February 2017
As we head into this New Year with its challenges on many fronts, it is more important than ever that we stay connected. Hope you will take the time to reach out to fellow classmates, catch up with those you haven’t seen or talked to for a while, suggest a mini-reunion—a dinner, a weekend, whatever strikes your fancy—see below for what some classmates are planning.
2016 was a busy year. Head Class Agents Debby Hall and Jane Zimmy report that 130 of us have made gifts to the Mount Holyoke Fund, contributing $98,890 as of December 31. 110 classmates are members of the Laurel Chain Society, representing the College’s most loyal donors. Our goals this year (endJune 30, 2017) are $174,000 and 52 percent participation. An additional 96 donors are needed to reach our target.
Our FebruMary Challenge day is Monday, February 6—when we will race against other classes in the ’70s to see who can generate the most donors in a single 24-hour period. Please consider participating and making a gift to the College. All gifts are welcome.
And speaking of funds, it is never too early/late to think about paying our class dues. For those of you who did not pay at the last reunion, the cost is $30.00 for five years payable to MHC Class of 1974. You can mail your check to Nancy Arcieri at 507 Cold Brook Road, Bearsville, NY 12409.
Getting Connected – Staying Connected – Following on this Theme –
Fourteen classmates got together for Vespers in NYC on December 9, including Jane Zimmy, Debby Hall, Nancy Arcieri, LaVida Dowdell, and Judy Johnson.
A number of classmates participated in the Women’s March on January 21 in various cities. Check out our class Facebook page for some photos.
As I write this letter, a small group will have gotten together for dinner in Boston at Joe’s American Grill on January 26, including Jane Zimmy, Mary Feeney, Ann Molloy, Debby Hall, Judy Johnson, Marilyn Shapleigh, Nancy Prince, Barb Beltz, Cynthia Hadley and Barb Grant.
A celebration of Mary Lyon’s birthday is planned in New York City on February 25. Ellie McGrath is the organizer. The plan is that the group will see the playBull in a China Shop at Lincoln Center. “Galloping through forty years in a New England women’s college, Bull in a China Shop follows Mary Woolley and her partner, Jeannette Marks, as they reform and revolutionize women’s education at the height of the suffrage movement. As evolving ambitions and desires strain the couple’s relationship, this fast-paced comedy explores how we change the world, how the world changes us, and how we try to grow old together.” Contact Ellie or Jane Zimmy if you are interested in attending.
Mary Wallace Jaensch is organizing a group to go see the Enlightened Princess exhibit at the Center for British Arts in New Haven, CT, on April 1. Contact Mary or Laurie Averill if you are interested in joining them.
The V-8s continue to stay connected. After our adventures in Orlando last May, we followed up with a trip to Santa Fe, NM, for a few days of rehearsing and exploring last November. This May will find us at Melissa Thornton’s Bold Colorful Life Inn in Boothbay, Maine. With two sets of rehearsals per year, hopefully this will reflect positively in our next performance at Reunion.
A great way to stay connected and know what’s happening in our class in a timelier manner is to join our Facebook group. Putting something out there is a great way to share information, celebrate your successes, ask for/provide support during difficult times, share sad news, and communicate with the rest of the class. It’s a closed group, so you need to request access. Make sure you select the Mount Holyoke College Class of 1974 group as there is another older Facebook group that is not active. Note that we will be using our Facebook group to give you more real-time reunion information as we get closer to our 45th. This is also a great place to suggest mini-reunion activities.
We also have the class website that the Alumnae Association hosts for us. And don’t forget the Alumnae Quarterly—Lynn Massman Mordan is always happy to receive news from you to include.
Have you checked out the Alumnae Directory lately? Make sure your information is up to date. It’s also a great way to find contact information for classmates you haven’t been in touch with for a while. Some of our classmates do not have current email addresses in the alumnae database. If you know of any classmates who are not receiving the class letter, etc., please encourage them to go online and update their information. We don’t want anyone to miss out on what’s happening in our class!
Please keep in touch with us—let’s continue to stay connected!
—Diane Fiero Claffey
