SJP E-News; your connection to the latest at Saint John's Prep!

May 5, 2008

In this edition....

• Welcome to Brenda Brown!
• Blizzard wipes out Alumni/ae Career Mentoring Day
• Sonoma/Napa/Russian River added to National Alumni/ae Tour
• Reunion Weekend is just 50 days away!
• SJP is State of Minnesota Knowledge Bowl Champs
• SJP is State and National German Language Champs
• SJP is State Spanish Language Champs

WELCOME BRENDA!

Brenda L. Brown has been appointed the new SJP Director of Development and Alumni/ae Relations.  She comes to us from Saint Benedict's Monastery in Saint Joseph, Minnesota and is a childhood native of Watkins, Minnesota.  Brenda will begin her duties May 12th and will work closely with Mike Mullin who has been named Executive Director of Development and Alumni/ae Relations - and Senior Philanthropic Advisor.  Mike has served our school for nearly eleven years, including the management of the recently completed $18.2 million comprehensive campaign.

SJP Headmaster Father Timothy Backous, OSB decided it was time to expand the development office as more and more alums and friends are anxious to play bigger and more meaningful roles in the school's exciting future.  The Board of Regents voted unanimously to support Father Timothy's recommendation creating the new position.  Brenda's appointment is the result of a two-month search, recruitment, and selection process which was managed by a formal search committee of six persons.

Brenda will focus on the daily operations of the alumni/ae and development office, including the school's Annual Fund, events and communications.  Mike Mullin, while working closely with Brenda and Father Timothy, will focus more directly on strategic directions, leadership gifts and endowment growth.

ONLY 50 DAYS REMAIN TO GET YOUR CLASS ORGANIZED!
It's always an all-school reunion; the SJP Alum Office will help!
Last full weekend of June 27th-28th-29th with Saturday as the Main Event
Years ending in '3' or '8' are especially encouraged to work hard!

There is plenty of time for your class to have a successful reunion if you get started planning NOW.  The Alumni/ae Office will help; just ask.  The cost is very minimal; we just try to cover actual expenses.  Just ask any of the 525 participants from last summer's reunion if you're wondering whether it's a fun time - and well worth the effort!  Click me back for additional information and/or to volunteer:  MMullin@csbsju.edu

STATE CHAMPIONS!

For the second time in three years, a Knowledge Bowl team from Saint John's Prep took top honors at the State competition - besting more than 400 other teams in quickness and eclectic knowledge in science, mathematics, art, culture, government and general liberal arts.  Congratulations team!

PGA @ HAZELTINE AUGUST 15 OR 16, 2009

You just might want to ink these two dates on your calendar.  We'll publish details when we know more, but the SJP Alumni/ae Association WILL host an event right on the Hazeltine golf course for the 2009 PGA Championship.  What an amazing opportunity!  More on this - and the donor/hosts - soon.

SONOMA/NAPA/RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY STANDUP OCTOBER 24-25

Ken Scarince '87 - who actually lives and works in San Francisco - and Chris Schellinger '87 - with the important, unparalleled assistance of our good friend, Drake Dierkhising '59 - will be leading the 2008 SJP Wine Country get-together.  We hope we'll set new records for both quantity and quality with this standup which has not reappeared on the calendar for several years.  Gorgeous scenery, delicious food, luscious wines, and most importantly, great conversation and hospitality will be the hallmarks of this signature event.  Pen the dates on your calendar and plan to join us.  We'll provide details soon!

FOILED BY A BLIZZARD!
25 were set to provide the best-ever Alumni/ae Mentoring Day
Planes, trains, automobiles were all stalled

With apologies to volunteer alums, students, faculty and others, the 9th Annual SJP Alumni/ae Career Mentoring Day was necessarily cancelled.  Actually, those of us in the Alumni/ae Office would have still conducted the event, but they cancelled school for the day!  We were here and we shoveled a bit of the snow to clear the front door.  Sorry!

Several alums had arrived by plane the night before; placing their lives at great peril as high winds nearly closed the MSP airport.  Others drove from as far away as 400 miles, and still others had taken the train.  All to no avail, sorry!  Special apologies to Alan Stone '79, Aya Johnson '02, and Natalie Rinn '01 who were to have been our keynoters - and to Mary Jo Leighton '80 and Mary Ritter, our key organizers.  Join us next year!

JOSEPH P. SPANO '52
Armor of Light Honoree for 2008
Formal ceremony Thursday, November 13, 2008

We are very pleased to announce that our friend and classmate, Joe Spano '52, has been selected as the 2008 Armor of Light Honoree.  The formal ceremony will be at The Legacy Dinner on Thursday, November 13, 2008.  The Armor of Light Award was established in 1977 as the school's highest recognition.  Candidates are considered by the Board of Directors of the SJP Alumni/ae Association.  The award is given for a person's, "ongoing commitment to his/her faith, community, and Saint John's Prep....".  Joe Spano will receive the school's 40th award.  Should you wish to communicate a congratulatory message to Joe, here is his contact info:  Joe and Betty Spano, 3323 Garfield Street NE, Minneapolis, MN  55418-1435, 612-789-5783, josephpaulspano@aim.com

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?!
Maybe the SJP alumni/ae office knows!
By going to our web site you can now request information about a classmate.  Lots of alums have been using this service and we thank you.  A goal of the alumni/ae office is to be of good service in helping alums to keep in contact with each other.  http://www.sjprep.net/forms/find_a_classmate.php.

CONSTRUCTION CONTINUING ON THE BEDE HALL EXPANSION
For a real-time web cam photo, to go:  http://www.ricebuildingsystems.com/current_projects.htm#SJP

SJP BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL PARTNERS
Charter Members are recognized at Prep on Germain
Bryan Backes leading this effort - 320-363-2090
A new way for alums and friends to be involved and to stay involved at SJP is the recently launched SJP Business and Professional Partners program.  Levels start at $500 annually and extend to $25,000 annually and beyond.  We need and appreciate this kind of support in order to provide the top-quality education that our students want and deserve.  Business and/or professionals receive advertising, acknowledgment, premium tickets to our events, and a host of other perquisites.  If you are interested in learning more, please contact Bryan Backes at bbackes@csbsju.edu or phone him directly at 320-363-2090.  There is still time to become a charter member.

Current Business and Professional Partners 2008 (2nd year)
Leighton Broadcasting
Madden's
Rice Building Systems, Inc.
Brutger Equities
Continental Press
Remodeling Professionals of Saint Cloud
Dianne Towalski '86 Professional Photography
Quarry Cinema
Royal Tire
Eich Motors
Stonehouse Stained Glass
Olde Johnnie Ale®
Allergy, Asthma and Pulmonary Associates, PA
Sand Creek Ranch Preservation (John and Carol Jenkins)
John and Bonita Benschoter
Red Carpet Martini Lounge
Quinlivan & Hughes, P.A.

Event Sponsors:
Bachman Jewelers (Prep on Germain)
John Agee (Prep Classic)
Thurk Bros Chevrolet (Prep Classic)

IT ALL ADDS UP AT TARGET®
We just received a check for $1,014 - it's simple - all you need to do is go on-line at www.target.com/tcoe and indicate that you want SJP to be the beneficiary of your shopping.  Our school's code is 9258.  Our regular, semi-annual check have been growing in size now for several years.  Since 2001 we have received $8,279 from this program - every little bit helps!  Help the checks to get even larger, please.

AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADD 25% INSTANTLY TO YOUR GIFT
Match/challenge might appeal to some donors
We have a donor who is offering a 1:4 match for leadership-level gifts that are directed toward our permanent endowment.  In other words, a $40,000 gift would yield an additional $10,000 from this donor - a $100,000 gift would yield an additional $25,000, etc.  I know that gifts of this size are not the norm at SJP, but I wanted to put the work out nevertheless; you never know who might be interested.  The donor could direct both sides of the match to his/her favorite cause.  Call me or click me back at 320-363-2712 or MMullin@csbsju.edu. 

HELP US EXPAND OUR NETWORK
Let us know e-mail addresses of other alums
Our school will become stronger if you help to Spotlight our Success.  MMullin@csbsju.edu.
Remind your friends of our web site, too:  www.sjprep.net

CHECK THE CALENDAR
We try to keep our events calendar up-to-date with at least a 24-month advance outlook.  You will always find it at the bottom of this e-mail and/or you can locate it on our web site at www.sjprep.net.

WANT TO STOP RECEIVING SJP E-NEWS?
We will honor your request to no longer receive this E-Newsletter.  Just click us back at MMullin@csbsju.edu or write us at Saint John's Preparatory School, 1857 Black Spruce Drive - PO Box 4000 - Collegeville, MN  56321.

MAKE A GIFT ON-LINE
https://marketplace.csbsju.edu/ustores/web/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCTID=187

UPCOMING PREP EVENTS & ACTIVITIES:

May 12, 2008 - Help us to welcome Brenda Brown!
June 6, 2008 - Blessing of the Abbey Cemetery, 10:30 AM
June 27-28-29, 2008 -  Reunion Weekend; our 151st Birthday Party!
June 28, 2008 - Dedication and Blessing of the renovated Stella Maris Chapel
September 16, 2008 - The 9th annual Prep Classic & Madden's
October 1, 2008 - Wachauer Abend; Premiere Gasthaus Hosted by Susan and John Kolb
October 3-4, 2008 - 38th Annual Oktoberfest Gasthaus Weekend
October 5, 2008 - 6th Annual Collegeville Colors
October 20-26, 2008 - The National SJP Alumni/ae Tour (Requests welcome!)
October 23, 2008 - Chicago Area Standup, hosted by Tom Murtha '69
October 24-25, 2008 - Napa/Sonoma/Russian River Wine Country Standup
October 26, 2008 - Seattle Area Standup
November 13, 2008 - (Thursday) The Legacy Dinner
December 11, 2008 - The Loeber Luncheon: U Club, Saint Paul
December 28, 2008 - Christmas at Saint John's
June 26-27-28, 2009 - Reunion Weekend; our 152nd Birthday Party!
August 15 or 16, 2009 - SJP Alumni/ae & Friends at PGA Championship, Hazeltine

As always, check out our web page for current photos and the latest Prep School information:  www.sjprep.net

MEET YOUR ALUMNI/AE ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS:

2006	Doug Asquith	(St. Cloud State University)
	Tim Backous, OSB	tbackous@csbsju.edu
1984	Jackie Burns	mjackieburns@hotmail.com
1969	Peter Dwyer (Emeritus)	Pdwyer@csbsju.edu
2007	John Dwyer	jsdwyer@gmail.com
1990	Jim Erickson	jim_erickson@hotmail.com
2005	Beth Flynn	flynnmn@hotmail.com
1990	Joan Froehle	JoniJoan@gmail.com
1986	Vicki Gohman	VGOHMAN@aol.com
1982	TJ Gottwalt	Tgottwalt@aol.com
1956	Ken Gutzwiller	gutz_kj@msn.com
1988	Meg Hobday	mhobday@visi.com
2003	Kenny Holtz	(Check with us for his e-mail address)
1990	Wendy Hulsebus (VP)	wendy@spencerandwendy.com
1968	Lee Jordan	leej@fullertonlbr.com
1986	Michael C. Kaluza	mkaluza@divinemercycatholics.org
2004	Megan Kelly	mmckelly@gmail.com]
1967	Abbot John Klassen, OSB	jklassen@csbsju.edu
1974	Dave Kremer	kremerdsvg@aol.com
1991	Joseph Kurr	Joseph.Kurr@manchestercompanies.com
2006	Marin Lagaard	(Earlham College)
2005	Soren Lagaard	soren.lagaard@bc.edu
1995	Bob Mahowald	Rw.mahowald@mahowald.net
1999	Katherine McCauley	katherineannemccauley@yahoo.com
1976	Rich Mies	rich.mies@collegesportingnews.com
1952*	Michael Mullin	MMullin@csbsju.edu
1969	Henry Padgett	bjornesbror@hotmail.com
1984	Tony Randall	tonyrandall@frontiernet.net
1995	Mike Rysavy	marysavy@msn.com
1987	Chris Schellinger (President)	cschellinger@albanytel.com
2003	Allison Simonton	alligator38@yahoo.com
1952	Joe Spano	josephpaulspano@aim.com
1978	Marty Stone	stonehouse@victorcc.net
2004	Paul Sullivan	paul@orbixweb.com
1956	Donn Thurk (Emeritus)	donn@thurkchev.com
2007	Morgan Zirbes Novak	zimo0601@stcloudstate.edu