SAHS Alumni Association

January 21, 2021 Meeting Minutes

Zoom Meeting

 

12 Members and 1 guest attended via zoom/phones at 7:00pm.

 

President Amy Henninger Rachau ’83 called the meeting to order at 7:16p.m.

 

President Amy Henninger Rachau ’83 called for a moment of silence for all alumni members who passed away in 2020-2021, for the people who passed away due to the COVID-19 virus, and those who are suffering with the COVID-19 virus.

 

The President introduced guest Patti Rhoades, Senior Class Advisor for 2020-2021.

 

PRINCIPAL REPORT:

 

Mary Anne Brennan Stump ’00 read a brief note from the high school principal Todd Hockenbroch ’97.  He appreciates all our efforts and asks us to reach out to him if needing any feedback.

 

SECRETARY’S REPORT:

 

Minutes from October 24, 2020 meeting via zoom/phone are on the website for review.

John Klinger ’68 made a motion to accept the report and Jeffrey Schlader ’73 seconded the motion.  All were in favor.

 

TREASURER’S REPORT:

Gregory Dwulet ’68, Treasurer provided an update via email as follows:

 

General Fund------------------$15,801.72

Educational Fund-------------$33,226.96

 

John Klinger ’68 made a motion to accept the report and Mary Anne Pitorak Miller, ‘74 seconded the motion.  All were in favor.

 

COMMUNICATIONS:  nothing to report at this time.

 

COMMITTEE  REPORTS:

Banquet:  John Klinger ’68 reported it’s good to go but undetermined if event will occur in 2021 due to COVID-19.  Date for the banquet is Memorial Day Weekend, which is Saturday, May 29, 2021 at Masser’s Banquet Hall, Paxinos, PA.  If the event occurs, social distancing and mask will be required.  Please check the alumni website for any ongoing updates as we review options.

 

Afterglow:  Patti Rhoades, Class Advisor will be taking a survey with the students (senior and juniors) to find out if there is interest in staying for the Afterglow following the Banquet.  Outcome of the survey will provide helpful input on how we proceed this year or in the future.

 

Entertainment:  Mary Anne Brennan Stump ’00 reported that if there is a banquet, some form of entertainment will be provided.

 

Invitation/Newsletter:  Mary Anne Brennan Stump ’00 reported that she is in contact with our printer Paulhamus Litho, Inc.  Brad Fox is the contact.  MaryAnne to work with the Arts Festival folks for details and others as needed.  We may end up adding one-time items to the newsletter to take up space.  She would like all article information to be sent to her by Friday February 12, 2021 for proof reading.

 

Programs:  Mary Anne Pitorak Miller ’74 reported that she will pull together the program for the banquet.  Mary Anne reminded Amy Henninger Rachau ’83 that she will need to secure a minister for the opening Invocation and closing Benediction.

 

Jeffrey Schlader ’73 past president 2019-2020 and Amy Henninger Rachu ’83 will co-host at the Banquet.  Amy needs to submit a President’s Letter.

 

Past Presidents who passed away and will be reflected in the banquet program:

- 1981 Helen Jane Murphy from class of 1943.

- 2003 Joan A. Rhoades Donmoyer from the class of 1952.

 

Auditing:  nothing to report at this time.

 

Awards:  Possibly in person awards with the students.  Last year they were taped and presented via an online broadcast from the school at the awards program due to Covid-19.  Unclear if this would need to occur again at the end of the current school year, especially if we do not have a banquet to report scholarship winners.  Amy Henninger Rachau ’83 and Jeff Schlader ’73 (president from last year) to work together on a presentation.

 

By-Laws:  nothing to report at this time.

 

Class Representatives:  Jeffrey Clutcher ’78 reported the loss of the following members:

1943 Helen Jane Murphy

1946 Lorraine Wetzel Strausser

 

Jeff reported we added the class of 2020 representatives Nathan Grimes and Chloe Yoder.

 

Jeff encouraged Class Representatives to attend Alumni meetings.

 

Jeff reminded Patti Rhoades - Class Advisor - that 2 seniors are needed to be selected as class representatives for the class of 2021.  They also need to make a class banner which will be displayed on the anniversary of their class- 5 years, 10 years, etc.

 

Educational Fund:  Bob Mattis ’68 reported that they will be having a meeting in February to review amounts to be awarded.  He anticipates the same award amounts as last year.

John Clutcher ’74 reminded those attending that the Policies and Procedures section of the alumni webpage contains information on how to go about promoting the scholarship and subject matter award information with the students.

 

No date yet on Scholarship testing at the High School.  Amy Henninger Rachau ’83 and Erik S. Anderson ’97 will check into it.

 

Memorabilia:  Jeffrey Clutcher ’78 reported that he received around 12 yearbooks in the years he was on the Shamokin school board from the family of Walter Fidler.  Jeff noted that the year books were started in 1919.

 

Anyone interested in a yearbook from previous years can contact Jeff to see if any are available.  A donation for the cost of mailing and handling will be encouraged.  John Clutcher ’74 to update the website with this information in the FAQ section.

 

Jeff asked if the supply of extra yearbooks from past years is still plentiful, he would like to donate them the Historical Society.  All were in favor.

 

Nominations:  Mary Anne Brennan Stump ’00 came forward and has accepted the position of Vice President for 2021 – 2022.

 

Publicity:  Jamie A. Hoffman Bordell ’75 placed a notice in the News Item for this Zoom meeting.  It appeared in Noteworthy and Community Calendar on Saturday/Sunday Jan. 16-17, 2021.  Community calendar from Tuesday January 19, to Thursday January 21, 2021.

 

Website:  John Clutcher ’74 reported:

 

10/26/2020 - updated officers to reflect registrar and historian to be one person on the webpage.  Prior to approval at the 10/24 meeting, it was two separate positions.

 

11/28/2020 – added the following to the FAQ section of the website based upon a request from a class.

Q:Does the alumni association plan and/or help pay for individual class reunions?

A: Each class is responsible to pull off their own class reunion. The alumni association does not get involved at that level. You can reach out to the class representatives listed on the webpage to see if they can provide input. Those class representatives are not necessarily involved with individual class reunion planning, but they may be able to give some direction.

(see the alumni website for full details of this response)

https://www.indians.k12.pa.us/Page/2181

 

01/09/2021 – removed ’43 Helen Jane Murphy and ’46 Lorraine Wetzel Strausser from the Class Representatives list due to their recent deaths.

 

Webpage reflects Facebook entry for the alumni association created in the fall 2014.  Current membership is at 271 (up from 267 at the October 24th, 2020 meeting).

 

Facebook Group for Shamokin Area High School Alumni Association:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/539207516138422/

 

 

OLD BUSINESS:

Next meeting will be our Spring meeting -7pm - Thursday April 22, 2021 at Grace Lutheran Church, Shamokin.  Social Distancing and mask are required.

Meetings are currently scheduled to be onsite but could change to include Zoom activity due to COVID-19.  Please check website for updates.

 

 

NEW BUSINESS: 

Erik Anderson’97 brought up a suggestion for a Trivia game to be done at the Afterglow.  Prizes could be purchased from local business to help them out during these trying times.  Patti Rhoades, Class Advisor will get input from the students on this topic.

Patti will also get students from the School’s Newspaper “The Signal” to work on placing an article in the paper on what the Shamokin Area High School Alumni Association represents.

John Clutcher ’74 – from our website - is willing to work with Patti on this project.  She will connect a student with John for review of information for their project.

The School website for the student newspaper is:

http://www.indians.k12.pa.us/TheSignal

 

Comments:  nothing at this time.

 

Zoom meeting adjourned at 8:19pm.

 

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

 

Jamie A. Hoffman Bordell ‘75

Secretary

Shamokin Area High School Alumni Association