Update 2-21-06

Hi,

A handful of short notes and a long one:

First, from Robert Fiveson:  They say no good deed goes unpunished. Without compromising him with specifics, I just want everyone to know that Andy Dolich did a very selfless deed recently that had a twenty-three-year-old quadriplegic boy crying with joy. Andy showed some serious caring and kindness, and I will always admire him.  He will always be a friend of mine (that's the punishment part, Andy!)
        Also, I am going to Panama in two weeks just to look around.  It might be a retirement place, and it's definitely my first vacation in at least six years.
   
    [Rich -- Enjoy your trip, Robert.  And happy birthday, Andy.  And to Alan Finder, too.]
   
    A technical note from Judy Hartstone:  Your update is coming with all the gobbledy-gook characters again.  How weird, since it came a couple of times without it after the last time I told you about it.  Computers!
    [Rich -- Is anyone else having this problem?  Also, speaking of computers, I stashed the photos Judy had sent me to post on our website in one of my computers, and when I went to send them to the other computer, the one with Photoshop, I couldn't.  So Judy's sent me the photos again, and this time I'll be more careful and get them posted.]
   
    A question from Helen David, directed to Rich Sternhell '64:  Is Amy  your sister?  What can you tell me about her these days?
   
    A Happy Valentine's Day message from Joanne Shapiro Polner '59.
   
     Some history, from Amy Miller '63:  As usual your updates are a joy to read, much better than the local paper, the John Irving novel, and the rest of my e-mail -- well, most of it.  I'm taking a break from  working on a red and gray quilt to add to the silent auction for South High's 50th celebration.
        I spent the past weekend with my sister Sue Miller Hoffman '58, and while with Sue, I called an old South High chum of hers, also '58, Andi Harris.  Andi told me that their class, being the first to graduate from South High, got to pick the school colors (no, she didn't realize that Ohio State's colors  were also red and gray) and some other things, maybe the falcon.  (Andi will be there March 11th, so I will quiz her on that.)  I had a great time devouring the 1958 Legend, seeing all the folks from that class whose faces I remembered so well and whose last names were repeated in our classes from the 60's.
   
    From Lynn Nudleman Villagran:  Ditto on what Barbara Blitfield Pech said about letting Emily Kleinman Schreiber download any of the South photos that I submitted to the class of '65 home page.  There's also a nice photo that I sent of the cheerleading squad.
        It was nice to hear some familiar names from class of '64 last week.  I'm also glad you didn't worry about liability before you started this newsletter.
   
    From Roz Minsky Bobrow:  Reading over this latest update was fun.  I am also interested in updating my personal information on the home page as I am about to be divorced, and it is one more piece of me that says the old stuff.  Any possibility of the change?
   
    [Rich -- Yeah, I just need to get organized.  I'm way behind on updating the home page.  My personal life keeps getting in the way.]
   
    From Claire Brush Reinhardt:  A few weeks ago, we sent out letters from the alumni association to about eighty classmates that we did not have e-mail addresses for, primarily asking if they had them.  That's because it's starting to get expensive and time-consuming trying to keep everyone informed through the US mail.  Slowly, we are starting to hear from a few people and are hoping for more.  After the March 11th celebration is over, we hope to concentrate our efforts on finding more of our "lost" classmates.  If any of you have any information or clues that you could follow up on, please do so, or send the clues on to us.  Any and all information is appreciated.  Detective work can be fun!  (Did that sound convincing?)
   
    From Paul DeMartino:  We have notices about the March 11th celebration running in Newsday that are similar to those which notified people about our last two class reunions.  Meanwhile, a smaller group of us are trying to get together for a drink at RJ Daniels' pub in Rockville Centre on February 26th.  I'm not sure what time, but if anyone is interested, please write me at:  PDEM070@msn.com

    A reminder from Emily Kleinman Schreiber that forty of her photos are on display at the Baldwin Public Library, and that she will be there to greet visitors on Sunday the 26th from 1:30 to 3:30.
   
    A breakdown of the March 11th events, copied by Tom McPartland from the South website:
        Alumni Gathering/Building Tours 11:00 AM – 12:00 Noon
        Rededication Ceremony 12:00 Noon – 12:30 PM.  This consists of:  The Pledge of Allegiance; the National Anthem; Welcoming Remarks; Recognition of Guests; Unveiling: South High School as Originally Built; Alumni Speaker: Recalling the Past; the Alma Mater; Board of Education Speaker: Celebrating the Present; Unveiling: Present Day South High School; Student Speaker: The Next Fifty Years; Ribbon Cutting and Unveiling of the Rededication Plaque
        Alumni Luncheon/Building Tours 12:30 PM – 2:00 PM Cost: $10 including the concert and auction.
        Benefit Concert/Silent Auction  2:00 PM – 6:00 PM  Cost: $5
        Note:  The day-long concert with performances that highlight each decade and the Silent auction will run throughout the day.  In keeping with South’s tradition of community service, proceeds will go to “Make a Wish” and Hurricane Katrina relief.  Last year, a similar format raised more than $10,000 for tsunami relief.
   
    Finally, highlights from the February 8th alumni association meeting minutes, respectfully submitted by Roberta Brill Birnel,
        The 20 people in attendance at this meeting were Ray Richford, Claire (Brush) Reinhardt, Karin (Schade) Sofarelli, Enid (Koss) Parness, Karen Grimm, Patricia McGivern, Eileen Howell, Dennis Shapiro, Paul DeMartino, Edie Mandel, Laura (Waxman) Ulric, Ken Ulric, Irene Sundal, Eric Spinner, Irwin Kotcher, Roberta (Brill) Birnel, Emily (Kleinman) Schreiber, Vincent Viviano, Ross Lipsky, and Barbara (Peres) Napolitano.
        Emily reported that Dr. Lando said the web site links to the alumni association have been updated and a memory form page will be added.  Emily told us that many checks for the luncheon were brought to her home by Elaina Riccio Garces.  Since we realized the checks were made payable to South High, we listed the names and asked Ross Lipsky to return them to Dr. Lando.
        It was decided that writing the bylaws of the association would be postponed until after the March 11th event.  It was further decided that our board of directors would be comprised of those members who regularly attend meetings. Five Trustees (named by Emily – Barbara Peres, Ray Richford, Eric Spinner, Pat Yngstrom, and Arty Yngstrom) would check the treasury and books at meetings.
       There was a question from Paul DeMartino about the cost of insurance policies that was reported on at our last meeting by Nancy Russo-Rumore.  There will be a follow-up about this at the next meeting.
        In the treasurer’s report, Dennis Shapiro told us that we have $1580 plus tonight’s checks, which translates to about 110 members.  We know that at least 1529 people have been reached via e-mail, so we hope to sign up many more members. There was a suggestion that the money be put into an ING.com account. This will be looked into.  After March 11th, the association will have a discussion about scholarships and other plans for the money.
        With regard to March 11th, Irwin Kotcher reported on the revised menu for the alumni luncheon.  Students from the school will volunteer for clean-up duty.  At the reception desk, names tags will be provided.  Many questions, including the following, still remain:  Who will set up the luncheon/alumni room?  Where will the DVD of alumni interviews be shown? Emily was told to put the sale of bricks on hold.  We are not sure as to the reason.
        There was a discussion about the March 11th activities after 6:00 PM, and it was decided that individuals at the event itself would make plans. Because there is no way to know exactly how many people will attend during the day and who might want to continue into the evening, or how many people might only be interested in getting together at night, it is impossible to make reservations at a restaurant or other facility.
        We will ask Dr. Lando if we can have a fundraiser for the association. We would like to sell ceramic mugs with the association logo.
        The entertainment committee suggested a “Fashion Show” in which alumni would dress in the style of the different decades.
        After Ross Lipsky arrived, he was able to offer some clarification regarding the following:
            The luncheon will be in the band room, and the orchestra room, if necessary.
            The luncheon is only for alumni, faculty, and their guests.
            Tables will be set up by decades, with signs made by students.
            The room for the luncheon will be available to alumni throughout the day.  (Same price
                 of $10 for guests of alumni and faculty.)
            Bracelets for payees will be given out at the door.
            Retired faculty members have been invited.
        We also expressed our desire to have a representative from the school at our meetings.  And members were reminded that our next meetings are as follows:  Thursday, February 23rd, and Thursday, March 9th, at 7:15 PM in the South High School library.