Reunion Chairperson Communications

January 16, 2013

Dear Classmate,

As the new year begins, I thought it would be a good time to send you a short update letter and to say your 50th Reunion Planning Committee is really looking forward to seeing you at the College on June 13-15, 2014!! 

Since August 2012 when I last wrote, the committee has had another meeting, this time at Trinity. Here are some highlights of that meeting:

1) A series of mini-unions are planned from February through April, 2013, to be held in Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Maryland, and Massachusetts and based on who is willing to host, we may plan more in 2013. By now, you should have received an invitation for these mini-reunions; I hope you can attend at least one! We are the first class to come up with the idea of mini-unions prior to the BIG event. The purpose of the mini-unions is to renew friendships, to be updated on the college, and to encourage attendance for the 50th.  

2) Ron Yates encourages classmates to visit www.trincoll.edu/alumni/class/1964, our Web site. Beginning this month there will be quarterly updates on the Web site, including interesting information about our class, who has committed to attend the 50th, how to register for the Alumni Directory to get in touch with other classmates, events from 1964, current life on campus, and 50th Reunion plans.

3) Frank Kirkpatrick has devised a specific plan for a memorial service for those classmates no longer with us, approximately 35 in number. Widows will be invited to the service and Reunion weekend.

4) After input from class members, it has been decided that a worthy fundraising goal is to support a Class of 1964 Student Scholarship. The total class giving figure will include donations to the scholarship and Annual Fund, five years before and pledges five years after 2014. Additionally, legacy gifts through a documented bequest intention, insurance policy or retirement assets will also be a part of the total. Dan Saklad and George Kellner with committee members' help are working on ways to encourage all classmates to participate in some way to support these fundraising initiatives.

5) Bill Burnham, Keith Watson, Chris Gilson and others are making good progress on the program for the weekend. Friday afternoon there will be a panel on medical public policy to discuss health care issues relevant to retirees (e.g., Health Care Reform Act, Medicare reform, etc.). On Saturday morning another panel will discuss the continued relevance of a Trinity liberal arts education, whether there should be greater focus on specific career development in light of the nation's job needs, and the spiraling cost of tuition. Saturday night's Class Dinner will be emceed by Bill Minot and a 60's era band will help us exercise. There will be many more options during the weekend from which to choose.

To conclude, we are about half way there is terms of setting an attendance record. Please go to www.trincoll.edu/alumni/class/1964 and add your name to the attendance list. Join a mini-reunion! Please email me with any suggestions you might have for the reunion weekend. On behalf of the committee, I wish you a healthy and wonderful 2013!

Michael Phineas Anderson, Chair


August 25, 2012

Dear Classmates,

 Our 50th Class Reunion!  It is coming sooner than you think!  This epic event to be held June 13-15, 2014, surely looks to be celebratory, meaningful, enriching, and a fun time for all.  There will be ample opportunities for us to visit together and share memories.

 You may recall that I wrote you on February 18, 2011, about this special reunion, asking for help in organizing the Grand Weekend.   This letter is an update of our progress a year and a half later.

 An outstanding 50th Class Reunion Committee now exists, as seen by the list of members in the left column.  With the help of the College, we have organized ourselves into subcommittees: attendance, program, gifts, memorial, Elms Society, profile book, communications, and special exhibit.  We now have a class Web site: www.trincoll.edu/Alumni/class/1964, which I encourage you to access, as it will continually be updated.

 We had a full committee meeting on April 4, 2012, in New York City to really get the ball rolling.  We want to break the attendance record, recently set by the Class of 1962 with 32 percent of their members attending their 50th Class Reunion. We will need 90 classmates at our reunion to be in the history books. And yes, you will be solicited for donations (dollars, future bequests, etc.) to support the many worthy projects of the College, so on our 50th Class Reunion, please put Trinity at the top of your giving list.

  A memorial service is being planned for the 35 classmates who are no longer with us. The Program Committee is busy at work organizing speakers, the Reunion dinner, breakfast get togethers, and activities for us and our loved ones at the College and in the Hartford environs.  

 In ensuing weeks, you will hear from a committee member or two as our 1964-2014 Class Reunion Profile Book gets organized (what have you been up to these last fifty years?) and as we plan the exhibit at the College of your hobbies and special interests. 

 I do not know about you, but living far from Trinity and being involved with charitable organizations near my home, I have not been in close touch with the College or with classmates other than roommates over the years.  But I figure those four years were an important part of our youthful lives, forming us to a certain degree, so our 50th Class Reunion will be a wonderful occasion to revisit those times.  

 Your voluntary reunion committee is working hard to make the weekend a memorable one.  Please set the date aside and let us know you are coming (see Web site or E-mail me). We welcome your suggestions for the weekend.

 Thanks so much!

 Michael Phineas Anderson, Chair