Eating alfresco

For the next three days, I’ll be eating outside. Not only because of the surprise spectacular October weather, but also because it is homecoming weekend at my Alma Mater, Hillsdale College.

Encamped near “Muddy Waters” stadium on the eastern edge of campus, I’ve lardered everything from stinky cheese to brats, olives to biscuits, chardonnay to malbec. And kudos to the good people at Cuisinart who’ve developed a perfect tabletop grill on which I’ll wake the neighborhood with the blessed aroma and sensuous sizzle of bacon.

A few weeks ago, I got to visit campus while on hand for the downtown mural dedication. The College, itself, is a neat little story. From the College’s website:(http://www.hillsdale.edu/about/default.asp)

Founded in 1844, Hillsdale College is an independent, coeducational, residential, liberal arts college with a student body of about 1,400. Its four-year curriculum leads to the bachelor of arts or bachelor of science degree, and it is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools.

Hillsdale’s educational mission rests upon two principles: academic excellence and institutional independence. The College does not accept federal or state taxpayer subsidies for any of its operations.

Located in rural southern Michigan, the nearly 200-acre Hillsdale campus includes both modern and historic buildings . . . Adjacent to the campus is the model primary and secondary school, Hillsdale Academy, whose comprehensive Reference Guide is used in hundreds of schools throughout the country.

An ideal student-to-faculty ratio of 10-to-1, rigorous academics, intramural sports, national fraternity and sorority houses and widespread community volunteerism nurture intellectual, physical, social and personal growth . . .

I happen to serve on the College’s Alumni Board and for the last few years have chaired the Homecoming Committee. Now, let’s not give any false impressions – the very able College staff does the heavy lifting when it comes to staging the 30+ events on tap for this weekend. As an alumni committee, we consult on entertainment choices, marketing themes and methods, encourage attendance and try to attend as many events as possible. I am proud to say that we’ve increased attendance over the last four years and expect another outstanding showing this year.

Last year, we commissioned a group of students to survey alumni on their awareness of and interest in homecoming. To no great surprise, the hands down biggest reason people attend (or would attend) is to see their friends. Supporting this conclusion has been the flurry of Facebook posts about who is attending, when people are arriving and who can’t attend but wish they could.

Also on the Alumni Board are members whose graduation years span from the early 1960s through the 2000s. Board member professional fields include law, education, insurance, construction, politics, and several are entrepreneurs. We are, of course, not paid nor reimbursed for travel – typical volunteer situation. The real compensation, however, is working with this group of really quality people to assist a really quality institution.  Volunteerism has its rewards.

I’m grilling lunch while I’m writing. Already, alumni are trickling to campus and I’ve had a nice reunion with a former professor and his wife. The sun is shining, the cabernet satisfying, students, passing while hauling loaded backpacks, say “hello” and blues are on the stereo. Things could be much, much worse.