Monday, January 25, 2010

REUNION NEWS

Registration--Be sure and act quickly if you want to save money. Early birds will only have to pay $190 if they pay up before Feb. 15 as opposed to $235 after that date. Now this probably means some of you HU couples might have to cut back on those Valentine's Day gifts, but do it for the cause!

Also, please indicate what size you'd like for your polo shirt, which is included in the registration package. For those who have already paid, please drop Michael Byrd an email with your size at michael.a.byrd@bellsouth.net.

Rooms--Our block of 50 rooms must be completely booked by April 16 if we are to get the $149 rate and all the amenities, including the comp hospitality suite. As of the end of the year we had 35 rooms left, but from what I understand, there are only about 10 left.

CLASS NEWS

ATL Comes Out For Margaret

Ubiquity classmates in the Atlanta area got together at the home of Alvin and Cathy Lee to offer their support for Margaret Colden, who recently lost her husband, Divead Weedon just before the Christmas holidays.

Among those in attendance were T'Leen Moody Campbell, Mary Morrow, Leah Crocker, Wanda James, Lenora Delyons-Williams, Phylis Ingram, Julie Loftin McKay and Michael Byrd.

Word on the street is that the men did a lot of the cooking and that there were two types of gumbo that had folks slapping their mama!


Recession Didn't Stop This Effort

Before the 7.0 earthquake that devastated Haiti two weeks ago, Miki Turner and her friend, actress Laurel Holloman, held a charity auction to benefit the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust. Laurel contributed five paintings and Miki donated 11 photographs from her African travels. Collectively, the auction has raised nearly $50,000. Funds have been earmarked for health care and education. One woman from Germany paid $900 for one of Miki's prints (see below)


Here are some of the other prints that went for big money, none of which I got to keep!




We're planning on doing another to benefit the recovery effort in Haiti.

Speaking of Haiti

Thanks to Andre DeBose for forwarding this information on an organization paying folks to use their skills in Haiti.

ACET, Inc. has received an immediate request to provide assistance to the

devastation from the recent earthquake that has befallen the nation of
Haiti. They are looking for anyone interested in going to Haiti to help for a 3-
6 month period. There are no particular skills sets defined at this
point, except the willingness to help wherever needed. They will be presenting
folks and highlighting their unique skills and trade qualifications, so if the
opportunity to help in your area exists – it will be noted and presented.
As you can well imagine, any skill that you may have – can be of great
help.

Typical skill sets needed:

Carpenters
Masons
Electricians
Medical Personnel
Communications
Builders
Heavy Equipment Operators
Plumbers
Logistics
Etc.

THIS IS NOT A VOLUNTEER REQUEST – you will be paid for the work you do.
This is a temporary employment assignment that will include travel, expenses,
remuneration with an understanding that housing accommodations will be
very basic. All that is needed at this point is a passport or ability to
obtain one ASAP.

If you are seriously interested or know of someone who would be interested
– please email me back ASAP or forward this email, and I will provide
more details for you at that time.

This is a unique opportunity to make a difference to the people of Haiti!

Onekqua Beverly
Corporate Recruiter/Security Specialist
ACET, Inc.
301-861-5023 (Office)
301-885-3199 (Fax)
_otbeverly@adamscomm.com_

(
http://www.adamscomm.com/)

DIS N DAT

Thanks to Trudy Perry for sharing this info on internships at the White House.

President Barack Obama has announced fulltime summer internship opportunities at his crib for students or recent graduates and military veterans. If you have kids who are interested, act quickly as the deadline is Feb. 7. Applications are available at:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/internships


Monday, January 11, 2010

Arrangements for Tommey F. Jones, Sr.

The following arrangements have been finalized for TJ's dad. Mr. Jones' homegoing service The viewing will be Thursday night from 9-11 p.m. and the service will be Friday morning at 11 a.m. Both will be held at the Perry Funeral Home, 34 Mercer St., Newark, NJ. The phone number is: 973-824-9201.
Life & Death


The new year began with the birth of Wynton Ivey Norvel-Dillard's first grandchild! Her daughter Maya gave birth to a son, Alejandro Antonio Ortero Norvel on Jan 4. The big boy weighed in at 8 pounds, 12 ounces. See the proud grandmom below!


Less than a week later, however, we experienced another loss. Tommey "TJ" Jones lost his father, Tommey Sr., on Jan. 10. Arrangements are pending. Please keep TJ and his family in your prayers. He can be reached at TJDisco@aol.com.

Stephen "Hop" Hobson also lost his mother, Florence Hobson, on Jan. 9.

Friday, January 1, 2010

No. 108

REUNION NEWS

Happy New Year!

Since this is the first day of a brand new year let me first give thanks to all of you for helping me and all the other classmates who lost parents, spouses, relatives and friends during '09 get through the pain and grief. It always amazes me that I'm still heavily involved in the lives of people i met nearly 35 years ago, but we are a special group and I think our bond just grows deeper as the years go on and on and on and on! :-)

So, many of you have been inquiring about how much it might cost to reconnect in the spring. The reunion committee have developed a pay schedule (see below). The early bird will save and therefore have more money to buy me drinks in May! :-)

The Reunion Committee wishes to thank all Class of 1980 members who have said “Yes” to returning to “Our Home by the Sea” for our 30th Reunion, May 7-9, 2010. We already have 65 confirmations!! To facilitate a smooth Reunion, we encourage you to take advantage of the Early Bird Registration Savings by registering between now and Feb. 15, 2010 (postmark deadline):

Individual Registration Fee

$190

Couples Registration Fee

$275

Registration fees between Feb. 16 and April 15, 2010 (postmark deadline) is:

Individual Registration Fee

$235

Couples Registration Fee

$325

Pre-registration will close on April 15, 2010. To avoid higher on-site registration fees, please register prior to April 15th. Your cooperation in pre-registering will assist the Reunion Committee’s planning efforts for the Class Gift, Alumni Picnic, Alumni Banquet, Strawberry Banks Social Bash, and the Sunday Farewell Brunch. The fee covers: alumni picnic and banquet; commemorative class gift, old school jam, commemorative booklet and dvd, class gift, gift bag, brunch, postage and photos.

All checks should be made payable to “1980 Reunion 2010 Registration”.

Please send your registration fees to:

Mr. Michael Byrd, 1908 Barrington Drive, Jonesboro, GA 30236

CLASS NEWS


Birthdays

Tom “TJ” Jones
, Jan. 2

Debbie Patterson Ashton, Jan. 2

Miki Turner, Jan. 3

Doreen Mills, Jan. 5

Michelle Hurd, Jan. 10

Evadney “Peaches” Rogers Key, Jan. 14

Kent White, Jan. 15

Paula Stewart Dickerson, Jan. 15

Al Green, Jan. 16

Rodney Dawson, Jan. 19

Marilyn Cain Gordon, Jan. 22


Bonita Layson, Feb. 1

Trudy Perry, Feb. 2

Janice Phillips, Feb. 2

Jan Johnson-Johnson, Feb. 6

Michael Byrd, Feb. 8

Tony Perry, Feb. 12

Sharon Ford-Bell, Feb. 13

Dennie Lathan, Feb. 17

Hamlet Herring, Feb. 18

Sandra Mugomba, Feb. 20

Dot Lee-Murray, Feb. 25


SHOUT OUTS

UBIQUITY!!! We had a Partay for my Divead!! I cannot express the comfort I felt when I saw the familiar faces of my Ubiquity sistahs and brothas. Thank you to the KAPPAs who showed up and showed out and shielded me when I most needed it during the service. I will NEVER, EVER forget all the love and support I felt from my classmates and other Hamptonians who were there for Divead and I. I am humbled by the experience.
Live every moment, taste every moment, love every moment, kiss every moment. I am blessed that Divead and I did that. That allows me to hang on. Thank you for all your prays, flowers, calls, and words of comfort.
Have a wonderful Holiday season,
Your Ubiquity Sistah
Margaret Adrian Colden