USMA CLASS OF 1977 Class Gift Update 22 May 1998

From: Chmar, A. COL OEMA
Sent: Friday, May 22, 1998 12:10 PM
Subject: Class Gift and Fundraising Committees

Fellow '77 Classmates:

John Luther and I wanted to update you on our efforts to identify an appropriate class gift for our 25th reunion. Over the past six months, the class gift committee has met several times to develop a slate of appropriate gift candidates, which the entire class was solicited to vote on in April. The results of that vote have been tabulated and the clear selection was the Electronic Event Marquee, to be constructed near of Buffalo Soldiers Field at the intersection of Thayer and Mills Road. The second choice was the Center for Army Values & Character Development, which the committee agreed would be a worthy recipient of future endowments, as determined by size of the Gift Foundation Account. Although much is required to be done between now and 2002 to bring the Marquee to being a reality, as a class we have taken a significant first step. You will hear more about the gift, and see a engineering design, in the future. More importantly, the '77 theme for both $ and participation, which you should have read about in our most recent mailing, will be our target for the next five years. The bar is high but achievable for an endowment which we hope will provide a lasting legacy for our class.

As importantly, the Gift Committee set into motion the formation of a Fundraising Committee, which Scott Anders and Vinnie Viola serve as Co-Chairmen. The initial organizational meeting of this committee was held yesterday in New York and the structure was fleshed out. The following classmates volunteered to serve as Vice Chairman of these respected sub-units:

Company Representative Network: Bob Lamb (robert_c_lamb@fleet.com) Corporate Contact Network: John Cicerrelli (ptcjcj@aol.com) Major Donor Network: Dave Chepauskas (DRCNJ@aol.com)

Based on previous offers to help, we have tentatively identified the company representatives who will help develop the internal communications plan for each of the original companies, but would like to see more names. If you are interested, contact Bob directly and he will pencil you in. It will be a great way to reconnect with our classmates. We have also received ideas for developing support in the other two areas, which have been passed to John and Dave, but I encourage you to contact them as well. All three are looking for as much help as they can get. You will be hearing much more regarding fundraising from Scott and Vinnie in the near future. Contact either of them if you would like to be an active member of the Fundraising Committee outside the three activities above.

Lastly, if you know of classmates who have not stayed connected, please encourage them to update their addresses with the AOG and to become participants in this great endeavor. Have a great summer!

--Andy and John
Andrew T. Chmar
ANDREW T. CHMAR
COL, OD
Director, Office of Economic and Manpower Analysis
Department of Social Sciences, USMA

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