Dear Classmates of '59,
WOW!! Can you believe it? We have been out of high school almost fifty years!!
I can remember when my Dad went to his 40th, and I thought he was ancient! Our
50th is coming up next year, and I am looking forward to seeing many of you who
haven't been able to make the reunions for a while because of one thing or another.
Speaking of our 50th, we have one more year to reach our goal of $50,000
for our Scholarship Fund!! We hope to give $500.00 to $1,000.00 every year to
a deserving student without touching the principal. We will pair with the school
in selecting the recipient, and our committee will have a say as long as we have
capable people still alive and functioning. (Yikes!! That is a scary thought but
we ARE going to be celebrating our 50th soon.)
The recipient doesn't
have to be planning on a four-year college; it can be a trade school education,
too. Financial need will certainly be a consideration as well as leadership qualities,
community service activities, and determination to continue in his/her education.
Think of the legacy we will be leaving behind for our class!! Think of the life
we could change with our help!
Our "in town" classmates have
been working so hard for the last four years having pig roasts and other fundraisers
to try to reach our goal. They were even in the homecoming parade this year advertising
the fact that we do pig roasts!! I was so proud when I saw the pictures of our
wonderful local classmates riding along, towing their "roaster". I kept
wishing there was some way I could help them but I live so far away.
Then they asked if I would write a letter to all of you, and I told them I would.
They won't blow their own horn, but they have done a fantastic job and worked
very hard for all of us have raised over 25,000.00!! The John Deere Classic Golf
Tournament birdies for charity raised $11,000.00 for our cause, which is wonderful!!
I'm sure we will be doing that again this year and a big thank you to all of you
who contributed money so far.
I am asking all of you out there, near and far, to try to dig a little deeper
so we can reach our goal!! I know times might be tough for some of us, but even
if you can give $5.00 or $10.00, every contribution helps and who knows - it could
help one of your grandchildren. Those of you who can give more, that would be
absolutely wonderful. This is a team effort and our local classmates need us;
we need to show them we care and appreciate all that they have done!!
I would do the old fight cheer and do a back flip like I did when I was a cheerleader,
but I would kill myself. So I will just say, let's get that ole Moline Maroon
spirit going and help them the only way we can and dig in our pockets and write
those checks. Think of the wonderful young boy or girl we could help each year
and again the legacy our class will leave.
I hope to see all of you at our 50th reunion next year, and I hope our master
of ceremonies will be able to say, "WE DID IT, WE REACHED OUR GOAL!"
See you all in 2009, 50 years, UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THREE CHEERS FOR OUR LOCAL HARD WORKING CLASSMATES!!!!!!!!!!!
Love and good
health to all.
Nonie Moorhusen Young
Dear I
am probably the last person from MHS Class of '59 that you would expect to
hear
from. The reasons I am writing are to ask you to join me in making
the MHS
Class of '59 Scholarship Fundraiser a financial success and for each
one of
us to plan to attend our 50th class reunion with MHS pride. I
have been fortunate enough, (my wife Bonnie will say blessed), to meet,
and
sometimes work with, extremely outstanding people who I believe were
very instrumental
in my life. I can look back and remember these people,
whether they were teachers
or students at MHS, contacts made during my time
in the Army, college or mentors
throughout my business career. Now
that I am semi-retired, I am involved with charity functions,
fundraisers,
scholarship programs, etc., and have time to give a little
back. I know how
it feels to present a check to a deserving person for
scholarship assistance
or a monetary award for a job well done. As a
director on the Remodelers Council
of the Collier County Building
Association (Naples, FL), I award scholarships
each year to students who
participate in building trades at their high school
and wish to further
their education in the trades. Many of these students could
not further
their formal education without assistance. In
addition, after my retirement, my previous business has graciously
created
scholarships and work achievement awards ($5,000 each) in my name,
which are
given each January to deserving and qualified employees of the
company. Each
year as many as seven recipients receive awards. Wouldn't
it make you proud to be in attendance during our 50th anniversary
to know that
the class made their fundraising goal and perhaps even present
the first scholarship? To
date, many classmates have stepped forward and contributed monetarily,
and
many other classmates have given both their valued and generous time as
well
as money for the scholarship program. These hardworking classmates
have certainly
set a good example in the community as to what the Class of
'59 can accomplish.
Now, it is time for the rest of us to step forward. Most
of us contribute to causes such as our church and several other
worthwhile
charities. At the same time, we purchase new cars, boats, trips
and cruises,
for example, and think very little of the expense. What I would
like to see
is those of us who can, (I'd like to see at least ten
classmates), step forward
and pledge to contribute $1,000 to the scholarship
fund by this time next year. I
am stating my pledge with this letter, so I need to hear from nine
additional
classmates who will match my pledge. In addition, we need
another twenty classmates
to step forward and contribute $500 each. If we
can do this, it will easily
put us within the foundation's goal for 2009. Please
let me know through email or regular mail your intention, or pick up
the phone
and give me a call. I look forward to hearing from all of you.
Thank you for
taking the time to read my letter.
Best
regards,
Business:
239-436-3640
Ken Riceman
218
Saint James Way
Naples, FL 34104
Home: 239-352-3732
Cell: 239-285-6670
Business:
239-436-3640
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