[Alumni-chat] Just returned from the SE Michigan/Northern Ohio meeting

[alanbenard (alanbenard at pobox.com)]

And I don't intend to report on it as that will be done elsewhere by people who were not watching two kids at the meeting. The official report will be sent to the Alumni Board communications people. These are just personal notes with apologies for errors or omission. 

There were at least 37 local participants (going by the sign-in sheet) and one visitor from Yellow Springs. This is a significant percentage of the local alumni list of more than 200 gathered with two-weeks' notice by volunteers in the heart of the August vacation season. A span of 40 class-years was represented. I was impressed. 

Laurie White gathered video testimonials about participant's Antioch experiences. She's heading to Yellow Springs, perhaps to start a documentary. 

Anita Hoffman Eherenfied '71 facilitated the meeting. Tendaji Ganges and Terry Blackhawk spoke and read portions of their letters to the Board of Trustees.

It was exciting to have three current students on hand. I appreciated them being there. They spoke about their shock at learning the college was closing. One said (with a smile) that this was such an Antioch thing for Antioch to do -- close while she was on co-op. 

Some strong questions were asked and alumni leaders answered them with the best information on hand and as much strategy as it is prudent to release (or that they've been told). Given that this was a group of intense critical-thinkers, discussion remained highly civil, yet impassioned. 

People wanted to know what plan "B" was, should the Alumni Board's plan to separate the college from the university be ignored or rejected by the Board of Trustees. It was pointed out that development of Plan A is still underway, and that many avenues are being considered. 

I offered my own opinion that the fund raising going on now may not be itself the lever that will pry the college out of the university's hands, but rather supports the search for that lever. 

Toward that end, please pledge something to the College Revival Fund so that you can be officially counted as a supporter of the effort to keep the college open. The size of the population of donating alumni is, in its own way, as important as the depth of its pockets. Just get your name on the list, please.  

There was a comment made that supportive alumni could benefit from more of a "sound bite" approach to presenting the Alumni Board's message. I hope that this is being worked on. 

I am looking forward to the next meeting. I understand that, in Washington DC, their third meeting was attended by 70 people. WE can and will do at least that well at our third meeting. 

Thank you very much to the Michigan/Northern Ohio organizing team. 

Alan Benard, '92