Welcome!

Our Class President John Rees' Message

Thanks to those of you who continue to support our Class by paying membership dues. Your support funds both the Cornell Magazine subscriptions and the various mailings and announcements that you receive throughout the year.

The book selection for the 2006 Cornell Student Reading Project is The Great Gatsby. More information about how you can participate in the project via Cornell links will be sent to you early in this fall.

Some interesting Cornell facts:

1. Cornell’s endowment increased to $3.75 billion as of last August----the equivalent of about $195,000 per full-time student. Although the gross numbers are certainly impressive, Princeton’s endowment per student is $1.48 million, Harvard’s is $1.16M and Yale’s is $1.13M.

2. Cornell applications are up, way up. Your diploma is now worth more than ever! Applications have increased 35% in the past 2 years and the acceptance rate is down from 1 in 3 to 1 in 5.

3. Tuition for ’06-’07 is up as well: $32,800 at the endowed colleges. Add another $10,600 for housing and dining. Plus books, travel, incidentals, etc. No much left from $50,000/year. Remember the days when a total cost of $4000/year seemed outrageous? (And gold was $35)

4. 40^th Reunion. Save the date: June 4-7, 2009. Put it in your calendar now…so there will be no excuses for a scheduling conflict later.

Some candidates for your “favorite places” or "bookmarks":

Cornell Alumni Directory Online: https://directory.alumni.cornell.edu
Class of 1969 website: This page - just make it a favorite/bookmark!

Have you recently retired? Joined the witness protection program? Paid off your student loans (or those of your children?). Let Arda Coyle Boucher know. Your faithful Class Correspondent can be reached at aboucher@airmar.com

Regards to Davy.

John D. Rees
Class President