Monday, August 16, 2010
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Post Reunion Bio from Christine Williams
I took off only a few months after graduating, spending a year in Europe as an au pair, student and general house guest, and developing a taste for traveling. After completing two years at YVC, I joined VISTA (similar to Peace Corp) in Austin, TX, never again to return to Yakima. Spent a few years there saving the world, then took off to Mexico for two years to get Montessori training so I could work in the local bilingual (Spanish-English) Montessori school. Spent a year saving children in a low-income school, then decided was Montessori was my true vocation and spent four years saving middle-class children in an English-speaking Montessori school in Dallas.
The travel bug hit again, so I moved briefly to Worcester, MA, then to a German-English Montessori school in Munich, where I also taught ESL. Moved to Seattle when I discovered my father had ALS and set up a full-day Montessori school in my home for 10 years. Got my Masters-in-Teaching at Seattle University in 2001, then set up a preschool (no more ten-hour days!)-- again in my home. There I remain.
Am currently living on top of Queen Anne in my beloved house. Any time a parent says, "You should visit us," I jump at the chance and have stayed with families in Italy and India. With old age coming on, however, I find myself a little more anxious about spending that kind of money, so my traveling days may be limited. Had a great time at the reunion. My mail is chris@alcuinschool.com.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Success!
The weekend was fabulous. Let me tell you...it was fabulous to see our classmates. We feel so honored by being able to see such incredible individuals this weekend. You all were very wonderful, very grateful, very precious. Many thanks to you all for coming. There were probably close to 190 people Friday night, 184 people Saturday night and probably 100 - 120 people at the picnic.
In case you thought just one person put this reunion together, please disavow yourselves of that notion. While the committee members did not wish their names to be announced during the event, I want you all to know that every one of them had incredible contributions. Carolyn (Ross) Dwyer-planned for the food/tables/drinks on Friday night and our part of the picnic and it was lovely, tasty, and fabulous. Leanne (Schrantz) Waggoner was the data queen and spent hours putting the classmate list together, magically created badges with high school photos, worked with Carolyn Friday to purchase food, was a mike woman and did a great job, too. Margaret (Flathers) Mesaros was in charge of the teacher table, teacher connections, and the teacher part of the program and prepared the pre-program power point. Phyllis (Baker) Cartmel is the queen of the trivia, class songs, people places and things! Al Snow-was our historian, what worked and what didn't work, main M.C. and our connection to the past, Diana Black-kept track of registrations, in charge of the bank account, and tracked expenses. Barry Davison-idea man, mike man, and support. Jennifer Hileman-Keep-The Dancing Queen, the trivia placemats on your tables, the idea girl, the contact person. Kathy (Shepherd) Eldred, contact and idea person, support person. Carlene (Dobbs) Humbard took care of park research, park application, banquet permit and was our go-to person in Yakima. Edwin Poy-Remote and active committee member in Virginia! My personal support person and sounding board. His daughter, Tracy Poy Smith, not only set up the website but took all the photographs at the Big Event, Saturday night, along with her husband and sister.
In addition to all of the previously mentioned duties, everyone helped locate classmates and who didn't enjoy the stuffing, stamping, labeling and glueing envelope jobs! The sorting of name badges and organizing them took place with great enthusiasm.
I loved the fact that our committee threw themselves with great enthusiasm into starting out with the fight song, dancing the flash dance, and being the warm hosts and hostesses that we intended to be. Wow. I cannot imagine working with a greater group of people. Every one of these fabulous people worked together, we got along every minute of the day and night, and accomplished most of our tasks through on-line communication with only SIX meetings in the past 7 months. Thank God for the internet.
More thanks to Chuck and Lois (Weible) Lanz for their fabulous hot dog and hamburger extravaganza! Many thanks to Roxanne (Heinson) Lowry for the incredible salads. Thanks, Susan Hileman, for the pie and to Ronnie and Cheri Myers for the watermelon.
Ellen (Hieber) Rowley did an awesome job preparing the memorial table and taking that part of the agenda. She is so calm, cool, and collected. Thanks, Ellen!
Thanks, so much, Lou Bartelli (Ellen Settlemeyer Bartelli's spouse), for the music! And thank you Ellen (Settlemeyer) Bartelli for working with the principal for class project ideas.
Ken Jones was another great Yakima contact. We spoke and faxed information back and forth. Thanks, Ken! Maybe some day when he gets back on line he can read this!
Wayman Chapman-Wow. Thanks so much for setting up your gig at the Speakeasy so we could all enjoy your incredible talents after the Friday night social. I know that everyone there loved it. We over on the West side will make a point to visit you when you come our direction.
We will review the surveys and get back to you for our future plans! I hope I remembered everyone. There were people who helped at the registration table and you were appreciated. People who threw themselves into just helping clean up and helping at all...thank you so much!
As we get back to our busy, busy lives, please remember......what a warm and heart- felt event we had. If you know of anyone else who has still not been found, e-mail me and we will do what it takes to get their contact information.
The pictures will be posted in ten days or so. Stay tuned.
Make your lives wonderful. It is in your hands to do so. Every one of you is appreciated and we look forward to seeing you again! Stay healthy, God Bless You and Happy Trails....until we meet again.
With warmest regards..........Debbie Barger Smith
In case you thought just one person put this reunion together, please disavow yourselves of that notion. While the committee members did not wish their names to be announced during the event, I want you all to know that every one of them had incredible contributions. Carolyn (Ross) Dwyer-planned for the food/tables/drinks on Friday night and our part of the picnic and it was lovely, tasty, and fabulous. Leanne (Schrantz) Waggoner was the data queen and spent hours putting the classmate list together, magically created badges with high school photos, worked with Carolyn Friday to purchase food, was a mike woman and did a great job, too. Margaret (Flathers) Mesaros was in charge of the teacher table, teacher connections, and the teacher part of the program and prepared the pre-program power point. Phyllis (Baker) Cartmel is the queen of the trivia, class songs, people places and things! Al Snow-was our historian, what worked and what didn't work, main M.C. and our connection to the past, Diana Black-kept track of registrations, in charge of the bank account, and tracked expenses. Barry Davison-idea man, mike man, and support. Jennifer Hileman-Keep-The Dancing Queen, the trivia placemats on your tables, the idea girl, the contact person. Kathy (Shepherd) Eldred, contact and idea person, support person. Carlene (Dobbs) Humbard took care of park research, park application, banquet permit and was our go-to person in Yakima. Edwin Poy-Remote and active committee member in Virginia! My personal support person and sounding board. His daughter, Tracy Poy Smith, not only set up the website but took all the photographs at the Big Event, Saturday night, along with her husband and sister.
In addition to all of the previously mentioned duties, everyone helped locate classmates and who didn't enjoy the stuffing, stamping, labeling and glueing envelope jobs! The sorting of name badges and organizing them took place with great enthusiasm.
I loved the fact that our committee threw themselves with great enthusiasm into starting out with the fight song, dancing the flash dance, and being the warm hosts and hostesses that we intended to be. Wow. I cannot imagine working with a greater group of people. Every one of these fabulous people worked together, we got along every minute of the day and night, and accomplished most of our tasks through on-line communication with only SIX meetings in the past 7 months. Thank God for the internet.
More thanks to Chuck and Lois (Weible) Lanz for their fabulous hot dog and hamburger extravaganza! Many thanks to Roxanne (Heinson) Lowry for the incredible salads. Thanks, Susan Hileman, for the pie and to Ronnie and Cheri Myers for the watermelon.
Ellen (Hieber) Rowley did an awesome job preparing the memorial table and taking that part of the agenda. She is so calm, cool, and collected. Thanks, Ellen!
Thanks, so much, Lou Bartelli (Ellen Settlemeyer Bartelli's spouse), for the music! And thank you Ellen (Settlemeyer) Bartelli for working with the principal for class project ideas.
Ken Jones was another great Yakima contact. We spoke and faxed information back and forth. Thanks, Ken! Maybe some day when he gets back on line he can read this!
Wayman Chapman-Wow. Thanks so much for setting up your gig at the Speakeasy so we could all enjoy your incredible talents after the Friday night social. I know that everyone there loved it. We over on the West side will make a point to visit you when you come our direction.
We will review the surveys and get back to you for our future plans! I hope I remembered everyone. There were people who helped at the registration table and you were appreciated. People who threw themselves into just helping clean up and helping at all...thank you so much!
As we get back to our busy, busy lives, please remember......what a warm and heart- felt event we had. If you know of anyone else who has still not been found, e-mail me and we will do what it takes to get their contact information.
The pictures will be posted in ten days or so. Stay tuned.
Make your lives wonderful. It is in your hands to do so. Every one of you is appreciated and we look forward to seeing you again! Stay healthy, God Bless You and Happy Trails....until we meet again.
With warmest regards..........Debbie Barger Smith
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