Questions? Contact the alumni office at 315-228-7433 or alumni@colgate.edu.

Alumni Council Notes
 I love the energy of fall — cooler days and changing leaves, weekend soccer and football games, the final push to meet my year’s objectives at work. As I write, the action is focused on getting my kids back into the groove at their grade school here in New York City, which never fails to evoke memories of heading off to Colgate. This year I have a new sense of energy as I start a two-year stint as president of Colgate’s Alumni Council.
    Many of you know that the council is a group of 55 alumni volunteers who lead Colgate’s alumni association. (The council is separate from the Board of Trustees, which is charged with governance of the university.) Our mission is to advance the university by promoting dialogue between alumni and people on campus, and by actively supporting programs that increase alumni engagement. Getting to interact with a wide range of alumni and students is one of the best parts of my role as president.
    Interaction is a big theme for the council. Whether it’s about advising Colgate on — and participating in — career initiatives such as the Maroon Advantage program (alumni-to-alumni career advising and networking), the new iCAN system (online student-alumni networking forum), or efforts to let alumni know about the great reasons to visit Hamilton year-round (Rediscover Hamilton), we’re representing your interests and needs to the university. In order to foster alumni involvement in tangible, productive, and beneficial ways, we need to hear from you. What opportunities would you like to see? How do you want to be involved?
    Please reach out directly to any council member (colgateconnect.org/councilmembers) to share your thoughts. To learn more about current opportunities, you can also visit “13 Ways to Get Involved” at colgateconnect.org/13ways.

Christine Cronin Gallagher ’83
Alumni Council President

Receptions with President Herbst
President Jeffrey Herbst is meeting alumni and parents across the country; December visits include Atlanta and Raleigh, and he will be in six other cities this spring. Come out and enjoy a conversation with Colgate’s 16th president! Look for details on the events calendar at colgateconnect.org.

Opt in for LGBTQ and AOC news
Colgate’s alumni of color and LGBTQ communities are expanding their mailing lists — they want to make sure you’re receiving news and event invitations, too. E-mail alumni@colgate.edu to add your name to the rolls.

Travel opportunity:
Colgate in East Africa
May 17–30, 2012
Join Colgate President Jeffrey Herbst, professors, and students on a unique travel opportunity to Africa. Twelve guests will explore the safari, learn African politics, and study with Colgate students. See colgateconnect.org/africa for details.

Reunion 2012: May 31–June 3
If your graduation year ends in 2 or 7, this is your reunion year. Mark your calendars now and call your friends to start planning your special Colgate weekend. We hope to see you on campus!

Rediscover Hamilton
Winter, spring, summer, or fall, you’ll find indoor comfort and outdoor adventure right here in the Chenango Valley. Check out colgateconnect.org/hamilton and plan your visit today!


Colgate Clubs and Groups

Notes

In honor of the 25th anniversary of the Alumni Of Color (AOC) organization, a celebration was held on campus during Reunion 2011. The festivities included a reception at the ALANA Cultural Center (pictured), Reunion College classes about Colgate’s multicultural evolution as well as current race relations in the United States, and entertainment under the tents. In addition, nearly 100 alumni of color attended an anniversary dinner at the Palace Theater to celebrate the past and drum up excitement for the future. (Photo by Andrew Daddio)

The Club of Boston held a reception for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) alumni and allies at the cool South End spot 28 Degrees. The group reconnected and learned more about LGBTQ initiatives at Colgate. For more information about Colgate’s LGBTQ alumni group, upcoming events, and the newsletter, e-mail alumni@colgate.edu.  
 
Alumni in Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C., welcomed English professor Margaret Maurer with open arms for the annual Women @ Colgate Book Club Tour. This year’s book, Azar Nafisi’s Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books, was the first memoir chosen as the program’s summer read. For more information about the book tour and Women @ Colgate, visit www.colgateconnect.org/womenatcolgate. Book suggestions for the 2012 tour can be submitted to alumni@colgate.edu.
 
Play ball! Several alumni clubs around the country hosted baseball game outings for alumni, parents, and their families. Whether it was the local AAA team or the big leagues, many enjoyed a day at the ballpark. The Club of Boston raised more than $800 for its scholarship fund through a $5 registration gift included on every ticket sale.

Summer send-off parties
Alumni clubs around the nation — with current students, parents, and alumni — hosted more than 40 traditional send-offs during the month of July to welcome members of the Class of 2015 into the Colgate family. Here are some highlights:
    Thomas and Janine Denegall Fondon ’82 hosted the Springfield, Mass., send-off party for incoming students at the historic Springfield Museums at the Quadrangle. The event, which included a complimentary museum tour, was the first of its kind in Springfield, due to the increasing number of students coming from that area. 
    San Diego–area incoming first-years said goodbye to the surf and sand with a beach party and BBQ at Moonlight State Beach. Club president Brian Haghighi ’09 coordinated the party, which welcomed 25 participants.
    The Dallas send-off was hosted by Jim and Gayle Halperin, parents of David ’14. They welcomed a spirited group of alumni and two current students to help welcome Courtney Beard ’15 into the Colgate family.
    With more than 50 incoming first-year students hailing from Beantown, the Boston send-off was the perfect opportunity for students and parents alike to calm any nerves about attending Colgate. Jeff ’76 and Karen Oberg, parents of Colin ’07 and Jason ’09, hosted nearly 80 people at their home in nearby Weston, Mass. Perfect weather allowed for an enjoyable BBQ on the lawn in classic New England fashion.
    Adrienne Colgate-Jones ’88 and her family hosted the Long Island send-off in July at their estate in Locust Manor. Close to 30 incoming students, alumni, and parents enjoyed good company and found new friendships.
    If you are interested in being considered to host a send-off event in your area next year, please contact Liz Harrington in the Alumni Affairs Office at eharrington@colgate.edu or 315-228-6028.
     A big thank you to all of the generous hosts! For more information and a complete list of send-off locations, visit www.colgateconnect.org/sendoffs.

From left: Mabel Baez ’15, Olivia Gamble ’15, Amanda Griffiths ’13, and Neil Krulewitz ’12 at the Springfield, Mass., summer send-off party (photo by Nikai Fondon)

Club leaders
We welcome as new alumni club leaders Madeline (Maddie) Watrobski ’09 (mwatrobski@gmail.com), Club of Rochester (NY); Dina Dunn ’88 (dina@blinkready.com) and Carmella Alvaro ’98 (colgate1998@gmail.com), Club of the Triangle (NC); Stephanie Stillman ’99 (sjstillman@gmail.com), Club of Austin (TX); Jeremy O’Reilly ’10 (joreilly90@hotmail.com) and Monica Williams ’09 (monica.williams7@gmail.com), Club of Cleveland; and Jeremy Striffler ’04 (jstriffler@gmail.com), Club of the Twin Cities (MN).
    A special thanks to outgoing club leaders Amy Dudley ’06, Club of Washington, D.C.; Nancy Miller Maynard ’05, Club of Rochester; and Heather Brown ’99 and Shep Harder ’00, Club of the Twin Cities.



Interested in learning  about club events in your neck of the woods? Visit www.colgateconnect.org.