Long Island alumni cheer the Bearcats at Stony Brook
By Russell T. Rapaport '90

Nearly 100 alumni, family members and friends met up for pre-game festivities at the Full Moon in Stony Brook before going on to the Stony Brook University Stadium to watch the Binghamton Bearcats men's basketball team play against the Stony Brook Sea Wolves Feb. 22.

The game featured 13 ties and seven lead changes, and the seven-point final margin was the greatest distance between the teams at any point in the game. The Binghamton Bearcats ended the game on a 9-2 run to pull away from Stony Brook 64-57. The game was televised because it was the America East TV Game of the Week. The win completed the season sweep for the Bearcats, who have now won five of their last seven against their longtime in-state rival. The Binghamton Bearcats had significant contributions from players Alex Adediran, Nick Billings, Brandon Carter, Troy Hailey, and Billy Williams while being led by Head Coach Al Walker.

The event was a combined effort of the Long Island Alumni Network steering committee -- Russell Rapaport '90, Jeremy Sternberg '00, Steve Assael '71, Barbara Liebman '81, Richard Leff '87 and Tom Kropp '84 -- the Alumni Association and University Athletics.

Alumni learn financial planning basics

Gregory Ronneburger, '97, MBA '99, a financial consultant with AXA Advisors in Vestal, hosted a financial planning series at Binghamton University, sponsored by the Office of Continuing Education and Outreach. The three-part series took place on three consecutive Wednesday evenings in March at the Public Service Programs Center on campus: Financial Planning 101 (March 3); How to Plan for Retirement (March 10); and Estate Planning and Long Term Care (March 17).

The program participants learned about the proper steps to take when forming retirement and estate plans, and also explored some common myths and facts about the Financial Planning process. "Everyone left feeling a lot better about their knowledge of the subjects, and a couple of them called me for follow-up information," reported Ronneburger. His goal is to build on the success of this series and offer the classes on an annual basis.

Tampa area alumni meet SUNY Chancellor King

More than 100 SUNY alumni gathered at an early- evening reception at the Higgins Hall Banquet Center in Tampa March 9 for the First Annual All-SUNY alumni reception with special guest Chancellor Robert L. King. Binghamton University was well represented with 10 alumni, friends and guests in attendance. Binghamton alumni hailed from the classes of '72, '75, '81, '96, '98 and '01. The group heard King speak about the importance of alumni support in maintaining a top-notch state educational system. SUNY alumni are prevalent in increasing numbers in many states, including Florida. Alumni should be expected to be asked to give back to their institutions as the system is challenged to build on the past and strengthen its stature among state systems, said King.

Binghamton University Director of Alumni and Parent Relations Richard Heck enjoyed learning about the alumni in the area. In addition to the alumni in attendance, Richard connected with members of the Class of '54 living in the area, who will be invited to their 50th reunion this October. He also visited retired geology professor Don Coates. "The potential for starting up a Central/West-coast Florida alumni network looks promising," Heck said. "More than 2200 alumni live in Florida." Heck welcomes your ideas for activities and also welcomes your nominations (including self-nominations) for network steering committee members. Contact him at rheck@binghamton.edu.

Southeast Florida Alumni Gather In Deerfield Beach

SUNY alumni packed the Ballroom at the Boca Raton Deerfield Beach Hilton March 11 for that area's First Annual All-SUNY alumni reception. More than a dozen Binghamton University alumni and guests caught up on campus news from Director of Alumni and Parent Relations Richard Heck, and Heck learned many new stories of Binghamton alumni. Alumni of all ages and backgrounds related to one another easily and remarked about how extraordinary their Binghamton University experiences were. Heck reported that, to date, donations from alumni living in Florida totaled nearly $500,000 over their lifetimes and nearly $50,000 just last year.

Alyssa Cook Jacobs '99, an environmental scientist, and her husband, Hal Jacobs '99, a professional golfer, had many stories to share with the diverse group of attendees. Alyssa and Gila Garber-Goldstein '95 expressed interest in getting alumni together regularly for networking. She is looking for volunteers in the area to help her. Contact the alumni office if you are interested in helping.

Congressional Delegation Meets Alumni in Washington DC

The Longworth House office building's cafeteria on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., bulged at capacity, and barely accommodated the overflowing crowd of several hundred alumni and staff from most of the 64 SUNY campuses at the First Annual All-SUNY alumni reception March 30, with SUNY Chancellor Robert L. King, New York State's Congressional Delegation and staff, and Presidents of the State University of New York.

President Lois B. DeFleur greeted Binghamton alumni, along with Decker School of Nursing Dean Sarah Gueldner and Alumni Association President Joe Bress '66. More than 100 BU alumni from the Potomac area signed up for the event, making Binghamton one of the largest contingents in attendance. Charlene Kahlor Kramer '73 and her husband, Roger, joined the group. Charlene, a vice president at Fannie Mae, is slated to receive an honorary degree at Binghamton's commencement ceremony in May.

SUNY Chancellor Robert King spoke briefly to the group, expressing the need for alumni to continue to support their alma maters. Support from both public and private sources will be needed to keep SUNY's educational programs first-rate in the future.

Binghamton alumni who are government staff, attorneys, policy makers, government relations specialists, educators and many others enjoyed sharing Binghamton stories and discussing common concerns. There are nearly 2800 Binghamton alumni in the area. Their collective giving over their lifetimes surpassed the $1,000,000 mark last year, when they donated more than $120,000. Alumni in the Washington, D.C. area also show support through exercising influence and raising the profile of Binghamton University, along with the SUNY system.

Director of Alumni and Parent Relations Richard Heck met a number of alumni at the event who want to re-establish a strong Potomac area alumni network. Several stepped forward to volunteer to serve on a steering committee for the area. Interested in helping? Contact Heck at rheck@binghamton.edu.