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March 7 - 9, 2012
College Station, TX

Wednesday, March 7
1:00 p.m.	Sul Ross Group Reunion Welcome Reception – Hilton North & South 40 Ballrooms
	Reunion Registration & Check-In Desk Opens – Hilton Ballroom 1
1:45 p.m.	Buses pick up at the Hilton to take '57 Classmates to the Reception at the Health Science Center
2:00 - 4:00 p.m.	Class of '57 Reception at the Health Science Center
4:00 p.m.	Hotel Check-In Available
	Class Hospitality Rooms Open – Hilton Hospitality Room assignments will be posted at the Reunion Registration Desk
6:00 p.m.	Cash bars open for cocktail reception and visitation before dinner – Hilton (casual or business casual)
6:30 p.m.	Individual Class Dinners – Hilton Ballrooms Dining Room assignments will be posted at the Reunion Registration Desk
6:30 p.m.	Sul Ross Group Cluster Dinner Classes with fewer than 30 total pre-registered participants will be asked to join the Cluster Dinner due to limited Ballroom space.  Classes will still be allowed to sit together during the Cluster Dinner. Cluster Dinner Keynote speaker: Dr. Ben Welch '90, Assistant Dean, Director of the Center for Executive Development
Thursday, March 8
8:00 a.m.	Reunion Registration & Check-In Desk Opens – Hilton Lobby
9:00 a.m.	Men’s Business Meeting – Hilton Oakwood Ballroom State of the Cadet Corps: BG Joe Ramirez '79, Commandant of the Corps of Cadets Porter S. Garner III '79, President and CEO, The Association of Former Students Otway B. Denny, Jr. '71, Chair of the Board, The Association of Former Students Class of 1957 Induction Ceremony Spouses are welcome to attend business meeting but please make note of such on your Registration form so we can make the necessary seating arrangements. Seating will be limited.
9:00 a.m.	Shuttle Bus service to Campus
9:15 - 11:00 a.m.	Ladies’ Coffee, President's Home
11:00 a.m.	Last bus departs from Ladies’ Coffee to the Hilton
Noon	Sul Ross Group Luncheon – Hilton Ballroom Keynote speaker: Acting Dean Andrew Card, the Bush School of  Government & Public Service Free time for Hospitality Room visiting and relaxation.
6:00 p.m.	Cash bars open for cocktail reception and visiting before banquet – Hilton Ballroom (cocktail or church attire)
6:30 p.m.	Sul Ross Group Banquet – Hilton Ballroom Keynote Speaker: Dr. R. Bowen Loftin ’71, President of Texas A&M University Featured Entertainment: The Aggieland Orchestra
Friday, March 9
8:00 a.m.	Reunion Registration & Check-In Desk Opens – Hilton Lobby
	Sul Ross Group Breakfast – Hilton Ballroom Keynote Speakers: G. Guerrieri - Head Coach of Texas A&M Women's Soccer Team Laurie Corbelli - Head Coach of Texas A&M Women's Volleyball team Jeff Pickering ’12, Student Body President, Texas A&M University Patrick Reeves ’12, Corps Commander, Texas A&M University Corps of Cadets
	Depart at your leisure

Howdy Ags!

Here is information for the Sul Ross Group Reunion, Wednesday to Friday, March 7-9, 2012.  This will be a great opportunity to see old friends and Classmates and to catch up on the happenings at our great University.  And, we look forward to inducting the Class of 1957 into the Sul Ross Group at that time.

All of the registration information can be found on this website; please note the deadlines for registering and for hotel reservations shown near the top of the form.  If you have not yet made hotel reservations, please do so as soon as you can as I am told there is a big demand for rooms.

The Headquarters Hotel for the Reunion will be the College Station Hilton.  Reunion check in with The Association of Former Students staff will begin at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 7, with a reception and an opportunity to reconnect with Classmates and friends.  When you sign in, be sure to find out from The Association staff the location of the hospitality room for your Class.  Wednesday night will be set aside for Class Dinners.  To qualify for an individual Class Dinner, due to space limitations, a Class needs to have at least 30 pre-registered attendees.  If your Class does not qualify, you will still be able to sit together at the Cluster Dinner.

On Thursday morning, there will be the annual Business Meeting with the induction of the Class of 1957 and the election of officers for 2012.  ­­­­­­­­­­Dennis Goehring ’57 will present a brief history of his Class.  BG Joe Ramirez ’79, Commandant, will give us a report on the Corps of Cadets.  Also, Elizabeth Andrasi ’11 the current Memorial Student Center President, will give us a status report on the renovation of the Memorial Student Center.

While the annual Business Meeting is occurring, the Ladies will be entertained at a reception at the President’s Home.  The ladies will then join the men for a luncheon featuring keynote speaker, Andrew Card.  Thursday afternoon has been left open for you to visit as you wish: sites or departments on the campus, with students or with Classmates and friends in the hospitality rooms.

Thursday night will be the annual Dinner and Dance with music by the Aggieland Orchestra.  President R. Bowen Loftin ’71 will speak to us on the state of the university.  This is an address we always look forward to.  The dance floor will then be open for those who wish to use it.

Breakfast on Friday morning will bring our usual athletic reports.  We will also have comments from Jeff Pickering ’12, the Student Body President and Patrick Reeves ’12, Cadet Corps Commander.

This should be an interesting and fun three days.  Hope you will be with us to enjoy them.

Gig ’Em,


Weldon Kruger ’53

P. S. As most of you know, our Group has committed to raise $200,000 for the Sul Ross Group Pillar in the Flag Room of the renovated Memorial Student Center, which will reopen this coming spring.  So far, we have raised $149,100  in gifts and pledges.  We need your help in reaching the goal and I encourage each of you to make a contribution to this worthwhile effort.


Reunion Accommodations

*The block at the Hilton is currently sold out!  Please check with the Convention and Visitors
Bureau or with one of the hotels listed in close proximity to the Hilton which are Hyatt Place, Hawthorne Suites, Comfort Suites, Homewood Suites, Residence Inn and holiday Inn Express to make your reservation. Several 1957 Classmates are also staying at the Ramada Inn. Call today! (979) 846-0300

We currently have 78% of the available rooms at the Hilton allocated for the Reunion.  You can still check with the Hilton on a regular basis to see if a room does become available but for now it is sold out.


A block of rooms are available on a first-come, first-served basis, for the Sul Ross Group Annual Reunion. Make your reservations by calling the College Station Hilton directly before February 14, 2012 at 979-693-7500. Be sure to reference the Group Code: ROSS12 to receive the rate of $129 per night, plus tax. If you prefer to stay at another hotel in the area, please call the Accommodations Hotline at 979-260-9999 to check on hotel availability in the area.  You may also go to the Bryan-College Station Accommodations website to book a room. Hotels in close proximity to the Hilton are Hyatt Place, Hawthorne Suites, Comfort Suites, Homewood Suites, Residence Inn and Holiday Inn Express. Call today!

A few Class of '57 Corps outfit groups have made reservations at the Ramada Inn (979-846-0300) on Highway 6 (506 Earl Rudder Freeway). This is another option for those who are still needing rooms.

*College Station Hilton — Reunion Headquarters Hotel

801 University Drive East — (979) 693-7500
$129/night, plus tax
Group Name: Sul Ross Reunion
Code: ROSS12
Deadline: February 14, 2012
Check-in time: 4:00 p.m.
Check-out time: Noon


Reunion Registration & Check In

After securing your room reservation, you can print out and return the Reunion Registration Form by mail to The Association of Former Students, 505 George Bush Dr., College Station, TX 77840, ATTN: Class of 1957 55th Reunion; FAX 979-845-9263; or you can register online.

If you have any questions, please contact the Former Student Programs office at The Association of Former Students at 800-633-7514.

Your nametags, an updated schedule of events and a list of pre-registered participants will be waiting for you at the Reunion Check-In Desk, which will open at the College Station Hilton at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday.

Walk-up Registration will be accepted based on availability. To ensure your admission, register before the February 22 deadline. All registrations received after the deadline will incur a $10 late fee.


Century Club supports Reunions

Your participation in the annual fund has a significant impact on the education experience of our students and provides the resources needed to support programs and activities for students and former students.  We appreciate that you choose to participate and support Aggies and Texas A&M.  Make a difference by donating now.

Levels of annual giving include:
Bronze - $100-$249
Silver - $250-$499
Gold - $500-$999
Diamond - $1000-$1999
Double Diamond - $2000-$4999
Platinum - $5000-$9999
Double Platinum - $10,000 plus


Nominating Committee Report

The Nominating Committee, following the customs and practices previously established, proposes the following slate of officers, assistant directors and ex-officio officers for the 2012-2013 year to be voted upon during the Men’s Business Meeting on March 8, 2012.

President - Harry Green ’52
1st Vice President - Ridley Briggs ’54
2nd Vice President - Mike Trotter ’55
Assistant Director - Dick Birdwell ’53 
Assistant Director - Jimmy Tyree ’54
Assistant Director - Charlie Seely ’55
Immediate Past President* - Weldon Kruger ’53
Corps Liaison - BG Joe Ramirez ’79
The Association of Former Students Liaison - Porter S. Garner III ’79
Historian* - Dick Hervey ’42
Historian* - Olive DeLucia   
*Ex-Officio Member of the Board


Honor Aggie Leaders with a Pillar in the MSC

The Sul Ross Group is supporting the Memorial Student Center renovation and expansion project by naming one of only 16 pillars in the revered Flag Room. Our contribution will exemplify the Sul Ross Group’s commitment to one of Texas A&M’s top philanthropic priorities and reinforce our legacy of service and giving on campus.

You can help us demonstrate the Sul Ross Group spirit by pledging $600 (or $200 a year for three years) toward our $200,000 goal.

The MSC is a student union that honors the spirit of Aggies who have so valiantly sacrificed their lives for our country. It is also our campus living room —a place all students and former students call home. The renovation and expansion will create a more welcoming and adequate space for all Aggies, but in particular the 1,500 student leaders who direct extraordinary MSC leadership organizations.

The Texas A&M Foundation is leading the campaign on behalf of the university to raise $20 million through the naming of rooms, pillars and spaces within the MSC. Though most of the current student body will not enjoy the renovated MSC for three of their four years on campus, they voted in 2008 to support the project by more than doubling the student center fee to $130 per year. These fees will  fund $82 million of the three-year, $125 million project. 

To date, former students and friends have committed more than $12 million toward the effort.  Let’s ensure that the Sul Ross Group Flag Room pillar is among those supporting our Memorial Student Center when it reopens during Aggie Muster on April 21, 2012. Your contribution will help Texas A&M preserve the integrity of its beloved MSC.

To contribute to our pillar, fill out the pledge card or give via credit card online. Check “Contribute to an account not listed above” and enter “Sul Ross Group MSC Pillar” for the Account Name or Number.

Contact Cindy Munson ’99 at c-munson@tamu.edu or (979) 458-1689 for more information.


Cancellation Policy

The Association of Former Students has a fairly flexible cancellation policy. If you cannot attend your Reunion, or an event for which you have registered, please contact the Former Student Programs office (800-633-7514) at least 72 business hours prior to the Reunion. Your payment will be refunded with the exception of a small handling fee. Registration changes after the 72 hour deadline cannot be refunded as food orders will have been guaranteed.