16 January 2010

 Class Gift to USMA at the 50th Reunion

Dear Classmates:

As we near the 50th Reunion gathering at West Point in May, I want to inform  you of the need to position ourselves for our final formal gift to USMA from our Class Gift fund.  You will recall that we conducted a major fund drive in the five years leading up to the 40th Reunion and were successful in presenting a million dollar gift to the Cadet Activities Endowment Fund at that reunion.  Specifically, we gave a check for $1,060,000 to the Cadet Activities Endowment in the name of the Class of 1960.

Since that time, the residual amount in our Class Gift Fund has continued to grow as classmates met their fund drive pledges over the years and additional donations were made.  As of the end of September 2009, we had slightly over $700,000 in the gift fund.  During our 50th Reunion we will name the recipient(s) of this amount, supplemented by whatever additional donations are received by then.  While we will not conduct another fund drive, I would like to encourage those who are financially able to increase their giving between now and the reunion so that we can present a second million dollar gift to our Alma Mater.

The fund drive from 1995 to 2000 was conducted with the goal of endowing Cadet Activities, but there is a good case to be made now for considering two worthy claimants for the remaining funds: the Cadet Activities Endowment Fund and the Long Gray Line Endowment (LGLE).  Several classmates who have worked closely with the AOG and gained knowledge of their operations and needs suggested the addition of the LGLE as a donation possibility.  The LGLE has been established to endow and provide operating funds for the AOG.  As you all are aware, the AOG has grown tremendously since we were cadets and their office was in the basement of Cullum Hall and had 2 or 3 employees.  The AOG is now a major service and fund raising organization.  It serves graduates in many ways and cadets through raising money for the “margin of excellence”.  Now, as in the past, it is largely dependent on a percentage of the funds raised through AOG efforts to provide staff salaries and the many services to graduates.  There is a real need to endow the AOG so that funds given to the academy through the AOG can be applied 100% to their intended purpose.  You will see some of the benefits provided by both fund programs in the explanations which follow and on the indicated links to additional information.

My plan is to have a voting mechanism available today on line on the class web site and ask you to vote your preference for giving the funds to the Academy in May.  I intend to offer three alternatives and we will be bound by the option that gets the most votes from the class.  Option 1 will be to make the entire gift to the Cadet Activities Endowment Fund in keeping with the original goal of our Class Fund Drive.  Option 2 would be to divide the gift evenly between the two funds.  Option 3 would be to make the entire gift to the Long Gray Line Endowment.  We will provide a space for any comments you may have when the website for receiving your votes is established.  If you would rather register your vote by USPS, just fill in the tear sheet below and mail it our Treasurer Fred Kaiser at the address at the top of the sheet.

Thanks for your thoughtful consideration of this important matter.  You may direct any questions to me as always at cotstott@aol.com.  Best wishes.

Charley Otstott

President, Class of 1960

 Vote here
--------------------------------------------------------------------Tear Sheet--------------------------------------------------------------------

Mail to

Fred Kaiser

106 Cypress landing

Jacksonville, FL  32259

 

I vote for the option indicated:

 

 _____ Make the entire gift to Cadet Activities Endowment Fund.

 _____ Split the gift evenly between the two funds.

 _____ Make the entire gift to Long Gray Line Endowment Fund.

 

Comment:____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

  

  

  

 

___________________________

                                                                        Signature