SUNY Oswego - Alumni Association

July 2010 • Vol 6 No 4

Reunion 2010 One to ‘Remember’

More than 1,100 SUNY Oswego alumni accepted the invitation to “Come Remember” at Reunion 2010 June 10 to 13.

Classes and numerous groups converged on a somewhat soggy campus to celebrate milestone anniversaries, meet longtime friends and reminisce during the memories-themed weekend.

“I came back because I wanted to see all the beautiful new buildings and changes on campus,” said Tom Hanford ’00, a former Student Association member and Oswegonian staffer. “We were still watching the Lakers in Romney back then.

“It was cold, I think the (Campus Center) is a little warmer,” he laughed while attending the "Down by the Boardwalk" Picnic on the Lake Saturday behind Lakeside Dining Center. “You felt like you were right on the ice … As weird as it sounds, it was an intimate place to watch the hockey game.”

Some alumni brought physical relics from their days on campus. Arlene Madalena Weyer ’60 brought gallon Zip-Lock bags full of pieces from her past, including men’s basketball programs, sock hop tickets and her driver’s education guide, to the Class of 1960 Tea and Remembrance Ceremony Friday at Shady Shore. Dr. Andrew Francello ’88 was proud to sport his vintage Scales Hall T-shirt branded with his nickname, “Quincy.”

Ted Rosen ’70 didn’t wear a special vest from a senior year piano recital he performed, but he did tote the token around with him. A friend made the green vest for him and it was a fond memory for Rosen.

“It’s been in my college memorabilia box for a good 40 years,” the 1970 graduate said. “This is my first Reunion and I couldn’t resist bringing it around.”

The weekend included more than 50 events on campus and in town, many of which were documented by Oswego Alumni Association photographers.

Alumni are invited to help with planning the special Sesquicentennial Reunion 2011 set for june 10 to 12. Contact the OAA to learn more about volunteering for or attending Reunion Weekend.

— Shane M. Liebler

Back to July front page • Next story: Great Dogs • Previous story: 'Corn' Pops

Oswego Alumni Association, Inc. • King Alumni Hall - SUNY Oswego • Oswego, NY 13126
315-312-2258 • 315-312-5570 (fax) • E-mail: alumni@oswego.edu • Web site: oswego.edu/alumni

Who doesn’t want to save the world? Michael Kite ’02 does that for a living through World Wildlife Fund.

As marketing specialist for one of the world’s leading conservation organizations, Kite and his team of three work to raise more than $5 million each year. The majority of that money comes from licensing partnerships and promotions with the likes of Barnes & Noble, Gap, Hewlett-Packard, Dial and Coinstar.

Retail partnerships help WWF spread its message to the general public and raise funds for its conservation work around the globe. For example, Bank of America contributes $100 for every special Visa account opened and Nabisco is supporting WWF’s “Year of the Tiger” initiative with special packaging and a $100,000 donation. The new CVS Green Bag Tag program rewards reusable bag-toting customers, and generates five cents for WWF for each tag sold.

All support WWF’s mission of protecting the future of nature, down to the finest details, Kite said.

“We like to see that the product is made from recycled material and is recyclable itself, and somehow ties into our mission,” Kite said. The Green Bag Tag, for instance, is made from a corn-based material and features a 100 percent recycled silicone lanyard.

As a broadcasting major at Oswego, Kite got involved with WRVO-FM and WNYO-FM.

“I think it gave me a lot more confidence in talking to people,” he said. It was an important part of his early career in broadcast sales and remains an important piece in the message he “sells” today.

“The best part of my job is seeing a product in the store with the WWF logo after months of working with a company to launch it,” said Kite, who joined the organization in 2006. “It’s rewarding to give people a fun, unique way to protect our planet.”

— Shane M. Liebler