Update 1-15-08

Hi,

Some notes and those elusive minutes from the November Alumni Association meeting:
   
    First, from Andy Dolich, to Judy Hartstone:  Why not?  Having two Falcons on the Niner's staff should make Bernie O'Brien, Joe Callahan, and Bill Linkner proud.
        And to Ira Mitzner:  Upon further reflection, it was Robert Fiveson who soiled my mind with gender bending prejudice.  On the ticket side, we take Visa and Mastercard.  I think we play the Skins in San Francisco next season, so come on out and you can see Judy Hartstone begging Grace Slick to sing a coherent national anthem.
   
    From Amy Lieberman:  Amy Sternhell is, I think, the sister of Rich Sternhell, and I also think -- where is my memory? -- that Helen David was a teacher of mine. 
        Amy and I were/are friends and have seen each other on my trips home.  But that's been quite a while now.
        Oh, and my e-mail address has changed -- again -- ugh!  Roadrunner was terrible.  My latest e-mail address is: amyliebermancasting@gmail.com
   
    Neil Guberman has also changed his e-mail address.  It's now:  neilg9100@comcast.net
   
    And from a more direct expert on Amy Sternhell, Rich Sternhell:  To Helen David: I assume you're talking of my sister Amy from the class of '69.  She lives in Manhattan and is doing well. I'll be glad to send you her e-mail address separately.
        And to Eric Hilton:  Forget about getting paid.  Just don't be surprised how much it will cost you to baby-sit.  There will, no doubt, be a new toy or an outfit that you'll just "have" to bring along each time.
   
    [Rich -- Also, Rich Sternhell and I have exchanged letters, and there was something he wrote that I asked if I could pass on to the class.  He said, "Sure."]
   
    From Rich Sternhell:  One of the reasons I enjoy the weekly newsletter is that it paints pictures of lives all from a similar place and time with many different outcomes.  Yet no one flaunts his or her success or harps on other people's failures.  In so many ways, it is in direct opposition to the experience of high school, where grabbing fruit loops was only one very minor element of the meanness we could show each other.
   
    [Rich -- And I replied:  I may have told you this already, but at my class's 37th reunion, everyone was far more relaxed than they were at the 20th, when they still had things to prove. I  think that's just another variation of what you're saying.
        Also, I just heard a country/western song called something like "Letter to Myself at 17."  Basically, it assures a kid at seventeen that everything's going to be all right in the future, that he makes it there alive and whole.  I think that's why I've also liked the Hugh Wheeler play title, Look, We've Come Through.  I think I read the play in high school, in one of those theater magazines Vince Tampio and Linda Adams had around the Speech office, but I don't remember what the play's about, and, until I just checked it though Google, I thought the play was written by Shirley Jackson.  It ran for five performances in 1961 and possibly isn't very good.  But I've always liked the surprise, relief, and optimism of the title, and that's kind of how I feel about people I grew up with.]
   
    From Arlene (I think) Anslinger:  Hi, Janice and Shirley.  I'm back home in New York, and it is quite warm for January.  I had a good flight back, and I'm so glad we met for lunch.  Thanks for taking the time to get together.
        I'm forwarding the class of '65 newsletter.  I also spoke to Eileen Gunderson Gelet this afternoon, after I got home, and she said the Florida reunion is at Duffy's in Boca Raton on Saturday, February 9, 2008.  I forgot to ask her if it's lunch or dinner, but I  think it's probably dinner.  I will check on flights this weekend and see if it's affordable.
        Take care, and it was great to see you.
   
    [Rich -- I've added Janice and Shirley to our weekly mailing list.  Now, if I just knew if they wanted to be on the list and who they are.  But I hope you're both well.  Arlene, too.]
   
    From Jerry Bittman:  First, to Paul Zegler:  I hope your audition for the coke commercial went well.  Maybe I shouldn't have told you to break a leg.  The last time I said that to somebody, Chuck Drimal took my advice and broke his leg just before the North-South game.  I'll never forget the brilliant performance that Eddie Bonlarron provided as Quarterback in that game.
        Next, to Bernie O'Brien:  Mr. O'B, it is such a privilege to talk to you and your bride. I hope she wasn't embarrassed by what I said to her.  I'll be in New York in mid-May.  Hopefully, we can go see a Met game.  There won't be any New York pizza, bagels, or black-and-white cookies left once I leave the city.
   
    Zelda White Nichols wrote asking support for the California Pet Animal Protection Act.  More detailed information available through Zelda.
   
    Finally, those minutes:  Highlights from the minutes of the November 1, 2007 Alumni Association meeting, respectfully submitted, as usual, by Roberta Brill Birnel.
        Emily Kleinman Schreiber called tonight's meeting to order at 7:25 PM.  Also present:  Roberta Brill Birnel, Paul DeMartino, Booker Gibson,
    Karen Grimm, Terry Gunderson Kaiser, Edie Mandel, Enid Koss Parness, Claire Brush Reinhardt, Eric Spinner, and Irene Sundal.  Regrets were received from Dennis Shapiro, Irwin Kotcher, Ray Richford, Eileen Howell, Linda Tobin Kettering, Ken and Laura Ulric, and Patrick Yngstrom.
         Karen Grimm was thanked for bringing cookies.
         In Dennis Shapiro's absence, Emily presented the treasurer's report.  Our balance includes five more lifetime members, which brings the total now to 23.  In an update from Dennis, he says he is fine with the job and will not need help.  He is also against keeping a petty cash fund, an idea that we discussed at the October meeting.
         We were very happy to accept a donation from the Class of '67.
         South's Homecoming game this year, against North Shore High School, was Saturday, October 13.  Alumni attending were Roberta Brill Birnel, Claire Brush Reinhardt, Ray Richford, and Emily Kleinman Schreiber.  South won the game and the Association sold 6 mugs.
         Recent South High School activities:
         • Lights on For Education -- November 15-16.
         • Veterans' Stand Down – November 19.
         • Alumni Day -- the day when recent graduates return to South -- November 21.  Money raised last year was donated to the school's Clean Water Project in Sierra Leone.  Next year, the school would like to have a project closer to home.
         • South High's marching band will be performing at Hofstra University in Hempstead on December 7. It will be on TV's Channel 7 (ABC).
         • South's Southern Bell has a new faculty advisor, Mrs. Panvini. We wish her good luck, and we look
    forward to seeing the upcoming issues.
         The Association thanks Principal Ms. Henry for her participation at tonight's meeting.  Her input was valuable.  In reference to the Association's Act of Kindness, those present do not favor a cash gift. We would like to know the needs of particular families or individuals and present an appropriate gift. To help this, Ms. Henry will speak to the school's social worker, Karen Grant, and to Assistant Principal Laurie Tintella.
         In concert with this project is the School Culture Goals, which is being stressed by Dr. Bernstein, Valley Stream Central High School. District's Superintendent of Schools.  Ms. Henry would like the Association to be part of this project by having a representative sit on the steering committee.  Claire Brush Reinhardt has volunteered to take on this role.
         We also discussed our donation of one scholarship per year.  We look forward to receiving more applications as last year, there were only four.  We wondered whether the applicants know exactly what type of scholarship award they are applying for.  We also encourage South Alumni to make donations which go directly into the scholarship fund.
        Other business:
        Before leaving South High, former principal Stephen Lando met with Emily Kleinman and Eric Spinner. At that time, he gave Emily a photo album and many photos from the 50th Anniversary Celebration in March 2005.  At this meeting, Claire Brush Reinhardt put the photos into the album. Thanks Claire!  Also, our Alumni Association website should be up and running by our next meeting.  Thanks again, Eric.
        A reminder of meeting for this year:  Please mark your calendars now and plan to attend if possible as your participation is needed.  All meetings will be on the first Thursday of each month: December 6, January 3, February 7, March 6, April 3, May 1, and June 5.  Our next meeting will be on December 6th.
         The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 PM.
   
    [Rich -- Yes, December 6th has long passed.  And since Emily has recently told us that there won’t be an Alumni association meeting in January, the next meeting will February 7th.  You can all mark that on one of your new calendars or program it electronically.  Or you can wait to be reminded here.]