Greetings, Class of 2013! The winter season is upon us once again. We hope everyone had a joyful holiday season and is having a happy and healthy new year. Please be sure to reach out if you have any news to share about your Black Bear life. You can reach us at qualey.richard@gmail.com and we will be sure to feature your update in the next column.
Danielle Bannister and her colleague Carley Packard have been making an impact in the Maine writing community through their newly formed authors’ collaborative, No Shelf-Control. The two founded the organization to help authors collaborate on marketing, sales, and public relations initiatives. An event at a bookstore or a library organized through the collaborative showcases authors across various genres, typically around three to six authors, but sometimes as many as sixteen! With a No Shelf-Control event, customers feel more like they are at a multi-vendor craft fair, creating an engaging atmosphere for readers and authors alike. Well done, Danielle and Carley ,for making a difference in the Maine writing community!
Our classmate, Joseph Musumeci, who is the director of workforce training and professional development at Kennebec Valley Community College, recently started an entrepreneurial side hustle called Maine Mystery Trip, which offers a unique twist on travel planning. Interested travelers fill out a brief survey to establish their interests, budget parameters, travel preferences, and any special accommodations, and are provided a Maine Mystery Trip customized itinerary of activities, meals, and lodging. For an extra twist, travelers can keep the actual location a mystery until the day before their trip — sounds like a fun way to explore Maine!
Finally, this past April, the All Maine Women Honor Society celebrated its centennial — 100 years of Black Bear women living the organization’s four pillars of scholarship, service, leadership, and campus spirit. The celebration brought AMW alumnae back to campus for a full weekend of events including campus tours, service activities, a gala at the Wells Conference Center, and finally culminated in the induction of the Class of 2026. Our own Laura Duran Qualey, Paige Eggleston, and Liz Tull Johnston, who remain involved with the organization’s Alumni Affinity Group helped to plan and participate in the event along with other AAG members and members of the current AMW class. The event was a smashing success! It was inspiring so see All Maine Women from across the years coming together to celebrate the organization and discuss their shared experiences.