President's Message
October 2021
Greetings to the ‘71ers!
As summer is sliding into fall, our leaves are colorful. With unexpectedly nice weather, it’s wonderful engaging in outdoor activities. In Minnesota, we anticipate this will soon change. The rest of our lives remain disrupted with a reliance on virtual social interactions and other pandemic accommodations. We do not know how long these disruptions will continue and what the new “normal” will be.
Given the unanticipated challenges in preparing for our highly anticipated 50th Reunion, I would like to commend Cathy White O’Rourke and her Board as well as Reunion Co-Chairs Amy Levin Halket and Mariel Harris for planning and conducting a meaningful Virtual 50th Class Reunion. Although we all would have preferred an on-campus 50th Reunion, the dorm zoom calls, the pre-reunion and reunion events helped us connect with our classmates!
Your new officers hope to continue this momentum and engagement. In addition to myself, the new class officers are Co-Vice Presidents Katie Cheney Creighton and Susanna Stevens Hamme, continuing Treasurer Glenda Starr Fishman, Secretary Ann O’Regan Keary, Webmistress Belinda Wilkins Tepper, Wellesley Fund Representatives Diane Musgrave, Mary Ellen Griffin and Natalea Skvir.
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
Our 50th Reunion Class Gift of $5000 has been delivered to the Office of Intercultural Education.
"The Office of Intercultural Education, with a generous gift from the Class of '71, is pleased to fund professional development opportunities for students not funded otherwise by the College, affiliated with Harambee House, Acorns, the Penthouse, and the Slater International Center. These professional development opportunities could include but are not limited to attendance at conferences, leadership retreats and training, certifications, among others. Interested students should first reach out to their cultural advisor to discuss the request. Awards will be given on a rolling basis."
Kudos to Amy Halket and Mariel Harris for their work in turning our gift into an active fund! It will be interesting to learn about opportunities for professional development for students funded by our gift.
Your new board is excited to continue opportunities for the Class of ’71 to connect! Watch for the upcoming Wellesley 1971 Banana Blasts! Please contact any Board member with your thoughts, ideas or comments.
Go With Gold,
Trish Williams Quistgaard
1971 Class President