55th Reunion

President’s Report: Judith Tuchman Ratzan

In 3 months we will be meeting in Northampton for our 55th Reunion. I probably will send one more newsletter before that time. We have a wonderful schedule of events planned! Please see below in Alix’s note as to what will be happening. I know many of you have come to previous reunions and it may seem like same old, same old. But, our theme is Carpe Diem. Do what we can while we can and we would so love to see all of you.

If anyone needs financial help to attend Reunion, please email me at rjratz@aol.com. As we did for the last reunion, the class will provide a certain amount of monetary support for those who need it. Once we know how many there are, we will determine what we can do. So please get in touch with me as soon as possible.

Reunion Chair: Alix Lamont Golden Gutkowsi

Our headquarters are going to be Chase/Duckett House (The old Mary Burnham). It is practically next door to Alumnae House and is convenient to everything on the upper campus. It has elevators! It also has a very nice commons room in the basement for breakfasts. For early-bird arrivals, it has parking in the back. The first floor living rooms will serve as our headquarters.

Thursday night social hour/dinner is in the Cutter-Ziskind dining room and is for all classes. It will be a buffet.*

Friday afternoon from 3:30 to 4:45 we are offering a reprise performance of Elaine Bromka’s (Smith ’72) creative and delightful “Tea for Three” which will be given in Sage Recital Hall. This is a one-person play about Lady Bird Johnson, Pat Nixon and Betty Ford.

Friday night social hour/dinner from 5:30 to 8:30 is in the Conference Center. Elaine Bromka will join us for this event. (This was the Faculty Club in our day; don’t know where the faculty goes to play these days.) After dinner, we return to Chase/Duckett living room for old-fashioned sing-along of pop music/show tunes and just hanging out.

Saturday lunch: pick up on Seelye Lawn and bring to Alumnae House Conference Hall for lunch and program. (Details still in planning stage.)

3:00 to 4:00: President McCartney will offer remarks for all reuning classes.

Saturday evening social hour/dinner is from 5:30 to 8:30 in the new Tyler Dining Room. The Smithereens will entertain for 15 minutes. We are planning additional entertainment, which is still to be confirmed. Dinner is again buffet.*

Sunday morning: Breakfast and goodbyes

*Please note that menu choices are available for all meals for those with special dietary needs.

**A very nice perk is that the college is providing on-campus shuttles, on call by cell phone, to pick us up and deliver us wherever our tired feet are unable to take us. It’s Smith’s answer to Uber.

For those wishing to stay off campus, we have a block of rooms at the Fairfield Inn, 1154 Conz St., Northampton. 413-587-9800
Cost: Thurs – $119; Fri & Sat – $199 (King) or $209 (2 Queen).
Reservations must be made by April 11, 2017.

Report from Class Fund Team:

As of February 14, the Class of 1962 is making great progress toward our 55th reunion fundraising goals! Thank you to all who have already sent in gifts or made pledges, and in advance to those who traditionally wait to give in the spring. We are relying on you, as well as those who gave last year but have not yet given this year, and those classmates who give generously but only in reunion years. We need you all! Our $$$ numbers are looking very strong: our comprehensive total thus far is $1,668,624 and growing, with the Smith Fund portion at $609,714 to date. (We should note that $369,000 of this is in the form of pledges to be paid in future years.) As has also become a part of 1962’s tradition, our rate of participation is not yet what we would wish. We have a participation goal of 65% and right now we are at 40%. We need everyone who has ever given, or who has never given, to help us increase our participation! Don’t forget…every gift of any size counts! Many thanks for your help!

Just a reminder that we must receive your commitment by 9 p.m. on Friday, May 26 in order to be able to include it in the gift that will be announced to all reunion classes Saturday morning of Reunion. The total gift amount may increase substantially with the gifts that you have yet to send in and it may rise even more with the help of classmates who are willing and able to document bequest intentions for reunion credit. To ask questions or receive information on how to accomplish that, please call Senior Assistant Director Barbara Rejniak in The Smith Fund at 800-241-2056, option #1.

Our thanks to all of our classmates who have already given this year and thank you to those whose gifts and pledges will be sent to the college before Reunion weekend.

Planned Gift Chair: Pam Hendrikson

Many of us are familiar with charitable gift annuities and charitable remainder trusts. These Planned Gifts provide donors with a stream of income and a tax deduction. They are great vehicles for diversifying out of low-cost-basis stock, avoiding the related capital gains tax and increasing income. They also count toward our class reunion goal!

This year we have another planned giving option that can build our gift to Smith: bequest intentions! Anyone who can document, in an estate plan or IRA designation, an intended bequest to Smith of at least $10,000 and has made an outright gift to the Smith Fund this fiscal year of $500 or more, can add 55% of the bequest amount to her gift total for our reunion.

Think about it! There are many benefits for both the College and Donor. If you are interested or have questions do call the Office of Planned Giving at 413-585-2051.