Greetings from all the Alma College International Executive Council
- ten members who meet to carry on the work of the Alumnae Association.
Our June 2006 Reunion was another successful event attended by about
100 alumnae. Since it was so successful, it was decided that this year's
gathering take place again at he Kettle Creek Golf Club in Port Stanley,
a venue closer to accommodations and the Lake. See details on the Reunion
page. We certainly hope that you and your roommates and friends will
consider reuniting in even greater numbers this coming June. Contact
each other now since accommodations are limited in Port Stanley and
area. Take the time to come. Who knows when you can come again?
So much has happened since last June. A group of interested alumnae
and local citizens under the leadership of Andrew Gunn, under the banner
of a revived Alma College Foundation have been exploring avenues to
purchase the college but to no avail. Secondly, they have attempted
to obtain significant parts of Alma to rebuild on another site to create
a university college in co-operation with Professor Richard Myers. This
in response to the application to the City of St. Thomas by the owners
to demolish the buildings. The owners have allowed the buildings to
deteriorate by neglect. Originally, the city made an arrangement in
October behind closed doors to grant their requests. Although our alumnae
gave presentations and wrote scores of emails and letters to the Culture
Minister of Ontario, it appears that the Ontario Municipal Board's recommendation
will stand to allow the front doors and the spire to remain and the
rest to go. The owners can again appeal even that. Who knows what will
be the results. Will the Culture Minister intervene or will our architectural
jewel be crushed? Time will tell. By reunion time, we should have more
news.
On a happier note Sandra (Irvine) Pearson and Joni (Page) Pypka are
organizing an Alma Alumnae week long trip to the beautiful island of
Bermuda slated for late April 2009 to visit
the contingent of alumnae who live there. A travel agent will be present
to discuss details at our June reunion. Bermuda in the spring promises
to be a great get-away.
We would like to thanks Dawn Doty, our guardian at the Alma gates,
who spent hours, in between campaigning fiercely to save Alma, to run
our Alma College Souvenir Shop at #1 McIntyre Street in St. Thomas.
The Alumnae Association is only as strong as the unified body of members.
To create that strength we need to rebuild our membership and branches
around the world. Alumnae should plan on meeting at least once a year
to renew friendships, network, and revive the bonds that united us all
during our years at Alma. We need your support. If you cannot attend
a June reunion, at least gather in your own locale to revive the Alma
spirit. Let us hear from you. Make sure we have your address particulars.
I receive requests from others asking for the whereabouts of their friends
all the time.
The last two years have been certainly action packed with so much happening
around Alma. I would like to extend my thanks to all the committee members
who worked hard and co-operated to make my term quite successful. I
would like to extend my best wishes to the new executive as they take
on their new challenges.
See you in June.
"Though we're far from thee, still we long for thee, ever loyal
still."
Lara (Masur) Leitch
President, Alma College Internation Alumnae Association