"Shared Experience"

A new emphasis on Reunion giving is one of two ways the Colleges will try to amplify class identity.

By Peter Rolph '85

Reunion '86 was a hot time at Hobart and William Smith Colleges. Literally. Especially at the dance Saturday night inside Winn-Seeley Gym.

Nancy Nowak Rutherford '71 remembers particularly that Reunion almost 12 years ago - her 15th anniversary year. A "knot of classmates," as she puts it, had stepped outside for some fresh air and the chance to talk.

It was a beautiful, starlit evening. They wound up sitting in the bleachers above the tennis courts. From there they could see much of the Hill and the western campus.

"We stayed there until 1 a.m. We just started talking and suddenly there was no chasm of years."

Rutherford remembers talking about the flavor and excitement of their era, about little things like "afternoon teas"; and about bigger things, like anti-war protests and coming to Hobart and William Smith in the late '60s when the Colleges had a dress code for women.

About the dress code, she says, "We decided we weren't going to stand for it, and we didn't. It was an incredible time, and that was just one thing that became part of our identity."

"We've gone our own ways and chosen different paths," says Rutherford, who volunteers as a Reunion coordinator, "but we always have that shared experience, that sense of class identity that draws us together."

Among the many concerns and characteristics that bind alums together, the sense of class identity that Rutherford describes is probably the strongest — especially at Reunion. Over time, alums discover that the memories of the HWS era they shared brings them together.

John Norvell '66, director of alumni relations, sees, at every Reunion, a "grassroots movement by alums to emphasize their class identity. People simply want to do more with their classmates," he says, "and we've done some refining to help make that happen."

In fact, the Colleges are making two moves to support class identity. First, beginning with Reunion '98, the Colleges will invite all five-year classes (fifth-anniversary class, 10th, 15, etc.) to take part. This will add to the opportunities for alums to reconnect, to rediscover common ground, and remember the times they shared.

"People get to know one another at reunions, and I think they're sometimes surprised by how much they have in common with their classmates, especially the people they didn't know very well," says Norvell. "It happens every time classmates get together."

Tim Shea '84, president of the Hobart Alumni Council, agrees that connections can grow stronger with classmates, especially in an every-five-years cycle. "I always say I want to know more people in my class," Shea explains, "so I see this as an opportunity. Coming together every five years provides an even better framework for connecting with each other and a place that's truly special."

The second Reunion refinement is a formalized emphasis on class giving, helping graduates unite as a class to present a gift to the Colleges. Increasingly, alums see "Reunion giving" as a way of honoring their experience at the Colleges.

In fact, there is a rich, albeit patchwork, tradition of classes uniting to give something back at Reunion. Just last spring, the classes of '51, '52, '53 (a cluster group) and '72 took obvious pride in their combined gifts in support of The Campaign for Hobart and William Smith Colleges.

"The act of giving becomes part of the celebration and Reunion weekend is enriched by the gift," says Lori Emmons, the Colleges' new director of Reunion campaigns (pictured at right). Many alums, Emmons notes, see Reunion giving as a very hands-on opportunity to stay connected with each other and the Colleges, particularly as they develop a greater understanding of the Colleges' priorities and how their gift will make a difference.

"Reunion giving," she adds, "is based entirely on class identity — the idea of classmates coming together and doing something meaningful as a class."

Alums use Reunion gift campaigns to build momentum and anticipation. The campaigns, which culminate with a celebration and gift presentation at Reunion, provide an extended opportunity to reconnect and network during the build-up to the big weekend.

Reunion gifts will come in virtually all shapes and sizes. Annual unrestricted gifts, capital gifts, gifts-in-kind, and planned gifts will all count toward a class's total Reunion gift. "People can give according to their preference," Emmons continues, "but by giving during the Reunion campaign they honor their classmates and experiences at the Colleges. Since it's their classmates asking them to give, it's likely they will step up and do something special, perhaps even make a first-time gift."

Classes may set different goals or have different focuses for their Reunion gifts. For instance, fifth-year classes will concentrate on participation - getting as many classmates as possible to support their effort in whatever way they can. A 40th or 50th Reunion class, on the other hand, may focus on getting classmates to include the Colleges in their estate plans.

Like reunions themselves, Reunion giving is almost entirely volunteer driven, and all types of volunteers are needed to make the campaigns successful, both in terms of raising money for the Colleges and building class identity. Whether it's asking classmates to make a gift, coordinating events, developing a program, or contacting classmates and encouraging them to come back and be part of the celebration, every member of a class can contribute to the Reunion experience and help shape class identity.

As time passes and classes keep coming back (now every five years), Reunion gifts will take on greater significance for classmates who understand them more clearly as a way of honoring and building upon their identity, their legacy as a class.

"As we move through life," says Rutherford, "differences drop away and our shared experiences become even stronger, more important, and people grow closer. I think that's part of what Reunion is all about."

Peter Rolph '85 is a writer and editor on the College Relations staff.

This article originally appeared in the Winter ‘98 issue of The Pulteney St. Survey. To request a copy, e-mail Dana Cooke at murad@hws.edu.

Also of Interest

Director of Reunion Giving
Send an e-mail to the new director of reunion campaigns.