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| January 22, 2010 |
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Brenda Thompson - Office Associate
Letter from the Director |
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It’s the third week of January and if you’ve broken many of your New Year’s resolutions, you’re not alone. Why? Because most resolutions aren’t any fun and no one enjoys doing things that aren’t enjoyable. It’s pretty simple.
(Begin Inspirational Music)
Let’s stop this vicious cycle of annual disappointment by making a resolution this year that is actually attainable. If you are tired of setting unrealistic goals every New Year’s only to be frustrated when you fail, join me and other alumni who plan to enjoy this year better than the last. I propose we resolve to have more fun in 2010!
If you’re in, your Alumni Office is here to help:
This year kicks off with our first monthly happy hour in D.C. Yes, monthly. At the end of the month, one lucky alum is set to walk away from our brewery tour and beer tasting in Frederick with a pocket full of cash. Right now, the 50/50 raffle has generated a $250 prize with more people signing up every day.
In February, return to St. Mary’s to greet Elizabeth Barber Walker ’64, the first African American alum to graduate from the school.
And finally, try something unusual - take a night-time winter hike through the National Arboretum in D.C. with other St. Mary’s alumni. This is just the beginning!
Happy New Year,
Dave Sushinsky ’02
Director of Alumni Relations & Planned Giving
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Last Wednesdays - SMCinDC |
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Our D.C. alumni have made it clear that our once-a-year get together in November isn’t enough to appease their social needs. Due to popular demand, we have arranged monthly networking opportunities in D.C. and although these gatherings may change location, each will be on the last Wednesday of every month.
Come for the inaugural "Last Wednesday” to meet up with St. Mary's friends, find out who's in the District these days, and meet alums from across the years. There really aren’t any rules here. Come for an hour or stay late. Bring business cards or just enjoy socializing. Bring a friend or two! If you've ever wished there was a standing casual meet-up for alums in the area to network, here it is.
This month we will go to…
The Big Hunt is located in Dupont Circle and St. Mary’s alumni and friends have reserved the Safari Room from 5:30 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, January 27. Even by Green Door standards (and certainly by D.C. standards), the drinks are reasonable: $2.50 house pints, $3 rail drinks, $1 off all other drinks - not to mention 15-cent wings and half-price burgers on Wednesdays.
Click here for directions.
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St. Mary’s Alumni Give Back |
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A big thank you goes to our alumni who volunteered at the Christ House on Saturday, January 9. The Christ House is a homeless shelter that offers residential medical care for indigent people in Washington, D.C.; residents are treated for anything from frostbite to mental illnesses. One of our alums, Dennis Shannon ’83, is an addictions counselor at the shelter and proudly shares that “it's the best job” he's ever had.
Our seven volunteers sorted through donations of clothes and helped with some light cleaning. Afterwards, they ate lunch with some of the residents and found the experience to be “very humbling and rewarding,” says Michelle Paris ’85, president of the Washington D.C. Alumni Chapter. “I know all of us that volunteered on Saturday plan to return either individually or as an alumni group.”
If you are interested in volunteering at Christ House, please contact the volunteer coordinator, Lizzie Bebber . Christ House is located at 1717 Columbia Road, NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
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Flying Dog Brewery Tour |
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What can you get for $10 these days?
Dinner for one? Three gallons of gas? Ten one dollar bills?
Well, next Saturday, January 30, St. Mary’s alumni can get two hours of fun with dozens of friends, a private brewery tour, five 6-ounce samples of beer, a souvenir tasting glass and one 50/50 raffle ticket.
Our Western Maryland Alumni Chapter is hosting a private brewery tour and tasting at The Flying Dog Brewery in Frederick, Maryland. Over $250 has been raised for our 50/50 raffle prize. There are only 50 spaces left, so sign up soon if you want in on the fun!
For additional information and the registration form, click here!
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Elizabeth Barber Walker ’64
Seminar and Book Sale |
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Elizabeth Barber Walker ’64 came to St. Mary’s Junior College as its first African-American student. Her enrollment at the height of the civil rights movement introduced a cultural revolution at the College. Liz will discuss her historical experiences from her book, Breaking Ice: Sometimes You Got To Fall In, and speak about breaking the color barrier on Wednesday, February 10 at 7 p.m. in the SMCM Cole Cinema at the Campus Center.
There is no cost to attend, but we recommend that you arrive early because space is limited. After her talk, Liz will be selling copies of her book for $8.
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Seahawks Soar High |
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Congratulations to our men’s varsity basketball team!
With their eighth consecutive victory, the No. 16 St. Mary's College of Maryland men's basketball team claimed sole possession of first-place in the Capital Athletic Conference standings as the Seahawks posted a 65-54 triumph over Hood College Wednesday night.
St. Mary’s has moved up to number 16 nationally in the most recent edition of the D3hoops.com Top 25 standings. As a Division III team, St. Mary's ranks in the top 25 in steals per game and three-point field goal defense, owning a 10.9 steals average for 21st in the nation, and holding opponents to a 27.9 three-point field goal percentage to be 24th in the country.
Link to Podcast of D3hoops.com Interview with Coach Chris Harney '97 and junior guard Alex Franz.
Look for them to play in your area and cheer them on proudly. Click here for their schedule and other sports news.
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National Arboretum Moonlight Hike –
February 26 |
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Discover how the striking landscape of the arboretum changes under the moon and stars of the night sky. Amy Forsberg ’93, an arboretum horticulturist, and Chrissy Gray Moore ’96, curator of the National Herb Garden, will share points of special interest and seasonal highlights as we traverse a five-mile-long, mildly strenuous hike through moonlit gardens, meadows, and woods. This is a brisk walk over often hilly and uneven terrain, so wear good walking shoes. The event will be held rain or snow. Sorry, no pets or children under 16 allowed.
Fee: $25 includes admission and post-hike refreshments. Reservations required.
The arboretum gates are locked daily at 5 p.m. and will reopen to hikers 30 minutes prior to the start of the hike, so please arrive between 7:30 and 7:45 p.m. The arboretum gate will be locked at the hike start and no one will be allowed to enter after the program has started. Entrance will be through the R Street gate only (off Bladensburg Road). Free parking is available just inside the gate.
Note: Only 20 tickets remain for this popular event.
Click here for driving directions.
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Percentage Challenge Update |
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Remember - at Alumni Weekend 2010, the crab feast will be provided by the Alumni Council at no cost to the donors of three classes - the class with the largest percentage of donors, the class with the largest number of donors, and the class that has the largest percentage increase of donors from the previous year. This challenge will be open until June 1, 2010.
As of January 22, 2010:
The Class of 2007 maintains first place for the largest number of donors (36), but the Class of 2008 added five new donors last month to edge out the Class of 2005 by one donor in the current standings.
2. Runner-up – Class of 2008 with 31 donors (last month – 3rd)
3. Runner-up – Class of 2005 with 30 donors (last month – 2nd)
4. Runner-up – Class of 1999 with 23 donors (last month – tied for 5th)· Notables – Class of 2004 and Class of 1983 with 21 donors each
The Class of 1934 has the highest giving percentage at 50% (last month – tied for 57th).
2. Runner-up – Class of 1944 at 27.78% (last month – 31st)
3. Runner-up – Class of 1955 at 21.74% (last month – 2nd)
4. Runner-up – Class of 1950 at 20% (last month – 3rd)
· Notables – Class of 1963 at 19.35% and Class of 1947 at 18.18%
The Class of 1944 has the largest increase from the previous year, up 5.56% (last month – not ranked)
2. Runner-up – Class of 1955, up 5.07% (last month – 1st)
3. Runner-up – Class of 1963, up 3.22% (last month – 2nd)
4. Runner-up – Class of 1941, up 0.64% (last month – not ranked)
Help your class by accepting the challenge now and e-mail your classmates to do the same!
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Southern Maryland Legislative Reception
Thursday, February 25, 2010
7 – 10 p.m.
Loews Annapolis Hotel
126 West Street – Annapolis, MD
St. Mary’s College will not host the annual Legislative Reception this year. Instead, we encourage our alumni to attend the Southern Maryland Legislative Reception at the Loews Annapolis Hotel in February. This reception will be hosted by the Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s counties Chambers of Commerce, with the cooperation of the members of the Southern Maryland Economic Development Association and the Southern Maryland Delegation.
The College will sponsor a table where current students will highlight their community service initiative. At this reception, you will have the opportunity to meet with your elected officials, Cabinet Secretaries and agency heads from throughout the State of Maryland while enjoying good fellowship, food, beverage and music.
If you wish to attend, you must register and pay in advance. An individual registration payment of $35 must be sent to the Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland no later than February 12, 2010.
For more information, download the registration form here.
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River Concert Series Presents |
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Hilary Kole
“Voice of New York City’s BIRDLAND”
Blues Alley
Washington, D.C.
Monday, February 1, 2010
A performance benefiting the River Concert Series 2010
at St. Mary’s College of Maryland
Chesapeake Orchestra
Jeffrey Silberschlag, music director
Two shows: 6:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.
Tickets - $150 (a portion is tax deductible) to benefit the 2010 River Concert Series, includes dinner and show. Hilary Kole’s CD “Haunted Heart” will be available.
To purchase tickets for the 6:30 p.m. show, click here.
To purchase tickets for the 9:00 p.m. show, click here.
For more information, check the River Concert Series web site.
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