Cost
The estimated cost, including campus housing and meals, for Friday afternoon to Sunday morning is about $350 for classmates and about $260 for guests. For Thursday arrival, add $40.
Class book
As is our tradition, we will have an interesting, informative class book featuring a roster of all classmates with contact information and individual pages for all who provide them. In addition, there is other class information and a summary of the class questionnaire. This year we will mail the book to all registrants before reunion and make it available to others at cost.
You can help make this the best ever by submitting your personal page (ready to photocopy) in any form you wish: narrative, drawings, photos, etc. It does have to be on one side of an 8 ½ x 11 sheet of plain paper, with 1-inch margins minimum. Include your news, reflections, thoughts, photos – whatever you wish to share.
Please send it as an attachment (preferred) to Elsa van Bergen evanbergen@maine.rr.com, or mail to 10 Hunter Point Drive, Scarborough ME 04074 no later than January 31. (Be sure not to fold your page). Put your full name at the top (no need for address etc. as that will be in the class list) and if you handwrite, use black ink. No staples or tape (except double-sided on back of photos).
Dates to note
Official dates are Friday, May 20 – Saturday, May 21. Do come on Thursday to enjoy more relaxed time with classmates and opportunity to explore the campus and attend all-college events such as Back to Class on Friday. Commencement is Sunday, May 22.
Deadline for submission of a page for the class book is January 31. (See “Class book”.)
Deadline for submitting the questionnaire is December 15 (see “Questionnaire”)
Events for class (summary)
- Thursday, May 19
Light supper in the dorm. Opportunity to explore campus and environs, meet and greet classmates and guests (anticipated Thursday arrivals: 70 – 90 persons). - Friday, May 20
Continental breakfast in the dorm; lunch on our own: All-college activities in the afternoon including Back-to-Class, tours and open houses. President’s Reception and dinner for our class at Willits-Hallowell, courtesy of MHC. Grown-up Milk and Crackers in the dorm, plus “open mike” entertainment by classmates. - Saturday, May 21
Continental breakfast in the dorm, followed by the not-to-be-missed parade. The Alumnae Association meeting precedes lunch in the dorm. There is free time in the afternoon before a special program at 4:00; reception in Kendade Atrium at 5:00, then back to the dorm for dinner. Stay awake – that’s not all. Entertainment by classmates and another evening of M&Cs. - Sunday, May 22
Early morning activities before breakfast. The commencement ceremony at 10:30 may be viewed by closed-circuit telecast. Sunday brunch at Willits for all who signed up on the registration form.
Click on Schedule for a more detailed schedule.
Food
We will have a light meal Thursday evening, breakfast Friday – Sunday, lunch on Saturday and dinner Friday and Saturday. All meals will be in the dorm except Friday dinner at Willits-Hallowell. Most of these meals will appear on the registration form for individual selection. Others are covered by the general registration fee. Food is also available in Blanchard and restaurants and delis across the street from campus, though these are expected to be crowded all weekend.
Housing
Our class will be housed in Abbey/Buckland. For dorm information and floor plans, visit http://www.mtholyoke.edu/offices/reslife/13976.shtml. Information on motels/hotels in the area will be available on the reunion registration form, though options are limited as this is graduation weekend also at Smith and Hampshire. If you plan or hope to come to reunion and prefer staying in a motel/hotel, you may want to go ahead and make a reservation. The college will also be holding some motel rooms for reunion weekend.
Housing (Accessible)
The Alumnae Office will assign accessible dorm rooms to those with need. In addition, there will be some accessible motel/hotel rooms held for reunion registrants who prefer this option.
Questionnaire
Since you have access to a computer, go to
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/1961ReunionSurvey
to answer some short questions and offer your opinions and ideas. Yes, the class of 1961 is creeping into the 21st century. It’s painless; there are no wrong answers and absolutely no grades. Please do it ASAP, but no later than December 15.
Registration
The college mails registration forms to all class members. There is a general registration fee and options for food, housing and other events on an ala carte system, so you may tailor your experience to your preferences. The information is mailed in March and registrations are due in mid-April. If possible, plan to arrive on Thursday (after 3:00) for additional options of planned and spontaneous activities.
Transportation on campus
The college will provide a minibus for transportation to planned events on campus. All reunion events are on campus, though some will require a 10 – 15 minute walk for those who are able.
