John More Association

Some of us have had a cold and snowy winter, but we haven’t been hibernating! Your board members have allocated funds from two large donations. The tech team has spent countless hours working on the new and improved website.  This means you can now register and pay your reunion expenses online. The JMA Board and appointed officers held a Zoom meeting in January and voted to greatly reduce the cost of meals and dorm rooms for the upcoming reunion. Attendees can order free JMA “thistle” t-shirts. We’re happy to serve!

On behalf of the John More Association, I’d like to thank Sallie Holland (1331222) and Nancy Marshall (M7.10.711) for their generous donations.   Sallie made two donations totaling $10,000; one in 2024 and the other in 2025. The JMA board members voted to use a portion of this money to provide lunch at our reunion this summer in Roxbury, at which time we will honor the memory of her father William Seward Gavitt III (133122).  Nancy made a $10,000 donation in memory of her husband Eric More Marshall.   During Eric’s tenure on the board he was instrumental in the establishment of a scholarship, given to a high school senior to use for further education or training.  The board voted to deposit $5,000 of this bequest into that fund.  Remaining resources from these gifts will be used for future projects. 

I’d also like to thank Linda Manfull (3821411) for her countless volunteer hours as part of the tech team.  With guidance from Becky Allsop, Juanita Goin, Rich More and myself, she’s been successful in adding an option for you to register and pay for the 2025 quinquennial reunion on our website.  Linda, we appreciate you.

Planning for our 2025 quinquennial reunion in Delhi, NY, has been slow, as the college has had many employee changes during the past two years.  It’s meant that our registration process had to be postponed until this winter.  Because of delayed pricing for meals and rooms, the board determined those costs and will use investment funds to cover the bill beyond what cousins pay at registration.  Board members also decided to offer reunion attendees free JMA t-shirts.  As mentioned above, the lunch picnic in Roxbury on July 26, 2025, will be free this year.  We hope you’re able to take advantage of these reduced costs and meet us in the Catskills in July.

Hurray!  We’re back in Catskill Hall.  We’d been assigned to another dorm last fall, due to renovation projects planned on campus.  This is a wonderful surprise, as the previously assigned dorm didn’t offer suites.  It never hurts to ask just one more time!

As we approach the summer, I’m reminded that my term as president will end with a vote on new officers at the reunion.  I’ll continue to serve as an emeritus member of the board, having been a representative for twenty-five years as of July 2025.  It’s been my pleasure to serve as vice president and then twice as president, since the year 2000.  I’ve learned so much about our family’s history while planning for special ceremonies and organizing reunions. Technology has really changed during those years and I’ve had to adapt and learn – many thanks to those of you who’ve helped me along the way.  I’d like to thank the officers and board members who’ve served with me.  I appreciate your patience and guidance, as well as your friendship.  It’s the relationships formed that have been my greatest reward.