a new look for our blog...

Hi 99ers!
Jessie the class web-mistress here. I'm psyched everyone seems to be enjoying the blog so far.

Today, I'm doing some updates, including doing away with the generic blogger template to give us our own look. Please bear with me - as I make adjustments, you may witness some funky-ness.

There's a few people who've asked to write for the class blog - I'll be sending you invites via blogger to get signed up. (Be sure to check your junk mail folder - the invite comes from a generic system account.) Any class member who wants to contribute is welcome. Just let us know.

Also, I've got an RSS feed set up now. Click on the link in the right-hand toolbar to subscribe. (It'll also explain what an RSS feed is, if you aren't sure - basically it's a way to get notification of our updates via your favorite news reader.)

And if anyone else has a website or a blog they want us to link to, please send the link - I'll be adding a sidebar with class links as part of the updates today.

Share Your News - March 06

Do you have a new job? Did you earn a new degree? Are you having a baby? Have you recently moved? Are you getting married? Taking a fantastic vacation? Did you run into a Smithie in the most unlikely of places?

Tell us what is going on in your life. Add your news by making a comment to this post. You can comment without creating an account, but please include your name instead of posting anonymously.

Note: I have activated the validation requirement in the comments section to avoid spammer comments.

Smith in the News

Note: Some stories require minimal registration to view.

College Prepares for Sale of Founders Home
The former home of Smith College founder Sophia Smith will be sold to a faculty couple, but the 22 Main St. landmark in Hatfield will eventually return to the college's control.

Opera Joins with Jazz at Smith Concert Hall
If you can imagine Luciano Pavarotti jamming with Louis Armstrong, then you get the idea behind Commonwealth Opera's "A Night After the Opera." This musical revue, the brainchild of Smith accompanist Clifton Noble, features opera singers fantasizing about what their lives would have been like if they had pursued jazz-singing careers.

Costs at Smith College go up 5.9 percent
The board of trustees at the all-women's college in Northampton approved a 5.9 percent hike that will bring the cost of tuition, fees, room and board to $43,438 a year, the college announced Monday.

Blacklisted Woman Honored
Former Smith educator Eleanor Hadley, who was blacklisted by the United States government for 17 years, will be among four recipients of the highest honor of the Japan-America Society.

‘Relaxed’ Zoning Upsets Neighbors
With the specter of 85-foot-high buildings looming over the Planning Board meeting on Thursday, residents who live near the Smith College campus took aim at a proposed agreement between the city and the college.

Today in History, March 22
First women's basketball game was played on this day in 1893, at Smith College in Northhampton, Massachusetts. The Smith sophomores defeated the freshmen, 5-to-4.

Welcome!

Hello Class of 1999 and Welcome to our new web space!

Our new online space is beginning with this blog meant to update you on Smith events, news and class happenings. We would also like to feature class members as contributors and provide a space to submit your news. As events, fundraisers and reunion planning get underway the site will become more and more complex to fulfill our planning and registration needs.

Please add to the content of the site by posting in the comments sections. If you have a website or blog you would like posted please send me a note. Periodically I will post invitations for people to write "looking for" ads, news for class notes, and class event planning ideas. We really want to know what is going on with you and the direction you want to see the Class of 1999 take.

Lastly, my shameless plug for volunteers. If you are interested in writing for the class blog, hosting events in your city, have fundraising ideas, or interested in helping to organize a class initiative please send me (tdickson@smith.alumnae.net) an email.

Cheers and more to come!
Tiffany Rauch-Dickson
Class of '99 President