MINUTES: ANNUAL CLASS MEETING \u2013 Saturday, May 21, 2016\u00a0 9-10 a.m.<\/p>\n
The meeting was called to order by\u00a0President Sherry Welles Urner<\/strong>\u00a0at 9 a.m. in the living room of Buckland Hall.<\/p>\n Report given by Danielle Germain, Board of Directors of the Alumnae Association:<\/strong><\/p>\n The Strategic Plan Process for the following 5 years focuses on building connections between the College and 33,000 \u2013 35,000 alumnae throughout the world.\u00a0 The Alumnae Association will facilitate programming through geographical area alumnae clubs as well as through on-campus opportunities.\u00a0 Social media including Facebook and Twitter will be used to encourage alumnae support of the College.\u00a0 The emphasis will be to collaborate more effectively with less expense.\u00a0 Special mention was made of the lovely MHC scarves in class colors, available for purchase at thee Alumnae Association office.<\/p>\n REPORTS\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Reading of the\u00a0minutes of the May 21, 2011 Class of 1961<\/strong>\u00a0was waived; these Minutes submitted by\u00a0Bonnie Stretch<\/strong>\u00a0had been distributed for perusal on Friday, May 20, 2011.\u00a0 The Minutes were accepted unanimously.<\/p>\n Class Treasurer Elsa Anderson Van Bergen<\/strong>\u00a0reported a balance of $15,528.67 as of May 17, 2016.\u00a0 She anticipates the final balance by the end of the fiscal year on June 30, 2016 to be around $10,000 following payment of outstanding bills from the Alumnae Association.\u00a0 57 people have already paid their class dues ($25.) \u00a0Elsa will be available following lunch to receive additional dues payments, thus saving postage for dues payment appeals.\u00a0 The Treasurers Report was moved, seconded and approved.<\/p>\n Mary Lyon Society\u00ad-<\/strong>Carol Benson not able to be present to make a report. This Society \u201chonors<\/p>\n those who have named the College as the beneficiary of a will, trust, retirement plan, or life insurance policy, or have established a life income gift with the College\u201d (College website). Of the 1000 members, 30 are members of Class of 1961.<\/p>\n Reunion Gift Report<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Peggy Bloete Shilling\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0Mary Ginn Weinland\u00a0<\/strong>will make this report this evening.<\/p>\n Class President\u2019s Report \u2013 Sherry Welles Urner:<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n Class website:\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>Applause and cheers to Liz Hottel Barrett, unable to attend Reunion due to prior family commitments, for her work as webmaster!\u00a0 Her creative work keeps us \u201cconnected\u201d with each other and with the College!<\/p>\n \u201cBirthday Project\u201d \u2013\u00a0<\/strong>Sending a birthday card to each class member.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>Original proponent was Jane Kaplan Yendell, fondly known as \u201cour sunshine gal.\u201d\u00a0 Following Jane\u2019s death, Sherry has continued this project as part of her responsibilities as class president.\u00a0 Maybe we are forming a class tradition!<\/p>\n Honoraries<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 The Class Leadership Team decided\u00a0not<\/u>\u00a0to add any new class honoraries.<\/p>\n Class Treasury \u2013\u00a0<\/strong>Consensus of Leadership Team is to \u201cspend down\u201d the bank account, with no push for class dues.\u00a0 \u00a0There were no scholarship requests for Reunion attendance this year.\u00a0 Our Treasury will cover Friday night supper and Saturday night dinner for future reunions. Good news: we have always been a financially healthy class \u2013 more so than some other classes!<\/p>\n Email Addresses for Class Communication \u2013\u00a0<\/strong>Class of 1961 has 290 active members; 216 have given their email addresses for class communications.\u00a0 15 class members have \u201copted out\u201d of receiving emails from the College; 60 class members have no email address on record.\u00a0 Currently the annual cost of \u201csnail mail\u201d USPS postage through the Alumnae Association is $145.\u00a0 Sherry encouraged class members to provide email addresses or change their \u201copt out\u201d status for receiving College emails to \u201cacceptance\u201d status.\u00a0 This change can be made through the Alumnae Office website:\u00a0alumnae.mtholyoke.edu\/find<\/a><\/p>\n Thank You, Leadership Team! \u2013 Class President Sherry Welles Urner<\/strong>\u00a0in acknowledging the support and work of the Leadership Team said \u201cWe are all Uncommon Women, but there are those who accepted uncommon roles and all did an uncommonly good job in shepherding our class from 2011 \u2013 2016.\u201d\u00a0 She had gifts for the following Team members as an expression of her gratitude:<\/p>\n Nonie Moore Barr, Bonnie Stretch, Elsa Anderson Van Bergen, Babbie Baldwin Miller, Liz Hottel Barrett, Peg Bloete Shilling, Mary Ginn Weinland, Marian Strong Moore, Sue Wheatley Carr, and Bobbi Childs Sampson.<\/p>\n OLD BUSINESS<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Class Reunion Booklet Pages \u2013\u00a0<\/strong>submissions can still be made through June:\u00a0one page pdf<\/u><\/strong>\u00a0document with the\u00a0subject line \u201cWEBSITE SUBMISSION\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0to be sent to\u00a0Liz Hottel Barrett\u00a0<\/strong>as webmaster:\u00a0lizardhb@gmail.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n Students\u2019 Assistance \u2013\u00a0<\/strong>We have been so fortunate to have students assisting us during Reunion \u2013 from carrying luggage to providing \u201ctechie\u201d support.\u00a0 Our class treasurer will write a check to tip these students.<\/p>\n Parade Items<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Marian Strong Moore\u00a0<\/strong>announced the bottles of water and extra costume items are available to be picked up on the tables in the entrance area of Buckland Hall.\u00a0 Also green tote bags which is the only costume item giving continuity to the class.<\/p>\n NEW BUSINESS<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Election of Class Officers: Bobbi Childs Sampson<\/strong>\u00a0as chairperson of the Nominating Committee submitted the following proposed slate of officers for the Class of 1961 from 2016 to 2021:<\/p>\n President: \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Mary Ginn Weinland Note<\/u>: The Class President also selects 2 additional people to serve on the Committee.<\/p>\n There were no additional nominations.\u00a0 The proposed nominations were moved, seconded, and unanimously approved.<\/p>\n Alumnae Parade Information \u2013 President Sherry Welles Urner<\/strong>\u00a0announced that classes would convene at Mary Lyon\u2019s grave and then march to Mary Wooley Hall with the youngest classes leading the parade.\u00a0 There will be a shuttle bus to transport class members from Buckland Hall to the grave.\u00a0 A classmate wondered whether a golf cart might be available for use by those unable to march.\u00a0 Marian Strong Moore said that request should be easily accommodated.<\/p>\n Jennifer Bagster-Collins Seaver<\/strong>\u00a0expressed her appreciation to all participating in the class \u201cchat list\u201d who offered her support following the sudden death of her husband Paul and encouragement to attend this Reunion.<\/p>\n President Sherry Welles Urner\u00a0<\/strong>referred to class events \u201cnot to be missed\u201d including the \u201cMoving Forward, Making Good Decisions\u201d discussion from 2 \u2013 4 p.m., noting that for health reasons Nancy Dingwall Platt was unable to participate and had given material to Marian Strong Moore to use in her place; the following \u201cConversations\u201d time; Mount Holyoke President Lynn Pasquerella joining us for dessert, and the special evening Entertainment coordinated by Kim Kimball Holmquist.<\/p>\n Class of 1961 President Sherry Welles Urner<\/strong>\u00a0passed the class of 1961 gavel to the new\u00a0Class President Mary Ginn Weinland amidst cheers and applause.\u00a0 President Mary Ginn Weinland<\/strong>\u00a0announced that the new Leadership Team would meet on Sunday, May 22, 2016 following the \u201cTime for Remembering\u201d (Memorial Service).<\/p>\n There being no further business, the 55th\u00a0Reunion Class Meeting was adjourned at 9:50 a.m.<\/p>\n Respectfully submitted by\u00a0Cynthia Dennett Yee,\u00a0Secretary<\/p>\n For the Record \u2013 Saturday, May 21, 2016<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Following Saturday evening dinner and prior to the Entertainment,\u00a0Mary Ginn Weinland\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0Peg Bloete Shilling<\/strong>\u00a0as our Co-Head class agents reported as follows:<\/p>\n Mary Weinland<\/strong>\u00a0announced that Class of 1961 was awarded the\u00a0Pegasus Award<\/strong>\u00a0given to the reunion class that raises the most total dollars for immediate use through The Mount Holyoke Fund during the reunion fiscal year.\u00a0 We raised\u00a0$199,730<\/strong>.\u00a0\u00a0 Our\u00a05-year Cumulative Total (All Gifts to All Funds)<\/strong>\u00a0was\u00a0$1,854,539<\/strong>.\u00a0 Our\u00a0Participation Rate<\/strong>\u00a0to date is\u00a056.4%.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>However, the reunion year runs until June 30, 2016 so additional gifts from additional class members are still welcome.<\/p>\n Peg Bloete Shilling<\/strong>\u00a0described the\u00a0Laurel Chain Society,\u00a0<\/strong>which recognizes all alumnae who make a gift every year \u2013 in any amount and to any fund \u2013 in support of Mount Holyoke.\u00a0 The\u00a0Society<\/strong>\u00a0honors \u201cextraordinary loyalty and generosity, and belief in the College\u2019s mission.\u201d\u00a0 Alumnae who give for three consecutive years including a gift in the current fiscal year become members of the Laurel Chain Society.\u00a0\u00a0109 members of the Class of 1961<\/strong>\u00a0are members of the Laurel Chain Society.\u00a0 In addition, the Laurel Chain Society offers\u00a0Lifetime<\/strong>\u00a0distinction to alumnae who have made a gift for 50 years or more; alumnae first become eligible for this\u00a0Lifetime<\/strong>\u00a0membership at their 50th\u00a0Reunion.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Three class members<\/strong>\u00a0received the\u00a0Loyalty Award,\u00a0<\/strong>for \u201ctheir consistent effort and active involvement in one area of service over an extended period of time\u2026on behalf of a class, club, affinity group, the Association, or the College\u201d:\u00a0Sue Wheatley Carr, Liz Hottel Barrett (in absentia), and Sherry Welles Urner.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>Congratulations!\u00a0 Well deserved!<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong>Mary Ginn Weinland\u00a0<\/strong>thanked all our class agents for their good work and encouraged all class members to support the\u00a0new Co-Head Class Agents<\/strong>\u00a0for the next 5 years:\u00a0Sallie Austin Raleigh and Sandy Svihovec Hewitt.<\/strong><\/p>\n Cynthia Dennett Yee<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" MINUTES: ANNUAL CLASS MEETING \u2013 Saturday, May 21, 2016\u00a0 9-10 a.m. The meeting was called to order by\u00a0President Sherry Welles Urner\u00a0at 9 a.m. in the living room of Buckland Hall. Report given by Danielle Germain, Board of Directors of the … Continue reading
\nVice President\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dee DeFerranti Abrahamse
\nReunion Chair(s) \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0Sallie Crittendon, Barbara Freeman Douglass
\nSecretary \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Cindy Dennett Yee
\nScribe \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Rocki Hill Hughes
\nTreasurer \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Elsa Anderson Van Bergen
\nHead Class Agents\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Sallie Austin Raleigh, Sandy Svihovec Hewitt
\nWeb Coordinator\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Liz Hottel Barrett
\nNominating Committee\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Frannie Blair, Peggy McCabe Cruger, Sherry Welles Urner
\n(3 members)<\/p>\n