2010 Reunion
Reflections on the 2010 Chapter by those who attended..
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I like to tell people that being the president of the Franciscan Alumni Association is the best office to hold on the board of directors. I go on to joke that it's the best position to hold because you can delegate all of the real work to other people. (I'm terribly lazy so some might say it's not a joke.) In reality, being president is the best office to hold because you get to conduct the annual FAA chapter reunion meeting.
It is an honor and highly satisfying, personally, to be the president of the FAA during the annual chapter reunion. As president, I've received many compliments and expressions of gratitude from reunion attendees. It is very satisfying to have people come up to me, shake my hand and thank me for a great reunion weekend. Of course I've tried to graciously accept these thanks. But then I tried to direct the credit to those who really deserved it.
Usually, there are many people who have worked to put together the reunion. All of them volunteers. It starts with the reunion coordinator. This person's family is, of course, immediately involved. Then there are other reunion committee volunteers. These people plan out the lodging accommodations, meals, activities, entertainment and venues. They enlist the aid and services of local friars and Franciscan alumni.
The FAA awards committee researches nominees for the two awards the FAA present each year to deserving alumni. Other alumni volunteer to plan the liturgy and music. Still others volunteer by doing the readings, playing instruments and singing at the Mass. The great speech, music and vocal talents cultivated many years ago at St. Francis Seminary shine during the Mass. Participating in the Mass at the FAA chapter reunion is a special experience. Not just because you are once again celebrating with your high school friends and brothers, but because the Celebrant is a Franciscan priest that you personally knew, now know or know of. This year's Celebrant was author and inspirational speaker Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM.
As I said, the best thing about being the president of the Franciscan Alumni Association is conducting the annual chapter meeting. Even though I was a favored Illinois boy, Fr. Aubert would not be very proud of how nervous I get while conducting the meeting. I have difficulty speaking in front of people. To this day, I dread speaking in front of people. I get nervous even though my audience consists of my old classmates, schoolmates and fellow alumni who are all my brothers. I usually forget a thing or two.
But I still like to run the meeting for several reasons. First, I usually get to personally meet and welcome everyone in attendance. Second, I like to make sure everyone recognizes all of the alumni who keep the Franciscan Alumni Association alive. These include the Association's founders, past presidents, board members and reunion organizers and wives and families of these alumni.
Yet another honor for me as president is to present awards or to introduce the award presenters. This year's award presenter was the Provincial of Our Lady of Guadalupe Province, Fr. Gino Correa, OFM. But before his presentations, I had the honor of presenting to him a monetary gift for Our Lady of Guadalupe Province from the FAA. It was special for me because he remembered me as the short, skinny kid I used to be back in 1971 when I was in the eighth grade and he was Brother Gino. Brother Gino drove me and three other boys from St. Mary's Grade School in Bloomington, Illinois to St. Francis Seminary for a school visit. I'm still short but not so skinny any more. Gino has also changed a little since then. His hair is somewhat shorter now.
But, the best thing about being president at the FAA chapter meeting is that I also get to make sure those who really did the work get the acknowledgement and credit they deserve.
This year it is JD Moya who organized and planned a great reunion. Besides being the coordinator, booking the hotel and planning the events, he and his lovely wife, Gale, hosted a tropical paradise themed wine and cheese party at their lovely home. It was a great way to start the weekend! And thanks also go to Gale for her help, patience and support.
JD's secretary, Darlene Sahd also deserves a lot of credit. And not just because she works for JD. She registered attendees, answered and sent out email and did a lot of work behind the scenes. She was also on hand with JD at the hotel to greet alumni and hand out reunion packets.
Antonio and Lucinda Trujillo deserve thanks for hosting a wine tasting and tour of their vineyard, Guadalupe Vineyards in San Fidel, New Mexico. Antonio also conducted a tour for us of St. Joseph Mission School, also in San Fidel.
Thank you to Fr. Larry Bernard, OFM. Fr. Larry conducted a personal and entertaining tour of the church at Laguna Pueblo. He also arranged to have lunch for us in the parish hall. This was my second visit to the church. Both visits were a pleasure.
Thanks to Mike Thomas and Paul Landers for doing the readings at Mass. And thank to Mike Niklas, Ted Gomez and Matthew Jaramillo for playing at Mass. I am proud to be associated with all of them and always envious of their talents.
During the meeting I thanked Fr. Gino and all of the resident friars for letting us all into their home. We had Mass, dinner and our chapter meeting at the Friary. While most of us were inside, Fr. Gino and Brothers Duane, George and Gordon were outside wiping down rain dampened tables and chairs prior to dinner.
Thanks to Butch Feldhaus who prepared the program for the chapters closing Remembrance Ceremony. Thanks to Dennis Kirby and Ralph Hatke who conducted the ceremony. Thanks to Mike Niklas for leading us in the Ultima, the official close of the chapter reunion.
I also want to thank Matthew Jaramillo and Raul Martinez for taking me on a personalized tour of Santa Fe and Madrid. You guys are great friends! Thanks for putting up with me.
And thank you, all my brothers, who are out there in the world, doing great works and sharing the spirit of St. Francis. God bless you all! Pax et bonum.
Having driven with FAA President, Rick Gardner in a "Thelma/Louise" road trip, we survived tornadoes in KS and made the full circuit relatively unscathed including one "near-miss" with a deer also in KS. The "Ed's Red" wine we shared with Fr. Ric Schneider from St Mary's, Bloomington, IL before we left must have been a good omen for us.
En route we made a brief side-trip to Boulder to see my daughter at Naropa University and stayed with Larry (SFS '66) & Linda Burkhardt in Greeley, CO, sharing "Ed's Red" with our hosts as they toured us through their own wine cellar in retaliation.
I stayed with the OLG Friars at their new Motherhouse for the week, sharing "Ed's Red" before daily Vespers and helping them prepare the way for the FAA dinner on Saturday evening toward which we looked expectantly only to get washed out with the only rain they've seen in more than 90 days. In true NM fashion, though, everything dried up during Mass; and we were able to sit outside for dinner.
I took it upon myself to make sure the Motherhouse was represented at Joe Moya's by driving in with Br. George Ward and Br. Gordon Boykin. Other Friars seen lurking at the party were Fr. Paul Juniet and Fr. Berard Derger. Joe loved his lagniappe of "Ed's Red" so much, he ordered a case of his own!!
At the FAA Business meeting, we reported that our FAA funds were in the Top 6% of ALL funds in performance since inception, having closed out 2009 with a proud +34.33%. In the recent correction, we are struggling along with everyone else with a meager 4.07% for the Quarter and +1.82 Year to date.
Arriving home on the evening of June 28, we uncorked some "Ed's Red" put our feet up and toasted our safe arrival and the thrill of seeing our "home-hugging-honey's."