THIS IS SURRATTS FOUNDATION E-NOTICE 2008-3 OF MARCH 1, 2008

Hello Hornets:

Here are some items that may be of interest:

1.  A REPORT FROM AFGHANISTAN.  We received this email from Rix Mills (62), from his "home away from home" in Mazar-e-Sharif, Afghanistan: "Henry:  Thanks for the nice piece from Suzan.  I thanked her for her kindness and thank you for keeping me in people's view so that they are reminded that we can do things outside ourselves and make a difference if we just take a little time out and do it.  I have six alumni from various classes who are sending me packages of school supplies, stocking hats, gloves, and a wide range of other things for the kids here.  We will soon go to a local orphanage and pass out these things to the kids and I am sure that the pictures from that event will make everyone's efforts worthwhile.  It is cold and wintery here and as soon as things thaw out we will be back on the road doing our job and giving things to the kids along the way.  I am attaching a picture of my "home away from home" so that you can see that I live a "sheltered" life here.  Rix"

We've posted the photo of Rix's Afghan home on the web site at www.surrattsville.org.  You can send a "care package" to Rix's Afghan children by getting a USPS flat rate priority mail box for $8.95 and shipping it to Rix's APO address.  The address is:

Rix Mills
Regional Training Center (RTC)
Mazar-e-Sharif
APO  AE  09354

And we received this useful tip about getting supplies to Rix for the children from Suzan Martz Holmquist (62): "Hi Henry:  For anyone sending items to Rix Mills in Afghanistan or anyone in the military, the Post Office has a new offering of flat rate boxes and rates to all military addresses.
 
The box is bigger, and costs a tad more, but you have the capability of sending more things at one rate.  Our post office has been out of flat rate boxes since before Thanksgiving, but you can order  the new boxes on the web site of the post office, www.usps.com.  You have to walk through a zillion pages to get there, but you will  find, priority flat rate APO/FPO boxes that can be ordered and mailed directly to your home.  The boxes are free of course and no charge to send them to your home.  Suzan"
 
 2.  PTSA PLANS HELPFUL SESSION.  We received this email from the very active, and successful, Surratts PTSA: "Dear Parents/Stakeholders:  As part of our continuous efforts to educate and empower parents the Surrattsville High School and SHS PTSA will co-host the PAT Program in conjunction with PGCPS Division of Student Services.  The training modules will include a basic knowledge of PGCPS curriculum and instruction, strategies for assisting students and teachers, knowledge and strategies for understanding typical adolescent behaviors, specific strategies for effectively assisting any classroom teacher and knowledge of proper protocol and etiquette for navigating our public schools.

Upon completion of this particular workshop you will be certified as a "Volunteer Classroom Assistant" and services for your background check application and fingerprinting will be rendered (without charge) by PGCPS Department of Security.  This comprehensive workshop will be presented on Saturday, March 1, 2008 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Surrattsville High School.  Information is available from Bob Ross PTSA President at (240) 626-8572 or bobross@comcast.net, or from Barbara Wright, Parent Liaison at (301) 599-2453 ext. 247 or Barbara2.Wright@pgcps.org.

3.  SEARCHING FOR 58 GRADS.  We received this email from Class of 58 ORC Jean Merriman Beardmore (lljbeard@shentel.net):  "Hi Henry:  We have found most of our classmates!  These are the three we still can't find.  Would you put an SOS out in the e-Notice for these Class of 58 grads, Joy Irving Kearney, Eva Pearson, and Kathy Hummer Grumbling?  Thanks, Jean"  Might any reader have any leads that might lead Jean and her committee to information about these missing class members?

4.  HORNETS MARCHING BAND TO PERFORM AT DISNEY WORLD.  We received this exciting news about the 2007-2008 Hornet marching band from a proud Surrattsville parent: "Dear Henry: My daughter is currently a sophomore at Surrattsville High.  The Marching Hornets are trying to raise funds for their upcoming trip to Disney World in March during Spring Break.  They will be performing in a Band Festival in the Park, and also in the Disney Parade.  Any help you can give in getting the word out to alumni would be appreciated.  They need money to cover the transportation (buses).  You can contact the band director Mrs. Valerie Dent for any other information.  Thanks, Cheryl D. Joppy, Band Parent"

5.  MEMORIES FOR THOSE CLASSES FROM THE 50S AND 60S.  This cute site was passed along by Tim Smith (74):  http://cruzintheavenue.com/DYRT.htm.  I'm sure it will bring back lots of memories for folks who attended Surratts in the 50s and 60s.  (And speaking of brother Tim, those Hornets living in South Florida who are interested in South Florida community affairs and politics might enjoy Tim's "Blog for Fort Lauderdale" at timsmith.com.)
 
6.  ANNUAL GOLF OUTING FOR A GOOD CAUSE.  We received a notice from the Villella family asking folks to hold the date for this year's annual Tony "Moose" Villella Memorial Golf Tournament.  It will be held Friday, September 5, 2008.  The Villella family reports that contributions and participation in the first annual golf tournament enabled a donation to the Anthony Villella Scholarship Fund of $22,300.00, and one student has already been awarded a scholarship and the Fund continues to help other students.  Flyers for the event will be sent out as the time comes closer.

7.  HORNET CONTINUES TO GET YOUNGER EVERY DAY.  We received an update on the dizzying (literally) activities of The Villages Twirlers Team from Ann Weaver Pelle (71).  Photos of the Team's recent events, including at Disney World, are on their web site at www.thevillagestwirlers.com, under "Recent Events".  The people from Growing Bolder  (www.growingbolder.com) came out to film the Team at Disney World, and that film is at http://growingbolder.com/planet/media-view.php?objId=92830.  Ann notes: "If you have to sign-up to log in, they do not solicit, but have great stories about great people our age; bands from our generation, film stars, etc.  It is really cool to see what everyone we loved in a younger time is doing now!"

[Ed note: We're counting on Ann to keep inspiring us!]

8.  GREAT MEMORIES FROM A FORMER FACULTY MEMBER.  We received a very nice note from Vivian Bounds Edelen (former faculty, 1938 - 1942).  You may recall that Vivian celebrated her 90th birthday last year!  (And how wonderful is it that Vivian started her career at Surratts 66 years ago, and we still hear from her regularly!)

Here's an excerpt from Vivian's note that is bound to bring back a flood of memories in many of our readers of the much simpler days at Surratts in the early 1940s: "Dear Henry:  [A recent e-Notice item] of great interest to me was that of Joan Duke Gates.  I taught her brother, David, in 4th grade and well-remember her brother, Paul, who was in high school at that time.  He was very handsome, as were all the family, their father and the boys, and Mrs. Duke so pretty, as were the girls.  I remember Mr. Duke stopping his car each morning to take Mrs. Frank Dent and Mrs. Mildred Wheatly to their jobs in D.C. each day to where they worked for the government.  Mrs. Duke played the piano when a group of us met at the old Fireside Inn in T. B. to practice a dance we were going to perform at a Farm Bureau banquet in Baltimore in February 1941.  Polly Gwynn Benbow (2nd grade teacher) and Mary B. Edelen (5th grade teacher) and I were in the group."

[Ed note: If only videotape had been available to record that dance performance in Baltimore.  What a treasure that would be for the Foundation Archives!]

9.  CLASS OF 62 ACTIVITIES UPDATE.  Please don't forget to contact Len Owens (62), lowens15@nc.rr.com, if you have info on Class of 62 grads or their family members, or to learn about all the activities of the Class of 62.
 
10.  CLASSES OF 78/79 PLANNING REUNION.  And, if you're interested in the joint reunion plans of the Classes or 78 and 79, or have info on 78 or 79 grads or their family members, please contact Jeanne Hoffman LaRoque (78) at jeannelaroque@yahoo.com, or Karen.whitevz@yahoo.com (79).


I hope you're all well and enjoying a great Winter 2008!

All the best, Henry Smith (71), hsmith@smithdowney.com


MANY THANKS TO THESE (EARLY) DONORS TO THE FOUNDATION'S 2008 CAMPAIGN

Steve Profilet (71)
Chuck Teubner (64)
Pat Becker Oles (71)
Janet Goddard Sullivan (54)
Vivian Bounds Edelen (Former Faculty; 1938-1942)

AND MANY THANKS TO THESE DONORS TO THE FOUNDATION'S 2007 CAMPAIGN

Pat Becker Oles (71)
Steve Profilet (71)
Michelle Shelley Wilson Block (68)
Sally Saker Weingarten (77)
Janet Goddard Sullivan (54), In memory of her brother, Jesse "Skip" Goddard, Jr. (56)
Roy Nestor (72), In Memory of Jana Sims Nestor
Kurt Aktug (88)
June Jacobs Brown (44)
Thomas V. Mike Miller (60)
Linda Dorsey Blum (66)
Vicki Forsht Williams (65), In joyful celebration of the marriage of Nancy Oursler Maynard (65) and Larry Schillings (65)
Vicki Forsht Williams (65, and former faculty), In memory of Eugene Colgan, former (and greatest!) Principal
Ellen Talbert-Miller (61, and former faculty/administration), In memory of Eugene Colgan, Principal and mentor
Bob Marr (71)
Deborah Cox Marr (72)
Vicky Simontacchi Young (57), To Honor the Class of 1957
Henry Smith (71)
Donna Rae Sturtevant Smith (70)
Melissa Gilcrest (69)
David Kraus (65), In memory of Ed Andrauskas, Faculty
Jeanine Carroll Maclary (73), In memory of James R. (Jimmy) Carroll
Dan Bayne (71), For the Charles Waddell Scholarship Fund
Anne Noyes (former faculty)
Nancy Miller (67)
Judy Gordon Mentlik (65)
Mike Blair (71)
Lark Bergwin-Anderson (71)
Tom Travis (76)
Sally LePla Travis (76)
Helen Bovbjerg Niedung (54)
Joan Penn Revis (61)
Homer Revis (56)
Teri Pepper Dimsey (77), In memory of good times with Chris Smith
Lora Baker Couchman (77), In memory of good times with Chris Smith
Paul Monaghan (59)
Laura Anatale Nowak (74), In memory of Patsy Torrecarian Stein
Jim Turner (71)
Rebecca Moyle Hintze (60)
Richard Scott McWhirt (71)
Marie O'Clair, In Memory of Col. O'Clair
John Paul Rickett (69)
Gloria Blandford Rickett (71)
Jane Edwards Robinson (54)
Carol and Larry Mothershead (65)
Anonymous, In loving memory of Col. Francis O'Clair
Ray Gibb (72), In memory of Donald J. Gibb and John L. Sullivan