Stephen F. Austin High School Scottish Brigade Alumnae Copyright © 2007-2012 Scottish Brigade Alumnae Association |
UPDATES FROM THE CHAIRMAN --
Our Scottish Brigade Alumnae Association year is off to a good start. We have put a very successful 24th Annual Gathering of the Clan behind us, and will now focus our efforts on the plans to unveil the Scottish Brigade Tribute at the 75th Anniversary of AHS on Saturday, November 10, 2012. Festivities will begin at 1:00 P.M., and end at 4:00 P.M. Moises Villalpando, chairman of this event, and his capable committee are hard at work, with their plans for a very exciting day at AHS. You will be hearing more about this in the days to come.
First to recap our gathering on February 4, 2012 – At least 175 Brigadiers, family, friends and guests enjoyed a barbeque buffet provided by Demeris. Following the meal, our scholarship recipients were introduced, and each gave a short update on their college activities, and thanked the SBA for their support. You can see a short bio of each of them by clicking the Scholarship button on our website.
This year we recognized Captains from all years and had 39 in attendance. They each introduced themselves giving their name, corps and year, and were presented a red rose. AHS student Casey Trout provided a video presentation of these Captains on the overhead wall as the introductions were made.
Jacque McDonald Royce remembered our beloved Sponsor, Betty Blakely, who passed away on May 30, 2011, with a beautiful eulogy that she had delivered at Miss Blakely’s funeral. Young Ben Elder, a student at St. Thomas Episcopal School, played a powerful bagpipe solo of “Amazing Grace.” bringing tears to our eyes as we reflected on Betty Blakely’s impact on each of our lives. We will never forget this special lady.
Marsha Mathis Eckermann and Jacque McDonald Royce explained the donation of all SBA archives and memorabilia to the University of Houston Women’s Archive and Research Center. Our board voted in 2010 to transfer all of the archives as we felt this was in the best interest of preserving these items for historical purposes. You can read more about this project by clicking on the following links:
http://info.lib.uh.edu/about/campus-libraries-collections/special-collections/womens-archives
http://archon.lib.uh.edu/?p=collections/controlcard&id=462
During a short business meeting the 2012-2014 Board/Officer nominees were introduced. When there were no nominations from the floor, the announced slate was approved by acclamation as follows:
Chairman Nancy Parker Grissom ‘60
Vice Chairman Sue Ann Payne ‘53
Records Kay Anderson Anderson ‘61
Treasurer/SFA Liaison Jacque McDonald Royce ‘59
Event Chairman Patsy Wigington Neighbors ‘55
Ventures Chairman Anne Bloomquist Martin ‘61
Scholarship Co-Chairmen Fran Argiropoulos Pond ‘61
Carolyn Allred Schuenemann ‘61
Data Base Chairman Lauriel Hindman ‘60
Parliamentarian Suzanne Page Morris ‘62
We were privileged to have as our guest, Mr. Jorge Arredondo, the new Principal at AHS, who spoke of his dedication to success at our alma mater. Recent correspondence from Mr. Arredondo informs me he was really taken by the fellowship and tradition of so many Brigadiers. He went home and told his wife and kids about his humbling experience, even reading to them some of the parts of the Anthology. He expressed enjoyment with visiting with each of us and sharing the stories he heard from many of you.
The following Monday, Mr. Arredondo met with one of the Art teachers at AHS to talk about the tenets he read in the Anthology, that Miss Lytle used to teach the Brigade, such as Cooperation, Leadership, Courtesy, Sportsmanship, etc.. He wants his students to see those words throughout the school. It is Mr. Arredondo’s belief that those tenets established by Miss Lytle can still be used by the teachers at AHS. He feels those tenets transcend to what they are trying to accomplish and communicate to our youth today and connect all of us to our strong Austin traditions.
He plans to use the copies of “A Scottish Brigade Anthology” that we donated to the library to connect U S History with what occurred in the East End.
We were also delighted to have as our guests former scholarship recipient Juan Elizondo, who graduated last year from the University of Texas with a film degree, and he, along with another former AHS student, David de Hoyos, videoed our luncheon, and have posted it on our Facebook page as well as on YouTube. You can even watch it right here on our website by going to the Event Page and clicking on the video link. From the response, everyone seems pleased with the results, and is already looking forward to next year’s luncheon.
I thank Suzanne Morris for an outstanding job serving as Chairman these past two years. We can chalk up several accomplishments during her term – completion of the writing and publishing of “A Scottish Brigade Anthology,” some needed updates in the bylaws, expansion of the website, our own Facebook page, and renewed enthusiasm in carrying on our organization and keeping our traditions alive. It was such a pleasure working with Suzanne to support her goals for our organization.
The next two years will offer this incoming board several opportunities to continue to promote our Alumnae Association as we celebrate the 75th Anniversary of Austin High School on November 10, 2012. Our own organization will be marking the 25th anniversary in 2013, and we want to make that a special observance.
You will see some updates here on the website – the Scholarship Page reflects pictures and bios of our 2011-2012 recipients; the Keepsake page provides information on who to contact to order the remaining venture items; our Deceased and Missing lists have been made current. Please notify our Data Base Chairman with any information you might have regarding lost or departed Brigadiers. If the information is not given to us, we are not aware of it. Lauriel Hindman works diligently to keep these records current at all times.
We have just a few copies of “A Scottish Brigade Anthology” left in our inventory. These books will not be reprinted. I hope you will take the opportunity to order one before they are all gone.
I look forward to working with the new board as we continue to maintain the spirit of Brigade, as we provide scholarships to young men and women like those who were guests at our luncheon, and as we support Mr. Arredondo and his staff to make AHS the very best.
One thing that is most rewarding to me is the friendships formed over the years by having this common plaid thread weaving us together for all these many years. While many of us have never met each other, we still all agree that we were very lucky young ladies to have been a part of the Scottish Brigade. Let me hear from you!
Much Scottie Love,
Nancy Parker Grissom ‘60
Chairman
SCOTTISH BRIGADE TIDBITS –
I love to go to AHS and look through the old Corral yearbooks and Round-Up newspapers. Each time I go, I always find something I missed on an earlier trip.
Did you know that during football season in 1938, there were two Brigade performances nearly ruined because someone in the stands thought it was smart to blow the whistles instead of letting the officers do it? Nothing was said about this when it first happened at the Reagan-Austin game, but when the action was repeated at the Milby-Austin performance, it seemed as though something had to be done.
Principal Loescher announced that police would be in the stadium for the last game ready to take charge of anyone who was caught blowing whistles. He recommended the mysterious whistle blower stay away or leave the whistle at home.
I found no evidence that the culprit struck again when the Mustangs wound up their grid season by beating the Sam Houston Tigers 12-0.
THE SCOTTISH BRIGADE ALUMNAE ASSOCIATION IS ON FACEBOOK –
You can find the Scottish Brigade Alumnae Association on Facebook – All you need to do to join is have your own personal page on Facebook – then search for us and you can join.
Our membership continues to grow. You will find many of your fellow Brigadiers there hoping to connect with you. Tell your classmates, sisters, cousins and other friends of Brigade about us.
This is a great way to stay in touch, keep updated on current events of our organization, and just maintain our friendships that are so important to all of us after all of these years. We look forward to seeing you there.
Margaret Hildebrandt Wheeler, '58
Webmaster
Scotty courtesy of Scottish Clipart