EMP-29

I hope this issue of Kellogg World finds you and your families in good health and good spirits. Once again, we've got some wonderful news to report from our classmates.

From Diane Williams: "I am now, and have been since February 1996, president of the Safer Foundation, a not-for-profit organization that provides direct employment, training and educational services to youth and adults who have found themselves in the criminal justice system. The issue is much more complex and relevant than most citizens realize. With this work I find myself deeply involved with federal agencies such as the departments of Labor, Justice, and Health and Human Services, as well state, city and county government agencies. I was recently appointed by Attorney General Ashcroft to the board of advisers for the National Institute of Corrections, a Department of Justice agency. George Morris agreed to join my board of directors a few years ago and continues to be a great helpin getting our work done.

"But the real news is my 7-year-old grandson, who rules my life with a gentle and loving hand, but rules my life nonetheless. I am sure that all EMP-29 offspring are brilliant and beautiful; Zachary is definitely in that category. He decided in preschool that homework was not helpful, and we are still working to convince him otherwise. It is always difficult to persuade a high performer that he or she needs to do even more work. Thus far, Zachary's parents have found ways to convince him, at least on a week-by-week basis, that there is a payoff for him in the process. As I write this, they are in Orlando visiting Mickey and the super heroes --- a big payoff (bribe?).

"Every now and then I run into an EMP-29 classmate, and it is wonderful to know that everybody looks exactly the same, none have aged and life, while never easy, works."

George Morris has this to report: "Good to hear from you. I hope all is well. As for a profile, anything I might say at this point is quite old information. I did leave Ameritech for a position with the Joint Commission, but that was back in 1996. I am the vice president of information technology, but that occurred at the end of 1999. I am a member of the board at the Safer Foundation, but I think I joined in 2001 or 2002.

"What is new, I suppose, is that my daughter, Stephanie, 14, entered high school, and my son, Matthew, 12, entered junior high. Like so many others, I've put on weight and lost some hair, made money in the stock market, lost money in the stock market, traveled here and there, and will turn 50 on Jan. 3, but I'm happy with my life and its prospects."

It's good to see that Lisa Bohne hasn't lost her sense of humor. Writes Lisa: "In '98 I moved to Barrington (as in the 'Village of,' not the 'Hills of' or the 'Estates of'). I take the train downtown to work, so the location is perfect, as I can dawdle at home until five minutes before the train departs. If only I lived 'on the other side of the tracks' I could dawdle for two more minutes. I live in an old brick house with character (read 'no amenities'). Despite its diminutive size, for some reason it has a turret. It has really old leaded-glass windows that let major drafts in throughout the winter (and mosquitoes in the summer). The ivy-covered garage is quaint, but barely big enough for one car and not attached to the house, water leaks from somewhere into the electrical box and the furnace is constantly being repaired. But somehow I just love it.

"Amazingly, I am still working at the bank, despite the three mergers that First Chicago went through, first with NBD, then with Bank One and this year with JPMorgan Chase. First Chicago has more than earned its money back for my executive program, as each merger pretty much wipes out your personal life for a couple of years when you have anything to do with software. I have changed jobs pretty much every two years, thanks to all the reorganizations, so I've yet to be bored. During the last two years, I've been working at a majority-owned subsidiary of the bank called Anexsys, primarily a software development company that also offers call center services. But at the beginning of 2005, I'll be heading back to the bank.

"I am still stubbornly and happily single. Nor do I have any kids, though I am the guardian for my 2-year-old niece and nephew, which gives me moments of panic. I went on a fantastic trip to Africa. The people were wonderful, the land was breathtaking and the animals (my real reason for going) were even more thrilling than I'd imagined. I loved every minute of it. I almost took a really cool trip to Peru and the Galapagos Islands, but it was canceled at the last minute. Hoping to go there next year. I hate to admit this as it makes me sound so old, but I have really grown to like gardening since moving into my house. I have hundreds of perennials, billions of weeds, a tiny, leaky pond with a frog fountain and an herb garden protected by Gus the gargoyle.

"I still subscribe to Steppenwolf and Goodman theaters and, more recently, the Chicago Symphony. I buy tons of books and read a few of them. Saving the rest for my retirement, I guess. Finally got my first remote-control television a few years ago andeven have cable TV. I don't watch it much, but I notice that my family and friends visit me more often now. I'm still running (slowly) and going to the health club pretty religiously, but I have to admit that things are creaking more than they used to. All in all, I am well and life is good."

Jeff Hattara writes: "I had hoped to make Reunion, but was appointed president and CEO of my company just days before, and my schedule was totally altered as a result. For those who might be interested, I was the CFO for four years (since 2000) here at Datacard Group. Datacard Group is a more than $300 million private company that manufactures the equipment and software infrastructure that allows corporations, banks and governments to produce financial cards and secure IDs. As you might imagine, the secure ID component of our business is quite active. Because we operate in more than 100 countries, my travel schedule is quite extensive as well. If anyone needs an ID solution, we have an extensive Web site, datacard.com, or send me a note."

After much haranguing, Martha David finally agreed to write in. Amazing how she found the time this summer to harass each of us into coming to the reunion and to plant her annuals, but "forgot" to plan enough time to jot down a few notes about how she's been. Says Martha: "In the last 10 years my main priority has been as a mother to my daughter, Lia. In August Lia became a freshman at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. With Lia's impending departure, I decided to re-enter the working world. Shortly before our 10-year reunion, Jim Corboy at Kellogg Alumni Relations gave me the opportunity to work with him part time. It has been a fun and fulfilling experience. Please go to the Kellogg Web site (alumni.kellogg.northwestern.edu) and update your profile. The site is full of treasures, so explore it! I recently returned from a vacation with my family in Greece. We now have the opportunity to travel more often, as my husband recently became a pilot for Continental Express."

As for me, my family and I enjoyed a relaxing summer. My older son, Ian, recently turned 5 and started kindergarten this fall. As my husband and I walked Ian to his first day of school, he turned to me and said, "Mommy, I'm a little bit nervous." So was I. I must admit, however, that Ian handled the day far better than I did. The following day we learned that due to "extreme overcrowding," Ian will be moved to another classroom with another teacher and many more children than we had thought could possibly be crammed into one room. Suffice it to say that our faith in the Chicago public school system was very short-lived. Next year, hello, private-school. My younger son, Luke, is 1 and a complete terror. He's got a sweet smile and a strong set of lungs, and he lets you know when he's not getting exactly what he wants.

On a more somber note, I recently learned that a dear friend of mine from college died unexpectedly on the day my family and I were celebrating my sons' birthdays. He was 41. A charming, hard-working man with a goofy sense of humor, he conducted himself with dignity and compassion, accepting responsibility for the decisions he made in his life, regardless of their outcomes. He was one of that rare breed of individuals who made you want to lift yourself up and be a better person, simply because he was such a decent man. I'll miss him dearly. Take care of yourselves and your families.