Shamokin Area High School Alumni Association

Spring Meeting Minutes

April 7th, 2025

The Spring Business Meeting was held at Grace Lutheran Church - Shamokin, PA. 

About 18 members were in attendance.  Zoom was available and utilized for the meeting. 

President Ann Henniger Watts ’78 called the business meeting to order at 6:05pm. 

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT:  Todd Hockenbroch’s ’97 report was unavailable. 

SECRETARY’S REPORT:  Minutes from the January 6, 2025, meeting were posted on the website for review.  The minutes were approved.  All were in favor. 

TREASURER’S REPORT:  Greg Dwulet ’68 was unable to attend the meeting.  No report available from Greg.

COMMUNICATIONS:  Amy Henninger Rachau ‘83 reported the notification for the meeting tonight was in the News-Item. Amy stated a News-Item representative would be onsite to take pictures the day of the banquet.

COMMITTEE REPORTS: Banquet:  John Klinger ‘68 and Bonny Ensinger Klinger ’68 reported we are set for the banquet on Saturday, May 24th, 2025, at Masser’s Catering of Paxinos – Banquet Hall. Detailed information is included in the April 2025 Newsletter.  Day of Banquet Schedule:  

• 8 am Breakfast - Payment on your own - Masser’s Restaurant
• 9 am Setup - Masser’s Catering Hall
• 4:15 pm Last minute setup and finalization of details - Masser’s Catering Hall
• 5:45 pm Start of Banquet - Masser’s Catering Hall
• 7:00 pm Business Meeting - Masser’s Catering Hall

Jamie Hoffman Brodell ’75 reported she has ordered flowers, and they will be onsite the day of the banquet.  Billing will go directly to our Treasurer, Greg Dwulet ’68.

2025 Graduating students will have a chance to introduce themselves and state where they will be attending school. The goal is to have two microphones on the day of the event in order to keep the flow of the banquet moving.  

Afterglow: Erik Anderson ‘97 is getting gift cards for prizes. 

Entertainment: Mary Anne Brennan Stump ’00 reported that Joe Dudeck, the Choral Director will be at the banquet with students to perform. Songs have not been finalized at this time. 

Invitations/Newsletters: Madison Blackwell ‘17 has stepped down after the publication of the April 2025 Newsletter. Marshall Buggy ‘19 has taken over Chair to the Invitation/Newsletter Committee. He was available via Zoom. Newsletters have been mailed, and individuals have reported receiving them by mail. Electronic Newsletter has also been posted on the Facebook Alumni page and on the Alumni Association website.  Update to the newsletter verbiage, change President’s Message to Outgoing President’s Message on page 1 for future publications. 

Program: Mary Anne Pitorak Miller ’74 will be ordering 250 programs for the banquet.  The cutoff date for the Necrology list is May 9, 2025.  We still need a clergy person for the banquet. 

Auditing: Nothing to report. 

Awards:  Awards Ceremony will be held on June 2, 2025, at the Shamokin Area High School.  Ann Henniger Watts ’78 will be available to present awards to students. Ann will contact Matt Weller ‘91 to coordinate which awards are to be presented on Awards night.  Ann will update SAHS Alumni Association Scholastic Award Program Procedural Document for next president. 

Note - A document on the awards program is available on the website which describes the process.  See "SAHS Alumni Association Scholastic Awards Program Procedural Document" under Policy and Procedures. 

By-Laws: Jamie Hoffman Bordell ‘75 volunteered for the committee.  

Class Representatives: Jeff Clutcher '78 reported that Cindy Sarge Poboy ‘70 is stepping down as class representative.  Susan Shuey ‘70 is the current representative for the class of 1970 

Educational Fund: Bob Mattis ’68 reported Scholarship/Award amounts will remain the same as previous years, with the expectation of the R. Thomas Lynch Memorial Award which will increase to 8 recipients. 

Memorabilia: Jeff Clutcher '78 had nothing to report. 

Nominations: We are in need of a female VP for the 2025 banquet business meeting. Ashley Miller Yeager ‘03 will post on Facebook Alumni page about the open VP position.  

Publicity: Amy Henninger Rachau '83 reported the Community Calendar of the News-Item listed this meeting for several weeks. 

Website: Ashley Miller Yeager '03 took over the duties of the webpage and Facebook for the alumni association. A discussion was started on whether there is a need for email accounts for officers to assist in filtering out scam email.  You can check out the website using the following path: http://www.indians.k12.pa.us/alumni 

Webpage report reflects Facebook entry for the alumni association created in the fall 2014.  Current membership is at 1,281.

 Facebook Group for Shamokin Area High School Alumni Association https://www.facebook.com/groups/shamokinalumni 

OLD BUSINESS: Follow-up from the fall meeting – Erik Anderson ‘94 is seeing if we can also get the shovel and the miner's helmet to display at the banquet alongside the coal bucket.  Erik will also ask if Athletic Director Rick Kashner will attend the banquet. Follow-up from the fall meeting – Amy Henninger Rachu ’83 is the point person to review getting two banners – one for the stadium and the other for the gym from the alumni association.  $600 was approved.  Creation of an Alumni Association Logo is being investigated.  Amy has reached out to the high school art teacher, Mr. McGugan for design art from the students.  She is waiting to hear back.   

NEW BUSINESS: H. Robert Mattis ‘68 to follow up on the Shamokin Area Industrial Development Authority fund to see if the alumni association qualifies for any funding.

COMMENTS:

142 Annual Reunion will be held on Saturday, May 24, 2025, at 5:45 pm at Masser’s Banquet Hall in Paxinos, PA.  Business Meeting to follow at 7:00 pm 

With no further business, H. Robert Mattis ‘68 and Eric Anderson ’94 made a motion to close the meeting.  All approved.  The meeting was adjourned at 7:15pm.  

Respectfully Submitted,

Nicole Bills Beasley '03

Secretary