Reunion and Alumni Weekend

Reunion 2011: Fond Memories of First Days at VLS

Joel Harrington '01, VLS Director of Government Relations

There was no pressure to meet deadlines, finish outlines, or cram for exams. It was just a relaxing fall weekend in Vermont surrounded by our extended law school family and friends.

Reunion Weekend 2011 marked nearly 10 years since I last returned to Vermont Law School, and what I saw was a renewed vigor in the life of my alma mater...tremendous positive energy, fueled by innovative programs, inspired leadership, and motivated students.

Not even a tropical storm that scarred the Vermont landscape two weeks earlier would stop nearly 180 alumni representing 25 of 36 alumni classes—from as far away as Alaska—from descending upon lil' ole South Royalton. With kids in tow and parents donning vintage VLS sweatshirts, purchased at Barrister's when SoRo's only fire apparatus was a modified milk truck, you could tell that Reunion Weekend was off to an exciting start.

The annual fall gathering of alumni featured an array of events, including a century bike ride-organized annually by John Kessler '88, joined this year by Robert Bent '81 and Jackie Hughes '81...the 24th annual Chase Race, in which a 1L beat out the alumni men, but it was Kathryn Kalogerou, wife of Byron Kalogerou '86, who posted the winning time for the women...and the annual Alumni Golf Tournament on Friday, when Paul Donohue '81, David Dunn '81, Eric Parker '81, and Mark Scribner '81 took home the trophy. Most importantly, the weekend allowed time for reflection and reminiscence as the law school honored those who graduated in 1976, 1981, 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001, and 2006.

On Friday, Professor Jason Czarnezki kicked off the weekend celebration with a discussion of how the unique Chinese-American economic relationship presents challenges for global environmental law, and how VLS' U.S.-China Partnership is addressing these challenges. This was followed by two evening receptions: President and Dean Jeff Shields welcomed alumni and their guests back to campus and recognized members of the Leaders' Circle for their commitment to supporting VLS with a three-year sustaining pledge to the Annual Fund. On Saturday night, the class of 1986 gathered for an intimate dinner to reminisce about the last 25 years, and Reunioners from all years enjoyed a taste of Vermont at a local microbrew reception.

Derek Campbell '06, Ashley Carson Cottingham '06, Mike Miller '91 and their guests put on their work gloves and took advantage of a brisk Saturday morning to help Royalton residents who sustained devastating property damage from tropical storm Irene. Later that day, more than 2,000 pounds of flood debris were collected by alumni, faculty, staff and students during the annual White River Clean Up. It was in the spirit of volunteerism and commitment to VLS that Saturday culminated in the first ever VLS Alumni Association Achievement Award, presented to J. Scott Cameron '80 for his decades of service to VLS.

Reunion simply would not be complete without a stop at the 140^th annual Tunbridge World's Fair, where many alumni and their families dined on onion blossoms and slushies—a special reminder of what those first days at VLS were like many years ago—the satisfaction of which so much remains the same.

Thank you to all members of our alumni classes who, despite the logistical challenges created by tropical storm Irene, committed (in record numbers) to return to your alma mater. Thank you also to those who made a gift in honor of your reunion year, and to those who served on a reunion committee. Your participation through reunion giving shows a commitment to the continued excellence of our school, and a willingness to help ensure its future. If you have not submitted your year-end reunion gifts—there is still time. (Get them in by midnight on December 31 to be counted!)

Whether or not you were able to make it this fall, we hope you'll join us next year to let VLS welcome you home to reconnect, relax, and revisit those memories of years past. All alumni are invited to return to campus September 14-16, 2012 as we celebrate the classes of 1977, 1982, 1987, 1992, 1997, 2002, and 2007.