Yarmouth Alumni Association - Yarmouth, Maine

Remember, Reach Out and Reconnect

Alumni Hockey Game

The annual alumni hockey game will be played on Sunday, December 24, 2017 at the Travis Roy Arena at NYA.  All alumni/ae hockey players, male and female, are welcome to play.

Time:  11:00 am – 1:00 pm

Cost:  $20.00

Colors:  Even years = dark shirt;  Odd years = light-colored shirt

Given that serious injuries sometimes occur in hockey games, and that the YAA assists in publicizing  this game, legal counsel has advised us to have players sign a waiver holding the YAA harmless.  Players can do this as they sign in.

Playmakers Present “Pippin” – November 15th-18th

Our Playmakers would like to invite you to attend this week’s performances of the YHS fall musical, Pippin.   This musical tells the story of a group of performers who put on a play based on the oldest son of Charlemagne – Pippin. Pippin returns from college determined to lead an extraordinary life.  Playmakers have teamed up with Circus Maine to create circus choreography for this very special production.  YHS Pippin performances will be held:

• Wednesday, November 15 Open Dress Rehearsal  7:00 pm

• Thursday, Nov 16 at 7:00 pm

• Friday, Nov 17 at 7:00 pm

• Saturday, Nov 18 at 2:00 & 7:00 pm

All shows are reserved seating; tickets are $15.00 and can be purchased with cash or a check (no credit cards).  Tickets can be reserved online starting November 7 at YPAC_boxoffice @yarmouthschools.org or via phone at 846-2335.  People can reserve tickets online at YHS_boxoffice@yarmouthschools.org.   The box office will also be open Nov 13-17 from 11-1 pm.

Yarmouth Plans Improvements to Turf Field

As Superintendent Andrew Dolloff mentions in his letter below, the Yarmouth schools and the Town of Yarmouth are blessed with a wonderful athletic facility.  The turf field gets used a by a multitude of teams:  football, boys and girls soccer, field hockey, boys and girls lacrosse, and boys and girls track.  Occasionally Harrison Middle School students use it, and the baseball team sneaks on in the spring before their baseball field dries out.   The YHS gym classes use it on a regular basis.   On week-ends and during the summer, youth teams of the various sports hold games and clinics there.  For several years the State Class B Track Championship has been held on the field.  Local residents use it as a place to walk when not in use by teams.

As Dr. Dolloff says in his letter, some amenities are missing and the point of the fundraising drive is to fund them.

—–

Dear Clipper Alum:

As the fall sports season winds down, with many of our Clipper teams highly ranked and firmly in the hunt for state championships, I wanted to make you aware of a fundraising program that will greatly improve our outdoor athletic facilities and provide you with a tax deductible opportunity.

If you have visited YHS in the past ten years or so, you will recall that we have a beautiful athletic complex, with an artificial turf field, rubberized track, comfortable bleachers, and bright lights. Many of these amenities were made available through a fundraising effort known as the Our House campaign.

Although the original Our House campaign mobilized support to produce much needed additions, the campaign was unable to furnish several important amenities – including, some very important seats (i.e. restrooms). Now, years later, it’s time to pick up where the original Our House campaign left off. The Our House II campaign aims to raise private funds to enhance the current facility. The primary objective of the Our House II campaign is to add a permanent restroom facility at the Turf Field. No more “porta potties,” plastic out-houses, or running into the woods. It’s time for spectators to remember the athletic achievements on the field – rather than the uncomfortable qualities of our porta-potties!

In addition to permanent bathroom facilities, the Our House II campaign will raise funds to bring much needed running water to the facility’s snack shack, consolidate the electrical controls in a permanent facility, provide necessary structural upgrades to the team shed and improve facility signage.

We need your help now. The Our House II committee has set a goal to raise $200,000 by December 2017 so that construction can begin in April 2018, with a goal of completing the improvements by late August 2018.

The Turf Field is a reflection of the Yarmouth community, and it’s time to bring this facility in line with the community’s expectations. Please join us in this effort to upgrade our facilities and permanently add your name to the list of generous alumni who have helped make Yarmouth one of the best places to live – and play – in all of Maine.

To learn more or to make an on-line donation, please visit www.yarmouthourhouse2.com.  If you are interested in a corporate donation or naming opportunities, you may learn more about our sponsorship program here.

Sincerely,
Andrew Dolloff, Ph.D. Superintendent of Schools

Minutes of Fall Board Meeting

YAA Board Of Directors Meeting

Wednesday, October 11, 2017

Minutes

Attendees: Ryan Cote ’92, Tony Fortin ’77, Sean Gallican ’94, Jennifer Woodman Lainey ’83, Adam Nyhan ’94, Claudette Powers Simms ’77, Joseph Siviski ’00, Aric Walton ’00

Ex Officio:  Eric Klein, Tim Wheaton, Ben Soule

Absentees:  Bonnie Faulkner ’77, Mark Gould ’83, Christie Smith Harriman ’74, Kristin Dennison Miles ’93, Jason Sulham ‘95

I.  Call to Order:  President Ryan Cote called the meeting to order at 6:40 pm.

II. Approval of Minutes:  J. Siviski pointed out that the Board had failed to elect a Treasurer at the Annual Meeting in May, and that, technically,  Ryan Cote was Treasurer, but the Bylaws prevent any BOD member from serving two offices.  A. Walton solved the problem by volunteering to be Treasurer, and was unanimously elected.  After this action, the minutes were approved.

III. Treasurer’s Report:  The YAA’s checking account balance stands at $9,095.00, with no bills outstanding.  The report was accepted.

IV. Principal’s report: YHS Principal Eric Klein reported on a variety of school matters, including:  new teachers and courses at YHS, and the proposed expansion of the Yarmouth schools to meet the increasing enrollments, which are expected to reach 2,000 by 2020, with YHS at 600 students.  Details of the School Board’s  proposal can be found on the Yarmouth Schools website <yarmouthschools.org>.

V.  Reports on Summer Events:

Golf Scramble:  Ben Soule reported that 138 golfers played in the scramble at the Toddy Brook Golf Course, netting $6,029.00 for the YAA.  Some discussion followed about the fees, ways to improve the event, etc.

Garden Job:  Miranda Clarke ’18 has completed her work at the Garden for this year, and received high praise from Garden Coordinator Amy Haskell.  The job, funded by the YAA,  pays $500.00 for 50 hours of work over the summer.

Clam Festival: The new tent proved very satisfactory, and about 140 alumni/ae signed the guest book.  The BOD had a long discussion about assuming the organization and responsibility for the Super Reunion, organized each year by Nancy Richards-Stower ’69.  The Board decided that it had enough to do at Clam Festival, with the scramble and managing the tent, so voted not to get involved.

VI.  Committees

The membership and roles of the standing committees was reviewed.  The BOD voted to set a budget for these committees:  Communications – $500.00;  Events – $1,000.00; Grants/Fundraising – $500.00.

VII.  New Business

Dates were set for future meetings: Winter Meeting, Jan 17, 2018;  Spring Meeting, March 14th, 2018; Annual Meeting, May 23rd, 2018.

Respectfully submitted,

Ben Soule, Alumni Coordinator

        

Chris Cheney ’87 Named Head of School at Kents Hill

On July 1st, 2017 Chris Cheney ’87 commenced his duties as Head of School at the Kents Hill School in Kents Hill, Maine.  He is only the twentieth headmaster in the 193 year history of the school.

Cheney has taken an interesting and circuitous route to his new position.  After graduating from Bowdoin in 1991, Chris taught biology and coached soccer at the high school level, with stints at Hanover, NH High School and Kimball Union Academy.  Along the way he got a Master’s degree from the Harvard School of Education.  Upon leaving KUA, Cheney and his wife Lisa Dilorio and their two children moved to Johannesburg, South Africa where Chris worked at two new leadership academies.  With this experience behind him, Cheney was given the opportunity to start an independent boarding school in Bratislavia, Slovakia.  He started the school from scratch, finding a suitable building, and recruiting teachers, staff, and students.

Chris, a Boyd Award recipient,  is the son of long-time Yarmouth teacher and principal Peter Cheney and his wife Pat, and brother of Tim Cheney ’89.  We wish him the very best at Kents Hill.  You can find more information in the Kennebec Journal article at the link below.

Kents Hill’s new head of school begins tenure in Readfield