Alumni and Friends of VMI:
Cyber Corps Numbers: 566
Breakout: I hear that this year's breakout went
well in terms of logistics, symbolism, leadership, etc. However,
I have heard that the it really wasn't a "Corps" event
as in past years. Seems the second and third classes are a little
miffed since they weren't allowed (invited?) to take part in the
festivities up at New Market. I guess it remains to be seen if
the March to New Market, etc. will be an annual event or whether
next year's first class will have something else in store like
the return to the muddy hill.
Rooming By Company: I hear that the jury is
still out on the experiment which finds the third class (and
naturally the fourth class) rooming by company. I understand that
this practice will be expanded to include the second class next
year. Of course, the first class will retain the option of
rooming with whom they choose.
VMI Annual Fund: I believe the following article
first appeared in The Institute Report.
Annual Fund Setting a Record Pace
Almost $1 Million Raised in First Half of Fiscal Year 1999
Conventional wisdom held that, with the admission of women to
VMI, the VMI Foundation could expect a temporary decline in the
number of donors and amount of contributions. But, as is so often
the case, VMI has confounded the experts yet again.
Following up on the second most successful fund-raising year ever
in fiscal year 1998, with total gifts of $1,732,867.25, the VMI
development agencies are on track for their best year ever in
fiscal year 1999. As of January 1, 1999, more than 3,100 donors
have contributed $946,886 up from the $863,650 received from
roughly 2,700 donors by the same time last fiscal year. Those
figures represent an increase of 15.7 percent in the number of
donors and 9.6 percent in the amount of funds raised. "These
figures are satisfying in many ways," said Meade King '85,
Director of Annual Giving. "They demonstrate the solid
loyalty of the entire VMI family to the Institute."
Moreover, according to King, these figures represent something
that, although intangible, is almost as important as the
donations themselves. "The increases in both the amount of
money raised and the number of people contributing are strong
indications that the alumni and friends of VMI have great
confidence in the future of our Institute."
As is usually the case, alumni contributed the lion's share of
money $789,118 or 83 percent and made up the great majority of
donors 2,600 or 84 percent. King also noted other positive
changes in alumni giving. "By this time last year, about
2,100 alumni had given $712,275; this year, 2,600 alumni have
contributed $789,113. In dollar amounts, that's an increase of
almost 11 percent; in the number of donors, it is an astounding
jump of more than 20 percent."
Another remarkable item in the figures for Fiscal Year 1999 is
the expansion in the participation of non-alumni parents. More
than $16,300 was donated by 141 parents by 1 January 1999; last
year's amounts were $12,000 by 121 parents. Therefore, in both
the categories of amount given and number of donors, parental
giving rose even more than that of alumni 35 percent and 16.5
percent, respectively. John W. A. Jerkins '97, Director of Parent
Relations, noted the reasons behind parents' donations.
"Often, parents can more clearly see the positive effects a
VMI education had or is having on their cadets than the cadets
themselves. Parents, therefore, want to maintain and strengthen
the Institute so that young men and women of future classes have
the same opportunities."
Fiscal Year 1999 figures also show an increase in the number of
people who gave more than $1,000 and the younger alumni who gave
more than $500 and so earned entrance into the elite association
of the Foundation's most committed supporters, The Institute
Society. By the end of December 1998, membership had risen by 39
members, from 348 to 387, a difference of 11.2 percent. The
amount of money given by The Institute Society's members rose as
well. Fiscal Year 1999's gifts beat Fiscal Year 1998's mark by
just over 10 percent $553,681 against $502,943. Of these
improvements, Greg Cavallaro '84, Vice President of the VMI
Foundation, said, "The leadership demonstrated by the
members of The Institute Society is another sign that alumni and
friends are certain VMI is moving in the right direction. By
dedicating more of their personal resources to our unrestricted
needs, they are showing their determination to help VMI stay the
course."
As good as this news is, however, Dr. James L. Adams '71, the
Foundation's Executive Vice President, cautioned that this is no
time for complacency. "Looking at the figures, it is
apparent that the Annual Fund could raise more than $2 million in
Fiscal Year 1999. That won't happen, however, unless these trends
in giving continue, and they won't continue unless, during the
second half of the year, the level of alumni participation is
strengthened. Our committed alumni always have been essential to
the success of the Annual Fund. This year is no different; the
Foundation and the Institute look to them to provide the extra
measure of support needed to meet the goal of $2 million."
The Liddy "Controversy": The following
article recently appeared in the Washington Post.
Liddy to Speak at VMI Graduation
Choice of Watergate Burglar Raises Opposition From Alumni
By Josh White
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, February 27, 1999; Page B03
G. Gordon Liddy, conservative radio talk-show host and former
Watergate burglar, has been selected to give this year's
commencement speech at Virginia Military Institute, a choice that
has upset some VMI alumni.
"It's an insult to the cadets, and it's an insult to the
alumni," said Todd Thornes, 36, of Dayton, Ohio, a member of
the VMI Class of 1985. "The strongest thing that comes out
of VMI is the honor system, and here we have someone who
contradicts that system. Basically, this man was involved in
criminal activity and lied about it, something that is 180
degrees from the concepts and values of this institution."
Liddy served five years in prison for helping to plan the 1972
Watergate break-in and has continued to court controversy as the
host of a nationally syndicated talk show based in Fairfax. He
once suggested on the air that people confronted by hostile
agents from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms
should shoot them in the head because the agents wear bulletproof
vests.
The commencement speaker at the Lexington military school is
traditionally picked by the senior class, subject to the approval
of school administrators. Ezra Clark, 26, the president of this
year's senior class, said the cadets voted to invite Liddy after
their first choice--Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonin
Scalia--turned down an invitation to speak at the May 15
graduation ceremony.
Clark said he and his classmates appreciate Liddy's outspoken
views and aren't bothered by his role in the Watergate break-in.
"Once he was accepted, there was a lot of fire about him
coming," Clark said yesterday. "I told people that we
all know what happened in the past, but we don't know the Liddy
of the past. We know the Liddy of today."
Liddy said that his speech at VMI will be his first college
commencement address and that he has "some very serious
things to say to the cadets." He declined to elaborate but
did say that he probably will not talk about coeducation at the
institute, although he thinks that allowing women into VMI was a
mistake.
"I have been controversial for 27 or 28 years now, so it is
no surprise that I am controversial now," Liddy said.
"One of the things that the cadets will do when they are
commissioned will be to fight to protect the First Amendment,
which entitles everyone to have an opinion of me and protects my
opinion. I respect their opinion, and I hope they will respect my
right to express mine."
Mike Strickler, a VMI spokesman, said school officials found out
about the seniors' plans to invite Liddy after he had already
accepted. The school administration decided at that point that it
would be wrong to retract the invitation, Strickler said.
"We felt a commitment had been made, and we didn't think it
would be the right message to send to go back on that
commitment," Strickler said. "You've got some alumni
who are upset, and they have their reasons for being upset."
F.E. Deacon III, president of VMI's alumni association, said he
supports the right of the seniors to choose the speaker they
want.
"There are numerous alumni who are not happy with
this," Deacon said. "But it is a different generation
of young men who want him to speak, and they didn't go through
Watergate, and they probably don't look at him as a convicted
felon. I'm sure he will give a good address, and I would not have
selected him."
Paul Maini, executive vice president of the VMI alumni
association, said he is concerned that Liddy's presence at VMI
will put a lot of attention on this year's commencement.
"People all raised their eyebrows a little bit, the concern
being that VMI will be a school perceived to be aligned with the
far right wing," Maini said
Resume of the Week: This week's resume comes
from Bill Eger class of '95. It is attached to the e-mail. For
those interested in perusing resumes of other VMI folks, you can
find them in the Alumni Association web site at the following
address:
http://www.vmiaa.org/vmi2.htm.
If you want more information or have information to share, please
contact VMI Placement Officer Adam Volant at the following e-mail
address: volantac@vmi.edu
Senator Glenn Quote: For those seeking more
information on the quote recently attributed to Senator Glenn, I
have good news. Gene Rice '74 provided me with the following
information about the quote. Special thanks to Gene for passing
this info along.
I expect you've gotten an answer on the John Glenn quote by now,
but just in case . . . I don't know specifically where, but it
was on May 3, 1974 (nice date) during the Ohio Democratic Senate
Primary. I've always thought it was a damned fine response.
You can find more at this link: http://users.codenet.net/malcom/job.html
VMI Football:
Keydets release list of signees
Tuesday, March 2, 1999
Defensive lineman Skip Carleton of Powhatan and Fork Union
Military Academy is among the initial list of six Virginia
Military Institute football signees.
Five of new coach Cal McCombs’ recruits are from Virginia
and four of the players come from a military prep school.
The Keydets also released their 1999 schedule, which begins with
a visit to the University of Richmond on Sept. 4.
Signees
Brent Barth, QB/P, 6-1, 190, Scottsdale, Ariz./
Hargrave Military; Skip Carleton, DL, 6-4, 275, Powhatan/Fork
Union
Military; Ian Dyche, LB, 6-1, 230, Reston/Bishop O’Connell;
Craig
Howard, DL, 6-3, 275, Farmville/Fork Union Military; Brendan
Kearney,
OL, 6-2, 250, Williamsburg/Lafayette; Justin Sayko, DB, 6-0, 195,
Virginia Beach/Hargrave Military.
1999 Schedule
September -- 4, at Richmond; 11, Concord; 18, East Tennessee
State; 25,
at Furman.
October -- 2, Georgia Southern; 9, at Wofford; 16 Chattanooga;
23, William and
Mary; 30, at Western Carolina.
November -- 6, Appalachian State; 13, at The Citadel.
Richmond Times-Dispatch
VMI Lacrosse:
KEYDETS HOLD BACK QUINNIPIAC FOR 10-8 VICTORY
March 7, 1999
VMI posts win no. 100 since program was founded in 1983
LEXINGTON, Va. -- VMI built a big third quarter lead and held off
a fourth quarter Quinnipiac rally to down the Braves 10-8, in
lacrosse action Sunday afternoon at VMI's Patchin Field in
Lexington.
The Keydets (1-1) expanded a 6-3 halftime lead to 8-4 by the end
of the third period, thanks to unassisted goals by Aaron Bush
(Penfield, N.Y./Penfield) and Mason Ayers (Richmond, Va./St.
Christopher's).
Quinnipiac (0-3) began chipping away at the VMI lead early in the
fourth, first on Ryan Petrowsky's goal off a Brian Perry pass at
13:28, and later by goals from Dario Amicucci and Perry.
However the Keydets picked up fourth quarter goals from Matt
Gallienne (Richmond, Va./Collegiate) early in the period, and
from Ayers with less than three-and-a-half to play, to smother
the rally and seal the win.
Gallienne finished the day as the top goal scorer with four
goals, along with one assist to tally five points. Ayers also
counted five points at the end of the day, with two goals and
three assists to his credit.
Perry and Paul Lindsey were the top point-getters for the Braves,
with three points each.
The win was the 100th in the history of the current VMI lacrosse
program, which was begun in 1983.
The Keydets will next see action on Saturday, March 13, when they
head to Annapolis, Md., to face the Air Force Academy. Quinnipiac
will play Radford University on Wednesday, March 10, in Radford,
Va.
VMI Baseball:
VMI DOWNS MOUNT ST. MARY'S, 21-5
March 6, 1999
LEXINGTON, Va. -- VMI tallied seven runs in the fifth and six
more in the fifth to ease past Mount St. Mary's 21-5, in baseball
action Saturday afternoon at VMI's Patchin Field in Lexington.
The Keydet second was aided by three Mount St. Mary's errors, and
four VMI walks. Chris Catanzaro (Kaneohe, Hawaii/East Lake, Fla.)
keyed the inning with a three-RBI double that scored Eric Walker
(Union Hall, Va./Franklin Co.), Ed Pearson (Hampton, Va./Bethel),
and Stephen Johnson (Marshall, Va./Fauquier). Catanzaro
eventually scored on a sacrifice fly to right field by Ben
Bradford (Midlothian, Va./Clover Hill).
VMI's fifth inning came largely at the hands of Jon Long
(Manassas, Va./Osbourn Park), who tripled home Eric East (Salem,
Va./Glenvar), Scott Thompkins (Sumter, S.C./Sumter), and and John
Yates (Nokesville, Va./Brentsville). Michael Goldman (Midlothian,
Va./Midlothian) brought home a pair of runs with his double later
in the inning.
Goldman also hit his third homer of the season, with a solo shot
to lead off the eighth inning.
Catanzaro turned in the top VMI plate performance of the day,
with a 3-for-4 effort with three RBI. Walker, Goldman, Bradford,
Long, and Jon Schott (Natrona Heights, Pa./Highlands) all
finished the day with three runs batted in.
Keydet starter Josh Spradlin (Oak Ridge, Tenn./Oak Ridge)
scattered five hits for two runs in five innings of work to pick
up his third win of the season, against one defeat. Mount St.
Mary's starter Nick Lascola surrendered six earned runs in two
and two-thirds innings of work to pick up the loss.
The game was called with one out in the ninth inning due to
darkness. The two teams were originally to play a doubleheader
Saturday and a single game on Sunday, however only one game was
played today because of rain earlier in the day. The teams will
attempt to play a doubleheader, weather permitting, tomorrow
(Sunday) at noon at Patchin Field.
-----
Cadets Involved In Reading Program:
Schools Participate In Reading Program
By Shannon Garrett
Staff Reporter
Thing 1 and Thing 2, from Dr. Seuss' classic book Cat in the Hat,
made a visit to Effinger Elementary School on Tuesday, March 2 as
did Daisy Head Maisy. The Cat in the Hat himself welcomed and
dismissed Waddell Elementary School students. Other characters
made appearances at the Rockbridge Regional Library for a
birthday party, and special guests from throughout the county,
Buena Vista and Lexington spent time reading to area elementary
school students.
The activities and visits were part of the second annual
celebration of reading and Dr. Seuss' birthday, Read Across
America.
Dr. Seuss has been recognized for his contribution to reading and
comments on social issues for years. Even after his death, his
books continue to be prominently featured in school and public
libraries. They are a favorite among young readers for their
bright pictures, word patterns and sounds, and unusual
characters.
The popularity of the books is unsurpassed. The stories of the
Lorax, the Grinch as well as others have been made into cartoons.
The book, Oh, the Places You Will Go, is a favorite high school
and college graduation gift and has been used by many
commencement and motivational speakers throughout the country.
According to literature on the program produced by the Rockbridge
Regional Library, Read Across America, sponsored by the National
Education Association, is designed to inform adults and children
of the importance of being able to read. Results of a recent
study conducted by the National Academy of Sciences reiterate
that the ability to read is the key to academic achievement. The
report states: "Children who get off to a good start reading
rarely stumble. Those who fall behind tend to stay behind for the
rest of their academic lives."
The goal for the event continues to be to have every child spend
at least one-half hour with a book on the day. Parents are
encouraged to turn off the television and read with their
children at home.
Tuesday's events were not limited to the elementary schools.
College, high school and middle school students volunteered also
took part. The entire cadet corp of Virginia Military Institute
participated. Central Elementary School students loaded buses and
made the short trip to the VMI post where cadets read to small
groups. The reading was followed by a parade held in honor of
Read Across American and the students, teachers, and principal of
Central. Several cadets decided to read at other schools as well.
Parry McCluer Middle School eighth graders also took time from
their schedules. Tiffany Oaks noted that she practiced reading
her book, Green Eggs and Ham, for hours Monday night, but was
still nervous about reading to Leslie Royer's Enderly
kindergartnersall of whom seemed to enjoy having a special
guest. The eighth graders divided themselves between Kling
Elementary and Enderly.
Parry McCluer High School and Rockbridge County High School
students also took part in the activities. Several PMHS students
traveled to Mountain View Elementary School, and the RCHS
psychology class visited Effinger.
NEA president Bob Chase wrote, "We want Read Across America
to be not just a one-day celebration but a springboard to a
serious, ongoing nationwide literacy campaign.
--------------
Hey, that's it for this week.
Yours in the Spirit,
RB Lane '75
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