From Jim Neil:

Subject: SILENT AUCTION

Dear Classmates, Graduates, Friends of the LHS Class of 1973!

By now you know the LHS Class of '73 50th Reunion Committee has been putting together an absolutely, wonderful weekend program. The centerpiece of the festivities will, of course, be our dinner on Saturday night, September 30.

Integral to our gathering that night will be the Silent Auction for the benefit of the Gary Atkinson Imagine Scholarship. I am sure we will hear stories of Gary and his contributions to our class success, fun to be sure. It is this Scholarship and the Silent Auction that I am writing y’all about. But no, I am not writing to ask you to donate to the fund, as many of us have already. Though you can do that on our Class website — if you like, and we hope you do.

What I am writing about is the Silent Auction. I know that many of us have different skills and I am asking each of you to put those skills to work for the auction and the scholarship, if that is at all possible. For example, you may be an artist who can donate a painting for the auction or a musician who could donate recordings of your work or a writer with a book or 2. Perhaps you are a skilled and successful woodworker who could donate an item to be auctioned off or maybe you are a coin collector who could donate a gold doubloon? Or heck, maybe you just happen to have an old skull in your collection of antiquities you could offer up. Anyway, I’m thinking that I’ve made my point, it could be anything of some note. I’m not sure about everyone, but I do know that I would love to own something a talented classmate created or donated.

The planning committee has put together all the ingredients for a high-octane weekend and our hope for a true class of 1973 enduring legacy will rest with a scholarship to a deserving Ledyard High graduate for years to come. The proceeds from this auction will greatly advance this mission.

Simply respond to me via auction@lhs73.com with any items, thoughts, or questions you may have.

In the spirit of Gary’s memory, I thank you all for your consideration.

Jim Neil