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April 2008
Carol Raab Davis Class of 1960
Dear Fellow Alumni and Friends of St Rose of Lima,
I have been blessed to serve the SRLAA as chairman since 2006, but any success
we have achieved was through the combined effort of all the SRLAA Board members.
I must thank each of them for making what we do possible.
What we, as an Alumni Association, have managed to accomplish over these
past six years has been amazing. These achievements have come as a
result of the continued combination of member support and the dedication
of everyone who has ever served on the SRLAA Board. From a small group wanting
to give back, we are making a difference. This year we were able to provide
some very necessary bathroom accessories, and over $500 in sports equipment.
We are now taking an active part in “Project Facelift” at SRL School.
Jackie Bido, a former student now teaching at SRL is working diligently,
in an attempt to attract new students to SRL, by giving the school a fresh
look. We were able to provide paint supplies and over the Christmas break
volunteers painted the front hall and office. We are now working on providing
new ceiling tiles for the auditorium. We are hoping to have this finished
in to time for this year’s “Project Graduation” being held at the school
on May 23rd.
In February we met with the contractors and came up with a design that will
provide a save path for the children and a place of honor for the engraved
memorial bricks. The design had to take into consideration the amount
of funds raised. SRLAA has worked very hard to spearhead this parish
family project. We have agreed to begin work on the project as soon
as the children finish the school year. We hope you will be there to join
us as we dedicate the New Legacy Path on Alumni Day October 10th..
We honored teachers recently on Teachers Appreciation day with a delicious
Cake and a handcrafted commemorative plate. We sent a thank you gift
to all the volunteers and are looking forward to celebrating with the graduating
classes of 2008. An accomplishment that we are very proud of is that
we have been able to present a four year high school scholarship to SEVEN
deserving graduates over the past three years. This year we began
a program to assist accomplished students currently attending SRL, but due
to personal finances may have to leave SRL. Due to the support of our
generous benefactors John Wickens and Lee R. Dolan, along with funds from
the SRLAA scholarship fund, we are able to see a dream realized. We
believe that today’s youth are the future for all of us. We can continue
to do amazing things for these children with the continued support and involvement
of our members. Please consider donating to this year’s scholarship
fund. We are a 501c3 organization therefore your donations are tax
deductible.
This past October many of us enjoyed reconnecting with old friends at the
2007 Lancer reunion. If anyone is interested in going back to the our
old school ,to walk through those beloved halls and feel the magic as you
step back in time, let us know and we will arrange for the students to give
you a guided tour.
The current eighth grade students are looking forward to their Graduation
Celebration in
May.
The annual event is provided through the generosity of our SRLAA sponsors.
Plan on attending one of the events at the school and show the “New Kids”
you care.
Please continue to check out the Alumni website, www.srlaa.org for
date and happenings.
What a wonderful time to be reconnecting to our school, filled with childhood
memories! I was fortunate enough to have attended St Rose of Lima from
Kindergarten to Eighth Grade and graduated in 1960. I was a Cheerleader,
a Girl Scout, a member of the Imperial Lancer’s Drum and Bugle Corps, and
very active in the CYO. As you can see, St. Rose played a major role in my
life.
As Chairman, I ask each of you to take the time to think about what you would
like to see us accomplish as an Association. Do you have ideas on how
to increase our membership? Do you have ideas on how to increase the
participation of all alumni and friends of St. Rose? Will you help
reunite your graduating class by becoming its representative? Can you offer
your time to serve on one of our various committees or would you like to
be considered for a seat on the Board,? Do you have the address of one classmate
that you have kept in touch from St. Rose that you could share with us?
The members of the Board would love to hear from you. Send us a letter
or an email or give me a phone call and share your positive suggestions.
The more alumni that become active in a positive and constructive manner
the stronger our Alumni Association will become.
Please remember me and the members of the Board and the Association in your
prayers.
I pray that God may bless all of you and your families. I also pray
that God will bless our endeavors on behalf of all the alumni, students and
family of St. Rose of Lima.
I am proud to be an Alumnus, honored to be on the Board, and most humbly
serve as your Chairman.
Carol Raab Davis Class of 1960
Some history about me and
my part in the SRLAA
In 2002, I was given the opportunity to become
involved in a combined Lancer’s / St Rose alumni Reunion weekend. Part of
that weekend was a “step back in time” as we toured the old school, echoing
all the sights and sounds of our youth. That reunion generated more than
renewed friendships. That weekend sparked a new interest in the St Rose of
Lima Grammar School of today. Susan Schick Kemka and an enthusiastic
group of alumni began the formation of SRLAA.
In 2003, while the SRLAA was still in its infancy, I expressed my interest
in keeping alumni reunited, and giving something back to the current students
of St. Rose of Lima. Because of my interest, I was invited to attend a SRLAA
board meeting and shortly afterward I became a Board member.
In 2004, as Membership Chairman on the Board, my goal of reaching out to
locate more alumni while keeping us all connected and involved, led to my
proposal of an SRLAA newsletter. Though I have served on other event committees
I am proudest of my contributions to Project Graduation. This annual
celebration has allowed me to fulfill a promise I made to a childhood benefactor,
to one day give back to another child the way that my benefactor was so generous
to me when I was a student at St. Rose.
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