By Anne Reilly Ziaja ’78

It is my distinct honor and privilege to serve as your General Alumni Association President for the 1999-2000 term. As you know, the purpose of the GAA is the promotion of the welfare of Holy Cross and the establishment of a mutually beneficial relationship between Holy Cross and the alumni. The GAA has enabled me to know and work with so many great Crusaders-a redundant phrase if ever there was one!  Let me share with you one General Alumni Association inspired event that happened recently.

Royal purple and white balloons were festooned on the fence of the North Andover, Mass., home one sultry, summer Sunday afternoon. The hostess, Mary Alice Rock '77, was busy attending to last minute preparations for The Holy Cross Club of Merrimack Valley's Incoming Freshman Picnic. Paula Sasso '78, Club President, and Martha McGuane '77, Vice President, greeted members of the Class of 2003 and their parents as they arrived at the charming corner lot Cape. Introductions were made, nametags affixed, and soon, conversations were in full force. Later, Fr. Michael Randone '90, who is stationed at Saint Michael's, North Andover, where Fr. Paul Keyes '58 is pastor, said Mass in the backyard. Fr. Mike's homily prayerfully encouraged the new students to continue to grow intellectually and spiritually. The first-year students were reminded to bring Jesus with them on their new journey as they continue to grow as men and women for others. After the final blessing and hymn, a picnic supper including delicious fresh fruit salad was served. James '84 and Rose '85 Connolly of North Andover brought their four beautiful children to assist with the celebration. The Connollys even baked purple sugar cookies! The participation of my Dad, Joe Reilly '55, his wife Evelyn, my son Adam, the altar server, and Mary Alice's brother Paul reinforced our theme. I am sure that you can guess what we were doing on this August afternoon. We were welcoming new members to the Holy Cross family!  In four years, the Class of 2003 will graduate, and, ipso facto, become members of the General Alumni Association.

It is my hope that you will continue to view the GAA as your Association. We are a service organization reaching out to the students with programs such as the Bishop Healy Committee, which works to actively advance the mutual respect and quality of interaction between the minority and majority members of the Holy Cross community, both on and off the campus. Another program is the Alumni Scholarship Program, which awards scholarship assistance to some deserving children of alumni for their senior year. As a service organization, we also reach out to alumni with programs such as Continuing Education and the Regional Alumni Club Network.

We are a service organization reaching out to the community with programs such as Alumni Athletic Guest Program and the Summer Fellowship Program, which encourage public service and socially responsible projects for Holy Cross students. The project assists needy "not for profit" agencies in the name of Holy Cross.

As my Dad taught me, being a member of a family comes with responsibilities. Because we are members of the Holy Cross family, we should give back to our college and our community. The General Alumni Association needs your support. You as a graduate are a member. Just as in a family, some members choose to be more involved than others. And, just as a family is ever present, the GAA will always be available for you.

I am so excited as I start my year as President!  Thanks to the great work of Stan Slowick '74, I have big shoes to fill!  With the help and assistance of Pat McCarthy '63, Director of Alumni Relations, Bud McManus '58, president-elect, the entire Board of Directors, AND YOU-we will have another successful year! Thank you!