Not the same as getting together for a weekend with our spouses at one of our homes or conversing over coffee and tea at a Class of ’68 Reunion in South Hadley, we’ve gathered via Zoom every two weeks since April 2020. The 40 “free” Zoom minutes aren’t long enough for our conversations, so we’ve learned how to quickly get back online for another 40!
PHOTO:
Join us at the link above for the Friday Morning Music Club's 135th Anniversary Celebration!
Featuring outstanding performances and an exploration of FMMC's storied history
The pandemic brought many of us together. We “saw” each other monthly instead of semi-annually; no one missed a “gathering” because she was on vacation; even those far apart from each other “met” with little difficulty. We recognized that acircle of friends provides support and good cheer during these challenging times. If you didn’t contact your roommate, consider doing so. If you didn’t hear from your roommate, was it because she didn’t know your email address? To update your contact information, either send an email to ais@mtholyoke.edu and request that your email address be added, or update your entry in the Alumnae Directory.
If you do contact classmates, please continue to tell Susan Clark Iverson at siverson@mindspring.com, and send her a screen shot or picture whenever one is available. Then look for it on our new, better website at www.mhc1968.com. Our Quarterly scribe, Eloise Prescott Killeffer, posts the information from classmates that doesn’t fit in the “Notes” there as well.
Momentum is building for our 55th Class Reunion in May 2023! Sue Graham Simpson and Nancy Huttemeyer Davis, our VPs and Class Reunion Co-Chairs, continue to plan and recruit volunteers to oversee the many parts of our weekend together. They even sought advice from the Class of 1965 reunion co-chairs, whose 55thlast spring unexpectedly became a “Re-Zoom-ion.”
Sue and Nancy extend kudos to all our classmates who have already agreed to help:
Others who have volunteered to help include Susan Clark Iverson, Suzanne Lenz Janney, Betsey Huebenthal Johnson, Jamie Gardner Vernon, and Nancie Fimbel. If you’d like to help, please contact Sue at agssgs@cox.netand/or Nancy at ndavis2@cox.net. In particular, they need co-chairs for the Reunion Book, Class Dinners Friday and Saturday, and a Tech-Advisory Committee to provide our committees with technical expertise as needed.
Treasurer Stephanie Whalen Cosgrove reminds us that a successful reunion depends on our having money in our treasury. We need seed money for the Reunion Book and Class Costume, for example. We also like to provide reunion “scholarships” to help classmates travel to reunion. So far 57 out of 347 classmates have paid $50 dues for 2018-2023. (Thank you, all!) Go to https://mhc1968.com/class-dues; you will see your name if you have paid. If it isn’t there, you have a great opportunity to contribute to Reunion. Send checks to Stephanie Cosgrove, 56 Spruce Ridge Dr, Brentwood, NH 03833. They will be most welcome!
Before Reunion, the Nominating Committee fills out its membership with two president-appointed members. They and the three elected members determine the slate of officers for the next five years, 2023-2028. With suggestions from the current members, Chair Paula Braga Leidich, Cindy White Morrell, and Susan Rieger,I have appointed Meg Boyd Meyer and Susan Inui. Thanks to them both for agreeing to serve. If you’d like to be considered for a class officer position, contact Paula at hqnjyx@gmail.com.
New for our 55th Reunion: Alumnae Association policy changes will make our next reunion financially more accessible than our 50th: registration fees will be lower and weekend packages more flexible. Combined with our Class reunion scholarships, these changes should make it possible for many classmates to attend. Please plan to come!
Also new, we are planning an art show for our 55th Reunion, a Gallery of Creativity, thanks to the work of Cornelia Davis and Suzanne Spaeth Marinell. Any creative work that is transportable and easy to display will be welcome. We expect to see knitting, sewing, cake decorating, collage, etc. as well as traditional “fine arts.” Plus, of course, books by 1968 authors.
In the meantime, we hope to enlarge our display of the creative handwork that is on our website at www.mhc1968.com. All creative work that can be photographed is welcome. Ice sculpture? House building? Send your jpg image to Cornelia at cambia716@yahoo.com. Include your name, title of piece, materials used, and size and date of creation. Please update the author list on the website, too.
Besides Reunion-related activities, other things are happening. But first: Are you good at MHC trivia? Quick! Who wrote this?
“. . . the other property not named in this instrument I give to the Trustees of the Mount Holyoke Female Seminary.” November 27, 1846
Mary Lyon, of course. MHC calls the group of alumnae and friends who have the College in their wills the Mary Lyon Society. We now have a class chair for the MLS, Gayle Gunderson Richardson, who will be encouraging us to document gifts we have written into our wills or to add gifts we have in mind. Check out mtholyoke.edu/go/inspiring for a simple explanation of the three Giving Programs.
Our Head Class Agents, Ellen Jacobson Petrinoand Linda Gross, report that we are well on our way to reaching our annual fundraising goal of $185,000 with 55% participation, assuming our giving patterns remain constant this year. The College is focused on increasing student financial aid. We are encouraged to establish scholarships to be matched by gifts from two alumnae who have promised $11 million. Watch for two mailings from the College providing details—or, if you can’t wait, have a look on the MHC website. Directly helping a particular student might just be your good deed for 2021!
Your class officers are mindful of how unusual 2020 was, and we hope you lived through it with a minimum of harm. By the time you receive next year’s letter, surely we’ll all be vaccinated and doing our “normal” activities: having lunch with friends, going to movies, and travelling. In the meantime, stay safe!
Sincerely,
Nancie Fimbel , President
on behalf of the Officers of the MHC Class of 1968
The Class Agents had a virtual meeting January 26th . It was great to see all the enthusiastic volunteers. Classmates from 4 US time zones and 1 European time zone participated. Head Class Agents, Ellen Petrino and Linda Gross explained some exciting matching opportunities for scholarship giving.
This is our Zoom pic. From top left to right: Linda Gross, Susan Iverson, Marian Bruns, Ellen Petrino, Linda Short. 2nd row: Debbie Rottenberg, Eloise Killeffer, Linda McElroy, Pat Simon, Marge Nastou. 3rdrow: Gayle Richardson, Linda Cadigan, Nancie Fimbel, Paula Leidich, Carolyn Dorais. Bottom: Kathy Bartholomaus, Karolyn Sewell, Dinny Sewall, Cindy Morrell (video malfunction).
Class Agents
The Class Board conducted its annual meeting on January 19thwith a Zoom gathering. In previous years we had a conference call. Class President Nancie Fimbel led the discussion centered around the upcoming Annual letter, including updates about our 55th Reunion preparations and changes to the class website.
This is our Zoom pic. From top left to right: Sue Simpson, Nancy Davis, Eloise Killeffer, Susan Iverson. middle row: Holly Bean, Stephanie Cosgrove, Ellen Petrino, Cindy Morrell. Bottom row: Paul Leidich, Linda Gross, Nancie Fimbel.
Class Board
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