Introducing our new Membership Chairs–Patty von Reyn and Dennis Langley
Earlier, in our “middle years,” many of us found ourselves laden with heavy work and family commitments that often kept us from being as connected to Cornell as we may have wanted. Retiring from full-time work can be accompanied by a certain pull to reconnect with the people and places that have been a part of our lives. Retired or not, you may yourself have felt this more keenly during the coronavirus pandemic these past few months. For those of you who were able to make it to our 45th Reunion this past June, you know how nice it was to come back to Ithaca, to breathe in that fresh air, to attend lectures without the dread of a prelim hanging overhead, to reminisce with classmates, and to meet new friends. There is something comforting about finding others who share many of the same formative experiences as we, and it’s delightful to connect with those who have followed wildly different paths since then.
We’re devoted to helping you in your efforts to forge stronger ties to your classmates and to Cornell. As a means of introduction, we are Patty von Reyn and Dennis Langley, the new Membership Co-Chairs for the Class of 1974. We’re humbly following in the worthy footsteps of Jodi Sielschott Stechschulte, who did a superb job as Membership Chair for the last five plus years.
Class membership is an indicator of the vibrancy of an alumni group. Did you know that the [Notable] Class of ‘74 is consistently near the top of the yearly membership list that tracks the 75 most-recent Classes at Cornell? In 2018, the Class of 1974 made it to the #1 position—we had more dues-paying members than any Cornell class from 1943 to 2017! We’re so fortunate to be part of an active and welcoming alumni class. Please help our Class make it to the #1 position for 2020-21 by joining now and paying your dues.
When you pay your dues, it supports Class of ‘74 alumni activities like reunions, Homecoming tailgates, receptions, and other functions around the country. It also makes class communication possible—class website, class photo gallery, monthly emails—keeping us up to date with each other, the Cornell campus, and upcoming events. In addition, dues-paying members have access to the Cornell Big Red Marketplace, where there are great discounts on everything from restaurants to movie tickets to travel. Dues payers also have access to reduced-price subscriptions to the award-winning Cornell Alumni Magazine.
Please take a moment to join our Class and pay your dues. Our [Notable] Class of ’74 dues remain the same as last year:
Individual — $60 with magazine or $30 Dues only
Class Couple — $65 with magazine or $35 Dues only
You may also sign up for Auto-Renewal, and Cornell will charge your credit card on July 1 each year. (This is the best if you, like me, are never quite sure if you are current!)
The easiest way to pay your dues is online, click here or search for Cornell Alumni Dues—it’ll get you there, and under the Class Dues paragraph, select pay online. Alternatively, you can send a check for $60 per individual, $65 per couple, or $30/$35 for no magazine, payable to Cornell Class of 1974, to Box 37333, Boone, IA 50037-0333. You may also pay by phone at (607) 255-3021.
If you are unsure whether or not you have paid your dues for this year, you can ask either of us to check for you, or you can check the status of payment yourself by following these directions:
Go to https://cornellconnect.cornell.edu/
Click “Update my Profile.”
On the left side of the screen, click “Transaction History.” If you are using an Android mobile device, go to “Membership.” Your dues status will appear.
Please feel free to reach out to either one of us with any questions you may have regarding membership or dues. Again, please join.
We look forward to hearing from you. See you at our 50th and at any events before then! Go Big Red!
Patty von Reyn
Membership Co-Chair [Notable] Class of ’74 pbvonr@gmail.com
Dennis Langley
Membership Co-Chair [Notable] Class of ‘74 dlangley@hillsdaleinterests.com
