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Vacation Swap FOB Cyberspace “Friends of Bluche” Trophy for the Reunion Hosts
We arrived in Red Hook without any major snags, and followed the line of cars into a fallow corn field. After a short shuttle bus ride, we walked down a gravel path through some trees and into an open field full of tents. As we topped a small knoll, we saw the Stage for the first time. It looked like an old friend Pretty soon the music started. We decided to get as close to the stage as possible for the evening’s acts. As we squeezed through the crowd to the front, we sensed an opening to the left and made our way toward it. It turned out to be a huge patch of mud inhabited by people covered entirely in thick layers of wet sticky earth. They were dancing and sliding, some naked, and some looking ghoulishly at the surrounding crowd Although I tried daintily daubing mud on my face, I was surprised by my reluctance and with just enough force to let us know we had no choice, they baptized us in mud. Mud was in my ears, my eyes, and my mouth. The next day broke cloudy end grey. Would it rain? We all wondered. Puffy eyed and groggy, Pradeep and I were amongst the first up. Most of the crowd awoke to the music of Joe Cocker. The morning became afternoon. It rained briefly. Incandescent yellow light pierced the clouds and was gone. Low clouds scuttled over the nearby mountain tops and hovered over the festival grounds. The music rolled off the stage in steady waves. It grew dark We were all exhausted I tried to stay in the conversation but my mind was heavy and slow. After a brief struggle, I submitted to sleep. The next day, we decided to get as close as possible to the stage. From where we ended up, I could feel the vibration of the music on my skin. I raised my bare arms to the music and drank it through my pores. We left at the end of the third day, as agreed We were exhausted but consent with our experience. While riding the bus back to the parking lot, I looked over at my old friend I reflected on the serendipity of events which had led us to this place from an ocean and a lifetime ago, and realized what an incredible treasure it was to be able to share so many experiences. He fumed his head and caught my eye. He smiled knowingly.
Financial Report by Katy Jackson CantorExpenses broken down by Category: Postage $299.73 NEW BALANCE as of 4/95: $1190.50 A Note From Joy and Denis Hill How grown-up you all were! You had been locked away in our memories in your teenage form and it was quite a surprise to realize that we were not the only ones to have passed several milestones. We hope that we will be able to meet many more of you in the near future. Both of us are kept very busy, too busy in fact. Denis is Head of the Math Dept. at College du Leman in Geneva, where he teaches seven courses and organizes two international math competitions each year. In his “spare” time, he has taken part in many target-shooting championships at the Cantonal and at the National level and has even won the title of “Rod de Tir”. To discover whet Joy has been doing for the past twelve years, you would have to read the eight books she has written. They cover a multitude of subjects which she has researched but, as she considers the material too futuristic, she has not yet decided on the right moment to publish. During the past few months we have been acting as chief advisers to a scientific committee, headed by a world- famous particle physicist, to organize a one-week conference in Egypt for top-level post-graduates in particle Physics from Israel, Palestine and Arab countries. It was our peace gesture to the Middle East and has been so widely acclaimed that we may be obliged to create an Academy there. The problem is how to finance such a project; are there any fund raisers amongst you? Those years in Bluche have a special significance for each of us. With our togetherness and the love and affection we all shared in that microcosm, imagine what a dramatic effect we could create if we were to emanate these feelings all around us, wherever we are, in every corner of the globe. There would then be so many beacons illuminated in this dark, chaotic period of the earth’s history that we could generate a whole new, positive vision for life, in all its forms on the planet.
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To receive an updated alumni directory, send in your dues today! We need your financial support! Many thanks to those who have sent in their dues since the February newsletter Alain Borgeat, Francoise Borgeat, Thierry Bovay, Lilo Kramer Susan Povenmire, Mark Uhlfelder, Nicklas Wicksell, Cornelia Zeschke Wenig.FOB NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD Steve Bourgeois – works in the airline industry and keeps in close touch with Thierry Bovay, who flies for Cross Air out of Zurich. Kim Campbell – is one of the e-mail regulars on the FOB circuit. According to Pradeep Kapadia who has dined with him, Kim is well-known at his neighborhood San Francisco restaurants, where they often have a table waiting for him.Jitendra Dave – works in customer relations at the National Bank of South Carolina, and he and his wife Anne have a 5 year-old son, Jivian. Jit was very excised to have finally found FOB,, but was dumbfounded to learn of the loss of EDR and its resurrection as a hotel management school.Bruce Desjardins – is living once again in London after having worked several years in Egypt. He is considering starting his own business in Kenya and was in contact with Sharon Taylor Baumann during her recent trip to London.Judy Gillard Gustafson – is the Director of Human Resources of Montgomery Ward in Chicago. Her husband, Ulf Gustafson also an EDR alumnus, has his own business.Ruth Harms – was recently in Washington, DC with her husband, Steve and visited with Susan Povenmire Weisman and her husband, John. Ruth returns to her native Aruba once a year to visit her family and has offered to help with organizing a reunion in Aruba! She sees her sister often, Donna Harms Hansen, who lives in New Jersey with her family. Mike Johnson – also an e-mail correspondent, is working in an oil refinery in California According to Mike, he “boils oil”! As he is in the process of moving, he can be reached at 800-765-5478 (for those in the US), a number which follows him. Lilo Kramer – sends her greetings from Laconia, NH where she and her husband run a jewelry business specializing in finely crafted gold. Lisa Simpson – is now working at the Dept of Health and Human Services in Washington, DC after having spent a year working on the Administration’s it/-fated health care reform program.Sharon Taylor Baumann – was recently in London, where she spent a week with Nicolette de Bona Scuinnach. She is planning on spending more time in the UK this summer, as well as attending the Tripoli reunion in Houston. David Watson – is the executive director of a performing arts center, the Emelin Theater, in Marnaroneck, NY. He and his wife Cynthia are preparing for daughter, Lucy’s sixth birthday this month. Paul Wirth – took a ski holiday in March at “Les Portes du Soleil” in France with his wife Astrid and two daughters. It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Charles Allen who died in November, 1994 (at age 35) of congestive heart failure. We send our deepest condolences to his sister Alice Allen Rian and his entire family. Mail in the enclosed Questionnaire today along with your dues! We have received too few to date to make a fair assessment as to the reunion location for next year. Act now – do not let it get stuck in a drawer! Get involved in the decision making process! We must plan a year in advance for the reunion. Last date for receipt is July 15, 1995. I was amazed to see how many of the Far Eastern countries are booming economically. Particularly in Thailand, new businesses were opening on almost every street corner. Pichet was telling me about the growing business opportunities in China, Vietnam, Laos and other countries. Back in Europe, we are still facing a serious economic crisis. There are so many rules, laws and regulations which prevent people from taking initiatives. In my opinion, one thing is for sure: for the next two or three decades things will be booming in the Far East and unfortunately not in Europe nor in America. Anyhow, Pichet, my Swiss friend and I spent a very pleasant and interesting evening together. And that is certainly one of the good reasons to take care of the alumni organization “Friends of Bluche”. Namely, to keep contacts across the continents, to exchange ideas and not the least, to have some good fun! I would like to take this opportunity to send my shanks to Pichet and I hope be able to host him soon in Switzerland Friendly greetings to all the “Friends of Bluche”!
The Friends of Bluche organization: –Any questions contact |
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We bought a beautiful authentic Valaisian pewter mug in Montana/Crans as a commemorative trophy to present to the host of each reunion. It is inscribed with the names of Brendan Foulkes (Bahamas Reunion Host, 1990) and Giancarlo Felli (Montana Reunion Host, 1994). Unfortunately, our meager budget only allows us to add an inscription for each reunion host instead of presenting each one with a separate mug. The mug will now remain with Giancarlo until the next reunion, when he will pass it on to the next host by toasting to him or her and drinking from it! Any volunteers to be the next reunion host?