Just One Day...and relatively "no" money!

Deerfield has officially raised enough money for the fiscal year that ends tomorrow midnight. You may ask: "Why even bring it up then?"

The class has only 53 donors this year, that's why. We've been as high as 82 not so long ago.

As the school strives to reach 50% alumni participation as a sign of alumni support far and wide, our class stands at 38%. 67 donors would be 50% particpation for our class.

If you have made a gift already, THANK YOU! You are the reason why so many other schools call me to learn "how we do it". (Hard to believe they call _me_ right?)

If you have not yet made a gift, you are free to go as low as you want at www.deerfield.edu/give! Seriously, it is absolutely NOT about the money. DA would appreciate your vote of confidence however. (or you could mail a check tomorrow only to PO Box 306, Deerfield, MA 01342 (hey!))

It was really fun to be with the Class of 1985 at their 25th reunion two weeks ago - so many great guys returned: Van Riper, Sullivan, Wilson (2x), Ullyot, Wasserberger, Hollensteiner and the list goes on for 55 names...They bonded much as we did two years back. Let's revive that spirit, have more impromptu get-togethers and share a few laughs (and photos!). And take a minute to say thanks to DA with a gift if you haven't yet at www.deerfield.edu/give

and that's the one day only salespitch on the DA 1983 Blog.

Recent '83 votes...

In order to keep some information flowing about the class you may have noticed I have recently been posting happy birthday messages. No more. I noticed two classmates unsubscribed soon after birthday postings. This is not meant to be a waste of your time, but a soft engagement with your classmates, so the only feedback I've had in months will win the day.

That said, Paul Magee has emailed from Mexico City about watching the World Cup and even the NBA Finals. He promises to send a family photo soon.

Mark LaFlamme and his wife moved to Hong Kong from NYC last week - he's still with Ziff Brothers Investments as far as I know. We quickly got him invited to the annual Friends of Deerfield-HK dinner scheduled for this Friday! Nothing like meeting all DA alums and parents in HK within a week of your arrival.

Tried out a new blog template today as well. Would love to know what you think or any news you want to share.

Happy Birthday Al!

Al Kerr has one today, Monday, June 7. Hope it was great!

Student Cleanup

After a big wind storm wednesday night the week of graduation - DA students and faculty helped rake up the remnants to get campus ready for parent arrival on Friday. And they looked good doing it! DA Flickr feed

Cost Award makes library possible

At the last school meeting on May 28th, this year's recipient of the "Charles Piper Cost '83 Award for Community Service" went to Muheb '12 who will be a junior this fall. His project this summer will focus on rebuilding a school library in his home country of Afghanistan.

From his funding proposal:
Qarabagh high school is located outside of the city (Kabul). It has 5000 students from first grade up to twelfth. Most of the students in this school have never read a novel or referred to anything else other than their textbooks and that is because of two reasons: first, most of the families can not afford to buy books for their children, and second the library of the school is non-existent. I have heard that Qarabagh used to have a library, but it was destroyed during the civil war. The only thing that remains is an empty room.

With this award I want to build a library for this school, I will spend two or three weeks of my summer vacation to work on this project. I will build book shelves, desks, chairs. Additionally, I will start a book-drive to collect books for the school, both from NGOs, but also from individuals including the families that send their children to this school.

Thanks to the Cost family for funding the annual stipend for community service. Charlie's legacy lives on.