filice currently teaches courses in Ethics, Eastern Philosophy, Humanities and World Religions. He noted that due to the preponderance of ethics classes he teaches, “I’ve become the primary ethicist, even though that wasn’t my initial specialization in philosophy.”

Filice decided to pursue his academic career in philosophy after he graudated because, “it’s the only field that tackles the big questions.” He professed a long standing love for those big questions, and understands that while many people may not agree on answers, philosophy still allows for the most direct route to obtaining illusive answers.

Currently, Filice is working on perhaps the biggest question of all: the meaning of life. He is organizing his ideas, and will soon begin working on a book on the subject, in addition to a planned Spring 2008 class addressing the issue. By that time, Filice hopes to have an introduction to the book written.

Other goals for Filice include trying to figure out what the correct ethical religious or cosmic view is, what the correct view of God is. “Nothing small, obviously,” he noted.

Filice's bookshelf, hidden in foliage

A constant goal for Filice in the classroom is to make students more aware of things outside their own interests, whether it is awareness of international political happenings, global religions, and the value of non-human things in nature. Filice said he’s concerned that as a society we are becoming completely absorbed in humanist accounts and neglecting other aspects of nature, which is leading us towards our current ecological disaster. Filice believes we are causing great harm to the planet, and hopes to raise students’ awareness of environmental issues.

He has a wide and varied mental library of ideas concerning everything in life that is still unanswered to humans. Concerning death, Filice believes that when one passes away, he or she gains the ability to view past and future lives. Another of his beliefs to which he is strongly committed is that a spirit is able to leave time to view these lives before the spirit is reincarnated,

Filice is also constantly considering issues of social and cosmic justice. He said he often wonders if the universe is just; if it is, as Filice believes is the case, it is because of reincarnation. Filice believes that without many lives in the course of a soul’s existence, life couldn’t be fair for everyone.

Past lives also feature heavily into Filice’s beliefs. Growing up in Italy, Filice does not know how he formed his proclivity towards reading and philosophy, since his family never encouraged such things when he was growing up. Filice believes that this personal inclination, when found in a culturally-deprived setting like the one he grew up in, is grounds for believing in past lives and reincarnation.

Filice said he’s also puzzled by the notion of what the basis of all value is. He is particularly interested in moral value: who counts or what counts is at the core of the universe. He personally believes that whatever has consciousness and feeling has value, and that whatever meets those two criteria should be respected.

Filice was originally raised Catholic, but as he grew he went through a period of non-belief. However, as his Catholic faith passed away, he was continually interested in the question of spirituality. Filice has taken a great interest in Eastern religions like Hinduism and Buddhism. He has taken courses in college on Buddhism and Christianity, and has continued to research the “big questions” concerning religion ever since.

A peak out Filice's office window

When addressing the myriad of religious beliefs that are in the world, Filice said he believes that Buddhist beliefs are most correct, with the possible exceptions of the Taoists. Filice believes that those two religions have this “upper hand” because they aren’t biased towards purely human issues, like Judeo-Christian-Islamic beliefs. Filice is concerned with how those religions have relegated nature to simply a tool for humans. “I think that’s one of the biggest value mistakes that our civilization has made,” he said.

Filice’s Value Theory dictates that we need to worry about how we treat things, such as plants, which he believes may have a “weird consciousness level.” He also said he believes that people should be vegetarian if they can.

The nature of consciousness also intrigues Filice. He believes the issue cannot be approached physically, as it isn’t simply a question of the brain’s physical matter.

“There are these interesting puzzles,” he noted. He believes that there are layers of questions that every person must answer. In his courses, Filice wants to convey that concept to students. “The world is full of mysteries,” he said, noting with some humor that, “I can only solve one.”

Filice also has a great deal to say on current social issues, particularly education and health care. While he was able to leave his higher education with no debt, he said he realizes that this is not easily done anymore. He said that thirty years ago higher education was more affordable in both the public and private sector; he remembers a time when the government would give out grants, not loans, to help students with their education. Forcing them to take out loans is a problem that Filice feels is something the government could alleviate, instead of spending its money on “crazy destructive things, like war.”

Another social issue Filice finds unsettling is the lack of universal health care in the United States, while other nations have proved that it can work. Filice feels that the government has made the security of many people’s lives more fragile than it needs to be in not providing health care to those who need it.

Filice feels that he is personally disciplined. “I have never missed class for any reason,” he said. He always completes the duties of department chair, and mentioned that he has never fallen asleep in class, over-slept a class, or missed one because he was sick. He also said that he has never sworn in his life.

Moving more towards the everyday aspects of life, Filice remarks about boredom with, “I don’t have enough time! I don’t know where people get the boredom idea.”

Filice lives with his wife, Karen Davis-Filice, in Livonia, where she is a reading specialist for 7^th and 8^th graders. Filice met his wife through a mutual friend shortly after he arrived at Geneseo. He said that they met by chance, and that “We have been happy ever since.” Karen brought her son into their marriage, and while initially there was a bit of stepfather-stepson friction, they have since become very close. Anthony is now a student at New York University, and is pursuing a degree in philosophy.

When Filice came to the United States, his parents followed suit and worked in Illinois until their retirement. They now are back in Italy where Filice feels they are happier. “It’s good for them, among their own people,” he said. Filice says he visits them in Italy at least once a year, and spends some summers in Rome teaching a Humanities course. His brother Fausto is a “big capitalist” who works in the wheat futures market, buying and selling the product with major conglomerates like Cargill and Archers Daniel Midland. Filice says that while he and his brother are different, his brother has read and understood the “lefty Marxist literature,” and plays the capitalist game with a sense of “irony.”

Filice is also an avid film fan. He loves the movies of not only the Italian masters Antonini and Bertolucci, but also current films like Crash and Babel. Filice feels attracted to the ensemble casts in these movies, with different worlds and lives being represented in the film. Other films Filice enjoys are As Good As It Gets, Amarcord (“the best Fellini film,”) and The Big Lebowski, which is also his brother’s favorite movie. He added that “some of Hitchcock’s movies were superior.”

Filice continues his love of reading by exploring many contemporary works. He said he is enamored with mystery novels, especially those written by Patricia Cornwell, which are forensic novels, or as he calls them, “dead people analysis.” However, Filice’s favorite author is Jane Roberts, who writes inspiring, cultish, upbeat, semi-Buddhist books that are concerned with making your own reality. “I read all kinds of non-mainstream things,” he remarked.

Filice is an avid soccer and tennis player. He plays both sports every week, along with a little weight lifting. He is also a basketball fanatic who loves to watch and discuss the March Madness season. He is a huge devotee of the World Cup, and watches “probably every game,” equating the event to “sports heaven.” He has even been to some World Cup games, and credits participation in sports with being one of the things that makes him a happy person.

In the realm of TV, Filice watches TheDaily Show and The Colbert Report, though he said he finds Jon Stewart’s style to be superior.

Filice loves music from around the globe. He listens to a wide variety of international flavors, including Spanish, French, Italian, Middle Eastern and African. He said he believes that there is a great deal of music to listen to outside of the Anglo-American world, and it’s unfortunate that so much of it goes unheard. Filice also enjoys the music of Leonard Cohen, a songwriter with a long and illustrious career. He said that he believes music is, “good for the soul.”

One of his favorite activites, he said, is gardening in his backyard. Filice said that some of the things that make him the happiest are watching things grow in the spring time, and viewing birds return from their winter migrations. “Seeing my family happy makes me happy,” he said. “Winning a couple chess games,” also is something he said he enjoys from time to time.

Filice also finds happiness in cooking. “I like to cook, I’m pretty good at it,” he said. Specializing in vegetarian cuisine, he has played with the idea of one day opening his own restaurant. Some of his favorite foods include lentil soups and pasta dishes, including ones made with asparagus, garlic, and olive oil sauce. “I like food that takes half an hour at most to make,” he said of his kitchen exploits.

Filice enjoys the privilege and free time of his professorship. “The gods smiled on me,” he said
when talking about his comfortable position as a professor and the free time to read and think that comes along with it. He takes the bureaucratic tasks of his department chair position seriously, although he remarked that he prefers teaching.

Filice’s outward demeanor is one of calm collectiveness. Part of his happiness, he said, comes from the fact that “I have fun with students!” Overall, “I have a naturally sunny disposition,” he said.

As a pacifist, his role models usually follow suit, and the people that he looks up to are those who help humanity. Filice mentioned that he greatly admires doctors like Paul Farmer, a man who has dedicated himself to helping people in Haiti. “Heroes are all over the place. “The Jesus/Gandhi types tend to be pacifist, doing good to others,” he said.

There are not many things that really bother Filice, but one that does is the neglecting of some of Jesus’ primary teachings. “I’m really disappointed that teachings of Jesus regarding non-war, non-violence, not being selfish with wealth, anti-wealth, private possessions, have been ignored. That part of the message in the Christian world has been completely shunned, ignored,” he said.
In the same vein, hypocrisy and intellectual dishonesty bother Filice a great deal.

As an example, Filice brought up the letters of Paul found in the New Testament. In them, Paul says things about man’s status above women, using one of the creation stories from Genesis as proof. Filice is quick to point out that there are, in fact, two creation stories. Paul’s disregarding of the story where they are made at the same time, in God’s image, is what Filice considers intellectual dishonesty made worse by its influential status in the world.

At the same token, Filice believes there is an aspect of intellectual dishonesty in the world of journalism. The things that are not said by big media outlets like The New York Times and Newsweek, are what Filice considers examples of this. Filice feels the media does a particularly poor job in covering the status of the poor people in places like Central America, Africa and India. Filice said that “most human beings are living in just terrible conditions,” but there’s almost no discussion of that between the big media sources. He believes that the suppression of crucial information is a form of dishonesty.

The media suppressions of political theorist and U.S. government-critic, Noam Chomsky are also some things which bother Filice. A lifelong devotee of the influential figure, Filice has a hard time understanding why one of the most-respected intellectual voices in the world has not been invited by outlets like CNN to discuss his ideas and add perspectives to discussions. Filice believes that, “it’s an embarrassment.” that in the free speech capital of the world a figure like Chomsky is shunned.

The media still plays a crucial role, however, in the daily aspects of his life. Every morning, “I wake up, I have my soy milk and cereal and coffee, and I read internet papers, like the Christian Science Monitor, Znet.com, and sometimes The New York Times, and The National Review,” he said.

Filice said he hopes that students come away from his courses with, “skills that all of us in philosophy try to make students better at,” like critical reading and intensive thinking. He said that through his classes, he works towards enlarging his student’s perspectives. He has a strong conviction that, “there just isn’t enough global awareness” in our culture today, and he is working to change that.

Joseph, Dr. Filice, Michael Reiff (Team VIP)

P.S. Fresh content at www.normanized.com. Check it out! <<<--- i="i">

Carlo Filice

Professor and Chair

SUNY Geneseo

Department of Philosophy

Email: filice@geneseo.edu

Letter from the Editor

Welcome to the "Now it feels like Spring" Issue
Dear Valued Readers,

This week we feature two exciting figures. Team VIP Member, Martin Terwilliger, a SUNY Geneseo Business Administration major with lofty goals but good home grown family values. Our other VIP is Dr. Pamela York Klainer, a financially independent entrepreneur, philanthropist, and author. Her influence spans globally but her home is Rochester, New York.

Spring in Geneseo

We hope all is well with you and yours and enjoy!


Joseph W. Norman
SUNY Geneseo '08
Notable and Newsworthy

The Life and Times of JWN

The weather has warmed up nicely here in Geneseo and it is starting to feel like Spring. Sunshine and birds chirping seems to have a wonderful effect on the overall demeanor of the campus.

This was a fun week for me because I had an interview at a desired place for summer employment, Manning and Napier Investment Advisors in Fairport, New York. It took place on Friday morning and involved some pleasant conversation with a few members of the Risk Management Group.

Afterwards, I visited with my friend Geoff, an analyst there, who preceded to take me out to lunch with some of his co-workers (some of which interviewed me in the morning). We had a delicious trip to Uno Chicago Grill right down the road from the office.

The folks at Manning and Napier are successfully building the suspense about my employment. But, do not worry readers, we should know next week.

In other news, I was elected president of the Finance Club. I also spent some time tutoring Lisa Burns, Livingston County Chamber of Commerce's Tourism Director, on how to produce e-newsletters using the service Ben and I use, constantcontact.com. Ben and I have developed a good working relationship with the folks at the Chamber.
For this week, you might be interested in checking out a series of books called Great Speeches In History put out by Greenhaven Press. I am currently reading the series' book, The Civil War, for my American Romanticism class. Enjoy the weather and the lovely week ahead!

 

Dr. Pamela York Klainer

Pamela York Klainer:

This is Not a Dress Rehearsal, It is Your Life

By: Joseph W. Norman


For more from Bigger Impact co-founder, Joseph Norman, visit www.normanized.com. 
Enjoy the read about...Pamela York Klainer...below! Thanks for your readership!

Dr. Pamela York Klainer is a woman of unparalleled motivation and passion for life. An avid giver of her time and wealth, she stresses the importance of accessibility with philanthropic projects. Throughout her career she served in the Peace Corp, taught school, developed a multi-faceted financial services firm with her late husband Jeremy, and now runs Klainer Consulting Group. She has published a book about the psychology of money, traveled the world, and just recently rode with a cycling group over the Andes Mountains. To speak of Pamela York Klainer simply would be impossible, as her “insatiable appetite for learning new things” constantly moves her in new directions.

When speaking of a woman who has achieved such worldly success like Pam, it is important to delve into her motivations. Early on, it was a negative influence as she watched her family struggle after the death of her father when she was only 14 years old. He had worked for DuPont on a salaried position while her mother served as a homemaker. Upon his death, Pam’s mother was forced to go back to work as a secretary to help support the family.

Pam became aware that when you tie your economic influence to someone else’s accomplishments, and you lose that, then you are in a really tough position. “I knew that before many other women understood it, so I decided I was always going to have my own source of income and my own professional life,” she stated. She also desired to have a family, so her life became a search for balance between the two.

After high school she attended the College of Saint Elizabeth in New Jersey. This was an all women’s school where Pamela studied philosophy and figured out some of her passions and interests. Upon graduation, Pamela enrolled into the Peace Corp, for what would end up being one of the most memorable experiences of her life. Her group embarked on a journey into the country of Panama to help in a variety of ways. This was a time when the Peace Corp was “less structured,” Pamela said. “They just dropped you into a village and said find something to do.”

Old Stock Certificates on the wall at Forte Capital

She began by teaching some of the locals English, as it was a key ability to facilitate wealth generation. More importantly, she helped form a co-op for men and women, by growing vegetables in the tropical environment and selling them. In addition, they started to buy and kill animals to help the folks get better nutrition. She took her turn selling the meat, which was an essential task to do efficiently as there was no refrigeration. Not only did the team’s efforts help the rural community members' diets, but it also helped them make money. This effort in community development helped set the tone for service that Klainer would adopt throughout the rest of her career.

Panama taught Klainer much about the human condition and what it means to be a global citizen. She now stresses that one of the most important things for people to realize is that every place is not like America, and not everybody thinks like us. “People raised in different cultures have different mindsets about the world,” she professes. “Even though we are a powerful country, we must not think that other people think the way we do.” This is a key piece of knowledge, especially for a world traveler like Pamela.

When traveling to another country, Klainer makes sure that she takes all the necessary actions to respect the native culture. This even means sucking the eyes and brains out of a fish head, as is customary in some South American countries for the guest of honor. Another adventurous feast involved the infamous “Rocky Mountain Oysters,” or bull’s balls, while yet another delicacy, blood sausage, was consumed when visiting Argentina. Pamela confesses, “I am pretty adventuresome.” After this line up of special little treats, one would have to agree.

The partners of Forte Capital

After the Peace Corp, Klainer got her Master’s degree in Education and began teaching. This was only a brief tenure however, because she realized that she did not want to be a salaried worker. Her common protest which she realized quickly was, “What do you mean I’m going to get paid according to a chart?” This could have led to her attraction to the man that would become her husband, Dr. Jeremy Klainer, an MBA and Ph. D. in Organic Chemistry. He was very entrepreneurial and their relationship was mutually beneficial. “I learned from him and he learned from me,” she stated.

Dr. Jeremy Klainer worked as a stock broker while the two lived together in the Rochester area. He had the idea of a fee based financial services company, which was unique for the industry at that point in time. Previously everything was commission based, so money was only made when it moved. The belief that people needed financial advice regardless, helped motivate the two entrepreneurs to create their own wealth management company.

They ran the company for nearly thirty years on this principle. Pamela gave insight into what it is like to work with family. “Working with a spouse is great when it works and it did work for us because we had different areas of interests,” she said. “Jerry loved working with clients and doing the research and I liked hiring, building, marketing, and getting clients.” She summarized, “It was wonderful.” After Jerry’s sudden death, Pamela took the company over and sold it to Forte Capital, where she continues to serve as the Senior Advisor and Chair of the Advisory Board.

In respect to the family, Pamela has two children, Matt, 28, who is currently studying at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, and Sarah, 30, who will be enrolling in the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan. Both have achieved success in their own ways.

She is proud of having done a “good enough” job as a mother. “I don’t think anybody does anything better than good enough,” she smiles. “It was my job to help them become who they are.” She discusses the balance of motherhood as “figuring out how I could help them flourish in what they want to do.”

Pamela defines her strengths as her intellectual curiosity, perseverance, and listening skills. On the other hand, her impatience is a weakness and often times leads to her “evil twin” coming out. At meetings she can sometimes “drop a verbal bomb” when her fire is fueled enough. Fortunately, she has progressed far enough in her career that people listen closely to her advice, especially when these “verbal bombs” are inspired and released.

In terms of professional involvement, Dr. Klainer funded the Pamela York Klainer Center for Women in Business at the State University of New York at Geneseo. She also plays a key role in the Center for Governmental Research, the SUNY Geneseo Foundation, and the Advisory Board of the Center for Nursing Entrepreneurship at the University of Rochester’s School of Nursing. In addition, she has led a philanthropic project at the College of Saint Elizabeth involving collaboration with world renowned poets.

A big reader, Dr. Klainer is consumed by a variety of different materials. She reads both fiction and non-fiction, but finds herself leaning more towards the non-fiction side. Her interests often include political history and current events. One of her present reads is Cobra II by Michael Gordon and Bernard Trainor, a story about the Iraq War. She loves mysteries, her favorite author in that genre being P.D. James, and she has started to develop a passion for poetry because of her aforementioned philanthropic project at the College of Saint Elizabeth.

Dr. Klainer's Office Book Shelf

Three people that Pamela Klainer would like to meet are all women although she is “not indifferent to the lives of men in anyway.” They include: Eleanor Roosevelt, a woman truly before her time that achieved so much. “She handled herself with incredible grace and dignity,” Pam said. The next is Evita Peron, who was “by any standards a terrible person,” Pam confesses. Her story is of interest though because after living and working in Panama, Pam noticed that there are many poor, beautiful girls like Eva Duarte, but she made it to the top. “I don’t think I would have liked her, or picked her to be my best friend,” Pam said. But, “I am fascinated by her.” The last is Anna Akhmatova, a Russian poet, whose work she has developed a passion for after her recent trip to Russia.

Dr. Klainer is irked by people who give the wrong answer because they are too lazy or do not care enough to find the right one. “It bothers me when that happens with people who cannot really fight back,” she said. Also, she is disturbed by people who blow other people off. This is a sign of the same laziness to engage as described in the first troubling character trait. She recently helped a friend who had been blown off by a financial advisor because he did not take her seriously. Pamela let the friend invest in Forte Capital at the minimum fees, even though she was below the company’s normal account minimums.

Now, it is important to discuss the little things that make Pamela who she is. She sleeps eight to nine hours a night, enjoys Kit-Kat bars and Thai food. Traveling is a must, and her recent athletic pursuit is cycling. She rides 15 to 25 miles a day (longer on the weekends) and tries to make one big cycling trip a year. This past year she tackled the Andes Mountains. Currently, mountain biking interests her because it is something new and challenging.

A 2007 Jaguar convertible lets her travel in style in the summertime and is courtesy of an “$80,000 impulse buy.” After purchasing her first Jaguar about five years ago, she has been hooked on the beautiful automobile and had to have the new model. Her favorite movie is Funny Bones, a cult classic with Jerry Lewis and Oliver Platt, and she loves to watch The Sopranos. In fact, the show is filmed in her hometown in New Jersey.

A 2007 Jaguar Convertible

Pamela York Klainer’s definition of success has a few parts. Part of success for her was financial stability because of her father’s death. “It was hard to live like that,” she said. “Money does not make you a good person, but it gives you choices.” Having enough money to be able to have a roof over her head, travel to see her kids, buy her Jaguar, and be independent has been a must.

There is also a public component to success. She desired to have a book published by a major New York publisher to make her mark on a bigger vista than just a local one. She wanted to do something that made a difference: “I think you have so many years in the world and I think there is an obligation to make a difference in some way,” she states.

She has found her personal mantra of life to be a simple one. “Always have a goal in mind, but focus on the piece that is right before you.” Having dealt with the death of her husband just over five years ago, she said about her work with their financial firm, “I knew it would take 18 to 24 months to position the firm to sell.” Her method of attack was, “If I said, ‘Can I do this today?’ I was able to maintain my equilibrium and keep moving forward.” This approach has served her well over the years, especially on her cycling trip over the Andes Mountains.

In closing, advice Dr. Klainer would give is, “No matter what stage you are at in life, this is no dress rehearsal; it is your life.” Take time for yourself and have some fun. Too many of her clients confess that they have not taken time for themselves in years. She says, “Do things because they are enjoyable and interesting, and because they offer you something, not because they get you somewhere.” Also, “I think people are so over scheduled and over stressed,” she states. “You have to have some fun along the way. Carve out some time for you to just hang out and have fun.”

Pamela York Klainer has lived an incredible life of service in both the financial community and the philanthropic one. She continues to travel the world, while maintaining a home base in Rochester, New York. Taking one day at a time, she accomplishes much even though she is no longer bound by any financial burdens. Her independence is essential to her, and with her life she continues to make a remarkable impact, not just locally, but globally.

Ben, Dr. Klainer, Joseph

P.S. Fresh content at www.normanized.com. Check it out! <<<--- i="i">

Dr. Pamela York Klainer

Klainer Consulting Group

http://www.klainerconsulting.com/

Forte Capital: Senior Advisor

Philanthropist / Entrepreneur

95 Allens Creek Road

Building 1, Suite 201

Rochester, NY 14618

Klainer@forte-capital.com

Office: 585.586.8100

Biography


How Much is Enough? By: Pamela York Klainer

Letter from the Editor

Notable and Newsworthy: VIP Profiles, Issue 13

Greetings Readers,

Thank you all for successfully working with our e-newsletter's new HTML format. Please, continue to give any feedback or notify us of any problems that you may have. This helps us to constantly move the "VIP Profiles" in the right direction.

This week we feature two interesting folks; Michael Reiff, an English and Secondary Education student, newspaper section editor, and Team VIP member who has made consistent contributions to our e-newsletter. We also bring words of advice from SUNY Chancellor John R. Ryan, who recently visited Geneseo to speak about leadership and his experience with it.

Have a nice week and enjoy!

Joseph W. Norman
SUNY Geneseo '08
Notable and Newsworthy

The Life and Times of JWN:

The bulk of this week was spent writing papers for a couple English courses: American Romanticism and Shakespeare. Also, on behalf of my investment team for the Student Managed Investment Fund, I presented a report on Altria Group (Symbol: MO), to the other teams and their managers.

As aforementioned, our track meet was cancelled and we decided not to go to the RIT Leadership Conference, so the weekend freed up nicely. This made for a nice change from the usual unruly pace Ben and I live our lives at.

In the spirit of investment, my recommended reading for the week is Liar's Poker by Michael Lewis. The investment industry is on my brain, having spent much of my time this week interacting with the fine people of Manning & Napier in Fairport, NY, about internship opportunities. This book is a candid and comical look into the life of investment bankers.

Michael Reiff

Michael Reiff:

What It Means to be Alive

By: Joseph W. Norman

For more from Bigger Impact co-founder, Joseph Norman, visit www.normanized.com. 

Enjoy the read about...Michael Reiff...below! Thanks for your readership!

Michael Reiff is currently a student at SUNY Geneseo studying English and Secondary Education. He is a gifted writer and journalist with a keen eye for a high quality film. These passions have moved him to his current role as the Arts and Entertainment Editor for The Lamron, SUNY Geneseo's well respected school newspaper, a position he states fosters his creativity.

Michael is known for his relaxed demeanor, optimism, and leadership abilities. With a strong desire for productivity and a wide variety of interests, Michael is consistently trying to make the most out of his life. Although his influence on the world is just beginning, Michael carries a distinct sense of professionalism, candor, and finesse. He lives by a simple rule, “Be honest, be forward, and be a little vulnerable,” and he speaks with knowledge beyond his years, of what it means to be alive.

Michael grew up in Fredonia, New York, under the loving care of his parents. His father, a former SUNY Fredonia Art History professor and his mother, a librarian, helped Michael develop a passion for education and the arts. In fact, he declares that the best gift he has ever received is the way his parents raised him. “Without that, I would not be who I am,” he states. “There was so much positive energy in my household.” When asked about his influences, they were near the top of the list.

Other influence has come for Michael from a variety of personas; his older brother Nick, stories of his grandfather, and more recently, one of his favorite professors, Dr. Carlos Filice.

Nick is six years older than Michael and was a role model when Michael was going through the “harder years of high school.” He states of the experience, “I’m red haired, like comic books, and don’t do sports. I might as well have had a bull’s eye on me.” Reflecting on some of his experiences he said, “There were a lot of situations where I said, ‘What would Nick do?’” Nick currently lives in Chicago selling real estate, freelance writing, and traveling the world. Michael and Nick speak regularly and frequently take trips together, most recently to Baltimore, Maryland.

Nick and Mike enjoying some food

The story of Michael’s grandfather is one of inspiration to all, but especially Michael, as he has recently been researching the man more thoroughly for a school project. Henry Reiff was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1899. At age fourteen he was pulled out of school by his parents to help the family get by, although he had a strong desire for an education. He read Shakespeare on the train to and from work and was miraculously allowed to attend a boy’s school for fifteen and sixteen year olds at age nineteen. His boss at the time not only encouraged him, but helped fund the education. Michael reflects, “The Reiff’s have a lot to thank for that one man.”

After boy’s school, Henry attended prep school, and then attended Harvard University. Reiff would later help draft the United Nations Charter before teaching for the rest of his life at St. Lawrence University. Michael tries to model that passion and not let obstacles bring him down or get in the way of what he wants to accomplish.

The most recent influence has been Dr. Carlos Filice, Chair of the Philosophy Department at SUNY Geneseo. Michael finds much inspiration by analyzing peoples’ demeanors and Filice’s is no exception. He is incredibly relaxing to talk to and work with because of his love of life and humanity. In addition, the professor’s positive attitude and smile add a few more elements to an already accessible individual. Approachability is something Michael puts much value in and models in his work with The Lamron and Team VIP. “You have to be approachable,” Michael says. “People need to be able to talk to you about their problems.”

To Michael, another essential attribute of a good leader is forgiveness, as he states, “You cannot hold a grudge against anybody.” Respect and cordialness are also high on Michael’s list as he states, “If you talk to somebody like they want to be talked to, they will help you out.” He believes in giving compliments and if there is a problem, mentioning it, but maybe letting it slide because it might be a one time thing. Also, he stresses dealing with people one on one because people will respect you for that and follow you. The last important leadership concept is to know your stuff. “That is huge,” Michael says. “You owe it to yourself and the people you are leading to know your stuff; it is your responsibility to do that.”

Things that irk Michael reflect his personality and way of living. One of the foremost is negativity. He has a unique character trait of absorbing everything which makes him very susceptible to the energy people let off. “Often people do not realize they are being negative,” he states. In turn, he stresses the importance of personal analysis. He believes it is essential to analyze who you are, what you are doing, and why. “When doing so, you will realize when you are negative and the effect it has on people.”

Another area of concern for Michael is some peoples’ inability to change when they know they have to. “You have to be humble enough to change course sometimes,” he states. He is also troubled by people that have the opportunity and ability to help someone or make a difference and they do not. “It is a decision one makes when the opportunity presents itself,” Michael states. This further attests to Michael’s belief in personal analysis.

Film is a source of much joy for Michael. He finds the medium to be a form of literature that will one day be more respected for what it can offer. It provides a combination of visual and literary art that cannot be found in just reading a book. Michael wants to use his life to create awareness about the study of film, hence his desire to become a Film Studies professor at a college. “There are films that are as good as a Dostoyevsky book,” he states. “I have not found many of them, but I have found a few that have inspired me to believe that this is really art.” This passion, tied in with Michael’s love of travel, may lead him overseas after graduation to teach at a Chinese University, something his brother had the opportunity to do a few years ago.

Michael in Amsterdam

There is less work in viewing a movie, which Michael says is unfortunate, because there is a sense of accomplishment involved with working for the story. He states, “That is why reading is so much fun, because when you look at a book you just read, it is rewarding.” Some favorite films include Children of Men, The Door in the Floor – a little known Jeff Bridges movie, Spike Lee’s 25^th Hour, and The Lives of Others – a German movie about society just before the fall of the Berlin Wall. Literature by Bill Bryson, Alan Moore, and the late Kurt Vonnegut are all musts for Michael.

Food is pertinent to Michael, not only because it keeps him going, but because it keeps him cultured. He enjoys cooking and has recently been trying to perfect steak tacos and falafels from scratch. Mexican, Indian, and Thai food are on the top of his list, but he will never pass up a good American burger. He recommends the burger at Geneseo Family Restaurant, a $2.35 beauty with all the fixings. “One of the best I have ever had,” he states.

Now, it is important to discuss the little things that make up Michael. He likes to get about eight hours of sleep a night, but he also likes to stay up late because, he states, “Usually better things happen.” He loves to read magazines, Esquire being a personal favorite publication. Sorbets are a fixture atop his favorite dessert list. Although he is not a sports guy, he enjoys running, pushups, and sit-ups. He has also recently acquired a taste for watching football, especially the Buffalo Bills, after his family’s recent move to the “All America City.”

Michael’s definition of success is to do what you want to do. He says, “Figure out what you like to do and figure out how it can work for you by building a career around it.” Furthermore, he states, “It does not have to do with money or property, but rather to be able to wake up and say, I am doing what I like.” For Michael, if he was able to wake up and say, “I am going to go talk about movies,” that would be success. He reflects, “It is important to find a way to fit your interests into your daily life.” This approach will no doubt lead to a fulfilling life.

Much of Michael’s life is driven by his love for meeting new people. “I like meeting people period,” he states. “I think everybody has something special going on, and I learn new things from people all the time.”

Michael’s youthful vigor, candid leadership style, and positive attitude have laid the foundation for success. He whole heartedly believes in the quote, “Nothing without effort,” and uses that motivation to constantly be productive. “Always have a ‘Plan B’ for when things do not work out,” he states. “There should never be wasted time, because there is always something to think about or do.” It seems that Michael, through his efforts and beliefs, has proven that he has a good grip on what it means to be alive.

P.S. Fresh content at www.normanized.com. Check it out! <<<--- i="i">

Michael Reiff

SUNY Geneseo ‘08

English / Secondary Education

The Lamron: Arts & Entertainment Editor

Team VIP

E-mail: mcr6@geneseo.edu

The Lamron Website

The Lamron: Arts & Entertainment Page:

A Classic Michael Reiff Piece: Lou Bega

For more information on Henry Reiff (Mike's Grandfather):

Oral History Interview with Dr. Henry Reiff:

http://www.trumanlibrary.org/oralhist/reiffh.htm

Papers by Dr. Henry Reiff:

http://www.trumanlibrary.org/hstpaper/reiff.htm

Profiles Authored:

Frank Kowsky

Mark Laurrie

Richard Finkelstein

Michelle Twitchell

Letter from the Editor

Notable and Newsworthy: VIP Profiles, Issue 12

Dear Valued Reader,

We would first like to say, "Welcome to the new VIP Profiles." This is the new format for what is already an exciting and informative newsletter. We would like to sincerely apologize for any difficulties we have had previously with the delivery of the VIP Profiles; i.e. sending errors, not getting the e-mail, and any other complication you, our valued readers, have experienced.

From this point on, we have strengthened our conviction that many of those previous issues can be put to rest thanks to our new service. Thank you for your patience and enjoy the new VIP Profiles!

Warmly,

Joseph W. Norman
SUNY Geneseo '08
Notable and Newsworthy



P.S. For your visual pleasure, view this e-mail as HTML. The option should appear just above the title line of the newsletter.

Remember, if you missed a week or two of the VIP Profiles, all past newsletters can be viewed at our blog: Notable and Newsworthy



The Life and Times of JWN

This week was one dedicated to catching up on my various endeavors, academic and extracurricular, at SUNY Geneseo. After traveling the better part of March, it is crunch time in terms of my academics.

I made up a few assignments and worked diligently on preparing for the month ahead which will be filled with many papers, exams, and other end of the semester activities.

Ben and I are both extremely excited about our new VIP Profiles format which we have worked hard to get operational. Thanks to the help of our technical support, in specific, my brother Jack Norman, we have successfully moved our e-Newsletter in the right direction. We hope you enjoy the new, aesthetically pleasing format.

This week I recommend Dr. Spencer Johnson's, Who Moved My Cheese? I had the opportunity to whip through this quick read on my way to the R.I.S.E. VII Conference at the University of Dayton last week. (My conference experience can be read about in Issue 11: "R.I.S.E. VII: A Collection"). Dr. Johnson's message is hailed and used by many of the world's greatest organizations. Enjoy!

Richard Finkelstein

Dr. Richard Finkelstein:

Using Variety to Stay Fresh

By: Michael Reiff & Joseph W. Norman

Dr. Richard Finkelstein is an intriguing persona whose activities and interests take him beyond the classroom, particularly at SUNY Geneseo where he is the Chairperson of the English Department. Growing up in Queens, New York, he says he “was always one of those kids who read a lot, and kind of lost himself in novels.” This pleasure has taken him far both personally and professionally. In fact, it developed a universal skill that has served him well in his diverse set of interests. A distinct combination of skill and vigor for a variety of pursuits keeps Dr. Finkelstein fresh.

Outside of the classroom, Finkelstein enjoys an interest and aptitude for working the economics side of Not for Profit organizations. He has volunteered for and served on a range of boards, including a private school and the Campus Auxiliary Services food board, which operates in Geneseo and occasionally sends Finkelstein far a field to do work. In fact, in the near future, CAS has Finkelstein, president of the CAS board, touring the food service operations of both Hamilton College and SUNY Cortland.

Finkelstein’s office is spacious, roomy, and impeccably precise. This is emblematic of his drive to achieve, which is further developed by listening to him discuss his past, his present, and even his day to day workings. Finkelstein began his college education at Williams College in Williamtown, Massachusetts where he initially studied biology. In fact, he even graduated with a near double major, but did not take his senior seminar for biology. Another fun fact, after graduation he attended medical school for a year until he realized it was not for him; working briefly after medical school gave him time to contemplate his academic future.

A view of one side of Dr. Finkelstein's office

It is interesting to consider that Finkelstein arrived at his current passion for Shakespeare almost by chance. He originally went to Williams College to study medicine, with aspirations of becoming a doctor. It was in fulfilling his literature requirements that he chanced upon Victorian literature, a course which sparked his interest in a subject which would later become his area of expertise. Later, Finkelstein passed on his medical career to fashion his graduate and doctorate work in Chicago, at one point under the tutelage of renowned Shakespearean scholar Dr. David Bevington.

At the University of Chicago Finkelstein obtained his Masters and Ph.D. in Renaissance Drama. This fine American institution is known for its prowess in this field. When reflecting on his decision to go to Chicago, Finkelstein stated that he enjoyed living in a city. His other choice, the University of Virginia, another place well known for its strength in his desired field, seemed “too much like Williams College,” he said. Not that he had anything against his experience at Williams, in fact he thoroughly enjoyed it, but he simply wanted to get back into a city.

Today, Finkelstein is someone who balances his paid and volunteer work with grace and dedication. He attributes some of his success at Geneseo to his ability to listen to colleagues and keep problems and arguments in perspective. One of his primary roles as Chairperson of the English Department, in his mind, is to “Listen closely to what colleagues priorities are, what their needs are, and make the individual priorities department priorities.” He has done quite well with that focus during his tenure. In fact, one of the desires of the staff was to increase the opportunity to teach film courses. He was successful in moving his staff towards creating a film minor for the department, in response to his colleagues’ desires.

Another shot of the office

Beyond his professional work, his personal interests range widely as well. Finkelstein is an avid opera fan, professes a love for the early works of Pedro Almodovar, and enjoys a range of talents in the kitchen (including a pride-inducing aptitude for making soufflés). In fact, he states, “I can whip up a really great soufflé in a very quick period of time.” His strong skill set in old style French Cooking leaves him a little arcane, so quips his wife, but still very effective. Elaborate homemade sauces are another staple on the Finkelstein family menu.

Finkelstein cites his success in part to his strong relationship with his wife, and when he mentions his biggest influences, she comes out on top. He reflects on her influence in respect to such qualities as “temperament, value, and style.” The latter point, style, refers to her way of looking at things and thinking them through. The couple has been happily married since 1980.

Dr. Finkelstein, a father of two, is able to stay involved in their lives even with his numerous responsibilities, sometimes still driving his daughter, 16, and their current exchange student, to school in the morning. Finkelstein’s son, 20 years of age, is a sophomore in college and enjoys writing film reviews.

While at home, Finkelstein also has a great love for gardening; as spring arrives he contemplates returning to the garden for another season of using his well-honed green-thumb. In respect to his other interests, Finkelstein loves to travel. When he was seventeen he traveled with friends to Europe, and since then this passion is nearly as unwavering as his love of Renaissance drama. Now that his children are growing up, he has more of an opportunity to visit some extravagant places with his wife and children.

Finkelstein does not follow sports, but avidly exercises: this constant drive towards physical self improvement seems to extend into his other realms of life as well. Finkelstein’s work moves him beyond the classroom and into a web of varied and worthy tasks and activities. He advocates a life of being open to the options that are available to everyone, and this is something that not only he has lived by, but is what he hopes everyone, especially the college students he interacts with, will remember as they live their own lives.

Joseph, Dr. Finkelstein, and Michael (Team VIP)

Dr. Richard Finkelstein
SUNY Geneseo
Professor of English
Department Chair
Welles 220
E-mail: finkelst@geneseo.edu


Brief Bio: http://english.geneseo.edu/?pg=facpages/finkelstein.html