Dear 1969 Griffins
The time is getting close! Our 55th reunion is Friday, May 24 – Sunday morning, May 26. I hope you are planning to come.
REGISTRATION: Registration for Reunion II opened March 18th.
Please register early. You can get your money back up until April 29, in you need to bow out. I am assured you may also register over the phone at 413-538-2201, but way better online.
Some of what you will read here is repetition – please bear with us. There is also some new news and things you need to pay attention to.
First of all, Please sign up on our Class Connections site if you have not already done so at https://www.mhc1969.com. It is by far the best way to communicate.
TRANSPORTATION: Here is ride info from Bradley Airport and Springfield
- JoEZ Ride (no internet presence). 413-563-5635 (This is Willitts-Hallowell’s first choice)
- Valley Transporter (+1 413-253-1350) https://valleytransporter.com/
- Michael’s Limousine Service (+1 413-583-6392) https://michaels-limo.com/fleet/
- Seemo Shuttle (+1 413-586-1120) https://seemoshuttle.com/home-2/
Valley Transporter has shared vans @$76 each way plus gratuity from Bradley. Send them an email with your requests for pick-up times and dates. They’ll confirm. They don’t have a secure site for credit cards, but you can call them with that to confirm. They also have service from the Springfield Amtrak station.
Seemo Shuttle has minivans @$150 from Bradley. They also serve Amtrak.
You can now find the reunion schedule on the MHC reunion site, including our class events: .
Of course, we are still tweaking this a bit as plans firm up. If you want a printable version you can go here. We will try to keep this updated with the Alumnae Assoc’s tweaks and will put this information on the connection site – MHC1969.com
2024-2029 1969 Class officer slate: We now have a full slate to announce!
Co-Presidents: Patricia Cantor and Julie VanCamp
Treasurer: Lucy Sharp Malone
Secretary/Scribe: Ida Quackenbush Nystrom
Head Class Agent: Marcia Lepri Coleman
E-Communications Chair: Trudy Levy
Nominating Cmte: Marcia Lepri Coleman, Chair, Jingle Igleheart Hagey, Trudy Levy
CLASS DUES: If you have not yet paid your class dues of $50, please do so as soon as possible (reunion needs it) Two options: Look for the Paypal button on our Alumnae Assoc website or send a check made out to MHC Class of 1969 to Treasurer Kitty Howell Cannon at 700 John Ringling Blvd, Apt N211 Sarasota, FL 34236. Please try to do so by March 15. If you are not sure whether or not you have paid, here’s a link to find out: https://new.alumnae.mtholyoke.edu/1969/classmates-who-paid-dues-for-2024-2029/?subscribe=already#subscribe-blog-blog_subscription-5
And while we are talking money, this is the PERFECT time to make your annual contribution to the Mount Holyoke Fund if you have not already done so. Participation matters! Here is the easy link.. Head class agent Marcia Coleman has worked so hard for us – Let’s make her proud.
CLASS SURVEY: Here is a last chance to check out, or contribute to, the Class Survey. We are learning quite a bit about ourselves Thanks to the several members of the class who added information to the survey, here is the Link to our Class 55th survey updated responses.
CLASS COSTUME: Go rummaging through your scarf drawer and bring scarves from earlier reunions – also any old reunion costume pieces – umbrella, shoulder bag with Griffin logo, etc. We will wear them all! This year’s “costume” will be a green (of course!) cross-body sling for a water bottle (bring your own water bottle, although I am collecting some for those who arrive without). We are being green in more ways than one.
MEMENTOS/MEMORIES: – While you are rummaging, continue to do so in photo albums, scrapbooks, boxes of college stuff.. Bring things that spark memory and we will display them. (Be sure you have your name on them if you want to take them home.) If you are willing to donate any of them to the college archives, they are always happy to receive such.
SUBJECTS OF GROUP INTEREST: In addition to Griffin talks on Saturday afternoon, which were such a success at our 50th, we are considering informal table discussions at breakfast at Blanchard Dining Commons. Please contact Julie VanCamp (jvancamp5@gmail.com) if you have a topic you would like to discuss and/or would be willing to lead such a discussion. Our plan is to have subjects designated on table tent cards and people can sit wherever they are interested. Ideas that have been suggested: caregiving, downsizing, still working, racial equity group in person. Others?
CLASS HONORARIES: As mentioned in our January letter, since our original honoraries are no longer with us, we have reached out to a few new ones, all of whom have agreed to serve. They will talk to us about their particular niches at MHC at our Saturday class dinner. They are Joan Grenier (Romeo’s daughter), co-owner of The Odyssey Bookshop; Dr. James Harold, Chair of the Philosophy Department; Dr. Kijua Sanders-McMurtry, VP for Equity and Inclusion; and Karla Youngblood, Assoc. VP for Facilities Management. We are sure they will give us good insight into the Mount Holyoke of today.
BIOGRAPHIES: If you did not submit a bio for our amazing 50th Reunion Book, consider doing so now. We don’t want you to be lost! Click on this form to submit the suggestion information. If you want to refresh your memory or have not had an opportunity to see our 50th Reunion Book, you can check it out at https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lqyBrqPGjSiUrCD5202LDFAd3PvNjG4z/view?usp=drive_link.
Now is the time to begin to ACT! Register for reunion, make those travel arrangements, contact your roomie so you can be roomies again, find your old costume pieces, and look forward to a great time with old friends. The Steering Committee, who has been working on this for a year, can’t wait!
Jamie Hunziker Garner Jingle Igleheart Hagey
55th Reunion Co-chair 55th Reunion Co-chair