Class of 1947 Activities Report
Bill Maher, Activities Chairman for the Class of 1947 sends the following:
I'm at Harvard every Tuesday attending the Harvard Institute for Learning in Retirement. As an activity suggestion, the HILR concept in some form or fashion using the internet, web site, camera's, etc, might be worthwhile as an Activity to offer all senior Harvard alums. I would be available to assist in researching such an Activity. Also several class members attend most home football games, an alumni gathering location at the stadium might be appreciated by senior alums, especially on days like Saturday past.
The Class of 1947 publishes a Class Newsletter twice a year, sent to class members and widows (5-600). We solicit annual dues of $30 via the newsletters. Two years ago, our 60th reunion year, about 40% paid dues, maybe 25% this year, so far. Most of the dues money supports our newsletters.
Emily and I host an annual Class luncheon with speaker in October each year at the Wellesley College Club. This October was our 17th annual luncheon. Renee Landers, H '77 was our speaker. We invite representatives from HCF and HAA. Vicki Cabot, HCF, was with us this October. About 30 to 40 attend, mavbe 20 to 25 classmates. All Class Activities, including the names of attendees, appear in our Newsletters.
For Patriot's Day, members of our Class are invited to a Class luncheon at Lasell Village to watch the Boston Marathon on TV, formerly watched on Commonwealth Avenue. We have been holding this event forever.
Until last year, Chuck Thompson, deceased, organized annual Class luncheons in March on the east and west coasts of Florida. I will host one in Sarasota this coming March. We used to hold class get togethers before Yale football games in New Haven but going to New Haven is no longer fun or easy for seniors, or anybody else.
We host a get together (Pocasset Golf Club) on the Cape each summer for lunch only, no longer playing tennis or golf.
This past summer, Michael McElroy, Gilbert Butler Professor of Environmental Studies at Harvard spoke to us on "The Future of Energy in the US. Spouses. friend's and class widows are invited to all our Class activities. Widows are invited as "guests" of the Class. Several classmates meet for lunch throughout the year, all are invited.
Over the years we have built up a Reunion Scholarship Fund to help needy classmates and widows attend 5 year reunions. We have held pre-five year reunion get togethers in NYC, DC and California. Our class events are hosted and worked on by the members of our Activities Commitee (4 total), which I Chair. we use our newsletter, regular mail and email for invitations to our activities, mailings are mostly confined to the Northeast. We have discussed holding formal reunions or trips every 2 and 1/2 years (i.e. the Naval Academy, senior classes) but nothing has gone beyond discussion. Our Class Committee no longer meets on a regular basis.
At our 25th reunion, the Class of 1947 established a Class Memorial Scholarshiop Fund for the use of families of deceased members and recently, with the HCF, we established the Charles D. (Chuck) Thompson Memorial Financial Aid Fund in memory of our late Class Secretary, who, over the years, helped bring together the members of the Class of 1947, many having attended Harvard at different times during and after Word War II, with many classmates in the NROTC or other military programs, while at Harvard. About $75.000 has been donated to Chuck"s Fund to date by maybe 100 donors (guess), including Chuck's family.
I am the Treasurer of our Class. Personal notes from classmates with dues and knowing what Class funds are available help in planning Class activities, charging class members for activities on the low side but spending to attract attendees, using class funds (marginally) when needed for activities. Our Co-Class Secretaries publish our Newsletter and are also on our Activities Committee, facilitating the mailing of all Class announcements including Activities.
