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Greetings from Rhodes College |
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Dear Alumni, Our spirits at the College are high following the graduation of the Class of 2006 which was held in Fisher Garden on Saturday, May 13. We extend a hearty welcome to the newest members of our alumni community! Recently, President Troutt sent a message to members of the faculty and staff which addressed highlights in this academic year. His message may be viewed by clicking here. |
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In Appreciation |
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A Tip of the Hat – Jim Lanier, Associate Professor of History, is our Senior Faculty member. Dr. Lanier has been a road warrior this academic year serving as our “Meeman Scholar.” Jim has visited Rhodes chapters and lectured on the history of the College addressing significant elements from its founding to the opportunities for research and scholarly engagement which exist today. At the Commencement exercises on May 13, 2006, Professor Lanier received the Algernon Sydney Sullivan award. As a senior at Stetson University, Jim received this award for the graduating male student. As Jim retires at the end of this academic year, it is fitting that the bookends of his scholarly career are bounded by the same award that recognizes members of institutions who have given selflessly to their educational communities. Many thanks, Professor Lanier. |
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Books for Barret – Four alumni have submitted books they have written for placement in the archives and general circulation of the Paul Barret, Jr. Library. We are indebted to Thorne, Bob, Nibs, and Harmon for their gifts. Electronic addresses are provided below in order that you might send greetings or inquire about securing the works.
We still have room in the library for other works written by alumni. Please send two copies of yours to the Alumni Relations Office. One copy will go in general circulation and the remaining one will go in the Arcives where it will join works by other Rhodes Alumni. |
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Chapter News |
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Atlanta – The Atlanta Chapter hosted a career networking event, reception for accepted students, and an alumni reception Thursday, April 13, 2006, at the home of Cathy and Art Rollins ’81. The career networking segment featured Claire Chambers ’01 of the Nature Conservancy and Matt Webster ’98 of John Hancock lending career advice to current students and young alumni. Several Atlanta area alumni and parents also attended the reception and talked with students and young alumni about careers and living in Atlanta. A welcome reception for accepted students and their parents followed. Alumni, current students, and parents did an outstanding job in representing the College. All accepted students who attended the reception, several of whom were considering other schools, are committed to attend Rhodes this fall! Washington, DC – The Chapter hosted a reception and lecture, “Founding Traditions and Current Realities: The History of Rhodes” by senior faculty member Dr. Jim Lanier on April 18 at the home of Knight Champion ’86. Dr. Lanier was well received by alumni and parents. In collaboration with alumni clubs and chapters from other institutions, the Rhodes Chapter of Washington provided opportunity for alumni to purchase tent passes on University Row at the Gold Cup races held in Virginia on May 6. Thank you to Jon David Willingham ’04 for organizing this event. Memphis – The Memphis Chapter held a social event on Saturday, May 20. In their own way of saluting the Memphis Barbecue festival, transplanted Louisianans held a Cochon de Lait (pig roast) in the backyard of Anne ’88 and Jim Apple ’89. Alumni, parents and friends of the College gathered for an afternoon of great food, frosty beverages, music, and fun! Thank you to the Apples and the rest of the host committee for your hospitality. The Memphis Chapter is putting together an alumni outing to see the Redbirds play later this summer. The date of the game is July 28, which is a “fireworks night” at AutoZone Park. If Alumni living else where are in Memphis that evening, know that you are welcome to join the Memphis Chapter for the game. Stay tuned for details. Help Needed – Every Tuesday, Rhodes students run the Souper Contact soup kitchen at St. John United Methodist Church, 1205 Peabody in Midtown. During the summer months, while many students are away, volunteers are needed to help with cooking, serving and clean-up. The work shift is 4:15 – 6:00 PM every Tuesday. Committing just one evening this summer can make a difference. If you are interested in helping, please contact Service Co-Chairs Megan ’04 and Jonathan Hulgan ’03. Thank you for supporting our students in their commitment to serve the Memphis community. Nashville – The Nashville Chapter hosted a reception for accepted students on Sunday, April 23 at the home of Marcie ’96 and Chris Cardwell ’94. Nashville area alumni and parents welcomed accepted students and batted a thousand as all students who attended the reception are committed to attend Rhodes this fall! The Rhodes Chapter of Nashville hosted an evening at the Darkhorse Theatre May 19. John Holleman and Company presented "Odd Man Out" an original show created by playwright/director John Holleman and Company members Trish Moalla ’90 and Wesley Paine (Director of the Nashville Parthenon). A reception for special guests Cookie Ewing, Chair of the Rhodes Theatre Department/Artistic Director for McCoy Theatre, and Kevin Collier, Managing Director of McCoy Theatre, immediately followed the play. North Texas – The North Texas Chapter held a reception, “BBQ and Business Cards” in honor of Memphis in May on May 21, at the home of Gail and Ron Berlin, parents of Amy Berlin ’98. Alumni, parents, and current students in the North Texas area gathered for an afternoon of Memphis style BBQ, and recent graduates took the opportunity to network with the Rhodes community of North Texas. |
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Houston – The first Thursday of every month the Houston Chapter will hold a Happy Hour get together. June’s Happy Hour will be held Thursday, June 1, at Brian O’Neil’s, 5555 Morningside in Rice Village, Houston, and will begin at 5:30 PM. RSVP’s are not necessary, but if you’d like to register and see who’s coming “E-vite style” please click here. The Houston Chapter hosted a crawfish boil on Saturday, April 29, at Woodrow’s, Chimney Rock. Alumni, parents and families enjoyed the beautiful weather and tasty food and beverages on the patio. It was a great day of family fun for the Rhodes community in Houston. Click here to view the full photo gallery. |
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New York – The Alumni Office is planning to host a chapter establishment meeting to install a chapter in New York City this summer. If you are interested in participating as a chapter leader please email Associate Director of Alumni Relations Holly Hilliard. Details to come. |
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Ways to Help the College |
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Be a Class Reporter – There are several vacancies in Class Reporter positions and volunteers are needed for the classes of 1939, 1942, 1943, 1946, 1947, 1949, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1963, 1964, 1966, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1986, 1987, 1991, 1999, 2005, and 2006. Class Reporters work closely with Martha Shepard ’66, Editor of Rhodes Magazine, in soliciting news from classmates for submitting entries in the “Class Notes.” Much of the work is done through email contact. Please contact Tracy Comer should you be willing to serve as a Class Reporter. Join an International Internship Advisory Group – From time to time students seek internships in other countries. At present, no structure is in place to match the students’ interests to resource contacts. We seek volunteers from our alumni ranks who may be able to provide assistance. It is expected that we would post information electronically in behalf of interested students including their work interests and preferred geographic regions to alumni who volunteer to be members of the advisory group. If one of the group members had either knowledge of a match or recommendations for the possibility for a match, it would certainly put us further down the path of meeting student needs than our current efforts. Should you be in a position to help and wish to volunteer, you may do so by replying to this message, or calling the Alumni Relations Office. Participate in the Rhodes Career Network – The Class of 2006 is an outstanding group of young people, several of whom are leaving Rhodes without having secured employment. These young graduates are talented and willing to work. Based on the previous experiences of established alumni who have been willing to assist fellow alumni, we are encouraging young graduates to contact others in the Rhodes community in cities and fields in which they have interest. If you have positions available or can provide counsel, please do your best to provide every consideration possible to assist and encourage our young alumni. Provide Updated Employment/Professional Information – As we often search the alumni database records by fields and positions in asking alumni to provide internships or career advice for students or young alumni, please help us keep your record current. Should you have changed positions, firms, or agencies within the last two to three years, I ask that you send two business cards to the Alumni Relations Office in order that we can use one to amend your record and have on file in the office and we will send the second one to Career Services for their purposes in working with students and alumni. Give to the Annual Fund – The fiscal year of the College ends on June 30, 2006. There is a strong tradition at Rhodes of a high percentage of alumni participating in the Annual Fund. The loyalty of alumni, as evidenced by financial contributions, is extraordinary. We do not take the gifts for granted and appreciate them greatly. Beyond using Annual Fund gifts as revenues in our operating budget, we are able to use this demonstration of alumni loyalty to attract other resources from foundations and agencies. Please give online or by mailing your gift to our office. If you have made a pledge for this year, but not yet made the gift, please do so at this time. Thank you for your continued support of Rhodes. |
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Announcements |
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Reframing geographic codes – Much of our contact with alumni is centered around events that are hosted by chapters. As chapters are added in new locations, we expect this to continue. We received word from an alumni couple living in Franklin, Tennessee that they were not receiving information about events of the Nashville chapter and only learned of those activities by seeing announcements under “chapter news” in this newsletter. We found that our search code for “greater Nashville” stopped at the zip code immediately preceding theirs in Franklin. Should you not be receiving announcements about activities of chapters that are close to your residence, please let us know and we will work to rectify the problem. Meeman Center for Lifelong Learning Programs Camp Meeman: courses and congeniality, June 5 – 9 in Memphis. Residential and “day campers” welcomed. Homecoming/Reunion Weekend – October 20 – 21, 2006. Class years ending in 1 and 6 will have reunions. All alumni are encouraged to attend. Dr. Clark Retires – Diane Clark ’62, Music, retired on May 15, 2006. Dr. Clark joined the Rhodes faculty in 1975 and achieved the rank of Associate Professor. Her plans are to move to Michigan and to return to Memphis religiously for her class reunions. You may join us in sending thanks and best wishes to Diane at her new email address dianemem@earthlink.net. Many thanks, Professor Clark. Beyond your work on the faculty, we appreciate all that you have done to help with alumni programming. |
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Closing |
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May 13 was a glorious day in Memphis. It was unseasonably cool which provided some comfort for both graduates and faculty who were dressed in academic regalia. The campus grounds were immaculate. Commencement was held in Fisher Garden to the delight of the candidates and those on the faculty and staff. You may click here to view the photo gallery. Beyond the 359 students receiving Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, and Master of Science (Accountancy) degrees, two alumni received honorary degrees. John Churchill ’71 received a Doctor of Humanities degree and Sidney Strickland ’68 received the Doctor of Science degree. The period leading up to graduation is characterized by eagerness, anticipation, and anxiety about the tasks that are associated with the preparation, the ceremony, receptions, and other commencement-related activities. The details are countless. Getting through commencement is a community effort with leadership being provided by John Rone ’71, Director of College Events. Virtually everyone at the College helps. Those of us who work on college campuses often measure time by “semesters”. On Saturday afternoon, May 13, 2006, following the departure of our new alumni and their families, there was a collective sigh of relief breathed by the staff. We had closed the book on Spring ’06. Given that this was the second semester, it marked closure for a very fine academic year in which we went about the work of trying to achieve the Rhodes Vision. From here, we eagerly look forward to receiving alumni attending the Chapter Leaders Seminar on the weekend of June 9-11. Later this summer, staff members travel to New York to establish the 11th Rhodes Chapter. And, as many of you know, our staff members place calls in May and June encouraging alumni to contribute to the Annual Fund. In July, we begin “Summer Send-offs” to welcome the new students who will join our community in the fall. The cycle will begin again. Following the “sign off” below, please scroll down and find the remarks and toast delivered by Jim Eikner ’57 as he welcomed members of the Class of 2006 into the Alumni Association. Until next month, all best wishes from your Constituent Programs staff, Bud Richey, Associate Vice President and Director of Alumni Relations Alumni Relations Office Tracy Comer, Administrative Assistant Meeman Center for Lifelong Learning Marilyn Hury, Director of Meeman Center Scheduling and Events Office THE FOLLOWING PASSAGE PROVIDES THE REMARKS AND TOAST GIVEN BY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVE BOARD PRESIDENT, JIM EIKNER ’57, AT THE “SENIOR TOAST” HELD IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING COMMENCEMENT REHEARSAL ON MAY 12, 2006. You honor me by requesting a copy of my toast to the Senior Class at graduation rehearsal on campus last Friday, May 12. After each grad had been poured a glass of the bubbly, I said: President and Mrs. Troutt; Bud Richey; Marcus Kimbrough, President-Elect of the Alumni Council; distinguished Faculty and Staff; honored guests and members of the Rhodes Class of 2006: Rodney Dangerfield said, "Our son goes to a private school. He won't tell us where it is." Class of 2006,...tell 'em where we are and who we are and do so often! When I first walked onto this campus (shortly after the invention of the printing press and just after the dinosaur, whose bones are in Frazier Jelke Science Center, dropped dead) how could I have imagined that I would soon meet a lovely coed...and that next year in 2007, she and I will not only celebrate our 50th Rhodes Class Reunion, but we will also celebrate our 50th, our Golden, Wedding Anniversary. I could not have foreseen that I would make the acquaintance of another outstanding coed, a splendid student, who was selected by us, her peers, as Miss Southwestern. This was Lisa Rollow, who grew up in the cottage right behind me here by the gate, since she was the daughter of the Campus Engineer. I could not have foreseen that Lisa Rollow would marry a Rhodes alum and have a daughter and that my son would direct that daughter in a play, would fall in love with her and marry her, How could I, indeed, have envisioned Rhodes College's inviting my five-year-old grandson to take his little shovel two years ago and help to plant an oak tree, right over there, to honor the memory of his great-grandfather, Mr. Johnny Rollow, who planted on this campus these mighty Rollow oaks? You can see why I'm convinced that all roads lead to Rhodes. As you join the family of 13,000 Rhodes alumni, choose your road back here and take it as often as you can. You will find a warm and wonderful "Welcome Back" each time you do. So... lift your glasses Class of 2006! In the words of Garrison Keillor, spoken daily over National Public Radio Stations: "Be well. Cheers. |
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2000 North Parkway, Memphis, TN 38112-1690, 800-264-5969 alumni@rhodes.edu |
