Reunion was a wonderful
opportunity to meet old friends and, even at our age,
make new ones. I count it a singular pleasure to have
grown to know and treasure Alice Walker Jones, my insuperable
predecessor in the president's position. I'd like to
take this opportunity publicly to thank Alice and her
officers for the superb job they did for us between
'99 and '04.
Reunion highlights included a smorgasbord
of faculty lectures, an ecumenical service at the chapel,
a beautiful '49 memorial service led by our own Reverend
Vivienne Chapman, and speeches to our class in Beebe
living room by Andrew Shennan, dean of the College,
and Victor Kazanjian, dean of religious and spiritual
life. Our reappointed class ethics chair, Jonathan
Imber, addressed our class at dinner. Perhaps one of
the most exciting—and crowded—events was
the "Women in Government" panel, moderated
by President Diana Chapman Walsh '66, with Madeleine
Albright '59, Hillary Rodham Clinton '69, and U.S.
Court of Appeals Judge Susan Graber '69.
During Alumnae Leadership Council on
the weekend of October 15–17, your officers and
I had a chance to revisit the College, honor Alice
Walker Jones for her service to the College, and receive
our marching orders for the next half-decade. The new
Wang Campus Center is no longer a dream or a blueprint
but a startling work-in-progress standing near staid
old Alumnae Hall. Other physical changes have crept
up gradually over the years (to us, too).
We learned that the entering class of
2008 (dubbed "the class that shows up") numbers
615 students representing 43 states. In Wellesley's
need-blind admission process, slightly more than half
receive financial aid.
My "presidential" mission
is twofold: to communicate with my classmates as frequently
and expeditiously as possible and to nurture our youthful
enthusiasm for the alma mater that helped make us the
women we turned out to be. To that end, after discovering
that the web page for the class of 1949 was a total
blank, my first action as president was to get us wired!
If you visit www.wellesley.edu/Alum/Classes/1949 on
the web, you'll find a marvelous innovation. You can
view a list of your class officers and our e-mail addresses,
and by clicking on "Class E-Notes," you can
read the most recent class notes, usually to be found
in the alumnae magazine. To read and post e-notes,
you will have to register for the Alumnae Connections
Community. The process is easy—all you need is
the ID# that appears on the envelope of this mailing.
To post an e-note, simply click on the "Submit/Edit
a Class Note" button in the upper right-hand corner.
I urge all of you with computers to log on, update
your bios, and add your thoughts to our class e-notes.
In this way, we can take advantage of today's modern
technology to achieve what I perceive as the rallying
cry of my "administration": Stay Connected!
Holiday greetings to all my classmates,
Gretchen
Secretary's Greetings
After a long career as a journalist, both writing
and editing, I am delighted to have the opportunity
to report on the latest happenings in the lives
of 1949. Women of our generation have faced daunting challenges in our
families and in the wider world—ranging from the Second World War
to the internet. Rising and falling hemlines and the weird music of our
children and grandchildren have been the least of it!
Let me hear from you so we can share
our experiences, revive old friendships, and discover
new connections. Everyone has a story to tell, whether
it's the everyday adventures of ourselves and our families
or those special challenges and accomplishments. I
look forward to telling those stories.
Corinne
Vice President's Greetings
The pros at Alumnae Leadership Council told us that the class VP's role is
social—to develop stronger bonds among our diminishing numbers. To
that end, your officers hope to arrange at least one regional mini-reunion
each year before our next biggie at our 60th. At that time, the Alumnae
Association picks up the tab for all festivities, so all we need to do
is get a round-trip ticket in 2009.
Meanwhile, since California is home
to the highest number of '49ers, we would like to hold
our first mini-reunion there in spring 2005. I need
to hear from all you California folk as to who (committee
in charge?), what (a museum visit and lunch? teacup
rides at Disneyland? a potluck picnic in a classmate's
backyard?), when (April? May?), where (Bay Area? Southern
CA?), and how (the Alumnae Office is willing to send
e-invitations to CA '49ers, and I can keep track of
e-RSVPs and fly out for the event).
Additionally, your officers plan to
meet in New York City on or around November 30, 2005,
so there's another mini-reunion opportunity. I still
keep a widow's membership at the Harvard Club of NYC
and could probably arrange a set lunch. We'll go dutch
if that's the route NY-area classmates want to go.
Send me your ideas for November, as well.
Please write and tell me your pleasure.
Jayjia
Annual Giving Rep's Greetings
Alumnae Council was wonderful. Every visit to the College reinvigorates my
enthusiasm. Having agreed to be the class's annual giving rep, I was encouraged
to hear that Wellesley isn't counting on continually larger annual donations
from us, but on our sustained giving. Comparing how little we paid for
our Wellesley education to the current students' commitment (nearly $40,000
per year!), I am eager to give what I can to maintain Wellesley's excellence
and her accessibility to all students—and, of course, I am counting
on you all to help me!
Jean
Treasurer's Greetings
It was indeed a treat to see so many of you at Wellesley last June. To update
those I didn't talk to during reunion, I retired in 2003 after 35 years
in the library of the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development. I was
responsible for the library's operation for the last 20 of those years,
but I don't miss it at all. I am now happily enjoying travel and local
leisure pursuits, while cleaning out my condo in preparation for a move
in fall 2005 to a continuing-care retirement community in Richmond, where
my future apartment is under construction.
In the aftermath of our richly rewarding
55th reunion, our class treasury is in satisfactory
financial shape. Most of our class has already paid
for life memberships, with that money safely invested
for us by the College. The interest on these funds
is credited to the class bank account annually and
will be used for mailings, travel to Alumnae Leadership
Council, and preparations for our next (60th!) reunion.
However, we are requesting a little
help from all of you to augment the class
treasury for the coming five years. We would welcome your donations at this
time in any amount. (If, by chance, you're not yet a life member, it's just
$35, so seize the day!) Please note that all donations to the class are tax
deductible, and send them, with the coupon below, to a warm welcome from your
treasurer.
Class Dues and Donations
Please send your tax-deductible class
dues ($35 for life membership) or class donation payable
to Wellesley College Class of 1949.
Please include your student name, current
name and current address with your payment and mail
to:
Betty Stallings
8340 Greensboro Drive
#726
McLean, VA 22102
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