Greetings From Your Alma Mater!

CommUNITY Civility Initiative BEAR (Be Ethical And Responsible) @ Potsdam
The Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards and the Counseling Center have created a new initiative that will sweep the campus this fall.   BEAR at Potsdam endorses and supports efforts in achieving an environment rich in courtesy, and respect for others.

A CIVILITY SIT IN will take place on campus on Thursday, October 18, 2012 at 12:30 p.m. in Minerva’s Plaza.   This event will bring faculty, staff and students together to silently declare behaviors for which they will not stand while here in the SUNY Potsdam community.  Alumni are invited to attend.

Do You Have Your Tickets For The Todd Hobin Band And Double Axel Concert?
Tickets are still available for the September 29, 2012 concert and pre-concert alumni reception at The Turning Stone Casino.  Go online for more information and to register.

Reunion Feedback?
We welcome your 2012 Reunion feedback!  What did you like?  What did you not like?  What suggestions do you have for future Reunion celebrations?  Please e-mail the Alumni Office at alumni@potsdam.edu.

It’s Not Too Soon To Plan For 2013
The 2013 Reunion Weekend will be held July 11 -14.  Mark your calendars now.  To check out Reunion dates through 2018, please see Future Reunion Dates.

Event Photos Available Online
Photos from various events, including Reunion Weekend 2012 are available for viewing and purchase through SUNY Potsdam’s new Flickr account.  (Flickr is an online photo sharing site.)  We are hoping to use Flickr for future events, so let us know what you think!

Video of the Month
SUNY Potsdam students learn about the art of Lin Haizhong.
You can also view this and other great SUNY Potsdam videos on our YouTube Channel.

SUNY Potsdam Geology Professor Emeritus Revetta Earns Award
SUNY Potsdam Professor Emeritus Dr. Frank A. Revetta, a longtime faculty member in the Department of Geology, has been honored with an award honoring his research and service.  The National Association of Geoscience Teachers, Eastern Section, presented Dr. Revetta with its 2012 Distinguished Service Award at its annual meeting in Spring 2012.  A longtime member of the association, Revetta had served as its treasurer for more than 15 years, stepping down in 2011.  (Read More)

Bears Volleyball Earns Second Straight AVCA Academic Honor
For the second straight year the SUNY Potsdam volleyball team has earned the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award.  The Bears were one of 90 Division III squads to be recognized after posting a cumulative 3.38 grade point average during the 2011-12 school year.  (Read More)

SUNY Potsdam Alumni Honored
Following are the alumni and friends honored during Reunion 2012.  Read more about them and the role their Potsdam experience played in their amazing accomplishments.

- Lynne Boles – Minerva Award
- Col. Michael J. Colburn – Honorary Lifetime Membership in the Alumni Association
- Kathy White Finnerty – St. Lawrence Academy Medal
- Gary Jaquay – Distinguished Service Award
- Scott LaVine – Helen M. Hosmer Excellence in Music Teaching Award
- Michael Lewis – Honorary Lifetime Membership in the Alumni Association
- Lisa Vroman – Honorary Doctorate of Music
- Melissa Wegner – Rising Star Award

Sign Up for a Free Potsdam E-mail Account!
Lifetime Potsdam e-mail accounts are available to SUNY Potsdam Alumni.  Contact the office at (315) 267-2120, e-mail alumni@potsdam.edu or go online to request an account today.

Are Your Alumni Records Up To Date?
Let us know if you have moved, changed jobs, got married, or had a baby.  Click here to update your alumni record today!

Become a Mentor to a Current SUNY Potsdam Student…We Need You!
Your professional experience is in high demand and it will help our students.  Become a BearTracker Mentor to a current student! Go online to sign up or e-mail alumni@potsdam.edu. 

Set Up Your Automatic Monthly Gift Now!
Did you know that you can set up an installment plan for automatic monthly gifts on your credit card?  Just go online to use this new convenient feature.

Are You Tired of Spending Too Much On Insurance Rates? Liberty Mutual is offering our alumni special discounted insurance rates.  Find out more and get a free quote by calling 1-800-524-9400 or go online.(Discounts and savings are available where state laws and regulations allow, and may vary by state. To the extent permitted by law, applicants are individually underwritten; not all applicants may qualify.)

Get Your SUNY Potsdam Gear Today Visit the College Bookstore online for a variety of SUNY Potsdam clothing and items.

Do You Have The SUNY Potsdam Visa Signature Card? Benefits have been enhanced and include Fraud Protection, Travel Insurance and no Pre-Set Spending Limits, just to name a few.  Apply online or call (800) 853-5576 ext. 8723 to learn more about the SUNY Potsdam Visa Signature Card.  Show yours off today!

Visiting campus?  Check out the complete
campus calendar to see what’s happening. 
Visit News and Events to see a full listing of
athletic events, concerts, etc.

September 6, 2012
Scholarship Golf Classic
Potsdam Town & Country Club
Potsdam, NY
Learn More

September 13-15, 2012
The Crane Symposium on Music Teacher Education
SUNY Potsdam
Potsdam, NY
For more information and to register online, visit Crane Symposium.

September 24, 2012
SUNY - Wide Alumni Gathering - New York Mets vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
Citi Field - Roosevelt Avenue
New York, NY
SUNY is hosting a pre-game party at McFaddens's at the ballpark and then a night under the lights at Citi Field, Roosevelt Ave.
Cost: $20, includes networking reception with refreshments and light appetizers at McFadden's, along with a seat in the Pepsi porch section.
To register and for more information, go online.

September 29, 2012
SUNY Potsdam Alumni Event at the Turning Stone Casino
5:30 p.m. Pre-Concert Alumni Reception
8 p.m. The Todd Hobin Band and Double Axel in Concert
Turning Stone Casino
Verona, NY
Special concert/hotel packages are still available exclusively to Potsdam alumni.
For more information and to register, visit Todd Hobin Event

October 18, 2012
The Crane School of Music Faculty Piano Recital and Reception
Steinway Hall - 109 W 57th Street
New York, NY
7:30 p.m.
Cost: $25/person or $40/couple
For more information and to register, contact Heidi Walker at (315) 267-2812 or walkerhl@potsdam.edu.

November 30, 2012
Crane Alumni Reception at NYSSMA
Rochester, NY

July 11-14, 2013
Reunion Weekend

Are you performing in a concert, giving a reading, leading a seminar or participating in anything else that you might want alumni in your area to know about? Let us know!

Fill out the online submission form now. Please note that the deadline for submission for all future issues of Alma Matters will be the 10th of each month.

Various dates in August and September
Rich Johns ’72
“Meeting Your Needs” Presentations to teachers, coaches, parents, and students.
Learn More online or e-mail acejohns@aol.com

September 5
Jonathan Geffner '81
Solo acoustic performance
7 -8 p.m.
Gizzi's Café

September 15, 2012
Dawn Palmer Mark ’81
Conducting the choir for the “Blue Grass Mass” accompanied by “Creek Bank”
5 - 9 p.m.
Attica Road
Darien Center, NY

Free admission. Church Development Singers and blue grass musicians please register at muspmark@aol.com.

September 30, 2012
Anne Calvolo Tedesco ’73
Solo piano concert
3:30 p.m., Montauk Library
Montauk, NY

September 30, 2012
Kevin Moore ’71
Piano recital
3 p.m.
Hobart & William Smith Colleges
Geneva, NY

Various Dates in October 2012
Jill Weston ’65
Performing in “Little Woman: the Musical”
Robertson Museum, by SRO Productions
Binghamton, NY
For information, call (607) 722-2821

October 12, 2012
Brandon Mendelson ’06
Book signing of “Social Media is Bullshit”
1-3 p.m.
SUNY Potsdam Bookstore
Learn More

October 19 & 20, 2012
Frances Coan Roberts ’64
“From Argentina with Love”
8 p.m., both performances
Oct 19th: Manhasset Congregational Church, Manhasset, NY
Oct 20th: Unitarian Fellowship Church, Huntington, NY
Learn More

October 24, 2012
Kevin Moore ’71
Piano Recital, Complete Chopin “Preludes”
4 p.m., Mohawk Valley Community College
Utica, NY
Learn More

October 26, 2012
Michael Benedict ’79
“A Place for Jazz”
8 p.m.
1221 Wendall Avenue
Schenectady, NY
Learn More

November 8-10, 2012
Michael Whitton’89
Herkimer Footlighters Drama Boosters Present: “Fear Factory”, directed by Michael Whitton
7:30 p.m.
Herkimer High School Auditorium
Herkimer, NY

November 10, 2012
Michael Benedict ’79
Bopitude at Greenville High School
Greenville, NY
7:30 p.m.
Learn More

November 30-December 1, 2012
Jonathan Babcock ’91
Conducting the New York All-State Women's Choir at NYSSMA
Rochester, NY

January 13, 2013
Scott Verity ’74
Conducting the 2013 NMEA Division 1 West Chorus
Tilles Center, CW Post College