Thursday, November 12, 2009

No. 107


REUNION 2010

The Countdown
By now all of you who weren't there have heard how fabulous Homecoming '09 was. There was controversy, good times and a great new hotel that was conveniently located! Now, it's time to focus on reconvening for our 30th year reunion, May 7-9. Below is a letter explaining what's up from class leader Andre DeBose.

November 13, 2009

Dear Ubiquity Classmates:

The 30th reunion of UBIQUITY, the Class of 1980, is quickly approaching. Our reunion theme is “Ubiquity: A lifelong bond through friendship". While Homecoming weekend was certainly one to remember, the reunion weekend is poised to be even better! The key ingredient for success, like Homecoming, is your attendance! Mark your calendar for our reunion weekend, May 7-9, 2010. The weekend will be full of activities including: a hospitality room for reconnecting; a meeting to cover class business; the Alumni picnic and Banquet to feed our souls; the last social event at Strawberry Banks; a farewell Brunch; and more. Details will follow in future communications.

The official Ubiquity Reunion Headquarters will be the Crowne Plaza – Hampton Marina (formerly the Radisson, just across the bridge from HU). The address is:

700 SETTLERS LANDING ROAD
HAMPTON, VA 23669

Phone 757-727-9700 for reservations

Block Reservations listed as: Hampton University Class of 1980

Room Rate is $149.00 per night; and check-out is Sunday, May 9, 2010

Block Release Date: April 16, 2010

Individual Cancel Deadline: April 7, 2010 (at 4:00pm)

Your reunion committee and other volunteer classmates continue to work to make our 30th reunion memorable, but there is much to be done. Contact the following committee chairs via email if you have ideas and are willing to help:

Finance (Budget) Chair – Mike Byrd (michael_byrd@bellsouth.net)

Fundraising Chairs – Cheryl Badger & Bert Allen (cheryl.badger@dowjones.com or bert.allen@allentiumllc.com)

Registration Chair – Margaret Colden (mcoldenstanfield@bellsouth.net),

Hospitality/Activities Chair – Tony Cheatham (tonycheatham@comcast.net)

Necrology Chair – Cyndi Woods-Pearson

Communications (Facebook, Blog, Email, etc.) Chair – Miki Turner (dmiki@aol.com)

Class Gift Chair – Dyanne Baldwin (dyanne.b@iconeyewear.com)

Memory Lane/Classmate Recognition Chair – Lauren Jones (lawn819@yahoo.com)

This is the first (official) communication, we need your assistance to make sure everyone gets the word about our reunion plans. Call and email your friends from the Class of ’80, and make sure they received this letter. If they didn’t, please have them contact Margaret Colden at 770-843-0575 or mcoldenstanfield@bellsouth.net. We will also communicate periodically via our Hampton ’80 Facebook page and Miki’s blog since it is quick and economical.

The Office of Alumni Affairs has issued our financial giving goal of $75,000 to represent the 30 years since our graduation. We topped that amount and set the bar very high 5 years ago. I’m confident that we can again set the standard for others to follow! Contributions to the New Café campaign will be recognized, however, our goal remains to raise at least $75,000 by May 2010 independent of the New Café campaign. To help reach our goal, we advocated a painless $5/week strategy back in 2005 to which some have adhered – and we thank you. The quick arithmetic tells us that $5/week for 5 years is a painless way to give back $1,300. However, we realize that not all participated in that strategy; therefore, we ask that you give what you can. Further details and recommendations regarding a “giving challenge campaign” will be forthcoming.

Listed below are the options for those who would like to contribute now and leverage the tax deduction in this calendar year:

  • Online Giving - Classmates can go directly to the University’s website, https://secure.hamptonu.edu/development/ to designate gifts to the Cafeteria Campaign, Unrestricted Giving, the General Scholarship Fund, Proton Therapy Institute, and/or the NHAA, Inc. Endowed Scholarship Fund.
  • Debit Authorization - Classmates can access the Electric Fund Transfer form via http://givingto.hamptonu.edu/ways.cfm to allow funds to be deducted on a regular basis over the course of the year directly from your checking or savings account.
  • Corporate Match - Classmates who work for corporations should check to see if their corporation participates in a corporate match program. If so, the corporation will provide a matching gift to the University. Those financial matches received prior to Reunion Weekend are counted as part of the class member’s gift. Visit http://givingto.hamptonu.edu/ways.cfm matching gifts search engine for more information.
  • Write a Check - Classmates can forward a check directly to the Office of Alumni Affairs, c/o Ms. Mildred Swann. When making your contribution, be sure to reference the “Class of 1980” in the memo section of your check so our class is recognized.

Following are reunion activities that will be held on campus:

Alumni Association Meeting - Friday, May 7, 2010

This meeting focuses on the business of the National Hampton Alumni Association, Inc. Alumni are invited and encouraged to participate in the meeting discussion related to activities that foster increased participation in alumni involvement.

Memorial Service - Saturday, May 8, 2010

The Chaplain of the Alumni Association leads this worship experience that includes a stimulating message and communion. Alumni who have passed since the previous reunion are recognized during the service. This provides an opportunity for classmates to remember fellow classmates.

Alumni Picnic - Saturday, May 8, 2010, Emancipation Oak 12:00 noon – 2:00 p.m.

§ Great Food

§ Class Recognition

§ Class Shout Outs

§ Family Atmosphere

§ Vendors Galore

§ Music

Picnic tickets will be included in your registration.

Alumni Dinner Celebration - Saturday, May 8, 2010, Holland Hall 6:30 p.m. – 8:45 p.m.

  • § Walk on Red Carpet
  • § Shout Out to Class Members
  • § Tables are reserved, at Dinner, by Class Year.
  • § Class Recognition and members of the 50-year class inducted into Emeritus Class

§ Alumni Recognition and Awards

§ Class Check Presentation

§ Jazz Band

Alumni Dinner tickets will be included in your registration.

ALUMNI RECOGNITION AND AWARDS

Special recognition is given by the University at the Alumni Dinner Celebration for:

  • The Class having the highest contribution during the reunion year, excluding the Emeritus Class.
  • · The Class having the most members in attendance at the Alumni Dinner Celebration on Saturday, May 9, 2009, excluding the Emeritus Class.
  • · The Class with one hundred percent (100%) participation in giving for FY 2009 will receive the One Hundred Percent Participation Award.

Details regarding our reunion registration are being finalized and will be forthcoming. Please plan to get involved, as your expertise, talents, and knowledge will be a tremendous benefit in the planning and execution of our reunion activities. Please mark your calendar and plan to participate in the many activities during Reunion Weekend May 7-9, 2010. We look forward to seeing you in May.

Ain’t No Stopping Us Now!!!!

Regards on behalf of the Reunion Committee,

Andre DeBose, Class Leader

adebose@deloitte.com

703-569-8662 (home) 703-338-4042 (cell)

CLASS NEWS

Picture Perfect

Also, for those of you who missed the fun there are more than 1,000 photos documenting the homecoming experience at various links. See Miki Turner's photos at www.mikiphoto.smugmug.com (homecoming gallery); Cheryl Dunn Badger's at www.cherylcrane.smugmug.com and for those of you on Facebook, check out the Ubiquity Class of '80 page or Kent White's page. If anyone else has shots please don't send me individual shots. Put them in Shutterfly, Kodak or one of the free galleries so we can provide a link. At some point we're going to try and create a site to house the entire gallery.

Speaking of Facebook, our own Lauren Jones is the administrator of the Hampton Alumni page. Be sure to check out her page. If you're not on FB you just oughta be!

Another Loss For Ubiquity

Donna Marcia Wells passed suddenly on Nov. 2. Her funeral was held Nov. 9 at Howard University. Donna was an art history major at Hampton and was working as a photographic librarian at Howard until she began freelancing in June of this year. Please keep Donna and her family in prayer.

Birthdays

Carleton Badger, Nov. 1

Phyllis Ingram Luciano, Nov. 2

Angela Goode, Nov. 2

Chauncey Douglas, No.v 10

Adriana “Peaches” Bethel-Hibbler, Nov. 18

T’Leen Moody Campbell, Nov. 18

Joyce Cole, Nov. 20

Alphonso Holloman, Nov. 23

Andre DeBose, Nov. 26

Julie Loftin McKay, Nov. 27

Carl Coleman, Nov. 28

Darlene Fuller Parham, Nov. 28

Debora Durant Meador, Dec. 1

Kenny Malloy, Dec. 2

Jan Christopher, Dec. 3

Lenora DeLyons-Williams, Dec. 3

Tony Cheatham, Dec. 4

Darcea Scott West, Dec. 7

Mary Radden Hicks, Dec. 11

Deborah Maxie Cowling, Dec. 12

Rhonda Owen Smith, Dec. 17

Chico Sullivan, Dec. 1

Daphne Lockett Henderson, Dec. 19

Wynton Ivey Norvel-Dillard, Dec. 22

Stephanie Allen Gowin, Dec. 26

Patricia Hundley Williams, Dec. 26

Carlos Turner, Dec. 27

Peggy Witt James, Dec. 30