Submitted by Palisades High Alumni Association Edited by BILL BRUNS The Palisades High Alumni Association will celebrate 10 years by hosting a ’63 to ’79 graduates/administrators/ teachers picnic Saturday, August 21. Everyone who was at PaliHi during those years is invited to join old friends and make new ones at this bring-your-own picnic that will run from noon to 5 p.m. on the school quad. A hot dog, chip and drink combo will be for sale, while supplies last. This inaugural event is intended to bring awareness of the Palisades High Alumni Association (PHAA) and Dolphins After Dark (DAD) because there is an urgent need to inform alums about how they can help the association achieve its goals. While admission to the event is free, all alums attending are encouraged to donate at least $10 and become an ‘active’ member of the PHAA. In the future the association would like to host a picnic for the ’80s and ’90s alums, but volunteers must step forward to form a committee. PHAA president Jeanne Jensen (’76) has long wanted to form a Pali All-Star Band for events such as this, as well as the Fourth of July parade. At the picnic, alumni musicians from the ’60s and ’70s will come together to play for the first time as a group. If you play an acoustic instrument, bring it for an open jam-session. ‘Come on out’we can still rock the house!’ says Pali All-Star Band committee chair Richard Wayman, who sings, and plays keyboards and bass. The PHAA was formed in 1994 by a group of dedicated seniors, alums and parents. This group started the alumni newsletter, Dolphins, and on Alumni Night each year, recognizes current and past teachers, administrators and volunteers. In 2002, Jensen formed the social events committee, naming it Dolphins After Dark. With that she became the PHAA’s event coordinator and, soon thereafter, created the Dolphins After Dark Web site. That fall, Jensen also became the president, when Maggie Ghodes Nance (’90 and faculty) departed. Other members of the the PHAA’s board of directors are communications director Jan Gong, secretary Richard Wayman (’76) and treasurer Georgia Dent-Inferrera (’76). Pat Boren (’72) volunteers whenever she is available. The group wishes other ‘Palisadians’ would lend their assistance, since each person plays a vital role in getting things accomplished. Simply maintaining what they do isn’t enough anymore. Jensen has been pushing forward by having meetings this past year with Charlotte Atlas, Atlas, one of PaliHi’s vice principals. ‘Ms. Atlas has a lot to oversee within her job, yet she makes the time to keep current with what we do,’ Jensen says. ‘She sees our enthusiasm and is extremely supportive’for that we are grateful. And what can I say about Mr. Jefferson [plant manager] and Mr. Braithwaite [finance office]? They are simply wonderful. The alumni association has come to rely on all three of them for our meetings and events. They help us make it all happen!’ Over the next year, the PHAA will focus on creating an Alumni Wall of Fame, as well as development of a scholarship program for seniors and a ‘gifts’ program for the school. Until recently, the group (by necessity) had put many ideas on hold. Then, earlier this year Jensen and coach James Paleno (basketball and golf) began discussing ideas and the ‘Wall of Fame’ came up’an old idea to her, a new one to him. ‘It was as if a dimmed light bulb suddenly was glowing to its true potential’100 watts,’ Jensen says. ‘From that moment plans started moving in the right direction.’ The PHAA feels it is important to let alums know that those who will appear on the future Wall of Fame are being ‘invited’ by the alumni association to take part in this recognition. This is by no means a ‘buy-in’ where alums (or families thereof) can donate money to be recognized. While there is always the hope for and necessity of donations to fund and further develop programs, the board of directors is developing guidelines on how they want to see this all transpire, in true accordance with their beliefs. One of Jensen’s ideas is to retire uniform numbers worn by prominent athletes who have passed away. This will be an invitation that is extended to the athlete’s family. ‘The PHAA cannot retire every number of a great player who passed through PaliHi, but eventually we’d like to see them recognized on the Wall Of Fame,’ Jensen says. In an agreement solidified a few weeks ago between the school and the alumni association, any type of fundraising made though an outreach program directed at alumni must be developed by and carried out by the PHAA’s board of directors. After all, these are the ideas of their group who will do the work to bring it about. Another goal involves assisting programs already in existence at PaliHi. The new scholarship program will provide Pali’s alums with the opportunity to help the various programs at the school by making a donation to any individual department, sport or a general fund. In the fall, the PHAA will learn more about the needs of the school and will include this information on the Dolphins After Dark Web site. This year, the PHAA started making adjustments and cut out the return envelope (for donations) in the newsletter, saving $1,000. That money was thereafter awarded to five seniors at Senior Awards Night’a great start since, for years, the association only had funds for the newsletter and even had to cut back to a single annual Dolphins edition. By making similar adjustments, the association is further freeing up funds. As Dolphins After Dark grows, the Dolphins newsletter will be reduced to a flyer. Last week the Web site opened its bulletin board, which can be accessed for a minimum donation of $10. ‘We set up a PayPal account that allows alums to make donations online, rather than having to send in a check,’ treasurer Dent-Inferrera says. ‘This year is critical and while we are anxious to move forward, the number of alums who make donations has dropped sizably. While that is indeed discouraging, we’ve also received two of the largest donations ever!’ The association has also set up sponsorship levels on their DAD Web site. They know it’s a simple equation, but without the support of alums, they have nothing from which to work. There is a lot of truth to the saying ‘every dollar helps,’ and what the PHAA wants to achieve absolutely requires funding. ‘I’ve seen so much movement within the PHAA/DAD in this last year’some great things are happening!’ Richard Wayman says. ‘It is sometimes overwhelming, but we go forward.’ ‘Each board member currently has between two and 10 years invested and they hope to keep right on going,’ says Jensen, who is frequently asked why she does this when she only attended PaliHi for one year. ‘I feel fortunate to have had friends since my sandbox days at Marquez Elementary. Often I meet people in my age group who don’t see or even speak with anyone from their school years. For me, the ties are binding…I still carry the passions of those school friendships that were the basis of so many firsts’ crushes and relationships. Much of our core as individuals was formed together, and that is something that can never be taken away.’ ‘Memories Do Matter!’ has been Jensen’s slogan since 1998. ‘That plea just hit me at the right time I suppose,’ she says. With 41 years of PaliHi graduates, the PHAA is trying to create something of interest to everyone, so that more alums will play an active role. The important fall meeting will set the tone for the rest of the year. The Awards and Development Committee will meet for the first time October 21 at 5 p.m. in the school library, with the regular PHAA meeting at 7 p.m., the same night, same place. Alums, administrators, faculty are all welcome to join us. ‘We’d love to hear everyone’s input. If others come up with the same ideas we have, then we’ll feel like we are on the right track,’ Jensen says. ‘And if they come up with something entirely new that we can put into action, that’s fantastic.’ Jensen then refers to an e-mail Paul Edmonds (’76) recently sent her: ‘As Mr. Mercer said opening day back in ’73, ‘What you’ll get out of Palisades High School will be in direct proportion to what you put in.’ Mercer’s words certainly apply to Jensen, who frequently puts in some 25 hours or more a week, and is grateful for the endless support of her husband, Jonas Ahlm. ‘Is there really life after high school?’ Jensen asks jokingly. ‘Once a Dolphin, always a Dolphin!’ The PHAA wants to thank the many Palisades business owners and alums who have donated items for Alumni Night and the upcoming picnic, including Georgia-Dent Inferrera and Wendy Price Anderson (’64) for hitting the pavement, as well as the rest of the picnic committee who have donated their time and have secured donations. Thanks also to the many people within the administration, the faculty, the Booster Club and volunteers who have played a vital role in the PHAA over the years. ‘We also a warm welcome to PaliHi’s new principal, Dr. Gloria M. Martinez,’ says Jensen. The new alumni association Web site is at www.dolphinsafterdark.org, or e-mail PHAA at PaliAlumniAssoc@aol.com for more information about involvement, donations and programs.
This page is available to subscribers. Click here to sign in or get access.
