Ladies,

Reunion 2014 is quickly approaching. Several of us including friends in neighboring classes are sharing their excitement to participate in this year’s 90s Decade Reunion this spring. Please help spread the word to those who are not on Facebook.

Each of you should have received a personalized email with a link to the registration site. In case you haven’t received yours yet, you can find out more by visiting the Bryn Mawr College Alumnae Reunion site:  http://www.brynmawr.edu/alumnae/reunion/. The site includes a wealth of information regarding Reunion Weekend including the schedule of events, housing information, camp programs for our kids, and much more.

Please feel free to post questions here or on our Class Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/293422947350466/. I’ll do my best to track down answers as we all start planning our trip back to the Mawr.

I, for one, will certainly be in attendance, and I hope to see you all there!

Your humble Web Mistress,

Erica Plotnick-Foley

Ladies,

It is with great sadness to share that we recently lost a classmate. Chastity Bedonie passed away over the weekend. Many have already shared some wonderful memories of Chastity and our time together at Bryn Mawr over on Facebook. In addition, we received the following from one of her colleagues at the Department of the Interior who asked that her name be withheld:

“I am deeply saddened to report that Chastity Bedonie, one of our colleagues in the Office of the Secretary, passed away over the weekend at the age of 39.

A native of Farmington, New Mexico, Chastity was a proud member of the Navajo Nation. She received a law degree from UCLA and pursued a career dedicated to improving the lives of Native Americans. She served on the staffs of Rep. Brad Carson, the National Indian Gaming Commission, and the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs and as an attorney with Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld representing tribal governments.

I came to know Chastity when, as an attorney-advisor for the Office of Congressional Legislative Affairs, she advised me on tribal affairs during my confirmation hearing and later when I testified before the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. I saw in her a passion for ensuring the Interior Department meets its trust and treaty responsibilities to tribal nations and accomplishes our mission of helping to build stronger, more prosperous Native American communities.

She played an important role in the settlement of the historic Cobell case, resolution of water rights cases involving tribal nations, and the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, in which she focused on the protection of Native American women.

Most importantly, many of you knew Chastity as a compassionate friend with an infectious smile and a passion for life. As we grieve and honor her memory, I know that she will continue to live on in our hearts and minds.

On behalf of the entire Interior Department, I extend my deepest condolences to Chastity’s family and friends.”

Chastity will certainly be missed by us all. May her memory be a blessing to her family and friends.

The Following Classmates are Lost to Bryn Mawr College. If you have any information on their whereabouts, please email mward@brynmawr.edu

Ahmed, Fatima Humera
Antoniou-Carson, Adriana
Calvo, Veronica Salcedo
Carey, Valerie Joy Elizabeth
Field, Maia Terue
Halkides, Daria Jean
Kim, Ahram
Li, Mu Yang
Lui, Jane Ching Yee
Murugesan, Kavitha
Pizana, Eunice Gracia
Richardson, Rebecca
Siegel, Lauren Stacy
Silverman, Elana Tzipara
Sobhan, Dina
Sood, Dorothy Kaur
Spangler, Maria Grace
Surbeck, Leslie Winter
Tan, Susan Shui-Shan
Tomasoski, Therese Kay
Utley, Dawn Anette

Dear Class of 1997,

It’s time to get your dancing shoes packed and get ready to head back to the Seventies! Let’s celebrate the decade we were born in by attending our 15th reunion May 25-27, 2012!

So, what can you expect at Reunion? Tours, panels, faculty visits, reminiscing, laughs, dancing, and a whole lot of fun are on the agenda. The Alumnae Association has been working hard to plan a wonderful weekend for everyone. Soon you will be receiving a program of events with a list of costs, class meeting information, and dinner information, as well as other program information including the registration form. We are hoping all of you will fill out the registration form and enjoy a weekend with the Class of 1997. We are also working really hard to be family friendly. There will be toys and crafts for the little ones and some games for the significants to enjoy while we take care of reunion business. There is also “Reunion Camp” for children ages 3-11 for a fee. Please let Jenn know if you are bringing any little ones and what their ages are so that the children’s area is prepped and ready to go.

Start budgeting now. The total cost for the weekend is approximately $300 per adult. We know in these times that money can be tight. Hopefully with the advance notice, you can plan and join us for a fun weekend.

After some good response on the Facebook poll, the canvas reusable bag with red handles was the winner. The quote on the bag will be “Keep Calm and Mawrter On”. I know I can’t wait to get my hands on one.

Anyone who knows they are attending the reunion and wouldn’t mind volunteering to be songmistress please let one of us know. As of now, we do not have a songmistress for the reunion. Also, we have some positions open to get us to our 20th reunion. If you are interested in being 20th Reunion Manager, Annual Fund Chair or Songmistress please let one of us know. The 3 of us have really enjoyed being of planning a great reunion.

Do you want to keep updated on reunion happenings? Check out our class website http://class1997.blogs.brynmawr.edu or join our Facebook group – BMC ’97 Reunion 2012.

If you are interested into helping with the reunion, we would appreciate it. Just let us know. We are looking forward to seeing everyone in May. Until then, stay happy and healthy!

Jennifer Santos-Gramble
jlgramble@gmail.com
15th Reunion Manager

Saran Robertson
sarahdphilly@gmail.com
Class President

Lisa Trefethen
ltrefeth@gmail.com
Class President