Dear Classmates,
Our 55th reunion in September had two sessions. We spent 2 days in Boothbay Harbor at the Ocean Point Inn with lots of visiting time, including a tour of the fabulous Maine Coastal Gardens, dinners, and a class meeting, all arranged by Jim Goff ’63. Then many of us traveled to Orono for more visiting, campus tours, Pat’s Pizza, and completing the class meeting. We also met the new University President, the recipient of our Class Scholarship and members of other reunion classes.
Our Class Page on the Alumni Association website has pictures from both sessions, lists of attendees, the class meeting report and a booklet that identifies classmates who passed away since the 50th reunion and since graduation.
Our Class Fund had about a $44,000 balance and we decided to put $10,000 in our Class Scholarship (which has grown from $3,000 in 1963 to $48,700 currently). With some matching funds from the University of Maine Foundation and expected individual donations, we should be near $75,000 by year end. The recipient of this year’s scholarship is a single mother whose goals are a law degree, prosecutor and a judgeship. Note that current tuition and fees are $10,902 in state, $30,282 out of state and $10,900 for room and board. Average federal loan debt for UMaine 2016 graduates was $26,316.
A proposal was made to initiate a new scholarship to recognize Jim Goff’s dedication to the class, UMAA and the university. Jim was pleased, but asked that a scholarship be named for his late father in law, Kenneth W Allen ’56G, who worked at UMaine in a number of
capacities including acting President. We agreed and designated $10,000 to initiate that scholarship.
A third $10,000 is earmarked for the Alumni Association to support its advocacy program, which involves strategic initiatives to support the university’s student recruitment and public funding interests. This commitment is pending review of specifics being developed by UMAA. We would also make that a challenge for other classes to consider supporting this new program.
$5,000 was approved for the new engineering building and $5,000 for repairs to the Page Museum, pending Irv Marsters’ review of the Museum’s status. The Museum is housed in a barn and several other buildings on campus and is focused on Maine farm life.
Note that now all contributions to UMaine organizations go through the University of Maine Foundation. Either on their website or by check, just indicate where you want your money to go i.e. Class Scholarship, Class Fund, M Club, etc., and it does get there. Thanks in advance.
We elected Class Officers and decided to plan a mini (i.e. one-day) reunion in southern Maine next summer.
This note is going to everyone UMAA has an email address for, and is not being mailed, so feel free to forward or share with other classmates.
Let me know if you have questions or comments.
Thanks,
Dana Dolloff
Class of 1963 President