Volunteer Spotlight
Jane Zavislan '74 Volunteers in Denver
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Bronson Binger '48
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(Summer 2003): Liz Gardner '83
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(Fall 2003): Dan Clement '66
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The Exeter Bulletin, Fall 2004
Jane Zavislan '74 Volunteers
in Denver
Jane Zavislan '74
served as president of the Exeter association
of Colorado for 10 years. She is the new president
of the class of 1974.
"Twelve years ago, I moved to Denver, my husband's
hometown, from New York City, where I grew up.
Moving to a new city as an adult can make one
feel disconnected from one's youth. I had
few connections in Denver besides the parents
of a close college friend whose father is also
an Exonian. Through them and through volunteering
for the Exeter association, I have truly enjoyed
meeting people of all ages with whom I have something
in common. I recently became more involved in
volunteering for my class and was an attendance
chair for our 30th reunion last May. We set an
attendance record, but I can't claim that
success! Several classmates reached out to a
lot of people who had never come back for a reunion
before, and that was inspiring to all of us.
"I attended Exeter for two and a half years
and loved it—I was definitely a 'poso.'
One of the greatest differences that I saw between
Exeter and the private school I attended in New
York was that many more students were on financial
aid, making Exeter truly diverse in a new way.
Exeter has done a better job than any school
I know of at maintaining ethnic and socioeconomic
diversity, and that is one reason I think it
is so important to keep supporting the school.
At my reunion, I was struck by the number of
classmates who said that attending Exeter had
been the turning point for what became possible
in their lives. I hope my involvement with a
place that was so important to me helps others
recognize how important Exeter was in their own
lives, and that they are inspired to help out
themselves in some way."
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The Exeter Bulletin, Spring 2003
Bronson Binger '48
Since
1994, Bronson Binger '48, an architect
in New York City and current class agent of his
class, has participated in 21 Exeter phonathons
in addition to serving on a reunion committee
and the 1781 committee and chairing the grandparent
committee.
"I've put a lot of time into Exeter, and
the time has been very rewarding and really fun.
We can leave Exeter and never look back, or we
can leave Exeter and never look forward; but
we can also leave Exeter realizing that no matter
what happens in our lives, we've gotten
a tremendous amount out of being there, and for
this we owe a certain amount of gratitude. At
Exeter, I was neither an athlete nor an outstanding
student, but I did find several great teachers
who affected my entire life. Art Landers brought
the whole world of music to me, and I became
an architect because of Glenn Kraus. Thanks to
my Exeter experience, I have a sustained love
of literature, art and music, and have been involved
in causes beyond work and play ever since I graduated.
"Another reason I feel so strongly about Exeter
is that it educated me, three of my daughters,
two nieces, a son in law and a granddaughter,
so I have had a long, continuous association
with the school. I think Exeter has become stronger
in every possible way. An Exeter education is
expensive to provide, and a third of the students
at Exeter couldn't afford it without scholarships.
Volunteering for Exeter not only raises money
for programs such as scholarship support, but
also helps perpetuate cohesiveness, a sense of
identity and loyalty among classmates. Several
of my classmates have worked a lot longer than
I have to keep us in touch with each other; my
involvement with them and with the class has
become my most creative and enjoyable activity.
"At my first Exeter phonathon, nearly 50 years
after my graduation, I was delighted to find
that some of my classmates remembered who I was.
I have since enjoyed catching up with most of
them during phonathons and reunions. One thing
that our class seems to have instilled in it
very strongly is the concept of non sibi,
I think due to the influences of Lewis Perry
and Bill Saltonstall. It is not just a nostalgic
concept for us, and this shows in our professions,
the ways in which we work with charities and
in the boards we sit on.
"Ten years ago, our class participation was reasonable
but could have been better, and I decided it was
very important that all of us participate, no matter
how much or little we might give. My class responded
to the challenge. In recent years our participation
has been between 80 and 90 percent compared with
the school average of 56 percent, and we created
the Class of 1948 participation plaque as a challenge
to other Exeter classes to come together in support
of the school. Classes are much bigger now than
they were when we were there, so it takes more
people to be effective, and having some continuity
in class leadership is important.
"I think Exeter's real future is not only
as a magnet school for bright kids or a trend-setter
for education—which it has always been
but is becoming more so—but also in reaching
out more than it ever has into public education
and pedagogy. Exeter's impact on public
education is beginning to be felt nationwide,
and what we raise now will continue to have an
effect on that and on other institutional goals
such as need blind admissions."
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The Exeter Bulletin, Summer 2003
Liz
Gardner
'83
Liz Gardner '83, who lives in
Gill, MA, with her husband and two sons, has been
a class correspondent (with Betsy Randolph ’83)
for 10 years. She was also a reunion program
co-chair for her class’s recent 20th reunion
in May. Liz will be trading in her class correspondent
role for that of vice president.
"Being a class correspondent has been
a wonderful way for me to stay connected to my
classmates—those I knew well at Exeter
and those I didn’t—and to keep them
connected to each other and their Exeter experiences.
I think that even though Exeter was a fairly
tough place when we were there, the school has
always encouraged people to be themselves in
the best possible way. For me, being able to
sense this at that particular stage
in my life was critical: I was allowed to realize
my strengths and forgive my weaknesses—to
blossom—and do this within the structure
I needed and with the knowledge that someone
was watching out for me. I think one of Exeter’s
greatest strengths is its willingness to look
at how it does things and to explore new ways
of being. One of the benefits of volunteering
for Exeter has been the chance to watch how the
school has changed and become even stronger.
"My passion for community service grew
out of experiencing key Exeter values in an atmosphere
that was shaped by more than just intense academic
and social pressures. These values were non
sibi, and the importance of teaching goodness.
Saying ‘hello’ on the paths, contributing
around the Harkness table, listening to inspiring
people in Assembly, being a proctor in the dorm—all
of these experiences helped convey to me the
expectation that I would participate in my community,
that I was respected and cared for, and that
I could (and should!) make a difference. When
you approach teaching with this expectation of
goodness and responsibility, you make people
feel capable, connected and counted. This is
what inspires them to go out in the world and
make good things happen.
"As for my own community service, since
leaving teaching and administrative work to raise
my children, I have enjoyed bringing these Exeter
values to their classrooms when I volunteer there,
and to our life at home. To help bring my community
together, I started a summer reading program
and a story hour at our library, and I plan special
library events for families, fundraisers, and
town-wide clean-up efforts. The pleasure I find
in all my volunteer work, including what I do
for Exeter, comes from being part of a team working
toward a common goal, and from building connections
around experiences, places and people.
"At a reunion, there is an undeniable
charge to being with old classmates and friends.
We are reminded of what was, which keeps us connected
to ourselves in some small way, but we also open
our eyes to what is now. No one makes me laugh
as hard; engages, inspires or challenges me as
completely; or brings out my best as surely as
my Exeter classmates do. It has been a pleasure
and a privilege to work with and write about
such interesting, warm, intelligent and funny
people, people whom Exeter brought, and continues
to bring, together. I’d do anything to
stay in touch with them."
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The Exeter Bulletin, Fall 2003
Dan
Clement '66
At the time of writing,
Dan Clement '66
was one of several alumni from the classes of
1963-69 to help plan a third multi-class, off-campus
reunion in five years. The event, Big Red Pacific,
took place in two locations on two consecutive
weekends in early 2004: Los Angeles, CA, on January
15-18 and Maui, HI, on January 19-24.
"The class of 1966 is a strong class with
a stunning collection of very bright and interesting
individuals. Fortune has smiled on many classmates
who are generous both financially and in spirit.
And we are a cohesive group: we enjoy each other’s
company, and seem better equipped to do so now
than when we were together at Exeter. The Academy
does a great job of running reunion programs,
and reunions provide good opportunities to see
the classmates who are willing and able to come
back to campus. But during our 30th reunion
in 1996, several of us from my class explored
the notion that it might be fun to organize a
different kind of reunion in a location far away
from Exeter, where there might be more program
opportunities for spouses and children, and to
which we could invite members of other classes
close to our own.
"Three years later, with planning help
from members of the classes of 1965–68,
we held our first gathering in New Orleans. Only
a few alumni from those classes were locals,
but 85 Exonians brought their families and guests
to the city for a weekend of jazz, sightseeing,
great food and each other’s company. In
2000, we planned a seven-class event in Washington
D.C., where there is a larger alumni base. Exeter
was well represented in the Federal government
at the time, and we had many fascinating people
to draw on for our program, which drew 125 Exonians,
plus their guests and families.
"Our plans for Big Red Pacific are even
more ambitious. In L.A. we are planning a tour
of the Getty Museum featuring former director
John Walsh ’55; lunch and a tour of the
Warner Brothers Studios with writer/producer
David W. Rintels ’55 and humorist Bob Noonoo ’66;
an architectural tour of recent modern additions
to downtown L.A., including the Walt Disney Concert
Hall designed by Frank Gehry, and lunch on historic
Olvera Street; wine tasting; and biking the bike
paths along the beaches near our hotel in Santa
Monica. In Hawaii, we are planning visits to
area locations of cultural and environmental
interest with University of Hawaii professors
and local residents as guides.
"A lot of the fun for me has been the
planning process itself—anticipating the
reunions, and working with Exonians from all
the classes concerned who are incredibly talented
at running meetings and getting things done.
Successful planning is an introspective process.
We’ve learned that we need to know the
rhythms of our classes, where people are, what
resources are available and what motivates people
to do things. We have a confidential financial
assistance program, with one person handling
the transfer of money and airline miles from
those who have extra to those who have need.
Attendance chairs for each class are coordinating
contacts with classmates by e-mail, snail mail
and telephone, and the Academy is very supportive
of our outreach efforts. The planning committee
also meets in great locations where we can have
fun and enjoy the surroundings before and after
our planning sessions. I would happily spend
time with members of other classes who are interested
in doing something similar.
"For me, the personal and institutional
objectives in having these reunions are one and
the same. I value the opportunity for meaningful
interaction with others who went to Exeter when
I did, and I support Exeter because I believe
in what the school is doing now: providing a
fabulous educational opportunity to motivated
students, and doing it as well as or better than
anyone else."
For more information about Big Red Pacific,
go directly to www.light-side.net/bigredpacific.
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