Fortieth Reunion, June 3-6, 2010
Matters of Note
Dear Classmates and Friends:
Some matters of note concerning the reunion. Many of your classmates worked quite hard to ensure a splendid weekend – and they deserve your thanks and mine. But in this letter, I want to point out some new things we tried this time around. Doing things for the first time involves swimming upstream, and special thanks are in order.
Our first Class tailgating event at The Game – with a table at the Yale Alumni Village, handing out sandwiches, ski hats and fleece headbands. Thanks to John Boak for a special version of the Reunion logo for the hats and headbands.
Our first Class Art Book of pieces by classmates who have worked as visual artists, many of whom graciously participated in a book signing event on reunion Saturday. Click here to buy your copy of this fine book.
Our first Class reunion golf outing (at least in recent memory). Thanks to Stuart Cohen.
The very first Yale pre-reunion concert tour – thanks to Stormin’ Norman Zamcheck. And thanks to classmates who hosted the gatherings: Tom Walker, Ed Landler and Stuart Cohen. We handed out Reunion Tour T-shirts, with new and additional graphics by John Boak.
The very first Yale pre-reunion fly-fishing event – and at Yale Pond no less – thanks to David Poppel for hosting, and Yale Fishing Team Coach Tom Midgalski.
The very first Yale List-Serve Cookout – held on Thursday, just prior to reunion. Thanks to Tom Weil for hosting, and Jim Conroy and Jose Giron for helping me cook.
The very first (to our knowledge) 100 mile “century” bicycle ride to a Yale reunion -- by Jon VanScoyoc.
The very first FREE Thursday reunion events (at least in modern reunion history). Special thanks to Scott Simpson for obtaining the architectural speaker and Richard Smith for creating the self-guided walking tour brochure on Yale Architecture since 1970. No Class has created such a brochure since the Class of 1952 some time ago.
The very first Yale reunion cane-fu self-defense classes. Kudos and katas to Jim Conroy.
The very first Yale all-class reunion weekend fencing receptions. We worked with Steve Blum ’74 and Coach Hartunian for holding the first all-class reunion fencing event, held during both reunion weekends.
The very first Yale all-class reunion weekend sailing event at the Yale’s McNay Family Sailing Center. We worked with Steve Benjamin ‘78 and Coach Zack Leonard for holding the first all-class reunion sailing event at the Yale yacht club, during our reunion weekend. Coach Leonard said our Eric Tulla was awesome!
The very first Yale all-class reunion weekend crew event at the Gilder Boat House in Derby. A special shout out to our own Jon VanAmringe for making this happen.
The very first statue of R. Inslee Clark, the man who admitted all of us to Yale.
The live performance of new rock ‘n’ roll written just for you. Norman Zamcheck performed his song “Alumni Day,” written specifically for this reunion. Mark Pines performed a new variation of his song “(For the) Sake of a Getaway,” as well as “Second Wind” which he wrote for our 25th reunion.
The world premiere of a new piece by Conrad Cummings, "Reunion," written specially for the occasion and played by Conrad, Jim Baker and Paul Green.
We made history as a Class when we first attended Yale – and we continue to do so. Thanks for being part of it.
Ben Slotznick
Reunion Chair
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