Greetings from the Sunshine State! We ventured back to Maine over Christmas and I promptly caught one of the viruses (not COVID) prevalent there in December 2022. It stayed with me for about three miserable weeks. I’m told the blood thins in warm climates, leaving us ill-equipped to handle the cold on short notice. Too bad I had to learn the hard way.
Just a few days before I wrote this, members of the Senior Alumni finished evaluating applications for the Senior Alumni Scholarship awards to deserving non-traditional students. I was privileged to be one of the judges again this year and once again was blown away by the applicants’ goals, achievements, and the hardships they have overcome in their dogged pursuits of a college education. If you are a donor to the university, please consider designating your contribution to the Senior Alumni Scholarship — it is so worthwhile!
Rekindling a relationship with UMaine after many years, Nancy Pearson Kinney ’70G and her husband, Mark ’66, have discovered the university’s School of Policy and International Affairs and found a unique way to give back. The Kinneys have initiated the Global Impact Fund to provide resources for graduate students to pursue special projects with organizations in the cultural contexts where they complete their internships. They encourage others to take up the challenge of enhancing graduate education at UMaine.
Nancy’s interest in this area is not surprising, as she majored in history and government in the International Affairs Program. She also earned a graduate degree in 1970.
She and Mark have also joined the Honors College’s Board of Advocates, a small group of alumni and faculty who meet monthly with Dean Ellen Weinauer to offer encouragement and perspectives on Honors College programs and practices.
Nancy and Mark live in Presque Isle, Michigan.
Just prior to his retirement early in 2023 as CEO and president of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, Dana Connors was interviewed by the Bangor Daily News about changes in Maine’s business environment since he took office in 1994, and what challenges lie ahead.
During his tenure with the State Chamber, Dana was instrumental in launching several programs to promote Maine businesses, among them Maine & Co., a nonprofit that helps businesses relocate to or expand in Maine, and the Maine Technology Institute, which helps fund startup and emerging companies and stimulate growth in tech-intensive companies.
Sally Day Brown sent her annual Christmas card in December with updates about her accomplished family. Linda Tokarz wintered in St. Augustine — about an hour from where we now live – and we got together for lunch and catching up. Carol Farley Hartt passed through our guest room on her way to visit family here. Dave Swett made indirect email contact when he wrote to the newspaper I work for to see about his subscription — a California resident, Dave summers in Belfast, ME, and reads the paper year-round, for which we thank him!
You may have noticed some repetition in the names that appear in this space, issue after issue. What’s happening with the rest of you? How about dropping a line via email or sending a text? It would be great to hear from you!
Until next time.