Smith College Class of ’63 Reunion Plans

Alumnae College 2008

The format has been changed and everyone who’s attended any of the mini-classes (reference pages 8-13 of the Registration Booklet) gives them rave reviews. When planning your weekend, please consider arriving on Thursday evening (housing cost is the same whether you’re there for one night or three). On Friday morning, attend one or both sessions of Alumnae College and either the Alumnae College luncheon and lecture or the all-reunion luncheon. Then enjoy some free time on campus before our first class event at 5:30 Friday evening.

The Parade: A Great Tradition

Lucy Rankin, Parade Chair, is looking forward to a great turnout on Saturday morning. Don’t forget to pack your parade outfit which will be the customary white slacks or skirt and white shirt, preferably with white shoes. Green ribbons will be available at the Alumnae House Registration Tent. When you check in at class headquarters you will receive a straw hat which should be worn for the parade and, hopefully, to protect you from the sun during the Alumnae Association meeting and for the rest of the weekend.

If you would like to volunteer to be a Parade Marshall please contact Lucy at lrankin@optonline.net.

Panel Discussion: Imagine Yourself a Member of the Class of 2010

The subject is Smith: what’s changed, what’s the same, and what today’s students are like. Our Saturday afternoon panel will include Tom Riddell, Associate Dean of the College; Julianne Ohotnicky, Dean of Students; Audrey Smith, Dean of Enrollment; and four students from the classes of 2009 and 2010. After brief presentations from each, there will be lots of time for Q & A. No subject is off limits. Susan Rubinstein will moderate.

Class Directory

We want to publish a Class Directory that will be distributed to everyone at Reunion and mailed to those who cannot attend. Our information deadline is March 31st. If you have’’t heard from your house rep, please send your information (residential address, phone number, email address, fax number) to Barbara Massey.

Friday Evening Program

Back at Headquarters, following our Friday night dinner, there will be discussion groups on topics of interest to classmates. Currently planned are Composing the Next Twenty Years, facilitated by Abigail Bayles Wiebenson, Future Housing Options, facilitated by Julia Bowers Coale, and Health Care and Healthy Living, for which a facilitator is still needed. If there is another topic you would like to facilitate — or if you would like to facilitate a Health Care discussion — please contact Julia Coale at jbcoale@aol.com.

Class Questionnaire

If you haven’t already completed the questionnaire, please do so now. Whether you are coming to reunion or not, we want to hear from you. A summary of the findings — and how they compare to past surveys — will be presented by our President, Ellen Barrett, as part of the Saturday afternoon program. If you’ve misplaced the copy that was sent to you in January, please contact Susan Rubinstein at sauggie@aol.com. A big thanks to Susan for developing this 45th Anniversary Survey.

House Reps

Our House Reps have been contacting housemates to update the directory information the college has on file, to remind everyone to respond to the Questionnaire and to encourage them to attend Reunion. Thanks to everyone for making those emails and calls and a special thanks to Maggie Soule who’s been contacting classmates in houses that don’t have a rep.

Housing: Tyler, Lawrence and Morris

For Reunion Weekend we will be housed in Tyler, Lawrence and Morris, located on Green Street. Our Headquarters will be in Tyler House. The College provides bedding, towels, soap and washcloths. Please remember to bring shampoo, an alarm clock and any other personal items you may need to make your stay comfortable. As I recall, an extra blanket (the nights can get quite cool), a reading light and a radio can also come in handy.

An increasing number of spouses/partners have been attending our reunions and we want them to feel very welcome. Our reunion weekend coincides with several other graduations in the Valley, so prices at local hotels are very high and minimum stays are required. The room rate for College housing is very reasonable in comparison! The space assigned to ’63 has ample accommodations for couples so please consider staying on campus.