Just a bit more than three months after our 60th Reunion we are going strong. Surveys from the Reunion all report how significant our time together in South Hadley was. Highlights were the opportunity to reconnect with classmates we knew well as well as with those we had never known previously. In the coming years, we want to keep these connections alive and meaningful. Please begin by joining our class website https://www.mountholyokecollege1963.org Check in frequently.
President Danielle Holley’s inauguration will be on Thursday, September 21. Some opportunities to participate are open to all alums; some are by invitation only. For more information about the inauguration itself and the many events that precede it on Wednesday, September 20, please email inauguration@mtholyoke.edu.
On a Zoom gathering of alumnae volunteers in late August, President Holley answered many questions. She spoke enthusiastically of a few aspects of her presidency: the college’s 5-Year Strategic Plan, Mount Holyoke’s continuing relationship within the Five College Consortium, Living and Learning opportunities for students in dorms, Mount Holyoke’s ongoing attention to the wider world: locally, nationally, and internationally, our welcoming of international students, and Mount Holyoke’s basic commitment to inclusivity. As a guest on MSNBC during the last few weeks, President Holley responded to questions about the significance of the U.S. Constitution’s 14th Amendment for our current political climate.
Notably, President Holley plans to be involved in the day-to-day life on campus and will teach classes. One course being planned is a semester about the U.S. Supreme Court. Each week the class will study a pivotal Supreme Court case. Alums may participate in these classes virtually. There are no exact timelines at this point; the details will be fleshed out in the coming months. President Holley also plans a Podcast, “Made Here,” about Mount Holyoke students and graduates who have made notable national and worldwide achievements.
We, the Class of ’63, have plans for the next five years, too. Knowing that as we age we face challenging life situations, we hope to nurture our connections. Our common experiences of caring for and supporting ourselves, our spouses, our partners, and our friends are often valuable to share. Please stay in touch with your friends and reach out. We plan to place a link on our website to provide a forum for anyone inclined to give support or ask for connection. We also look forward to the many ways our lives are enjoyable and the opportunities we have to share those with each other.
As we step into the coming years, Nancy White and her committee have started us off with a beautiful 60th Reunion Book available to everyone who wrote an entry including those who might not have picked up a book at reunion. Our book is also available in full on our class website.
Our class scribes, Paula Bruice, Jenni DeWolf, Edie Dulles, and Diane Demont Rapp, are ready for us to report our doings, get-togethers, and connections for the Alumnae Association Quarterly. Their first entry has already been submitted. We are very eager to highlight times of individual and general importance in the Quarterly. Do not hesitate. Contact any scribe with your news: Paula Bruice, pybruice@chem.ucsb.edu; Jenni deWolf, jenmarkdewolf@gmail.com; Edi Dulles, e.dulles@gmail.com; Diane Demont Rapp, dianerapp@dianerapp.com.
Our Class Movie Discussion will continue virtually on Zoom in the late fall or early winter. As you may recall, each discussion is previewed briefly, and then everyone participating is randomly assigned to a small group of 4 or 5. In each group, the agenda is open, with time for every person to speak as she wishes. We then return to the larger group for a short “debriefing.”
Mini reunions are also on our minds. Paula Bruice and Barbara (Robin) Hauter have offered to head up a 2–3-day mini reunion in Santa Barbara, California, either in the spring or fall of 2025. A New York City area reunion, also for 2 or 3 days, is also being planned for the spring or fall of 2024.
A list of Class Officers can be found on our class website under Class Business. Please be in touch as you wish. Also, do take advantage of ongoing college events; regular Laurel Chain emails are our best source.
As we head into fall, may your days be enjoyable and your life be healthy and warm with the care and support of family and friends.
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