July 12, 2021
Dear Fellow Eagle Members,
We hope this finds all of you doing well! An update is overdue, and we wish to share what we have accomplished since our last message to you. Here is what has been going on:
We have had so much transpire since then which included preparing for the reunion in Asheville, NC in June 2022. The website served us well in posting all the committee reports, the annual report from the Executive Board and so much more. The Executive Board dealt with many changes within the organization to attempt to streamline the system better. There have been changes organizationally to help simplify the various committees so that our dear volunteers are not taxed beyond what they are capable of giving to us. We needed to be very sensitive in this area. We listened and we worked hard to garner new goals and objectives that reached a common goal and more importantly, a consensus on what was in the best interest of the organization.
Sadly, we also lost spouses of members serving on the web team, classmates whose demise was unexpected, and illness hit many which delayed any communication out to all of you at the end of December 2022. I apologize for this as I, too, was one of those hit with family illness.
What did occur that many of you should have known from your class reps, is that we held Zoom calls or communication via email or phone monthly in 2022 with everyone serving in some capacity for the organization.
The Reunion Selection Committee was tasked to revamp their guidelines and major changes were made by Chair Peggy Rowland Sanchez and her Vice-Chair, Kym Mingus Denmark. Together these ladies did a stellar job in assessing the guidelines so that anyone hosting a reunion (and never having the experience) could unequivocally assume the role.
Erik Thamm, Chair of the newest committee, the FAHSAA Recognition Committee, and his team known as the Four Amigos include: Duke Taylor, Kym Mingus Denmark, and Greg Brown. They presented five awards in Asheville. We urge you to read about the wonderful recipients on the website. 2022 FAHSAA Recognition Award Winners
The Treasurer, Linda Buckles Brashear, and the Financial Advisor, Gaye Crosby Doane, reviewed all aspects of the accounts so that total transparency to the membership was evident. This included updating the Wells Fargo signature on the account so that two people–Linda and Gaye–have access to the account should one of them be incapacitated for some reason. The Executive Board members take their role very seriously in order to be sure it is in keeping with the expectations of all of you.
We have had some changes on the web team as well. Several members have lost their spouses. Gaye and Steve are filling in the gaps for all of us. I am involved only to the end that recommendations are made by the Executive Board when necessary.
As many of you know, we have had many tragedies hit our Eagle community in one way or another, including the hurricane damage that struck so many in Florida, flooding, tornado damage, etc. It has been heartbreaking to read about it on Facebook or from personal communication. Our hearts go out to all who have lost family members, friends, and those we do not even know about at this juncture. One thing is clear, we are a community that loves one another and who will be there for each other in our time of need. This is evident already in how many are joining us in Montana in September. People we have not seen in many years are joining us. Kudos to hosts Linda Willms Angle ’67 and Randy Borniger ’68, who will be providing a wonderful reunion experience for all of us.
We look forward to seeing you and know that our door is always open to you. More will be posted as we prepare for our Annual Meeting in Montana on Wednesday, September 13, 2023, at 8:30 AM.
With warm regards,
Gayle Cratty ’69, President
Executive Board
Gayle Cratty ’69, President
Guy Bennett ’68, Vice President
Betty House Weller ’70, Secretary
Linda Buckles Brashear ’69, Treasurer
Gaye Crosby Doane ’69, Financial Advisor