Won't you join me . . .

At our last reunion, I was struck by how remarkable our classmates are. In large ways and small, our classmates have accomplished a great deal -- writing books, healing patients, running businesses, working in our communities, raising children, just to name a few. I have grown to appreciate just how true this is in the three years since I was elected Class Secretary. Our class has leaders on the Yale Faculty, on the AYA Board of Governors and in Yale Clubs around the world. And, our class is filled with people who have had meaningul, positive impact in their communities -- through the arts, civic participation, business leadership, issue-related advocacy, and volunteering, just to name a few examples.

I set out three years ago with three goals in mind: to find a way to better connect our class, to find a way to better share the accomplishments of our classmates, and to find a way to accomplish some remarkable things together. We have gone a long way to meeting some, but not all, of these goals. So, with two years left until our 25th Reunion, I am left with the following questions: What do we, as individuals and as a class, want to accomplish and how would we like to accomplish it? How can we mark our 25th anniversary of graduating from Yale in a special and enduring way?

These are broad questions, for sure, but they are worthy ones. I am convinced that if we marshall our considerable talents, we can make a lasting, positive impact at Yale and in society as a whole. (For instance, check out what the Princeton Class of 1955 has done, which is truly impressive, by clicking here.)

Here is how we can do this:

Ray Gallo, our treasurer, and I would like to propose that the Class form a Board of Directors to help shape the future of the class. It would consist of people interested in getting involved, rolling up their sleeves, and getting something done. Together, we will create a broader governance structure for the class, define what it is we want to get done as a group, and then go get things done.

So, won't you join me?

If you're interested in joining the Class of 1987 Board of Directors, and I hope you are, please let me know at happado@hotmail.com.