Please note: This event has been cancelled. (e-V Editor 10/26/09)

Attend a book signing by U.S. Senator Robert Menendez for his first book, Growing American Roots: Why Our Nation Will Thrive As Our Largest Minority Flourishes. The event takes place on Monday, October 26 at 1 p.m. at the University of Miami Cuban Heritage Collection on the second floor of the Richter Library.

In the book, Menendez and co-author Peter Eisner, former deputy foreign editor at The Washington Post, take a comprehensive look at the influence of the Hispanic population and culture in the United States and make a call for sweeping social and economic legislation, immigration reform, improved health care, and an end to the discrimination and prejudice that Hispanics face.

Elaine Seaver, associate professor at the University of Hawaii, will present “Body Plan Evolution in the Lophotrochozoans: A Developmental Perspective” on Monday, October 26 from 12:20 to 1:20 p.m. in the Cox Science Center, Room 166. Seaver’s research focuses on the origins of body plan novelty during evolution. Her lab approaches this problem by studying the cellular and molecular changes in the developmental program that lead to changes in the adult body plan. For more information about the seminar, e-mail [email protected].

The Department of Rehabilitation Medicine is offering grand rounds on Monday, October 26. Kevin Dalal, assistant professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at the Miller School of Medicine, will present “Spontaneous Thoracic Myelopathy/Spine and Musculoskeletal Injury” at the Lois Pope LIFE Center, seventh-floor Apex Center from 4 to 5 p.m. The Miller School of Medicine designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit.

To realize an entrepreneurial goal, an effective business plan is often of vital importance. Attend a discussion about developing business plans on Monday, October 26 from 12:30 to 1:15 p.m. at the Toppel Career Center Library. Speakers will discuss the purpose and objectives of business plans, the rationale for writing (or not writing) a business plan when starting a new venture, the preferred content and format for a business plan, practical advice on writing one, what investors look for, sources of assistance in preparing plans, and perspectives to consider when writing a business plan. Pizza and beverages will be provided. The event is sponsored by the UM Citizens Board. For more information, visit this Web site.

Man’s best friend will do a good deed for some cool cats and fine felines on Monday, October 26 on the University of Miami’s Coral Gables campus. That’s when the UM Pre-Veterinary Society holds its Dog Wash from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the patio between The Rock and the UM Bookstore. Two experienced grooming assistants will be on site to scrub and groom your dog to raise money for The Cat Network, a nonprofit organization that aids people in reducing the stray cat population of South Florida by the humane trapping, low cost sterilization, and adoption of cats and kittens.

The Dog Wash is free, but donations are requested. Proof of a rabies vaccine and a leash for all canine participants are needed at the time of the event. Appointments are recommended, but walk-ins are more than welcome. Please e-mail [email protected] or call Amy Muehlmatt at 610-764-7875 with any questions or to make an appointment for your dog to be washed.