The JHNAA is busy planning the activities for Homecoming Weekend, September 26 and 27. We look forward to seeing many of you there. We hope to have alumni from both the graduate and undergraduate programs here to celebrate Hopkins nursing. We are pleased that so many of our jubilarians, those who graduated more than 50 years ago, are active and able to return to Hopkins for this annual celebration. Last year we had a record 89 jubilarians attend the annual luncheon!
For many years, the Association has invited our jubilarians to attend the luncheon as guests of the Alumni Association. When this began, it meant there would be 10 – 15 special guests attending. But times have changed. Everyone is staying healthier and more active. The cost of Homecoming has increased substantially over the years and each year the deficit grows larger. Income from Homecoming registrations does not cover the cost of the activities.
I’m sure that the membership would want the Board of Directors to be fiscally responsible. The Board feels that money spent on scholarships for graduate study, the preservation of the history through the archives project, small grants for student service projects, the Pinning Ceremony and of course, the Vigilando section of the magazine is money well spent.
As the governing body of the Association, the Board has voted to make a change and ask that everyone except the 50th reunion class pay something to attend the Homecoming events. Past Jubilarians who graduated more than 50 years ago will be asked to pay half price for the activities (senior discount). The 50th reunion class will continue to attend the events free of charge except for their class dinner.
The Homecoming Committee will do its best to keep the cost of the activities as reasonable as possible. We want both our older and younger alumni to come celebrate Hopkins nursing and share their memories of being a Hopkins nursing student.