Date: Sun, 13 Apr 2008 20:38:48 -0400
To: Corps@west-point.org
From: Bob Magruder <bob.magruder@west-point.org>
Subject: WP-ORG: FD23 Message - Graduate Services
West Point Graduates and customers of WP-ORG!!!….Many of you deserves and
need more than you may be getting from WP.ORG. We do our best to provide all
classes a quality class support system, but some classes are not fully
advantaging their classmates with that potential.
Maintaining communications with classmates and a direct connection to their
West Point class is at the top of most graduates “to do” list. How can we make
such an outrageous statement? One of the most extensive surveys of West Point
graduates was conducted by WP.ORG in conjunction with and support of the AOG and
USMA. It represented the voices of over 5,000 graduates during the beginning
stages of the Internet. It was accomplished in late 1997, and the results were
provided to the 12,000+ users of WP.ORG at that time. As there are now over
30,000 users it may interest some of you (with a lot of time on your hands) to
take a look at the below URL of the full survey data and analysis. A summary was
presented to the USMA leadership and the AOG Board of Trustees in February 1998:
http://www.west-point.org/service/surveyor/survey101/
Dozens of USMA classes flourish with capabilities provided by WP.ORG. Many others however, seem reluctant to intrude appreciably on the time and privacy of their classmates. The above survey shows that classmates get most of their information about West Point and the AOG from other classmates. That is the source of information they cherish most.
The bonding of each class in our four years at USMA is often stronger than
with any other group developed in our lifetime. Time and misery are strange bed
fellows. Classes that go to war have other bonds formed, but the one with
classes and classmates seem even stronger after such experiences. Your Class is
a part of your family.
A healthy class support and communication’s system finds classmates that are
missing and “wandering in the wilderness of life”. It finds former
roommates/classmates that did not graduate and classmate’s widows and widowers,
and brings them into the fold.
“Silence” and “nothing heard” is not what is needed. WP.ORG and AOG offer
every class a “push” list to provide the class leader with the ability to alert
the class to Reunion and fund raising events. If that is all your class has and
uses, it is time to get personally involved, regardless of how old or young your
class is. WP.ORG provides to your class anything we can provide that is within
our capability. The only burden on you and your class is simply to look at all
the services provided and ask for them (feedback@west-point.org).
WP.ORG long ago surveyed our user graduates interests to anticipate future
needs for services. Golf, skiing, tennis and cruises seemed to be the top
interest items. Some examples of what my class has done: a class ski trip for
over a dozen straight years using our Ski64 listserver to setup and coordinate
our annual ski trip; a Golf64 list that helps support a handful of our annual
major golf outings; our DC64 list has all classmates within a hundred or so
miles of DC is used for an annual class picnic and other class outings that
might now include Arlington funerals; and a Bridge64 list gives a monthly group
of classmates and wives another excuse to get together. Classmates can come from
as far as California and even Argentina. The HQ64 list gives the class
leadership the means to plan reunions and outings. And that grows to the
Reunion64 list for the actual detailed reunion planning. These are just examples
of FREE listserver support available to any class at WP.ORG and some currently
in use by the class of 1964.
Many classes develop a Forum listserver (usma1964forum) to allow classmates
to discuss and even argue a little about the issues of the day. This is a modest
start and it might initially cure the itch of class bonding. For all the trouble
in moderating and refereeing such a list, it really brings great joy to many
classmates to just be a part of the process, to listen to so many intelligent
personas, to learn new things, to feel connected, and to know that when the time
comes for something really important, this group will be there for you. My own
class is so active I have to participate in what is called the “digest” mode. I
get 10 messages at a time, organized so well that I can go only to the ones with
topics of interest.
Am I promoting work for WP.ORG? Yes!! Why? We have created this capability,
and potential, to serve as a class (parent) support system. We would like to
have all classes as vibrant communication centers, buzzing with classmates doing
all the things they want to do. For some classes WP.ORG is the end-all in
communication services. For others, unfortunately we are still a “potential
looking for a mission”.
WP.ORG reports to our users every six months to raise a specific, but almost
negligible amount of money required to operate these services and many more. To
make a secure donation by using a credit card, go to this URL:
https://secure.west-point.org/donate
Or you may donate by check to our CFO at:
WP-ORG
3800 Buffalo Mountain Road SW
Willis, Virginia 24380-5082
We track donations, so please indicate your affiliation and/or year group on
your check.
Regardless of the donation method you choose, WP-ORG is recognized by the IRS as a 501c(3) non-profit organization and your donation is 100% tax deductible. If you company offers matching gifts, our EIN number is 51-03877132.
Thanks for your continuing support!!
Bob Magruder ‘64
Advisor, WP-ORG