"Meet and Greet Bob" Night at Fox and Hound

Wednesday, August 25, 2004

Chapter Prez John Glaser and Communications guru Edie Kreider put their heads together and planned a special get-together at the Fox and Hound to honor Bob Gehman.  As many of you know, Bob is our webmaster and our chapter is the proud recipient of the Penn State Alumni Association's Web Site Award.  

Bob was also nominated by our chapter — and was selected by the Alumni Association — for the 2004 Diversity Award.  This award recognizes an individual who has "significantly contributed to fostering diversity at Penn State by sharing or volunteering his or her talent, time, and resources on behalf of the University."

And so it was that on August 25, 2004, a small group of us gathered at the Fox and Hound to demonstrate our pride in the achievements of our chapter and to congratulate Bob for his recognition in support of those achievements.

Bob and other members of the chapter will attend a recognition dinner during the fall meeting of the Alumni Council on November 5, 2004.  

Among the first of our chapter faithful to arrive Wednesday evening were the members of the Valeri Family. Pictured here with Bob (on the left), are Jim, Andy, and Sally.

And what would a chapter meeting, informal or otherwise, be without Board Member Dave Romanko (left) and Chapter President John Glaser (right) in attendance?  Dave is obviously enjoying his plate of wings and John (bashful guy that he is) appears surprised at being caught on camera.  And could that possibly be Deej behind Dave, mugging for the camera?  Enquiring minds want to know. 

We also had some surprise guests in attendance.  Judi and Ron Hill are Bob's sister-in-law and brother-in-law, and are pictured here with John Glaser.  Ron is spellbound as John describes provisions of the chapter's new by-laws in some detail.  Judi, however, seems to have other matters on her mind.  

Vic and Laura Rich, and Deej, take a break from their gustatory delights to pose for this picture.  Their smiles are indicative of the carefree good time that evening.  It should be noted the Fox and Hound treated us to Happy Hour by providing hot wings, chips and dip, and potato skins. 

So how many of us have a T-shirt with Penn State's 2004 football schedule on it?  Edie Kreider demonstrates a full measure of Penn State Pride as she models hers.  Deej and Janie Gehman "point out" that this is no ordinary T-shirt.

In a brief ceremony midway through the evening, John Glaser described the awards that the chapter and Bob had been honored with.  Then he presented Bob with a Penn State Sesquicentennial poster, which depicts a series of campus photos from the 1850's to the present.  Bob proudly holds up his poster for all to see as his wife, Janie, looks on.

To My Fellow Chapter Members . . .

I cannot begin to describe for you the feelings I experienced when I learned about our Web Site and Diversity Awards. Mixed with exhilaration and a sense of pride came an acute humility — a humility borne of the knowledge that such honors represent collective — not individual — efforts and achievements.  When I pause to consider all the people who are active in our chapter and committed to supporting it and making it better, the inescapable conclusion is that it is the Dayton Chapter being honored.  We have had in the past, and continue to have today, forward-looking leaders and members who successfully plan, coordinate, and implement a variety of programs and activities to promote and support Penn State and its constituents. 

I want to express my gratitude and thanks to all who have conveyed their congratulations on "my" awards.  However, it shall be my honor and privilege on November 5, 2004, to — along with John Glaser — proudly accept those awards for, and on behalf of, all members of the Dayton Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association. 

Sincerely,
Bob Gehman