MHC Class of 1974

Class of 1974 Logo

Dear Mount Holyoke College Class of 1974, 

This is the year that the Class of 1974 turns 70!!! And that’s our theme throughout this year and beyond, until every classmate has turned that corner, supported by an enthusiastic and dynamic class.
It’s my  honor to share with you the progress made on various class projects during this challenging year. External exigencies have been limiting, but our class spirit and commitment to being together are resilient and strong!

1. CONNECTING WITH OTHERS

CONNECTIONS CLASS OF 2024
As you know, a time-honored tradition at Mount Holyoke is that our 50^threunion class connects with the class that graduates when we gather for reunion, the class of  2024. Usually, the connection begins in the Fall of their freshman year. Unfortunately, we’ve been unable to do any of those in-person meetings or rituals, but Laurie Averill and I have met twice with the 2024 Class Board via zoom about alternative/virtual means of connecting and ways in which 1974 can support 2024 to enhance their college years and best succeed once out ‘in the world’. These are the ideas that our Class Board has blessed and we’re open to more ideas from all of you.

1.  The first thing we did was agree to be interviewed by 2024 Board members about the meaning of our class rings. They shared the videos with their class to enhance ring sales and the 2024 Class budget.

1. We have invited members of the Class of 2024 to join 1974 classmates at the March 23^rd Zoomtails with Bonnie Panson presenting about MHC in the 70s-Jump Back in Time to September 1970. 
2. We hope to increase the number of our 1974 classmates on The Gates, which is set up to connect/match students and alumnae by interest, with the mission “connect, learn, give back”-1974 can offer mentoring, professional advice, life skills advice, etc. in this manner.
3. Laurie, as our Social Media Coordinator, will create a subgroup on our Facebook page which will connect directly with the class of 2024.
4. And we’ll encourage regional MHC Clubs to offer meals and socializing when the students are visiting locations away from MHC.
5. We have already connected them to The Lynk program where MHC offers every student a paid internship. Although most of our class are not in the position/life stage to offer internships, outreach to local MHC clubs and also the MHC CDC, which has internships in its database, may be a good alternative.

1. CONNECTING WITH OUR CLASS– getting and staying connected:

MINI-REUNIONS
The health challenges continue, so our plan for 2022 is this. Once again, following MHC guidelines for dealing with COVID-Omicron, we are not suggesting in-person overnight/multiple day mini-reunions this year.

Birthdays
We will kick off with a Class of ’74 Zoom Birthday Party and have smaller parties by region. Every class member will receive a 70^th birthday card from the 1974 Leadership team.

Regional in-person gatherings
I’m going to divide our class list into regions and ask that YOU, our local classmates, volunteer to become ‘point-persons’ for these regional, one day mini-reunions. Obviously, if classmates would like to journey from farther away and to stay overnight at any of these regional gatherings, they will be welcome and will be in charge of setting up their own lodging. Plans are already afoot for Atlanta, New York City and Boston. The committee will support all such events, probably sending a packet with a list of local classmates, organization chart and suggestions for types of parties. 

ZOOM COMMITTEE
Thanks to our talented Class of 1974 presenters, we continue to offer truly excellent monthly Zoomtails gatherings. Hats off to Nan Ward and Gail LaRocca for leading us seamlessly into our Fall, 2021 schedule and on into 2022.

In the calendar below are the current plans, and, as you know, reminders will be sent through our class email address, and will also be posted on our Facebook page. PLEASE monitor the Facebook page and our Class of 1974 page for creative ways to get and stay connected, as these dates and topics may shift.

ZOOM MINI-REUNIONS: Many of our classmates have already set up one-time or recurring regional or friend-based zooms. Here are the other ideas that have been shared. Feel free to create your own and let us know about it so that our Social Media Coordinator, Laurie Averill, can share it on Facebook and our class website.   Ideas circulating include: Happy hour gatherings; Book Club; Dorm groups; Shared interest lessons such as cooking/crafting with demos; Affinity groups such as eldercare, career, knitting, sports, travel, etc.

‘MAKE A FRIEND’ BECOMES ‘DEEPEN A FRIENDSHIP’
Denise McLeod Thomas and Carole LaMond have broadened the “Make a Friend” Challenge to include an initiative to ‘Deepen a Friendship’ already started with a classmate. Denise suggests that we each write a handwritten note to classmates we feel especially close to…either from our college days or more recently. Questions? Reach Denise at dmthomas524@gmail.com.

50^TH REUNION REMEMBRANCE VIDEO PROJECT
Marylloyd Claytor and committee members Debra Orgera and Theresa Salerno are putting together a slideshow/video which will include class pictures of classmates who have passed, as well as text and photos from their family and friends. If you have a short quote about a fellow classmate, or photos, please contact Theresa.salerno@mnsu.edu.

 SOCIAL MEDIA: Laurie continues to post all class-related information. Please visit our Facebook page and our Class of ’74 website, and/or send announcements to ljaverill@gmail.com. 

CLASS NOTES: please remember to send your news to our Class Scribe, Marylloyd Claytor, for our Class Notes in the Alumnae newsletter.
We’re not generally a shy class…and we’re doing great things…let’s share them with the MHC world! The upcoming deadline is FEBRUARY 1 for the Spring Quarterly.

III. SUPPORTING THE COLLEGE THAT GAVE US THESE OPPORTUNITIES 

DEVELOPMENT/CLASS GIVING
Through the end of December, our class has raised more than $750,000 toward our 50^th Reunion Gift with 60% of us participating !!!! All gifts made from July 2019 through Reunion in 2024 count as part of our 50^thReunion Gift total. This fiscal year (July 1^st start) 127 classmates have made gifts/pledges totaling $162,543. THANK YOU!!!

Mark your calendars and watch your snail mail – on Monday, February 28^th, the March4MHC participation challenge will return. This year we have five days to show our support for Mount Holyoke. Last year our class received $40,000 in matching money and we want to repeat that this year!

Our awesome Development Co-Chairs would like to thank the 47 Class Volunteers for their efforts – and if you would like to join the team, please reach out to them – Leslie Bowen (bowenla37@gmail.com), LaVida Dowdell ( lavida.dowdell@usa.net), Debby Hall (woodshall@gmail.com) or Jane Zimmy (janezimmy@gmail.com).

CLASS DUES
And speaking of giving, please check the list for your name on the Facebook and website pages to be sure your class dues of $50 for 5 years leading up to our 50^th reunion, are paid. Thanks!

CALENDAR
Here’s our upcoming MHC Class of 1974-related schedule:
Zoomtails:
February 22, 2022 Elizabeth Marshall “The Myths about Palliative and Hospice Care”
March 23, 2022 Bonnie Panson’s ‘Jump Back in Time to September 1970’ presentation with guests from our Connections Class of 2024
April 19, 2022 Jackie Means “Ranching Life in Rural Texas Meets Blue Origin”
May- SURPRISE!

The March4MHC campaigns starts February 28, 2022 and runs through March 4^th.

Warmest of wishes for a truly heartwarming Spring,
Melissa L. Thornton
President, Class of 1974

Dear Mount Holyoke Class of 1974,

It’s a new year…with endless new opportunities to get and to stay connected with our classmates.

Here’s a quick note with reminders of upcoming events and class updates. I expect to send out these notices approximately quarterly to each classmate with an email address on file with the College. They’ll also be posted on our Class of 74 Facebook page and website, thanks to Laurie Averill, our Social Media Coordinator.

1.  DON’T MISS THE UPCOMING TOWN HALL with Mount Holyoke President, SONYA STEPHENS and her leadership team this TUESDAY, JANUARY 26 FROM 6:30-8:00 PM. https://events.mtholyoke.edu/event/college_update_with_president_
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2. FOUR AWARDS WILL BE PRESENTED AT OUR JANUARY ZOOMTAILS MEETING. Please ‘tune in’ and join us this Wednesday, January 27^th at 6:30pm to witness this presentation to four of our most active and innovative classmates. Be sure to RSVP at classof1974mhc@gmail.com to receive the meeting link.
3. ZOOMTAILS SCHEDULE ( Be sure to RSVP at classof1974mhc@gmail.com to receive the meeting link.)
   February 24, 8:00-9:00am Early Bird Zoom, Wednesday: Mary Lyon’s Birthday Celebration
   February 25, 7:00-8:30pm Thursday: Mary Lyon’s Birthday Celebration
   March 30, 7:30-9:00pm Tuesday
4. MAKE A NEW FRIEND INVITATION: TAKE THE TIME TOREWARD YOURSELF WITH A NEW FRIEND FROM OUR CLASS. As you know, our Class Vice President, Denise McLeod Thomas was unable to join us for our 45^th reunion, but she sent the “Make a New Friend” challenge/invitation to us all at that time. “Choose 1 or 2 classmates (more if you wish) and invite them into your life as a friend. Cross all the lines you think our American culture creates and REWARD YOURSELF WITH A NEW FRIEND. We all win because we all have the opportunity to choose someone with whom we can share the core of who we are. My invitation is to get into the life of another classmate on a deeper level than simply sharing a course or dorm or even a dining room table at a meal.  I would encourage each of us to make the first move and/or to be receptive when an invitation for a new friendship is extended.  I think it will be interesting to see at our 50th Reunion what alliances have been cultivated from this purposeful endeavor of making a new friend at our age.  The grace and mercy we extend in friendship to one another are the real connections that will endure going forward.” Carole LaMond, Chair of our Nominating Committee, will be working closely with Denise to roll this out throughout the class. Contact Denise with your updates: dmthomas524@gmail.com
5. TRIBUTES TO OUR LOST CLASSMATES: Our Class Scribe, Marylloyd Claytor, will lead a new project, based on her own idea, to create a video memorial to the classmates who are deceased, to be shared in many ways, including at the 50^th reunion. She is looking for a committee of helpers in order to complete this project. Please reach out to her if you are interested: mclay00@aol.com. Here’s her vision: “I think a way to begin the video memorial could be to scan a photo from the MHC yearbook or any photo the family would like to share and then have a voice-over about the person.”
6. CLASS DUES: Thanks to the 22 classmates who have paid their class dues in the last 22 days! Attached is our Treasurer, Mary Grantham-Sleet’s updated list, as of 12/31/2020. The most recent 22 classmates will be included on her next list, dated 1/31/21.
7. CLASS GIVING: Our Class will be participating in a Mount Holyoke Fund Participation Challenge in early March and details will follow…stand by to hear from our Development team: Jane Zimmy. Debby Hall and Leslie Bowen.

I look forward to seeing many of you at this Wednesday evening’s 6:30pm Zoomtails!

Warmest wishes for the best year yet,

Melissa Thornton, Class President

Dear Members of the Class of 1974,

It’s time for my year-end class letter–to report on all that we’ve been doingduring the year, despite challenges, limitations and loss…to happily say goodbye to 2020, which will most certainly go down in history as a turning point for the planet…and to say hello to 2021, which will be filled with exciting and challenging new beginnings of every kind.

It gives me joy to write this letter, because this class has shown its courage, its commitment to staying connected, its creativity and its refusal to bow to limitation. We have been in touch with as many as 130 of our classmates at a time, seven times this year! We have laughed together, talked together, brought each other up to date on our lives, shared recipes for great food…and recipes for keeping our sanity. And we have even sung ‘together’ at theholiday meeting December 15th!

Here’s how we’re going to keep up the connection in 2021.

I. VIRTUAL GATHERINGS

    A. ZOOMTAILS: We will kick off 2021 with our Wednesday, January 27 gathering at 6:30pm. Please note the varying EDT times, as we are attempting to make it easier for all classmates to attend as often as possible.
Upcoming formats will include classmate travelogues, classmate presentations on topics of interest (see below) and MHC trivia games. Other ideas are welcome.

Here are the upcoming dates of our next three evening and our new ‘EarlyBird’ morning Zoomtail Gatherings: 
January 27, 6:30-8:00pm Wednesday
February 24, 8:00-9:00am Early Bird Zoom, Wednesday: Mary Lyon’s Birthday Celebration
February 25, 7:00-8:30pm Thursday: Mary Lyon’s Birthday Celebration
March 30, 7:30-9:00pm Tuesday

As you know, we have our own class Zoom ‘Pro’ account, and we do need to have your RSVP to let our Co-Hosts know whether to buy an add-on for any specific meeting. We DO NOT want to turn anyone away. This is our major means of gathering, until there’s a real transition in containing the spread of COVID-19.

Also, as you know, we have our own MHC Class of 1974 email address: classof1974mhc@gmail.com. Please make a note of this, as this is the email address to which you’ll RSVP if you can join us for Zoomtails.

CLASS PRESENTATIONS: I haven’t had any response over the last 18 months to my requests to have someone start up a “Story Corps” type video project, mirroring the “Farm to Fashion” event at our 45th Reunion. BUT NO WORRIES! We’re going to ask for classmate volunteers to make 15-20 minute presentations at future Zoomtails on a topic within their area of expertise, and of interest to our class. And then we’ll break into smaller groups to discuss each topic. Please reach out to our class email address with topics you’d either like to present, or you’d like to hear about.

    B. MHC WEBINARS: We plan to organize some simultaneous attendance at MHC webinars, followed by Zoom meetings to discuss.

    C. MAKE A NEW FRIEND: Just a reminder of our Class VP’s suggestion to reach out during these next years to make a new friend of a classmate that you didn’t know before…we’ll hear more from DeniseMcLeod Thomas about this in the new year.

II. LOCAL GATHERINGS: When traveling becomes part of the ‘new norm’, we will be looking for classmates to suggest short, local gatherings throughout the country (and world), such as walks/hikes, museum and historical site visits, botanical garden explorations, etc. with safe, distanced enjoyment and perhaps outside food options. Please be thinking about what might be planned in your area.

III. LONG WEEKEND MINIS: And we haven’t given up on the idea to hold MHC minis in wonderful places, attended in person with overnight stays, when the world is safe.

IV. KEEPING OUR CLASS SCRIBE UP TO DATE: Marylloyd Claytor, our Class Scribe, has the challenge of keeping us up-to-date on a quarterly basis. Please reach out regularly to her with updates about you and classmates you know. (mclay00@aol.com ) And please help her with the difficult job of finding class friends to write tributes to our classmates who have died. Please take a moment to read the attached list of classmates who are no longer with us, and to hold them in your thoughts. Hopefully, none of our deceased classmates died due to COVID-19!

V. OUR CONNECTION CLASS, 2024: As you may know, each 50thReunion class connects with the class that will be graduating when we are holding our 50th Reunion. Ours is, of course, the Class of 2024. In Spring, 2021, their Class Board will be elected and our Alumnae Association representative will introduce me to them, after which we will connect in whatever manner is safely possible. Your Class Board will be putting together a plan to support them in their last three years at MHC.

And a final topic of importance, MONEY:
First, DUES. If you haven’t yet paid your Class Dues–$50 for 5 years—please send a check to Mary Grantham-Sleet at 8710 Cameron St #407, Silver Spring, MD 20910. It’s easy to forget whether you did pay dues, so the list of paid classmates is attached to this email. Please let us add your name, if it’s not already there.

Second, DEVELOPMENT: Here’s the fund-raising update from our Co-Chairs, Jane Zimmy and Debby Hall: Through mid-December, our class has raised more than $350,000 toward our 50th Reunion Gift, with 52% of us participating.  Since July 1, 2020, 104 classmates have made gifts amounting to nearly $184K. Please support scholarship aid at Mount Holyoke  www.mtholyoke.edu/go/mhcgive

And there’s always a big push to gather larger-than-normal amounts of money to commemorate our 5oth Reunion. To that end, the Co-Chairs are looking for additional help and they have designated Leslie Bowen as Vice Chair. If you think you’d be a good fit for this project, please reach out to Jane Zimmy at her email: janezimmy@gmail.com.

I hope that your holidays have been filled with joy and that you join me in great anticipation for the New Year.

With gratitude to be part of this remarkable class,

Melissa Thornton, Class President