Happy New Year 2020

 

Auld Lang Syne, 2020, my TAC’ers!

 

Happy New Year!

Let’s Celebrate!  Celebrate our “Days Gone By” on one hand!  And, on the other, Let’s share kindness yet!

That’s the duel mix of all New Year’s Eve celebrations, in an nostalgia mood, of the closing of one year and the opening of a new one.

The phrase “for auld lang syne” essentially boils down to “for (the sake of) old times”. It essentially calls for the preservation of our oldest, dearest friendships; perhaps observed in the reflective quality of New Year’s Eve itself. People come together to reminiscence past joys and sorrows, specifically those spent in each other’s company.

We, the members of Tiger Alumni Center, share a message together on this occasion as we share the same culture, that is, alums of the same high school district.  The name has changed over the years: be it Olney High School (OHS), thought to be open sometime in the 1860s or 1870s; Olney Township High School (OTHS) around 1915, or Olney Area High School (OAHS) for 1947-50, then East Richland High School (ERHS) established 1951, and currently Richland County High School (RCHS), established 2017.  Yes, the name changed; the culture adjusted too.  However, much remained and continues to remain, a continuity of values composing our culture shared year after year, with class after class.   We are Tigers!

 

 

Honoring our Lost, 2019

We come together in this message to honor those whom we lost this year, 2019. Our lost, of known, 139 alums, contributes heavily to the feelings of Auld Lang Syne:  a time to reminisce past joys, and sorrows, of our loved ones and others who helped us build a life of purpose.  It’s a team of family, friends, key community members  -- including most importantly those at school: administrators, other staff members, teachers, and schoolmates.  In short, a village.  Ours. Click here  --  or on our school picture -- to visit the TAC page of Deceased TAC Alumni 2019.

 

 

Thank you, Nancy Rumsey, our “In Memory” administrator who has added thousands of names to our website and weekly adds more.

 

Nancy Rumsey, In Memory Administrator

(Click on her picture to review her volunteer service.)

 

 Auld Lang Syne: English translation

Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and old lang syne?

CHORUS:
For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

 

"YET!"

Yet, TAC connects us!  Current alums, our school, and those we love who have passed into history.  I started the Tiger Alumni Center September 15th (my birthday), 2010.  By New Year’s a hundred schoolmates had joined me.  A year later, New Year’s 2011, four hundred joined.  If we count all who have joined, the number would be something close to 2,300.  Over four hundred have passed in the last four years.  With our continued growth, our process of losing and gaining, so, yes, YET is appropriate!  Thank you TAC members.  

The preservation of our oldest, dearest friendships, yes.  The goal of TAC is to connect us.  The website is our venue. 

 

For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

 

Yet, TAC connects us! Our Lifetime Achievement (LTA) program celebrates our alums and school employees of the past and today.  Our team, our culture, one and others building for each, a life of purpose.  Click here to visit some of the past LTA celemonies.  And on the names of the LTA committee members:  Chair Smith and members Marilyn Holt and Nancy Rumsey.

  

 

For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

 

Yet, TAC connects us!  Our program to honor our Veterans is key to our value of connecting us!  Jack Fritchey, Class of 1961, started the program with great pride.  After his death, the post remained empty until we found (or she found us) Nancy McCall O'Connell, Class of 1975, our current Veterans Administrator.  To visit our list of TAC member Veterans, click here.

 

   

Thank you, both!  And our thanks to our Veterans!

 

For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

 

Scholarship Program – 2012 to 2020 - $111K

"Yet" TAC members connect with their future ‘fellow’ alums, the current students.  For the last eight years TAC members have donated most of the thousands of dollars for the scholarships granted annually.  Others, too, have donated via TPAA venues.  The program, currently, has honoring a total of 111 graduating seniors.  That’s a happy memory!  If we succeed in the coming 2020 TAC-TPAA scholarship drive, we’ll add another 20 students, making a new total of 131!  (The opening date of this year’s drive is February 1st and ending March 27th.)

Click here or on Janet’s picture to see the current donors for the 2020 scholarship drive.

 

Thanks Janet, for sharing the administration of our annual scholarship drives.  You’re great!  Much appreciated!  (Click here to review her volunteer service.)

 

For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

 

Pride Cares

Yet!  The TAC members have supported TPAA’s “Pride Cares” program that funds help for our current students who need help. Click here or on Lisa's picture (TPAA president) to read more about that program.

(Click here to review her volunteer service.)

Thanks goes out, too, --  to Bob Lemke for suggesting the program and and sponsoring the first year; to both Janet and Amy Rusk for leadership actions resulting additional financial support for the program. 

 

For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

 

Happy New Year, TAC’ers!

Let’s Celebrate!  Celebrate our “Days Gone By” on one hand!  And, on the other, Let’s share kindness yet!

 

 

Happy Days!

If you have read to here, then you know that I have every reason to be happy!  All those volunteers helping me serve you!  

This coming September 15th, 2020, TAC will be ten-year’s old.  You, who know me, can believe that I am just amazed as any of you members at the success that you members have made of our goal of connections: With each other, with our school and its current students, and with all who have passed into history.  Thank you!  I will add, excuse me, by saying that your work with me with both TAC and TPAA have given my retirement a special time of purpose. 

My volunteer work with you means very much.  I hope to continue.  I’d say “plan” but given my age (“Every year over 70 is a gift.”) I’ll stay with hope.  I would feel even better if I could begin to train someone to take my place.

 

Richard and Barbara