A MESSAGE FROM THE CLASS PRESIDENT:
Hello Class of 2001!! Though the Covid-19 pandemic still challenges many of us in so many ways, the availability of vaccines has brought hope that we will return to pre-pandemic life in the near future. Spring is finally in the air, marked by the annual Bulb Show at our beloved Botanical Garden (held virtually this year March 6- 21st). Some of us have enjoyed a brief, warm respite from winter this past week, venturing out from our work-at-home caves to enjoy the sunshine outdoors in our pandemic pajamas and yoga pants.
Adding to the challenges of the pandemic, our Smith community became a brief focus of the national media in February (I highly recommend checking out President McCartney’s message to the community). As the College’s strong commitment to advancing racial justice was evaluated by the world outside of the Smith bubble, I found myself reaching out to my classmates and grateful for the ability to process these events as a community of Smithies. The connections we made together as undergraduates or when we met over Reunion weekends, or more recently, virtually over Zoom or through Facebook groups centered so many of us as we navigated the storm coming from people who don’t understand what makes Smith Smith. We leaned on each other through this experience as we’ve leaned on each other before, and will continue to do moving forward. The conversations I was a part of or witnessed were hard, but moving forward is a process that hurts. It is through the pain that something good comes, and we need to recognize the work that needs to be done in order for us to progress. Nothing is perfect, but together we can work together to create a better place.
I am so looking forward to connecting with you all at our reunion in just a few months!
Take care and be well,
Kerri Tolokonsky-Blabac
REUNION UPDATE
Our 20th Reunion: 2001 Goes Platinum: Together Even When We’re Apart will be held virtually June 3-6. We have been busy brainstorming our virtual reunion programming and are excited by some of the ideas so far! There will be a lot of shared programming presented by Smith including the Ivy Day Parade, professor lectures, a virtual tea meet-up, and possible virtual tours of the library. We’ll also have programming just for 2001! Feel free to start digging out some Smith mementos, shirts, etc, to share as part of the festivities, and start looking for your old photos–we’re hoping to have you send them in soon for a fun slideshow. We’re also exploring the possibility of setting up additional sessions for such things as house-specific meet-ups, so if you’d be interested in being a house liaison, please contact Alexis Saarela. And just a note, our virtual reunion will be free for all, so please spread the word so we can get as many of our classmates together as possible!
SUBMIT YOUR CLASS NOTES
We love reading your news! Send your class notes for the SAQ to our class secretary. You can also use the Smith Alumnae Quarterly Class Notes form. Online submissions go directly to class secretaries.
CLASS SPOTLIGHT (Optional)
Class of ‘01 in the news:
Geologist Nina Lanza ‘01 Searches for Signs of Life on Mars
Merrill Garbus ‘01 and Tune-Yards perform on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert
FUNDRAISING UPDATE & APPEAL
From Kate Stano: Fundraising is going full speed ahead, but we need your help to reach our 20th Reunion participation goal of 20%. Please consider making your gift today! The 20th Reunion is virtual and it is FREE. Perhaps consider donating all or part of what you would have paid to attend reunion to the Smith Fund to benefit current students. Gifts of any size are welcome and count towards our class participation!
From Lizzy Zacharias Owens: As many of you know, Kate and I are huge proponents of the importance of planned giving. It’s an easy way to make a big difference to Smith, and it doesn’t affect you at all! I recently finished reading “Band of Sisters’ by Lauren Willig, which follows the Smith College Relief Unit (fictionalized but based on real people) on their journey to Grecourt, France. Why am I mentioning this? The Grecourt Society is the name of the planned giving society at Smith, because it is about the importance of leaving a lasting legacy. Smithies left an enduring legacy in Grecourt, France and the Gates in front of College Hall commemorate that legacy. Join Kate and me–and many others–in leaving a gift in your estate plans for Smith. Learn more here: https://smith.plannedgiving.org/society
