REUNION RECAP

If You Missed It: A Recap of the Reunion Weekend…

[A special thanks to Steve Krohn '67 and Dale Granchalek '69, alums and former Stout student photographers (They were assigned to cover this event 40 years ago and completed that obligation.) who supplied the pictures for this posting]

CLICK ON IMAGES TO INCREASE THEIR SIZE.

The 40th Stout Reunion on October 12 and 13 turned out to be a great alumni event! While renewing old friendships (and making a few new ones!) and reacquainting ourselves with the Stout campus was the main thrust of the weekend, there were a lot of interesting and enjoyable activities aiding the process. Alumni from across the country attended.

The weekend kicked off Friday afternoon with registration (including booklets with information from all classmates who responded to the questionnaire) and a delicious Tea produced and served by current students in the Hospitality major. The evening brought one of the most popular events of the weekend: The wine and food pairing dinner. Stout Hospitality professor Peter D’Souza guided participants through a wine tasting of five different wines paired with a plateful of assorted tidbits chosen to enhance each other’s flavors.

The tasting was followed by a buffet meal prepared by Jenni Elliot from locally grown and natural foods, including grass-fed beef, free-range chickens, trout canapés, etc., (plus Legacy chocolates), where we put our new-found knowledge to work, matching our portions with the same 5 wines. By the evening’s end, we could all “see, swirl, smell, sip, slurp, swish, swallow, and savor” with the best of them.

The following morning, about a dozen hardy souls braved the 50 degree weather to walk the Red Cedar Trail. A considerably larger group attended the breakfast, which included a brief chat with Chancellor Sorenson and some “I remember” moments. From there, the golfers headed to the Menomonie Golf and Country Club, while the majority joined deans and professors for either tours of the Packaging and Plastics

areas or the Textiles and Food Technology majors. The presentations these included were not only interesting, but eye-opening. The labs in the Home Economics building (some newly remodeled) are a fabulous improvement over the facilities our classes used in Harvey Hall and the testing equipment and opportunities for research are considerably more extensive for current students. The plastics and packaging facilities and information in the Applied Arts Building were also impressive enough that many alumni who attended want their next career to be in packaging! Stout’s current students have wonderful opportunities in class offerings and research…and the online aspect of many classes (it’s a lap-top campus!) would definitely allow senior auditors to participate from many sites.

The afternoon bus tours of the city showcased the vast changes Menomonie has experienced in the past 40 years. Some alumni also chose to tour the campus and town more extensively on their own, while others experienced the opening of the newly renovated and enlarged Mabel Tainter Memorial Theater downtown. Completing the offerings was the visit to the newly installed Sixties exhibit "The 60's... A time of Change" Reunion Exhibit at the Russell J. Rassbach History Museum in Wakanda Park. The display reflects on life at Stout during our 5 classes’ tenure from 1962 to 1970, and includes pictures, reviews, headlines, garments and other memorabilia. (It will be available at the museum for the next 3 years.)

The culmination of the reunion was the Saturday evening banquet.

The Alumni Office had the space decorated with a balloon arch, lattice, banked flowers, and balloons to create a festive, welcoming atmosphere as we arrived, and the food staff produced an excellent “surf and turf” dinner. The hands-on nature of many Stout graduates was illustrated by the alumni arts and crafts display. (Classmates showcased their talents with beautiful hand-woven garments, quilts, machine free-stitched pictures, photographs, paper collages, knitting, wood-working projects, a musical score, an extensive collection of antique tools, and even candy Easter eggs.)

Shannon Seck, a student worker in the Alumni office, had prepared a power point presentation of “Then…and Now” moments which brought back many memories and much laughter. John Wesolek was named the winner of the James Huff Stout Award

during the evening’s brief program. While a disk jockey played songs from the sixties, alumni continued to visit and remember throughout the evening, exchanging email addresses and cementing old friendships anew.

A final thanks goes to Sue Pittman, Terese Wentworth, and Shannon Seck from the Alumni office and to the committee for all their hard work and efforts to make the weekend a rousing success.

Scholarship Update:
Our five classes (a combined 2800 alumni) currently haven’t reached the $15,000 goal to create an endowed scholarship which could be awarded each year in perpetuity. While the option to award 7 individual scholarships and exhaust the fund remains, we hope classmates will continue to contribute to bring the final total to the goal level. If each class member simply contributed $10 each, we’d almost double the amount needed to endow the scholarship. So, if you haven’t made a donation yet, please consider a gift now and designate it for the 40th Reunion Scholarship fund.

Bob and Nora Fuller
40th Reunion Bloggers

UW-Stout Photo

Outstanding Reunion...

What a wonderful celebration of friendships this reunion provided to all in attendance. The 40 years since we attended Stout went as fast as the reunion activities. This opportunity to renew ties with Stout and friends from the past is appreciated. A special thanks to Sue Pittman, Terese Wentworth, Shannon Seck of the Alumni Office and all the Stout team. You folks did a fantastic job and provided outstanding hospitality.

Congratulations to

John Weselok '67

who received the

James H. Stout Distinguished Alumni Award.

Watch for additional postings on the activities of the Reunion in the future. Right now we're a bit tired, having stayed up last night past our usual bedtime visiting with friends.

40th Reunion Exhibit

Today (10/7/07) we installed the Reunion Exhibit at the Dunn County Historical Society's Russell Rassbach Heritage Museum in Menomonie's Wakanda Park. The exhibit uses more than 250 images from period Stoutonia's and Tower's with research in the UW-Stout Archives and the on-line history of Stout. Memorabilia from our years at Stout are also displayed.



While the exhibit provides everyone a glimpse into student life in the 60's and Stout's past, its focus is to provide the students who attended from 1962 through 1970 a spring-board for reflection and rememberance.


The 60's were an outstanding period of expansion, evolution and revolution for UW-Stout. These changes were witnessed by the 40th alumni, who were present during the majority of President William Micheel's innovative and collaborative tenure.


The exhibit creators, Bob and Nora Fuller and Deb Wesolek express their gratitude to the Dunn County Historical Society for their assistance and for allowing us to integrate this collection of memorabilia into the broader displays of UW-Stout. Special thanks to the 1960's Stout student photographers, Stoutonia, and Tower staffs, plus the on-line history of Stout, all of whom contributed to this exhibit by documenting this unique era.

Reunion Program

UW- Stout

"Yesterday's Weekend" 40th Reunion

Classes of 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970

Menomonie, WI

October 12, 13, 2007

Note changes in RED below!

WONDERING WHAT TO PACK FOR THIS EVENT?

All activities are informal/casual with the exception of the Saturday evening Banquet where you are asked to dress in business/dressy attire. Please come and enjoy yourself with old friends and tour the community and campus.

Friday, October 12

2:00-5:00 p.m. Registration & Informal Tea

The location for this has been changed to the First Congregational Church meeting Hall, 420 Wilson Avenue in Menomonie.

Remember the formal teas held in Harvey Hall? This is your chance to re-live those days. A class from the Hospitality and Tourism program will serve as host and hostesses for this events.

By the way -- Feel free to dress in casual travel clothes for the tea

6:30 p.m. Food and wine pairing and late registration

First Congregational Church meeting hall, 420 Wilson Avenue in Menomonie.

Finish off the evening with friends and classmates while enjoying and learning food and wine pairing tips. This is a casual activity and feel free to dress accordingly.

Saturday, October 13

6:30-7:30 a.m. Walk the Red Cedar Trail or Golf Option.
Start the day with a scenic and brisk walk down the Red Cedar Trail or golfing on a local course.

8:00-9:30 a.m. Breakfast and late registration in the Crystal Ballrooms in the Memorial Student Center. For those coming in on Saturday, this is your opportunity to register.

9:30-noon Campus tours
Check out what became of the old metals and home
ec labs. The new labs may entice you to return to
college!

Lunch on your own – you will have a list of local listing restaurants in your registration packet.

2:00 p.m. Russell J. Rassbach History Museum

Tours with special displays on UW-Stout. Be entertained and informed by a presentation on Menomonie and Stout history.

6:00 p.m. Banquet - Crystal Ballrooms in the Memorial Student Center.

Business/dressy attire is suggested.

The evening banquet will include the presentation of our Distinguished Alumni Award along with fun filled facts. Remember those Friday evening dances? This is your chance to kick up your heels to some great music from your era and enjoy catching up with old friends and faculty. So bring your dancing shoes and be ready to ‘trip the light fantastic”.

The fee for these events is $100 per person and $175 per couple. Green fees for golfers are additional.

Remember to:
**Send in your completed alumni survey --due by end of August

**Consider nominating a fellow classmate for the distinguished alumni award. --due by end of August.

**At the reunion, consider displaying some of your handiwork, craftwork, writings, or anything you would like. If you are interested in this, please let Terese or Sue know by calling the alumni office at 715-232-1151.

**Consider a donation to the Classes of ’66, ’67, 68,’69, ‘70 Endowed Scholarship Fund.

**Consider donating a project or item from your days at Stout to the Russell J. Rassbach Museum. Contact Rita Christofferson at 715-235-2386 for more information.

See upper right side of this blog "Program and Registration Information" for links to the Survey, Endowed Scholarship and Registration.

A Stoutonia Editorial RE: 40th Class Reunion

Another blast from the past.
1966-67 Stoutonia Editor, Stephen W. Burke - AKA Stony - took some time from his busy schedule to write an "Editorial" for our reunion blog. We found some pictures from Stoutonias and Towers of that era to "visualize" some of his thoughts. Although they are not all pictures of Stony they are from Stout in the 60s. Check out the "Then and Now" photos of Steve -- a very distinguished gentleman.
*********************************************

A Stoutonia Editorial for the 40th Reunion

Song:
Seems that was what drove a lot of hootenannies in the late ‘60s.
Students got together to sing those revolutionary and\or peace lyrics, and believed it made a difference; maybe it did with social issues and Vietnam. Peter, Paul & Mary, and Bob Dylan live on.

Memories:
Well, we all have them; some good, some bad, some forgotten.
But for the most, “memories”, it seems to me, are wasted cells on the past; unless they can be positively applied to the future. At “our age”, there is still much to be done. Ben Franklin was 70 when he drafted the Constitution. This may be “our time in the sunset”, but this is no time to dust off the rocker.

Consider:
Those who lived through the Civil War (1861-1865; those dates look familiar), their 1907 is our place in time. Their transportation was horse; ours horse power. Are we much differently awed than they were?

Rear-view mirror:
In our years at Stout we found completeness; friendship, challenge, future. Yet, in the intimacy of those years there was… well… frustration.

There were editorials about the book rental system. Yes, financially perfect. No, we were reading from a physics book that was 35 years old (ok, physics does not change much over the years). We challenged the SSA to move forward and remove the voting power of Deans from meeting… we had no voting powers in the Faculty Committee. Well, that was long ago, and Stout withstood the onslaught of our convictions… very well done, Stout.

There were countless hours in the offices of Dean Price and President Michaels discussing the writings in the Stoutonia. A million years ago. A moment from memory (see “Memories” above).

So today:
Stout is unique, always was, always will be. In 1963 President Michaels announced, at our freshman orientation that we would have the tools to escape a deserted island if desired. And, we would earn those tools over the next 4 years. He was right. We are still in awe, alive, and do not reside on deserted islands. But there is much yet to be done. Class Reunions are but another raft to escape the island of reality. These rafts are necessary if only to reaffirm the scope of what we have yet to accomplish, and solidify transition from one generation of graduates to the next. “Where Tomorrow?” remains the focus of their lives as well as ours.

Conclusion:
Song, memories, considerations, mirrors, today… where are we in this evolutionary concept of a Stout life? Simple, really. We are the children, who’s children’s children will need all of the above to build rafts of their own.

Stephen W. Burke '67
Stoutonia Editor-in-Chief 1966-67

June 11, 2007

A bit about Stony:

Since graduating from Stout, Steve taught for 26 years. In 1982 he began writing computer software for classrooms and school systems. This evolved into writing programs for dental offices and currently marketing and supporting a product called “Clinical Research Environmental Data Information Tracking” (CREDITTM). This product is installed in locations across the country and tracks tens of thousands of Cancer Patients. Steve is president of “Data Doctor Office Technology System, Inc.” (DDOTS) where he and his wife Barbara work full time. They have three grown children.

CLICK HERE: Visit their DDOTS website at www.ddots.com

In their spare time they spent 30 years renovating their current home – an 1840 farm house. Stony and Barbara look forward to our 40th Reunion.

Memorizing, Mimicking... Mesmerizing!

University Theater

“Unknown to many, a tiny world, separate from the larger academic university, has existed in the basement of Harvey Hall… Here, in an atmosphere of pure, sophisticated talent, came students and faculty to gather for the sake of a deeply rooted mutual interest – drama.”

“Seen periodically throughout the year, whether in a seasonal play, musical, or Quarter Square Theatre production, these people devoted time, energy, and ability to “give their all” in various performances.” 1968 Tower

Over the years, some of the productions included:
She Stoops to Conquer
Desire Under the Elms
Destry Rides Again
The Bright Knight
Medea
Ten Nights in the Bar Room
The Great Get-Away
Krawp’s Last Tape
The Room
Arsenic and Old Lace
Guys and Dolls
The Crucible


Add your recollections, comments or anecdotes by clicking on "Comments" below.

Home Management: What an experience!!!

A 6 week stay in the Michael’s Home Management House for “a practical application of household managerial skills” was a requirement for many senior Home Economics majors in the 60’s…and—40 years later--the quirks and lessons of those 6 weeks are still ingrained in the memories of the participants! Here are a few tales shared by Lana Lawrenz Anderson and Erica Gustafson Granchalek of their residencies:


"Miss Charlotte Rose, the House supervisor, was quite a character. She ate very slowly at meals and no one could leave the table until everyone was done. She would take second helpings and it was an excruciating wait for her to finish. However, we learned quickly and we all took seconds ourselves, so there would be very little left when the serving dish was ready to be passed to her.

She liked egg for breakfast--but not too much. She asked me to hard cook one for her. I then had to peel it and cut it into quarters, as she only ate one quarter of an egg a day. We were assigned rotating duties during our stay: Cook, assistant cook, waitress, downstairs maid, upstairs maid, etc. She seemed to be quite pleased that the cook would spend most of the day in the kitchen during their assigned time. However, I would bop in and whip up something quick that we prepared at the restaurant that I worked in during summers. She was very discouraged that dinner could be done in a short time.

Since she was allergic to hair spray, we had to go downstairs to the little room behind the kitchen to put hairspray on our bouffant styles. Fortunately, that room had a fan that could exhaust the fumes.

We always had to prepare a table center piece from things found around in nature. We were not allowed to spend money for it. Cagily, we would have a friend send us flowers when we were in the house, so that we could create an attractive centerpiece. (Not all of us came prepared with seashells, etc,to put on the table.) I did love all of the china sets--at least 4 sets for dinner meals, beside the everyday ones in the kitchen. I liked the array of dishes so much that I have several sets of china, too. I do recall Miss Rose coming to the classroom on rainy days. She would sit down and take out tissues to wipe off the bottom of her shoes before putting on her galoshes."

Lana Lawrenz Anderson




"Miss Rose was a real character who was some what stuck in the Victorian era, but who managed to put the fear of God in all of us who lived in that house for a seemingly unending amount of time (six weeks I think....)

I think that one of the best stories ever--one that I will never forget--was the time that Carol Kitzmann Trimberger and I were sitting around the kitchen table, in the Home Man House, smoking an illicit cigarette. We were blowing the smoke directly into the exhaust fan, when we lit something on the surface of the kitchen table on fire. Can you imagine? Sort of like igniting the high altar of a church. I couldn’t quit laughing. I knew our lives were on the line, and I just couldn’t quit laughing.

Guys who were dating anyone living in the Home Man House were affected as well. My husband, Dale, remembers the detailed procedures to which one needed to adhere prior to entering the house. When it came to rules, Miss Rose was an equal opportunity enforcer.

I also remember Miss Rose used to tell all the married ladies that they should refrain from sex at least one month each year.

These recollections are just the tips of the ice berg-- I’m sure there are many, MANY Home Management stories. Get a bunch of alums in a room, and the memories could fill a CD…and provide a multitude of laughs!"

Erica Gustafson Granchalek

Image Makers - SSU Photographers Extraordinaire

The pictures posted on this blog were taken by your classmates -- the Stout Student Photographers

They were everywhere, always capturing activities and events on film. They spent many hours planning, shooting, processing and printing images that characterized our Stout years. Their expertise, creativity, extraordinary timing and commitment to making a high quality, lasting memory is greatly appreciated. Their award winning photographs filled the pages of the Stoutonia, Tower and other Stout publications.


To recognize what they did over 40 years ago we are posting their group photos for you to remember those individuals. We also express our appreciation to the 1960's Audio Visual Department, David Barnard, Chair, and the various photo advisors including Jack Morehouse, Bob Hardman and Bob Ward. ...and of course, John Russell, the zaney Menomonie photographer who did a superb job of taking all the group photos for the Tower Yearbook in Harvey Hall Auditorium.

1969-1970 Photographers

1968-1969 Photographers

1967-1968 Photographers

1966-1967 Photographers

1965-1966 Photographers

1964-1965 Photographers

Showcase Your Talent!

"Calling all Stout 40th Reunion Participants for a Display of Talent and Creativity..."

Alumni from the classes of 1966-1970 are being asked to share their hobby or craft with fellow alums at the 40th Reunion. Stout provided us a diverse and rich background. Some advanced their creativity and skills through work or avocations. Perhaps you have a favorite woodworking project, quilt, artwork, sculpture, photograph or other two or three dimensional object you'd be willing to display.

To accommodate this opportunity to "Showcase Your Talent", a secure location will be available on Stout's campus to display your favorite creation or achievement. Whatever your talent, we look forward to learning more about it.

We're also considering the possibiltiy of a silent auction for some of these items. Please consider donating something. The auction would be held during the reunion weekend with the money going to the Endowed Scholarship.

CLICK HERE for Endowed Scholarship Info

Won't you join us in spotlighting something special created by you?

To facilitate this, please respond to the following questions via email to

alumni2@uwstout.edu

Name:
Phone #:
Email Address:
Item(s) to be displayed:
Approximate size of items:
Special considerations or accomodations:

Class Gift -- Endowed Scholarship

Class Gift

In the past, each class has participated in a reunion giving program. The donations are targeted toward a specific cause or project. The 40th reunion committee has set a goal or raising $15,000 toward an endowed scholarship. ($15,000 is the minimum accepted for an endowed scholarship.)

During committee discussions, it was felt that there is no greater gift than supporting a current student. With the increasing cost of attending college, scholarships often make the difference in whether a student actually completes his/her education.

With an endowed scholarship, our collective gift will continue on in perpetuity. It will be named


--Classes of 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969 1970
Endowed Scholarship--

in honor of our graduation years. To assist those awarding scholarships, the committee has suggested the following criteria: financial need, 3.2 GPA, Junior or Senior level, demonstrated leadership qualities while attending UW-Stout, and the reciepient must be a first generation college attendee.

Please consider donating to this fund to help us establish a continuing, meaningful memorial to the wonderful recollections we all share of our years at Stout and the excellent foundation our education helped establish in our lives. Won’t you please consider helping to guarantee that another generation’s students will graduate from our Alma Mater?

For your convenience, a pledge card was included in the May mailing which you should have received. If you did not receive the card or would like additional information please contact the Stout Alumni Office at:

Alumni2@uwstout.edu

or toll free at

1-866-716-6685

With your help, we can easily reach the $15,000 needed for the endowment.

CLICK HERE: Stout Alma Mater

Distinguished Alumni Award

Recognizing an Alum...

This 40th reunion is a time to honor one of our fellow classmates. The Distinguished Alumni award has been set up by the Alumni Office to recognize alumni from the class years spotlighted at a particular reunion. For this gathering it will be awarded to a 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969 or 1970 graduate.

Alumni, friends, family, faculty, staff and administrators are encouraged to review the nomination criteria and consider nominating an alum.

CLICK HERE for Distinguished Alumni Award NOMINATION CRITERIA

CLICK HERE for Distinguished Alumni Award NOMINATION FORM

This is a wonderful recognition for someone who has achieved significant accomplishments and meritorious service in their professional and personal lives. The alumni awards committee (separate from the 40th Reunion Committee) reviews all applications and makes the selection.

Reunion Survey

Stout State University Graduates from 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, and 1970 are encouraged to submit their responses to the following five questions. The information gathered from the survey questions will be published in the 40th Reunion Book and distributed to attendees during the reunion weekend. We ask each of you to complete the form and return it to the alumni office by August 3 -- even if you are unable to attend. It would be wonderful to hear from you. Don't forget to include your name and address information.

You may send it in regular mail to:
Stout Alumni Association
Louis Smith Tainter House
PO Box 0790
Menomonie, WI 54751-0790


or email the information to
alumni2@uwstout.edu


1. What have you been doing for the past 40 years?
2. What are you doing now?
3. What community activities, travel, and/or special interests have you participated in?
4. Tell us about your family: spouse, children, grandchildren.
5. Describe your fondest memory of the time you spent at Stout State University.

Name:
Maiden Name:
Winter Address:
Summer Address:
Phone:
Email:

LAUGHTER REIGNS: Stunt & Talent Nights

When students performed during the fabled Talent and Stunt Nights of the 60’s, the capacity-filled auditorium of Harvey Hall rocked with laughter and applause. Hidden talents and a lot of creativity were showcased by both events, which also awarded trophies and prizes, plus provided scholarship funds from the proceeds. Both performances played to enthusiastic crowds of fellow students and faculty members, most of whom were not only entertained, but surprised by the unsuspected talents and ingenuity of their friends and classmates.

Talent Night, sponsored by Phi Sigma Epsilon fraternity (Phi Sigs), featured individuals and small groups in a variety of skits, musical performances, dance ensembles, and comedy routines. Frat members served as emcees and provided rousing between-the-acts entertainment with humorous antics of their own.

Stunt Night, however, featured representative groups from the campus’ organizations, sororities, and fraternities performing in various skits. Sponsored by the F.O.B.’s (Phi Omega Beta fraternity), prizes were awarded to the top 3 skits in the most beautiful and humorous categories…but the F.O.B.’s gave the latter entries a run for their money with their spectacular between-acts entertainment. Entries ran the gamut from the “Polish Symphony Orchestra,” to “The Powerful Prancing Powderpuffs…,” “Poccahontus,” Mother Goose Lets Loose,” “Rinse the Blood off my Toga,” etc. Groups planned for months ahead for their entries…while audiences chuckled for weeks afterwards.

Express your reflections on Talent and Stunt Nights by clicking on "Comments" below.