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CLASS OF 1954 • 55th Reunion
May 28 - May 31, 2009

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Dear '54 Classmates,

Can you believe our FIFTY-FIFTH reunion is coming up? Reserve the weekend of May 29-31, or May 28-31 if you want to participate in the Alumni College “Classes without Quizzes” program which sounds worth the extra day. Some of the offerings this year will include:

• an afternoon of poetry and writing with UMW's Pulitzer Prize-winning faculty member Claudia Emerson and former Virginia Poet Laureate Carolyn Kreiter-Foronda '69
• a "behind the scenes" session at UMW's Ridderhof Martin Gallery
• a hands-on art workshop with distinguished professor of art Joe DiBella
• a session on digital history featuring techniques for preserving history (academic and personal) as well as a peek at UMW's digital archives
• a historic preservation walking tour

Put this date on your calendar right this minute. Whenever you come, be sure to arrive on campus well before rush hour, or you’ll be sitting in traffic worse than DC’s. (Honestly!)

In the meantime: Following the opening reception at Brompton on Friday evening, Cindy Snyder '75, Director of Alumni Relations, has reserved a dining room for us in Seacobeck where, besides dinner, we will also have our class meeting.

There will be no shuttles from the motels this year, so keep traffic in mind when you book your reservation. Rooms have been blocked for alumni at 5 motels, guaranteed through early May or until filled. Identify yourself as a UMW alumnus when registering. The employees will try to keep classes together.

The closest ones are:

Best Western Fredericksburg: No elevators - Rt.3 E. beside Shoney’s - Use Group Name UMW Reunion when registering - 540-371-5050, $79/night, up to 4 guests/room.

Quality Inn (formerly the Hampton Inn): No elevators - Rt. 3 E. across from Shoney’s - Use Group Name UMW Reunion when registering - 540-371-0330, $69/night, up to 4 guests/room.
The next three are located in “Central Park” within a few miles of the Rt. 3/I-95 interchange and with easy access to UMW through Cowan Blvd and Route 1. (Cindy plans to provide a map for a later mailing). All have elevators.

Hampton Inn & Suites: Use Group Code “REU” when registering, 540-786-5530, $109/night, King/Double Queen

Homewood Suites: All suites have full kitchens. Use Group Code “REU” when registering, 540-786-9700, $119/night, King Suite with Pull Out.

Hilton Garden Inn: Use Name of Event UMW Reunion Weekend '09 when registering. This has a back way access to the campus via Rt. 1, 540-548-8822, $109/night for 2 guests, (more than 2 guests, add $10/each).

There will be golf carts around campus to help anyone who needs assistance.

You will not have received the UMW Magazine (formerly TODAY) telling you that our DC area planning group of so many years has lost two very active and much loved members. Vera Bestwick Willis and “Toni” Miller Drain died within a week of each other in December. Mary Ann Dorsey Judy had just alerted me that Vera had been bedridden after a stroke and heart attack in February, but Vera was offering help to me when I called the night before she died. Toni was diagnosed in February also, with a rare form of breast cancer. Having a planning meeting without them will be very difficult. I am hoping that Pat Hatfield Mayer, Pat Johnson Beck and Helen Wilbur Vogel will still be on call. Helen Hodges Conte in Frederick has also offered to help. Contact them or me with any suggestions, wishes, etc.

Find your photo button from our 50th and WEAR it when you come.

All best wishes and please be there in May!

Ruth Gillespie Simpson
6610 Elgin Lane
Bethesda MD 20817
301-229-5059

Regs2000@aol.com or
Regs2008@gmail.com

More information will be posted as it becomes available. Keep checking back for more details!