Munch and Music Marked Annual Meeting

by Felice Gelman

Introduction

Our annual LLI membership meeting on May 15 this year began with an enjoyable brunch, organized by our Hospitality Chair Betti Steel, giving our members a chance to socialize and enjoy spring weather before filing into Olin Auditorium to begin the day’s events.

Start the Day with Music

Joan Tower, Asher B. Edelman Professor in Arts at the Bard Music Conservatory and a devoted supporter of LLI, organized a wonderful musical introduction to the meeting with two exceptional pianists. First up was Tianxiang Ni, the winner of several piano competitions, including the Bard Conservatory’s concerto competition last year. (If you missed our annual meeting, you can hear Tianxiang play here.) Next was Alexandra Blalog, who made her Carnegie Hall debut a few days before our meeting and is heading off on a European tour. (You can hear her play here.)

Volunteers ARE Our Organization

LLI President Robert Beaury recognized the tireless efforts and dedication of our many volunteers and particularly Committee Chairs: Curriculum, Mary McClellan; Program Support and Technology, Carmela Gersbeck; Hospitality, Betti Steel; Communications, Cathy Reinis, with Deborah Lanser and Margaret Shuhala as well as MailChimp mavens Ann Green, Alan Katz, and Pat DeHaven; Membership Development; Robert Inglish as well as the Social Gatherings Team – Fern Fleckman; Planning and Evaluation, Eleanor Wieder; Technology, Susan Christoffersen; and Laura Brown and Barbara Danish, the Civic Engagement team. And he also recognized Susan Simon, LLI Council Secretary for her work.

Election Results and Approval of Last Year's Minutes

The minutes of the 2024 annual meeting were approved with no objection by the members present.

The results of the membership’s March votes for officer elections were announced. Grace McKay will join the Council in July as second vice president. Susan Simon was re-elected as secretary, while Eleanor Wieder and Chuck Mishaan will be the members at large representing the interests of all the members. Departing Council members Carol Goss and Lynda Christensen were recognized for their work.

Continuing in office until next year’s elections are President Robert Beaury and Treasurer Karen Kane. Members at large, Michael Weinstock and Kayla Bell, will continue in office until June 2026. After that, our organization structure will be amended to have just two members at large—Eleanor Wieder and Chuck Mishaan, who are eligible to run for re-election in 2027.

Budget

Karen Kane presented the proposed 2025-2026 budget, with total expenditures of $79,340, including $38,500 in support for a number of Bard initiatives in recognition of the vital and extensive support we receive from the college each year. The budget was approved by the members present with no objections.