June 23, 2001
New organization at 'Berg, the Medallion Club
By Cathy Willoughby
Staff Writer
One suggestion grew to a new organization at Heidelberg College, the Medallion Club.
Forty plus founding members were honored during a luncheon and special program Friday afternoon. This was the first activity of the college's annual Alumni Weekend.
Liesel Higgins, Director of Alumni Relations, said that one of their alumnus, Bernie Izzo, class of 1948, approached her with an idea following an Alumni Weekend. "He said other colleges do similar things, they have a Golden Club,'' she said. "They then have an affiliation with each other.''
The goal of the club is to reach out to the older age group. "We want to give them a reason to come back after their 50 year class reunion,'' Higgins said. "After that, we still have 55, 60 and 65 year reunions, but generally the numbers are smaller, and this will give them another reason to come back. They will already know a group of people, and they won't feel totally alone.''
Classes represented ranged from 1933 to 1951. Jennifer Miller, Director of Legacy Gifts, shared photographs found in the archives, spotlighting scenes and group composite shots from the 1930's, 40's and the beginning of the 50's.
The afternoon program featured an examination of four generations of living Americans. Terry Bovinet, president of "Profiles Encourage'' of Columbus, and a certified behavioral analyst, told the group that each generation relates to the other.
The oldest generation, were those born before 1946. Bovinet called them the "builders.'' "Why would I call them the builders,'' he asked the audience, most of them members of that generation. "After World War II they built like crazy,'' offered one man. "Most of us came through the Depression,'' said another. "You rebuilt this country, and then you rebuilt the world,'' Bovinet said. "That's why I call your generation 'the builders'.''
He gave that generation the tag of a gold watch, that represented their loyalty through life to their work.
"The builders rebuilt society, and built the next generation,'' Bovinet said. Those were the infamous Baby Boomers, born between 1946 and 1964. "When you look at the demographics, the births just float along until 1946,'' he said. "Then there was a precipitous rise in the birth rate. Why was that?''
"They came home from the War,'' a man said. "They were idealistic, optimistic,'' said another.
"It was a period of idealism,'' Bovinet agreed. "They had just fought the war to end all wars, now they could come home and live in peace and prosperity. So hey, why not have children.''
The tag for the Boomers given by Bovinet is the "gold credit card.'' "Boomers are the generation of spending,'' he explained. "And they are spending to achieve an image, it's important for them to look good.''
The tag given for the generation born between 1964 and 1983 is "fool's gold.'' "The baby busters looked at their parents and what did they see,'' Bovinet said. "They saw that the things that were important to their parents, the perfect house and car, didn't lead to fulfillment and happiness.''
The next generation according to Bovinet is the millennial generation. These students who graduate at the turn of the millennium were tagged with the label, "gold mine.''
There are two reasons for this,'' Bovinet said. "One is the rapid increase in information available to this generation.''
The other is their increased concern for the environment, more so than any previous generation.
Each generation adds something to the collective society, Bovinet said. The "builders'' teach us loyalty, duty and respect. "The "boomers'' taught us money isn't everything, he added. The busters are very socially active, and believe in a hands-on approach to helping others. Although the jury is still out on the millennial generation, Bovinet sees a return to family and more environmental consciousness.
Oletha Link Pfleiderer, class of 1933, thought a group for the older graduates was a good idea. "I know a couple of people from other classes, but it will be nice to come over for a whole group.''
Of the 68 in her graduating class, Pfleiderer said usually five gather for Alumni Weekend activities.
Don McKillip of Gahanna graduated in 1950. "I think it's great because it gives us old people a chance to get together,'' he said. "It's good to see each other, and it's good to see other people you haven't seen in a while.''