Rhodes Alumni & Parent Community

Can you believe that Homecoming is less than three weeks away? Don’t miss out on all of the exciting events on October 23rd and 24th!

Register now!

New this year: Win a Lynx Wonder Pack by playing Rhodes Facebook trivia.

Grad School Week, sponsored by the Rhodes Career Services Office, will be held September 19-24, 2009.  Take practice GRE, GMAT, LSAT, and MCAT exams and participate in Kaplan strategy sessions.  View a complete listing of the week’s activities here.  Alumni are welcome to participate.  
 

An electronic service is being offered through the Rhodes Career Services Office is Career Lynx which allows students and alumni of the College to conduct job searches, make connections with established alumni, and find internships among other features.   To secure a username and password, contact Claudia Rutkauskas at Rutkauskas@rhodes.edu.

Please visit the Rhodes College Alumni Career Networking LinkedIn group for more information.

Business Development Coordinator
The Business Development Coordinator will support a variety of strategic marketing, sales and business development initiatives and activities for a growing, financially sound professional services firm. The ideal candidate will possess a commitment to detail, a self-motivated work ethic, a cooperative, congenial nature and an ability to effectively interact with various team members with differing styles and personalities. Candidates should have 2+ years work experience, preferably in sales coordination or field sales support; experience in professional services sector preferred. Strong proficiency in MS Office, including Access, is greatly preferred.

Earlier this year, Anthony Siracusa ‘09, was awarded the prestigious Watson Fellowship for his research proposal- People Using Pedal Power: Global Bicycling Communities: Denmark, the Netherlands, China, Australia, Mexico. The result? Siracusa is traveling the world to study bicycle communities. Find out what he’s up to on his blog.

See the news article on Siracusa’s fellowship

I would like to share with you a conversation I had last week with the family of one of our new students. In a late April doctor visit, the mother informed her physician, a Rhodes alum, that her son would be attending a college in Florida. The alumnus knew that Rhodes had been on the student’s short list earlier. Following her departure from the office, she received a text message which essentially stated, “You may want to reconsider that decision. Your son would benefit from attending Rhodes.”

In her words, “this changed everything.” The student and his parents visited Rhodes and agreed that Rhodes provided sound learning opportunities and a goodness of fit for her son.

What power it had from the mother and the family to hear from an alumnus who believed in his alma mater! This student will join Rhodes based largely upon the unsolicited endorsement of a member of the community.

People expect our Admissions counselors to cast Rhodes in the light of being a wonderful college which is practically perfect as a place to learn, grow, and develop. They likely expect President Troutt, me, fellow staff, and faculty to do the same. However, when our alumni and students take a moment to say, “I think you would benefit from attending Rhodes … here’s my story and why I think that …” our prospective students/families are hearing from truly credible sources.

There are specific things you can do to help the College recruit good students:

Inform us of students likely to be a good fit for Rhodes – We appreciate knowing of prospective students who would benefit from a Rhodes education and add value to the College by enrolling. Use the online referral form for us to get them in our contact system

Call prospective students – We will begin a call campaign which begins in early September and extends through the decision-making period in April. Join RAVE so that our Admissions staff will know of your willingness to place calls to prospective students.

Serve as a resource at your kid’s school – If you have a child of high school age, please inform the guidance office at the school that you would be willing to provide information to juniors and seniors who have interest in Rhodes.

Serve as a resource for your high school – For those of you a bit closer in age to high school than you are to having a high schooler in your home, inform your guidance counselor that you would be willing to speak with students having interest or wanting to learn more about Rhodes.

Keep finding ways to speak (or text) kindly about Rhodes- Tell the wonderful story of your Rhodes College. We may not enroll every student who hears the stories, but the stock of Rhodes will rise as people continue learning of your being a member of the community and in seeing what Rhodes means to you.

All best wishes,
Bud Richey

Class of 2013 – Our goal for the entering fall class was 460. We started the summer with 466 commitments and are ecstatic with the quality and composition of our new students. Now in its third year, the summer orientation program, Open Rhodes, was a great campus-wide event. Approximately 90% of the entering class members attended one of the four sessions.

Summer Activity of Students –215 Rhodes students are participating in some form of research, study abroad, or other learning program through the College this summer. The Rhodes Institute for Regional Studies and the St. Jude Summer Plus Program provide two examples of student learning activity.

2008-2009 Annual Fund – Two weeks ago we concluded another fiscal year with over $2.3 million committed to the Annual Fund. We are grateful for the loyalty and support of our alumni, parents, faculty, staff, trustees and friends. Highlights from the year include the Class of 2009 setting new records in class participation and total gift amount as well as a majority of the faculty and staff members making gifts.

Teach for America – Rhodes College is counted among institutions placing a noteworthy number of young graduates in the Teach for America program. See the placement of Rhodes and the good company we keep here. Click here.

Commencement 2009

Class of 2009, welcome to the Rhodes College Alumni Association. Join the Lasting Lynx Online Community to keep your contact information up to date and stay in touch with classmates and other alumni via these free services:

1. Online Alumni Directory
Search for classmates to reconnect or make new connections for networking purposes.

2. Permanent forwarding E-mail addresses
Not sure where you will end up after graduation? Set up a free permanent forwarding E-mail address that never changes and is affiliated with your alma mater. The address will have the domain: yourname@rhodes-alumni.net. This address will remain the same even if you change jobs or e-mail providers. You can easily update your account with a new forwarding address. Please note that this is not a fully functioning e-mail account. Set up your forwarding e-mail.

3. Class Notes
Stay up to date with news on your classmates. Find out what fellow alumni are up to and share your news and events by submitting a class note.

4. Rhodes Magazine
Published three times a year and available online. Read about fellow alumni, faculty and changes on campus.

5. Chapter Events and Career Networking Events
Currently, we have 15 Rhodes Chapters across the continental United States. By keeping your information current you will receive invitations to Rhodes Chapter events and Career Networking events in your area.

Rhodes is looking for an Assistant Director of Alumni Relations. Please read the job description, qualifications and filing procedures HERE. Act by June 10th to ensure that your resume is reviewed by the screening committee.

If you have any questions about the online description, contact Human Resources at 901-843-3750 or the Alumni Relations office at alumni@rhodes.edu.

What a talented group of young people enter the alumni ranks as our newest members! They become part of a remarkable community. With the May 16th Commencement, symbolically we close the books on the 160th session of Rhodes College.

The 2008-09 year has been a trying one. It has been a year that has tested the mettle of the College. We have faced challenges and in meeting those, we have called upon alumni and parents in unprecedented ways. You have responded at every turn.

Perhaps one of our greatest accomplishments in the course of this year is that we came to trust more fully our loyal community members. We appreciate your love for the College which you translated into meaningful help and gifts of your talents, your time, and your resources. The College not only weathered the year, but flourished in the process.

As for me, May is the anniversary month of my appointment. I joined the staff in May 2003. Aside from commencement marking the end of the school year, the coinciding of this annual ceremony with my appointment month gives opportunity for reflection and assessment. I look back over the year and make sense of how we may do things better in serving alumni. I tell you again that it means much to serve in this role. It remains a privilege to work with good staff, a fine faculty, and committed students. But it goes beyond privilege and is indeed an honor to serve the alumni of Rhodes who care so deeply about their alma mater.

Thank you for all that you do to help Rhodes become a better institution.

Greetings fellow BSAers!

BSA Presidents over the years

It was great to see all of you who made it out to our 40th anniversary BSA weekend! There were so many amazing aspects to the weekend, but I can’t get out of my mind the intellectual capital and overall multi-talented black alumni base we have at Rhodes. I can only imagine how exciting it had to be for a current member of BSA to have at their fingertips folks who are not only successful in their professional work, but also civic leaders in their respective communities.

Indeed, it was a very special time that I will cherish—I hope you do as well.

To see event photos, click here! Check out the video on the Rhodes YouTube channel. And we still have commemorative t-shirts and posters! Place your order by emailing alumni@rhodes.edu.

Happy Earth Day fellow Lynx!

Dallas alumna, Catherine Cuellar ’96, came back to campus last week and was pleased to see her alma mater going green. Watch the video to see what she had to say. Catherine is a Senior Communications Specialist at Oncor—a leading electric distribution company in Texas.

Live in Dallas? Check out the North Texas Alumni Facebook page. Join the group, invite your classmates!

Learn more about the Rhodes Environmental Planning Cooperative.

It’s that time again! Let us and your classmates know what’s been happening in your life. Have you:

Tied the knot?
Welcomed a new child?
Received a special honor or professional accomplishment?
Achieved a higher degree?
Started a new career?
Embarked on new travels?
Moved to a new city?

Your news will be shared in a future Rhodes Magazine. Submit you Class Notes electronically here!

The number 40 has significance in meaning. We hear expressions like …LIFE Begins at 40. We have been referred to many biblical references for the number 40 like…Noah and The Ark (It Rained for 40 days and 40 nights), The Israelites took 40 years to find the Promised Land, and Lent is actually 40 days. Again, LIFE begins at 40 which means we are ready to shine, we are ready to empower ourselves and others, and we are ready to explore life without hesitation and live in the moment.

Our previous 40 years have all been about preparation and experience. At Rhodes, this preparation began from the “black house” to the basement of Palmer Hall to Tuthill to the spacious Orgill Room. Indeed, we have come a long way in 40 years. The members have experienced great moments within this institution and outside of this institution which means we are represented in several capacities:
The Board of Trustees and Board of Directors, President of Alumni Association, Faculty, Staff, Giving Society, Sororities, Fraternities, Attorneys, Doctors, Business Executives, Mayors. The list goes on

As we celebrate this 40th anniversary of the Black Students Association we have to applaud ourselves for we have come a long way. We also celebrate our fore-fathers and mothers who have made this special time possible. Right now, we have an incredible opportunity to press forward in our personal and professional initiatives, to serve our communities, and to love and uphold our families. So let’s stay focused! I implore each and every one of you to reach out to each other to celebrate this very special event in our history! May God Bless You!

What does BSA mean to you? As always, leave your reflections as comments below.

Register for the celebration April 17th-18th at Rhodes College here!

Marcus Kimbrough ‘90
President, Rhodes Alumni Association

Last Friday night, local alumni came to check out the new and improved Burrow Hall, known to many as the old Burrow Library. Let me say—if you couldn’t make it to this reception, you should definitely make the trip next time. As I’m sure you’ve heard by now, the former library has been remodeled into a Student Services facility. Now Burrow houses departments such as Rhodes Express, Admissions, Career Services and Student Affairs.

Everyone was stunned at the beautiful new design. But over the course of the night, I noticed that our alums keep the old Burrow close to their hearts. Visting the campus and reconnecting with classmates sparked many memories of time spent studying (or not) in the building. Your stories thoroughly captivated us and we want to hear more!

Share your thoughts on Burrow, both old and new, below. Check out pictures from the event here!

Burrow main lobby today

Burrow Library reference room, 1970

New Orleans based alumna, Anne Bailey ’80, is spreading the word about the US premier of “Scandalous! The Musical based on the life of D.H. Lawrence.” This Broadway musical will be featured at the Jefferson Performing Arts Center in Metarie, LA on March 21, 22, 28 and 29. We were thrilled to discover that Anne is heavily involved in the production on this special opportunity because her husband, Glyn Bailey, is the composer. If you will be in the NOLA area, don’t miss out! For more information on the musical and venue, please visit www.scandalousthemusical.com.

• Use the Career Services CareerLynx web program to post positions that you have available. If you are seeking employment, post your resume. Should you be using this site for the first time, you will need to call (901-843-3800) or email Career Services to receive a password.
• Join and use the Rhodes Career Group on LinkedIn to allow fellow alumni to contact you for networking purposes and to seek assistance from others should you be seeking employment. Note if you are first time users that you may pose questions of comments on the Rhodes group site.
• Join and use the Rhodes Career Group on Facebook which has a membership exceeding 1100 alumni and students.

As both a Rhodes staff member and a young alumna of the College (’08), I find that working on any chapter event is a satisfying experience from both perspectives. In February, a handful of colleagues and I journeyed from midtown Memphis to midtown Atlanta to staff the Atlanta Chapter’s first event of 2009. The day began with a luncheon followed by a tour of China’s Terracotta Army at the High Museum of Art. We wrapped up the evening with a cocktail reception at the home of Bobbo Jetmunsen ‘77.

When we arrived in ATL, we thought Rhodes was nearly 400 miles behind us. But look how close we actually were!

(Click image to see close up)

At the luncheon, we discovered that we were actually stuck in traffic behind alumnus Steve Cole ‘68 who attended this event!

Thank you to our guest of honor, Dean Michael Drompp, and to our gracious host, Bobbo Jetmundsen ‘77, for opening his home to alumni.

Dean Michael Drompp and Bobbo Jetmundsen ‘77

Good food, good times at the luncheon.

Dean Drompp spoke on China’s terracotta army before the tour.
 Check out the other photos from this event in our photo gallery!

I think I can speak for everyone and say that it was a blast!

What was your favorite moment?

Sarah Dawson Brooks ‘08 of Richmond, Va. has been accepted into the Peace Corps.

Brooks departed for Thailand on Jan. 27 to begin pre-service training as a community development Peace Corps Volunteer. Upon graduating from Volunteer training in April, Brooks will be assessing the needs of villages to develop community-based development projects.

During the first three months of her service, Brooks will live with a host family in Thailand to become fully immersed in the country’s language and culture. After acquiring the language and cultural skills necessary to assist her community, Brooks will serve for two years in Thailand, living in a manner similar to people in her host country.

Brooks joins the 351 Virginia residents currently serving in the Peace Corps. To learn more about the Peace Corps, please visit: www.peacecorps.gov

New film, Don’t Fence Me In, from Executive Producer Mickey Babcock ’98, will be featured in the Environmental Film Festival this March in Washington DC. Please join us Wednesday, March 18 at the National Portrait Gallery for a free screening. A discussion with the filmmakers Bonnie Kreps, Charlie Craighead and Mickey Babcock will follow the screening.

Description for Don’t Fence Me In: A 1916 advertisement for a Wyoming librarian says, “Must be able to get along with Western people, ride and drive, as well as pack a horse, follow a trail, shoot strait (sic), run an automobile, and be able to rough it whenever necessary!” That spirit is still alive, captured in this film celebrating the women and girls of Wyoming. As diverse as they are distinct, 13 vibrant stories are told from the heart of Wyoming.

For more information go to their website: http://dcenvironmentalfilmfest.org/films.php?FilmID=272

Emily (Cunningham) Wells ‘03, will be leaving on the USS boxer January 9, 2009.  She will be gone for 6 to 9 months, giving medical care to troops being transported to Iraq.  Emily is facing some lonely days where a few words from “home” will be greatly appreciated. 

This is where your help is needed:

Ellen Davidson, a family friend, is compiling a journal for Emily.  Ellen is filling it with words of wisdom, encouragement, humor, cartoons…for Emily to enjoy as she travels the world.  Be as creative as you would like in sharing thoughts with her.  Perhaps she might enjoy reading your original words, or the words of great philosophers, humorists, historians and etc. Please contact Ellen if you are willing to provide a page, or two or ten for the journal.  It can be as simple as a newspaper article or fond memory – your choice, any length. 

Please feel free to pass this on to any others who might like to participate. 

Contact:
Ellen Davidson
notes2emily@yahoo.com

Christian Brothers University will be hosting a ”Lyrics for Life” Benefit Concert for St. Jude which will take place on the evening of Saturday, January 17th, 2009 from 5:00pm until 7:00pm at the campus theater. A reception will follow at the same location. The event will feature a collection of vocalists and two current patient speakers from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The fundraising goal is over $7.500.00. This event will be an elegant evening of music, mingling, and awareness of the life-saving efforts of St. Jude which is proudly located here in Memphis, Tennessee.

Contributions are graciously appreciated even if attendance is not possible. Checks may be made payable to: Lyrics for Life Benefit Concert

Lyrics for Life Benefit Concert
C/O Anthony Maranise @ CBHS
5900 Walnut Grove Road
Memphis, TN. 38120

Over the coming months Rhodes is pleased to present a special opportunity to alumni in cities where we have chapters.  The program will have two elements.  The first will be a seminar presented by political science professor Dan Cullen. This part of the program will be open to the first 20 participants who register. 

The second portion of the program will be a cocktail reception for all alumni and parents of students in the community to visit with Professor Cullen and an Alumni Relations staff member.  We will provide updates about initiatives at the College and answer questions.

Professor Dan Cullen’s seminar is adapted from his popular course: “Justice, Equality and Liberty: Rival Visions of the Good Society.” Cullen will lead a seminar exploring the question: “What do we owe to others, and why?” The seminar will be open to alumni.

Cullen explains that his seminar will “weigh arguments for and against a radical redistribution of wealth” and consider questions such as:

• What ought to be done if we are serious about justice?
• Does justice require extensive redistribution from “haves” to “have-nots?”
• Do we have duties beyond our own borders? How do our feelings affect our moral reasoning?
• Do we have a responsibility to alleviate suffering when and where we can even if we are not responsible for causing it?

Two controversial essays by Peter Singer: “What Should a Billionaire Give? And What Should You?” and “Famine, Affluence and Morality” will help focus the discussion. The essays will be made available electronically to participating alumni.

In the coming months, Professor Cullen will be visiting a Rhodes Chapter near you.  Seating is limited—so please check your email for electronic updates with finalized dates and information on how to register online. Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind seminar!

We are requesting that leaders of Rhodes Chapters make local arrangements.  If you live in a city with a Rhodes Chapter and are able to assist in finding a seminar facility (for 20-22 participants) or a location for the reception, please contact the Alumni Relations Office at alumni@rhodes.edu.

It’s not news that the internet and the Worldwide Web have changed the way we live our lives—how we do research, communicate with friends, stay abreast of news and current events. If that’s true for the readers of this newsletter, it’s true to the Nth power for high school students seeking just the right college.

Think back to the time you were doing your college search. Some of you had access to the internet. All of you received information through the mail. Many of you heard of Rhodes via word of mouth.

It’s the last part that has not changed.

Last spring Rhodes contracted with a market research firm to conduct focus groups with high school students and parents of high school students in Birmingham, Dallas and Los Angeles. We learned a great deal. For example:

• Students do not read the printed information sent to them by colleges. Their parents do, however, and parents are highly influential in choosing a college.
• Although students communicate primarily via text messages and cell phones, they emphatically do not want colleges to use those media to contact them.
• Both parents and students are very adept at mining information from both college Web sites and more general online sources, ranging from college guide sites to Facebook.

We learned that college counselors and information gained at college fairs influence the choice of colleges. Most important, we learned that family and friends who attended a college under consideration were the most trusted source of information among both prospective students and their parents.

If you know high school students and their parents who are engaged in a college search, please share with them your experience at Rhodes.

Make your plans for Homecoming and Reunion Weekend 2009–October 23 and 24!

If you want to order photos taken at your 2008 reunion party, visit the Mangiante Photography web site.

View Homecoming 2008 photos on rhodes.edu:

2008 Book Signing

2008 Alumni Convocation

2008 Alumni Picnic

2008 Homecoming Football Game

2008 BSA Reception

2008 Athletic Hall of Fame

Each year the Rhodes Peer Ministry Council produces a booklet of devotionals for the Advent season. The program is growing.

The Rhodes Peer Ministry Council, a student organization sponsored by the Chaplain’s Office, has a nice tradition. For several years the PMC has gathered reflections for the Advent season from students, faculty and staff into a booklet. In addition to making them available on campus, the group distributed the booklets at Evergreen and Idlewild Presbyterian Churches.

This year their ambition is bigger. According to group leader Jennifer Ross, “This year the Peer Ministry Council wants to broaden the readership and has created a blog where a devotional will be posted each day. We know there are a lot of alums for whom the Chaplain’s Office and Kinney programs are some of their best college memories. We think they would really enjoy receiving the Advent devotional either in booklet form or through the blog.”

Feel free to order a print copy of the booklet or subscribe to the blog.

     It is my sad duty to report that Virgil Starks, III, Rhodes College Class of 1985, passed away Saturday, November 8, 2008. He died of cardiac arrest while driving to his home following Auburn’s football game. At the time of his death, Virgil served as the Senior Associate Athletic Director at Auburn University.  You may view the announcement on Auburn’s Website.

     As a student at Rhodes, Virgil was involved in the Kinney program and the Black Student Association. He was a member of Sigma Nu Fraternity. Virgil ran cross country and played on the football squad. As an alumnus, Virgil worked for the Rhodes College Admissions Office as Coordinator for Alumni Recruiting and served a three year term on the Alumni Association Executive Board.
 
     Virgil is survived by his wife, Donna, and daughters Carolyn, Victoria, and Anastasia.

     Chris Evans, a student who plays football for Auburn whose parents could not attend “senior day” activities last Saturday offers this comment regarding Virgil, “I was expecting to go out there and I was going to stand by myself and take the picture,” Evans said. “When I ran out there past Aubie, I just saw him there. He was smiling. Showing all 32 of his teeth like he always does.” This article gives you a sense of how Virgil had a way of bringing joy to those whom he knew.

     Visitation will be Tuesday, November 11 from 6-8pm at the Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home located at 1500 Frederic in Opelika, Alabama. The funeral service will be Wednesday, November 12, at 11am at the First Baptist Church, 128 E. Glenn, in Auburn, Alabama.

     I came to know Virgil through his service on the Alumni Board. Just as he showed all 32 teeth when he smiled, he showed the love he held for us in that big heart. Our thoughts and prayers are with Donna and the children. They are also with the staff, faculty, and students of Auburn whose hearts are surely breaking in the passing of this great man.

The Rhodes Chapter of Arkansas invites you to a gathering on Thursday, November 13 from 5:30 to 7:00 PM at the home of Marynell Branch. For directions to the event please click here.The Rhodes Chapter of Arkansas will be collecting donations for a local scholarship fund from those who want to honor the memory of Anne Pressly. Checks should be made out to “Anne Pressly Scholarship Fund”. If you wish to donate but cannot attend, please send a donation by mail to Anne Hughes (6716 Kenwood Road, Little Rock, AR 72207) or directly to KATV (Anne Pressly Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 77, Little Rock, AR 72203).

To contact Marynell Branch call (501) 633-1678 or email getbach@comcast.net.

You may register for the event here.

Dr. Elizabeth (“Betsy”) Jacoway, mother of Rhodes graduates, Timothy and Todd Watson (both ’03), is the author of a book that is getting a lot of attention, especially in the South: Turn Away Thy Son: Little Rock, the Crisis that Shocked the Nation (Free Press, 2007). At the recent national meeting of the Southern Historical Society, the Southern Association for Women Historians awarded her the Willie Lee Rose prize for the best book on Southern history written by a woman. This week she received the Booker Worthen Literary prize, given by the Central Arkansas Library System for the best book on an Arkansas topic.

See also http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/books/chap1/turnawaythyson.htm

Those of us on the faculty and staff have rarely seen such an outpouring of love as there has been for Anne Pressly ’04. Anne died over the weekend as a result of the attack which she suffered early last week. We are shocked and saddened and join others in grieving over her tragic death.

Last week we provided updates to the members of our alumni community who reside in Arkansas. We send this message to the broader community. The news of Anne’s death has covered the globe. In virtually all reports, it appears that her connection to Rhodes is made clear.

We will work with Anne’s family to determine what would be in keeping with their wishes regarding gifts made in her memory and arrangements for her funeral. We are in contact with alumnae members of Chi Omega regarding a memorial service. We will post updates, as they occur, on the Alumni and Parent Community Blog. Thus, I invite you to check that site periodically to secure further information.

I also invite you to use this blog as a means through which you post your reflections and memories of Anne in addition to sharing your thoughts with her family. At some point in the future, we will print the postings and provide them to Anne’s family members.

There are several places where you can learn more about Anne including postings on the Rhodes Website which includes a link to KATV where Anne worked, a Fox News online story, and an article appearing in the New York Times.

The calls, links to reports, and emails you have sent beginning within hours following Anne’s being found in her home last week and continuing through today have been such a strong testament to the closeness of the Rhodes Community. You have asked at every turn, “What can we do?” Our initial response was “pray and give blood.” We will work with Anne’s family and those closest to her to learn more about what you can do and will provide that update on the blog.

Reporting the death of a community member is the saddest duty an alumni secretary ever faces. My heart goes out to Anne’s family and those of you who knew her and loved her. I thank you for the duty and care which you have demonstrated in ensuring that we were aware of developments. What I had truly hoped late last week would be a joyful message this morning to alumni in classes 2000 through 2008, residents of Arkansas, and members of Chi Omega reporting that Anne’s condition continued to improve has turned instead to a message of great sorrow.

May God be with Anne’s family and those to whom she was dear.

Sincerely,

Bud Richey
Associate Vice President for College Relations and
Director of Alumni Relations

You may have heard that the North Texas Alumni Chapter is participating in the 2008 Step Out: Walk to Fight Diabetes on Saturday, November 1st.  Our group is walking in honor of Adah Laura Coultas, Class of 2001, who passed away in February 2008.  Our team is called “Adah’s Rhodesters”.

Please join us at 9 am at the American Airlines Center to walk in the event.  Many of Adah Laura’s fellow 2001 grads, her family and several Rhodes representatives, including her favorite professor and friend Dr. Russell Wigginton, willbe coming into Dallas for the weekend.  Let’s give them a warm Texas welcome!

How to join the walk?  Register online prior to the walk or sign up when you get to the AAC.
To pre-register:
1.  visit http://stepout.diabetes.org
2.  click on “Start or Join a Team”
3.  click the drop-down box to find the walks in Texas and select “Dallas”
4.  click on “Join a Team”
5.  search for “Adah’s Rhodesters”

Adah’s Rhodesters will gather at a table on the north side of the AAC, so please come and find us before the walk!

Please consider purchasing an “Adah’s Rhodesters” t-shirt, so that we are a unified group of walkers:
HYPERLINK “http://www.customink.com/designs/alc/9424401-1958156/share?cm_ven=share&cm_cat=email&cm_pla=Body_img&cm_ite=design_”

Last but not least, JOIN us for STEP OUT ON THE TOWN, a Halloween-themed party at Ozona Grill & Bar on Saturday, November 1st at 8:30 pm.  All proceeds from this event will benefit the ADA!

Here is the link to the EVITE for this event: http://www.evite.com/pages/invite/viewInvite.jsp?event=XFIGGERQFXQHRCJYQWFU

Thank You!

In honor of Adah Laura and on behalf of ALL of her “Rhodesters” across the country, we would like to say thank you for considering participating and/or contributing to this cause and remembering Adah Laura in a worthwhile way.  We know your generosity will go a long way and we are grateful.

Several of our staff and faculty members have been calling and attempting to reach alumni in the areas hit hardest by Hurricane Ike. Our efforts have had limited success.

We wanted you to know that we are thinking of you. Aside from supporting efforts of Red Cross and other organizations, it is hard for us to know what we can do from here, other than to let you know that we are remembering you warmly and keeping you in our thoughts and prayers. If there is anything we can do, please let me know, and we will act as quickly as we can.

People tend to handle adversity in different ways.  We have heard from two alumni in Galveston who have offered to write about their experiences. There may be others who would be interested.  We will dedicate a posting on the Rhodes Alumni and Parent Community Blog for this purpose and invite those who wish to participate to view or post, to do so.

I am joined by others in the Rhodes Community in expressing our sorrow that this has happened.  Many of you likely suffered damage in your homes.  Just as likely, many of you may not read this for several days or weeks when your power is restored.

We remember you with fondness,

Bud Richey
Associate Vice President and
Director of Alumni Relations
Rhodes College
901/843-3845

As director of college events, John Rone ‘71 has attended more Homecoming/Reunion celebrations than anyone we know. We asked him what makes the event special for him.

“During the four years I spent at college, I got to know many people—students in my own class and in surrounding classes, faculty and staff. In four intense years they became like a second family. Since graduation I have appreciated that our annual Homecoming has given me the chance to re-connect with these people, some of whom I haven’t seen in years.

Homecoming is so much fun because you never know who you are going to run into. A few years ago, someone tapped me on the shoulder and it turned out to be a guy who’d been a freshman when I was a senior. Apparently I had said something to him back then that had made a difference when he was homesick and thinking about leaving college. While I didn’t remember the episode, it was a good feeling to know that we all have made connections within our college community.

It got me thinking about upperclassmen I had looked up to and who had made a difference to me. At this year’s Homecoming, I will be looking for “my” upperclassmen and will enjoy having the opportunity to let them know that they made a difference to a lowly first year student . . . in particular, my dorm president who never complained about unlocking my dorm door!”

Now it’s your turn. What’s your favorite Homecoming memory? Who do you hope to run into this year? Post your thoughts below.

Homecoming/Reunion weekend is fast approaching! You may view the full schedule for October 3 and 4 and register online. Don’t forget that the Rhodes Singers will be performing on Sunday morning, October 5.

We need alumni participation for three special programs on Homecoming Friday at 3 pm. As we have done in past years, we will host networking events that connect current students with alumni who can offer advice about:

• Living and working in the Washington, DC area (RSVP to richeyw@rhodes.edu)
• Living and working in the New York area (RSVP to richeyw@rhodes.edu)
• Launching a career in the health care professions (RSVP to ajaslow@rhodes.edu)

You may be asked to participate in a brief panel discussion, but the majority of your time will be spent meeting and talking informally with many of our brightest students. Past events have been tremendously valuable to these young people, and they will be grateful for your wise counsel.

If you aren’t attending Homecoming this year but anticipate doing so in your next reunion year, keep these events in mind as part of your Homecoming experience in the future.

Other Homecoming Notes

We encourage all alumni who plan to attend Homecoming/Reunion weekend to register online. Most activities are free of charge, and even if you are not attending the Picnic or a Class Reunion party, your registration allows others to know that you will be here through the “see who’s coming” feature on the registration site.

Note on the schedule the Friday afternoon department meetings and faculty-alumni reception, which precede the evening Homecoming reception. Please do your best to attend these gatherings.

Holly Hilliard, who served Rhodes for three years as the Associate Director of the Alumni Relations Office, resigned her position (effective September 5) to accept employment in Brentwood, Tennessee.   Holly did a fine job in leading regional programs for the Alumni Office.  We were fortunate to have her on the staff and thank her for all her good work.

Sarah Pospisil (pospisils@rhodes.edu) served for several months as a temporary assistant in the Alumni Office and was appointed Alumni Services Coordinator in July. Sarah is enthusiastic and committed to serving members of the Alumni community. Please do not hesitate to contact her, as well as other members of our staff.

Carson Irwin ’08 (irwinc@rhodes.edu) recently accepted employment as the Alumni Relations and Communications Coordinator.  Most of Carson’s work will be in the Communications Office, but with the nature of the split appointment, she will be instrumental in the delivery of news and updates to alumni.

Jameson Miller Jones ’36 passed away on August 25. His service at the College covered a span of 16 years, during which he served as Professor of Moral Philosophy in addition to serving as Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College. You may read more about him in addition to the comments posted by former students in our August 26 posting.

I did not know Dean Jones as many of you did. I am sorry that so many of you lost a beloved teacher and friend.
Perhaps the finest afternoon I have had in my service as your alumni secretary was having coffee and visiting with Deans Anne Caldwell ’51 and Jameson Jones in the library of King Hall. It was 90 minutes of magic to be able to have such wonderful conversation with two people for whom I have great respect and admiration. Jameson Jones was a kind and gentle man. He was also brilliant. When you were with him, you knew you were in the presence of greatness.

Dean Jones had a special way of making each one of us feel as if we were the most important person in his life. In comments at Dr. Jones’s funeral, Mike Cody ’58 spoke of this phenomenon. Quite likely, all gathered understood and appreciated those remarks as they, too, had been fortunate to have been “the most special person in the world to Dr. Jones.”

I had seen Dean Jones on occasions prior to that afternoon visit and saw him several times afterwards. But this visit is the one I will cherish as it was the most substantive. I learned much in that short visit. One of the questions that still lingers for me is, “What would it have been like to have had this man as a professor?” My imagination is not that powerful, but I suspect it would have been a remarkable experience.

To quote one of the messages that arrived in response to the announcement of his death, “Heaven is surely a better place for his being there.” How fortunate we were that Jameson Jones studied, taught and led the faculty of this college. Just as surely as Heaven is now better, Rhodes, too, is a better place for his having been a member of our community.

Until next issue, with best regards,
Bud Richey

Mississippi River Fugues is a site-specific mixed media installation created by Margaret Cogswell for the Art Museum at the University of Memphis. Opening Friday, September 5th, Mississippi River Fugues is the fourth of an ongoing series of individually unique River Fugues installations which utilize the musical structure of a fugue to weave together video and audio components exploring the interdependency of people, industry and rivers in post-industrial cities. Mississippi River Fugues is the culmination of three years of regional research, and includes video and audio of recorded images and narratives from people in Memphis and the Mississippi Delta whose lives and work are directly influenced by the life and presence of the Mississippi River.

The Mississippi River Fugues installation in the Art Museum was inspired by an 18^th century French drawing of a “machine dredger” powered by men in squirrel wheel cages and became a symbol to Cogswell of man’s attempt to control nature, and specifically rivers. Cogswell’s installation employs industrial materials to create two large “squirrel wheels” which double as video screens, an absurd dredger scoop, and five buoy–like structures housing video projectors. Hurricane lanterns light the entry way into the museum with images of candles on portable dvd player screens. Voices from cotton farmers, river guides, levee supervisors and others emerge from these lanterns, telling their stories and building a context for the installation as a whole.

Margaret Cogswell was born in Memphis and resides in New York City which has been her home since receiving her degree from Rhodes College in 1969. Cogswell’s work has been exhibited internationally including most recently at the Beaux Arts Center for Fine Arts in Brussels, Belgium, the Ministry of Culture in Monaco, and at the Field Museum in Chicago. She is the recipient of numerous awards including two New York Foundation for the Arts grants (2007 and 1993) and two Pollock-Krasner Foundation grants (1987 and 1991). For more information on Cogswell, please visit: www.margaretcogswell.net

Eric Sefton ‘02 has been nominated for the Ostrander Award (Memphis Theater) for his sound design of “How I Learned to Drive” and “Lysistrata and the Death of Cupid” in the College/University Productions category as well as “Seascape” in the Community Productions category. He is also working with Kyle Hatley ‘03 on a professional theater production, “The Borderland,” which will run April, 2009, in Kansas City.

Randy McFarland is pleased to announce the release his CD,  Pegasus Actual:  The Age Of Zero.    The download is currently available on i-Tunes worldwide, Amazon MP3, Rhapsody and LaLa.com.    Check it out at
www.myspace.com/PegasusActualMusic

We will be getting some airplay soon on the BBC/Radio 2.

Rhodes Alumnus, Herman Morris has joined the Waddell & Reed firm as a Financial Advisor in the Memphis area.  Herman and Brenda live at 1800 Overton Park.

As you know, Herman was a 2007 candidate for mayor of Memphis. Prior to that, he served as president and CEO of MLGW for 7 years and Vice President and General Counsel of MLGW for 8 years. He has also served as General Counsel for Pinnacle Airlines and a shareholder in the Baker Donelson Law Firm and a partner in the Ratner & Sugarmon Law Firm, during his more than 30 years as a practicing attorney.

As a personal financial advisor, Herman says he will help develop customized financial plans, recommend investment strategies and counsel clients throughout the area.  His legal experience, passion for financial planning and ability to work closely with others, he believes, makes him an ideal fit as a financial advisor.

Herman earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Rhodes and a Juris Doctorate from Vanderbilt University School of Law. He has an extensive history of community service with numerous organizations including, the United Way,  National Civil Rights Museum, American Heart Association, Community Foundation and the Memphis Chamber of Commerce. He’s also served on the Rhodes College Trustee Board and is a 2006 recipient of the prestigious United Way Alexis de Tocqueville Society Award, and the NCCJ 2002, Humanitarian of the Year Award. Herman is a member of the Rhodes 1973 graduating class which will celebrate its’ 35th year class reunion this year.

Founded in 1937, Waddell & Reed has today grown to more than 500 offices nationwide. The company offers a wide array of investment products and services, as well as a variety of insurance products which are offered through insurance companies with which Waddell & Reed has sales arrangements. For more information about Waddell & Reed, or about financial services in general, contact Herman at (901)685-2700 or check out his web site at www.hmorrisjr.wradvisors.com

Kellie Lartigue-Ndiaye ’88 is to receive posthumously The Thomas Jefferson Star for Foreign Service Award on August 15 in Mali, Africa. Lartigue-Ndiaye died December 21, 2007, in an automobile accident in Mali, Africa, where she worked as country director for the Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Global AIDS Program.

The Thomas Jefferson Star for Foreign Service recognizes people who, while traveling or serving abroad on official business, are killed or incur a serious illness or injury that results in death, permanent incapacity or disability. The award will be presented to Lartigue-Ndiaye?s husband Karim Ndiaye of Senegal and three sons Yazel, Fallou and Ibrahim (Maam Cheikh).

After graduating from Rhodes, Lartigue-Ndiaye joined the Peace Corps and served in Senegal before subsequently working for others in Rwanda and elsewhere in Africa.

Jameson Jones, who served as professor of moral philosophy and vice president for academic affairs and dean of the college from 1955-1971, died August 25 at Methodist University Hospital.

A member of the Rhodes Class of 1936, Dean Jones held the Ph.D. from Duke University and M.Div. from Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. In addition, he completed graduate work at Oxford University.

An ordained Presbyterian minister, he held pastorates in Missouri and Mississippi before accepting the positions of professor and dean of Centre College, where he served from 1949-1955. At President Peyton N. Rhodes’ invitation, he joined Rhodes in 1955, where he served for many years. In 1971, he left to become associate director of institutional development at the Memphis College of Art.

Dean Jones was not only the chief academic officer for Rhodes but the informal intellectual leader of the faculty and a colleague who exemplified outstanding faculty service. To honor his record of achievement, The Jameson M. Jones Award for Outstanding Faculty Service was established in 2005 by Dr. John Gladney ’74.

We encourage you to share your sympathies, thoughts or memories of Dean Jones in the comment section below.

Jerry Duncan ’61 and Dean Jameson Jones ’36 at Homecoming 2007

Daisy Craddock: Recent Paintings and Drawings with be exhibited August 14 – Spetember 7, 2008 at John Davis Gallery, 362 1/2 Warren Street, Hudson, New York.  A reception is scheduled for Saturday, August 16, 6-8 p.m.

Gallery hours are Thursday – Monday: 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

2LT Leonard was born on August 24, 1985, and grew up in Lamesa, Texas. She graduated from Rhodes College in 2007 with a Bachelor’s Degree in International Studies, receiving her commission as a Second Lieutenant through the University of Memphis Army ROTC program. She was commissioned into the Transportation Corps and is currently serving in Tallil, Iraq. She is a platoon leader for a Supply and Transportation (S&T) platoon with Fox Company, 2/12th CAV, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division.

Her email address is: tiane.leonard@us.army.mil

Her mailing address is:

2LT Tiane Leonard
F Co. 2-12 CAV
CSC CEDER II
APO AE 09351

Cynthia Polk-Johnson, assistant dean of students for multicultural affairs, will be leaving Rhodes effective Friday, August 15th.  Cynthia has accepted a position at the University of Georgia in Athens, GA. She will serve as the director of multicultural services & programs/associate director of intercultural affairs.  This is an awesome career move for her and, in addition, she will begin to pursue her Ph.D. from one of the top tier higher education doctoral programs. She will begin her new job on Tuesday, August 26th.  Although we are happy for her, it’s a great loss for Rhodes and the Division of Student Affairs in particular.

Cynthia has been at Rhodes for 5 years and initially served as the director of student activities and orientation.  She was then promoted to her current role, assistant dean of students for multicultural affairs.  During her tenure at Rhodes, she has been nothing less than a team player who always keeps the students’ best interests at the center of her work.  She’s been a very valuable employee and will do well in her new position.  We will truly miss her contagious smile and free spirit.

Please feel free to post your well-wishes for Cynthia!

Thank you.
Dwaun J. Warmack
Associate Dean of Students

Marie Lindquist has taken the position of Director of Field Service Education at the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service, located in Little Rock. Marie will be working with students in this two-year master degree program. In this role, she will be managing practicum and capstone projects which give the students the opportunity to apply skills learned in the classroom. Clearly, the accomplishments Marie has made at Rhodes prepare her well for this new challenge.

Marie will leave Rhodes College on August 1, after nine years of service. During her tenure at the college, Marie provided leadership training and advisement for the Burch Scholars/Rhodes Service Scholars Program. The success of the programmatic components in these scholarships that linked out-of-class learning to in-class learning, attracted the interest of not only of educators and students, but also philanthropists who have made possible the endowment of the Bonner Scholars program at Rhodes. Marie also advocated for and administered the Summer Service Fellowship program after listening to countless students express their desire to perform service in Memphis during the summer months. This program formed a core component of the Center for Academic Research and Education through Service along with the Rhodes Institute for Regional Studies and the St. Jude Summer Plus program. 

During her many years of mentoring our students, she has helped students identify opportunities for highly competitive postgraduate scholarships. Her ability to work closely with students, and across lines with both faculty and staff, are a testament to her sincerity, compassion and genuine concern for others. She will be greatly missed.

Please feel free to post your well wishes for Marie!

Carol Casey
Dean of Students

We asked three members of the Class of 2008 to write about Senior Week.  We invite you to add your personal stories and memories about your Senior Week and Graduation in the comments section.

With summer here, I realized that I could sleep in for hours until my summer job begins and basically do nothing for a week.  But after a week of nothing, every year I fall into what I call the “ughh” phase.  Perhaps, if you are a runner you can identify with the “ughh.” It comes after skipping a week because of a holiday or falling off your exercise schedule during a rainy week.  Your body says, “Ughh, why did you stop!” and you are either propelled to your feet or spend another day under the “ughh” phase” add another “h” if you like, “ughhh.”

I have a paper bag in my room right now. As I moved out of East Village a little more than a week ago, it became full of those items that I collected during my nostalgic last week of class and the long awaited senior week.  It is actually sitting next to my desk, here at my room at home, where you can definitely observe the atrocity of filling one room with two room’s contents after moving back home. Anyway, let’s see what I have here, in no particular order, just a few:
Graduation Exercises Rain Tickets (Yes! Didn’t have to use those!  Can’t beat Fisher Garden.) New Student Orientation Schedule (What is that still doing around! Ahhh, the days of Orientation Staff.)
Six Figures:  The 2008 Senior Thesis Exhibition Program (Signed by the artists Hayley Hill and Rachel Thompson themselves!)
My Sojourners Packet (I shall expound)
As I finished finals, the bag slowing filled with more things that I consider important to put away for a scrapbook or something.  Senior week came around, which allowed the bag to fill and let me tell you. . .

The Sojourners met in East Village Lodge for three afternoons during senior week.  The organization of this event, by members of the faculty and staff, is a testament to how the care and kindness of these people extends throughout college.  I would estimate that about forty students participated.  The professors and staff members organized opportunities for students to share important college experiences in small groups and hear from special guest alumni speakers each afternoon.  Looking across the faces in the lodge as we sat in a huge circle, I reflected momentarily on how each person had impacted my life.  Seeing so many faces, sitting there together, my reflections seemed strange as I had worked with these people, served with these people, and lived with these people in so many different contexts.

As I think back on it now, these thoughts fashioned the lens of my senior week experience.  The events were characterized by having so many people in one place.  During college I had grown so accustomed to seeing this person in Frazier Jelke, only, this person at 1:00 in the Rat, only, this person sitting in the Middle Ground, only, and this person at the greek event, only.  I remember thinking throughout the week, “Isn’t this neat, we’re all together.” Yes, the word in mind was honestly, “neat.”

From the senior toast in Fisher Garden hosted by the Alumni Office, to the party at the Cadre Building in downtown Memphis, from Sojourners to dinner at Bluefin with friends from freshman year, from getting squished on the bus to get to the Happy Mexican to making a cake with my hall mates, senior week was a week I hope I will remember for a long time.

The funny thing is that after a week of nothing, the “ughh” phase has rolled upon me. . .or perhaps I’ve rolled myself into it until 11:00 am on my bed. . .whatever the case, it is here.  The “ughh” phase can block good thought and a good attitude.  It is annoying and debilitating, in the slightest on ways.  You want to journal, but you think, I haven’t done anything for a week, even though you try to remember the week before last.  You want to clean up the new mess of a room you have, with two of everything, and winter clothes sprawled about the place.  You want to keep growing, but you find yourself sitting.  You want to do something meaningful, because Rhodes was my running schedule and my mind is currently unhappy with itself.

Now that I have had the opportunity to think back, sure, I’m a bit out of sync.  Now that professors aren’t asking me for papers and critical thought, yes, this lack of interaction has contributed to the “ughh.”  I’ve realized that you have to have a goal and a foundation from which to jump that goes deeper than a college experience.  Being a part of Rhodes College has reminded of God’s faithfulness to provide meaningful relationships and to give people the desire to help others.  Being together with some of these people during senior week, what a gift!
 
Ryan Degan ‘08

Senior Week was fantastic with over 75% of seniors participating. Our festivities started with the Redbirds game on Sunday, May 4. The seniors had lawn seats at Autozone Park and we watched two victories in a double-header against the Colorado Springs Sky Sox. Monday evening we were treated by the Alumni Relations Office to a wine tasting so we’ll know about some of the finer things in life before stepping out into the real world. Monday night we chartered tour buses down to Jack Binion’s Horseshoe Casino in Tunica, MS with a celebrity guest appearance by Allen Iverson of the Denver Nuggets NBA basketball team at the casino. Tuesday morning brought a delightful champagne brunch followed by a pub crawl downtown in the evening to the Flying Saucer and delicious Mexican food at the Happy Mexican. Wednesday we had a pool party in the afternoon at the BCLC and cooked out for the seniors. Our grand finale was a cocktail party at the beautiful Cadre building downtown at Monroe and Second Street. This venue is typically used for large events such as wedding receptions and was absolutely fabulous for our cocktail party accompanied by a DJ who kept the good times rolling. After this busy week we had Baccalaureate Service on Friday afternoon and Commencement on Saturday morning, we certainly ended our time at Rhodes College on a sweet note of victory.
 
Tom Mudd ‘08

Redbirds game.  Tunica (complete with A.I. sighting, though word on the street is that he doesn’t give the greatest gambling advice).  Champagne brunch.  Pub crawl (B.B. King’s is on, no, it’s off, wait it’s really on but no band).  The pool party followed by a wonderful dinner at President and Mrs. Troutt’s home.  And of course, the cocktail party at the Cadre (and nostalgia for the last time I will ride a school bus, I think). 

Yes, our senior week was packed with activities that will definitely be memorable for years to come.  It was a marathon event that I will always remember as a great top-off to four of the best years of my life here at Rhodes College.  Though our class as a whole has been close in many ways, it was awesome to have everyone in one place at the same time; seeing people that I have long considered friends but haven’t had the chance to talk to for a while was a great way to sum up my time here.  I personally am a very sentimental person and, cheesy as it sounds, took these afternoons and nights as opportunities to look around at my classmates and remember one of the main reasons that I chose and came to love Rhodes in the first place.  Senior week proved to be an event that inspired even more pride within me for my (now) alma mater, and also allowed for a sense of closure that makes this difficult but exciting transition away from Rhodes a bit easier.

And so, ending on a note about transition, I have the best wishes for my fellow graduates as we begin this new stage and I hope that you too will all look back on our senior week as just one example of the great times we have had here at Rhodes.  And may those memories inspire us all as we each now begin writing a new chapter in our lives. 

Take care and all the best,

Alison Williams, ‘08

Caroline’s mom, Marcjana Lund Turns graduated from Rhodes in 1993. The alumni affairs office at Rhodes is passing along this message from friends of Marcjana and her husband Pat.

Dear Friends,

Your child – she fills you with joy; you fill her with love. You nurture her and guide her and do everything you can to protect her.

But what happens when, without warning, an illness so severe, so debilitating, so suddenly takes control of her? You may feel helpless, but only for a moment. Then your parental instincts take over and you fight to protect her even more. You look to doctors, researchers, preachers and healers for their help. And you look to your family and friends and their friends for their support in the good fight.

This letter is about such a fight. We are asking for your understanding and support in helping Caroline Turns, a little girl of only 8 years, with an amazing will for life, to defeat Pancreatoblastoma. Only nine short months ago, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital discovered a cancerous tumor in Caroline’s pancreas with the mass pressing upon and metastasizing to her liver, a very rare and grave diagnosis for a young child. She began chemotherapy immediately and has endured more than nine rounds. Very recently, her doctors, with the blessings of Caroline’s parents, made the difficult but necessary decision to transplant three of Caroline’s vital organs (the liver, pancreas and small bowel) under the care of the world’s premier pediatric transplant team at Holtz Children’s Hospital UM/Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Fla.

Caroline is now at the top of the organ transplant list. Her family is making plans to move to Miami, full of hope and the knowledge that a long and delicate surgery, and an even longer recovery, awaits them. Caroline’s surgery is outside the care of St. Jude, and as such, is charged in full to the Turns. As for their health insurance, the procedure is out-of-network and total costs are expected to exceed $1 million.

Please help Caroline and her family cope with this ordeal by making a financial donation. An account has been set up at SunTrust Bank in the name of Caroline Hope Turns Fund. Or, if you prefer a 501(c)3 donation method, stay tuned to www.carepages.com (register on the site and then search for CHTStJude) for information regarding the Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA).

Friends, this is that disease we all fear, and especially for our children. It’s that disease we all think happens to other children, not ours. Not even to our friends’ children. But it does, and it has, and Caroline cannot win her fight against it without the help of people like you. So please make a donation today. Time is crucial and your financial support is vital.

Thank you for donating to this most gracious and worthy cause.

Very truly yours,

Peter Adams ‘93
Mat Parker
The Chiozza Brothers
John Sampietro
Tony Graves
Bryan Smith
Alex Lonon

You may mail your check to:
Caroline Hope Turns Fund c/o Tony Graves
4984 Brookwood Cove
Memphis, TN 38117

P.S. Please forward this email to your friends and family. Any donation of any amount is a helpful gift.

May has always been a special month in my life. Mel and I were married on May 31 in 1997. John Price was born two years later on May 30. Effective this past May 10, I became a father-in-law as my eldest child, Allen, was married to his college sweetheart. Generally, I don’t work in the week of Memorial Day, opting to be at a beach instead. And in the period Mel, JP, and I are out of Memphis, it truly is a special time of year here. As George Wilson ‘53 shared with me in my second spring on the staff, “Memphis is best dressed in Spring.” George is right. May is indeed a special month.

In the months of May, I think I hold a greater sense of fondness for members of the alumni community. Or at least, I may be more sensitive to the affection I have for you. My appointment as Alumni Director began in May 2003. Thus, as each passing year of my being here is closed and a new one begins, each May brings with it a sense of appreciation for serving an institution in which I believe and a group of people whom I have come to love.

One of my favorite times of year in the life cycle of the College is Senior Week and Commencement. We know that the second Saturday of May is a day of celebration as candidates are saluted by the faculty on their procession to Fisher Garden, receive their degrees, and with their families in tow, linger on the campus visiting with faculty, staff, classmates, and friends one or two years older who return to welcome them into the alumni ranks. It is a bittersweet experience. They are overjoyed to graduate. They are sad to leave the place they love.

For this most recent graduating class, I met so many at Summer Sendoffs as they prepared to enter Rhodes and have been privileged to see them grow and develop over the four years they have been here. As one who taught and served as a student affairs dean, I am proud of the efforts of my colleagues in supporting our students in their maturation, educational growth, and intellectual development.

Faculty and staff have given their best. The students were receptive. At some point, the students became more self-directed and self-initiating and emerged into bright young scholars, capable of stimulating their own learning.

Many of our members of the Class of 2008 have accepted seats in graduate and professional programs and will continue their studies. If this year runs consistently with previous years, this will account for about 45% of the class. An approximate like percentage have accepted jobs in fields of business, education, public service, non-profit agencies, health care, and other fields. Roughly 10% leave Rhodes with no job or no real plan in place to find one.

I want to see May become more special than it is. May can become a time when Rhodes Chapters celebrate the arrival of new members of the Rhodes family. Indeed, several of our chapters including DC and Houston are planning welcome activities for the young alumni. It also can be a time when established alumni take stock of what they can do to assist the young alumni in finding work. Toward that end, I ask that you let me know of your willingness to help. Three electronic opportunities are available through Rhodes career groups on Facebook and LinkedIn as well as the Rhodes Career Network on our College Website.

Some of the young graduates who leave Rhodes without work or the possibility of work in development have failed to utilize the services offered through the Career Services and Alumni Relations Offices. I have fussed at these. Others have availed themselves of the services and are taking calculated steps to find work in places where they want to live or in fields they wish to enter and are saying to themselves and others, “I must try.” Even if this doesn’t work out, I’ll never look back and wonder how things may have been.

My appeal to you is that you help. Over time, we should reduce the number of young graduates who fail to use the services designed to help them. We will never reduce the number of those who leave Fisher Garden with a dream and the courage to try. Every May, count on me telling you that I love serving as your alumni secretary and count on me asking that you do what you can to help the newest members of our alumni community.

With all best wishes until next issue,

Bud Richey
Associate Vice President and
Director of Alumni Relations

Chapter News
Most of our contact with alumni in regions where chapters are located is through emails. Should you be receiving this electronic newsletter but you are not receiving announcements about local chapter events, please call or email the Alumni Relations Office.

Mobile/Gulf Coast
The Mobile/Gulf Coast Chapter hosted a reception for accepted students April 10 at the home of Ruth ‘84 and Scott Rye ‘83. It was reported to accepted students in attendance that Mobile’s own Laura Hofto ‘10 was awarded a Goldwater Scholarship. Nancy and Mike Hofto, parents of Megan ‘07 and Laura ‘10, invited parents in attendance to join them for a Summer Send-Off Party honoring entering students to be held in July or August. Stay tuned for details!

Atlanta
The Chapter hosted a Career Networking Event March 20, at the High Museum of Art. The event included a meet and greet followed by a panel discussion. Participants were invited to stick around for a reception and private museum tour. Approximately 30 students/alumni attended. Thank you to all of our alumni who supported this event with your attendance.

Area alumni gathered Friday, March 21, at The Derby Sports Grille to welcome the baseball coaching staff to Atlanta. The team played a two-game series against Emory, with one win and one loss. Several alumni attended the second game held Saturday, March 22 to cheer on the Lynx. Thanks to David Carr ‘98 for organizing the Friday night gathering.

Back Row: Charles Harris ‘00, Kevin Brick ‘00, Chris Castleberry ‘06,
Shelley Fulghum ‘03, Katie Yendle ‘06, Rory Faver ‘07, Bobbo Jetmundsen ‘77
Middle Row: David Carr ‘98, Chris Talley ‘04, Courtney Lundeen ‘04,
Josh Solomon ‘00, Pete Goodrich ‘07
Front Row: Juhee Desai ‘98, Anna Johnson ‘01

The Chapter hosted a reception for accepted students and their parents, April 6, at the home of Chapter President Bobbo Jetmundsen ‘77. Thank you to those alumni who attended and shared your Rhodes experiences with these students and their parents, helping them to make an informed decision.

A Young Alumni Happy Hour was held April 9 at Seasons 52 in Buckhead. Young alums gathered for free appetizers and happy hour specials.

The Atlanta Chapter held a Happy Hour gathering April 25 featuring Dr. Dan Cullen, Professor of Political Science, at Lola Bellini Bar & Restaurant. Dr. Cullen’s areas of expertise include American political thought, history of American politics, and political theory. Everyone enjoyed the stimulating conversation, as well as the appetizers and libations.

Washington, D.C.
The Rhodes Chapter of Washington, D.C. hosted a Career Networking Event March 3 at the offices of the National Journal Group. The evening included a short program, followed by a panel discussion and reception. Approximately 12 students and young alumni seeking work in Washington, D.C. attended the event. Thank you to Lucy and Charlie Cook, parents of Becky ‘08 and David ‘12, for hosting the event, and to alumni and current parents who supported the event with your attendance.

The Washington, D.C. Chapter hosted a reception for accepted students and their parents April 5 at the home of Lucy and Charlie Cook, parents of Becky ‘08 and David ‘12. Alumni, current parents, current students, and former parents attended this event and shared their Rhodes experiences with the prospective students and their parents. Thank you to our hosts and to the members of the Rhodes community who attended the event.

The Washington, D.C. Chapter went for gold as a tent partner on University Row at the 10th Anniversary Virginia Gold Cup Race May 3. University Row is annually home to over ten alumni-hosted tents each year. Rhodes shared tent space with William & Mary. This is the third year the chapter has participated in the race, making it a solid chapter tradition sure to continue. Mark your calendar for the first Saturday in May next year. Thank you to Mark Perriello ‘99 for organizing this event.

Arkansas
The Arkansas Chapter Arkansas was Rockin’ on the River when Rhodes Alumni recently met for wine tasting and fellowship at Cajun’s Wharf in Little Rock May 7. Even torrential rains couldn’t dampen the spirits of the 25 in attendance. Thanks to Marynell Branch ‘77 for organizing this gathering.

Plan now to cheer on the Arkansas Travelers baseball team this summer at Dickey-Stephens Park. Stay tuned for details, coming soon to an inbox near you!

Memphis
The Memphis Chapter hosted a reception for accepted students and their parents in the Paul Barret, Jr. Library April 21. Several area students attended the event with their parents and asked pertinent questions about life at Rhodes. Thank you to Crissy Cody Stemkowski ‘02 and Lisa Jain ‘02 for organizing this event, and to panelists Adele Hines Bailey ‘99, Callie Brooks ‘06, Jay Eckles ‘00, Megan Pollock Hulgan ‘04, Anna Ivey ‘06, Amy Moore ‘07, Stephanie Swindle ‘06, and Will Tyler ‘05 for their participation.

The Memphis Chapter sponsored a service project, Rites to Play, April 12. Rites to Play is a student-run outdoor carnival with games, face painting, educational presentations, and food for children from the neighborhood and children served by the Rhodes Kinney Program. Local alumni were also invited to bring their children to campus to enjoy the activities. Service Co-Chairs of the Memphis Chapter Megan ‘04 and Jonathan Hulgan ‘03 organized alumni volunteers to help with the endeavor. This is the third year alumni have been asked to volunteer for this event. Please make plans to attend next year. Thank you to Megan and Jonathan for their leadership.

Nashville
The Nashville Chapter recently conducted an online survey for area alumni. The steering group is interested in your feedback, and in presenting programming that interests you. Thank you to those who participated in the survey. If you have not yet taken this brief survey, we’d appreciate your participation. Simply CLICK HERE to begin.

The Rhodes Chapter of Nashville hosted a Career Networking Event March 20 at the Center for Nonprofit Management. Approximately 10 students interested in starting their careers in the Nashville area attended this valuable session. Thank you to alumni panelists Mike Edwards ‘79, Michael Hayes ‘96, E. Marlee Mitchell ‘80, Emily Ogden ‘00, Bob Tigert ‘73 and Fred Wix ‘98. Also, a special thank you to Chapter President Trish Puryear Crist ‘90 and Andrea Hutchinson ‘01 for organizing this important event.

The Nashville Chapter held its second annual Sausage Lynx Breakfast club on April 1 at Fido’s. This monthly gathering has been suspended while chapter leaders evaluate this program based on alumni feedback from the survey mentioned above.

North Texas
A reception for accepted students and their parents was held April 17 at the home of Susan Brown and Bill McCoy, parents of Clark Ruppert ‘10. Alumni and current parents showed up in force, demonstrating the strength of the local Rhodes community to prospective students. Thank you to all who supported this event with your attendance and to our hosts for a wonderful evening.

Birmingham
No report.

Houston
The Rhodes Chapter of Houston hosted its third annual Crawfish Boil April 19 at Woodrow’s on Chimney Rock. Accepted students and their parents were welcomed by current parents and alumni. Approximately 30 people attended the gathering, and the weather was perfect for an afternoon on the deck. Thank you to those who made this event a success with your attendance.

The Houston Chapter hosted a Memphis Style Barbeque at the home of Julie ‘01 and Jason Javarone ‘00, May 17, which was not-so-coincidentally the same weekend as the Memphis in May World Champion Barbeque Cooking Contest. Chip Lane ‘98 cooked up Memphis style shoulder, and fun was had by all despite a little unexpected rain that morning. Approximately 25 parents, students and alumni (including a few from the 2008 class) attended the event. Thank you to our cooks and hosts for throwing this down-home event.

Parents, students, and alumni enjoy a beautiful afternoon in Houston.

These ladies look like satisfied customers.

Down-home Memphis BBQ with Corky’s and Rendezvous sauce and all the trimmings.

Chicago
The Chicago Chapter held a Happy Hour gathering March 7 at Monk’s Pub. Area alumni enjoyed free appetizers and happy hour specials. Thanks to Linn Schifano ‘05 for organizing this gathering.

The Chicago Chapter hosted a reception for accepted students and their parents April 13 at Colibri Gallery and Studio in downtown Chicago. Gallery owner Montse Alsina ‘84 along with Chrissy Mobley ‘01 and Viktoria Ziebarth ‘97 organized the event. Thank you to our hostesses and to those who attended and shared your Rhodes experiences with these bright high school seniors.

New York City
No Report.

St. Louis
No Report.

New Orleans
The Rhodes Chapter of New Orleans hosted a Career Networking Event, March 4, at the St. Charles Avenue Presbyterian Church in New Orleans. Student groups Rhodes Rebuilds and the Catholic Student Association were in New Orleans for spring break rebuilding houses and were joined by other students and young alumni with aspirations of living and working in New Orleans. Area alumni welcomed these students and talked with them about rebuilding efforts in the city and career opportunities. Thank you to the alumni that supported this event with your attendance.

The New Orleans Chapter hosted a Big Easy Boil on Rhodes’ campus March 29. New Orleans alumni and Memphis area alumni with New Orleans ties were invited to attend. The Chapter organized this event to give current students a chance to network with alumni from New Orleans and learn more about living and working in the Big Easy. Joby Dion ‘02 and Bud Richey led a stellar cooking team of alumni and staff. The event was held in Fisher Garden, and despite the consistent rain throughout the bulk of the event, students showed up in droves to enjoy all-you-can-eat crawfish. A special thanks to Joby Dion ‘02 and Lawton Fabacher ‘02 for organizing this event.

Bud Richey and Joby Dion ‘02 sample the fare.

Lawton Fabacher ‘02, Craig Brewer ‘91 and Mary Margaret Brewer ‘91 catch up.

Students enjoy a fresh, steaming batch of mudbugs.

Joby Dion ‘02 teaches President Troutt the fine art of eating crawfish.

Waiting for scraps.

Nobody’s looking!

A reception for accepted students was held April 17 at the home of Judy and Doug Williams, parents of Chris ‘11, in Baton Rouge. Seven accepted students from the Baton Rouge and New Orleans areas were received by alumni and current parents. Thank you to our hosts and to those who supported this event with your attendance.

Austin
No Report.

Other Regional Programming News
Once again we are expanding! We’d like to form our fifteenth chapter in Boston this summer. If you are interested in serving as a leader for the Rhodes Chapter of Boston, please contact Associate Director of Alumni Relations Holly Hilliard at hilliardh@rhodes.edu. A chapter establishment meeting is planned for Tuesday, June 24, and we’ll have a general reception for alumni and parents to introduce the chapter Wednesday, June 25. Details to follow soon, but please mark your calendar!

Books for Barret
Two alumni have provided books for the Barret Library. Email addresses are provided in order that you may inquire about securing copies or send your good wishes to Liz and Jim.

We welcome books written by members of the Rhodes community and ask that two copies be provided. One will be placed in the Archives with books written by alumni of the College and the other copy will be placed in general circulation.

Liz Markovits ‘97 has donated The Politics of Sincerity: Plato, Frank Speech, and Democratic Judgment.

Jim Williamson ‘68 has donated two copies of The Architect.

Rhodes Hires
Megan Hulgan ‘04, Lead Trainer for foster parents, supported the hiring of Ashley Mitchem ‘06 as a Foster Care Counselor at Youth Villages in Memphis.

Recruit Students
With school being out, the summer provides a time when rising high school seniors and juniors visit college campuses. We see a good number of families over the summer months. As students and their families are often in an exploratory phase of the search process at this time of year, encouraging them to consider Rhodes would be presented at a perfect time. Our hope, of course, is that they will go to the Website, learn more about Rhodes, and make a campus visit. Should they visit, there is a strong relationship to their submitting applications.

Beyond speaking with prospective students and their families, please let us know of good prospects by using the quick electronic referral form.

Participate in the Rhodes Career Network
Some of the closing section of this issue is an appeal for your assistance to help the young alumni in their career development. I urge you to do whatever you can to assist those in the Rhodes alumni community in finding work.

Tell Us What You Think
We want your opinion on ways to improve communications from the Alumni Relations Office. The updated survey provides a space for you to provide your name. Should you prefer remaining anonymous, please complete the survey leaving that segment blank and send an email to richeyw@rhodes.edu indicating that you completed the survey. All participants names will be placed in a drawing for prizes to include coffee mugs, T shirts, and an Alumni Association polo shirt.

The Solly is Scheduled
The Rhodes Golf Tournament, THE SOLLY, is scheduled for 1 pm on Friday, July 18, at the Tunica National Golf Club in Tunica, Mississippi. Proceeds go to the Craig Solomon ‘79 Memorial Fund which supports the Rhodes Athletic Department. For an entry form or further information, please email Mike Clary ‘77 clary@rhodes.edu.

Travel Programs
Rhodes to Travel heads to Quebec in September, Vienna for New Year’s Eve, Antarctica in January. In 2009 we’ll visit India, Scotland, and Peru. Details on 2009 trips to come or call Meeman Center, 901-843-3965.

Homecoming/Reunion Weekend
Save the date for October 3-4, 2008, as we gather on campus for Homecoming and celebrate reunions of all classes ending with 3 and 8. Following approval of the Alumni Association Executive Board on program matters, we will be posting information on the Alumni Website.

BSA 40th Anniversary
An alumni weekend on the campus will be held April 17-19, 2009, to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Black Student Association. The Black Alumni Connection of the Alumni Association will partner with student leaders of the BSA and the Alumni Relations Office in providing leadership for the weekend activities.

A Message from the Planned Giving Director
For those over the age of 55, there is an opportunity that will give you financial benefits, allow you to leave a lasting legacy at Rhodes and give the college funds to further its mission. This is possible through a charitable gift annuity at Rhodes. A gift annuity, funded with appreciated assets, will give you guaranteed income payments for life, allow you to convert assets to a higher income level, provide generous tax savings and leave funds to Rhodes. The charitable gift annuity rates are going down on July 1, 2008, but for those of you who are interested, there is time to lock in the higher, guaranteed rates for life. Please contact Sue Matthews at 901-843-3919 or 1-800-264-5969 or at matthews@rhodes.edu.

Most of our contact with alumni in regions where chapters are located is through emails. Should you be receiving this electronic newsletter but you are not receiving announcements about local chapter events, please call or email the Alumni Relations Office.

Mobile/Gulf Coast
John Wade ‘04 and Amanda Haggerty Therrell ‘04 are the new Co-Chairs of the Chapter. If you are interested in getting involved, please contact the Alumni Office at alumni@rhodes.edu.

Atlanta
Leaders of the Atlanta Chapter, Ben Chastain ‘03 and Shelley Fulghum ‘03 co-hosted a Young Alumni Holiday Party at Ben’s home November 30. They had a great turnout, with approximately 65 young alumni (class years 1998-2007) attending. Ben and Shelley hope to make this an annual event.

	Â	Andrew Daly ‘03, Lisa Meyer Armstrong ‘02, Emily Costarides ‘04, Ben Chastain ‘03, Shelley Fulghum ‘03, Kate Strother ‘03, and David Carr ‘98 [click photo to enlarge]
	Â	Members of the Class of 2003 Front Row: Anne Barrow, Shelley Fulghum, Ali McCracken Stoner Back Row: Kevin Hay, Kate Strother, Ben Chastain, Andrew Daly, Leanne Rosenfield, and Brad Stoner [click photo to enlarge]
	Â	Andrew Egenes (husband of Catherine), Catherine Ogle Egenes ‘04, Chris Talley ‘04, Allan Waller ‘04, Lissa Waldo ‘05, Kelsey Durrett ‘06, and Hillary Schroeder ‘05 [click photo to enlarge]

Bobbo Jetmundsen ‘77 hosted a panel discussion and reception for prospective students in his home on January 5. Current students and their parents and area alumni were invited to attend and share their Rhodes experiences with Atlanta’s best and brightest high school students.

The Chapter invites you to attend a Career Networking Event, Thursday, March 20, at the High Museum of Art, 1280 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta. The event begins with a meet and greet at 4:30 p.m., followed by a panel discussion at 4:45 p.m., and a reception and optional museum tour at 6:00 p.m. This is a great opportunity for you to help current students in their pursuits of finding internships and job opportunities in Atlanta. Please plan to attend and lend them your advice! This event is free, but if you plan to attend please register online.

The Chapter is planning to host a reception for accepted students and their parents, Sunday, April 6. Details of the event are coming together, so please watch your inbox for official notification of this event. Please plan to attend and share your Rhodes experiences with these students and their parents, helping them to make an informed decision.

Washington, D.C.
The Rhodes Chapter of Washington, D.C. invites you to attend a Career Networking Event, Monday, March 3, 6:30 p.m. 8:30 p.m., at the offices of the National Journal Group, Watergate Office Buildings, 600 New Hampshire NW, 8th floor. The evening begins with a short program, followed by a panel discussion. We’ll wrap up with a reception. We expect 12-15 students and young alumni interested in finding work in D.C. to attend. Whether you are a young alumnus/a looking for a career change, or an old-hat in D.C. interested in sharing your experiences and networking with fellow alumni and parents, this event provides great opportunity for all. Please support this event with your attendance. More information and registration are available online.

Arkansas
No report.

Memphis
The Memphis Chapter sponsored an aid station for the St. Jude Marathon, Saturday, December 1.  Volunteers distributed water and PowerAid to runners at the 21 mile mark, located at the Rhodes North Parkway entrance.  Thank you to Service Co-Chairs Jonathan ‘03 and Megan Pollock Hulgan ‘04 for organizing this event! 

The Alumni Executive Board hosted a fundraiser at Davis-Kidd Booksellers, Sunday, December 2. A percentage of sales for the evening totaling nearly $1400 was raised for a fund to help students with unforeseen financial crises. Books authored by Rhodes alumni and faculty were featured. The event included a children’s story time and a performance by Treble with Girls (Lipstick on Your Collar alumnae). Thank you to those who supported this event with your attendance and purchases! Please make plans to do some of your holiday shopping with a similar event this December!

You are invited to attend a Wine and Cheese Reception, Thursday, March 6, 6-7:30 p.m., at the Paul Barret, Jr. Library. Join fellow alumni and view the Wattstax Photography Exhibit that celebrates the legendary 1972 concert. This event is free, but we ask that you register online. We hope you are able to make it!

The Memphis Chapter is hosting a reception for accepted students and their parents Monday, April 14, in the Paul Barret, Jr. Library. If you are interested in participating in student recruitment events, sign up online to be a RAVE volunteer.

Nashville
The Nashville Chapter hosted an Evening at the Theater February 16, at the new Bill and Carole Troutt Theater on the campus of Belmont University. Approximately 25 members of the Rhodes community met at The Trace Restaurant for a pre-play gathering then enjoyed an outstanding performance of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. The director and cast members held a special “talk back” session for the attendees following the play.

The Rhodes Chapter of Nashville invites you to attend its inaugural Sausage Lynx Breakfast Club gathering, Tuesday, March 4, 7:30 a.m., at Fido’s in Hillsboro Village. Come before work for a Dutch treat breakfast and lively conversation with fellow Rhodes alumni. Please let us know if you plan to attend by registering online so we can reserve tables. 

Tuesday, April 1, is the tentative date for the next Sausage Lynx Breakfast Club gathering. Stay tuned for details.

The Rhodes Chapter of Nashville invites you to attend a Career Networking Event, Thursday, March 20. The chapter is putting this event together in response to high interest among seniors who want to move to Nashville following graduation. Details will imminently emerge, but please mark your calendar and plan to attend.

North Texas
Plans are underway to host a reception for accepted students and their parents sometime in late April. Please stay tuned for details.

Birmingham
The Birmingham Chapter hosted a Holiday Party at the Birmingham Museum of Art December 12. Approximately 20 members of the Rhodes Community enjoyed sampling Italian beer, wine, and cheeses. The reception was followed by a tour of the landmark exhibition Pompeii: Tales from an Eruption. Thank you to Charlotte Turnipseed Russ ‘97 for organizing this event.

	Krista Dewitt ‘05, Dave Miller ‘03, Jennifer Sirmon ‘04 and Allen Sheehan ‘04 [click photo to enlarge]
	Angie Watkins and Duncan Hamilton ‘04 [click photo to enlarge]
	Walker May ‘99, Dave Miller ‘03, Allen Sheehan ‘04, and Joe Montminy ‘97 [click photo to enlarge]

Houston

Congratulations to Chip Lane ‘98, the new president of the Rhodes Chapter of Houston. Chip and the chapter leadership committee are hard at work putting together programming for 2008. If you have ideas you’d like to share or if you’d like to become a member of the leadership team, please contact Chip at rlane@js-llp.com.

Thank you to former president Jason Javarone ‘00 for his stellar leadership throughout 2007. We appreciate his efforts and continued support!

The Houston Chapter hosted its first Happy Hour Gathering of 2008 February 21 at The Black Labrador Pub. Despite the rainy weather, fun was had by the gathering of the tried and true. Stay tuned for upcoming happy hours!

The Rhodes Chapter of Houston is hosting its third annual Crawfish Boil, Saturday, April 19, noon 3 p.m., at Woodrow’s, 3111 Chimney Rock, Houston. Accepted students and their parents will be invited to attend to learn more about Rhodes from area alumni. Come enjoy a feast of all you can eat crawfish, corn, potatoes, chicken fingers and queso dip with fellow members of the Rhodes community! Adult admission is $12 if you register prior to April 1, and $15 after April 1. Children 11 and under are free. More information and registration are available online.

Chicago

The Chicago Chapter hosted a Night at the Theater, December 1. Members of the Rhodes community met for a pre-show gathering at Chief Neill’s Pub, then attended a performance of “Dirty Diamonds” at The Factory Theater featuring Rhodes alumna Heather Tyler ‘97. Jack Helbig of Chicago Reader wrote of Heather’s performance, Heather Tyler is particularly fine as the skittish, Barbara Stanwyck-esque femme fatale.” Congratulations to Heather for her critically acclaimed performance.

The Rhodes Chapter of Chicago invites you to attend a Happy Hour Gathering, Friday, March 7, at Monk’s Pub, 205 W Lake Street (Corner of Lake and Wells, 2 Blocks West of Clark/Lake CTA Stop). The fun begins at 5 p.m. with free appetizers and a cash bar. Please let us know if you plan to attend by registering online. We hope to see you there! If you have questions, please contact Linn Schifano ‘05 at linn.schifano@nmfn.com.

New York City
The New York City Chapter hosted its second annual Career Tour for students interested in working in financial, business, marketing, and banking fields in New York City. Professors Deborah Pittman ‘71 and John Planchon along with Holly Hilliard of the Alumni Relations Office led a group of 26 students who participated in the tour, and it was once again a tremendous success. As part of the week’s activities, a reception was held in the lobby of the Forbes Building, January 3. Approximately 25 alumni attended the reception, and gave advice to students about living and working in New York. 

A special thank you to alumni Frank Pinkerton ‘96, Brandon Couillard ‘05, Jon Wood ‘02, Truett Horne ‘07, Philip Ruppel ‘06, Jon David Willingham ‘04, Frank Byrd ‘90, Vimal Shah ‘94, Ben Gohman ‘97, Leslie Curry ‘98, John Marshall ‘00 and Anne Bragg Warren ‘00; and Rhodes parents Phil Brooks and Michael Lynch for hosting students and/or helping with arrangements. Read more about New York City Career Tour >>

St. Louis
No Report.

New Orleans
A Wine and Cheese Reception for the Rhodes community of New Orleans was held at the home of former trustee Ruthie and Lou Frierson.  President and Mrs. Troutt were in attendance as well as Alumni Director Bud Richey, Executive Assistant to the President Mel Richey, and Vice President Jenna Goodloe Wade. Approximately 60 members of the Rhodes community attended the event.

The Rhodes Chapter of New Orleans is hosting a Career Networking Event, Tuesday, March 4, from 5-7 p.m., at the St. Charles Avenue Presbyterian Church, 1545 State Street, New Orleans. Dinner will be provided. Student groups Rhodes Rebuilds and the Catholic Student Association are expected to attend, as they will be in New Orleans for Spring Break rebuilding houses. Other students and young alumni will also attend as they have aspirations of living and working in New Orleans. Please plan to attend and share your advice about finding work in The Big Easy. This event is free, but we ask that you register online. 

Austin
No Report.

Other Regional Programming News
Once again, we are expanding! We’d like to form our fifteenth chapter in Boston. If you are interested in serving as a leader for the Rhodes Chapter of Boston, please contact Associate Director of Alumni Relations Holly Hilliard at hilliardh@rhodes.edu. We look forward to hearing your ideas and appreciate your input!

Books for Barret
George Abraham ‘68 has donated two copies of The Seven Deadly Work Sins for placement in the Barret Library. Should you wish to contact George to secure a copy or send good wishes, you may reach him at georgerabraham@aol.com. 

We welcome books written by alumni. Two copies are requested as one goes into the archives to join works written by alumni and the second is placed in general circulation.

Rhodes Hires
Colleen Grady ‘86 hired Sara Kate Reaves ‘01 at the Tennessee Chapter of The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in Nashville. These two alumnae came to know each other through their service on the leadership board of the Rhodes Chapter of Nashville. 

Bill Michaelcheck ‘69, a contributor to the idea of including this feature in Inside Rhodes, reports that Vimal Shah ‘94 joined the Tricadia Capital affiliate of the Mariner Investment Group. While this career move for Vimal occurred two years back, Bill used this case to illustrate the importance of seeking talented prospects within the Rhodes Community. 

Charlie Cook, father of Becky ‘08, supported the candidacy of Liz Hodge ‘06, which helped her secure a position at the National Journal in Washington, D.C.

Lewis Lavine, President and CEO of the Nashville Center for Nonprofit Management, is a friend of the College. In January, the Center hired Sarah Townsend ‘07, as its Training and Program Coordinator.

Rhodes Hires is appearing for the first time with this issue of Inside Rhodes. The idea for this feature emerged in the Board of Trustees Retreat in January. We want to continue this item as a celebration of some of the good work taking place through the Rhodes Career Network. Please report news of this nature to Bud Richey.

Join the Rhodes Career Network
Increasingly, we need alumni and parents who are willing to help students secure meaningful internships and young alumni in their search for employment. Learn more about the Rhodes Career Network and register to help other members of the Rhodes Community.

Host an Event
Rhodes Chapters are becoming more active in their programming. With this increase in activity, there is need for volunteers who are able to host events in their homes or other places. Please consider signing up to help in this way.

Join and Use Networking Groups
The Rhodes Alumni Career Network in Facebook, just a shade over four months old, has 870 members at the time of this writing. Please join. If you are a member of LinkedIn, please join the Rhodes College Alumni Career Network Group.

Recruit Students
Call and congratulate high school seniors who have been accepted to Rhodes. In April, we try to make sure each accepted student receives a personal phone call, but we currently have more students than available alumni and can use your help. If you are interested in calling a few accepted students to congratulate them and share your Rhodes experience, please contact Lauren Sefton ‘03 at your earliest convenience.

Support Student Travel Through Frequent Flier Miles
Would you like to help a student take advantage of an opportunity to study abroad, present a paper at an international conference or travel to an archive to do research?  Please donate frequent flier airline miles by contacting Judy Pierce of Academic Affairs.

Make a Gift
If we were to divide this fiscal year (July 1 to June 30) into segments that were attached to funding sources, the revenues generated from student tuition and fees would have expired last month. Thus, we are now operating the College through June 30 on gifts secured through the Annual Fund and income from the endowment. 

Many of you have already made a donation to Rhodes this year. For that, we are grateful. Your gift will be put to good use in providing students with superior educational opportunities and experiences to support their learning.

If you have not yet done so, please make a gift online. Rhodes needs your support to continue moving forward as an institution committed to excellence.

Alumni Travel Opportunities
Meeman Center’s Rhodes to Travel trips in 2008 which still have space include The Louvre in Quebec: Arts & Life and New Year’s Eve in Vienna. Looking ahead to 2009, we’ll visit Antarctica, Scotland, Sicily, Peru. Contact Marilyn Hury for more information.

Lasting Lynx
In acting upon a suggestion from Sara Jean Jackson ‘59 that we report the names of Rhodes alumni seeking offices in upcoming elections, we encourage the use of “Class Notes” in Lasting Lynx, the password-protected online community.

Whether you are seeking public office, beginning a new career, having a child, or simply want to report to others in the Rhodes Community that you are happy to be in Birmingham, please use Lasting Lynx to share news about yourself and to catch up with others.

There are two primary topics which serve as the agenda for this comment section of the newsletter. The first is the alumni community as an “underutilized resources” and the second concerns requests for help.

In the greeting of this issue, I mentioned that I had attended the Board of Trustees retreat which was held in January. There is a trustee retreat every four or five years, in which our volunteer leaders, student and faculty trustees and key staff members of the College meet for two days off the campus to generate ideas to advance the institution. This retreat focused on identifying ways in which we can more effectively utilize our strengths.

It was a remarkable meeting. Generative thinking occurred. Great ideas emerged.

I met with the “Alumni and Parent Connections” workgroup. One of the premises from which this group began its discussions is that the College is richly blessed to have loyal and caring alumni in addition to parents of students and graduates who are willing to help. A second observation is that our alumni and parents form an enormous resource to the extent of being described by one participant as “our greatest strength” and, at the same time, represent a resource which is underutilized.

As much as you are doing now, there is shared belief that you stand ready and willing to do more to support Rhodes. I realize I contributed to that feeling. As a resource person for the trustee workgroup, I spoke of what you do in responding to requests made through our office to help us in so many ways which include recruiting students, creating learning experiences for students, supporting the young in providing career guidance and opportunities and in giving money.

There was a sense of trust held by the trustees, faculty, students, and staff that if we could do a better job of articulating specific ways in which assistance would be useful in advancing the objectives of Rhodes, alumni would respond by giving of their time and their talents and their resources to support the College in realizing the Vision for Rhodes.

In virtually every issue of Inside Rhodes, under the section, Ways to Help the College, I ask for your involvement and support. When I attend an event sponsored by one of our fine chapters, invariably I will ask you to help where we need you.

In serving as your alumni secretary, I think I fall short in two areas related to the idea of soliciting support. First, I don’t know that I always provide the context you need about the importance of your involvement; that is, I need to make certain that you understand how much your support or effort will matter. Second, I don’t know that I do enough to celebrate the wins. I expect us to be successful and after a successful accomplishment, my tendency is to say, “That was swell! Now what’s next?

Holly Hilliard and Matt Semko ‘98, my colleagues in the Alumni Relations Office, were instrumental in our adding a fifth goal to our previous four of our office’s purposes in a recent discussion about assessment. That goal reads, “Accomplishments of the institution and achievements of members of the Rhodes Community are celebrated.”

In this issue, I call your attention to Thanks for What You Have Done as a new section and pay particular attention to “Rhodes Hires” as a means of celebrating the good work being done through the Rhodes Career Network.

We will continue to find ways to celebrate wins. Likewise, we will continue to inform you of areas in which we need you, and, in so doing, will seek to explain the importance of your involvement making a difference in advancing Rhodes in meaningful ways.

In the context of the above, I ask something of you. A very simple thing you can do that makes a big difference is maintaining accurate contact information in your record. Here are reasons why that is important. With increasing activity of Rhodes Chapters, we pull alumni records based upon residency and send email messages to inform those in the area/region of events. (If you live in Chicago and we have an address for you in Houston, a message about a Career Networking Event in Chicago won’t reach you.)

A second illustration beyond our need and desire to reach you is at the very heart of the idea of a Rhodes Community in which members help each other. Generally, but not always, the way this works is that the young receive support from those who have gone ahead of them, primarily in areas of career exploration and advancement. In turn, the ones who receive assistance are in a position to help those who follow. We teach this to our students every day. Having not only accurate physical and electronic contact information in your record, but also current employment information, enables us to facilitate contact among community members.

What can you do? Several things:

• Keep us posted on changes in your address or email address. You may contact us at Alumni@rhodes.edu or by phone at 1-800-264-5969 or 901-843-3845. You also may update your own information using the Alumni Online Community member update page.
• Drop a business card in the mail or send an email message when you accept new employment or secure a new position in your existing company, agency or institution.
• Join the Rhodes Career Network. You may use the online form to register.
• If you use Facebook, join the Rhodes Alumni Career Network.
• If you use LinkedIn, join the Rhodes College Alumni Career Network Group.

Perhaps the biggest thing you can do is participate in the Rhodes Community. Attend events sponsored by chapters. Respond to students and young alumni who may contact you seeking career advice. Join us when you can at Homecoming and Reunion celebrations.

Thanks for all you do. Without the efforts of alumni, Rhodes College would not achieve to the extent we are. Not a day goes by when we don’t thank our lucky stars for serving and having the support of such a loyal community.

Until next issue, with all good wishes from the Alumni Relations Office,

Bud Richey
Associate Vice President and
Director of Alumni Relations
richeyw@rhodes.edu
(901) 843-3845

Homecoming/Reunion Weekend was held October 19-21. We could not have asked for a finer weekend. It was grand for us to have so many alumni and, in many cases, their families, return to the campus. Thanks to all who came and for making this year’s Homecoming such a special one.

We knew we were getting off to a good start when the crowd to see Dean Jameson Jones ‘36 at an afternoon reception featuring some of his watercolor paintings exceeded all expectations. The good spirit that characterized activities on Friday continued Saturday, and we have received numerous comments about the Alumni Convocation.

The Rhodes Lynx did their part in overcoming Austin College’s fourth-quarter lead to win a close football contest. Most of the reunion classes held Saturday evening parties on the campus, which contributed to the festive atmosphere.

This Homecoming was indeed special. Thank you again for your attendance and participation which made it that way.

Many of you may have interest in purchasing photos taken at class parties. Visit the vendor’s web site to order photos.

Photo Galleries:

• Athletic Hall of Fame
• Jameson Jones Reception
• Campaign Kickoff
• All-Alumni Reception
• Alumni Convocation
• Picnic in Oak Alley
• Homecoming Game
• BSA Reception

By Bryan Hearn ‘09

Jim Eikner ‘57 drains a five-foot putt, stretches and surveys the clear blue sky. “It’s a glorious day,” he says to George “Smoky” Russell ‘56, who nods in agreement. Russell and Eikner, president of the Alumni Association, are teammates in the 3rd Annual Rhodes Alumni Golf Tournament.

The golfers soon spot two Rhodes ambassadors, Jennifer Stanley ‘08 and Aubrey Diaz ‘08, driving a cart loaded with snacks and cold beverages. The day has just become more glorious.

“Just what we’ve been looking for,” Eikner says excitedly.

Stanley, as it turns out, had been looking for Eikner. “I remember you,” she says, and gives him a hug. In her third year as the refreshment cart driver, Stanley recalls meeting Eikner at last year’s tournament. Eikner and Russell have been teammates for each of the tournament’s three years and have taken home a prize every year.

The golfers turn their attention back to the snacks. Eikner chooses sunflower seeds over peanuts and granola bars. “Now that I’ve got these seeds we’ll set a course record,” he says.

Stanley asks them if they will win another prize this year. Russell looks at his teammate incredulously and says, “We’ll be in the lead until they start counting score.”

For those counting score, the Golf tournament has become a staple of Homecoming weekend in its short history. More than ten alumni teams and three student teams played, making this year’s tournament the biggest yet.

Stanley sees the event as an opportunity for students to get to know personable alumni like Eikner and Russell. “It’s fun to hear about how Rhodes was different in the past,” Stanley says.  “And how it’s stayed the same.”

The alumni see the tournament the same way. “It’s great to get to know other Rhodes students from different generations,” says Robert Edgecombe ‘04. On the scoreboard, however, the current Lynx distanced themselves from the alumni. The Kappa Sigma Fraternity team beat the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity team by one stroke, finishing 15 under par.  Both teams consisted of four current golfers, all with no handicaps.

The students didn’t take home all of the honors, though. Rob Downey ‘96, a member of the 1996 SCAC All-Conference Golf Team, won the “Longest Drive” competition.

And even Eikner and Russell didn’t go home empty-handed. They won four free rounds of golf for coming in last place. ”I knew we’d win something,” Eikner says. Those sunflower seeds must have been the lucky charm.

Most of our contact regarding chapter events takes place via e-mail. If you receive the electronic newsletter, but not announcements about local chapter events, please call or email the Alumni Relations Office (800-264-5969 / 901-843-3845 / alumni@rhodes.edu)

Atlanta
The Rhodes Chapter of Atlanta hosted a reception September 15 at the Michael C. Carlos Museum. Political Science Professor Dan Cullen introduced a student/alumni project for Atlanta alumni. The group toured the “Cradle of Christianity” exhibit following the program. Everyone enjoyed the program and exhibit. Thanks to Bobbo Jetmundsen ‘77 for his leadership in arranging this successful event.

Volunteers from the Rhodes community gathered for a service project at the Atlanta Community Food Bank October 6, sponsored by the Atlanta Chapter. The group, joined other volunteers in sorting, inspecting and packaging more than four tons of food donations for distribution in Atlanta and the North Georgia area. Participants included: Peter Baumgarten ‘85, Laura Henderson Bodwell ‘01, Elizabeth Timmons Brown ‘93, Karianne Solomon Cowart ‘86 and family, Jon Douglass ‘10 and parents Stephen and Sharleen, Claire Chambers Hegarty ‘01, Johanna Ogden ‘06, and Charlie Richardson ‘78.

Special thanks to Claire Hegarty ‘01 for organizing the activity, and to all the volunteers for donating their time and energy.

Leaders of the Atlanta Chapter, Ben Chastain ‘03 and Shelley Fulghum ‘03 are co-hosting a Young Alumni Holiday Party at Ben’s home (557 Hascall Road NW, Atlanta) on Friday, November 30 at 7:30 pm More than 150 young alumni (class years 1998-2007) living in the Atlanta area are invited to attend. Ben and Shelley hope to make this an annual event, so please support it with your attendance! For more information please contact Ben Chastain at Benjamin.Chastain@troutmansanders.com.

Bobbo Jetmundsen ‘77 will host a panel discussion and reception for prospective students in his home. Details are pending, but the event is tentatively scheduled for the afternoon of January 5. Current students and their parents and area alumni are invited to attend and share their Rhodes experiences with Atlanta’s best and brightest high school students.

Arkansas
The Arkansas Chapter hosted a Happy Hour Gathering at Bosco’s in Downtown Little Rock on November 14. Members of the Rhodes community enjoyed after-work appetizers and libations. Thanks to Brian Clary ‘01 for organizing this event.

Birmingham
The Birmingham Chapter hosted a tailgate party at the inaugural Rhodes vs. Birmingham-Southern football game September 15. This is the first year BSC has had a football program since 1939. Alumni and parents gathered before the game to enjoy snacks and beverages. Parents of the football players greatly appreciated the alumni support. The Lynx handed the Panthers their first defeat since 1939! Thanks to Maggie McDonald ‘98 for organizing this festive event.

The Birmingham Chapter is hosting a Holiday Party at the Birmingham Museum of Art on Wednesday, December 12, 6-7:30 pm Join fellow alumni in sampling Italian beer, wine and cheeses. Stick around after the reception and tour the landmark exhibition Pompeii: Tales from an Eruption. Admission for the reception is $10, and you may register for this event online. Group rate tickets for the exhibition are available at the door for $14.

Chicago
The Chicago Chapter invites local members of the Rhodes family to attend a fun fall/winter event, “A Night at the Theater.” Support local alumna Heather Tyler ‘97 and enjoy her new play “Dirty Diamonds,” which is getting rave reviews and is a definite must-see! We will meet Saturday, December 1, at 6:30 pm for dinner and drinks at Chief Neill’s Pub. Following dinner, the group will walk across the street to The Factory Theater for the play. This will be a great time to catch up with your Rhodes friends and check out the wonderful Chicago theater scene.

The performance is expected to sell out, so please get your tickets in advance by ordering online. Tickets are $20.

If you plan to join the group for dinner, please RSVP to Elizabeth Hood ‘98 at Elizabeth.Hood@ellwoodassociates.com. Friends and family are all welcome. We hope to see you there!

Houston
The Houston Chapter hosted its last Happy Hour Gathering of the year November 1 at RA Sushi Bar. Stay tuned for the spring Happy Hour schedule!

The Rhodes Chapter of Houston also sponsored a team for the 2007 Komen Houston Race for the Cure held October 6. Alumni raised awareness and $125 to fight breast cancer! Thank you to Julie Auwarter Javarone ‘01 for organizing this wonderful service event.

Memphis
The Memphis Chapter co-sponsored a Cajun-fest Tailgate Party prior to the Sewanee game November10. Head Chef and Louisiana native Bud Richey lead his all-star cooking crew of alumni, faculty and staff in serving up a plethora of Cajun delicacies including gumbo, sauteed shrimp, jambalaya, red beans and rice, and burgers (for those with tamer palates). It was a wonderful gathering of Rhodes family members with great food, perfect weather and another win for the Lynx!

The Memphis Chapter is sponsoring an aid station for the upcoming St. Jude’s Marathon on Saturday, December 1. Volunteers will distribute water and PowerAid to runners at the 21-mile mark, located at the Rhodes North Parkway entrance.  Volunteers are needed between 9 a.m. and 1 pm If you are interested in helping, please contact Service Co-Chairs Jonathan ‘03 and Megan Pollock Hugan ‘04 at hulgan@yahoo.com.

Mobile/Gulf Coast
The Mobile Chapter is restructuring its leadership. Amanda (Haggerty) ‘04 and John Wade Therrell ‘04 are the new Co-Chairs of the Chapter. If you are interested in getting involved, please contact the Alumni Office at alumni@rhodes.edu.

Nashville
The Nashville Chapter hosted a Wine and Cheese Reception at the Center for Non-Profit Management September 20. The event featured a presentation by recent graduates Emily Deichmann ‘07 and Rebecca Smith ‘07. Emily and Rebecca conducted a comprehensive alumni survey as part of their studies and presented the results of that survey to the group. Many of the attendees extended their fellowship by enjoying a late supper together after the presentation.

The Rhodes Chapter of Nashville also organized a very special tour of the Nashville Parthenon by Parthenon Director Wesley Paine. Approximately 20 alumni took the behind-the-scenes tour and learned about the art, the building, the history, upcoming lectures and exhibits and Athena’s gold dress. Concurrent with the tour was a temporary exhibit by Rhodes Assistant Professor of Art Erin Harmon in the Parthenon′s West Gallery. Thanks to President Trish Puryear Crist ‘90 for putting together this special event.

New Orleans
A reception for prospective students was held at the home of Lyn and Bob Fabacher, parents of Lawton ‘02 and Caroline ‘06, on October 9. Chapter leaders, current parents and young alumni welcomed an eager group of prospective students anxious to learn more about Rhodes. Thank you to the Fabacher family for hosting, and to all those who supported this event with you attendance!

New York City
The New York City Chapter will once again host a group of students at a reception in the Forbes Building on Thursday, January 3, as part of their Career Tour. Professor Deborah Pittman ‘71 is escorting a group of approximately 25 students interested in working in financial, business, marketing, and banking fields in New York. Last year’s tour was a tremendous success. Please mark your calendar and plan to attend this reception. Details will follow shortly.

Washington, DC
President Viktoria Ziebarth ‘97 resigned her post as she began studies at Chicago-Kent College of Law. Viktoria, though busy as a first year law student, has already begun assisting the Chicago Chapter with activities. We wish Viktoria well, and laud her efforts in the many successes the Chapter achieved under her leadership.  She will be missed by her friends in DC. 

Career Networking Through Facebook
One of our students, Andy Greer ‘07 & ‘08, has formed a facebook group as an experiment to see if it can serve to connect alumni and students for career networking purposes. The stated purpose of the group is “to connect alumni of Rhodes College to current Rhodes students who are considering internships and careers.”

The thinking behind the establishment of the group is that it may serve as a vehicle through which contacts can be made among members of the Rhodes community and prove useful in advancing the learning and/or career opportunities for participants. Please join The Rhodes Alumni Career Network on Facebook.

Meeman Center Announces Spring Courses
Descriptions and registration information for the Meeman Center’s latest crop of adult-education courses are available at meeman.rhodes.edu. Experts from Rhodes and other area institutions will provide insightful lectures and discussion about topics in art, literature, history, philosophy and social science. This semester sees the return of popular meditation and Taijiquan courses, as well as a new topical lecture series. This semester’s focus will be the 2008 election.

Meeman Hits the Road with Trips to Europe and Canada
Meeman’s Rhodes to Travel program offers four fun and educational itineraries in 2008, including:

• Spring in Holland, Belgium & Alsace. Visit the land of tulips, Gewuerztraminer and the Northern Renaissance masters during the loveliest of seasons.
• The Louvre in Quebec: Arts and Life. Explore the history, art and architecture of this charming city during the 400th anniversary of its founding.

Visit the Rhodes to Travel page for more information and registration details.

Jameson Jones Watercolors Exhibit
The exhibit of watercolors by Dean Jameson Jones 36 will remain up until December 10th. These 17 paintings show the breadth of his talent including landscapes, figural work, and one of his favorite subjects–Rhodes College.

Some of the works are on loan from his many friends in the Rhodes community: Anne and Milton Brown, Tara and Gray Burkhart, Suzanna ‘75 and Mike Cody ‘58 and Martha and Jerald Duncan ‘61. The exhibit is open daily seven days a week: Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Sunday 1:00 to 6:00 p.m. The exhibit cases are located on the main level of the Barret Library in the east wing by the Archives.

Books for Barret
We appreciate receiving the gifts of two alumni authors who recently sent copies of their books to the Alumni Office for placement in the Paul Barret, Jr., Library.  Email addresses for Molly and Lindley are provided in the event you wish to make a purchase or send good wishes.

• Molly Caldwell Crosby ‘95 (mollycrosby@bellsouth.net) has donated two copies of The American Plague.
• Dr. Ann Lindley Darden ‘68 (ldarden@comcast.net) has donated two copies each of Theory Change in Science and Reasoning in Biological Discoveries.

We welcome books you have written.  Please send two copies of yours to the Alumni Relations Office and we will place one in the archives and one in general circulation of the library.

The Campaign for Rhodes
Last month during Homecoming, we announced a campaign to add $250 million to the Rhodes endowment, in order to support the imperatives of the Rhodes Vision: student access, learning, engagement and inspiration. To learn more about these goals and ways you can help take the Rhodes education from excellent to extraordinary, visit the Development Office site.

Help Rhodes Recruit Students
As an alumnus/a, you are Rhodes’ most valuable ambassador. You can identify promising students with the talent and drive to succeed the way you did. You can share with them the college experiences that helped shape you. Help us build the next generation of Lynx in these ways:

• Refer a student. Use our online form to refer a prospective student to the Admissions Office, so he/she can learn more about Rhodes.
• Be a Rhodes Representative. By joining the RAVE program, you’ll connect prospective students in your region with information about Rhodes.

And if you’re a parent of a high school student, our skilled Admissions staff will gladly advise you about the college search process, regardless of whether your student is interested in Rhodes. Contact Lauren Blalock Sefton ‘03 for assistance.

Year-end Gifts
Whether it’s your habit to make donations in December as holiday honoraria or because of the tax benefits, we greatly appreciate your support. Your gift to the Annual Fund provides critical income that covers expenses such as student fellowships and activities, faculty support, infrastructure and maintenance of buildings and grounds.

To ensure tax credit for the 2007 year, please make your gift in one of these ways:

• Charge a gift online to your credit or debit card. Gifts must be submitted by noon on December 31.
• Mail a check to Rhodes. Checks must be postmarked by December 31.
• Mail a credit or debit card charge form to Rhodes. The form must be received in the mail by December 28

Tax-free IRA Gifts
If you are over the age of 70, you have an opportunity to help Rhodes with a tax-free distribution from your IRA. Between now and December 31, 2007, you may transfer up to $100,000 directly from your IRA to Rhodes. Any qualified contribution up to $100,000 will count toward your required minimum distribution. Pending legislation may extend this opportunity to 2008.

For more information, please contact Sue Matthews, Director of Planned Giving (901-843-3919 or 800-264-5969). For the latest news about Planned Giving, visit rhodes.edu/plannedgiving and follow the link for “New IRA Charitable Rollover Legislation.”

Reflections on building and maintaining relationship:

The purpose of this Association is to promote Rhodes College, to deepen the loyalty of the alumni, and to encourage a mutually beneficial relationship between the institution and its alumni. (Article II, Purpose, Constitution and Bylaws of the Rhodes College Alumni Association).

In supporting the purpose of the Alumni Association, much of what we do in the Alumni Relations Office centers on promoting ongoing contact between alumni and the College for purposes of developing and maintaining a mutually beneficial relationship.

There is a strong ethic of service among members of our staff, and we want to provide assistance to alumni in any way that we can. We seek to give our best in serving you. Concurrently, we need alumni assistance to advance as an institution. Thus, we want you to help in whatever ways you can.

So much of what we need to do as a staff to build and maintain relationship is to be responsive. The opportunities you afford us are numerous. You initiate contact with the office. You offer to help. You provide ideas on how we may do things better.

Without shame or apology, I tell you that we have a vested interest in building a closer relationship. First, it is the right thing to do and you deserve it. Second, we need you. We need our most passionate community members (our alumni) to carry some of the work of the College. Our ability to achieve is so much higher when we are able to engage alumni (and parents) in providing meaningful service for Rhodes. As we advance as an institution, we have greater capacity to make a difference for our students.

As I imagine how a “mutually beneficial relationship” works from the alumni side of the coin, I try to answer a question of “what’s in it for me?” from your perspective. The short answer I come up with is that through a closer relationship, alumni are informed of developments at the College, may avail themselves of educational or informational offerings, have opportunities to serve Rhodes in ways that truly make a difference and are provided opportunities for communion with fellow members of the Rhodes family.

I have been here for five Homecomings now and have seen you return for reunions. I have seen members of the alumni community gather at receptions away from Memphis. In being a privileged observer, I witness the joy you have in rekindling friendships with contemporaries and in seeing you discover points of connection with fellow alumni across generations, even if your days as students spanned 30 years and you are meeting for the very first time. There is a sense of community. There is a thread that binds.

Introduced in this issue of Inside Rhodes is the Rhodes Career Network Facebook group, which I encourage you to join. There is still some tinkering with the concept, but the hope is that this vehicle becomes another means of connecting members of the alumni community with a focus on career networking which can contribute to that mutually beneficial relationship between and among alumni and the institution.

Our work at the College is guided by the Rhodes Vision in which we seek “to graduate students with a lifelong passion for learning and the admonishment from President Diehl that we spurn complacency found in being “good” while striving for excellence which will result in becoming our “best.”  We will fall short of achieving our best should we fail to accept and utilize the talents and help that are offered through our alumni.

I have a wonderful job. I serve as one point of connection in a special relationship. On one side is a constituency group consisting of loyal and caring alumni who are doing remarkable things in their personal and professional lives and continuing to find ways to contribute to the advancement of their alma mater. On the other side is an extraordinary liberal arts college, never content to stay in its place, but competing in a “higher weight class” to make a difference in the lives of its community members and those whom these members serve. I believe in the institution. I believe in our alumni. Not a day goes by when I don’t appreciate serving as your alumni secretary.

Thank you for doing your part in maintaining a mutually beneficial relationship.

Thank you for all that you do to help Rhodes College realize the Vision and continue to become an institution of excellence.

Until next issue, with all best wishes from the Alumni Relations Office,

Bud Richey
Associate Vice President and
Director of Alumni Relations
richeyw@rhodes.edu
(901) 843-3845

A planning meeting will be held on Saturday morning for alumni who have participated in the building of Habitat for Humanity houses who wish to help with plans for celebrating the 20th anniversary next fall of the Rhodes Chapter becoming the first collegiate chapter.

Calling Southwestern Singers! A reunion of the Southwestern Singers 1982 Foreign Tour will be held on Saturday at 4.

The Rhodes Bookstore will be open for extended hours, including after the football game. Alumni receive discounts throughout the weekend.

See schedule of events for times and locations >>

Friday, October 19, 2007

Attend Classes. Several faculty members have indicated that they welcome alumni to attend classes. A good cross-section of classes are offered, and we encourage you to get a sense of what it is like to be back in the classroom.

Play in the Homecoming Golf Tournament. This is the third year of the Ambassadors Golf Tournament as the student group donates proceeds to the Annual Fund. Contact Matt Semko ‘98 for more information. 

Attend the Athletic Hall of Fame Luncheon. Five alumni will be inducted this year. Our honored alumni are from class years ranging from 1947 to 1997.

See Dean Jameson Jones ‘36 and his watercolors. No matter when you were here as a student, this reception will be a treat. Dr. Jones is one of the College’s finest sons. I have been pleased to hear so many of you speak with fondness about what he meant to you as a student. I have been privileged to visit with him. The paintings of Dean Jones are wonderful, which is lagniappe for us. (For those who miss the reception, the art exhibit will remain open until the end of the fall term in early December.)

“The Campaign for Rhodes Premiere production Vision to Voice: a theatrical evening featuring Rhodes students” serves to introduce the Rhodes Campaign in its public phase. The reception promises to be a delightful experience in which student talent is showcased. For further information, please contact the Development Office at 901-843-3850.

The Homecoming Reception provides one of the three opportunities over the weekend where all members of the Rhodes family are expected to gather. It will be held in the newly renovated Lynx Lair in the Bryan Campus Life Center. You will want to attend this event, not only to see classmates and Rhodes contemporaries, but also to meet fellow alumni from different eras. As our event ends at 9, a student gathering follows. Alumni are invited to remain and encouraged to meet students who currently serve as the “resident caretakers” of the Rhodes banner. 

Saturday, October 20, 2007

Start with Coffee. While Golden Lynx are having an off-campus brunch, all others are invited to join retired faculty members for coffee and pastries at the Cloistered Walkway on the east side of the Paul Barret, Jr. Library. 

Tour the Barret Library. The library is spectacular, truly serving as a magnificent center for learning. If this is your first visit to the campus since it opened in Fall 2005, you will not want to miss the tour.

Attend the Alumni Convocation, where alumni and parents of one of our students will be honored for service and achievement. See the “News and Events” section of the Alumni home page for a listing of the special members of our community who will be honored this year. Also being honored at the Alumni Convocation is Larry Lacy ‘59, the subject of this year’s Faculty Portrait Series.

Enjoy the Homecoming Picnic. This gathering at the Rollow Avenue of Oaks features tasty food offerings but also provides another opportunity for good visiting with fellow members of the Rhodes community. Beginning three or four Homecomings ago, we began offering tailgate-type beverages at the Picnic, and the response has been well received.

Attend Departmental Receptions. Immediately following the picnic, faculty members of nine departments will welcome alumni at locations throughout the campus. We are elated with this response and urge alumni to drop by the receptions to see favorite professors and meet some of our newer faculty members.

Visit Greek houses. Your undergraduate sisters and brothers are holding receptions and look forward to meeting their alumnae/i members. Please stop by following visits with the faculty and meet some of our remarkable students.

See students cheer. New to Homecoming this year, the Rhodes Student Government is sponsoring a Homecoming Contest behind the fraternity houses. The cheers begin at 1:30, which will be a good warmup activity before the game.

Cheer yourself. The Lynx take on the Roos of Austin College at Fargason Field. Enjoy the game and the camaraderie.

Attend the BSA Reception following the game.  Donald Duggan ‘86 is being recognized as the BSA Distinguished Alumnus. Discussion is beginning now on celebrating the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the Black Student Association. 

Enjoy Class Reunions. This is the reason most alumni return to Homecoming. Use Saturday evening as a time to visit with those dear friends from your college days.

Sunday, October 21, 2007

Hear Rhodes Singers perform in concert at Idlewild Presbyterian Church.

Today my topic for closing addresses the meaning Homecoming holds for me. At this point, I am quick to point out that Homecoming is about you, it is not about me. Even with that, it is a special time of the year for me and for those of us who serve on the College staff. I will set the context by suggesting what I think Homecoming means to alumni and from there address what I know it means to me.

Of course, the primary purpose of Homecoming is for alumni to reconnect with classmates and spend a bit of time on the campus, perhaps reflecting on your days as students. Seeing faculty members who may have had a hand in shaping your development, encouraging you to wrestle with difficult issues and providing the challenge and support to grow as a young scholar, holds meaning beyond the core objectives. Perhaps even spending time in some of the buildings reminds you of earlier days. Seeing the new ones may invoke a sense of pride that your alma mater is making progress.

I suspect it would be hard to be on the campus for a couple of days, visiting with people whom you love, without having pleasant memories of the time you were here as a student.

Institutionally, we will use the occasion of alumni returning to provide information and to articulate our need for your involvement and support. We want you to know of the advancements that have been made. We want you to know of the initiatives that are under way. We also want to raise our expectations and yours as we begin to imagine what Rhodes can become when we continue working together to achieve the Rhodes Vision.

At a personal level, I love Homecoming. I love everything about it. The preparation work is extensive, but largely this work brings out the best in our staff, so even this is in the category of “good stuff.” When Homecoming finally gets here, I feel like a kid whose birthday party has finally arrived.

Bear in mind that I hold the understanding that Homecoming is about you “our alumni” having the opportunity to see old friends and make new ones within the alumni circle. But even so, it is a privilege to be part of it as a member of the staff. Over time, I continue meeting more members of the alumni community. If we count email swaps, the number of contacts escalates. Homecoming provides the opportunity to see alumni whom I have met and meet those whom I don’t yet know. In either case, it’s a joy for me.

Borrowing the words of an alumnus in writing about a reception experience, alumni of Rhodes College are genuinely interesting and nice people. You continue to be embracing of me, as an outsider to the alumni community, as well as others on our staff. Your loyalty to Rhodes is remarkable, and your translating that sense of care for the College into action does so much to help Rhodes become a place that is better able to serve students.

I am privileged to serve as your Alumni Director. I look forward to seeing you at Homecoming.

With all best wishes,

Bud Richey
Associate Vice President and Director of Alumni Relations

Homecoming/Reunion Weekend ‘07
We are looking forward to an outstanding Homecoming Weekend on October 19-21. On our site you may:

• Register for Homecoming online
• View the complete schedule
• See who else is coming
• Choose which Friday classes you want to attend
• Find lodging accommodations

Making this Homecoming program truly special will be the opening of an art exhibit on Friday afternoon beginning at 4:30 in the Archives of the Paul Barret, Jr. Library. Dean Jameson Jones ‘36, whose watercolors will be featured in the exhibit, will be present beginning at 4 pm to enjoy the chamber music played by Rhodes faculty members, coordinated by Dr. Carole Blankenship ‘85, assistant professor in the Music Department.

Homecoming Registration Contest
Last year, I accepted an invitation from young alumni to join them late in the evening at Silky O’Sullivan’s on Beale Street. I was amazed at the number of alumni who were there. We had no idea many of them were even attending Homecoming, because they had not registered.

It’s so important to register for Homecoming in advance. In order to encourage registration this year, we will hold a drawing for several prizes, including a $100 Target gift card and a personal DVD player. Alumni will be entered once for registering and again for checking in at Homecoming.

Registrations help us prepare for the events where food, beverages, and furnishings are needed. They also announce your imminent presence to friends and long-lost acquaintances through the “see who’s coming” page.

Register online today >>

Boston  Local alumni leaders hosted a Summer Send-Off brunch for entering students and their parents at Tavern on the Square in Cambridge July28 to welcome the newest members of the Rhodes Community.

Plans are in the works to establish the Rhodes Chapter of Boston.  If you are interested in helping get this chapter off the ground please contact Associate Director of Alumni Relations Holly Hilliard at hilliardh@rhodes.edu.

San Diego  Assistant Professor of Biology, Dr. Mary Miller, attended a conference in San Diego recently.  During her travels she made time in her schedule for a happy hour gathering with alumni July 16.  Nine alumni attended the gathering.  Thank you to Jennifer Hamlett Moore ‘92 for the get-together.

Rhodes Soldiers
At least three of our alumni are presently in Baghdad, stationed there as members of the United States armed forces. 

If you or other Rhodes alumni you know are in the region, as soldiers or in civilian roles related to the war, I ask that you email me to let me know.  We will assemble an email list of our alumni and share it with those in the region.

Should any member of the alumni community wish to receive a copy of the email addresses in order to send expressions of good wishes to your fellow alumni, please inform us at alumni@rhodes.edu, and we will see that you receive it.

Recently Matthew Wilder ‘02 and Geoff Miller ‘02 “celebrated” their 5th reunion in Baghdad. Please keep Matthew, Geoff, and Scott Rye ‘83 in your thoughts and prayers.

Books for Barret
We appreciate receiving the gifts of two alumni authors who recently sent two copies of their books to the Alumni Office for placement in the Paul Barret, Jr., Library.  Email addresses for Sam and Bob are provided in the event you wish to make a purchase or send good wishes.

Samuel L. Drash ‘61 (sldrash@comcast.net) has donated two copies of Reaching Paradise Through Intercourse:  American Towns With Unique Names.  Sam suggests that folks interested in learning more visit his Web site at uniquetownnames.com.

Dr. Robert L. Montgomery ‘50 (rmontgo914@aol.com) has provided two copies of The Spread of Religions:  A Social Scientific Theory Based on the Spread of Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam.

We welcome books you have written.  Please send two copies of yours to the Alumni Relations Office and we will place one in the archives and one in general circulation of the library.

Rhodes Web Site
The transition of the Rhodes Web site to its present look was unveiled one year ago. Following the initial launch, much work needed to be completed to carry the new look and navigation system through the various departments. Athletics is one of the more recent departments being transformed and I invite you to see the impressive results at rhodeslynx.com.

Work is underway now for the conversion of elements of the Alumni Web pages, and we will inform you when that is completed. In the meantime, you can set up an RSS feed that will deliver news about the college directly to your desktop.

Summer Orientation Program Implemented
Over the course of the summer, four two-day orientation sessions were offered in June and July. The sessions allowed entering students to visit the campus, learn more about what to expect, participate in advising sessions and register for fall classes. Parents were welcome to attend as well and had a separate orientation program. 90% of our entering students attended one of the four sessions. This was our first year to provide the summer orientation service. Even with that, the evaluation from all involved has been positive.

Continuing Education Opportunities
The Meeman Center for Lifelong Learning provides continuing education and travel opportunities in the finest of liberal arts traditions. Check out the Fall Classes and upcoming travel opportunities. 

The Meeman Center is pleased to announce a distance-learning course this semester. “Insights into the Nature of Being Human” is being taught by Dr. Bob Llewellyn, retired associate professor and dean of the college. You need not be a resident of Memphis to take the class.

Keep Contact Information Current
With increased chapter activity and events being announced electronically, we ask that you update your street and email addresses as changes occur. (Memphians, please note changes to your email caused by the transition from RoadRunner to Comcast.)

Should you change email providers on occasion, you may be interested in the permanent email forwarding feature formatted as yournamehere@rhodes-alumni.net available through Lasting Lynx. With permanent email, you’ll update your address in one place only and avoid the risk of offending the distant relative you forgot to include. As with all services on the online community, this feature is provided at no charge.

Recruit Students
Fall is the peak season for top high school seniors to make decisions about colleges they will attend. Some motivated high school juniors are beginning their searches. Please look for opportunities to speak about Rhodes to young members of your congregation/parish/synagogue, family and neighborhood. Tell them what your attending this College meant to you. Let them know what it has continued to mean.

• We welcome referrals, and you may either call 800-844-5969 or use the electronic form to inform us of outstanding prospective students.
• Become a RAVE volunteer and represent Rhodes in your community.
• Get involved in the student recruitment efforts of Rhodes Chapters.

Alumni participation matters. Please help.

Participate in Rhodes Chapters
We have 14 chapters and look forward to the addition of new ones over the course of this year. The impact of these groups has made a powerful difference in recruiting students, creating internships for continuing students and supporting the placement of young alumni in jobs. Besides helping to advance objectives of the College, becoming involved in chapter activities is fun. Please participate.

Members of the Class of 2011 moved into their dormitories on the day I write this. I previously met a fair number of the students and their parents at events designed to welcome newcomers to the Rhodes family.

As I reflect on the recruiting process that resulted in these students entering Rhodes, I am struck by the degree of involvement we had from alumni. Each student had to answer the question, “Is Rhodes College the right school for me?” and alumni were remarkable in helping these students work through that decision. RAVE volunteers represented Rhodes at college fairs, called accepted students, and attended new student receptions. In areas where we needed help with coverage at high school awards ceremonies at which class members were Rhodes-bound, alumni responded to calls for volunteers.

Beyond the efforts extended by individual alumni, nine of our 14 Rhodes Chapters held receptions in the months of March and April for accepted students and their families. These functions were important in providing opportunities for prospective students who, in several cases, were struggling with decisions over which college or university to attend.

In the months of July and August, 15 Summer Sendoffs were held in cities from Massachusetts to Texas and Alabama to Illinois. Continuing students and their parents, driving significant distances in some cases, shared their perspectives about some of the special qualities of Rhodes with new students and their families. Alumni attended as well and often spoke with fondness of the experiences they had as students. The result was that both entering students and their parents appreciated the gatherings and having opportunity to meet members of the Rhodes family. Apprehension was reduced. The selection of Rhodes as a college choice was validated.

Rhodes is fortunate to have the loyal and committed community members it has. We are a better place for the help that we receive.

Until next issue, with all best wishes from the Alumni Relations Office,

Bud Richey

Bud Richey
Associate Vice President and
Director of Alumni Relations
richeyw@rhodes.edu
(901) 843-3847