Bob Pray, Larry Beason and Ed Dennehy met with Eileen Kelly, Director of Alumni Relations, and Sue Fage, Member Services, on June 1st at the Academy Alumni Building to discuss the Class of 1970’s participation in the LITC Program with the Class of 2020.
LITC was first implemented at the Academy in 2011 and it matches the Class that will celebrate its 50th reunion with the incoming class that will graduate during that 50th reunion year. In our case it is the class of 2020. LITC is not a mentoring program and no specific LITC events developed by our class are a required part of the program. It is primarily an opportunity to participate with the cadets in several activities that are already scheduled and part of their normal cadet experience. In short, members of the Class of 1970 will voluntarily attend and be present with the class of 2020 over a four year period for such events as Reporting Day, Flag Presentation, Shoulder Board Ceremony, Dinner Dances, Donation of Rings, Ring Dance, Billet Night, Graduation, etc. We just show up and participate with some distinctive dress or name tag, etc. that identifies us as from the Class of 1970. It is a way for us to remain connected with the Academy in a unique way through interaction with the new class of cadets, and an opportunity to provide moral support, and form relationships that strengthen the history and traditions of the Academy experience.
While participation is primarily for those that are geographically able to attend events at the Academy, opportunities to show support are also available in other geographic areas through attendance at various athletic and other cadet events. Previous classes have come up with various ways to demonstrate a connection. These include showing up at Eagle port visits or various athletic events both in New London and elsewhere, sponsoring a tailgate event, designing a T-Shirt with the both class crests, displaying our class flag at appropriate events, etc. There are opportunities to develop our own ways to interact. The focus however, is to keep any connections occurring during already scheduled cadet events.
Bob Pray has offered to be the Lead Coordinator this first year and, as has been done with previous classes, that Lead may change from one year to the next.
The first event is Reporting Day, June 27th. Any classmate that would like to participate in that event should contact Bob Pray as soon as possible. Additional opportunities will be published to the class as they occur. Ideas for unique ways to participate are welcome and encouraged.