The February 21st emailed newsletter from RJR Alumni President Karen Morris to over 11,000 alumni all over the world.
Brief Newsletter for Updates
This is very brief newsletter to give you updates on two things.
In today's newsletter, you will see information about:
The RJR Arts Hall of Fame inductions are postponed due to weather
Updates on the stadium construction.
Do you have any idea of an alumni to spotlight? Do you have questions you want us to try to answer? Please send your ideas for future newsletters to rjralumnipres@gmail.com. I am creating a running list of ideas and questions people are sending in, and will continue to include them in future newsletters.
We still seek additional volunteers to help on the RJR Alumni and Friends Board. This includes attending 4 meetings per year (virtually) and volunteering your ideas and time to support the mission of the organization.
Complete this Google form if you are interested in participating.
Karen Morris
President, RJR Alumni and Friends
RJR Class of 1986
Director, WS/FCS Teacher Residency Program
1. Due to the weather causing two days of remote learning, the RJR Arts Hall of Fame will be postponed to a Fall date. I will let you know when that date has been selected. Many alumni are sponsors of, committee members for, or are otherwise participating in the event including Frank Johnson, Karen and John Morris, Sean Toole, Chris Almond, Phyllis Dunning, Tom and Anita Ogburn, Ken Hauser and WTOB, Emily Macmillan, Toni Phillips, Kristin Ranson, Roby Walls, Charlie Jones, Tamara Propst and family, Ellen Denham, Andrea Freeman, Rusty Whiteheart, Eric Johnson, Rachel Stinehelter, Mike Chamis, Connie Merritt, Matt Kendrick, Rioghnach Robinson, Bonnie Angelo Levy, and Robbie Bach.
The fundraiser for the arts program through 99pledges is open for another 9 days. The committee is raising money to fund a scholarship for an arts-intensive senior and arts needs for the Reynolds students. Donations are accepted and appreciated in any amount.(https://app.99pledges.com/fund/rjrartshalloffame)
2. The construction of the M. Douglas Crater Field and Stadium is going well.
This shot was taken by Ed Pleasants and shared by Harry Corpening.
It shows the almost finished concession stand and restroom building. Notice the lines for soccer, lacrosse and field hockey added to the field. You can see the construction of the Zack H. Bacon IV Hall of Champions and the Mary Garber-Stuart Scott Press Box in this photo. The building of this stadium has had a rocky start and is controversial. Our role as the alumni association is to inform and connect rather than to share personal opinions.
More information can be found on the RJR Home Field Advantage website.
Consider following the RJR Alumni on social media.
Click on the links to go to the Facebook and Instagram pages and follow!
Feel free to forward this email to ANYONE you think would be interested in reading it.
If you want to add your email address to our list, or have us change your email address, or have us take your email address off our list: merely reply back with that request.
MANY thanks for your time and consideration.
The February 16th emailed newsletter from RJR Alumni President Karen Morris to over 11,000 alumni all over the world.
Happy February and Random Acts of Kindness Week!
This is Random Acts of Kindness Week--we encourage you to be kind to yourself and do something positive for others! You may never know your impact. Students, faculties, and families across the district are celebrating this week by being kind.
In today's newsletter, you will see information about:
The See For Yourself Tour of schools in Winston-Salem. Photos were in the Journal and are on the RJR Alumni website.
The inductees to the RJR Sports Hall of Fame
The donation our Alumni and Friends organization made to the Watauga County Schools.
How one member of the RJR Arts Hall of Fame has saved lives by his involvement with Be the Match.
Do you have any idea of an alumni to spotlight? Do you have questions you want us to try to answer? Please send your ideas for future newsletters to
rjralumnipres@gmail.com
We still seek additional volunteers to help on the RJR Alumni and Friends Board. This includes attending 4 meetings per year (virtually) and volunteering your ideas and time to support the mission of the organization.
Complete this Google form if you are interested in participating.
Karen Morris
President, RJR Alumni and Friends
RJR Class of 1986
Director, WS/FCS Teacher Residency Program
1. See For Yourself Community Tour--Click on this link to read Lisa O'Donnell's article from the Journal from February 4th which is posted on the RJR Alumnni website. It is full of great information from the community visit to RJR that occurred on January 30th. It also has lots of pictures of the school currently. See the Foods Lab, the Piano Lab, the Dance Studio, and the Media Center as well as other glimpses into current-day RJR.
2. The Sports Hall of Fame Inductions were held on February 14th during half-time of the boys' basketball game at Bryson Gym. Read about the inductees at this link.
3. RJR Alumni and Friends makes a donation of $1000 to Watauga County Schools
Harry Corpening went to the Watauga County School Board meeting and presented a check for $1000 to former RJR Principal and current Superintendent, Dr. Leslie Alexander from donations from the RJR Alumni and Friends Organization. This money supports the Hurricane Helene relief efforts. Nineteen high school students at Watauga High School wrote a play called "Surge" about the experience of the floods following Helene. The school board decided the donation from Reynolds would support the students' trip to Baltimore in March when they perform that play at the national theatre competition. You may read an article about the play here
4. How one member of the RJR Arts Hall of Fame has saved lives through involvement with Be the Match
Roby Walls taught history at RJ Reynolds and sponsored the Key Club from 1971 to 2002. During that time he helped many students become more involved citizens. Sadly, his daughter Julie Walls Kiefer (RJR class of 1985) passed away from non-Hodgkins lymphoma and multiple myeloma. Roby became involved in Be the Match (now the National Marrow Donor Program)--an organization encouraging people to register for the bone marrow registry.
Alex Lawrence (RJR class of 2015) was involved in Key Club during high school and signed up to volunteer/have his cheek swabbed so that one day he may be able to help someone through his bone marrow.
Read the message below that Alex sent to the Alumni Facebook page! You never know when your influence can literally save someone's life!
In closing, let me reiterate that I agree with Harry and believe the words found under the following drawing of Reynolds High School are as true and valid today as they EVER were!
It continues to be our wish that EVERY alum will support the three ongoing RJR Alumni initiatives....both now and via their wills. To learn the details of doing this, click on the following image.
Feel free to forward this email to ANYONE you think would be interested in reading it.
If you want to add your email address to our list, or have us change your email address, or have us take your email address off our list: merely reply back with that request.
MANY thanks for your time and consideration.