In an effort to meet the goals of the three-year Annual Fund Vision 20|20 campaign, a group of alumni, representative of most class decades, has visited MMA twice in 2018 to discuss methods to increase the alumni participation rate for each class.
During the initial gathering on March 23, the group listened to an impassioned talk by President Brennan at the opening dinner. He talked about the history of philanthropy, the escalating costs to run MMA, and his desire to make MMA affordable for any Maine student who wants to attend.
He summarized his remarks by stating, “I need your help because the only way we will increase gifts to financial aid is by increasing the participation rate to the Annual Fund. It is from there that donors give to scholarships and capital projects. Increasing participation to the Annual Fund is the critical pathway to increasing financial aid support at Maine Maritime Academy.”
Among their initiatives, the group has set a lofty goal of recruiting 40 Class Pursers by September 15, 2018. Modeled after the Class Agent program, these Class Pursers will work with the Academy’s Advancement Office and help make peer-to-peer calls to encourage others to support MMA.
Alumni assisting with this effort include David Fenderson ’56, John Gillis ’72, Mike Ames ’77, Larry Burrill ’77, Jake Jacobs ’85, Joe Valliere ’99, Andrew Strosahl ’05 and Eliza Pingree ’15.
If you would like to volunteer or learn more about this program, please contact Chris Haley, Vice President for Institutional Advancement, at 207-326-2232 or christopher.haley@mma.edu.
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Capt. Nathan Gandy '92, Commandant of Midshipmen and Dean of Maritime Training, presented Capt. Bob Peacock ’71 with a token of appreciation during a Welcome Home reception aboard TS State of Maine in Eastport, Maine, on July 12. Peacock was instrumental in arranging for the training ship to visit Eastport and clear Customs following its highly successful 70-day training cruise. More than 50 guests, including 25 alumni, attended the event.
A plaque of appreciation was also presented to the Eastport Chamber of Commerce and Bill Mahoney ’56, the most senior alumni present, was presented a cruise ball cap.
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“WE’RE BACK,” says Bangor Sea Dogs alumni chapter president, John Burns ’85. “Not that we ever really went away, but now we are the new and improved Sea Dog chapter and looking for alumni, both young and old, to get back on board and join us for the telling of some old sea tales or about some faraway country you visited on one of your cruises.
“Maybe you even have an old story about ‘Bucko’ or ‘Mrs. T’ you would like to share (for you younger guys, we will fill you in later on whom they were). Or, if you just want to stop by and share in some refreshments, that’s fine too.”
The Sea Dog chapter is among the largest of MMA alumni association chapters and encompasses alumni in the greater Bangor area. “The number of alumni in our surrounding area totals in the hundreds,” says Burns.
“Whether it’s a barbecue or a golf outing we are looking to schedule or a deep-sea fishing adventure out of Bar Harbor that we are putting in the works, come aboard and enjoy a good time.”
To learn about upcoming events, join the chapter’s Facebook page: Bangor Sea Dog Chapter of Maine Maritime Academy Alumni; or contact jburns5794@aol.com.
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Great weather greeted 55 alumni and friends of the Class of 1973 during their Summer Reunion held on campus June 25-27, 2018. Thirty-three classmates gathered to reminisce about old times, provide updates on their whereabouts, and enjoy each other’s company. The reunion program included a welcome from President Brennan, a presentation on MMA today, an Eight Bells ceremony, boat ride and Maine coast lobster feed.
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