Director's Letter

I am honored to serve as interim director of the Office of Alumni Affairs following the departure of Michael Eastman. I am pleased to serve Mason alumni in this capacity and look forward to working with the Alumni Association Board, chapter leadership, and many of you. We have an exciting spring season ahead, which we will kick off with an entirely new approach to Homecoming.

This year, we are enthusiastically anticipating George Mason's first basketball Homecoming, "Hoop It Up!¬Homecoming '99," on February 20. The event will feature an exciting basketball game between the Patriots and the American University Eagles, as well as a pregame "block party" with music and other entertainment. Many alumni, student groups, and academic units have signed up to participate in the block party. I would like to personally invite you, as a member of the alumni community, to attend Homecoming this year. Help us develop a tradition that will have our alumni returning to campus regularly to renew old friendships and to see firsthand the incredible growth and success of George Mason University. Details about Homecoming activities are included in this issue. We hope to see you at Homecoming '99.

The Alumni Association will once again host the Celebration of Distinction awards ceremony, in April, and a hospitality tent at the Virginia Gold Cup in May. The academic year will come to a close with Mason Day at Gunston Hall, a new event honoring graduating seniors and the classes of 1969, 1979, and 1989, on the grounds of George Mason's estate.

As always, we appreciate any time and resources that you contribute on behalf of the university. Please remember that one of the simplest, yet most important, things you can do for Mason is to be an advocate for your alma mater.

Christine Clark-Talley
Interim Director