Visions and Initiative

To lead and represent the most informed, enthusiastic, involved and supportive alumni/ae body in the world.

Back in 1969 when the Alumni Association began, under the guidance of Alumni Secretary Robert Barrymore Crow, an Executive Committee was formed to serve as the governing body of the association and to perform a vital, positive, and meaningful role on behalf of Deerfield Academy and its alumni.

Nearly everyone of us can claim to have ‘run into’ another Deerfield alumnus/a at some point in the recent past. In the fall of 1998, Bink Garrison ’66, P’94, ’00, convened his first meeting as President of the Executive Committee. During this gathering, he stressed the need for every organization to have a vision, noting that while it may not be possible to fulfill that vision in its entirety, doing so would provide an ideal toward which to strive. After lengthy and spirited discussion, the committee agreed to the following vision statement: “To lead and represent the most informed, enthusiastic, involved and supportive alumni/ae body in the world.”

Today, thanks to our uniquely dedicated alumni and the tireless efforts of the folks in the alumni office, a growing number of initiatives are bearing fruit. Under the leadership of current President P.B. Weymouth ’83, this committee chooses the recipient of the Heritage Award, given annually to that alumnus/a whose professional and personal achievements represent a special contribution to the betterment of society.

Some other projects include: Pathways, which started in January 2000 as an annual program where current seniors hear alumni talk about the “pathway” that he or she took to their present career, the annual Deerfield Summer Institute (LTTH), which continues to stimulate and enlighten returning alumni, parents and friends each August, the development of the website and alumni e-newsletter, a restructuring of Reunion Weekend, alumni athletic events, the ongoing development of regional clubs both nationally and internationally, inducting graduating seniors into the Alumni Association during Commencement, and young alumni events. We are always thinking and welcome your suggestions for engaging our alumni with each other and with the school.

To find out more about any of the above initiatives, please contact:

Mimi Morsman P’89
Director of Alumni Relations
lmorsman@deerfield.edu
413-774-1584