The Campaign Trail:
Retreating and Recharging
I want to thank all those of you who participated in the weekend's extremely successful Faculty/Trustee Retreat in brisk, breezy and wet Newport Beach.  I also want to acknowledge the hard work and careful planning that went into the retreat, and to express my thanks to Leslie Dashew '70, Tom Manley, Kate Rogers, Nadine Francis, Alice Holzman and everyone else who contributed to the effort for their excellent work.  I was extremely pleased both by the numbers who attended and the level of participation in the great sessions about defining Pitzer's mission and our dreams about what the College will do and be in the next 10 to 15 years.

The program provided a number of wonderful opportunities to reconnect socially and intellectually, as well as with the passions that first drew us to Pitzer College. I know many people found particularly interesting and elucidating the discussion about the perceived roles of the president, board, faculty and staff in the life of the College.

If I had to pick one common theme that emerged from this weekend's proceedings, it would have to be the desire for more involvement by members of the board in campus life.  I want to assure you that we will remain mindful of this wish as we plan future board meetings and other activities involving the trustees.

Another theme that was heard repeatedly was the need for additional funds for financial aid and to insure that Pitzer's pioneering spirit has sustained wind under its wings.  It was a great pleasure to announce at Sunday's board meeting that we have already achieved 54 percent of our working goal for The Campaign for Pitzer College.  The retreat made it very clear to me that Pitzer is a vital place where all of us engage in teaching, learning, exploring and discovering each and every day!

I hope you feel as recharged by the retreat as I.  Tomorrow, I am heading to the Bay Area to meet with alumni and attend an event sponsored by the Bay Area Alumni Chapter. 

--Marilyn Chapin Massey