Dear
Classmates,
We’re in the final month of 2007 - a mere nine months from our 40th reunion and
less than six months from the scheduled end of our Class Gift fund-raising
effort. Here’s where we stand:
November brought us a significant stride closer to our financial target of
$2.7M, the estimated amount necessary to cover cost for the Class of 1968
Rotunda in the new USMA library, Thomas Jefferson Hall. We are now just under
$200K from reaching that goal. Particular thanks for recent progress to those
classmates who stood up the $68K Challenge - - and to those classmates
who rose to meet that challenge with “new money contributions”, dollars not
fulfilling already existing pledges. The $68K Challenge is now fully subscribed,
having added a total of $136K to the balance of our class gift account since
mid-October when it was announced. Thanks, too, to those classmates who
continue to fulfill their pledges with monthly allotments and to those
classmates who continue to contribute lump sums. Together, we continue to make
real progress.
Thanks and congratulations to the four classmates who have ordered Thomas
Jefferson maquettes. The $1,500 charitable
contribution portion of the purchase price for each maquette
will be transferred to our class gift account by the end of this month,
crediting you with a charitable contribution for that amount in 2007. There’s
still time for Santa to place maquette orders for
good little boys during this holiday season – although maquettes
won’t be available for delivery until early in 2008. For details on the maquette offer, go to <
https://secure.west-point.org/usma1968/classgift>.
A couple months ago, Pres Miller shared particulars of USMA’s approved memorialization of our class in the new library rotunda - bronze plaques recognizing our gift, remembering
our classmates who fell in Vietnam and acknowledging major financial
contributions in support of our Class Gift. While the design is not yet
finalized, we are appending to this note a mock-up of that major donor plaque.
The classmate names on the mock-up reflect current cash contributions (and
employer matching amounts) already received and deposited in our class gift account.
More classmate names will be added and some names will change location as
additional contributions arrive, outstanding pledges are fulfilled, and
employer matching amounts are received. We contemplate four groupings of names
on the donor plaque: the first grouping will include the names of those whose
cumulative contributions reach or exceed $100K, the second grouping will
include the names of those whose cumulative contributions reach or exceed $50K,
the third grouping will include the names of those whose cumulative
contributions reach or exceed $25K and the fourth grouping will include the
names of those whose cumulative contributions reach or exceed $15K. To qualify
for placement on the plaque, contributions must be received not later than 5 June
2008. This is will allow a final list of major contributor names to be compiled
and the bronze donor plaque to be cast and installed in the library rotunda in
a timely manner, synchronized with the library construction schedule. Thanks to
each of the classmates whose names are already arrayed on the plaque mock-up
for your exceptional generosity in support of the class gift effort. On the
basis of current pledges and planned contributions, we anticipate that many
more names will appear on this plaque in its final form. There is room for
“your name here” if it doesn’t already appear.
A couple additional thoughts as 2007 draws to a close.
We have made huge strides toward reaching our financial goal over the past
year. Thanks to each and every classmate who contributed to the cause, and to
the many classmates serving as company reps and to those who otherwise helped
reach out to solicit support for the class gift effort. As of the end of
November, 63.6% of our living classmates are “donors of record”, 176 classmates
have earned Bronze Class Coins by achieving cumulative contribution totals
reaching or exceeding the “fair share” level of $5K, and 74 classmates have
also earned Silver Class Coins by reaching or exceeding $10K. An updated Class
Coin List is attached and will be posted on our class webpage at <
http://www.west-point.org/class/usma1968>. As we’ve stated before,
our twin goals in this Class Gift effort are to timely and successfully
conclude our fund-raising efforts by the 40th anniversary of our graduation (5
June 2008) and to make ours truly a Class Gift with as many classmates as
possible participating in the effort. At this point, nearly a third of our
living classmates haven’t joined the effort at all – some because we haven’t
located them, some because they’ve been procrastinating and some who haven’t
yet decided to provide their support. Each of us can help close the
financial equation with an additional contribution - and each of us can
help with the outreach effort by “talking it up” among the classmates with whom
we have contact, encouraging those who haven’t yet done so to “close ranks” in
support of our Class Gift with a contribution that they are comfortable making.
No contribution is too modest – every contribution will be greatly appreciated.
The new USMA library will be a truly magnificent structure -
and the entryway to that magnificent structure will be through the Class
of 1968 rotunda. Our Class Gift will reflect our class motto: No Task Too
Great!
On behalf of the Class Gift Committee, the Class Memorialization
Committee and the Class Gift Fund-Raising Team, warm best wishes for a happy
holiday season to you and yours,
Dutch
Class Gift Committtee: Dutch Hostler, Dave Ohle, Dan Kaufman, Dave Gerard, Paul DeCoursey
and John Calabro
Class Memorialization Committee: Pres Miller, Paul DeCoursey, John Calabro, Joe
Fowler and Dutch Hostler
Class Fund-Raising Team: See the Class Webpages at <
http://www.west-point.org/class/usma1968>