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Windsor Mountain School Alumni Association, Inc. - September 8 – 10,
2006 Reunion final report.
General Statement:
Actual attendance was 140 alumni and 37 guests and a few (2 or 3) gate crashers.
First let me start by saying the event was awesome. The bond that unquestionably
exists between Windsorites of all eras is amazing.
The immense joy of sharing the campus for the weekend with people from 4
different decades of our schools past and discovering the common thread
that runs through and connects us all is the single most repeated comment from
those who attended.
Boston University the owner of the property initially required that we employ
their security people for this event. In the end because “everything was so calm
and controlled” they declined to bill us for the brief time they were in
attendance. It is very safe to say that our reputation with BU as remained after
the last event has been repaired and in the words of the properties manager we
will be welcome back anytime.
We also found a great friend in Rob Peterson the “Head of School” for
Berkshire Country Day. His visit with us on Saturday afternoon and address to
the group was warm
welcoming and punctuated by a tour he lead of the theater building which had not
been part of our arrangement.
Throughout the weekend we also had full access to the main house, all floors
all rooms were open and available to us.
Our registration area was in the front hall. People brought their significant
others, their parents and their children. There was impromptu folk music on the
back lawn as people broke out their guitars, banjos and voices. There was music
under the tent for Saturday nights party and there was music in the library.
And one of our own, in an incredible touching moment brought another of our
own back to Lenox and graduation hill. We actually closed the doors late
Saturday evening after the party under the tent and the memorial gathering in
the library. Benjamin Porter returned to take a panorama photograph as he had
done 10 years earlier this time offering a color copy as well.
In response to a posting on the Yahoo message board some thoughts on the
relatively small turnout.
There were many reasons why people did not attend. Some are very
understandable and begins with the overall costs involved. Some were strictly a
numbers thing, the 1996 effort was able to reach out to slightly less than a 50%
larger group, about 1500 vs 1000 people. Some, quite a few especially the
teachers and those with children still in school found the time of year to be a
problem. Either the main group of dissidents who battled over the original
pricing and general format as well as several others who pushed different
issues, some making the debates personal and uncivil, stayed away themselves and
influenced others to do the same.
We received several letters stating the "lack of harmony". For everyone that
wrote with this or similar reason there were likely 3 or 4 who reached the same
decision and did not write. Heinz’s decision during this period to not attend
also played a role in a few people’s decision not to attend. There was also some
confusion over the failed attempt to organize a 70’s only gathering at Jiminy
Peak by my predecessor. There were other factors like the botched and then
re-assigned phone confirmation effort that caused nearly six months delay in
getting out the word to those not on line or participating in the message board
shortening the time people who were not on the board (at the time as now @ 75%
of our confirmed community) had in receiving notice in time to make plans for
the journey.
The bottom line result is that we just barely had the turnout necessary to
cover the expenses and in fact several volunteers did not recover all of their
out of pocket costs
to help put this event together. It should also be noted that at this time no
one is looking for any further reimbursement and all the bills are paid. The
other sad fact is that with a larger turnout we would have been in a position to
entertain notions of doing some good works with the excess. Several ideas that
had been suggested were of course
the Windsor Mountain Foundation. A donation to the Lenox library in exchange for
maintaining an archive of donated Windsor memorabilia. And of course our
gracious host Berkshire Country Day, one of the remaining keepers of the New
England Private school tradition and current resident on our old campus.
In closing I would like to thank the association board, the many volunteers
and the alumni of Windsor Mountain for making this effort a joyous experience.
Dave Beller WMS ‘68.
The following comments were only some of those received .
Again thank you one and all.
DB
Ellie Downes
I was so impressed with the job you and your associates managed to pulloff
with our Reunion. I keep meaning to write you and Shirley, Joni, and the others
a real note but life keeps intruding. The weekend of the 8th is still with me
and I hope there will be more.
I know that you, like me, have just started a new job. It sounds like you're
doing well and are happy. I hope it all works out well for you.
I can't thing of anyone I'd rather carry the torch for WMS than you. You and
your co-planners gathered a bunch of (variously) scruffy, middle agers and
reminded us how to feel like the family of kids we are or were....
Diane Marshall 65-67
It was a magical weekend and gave us all a chance to touch base with our past
once again.To connect with our old classmates as adults was a cherished
experience.
I too thank Dave Beller and all involved in this wonderful weekend. our years
were so special and the people we have become is due to Windsor. I hope we can
do another Reunion before the next 10 years.
I am hoping to do another Wine Tasting Reunion in NE probably next year. I hope
many of you all can come. We had a lot of fun at the last one.
To all of you at the reunion it was so much fun to see you and share time with
you all,
Shirley (Phinizy) Musselwhite
Dave,
Thank you, thank you, thank you for such an enjoyable reunion and your extremely
hard work in keeping it on track and making it happen in the face of all the BS
that went on. . . .
Kent Calhoun
First , thank you Dave Beller and all the other volunteers who made
this magical weekend happen. I renewed past friendships and created
new ones as well.
This reunion really demonstrated the essence of Windsor with people
of different walks of life and generations coming together to converse
and celebrate.
On a personal note I was greatly inspired by the cancer survivors
who shared their journey's with me since I have been through a couple
of craniotomy's and radiation treatment's. You know who you are.
At the 1996 reunion, alumni Rosalie Gouletas, and I made a love
connection FINALLY! We have been happily married for the last seven and
a half years and attended the 2006 reunion. We enjoyed it profoundly.
I'm already looking forward to the next Windsor gathering.
Meredith Sirna ‘67
Re: [windsormountain] post reunion thoughts
It was a magically terrific weekend. Emotional, and poignant (in a couple
of areas) but heart warming in the end. We made friends with people from other
eras.
I feel I have become closer to many of my school mates. What a wonderfully
eclectic group
we have become. Dave Beller put his heart into making this event come about.
We should not forget that his girlfriend, Debra put in a lot of time and
effort in helping out. Thank you, Debra
Vickie True should be thanked for bringing Frannie over. Vickie's
singing was awesome. Thank you, Phil for the music in the library.
One alumni who lives in Las Vegas, suggested one there. Sounds
like it could be fun.
I feel like Jay, we should try to get together in Lenox in
another 5 years.
Vern Baber Jr
Dave
Thank you.
As I sit here at an library in Pittsfield writing this I can not help but
reflect on the weekend I had. It was so short but yet so sweet. I wish you much
luck at your new job and I wish eveyone much love and thank you all for making
this an unforgettable weekend! I will be in the area until Thur. and I look
forward to seeing all the E-mails and pictures when I get back to Cleveland.
Thanks again.
John Gialuco
2006 Reunion '66'
I am still reflecting on my re-visit to "OZ"(Windsor Mt.) This was my
second reunion and I realize now that Windsor and the kids in my
years, who are now 'older' kids, are a permanent part of my life and
history, in my blood so to speak. There was much more time to
appreciate and explore who we were and who we became this time than
the reunion of 10 years ago. It wasn't as much about who we were, what
we own, what title we laid claim to, what are our assets or where we
are going...it was mostly being in the moment with each other. We went
below the surface of the personalities we went to school with and
exposed our souls a bit more. It was a feeling and knowing that we
had arrived and we survived in a matter of speaking. We are part of
permanent tribe, a Bondy tribe. Infused with Bondy/Windsor psychology,
philosophy, sociology and an unending pursuit of curiosity about life
and finding humor at every mysterious corner. We can walk within and
above the conventional consciousness of the day (daze). We were born
outside the 'box' but we didn't know it...Now we do.
Thank you David and thank you supporters and thank you Windsor Mt School
John A Gialuco '66' and 2006
"Roberta Goodfader Raimon"
Reunion 2006/A personal reflection
I always did love Windsor Mountain, but from a distance. This
very profound experience that virtually changed the course of my
life became increasingly more remote as time passed, & life
invariably got lived. When I decided to come to this reunion, I
wasn't exactly sure what to expect, why I felt compelled to go, or
why the excitement? A fear was that I wouldn't know anyone & no one
would know me. It wasn't true, of course - no big surprise there.
What did come as a shock was the speed at which I was swept into a
vortex of emotions. Striking, was the realization that it didn't
matter whether we knew each other or not - the deep-rooted bonds
were there. The place was alive with the joy & enthusiasm of
connecting again with those we knew, those we didn't & those who
were missed.
The intelligence, talent & creativity abounded; the ideals,
integrity, goodwill & good humor were evidence of a legacy that has
endured the test of time.
I am in awe of the enormous hard work & dedication that went into
making this reunion happen: the well-organized myriad of details
which kept things flowing smoothly, & left us free to roam at will.
At the end, I came away with a deeper sense that I do, for better or
for worse, belong to the Windsor/Bondy clan, more up-close & personal
now, sharing a truly singular heritage, for all time.
I am very proud, deeply grateful, & will never forget.
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