Alumni group could benefit Lorain Schools

An alumni association of graduates from all four of the high schools that existed in Lorain has potential to help shape the future of the International City.

Organizers say they’re pleased with a call for membership to the new Lorain Schools Alumni Association.

At present, there are more than 1,000 members of the Alumni Association.

Lorain attorneys Anthony Giardini and Henry Patterson launched the Alumni Association to be comprised of graduates from Lorain High, Admiral King High, Southview High and Lorain Catholic High schools.

Giardini estimates in the last 40 years, 30,000 to 40,000 students graduated from the four campuses.

Imagine what 30,000 to 40,000 people can do to help the lone remaining high school, Lorain High located at 2600 Ashland Ave., and the feeder schools.

That’s a lot of people with vast resources.

These graduates come from all kinds of demographics and backgrounds. They are diverse in cultures and ages. They live in Lorain, Lorain County and all over the world.

Alumni associations provide a variety of benefits and services that help graduates maintain connections to their educational institution and fellow classmates.

In this case, we’re talking about four high schools.

If a few thousand people come back for just one weekend for a reunion, that could have a large economic impact on local businesses.

Giardini and Patterson created the Alumni Association, now they are trying to grow the organization.

During the Lorain International Festival in June at the Black River Landing, Giardini and Patterson rented a booth to recruit members for the Alumni Association.

Giardini said the efforts at the International Festival were fantastic.

Several hundred people provided them with their names and indicated they would join the group. And another 100 members signed up at an informal Admiral King High School reunion.

Now that the Alumni Association is picking up steam and interest, the next step is for its members to appear at the next Lorain School Board meeting to ask the board their feelings and thoughts about results of a random telephone survey of voters.

Giardini said part of the survey explored whether voters would support a levy to pay for renovation or replacement of George Daniel Stadium, now that Elyria City Schools is building a new stadium on the south side of the city.

Lorain School Board President Tim Williams said board members have not had time to digest what the data means.

Williams said, “Where we are with this is we’ve had the preliminary presentation. We haven’t really dug into it. After the presentation, I have more questions than answers. And this is just a tool for us.”

The school board and the Lorain Academic Distress Commission will hold a joint meeting July 18.

Williams hopes both groups will come together to discuss what the data from the survey means and whether a replacement of Daniel Stadium is even feasible.

Giardini said he has not seen results of the survey.

Also, he said the group is evaluating the climate for a change in the city.

In terms of the Alumni Association, Giardini said it’s full speed ahead.

In the next few weeks, the Alumni Association will have a board of trustees meeting. Then the group plans to have an event at Rose Cafe, hopefully the same time as the Lorain High School bonfire.

And the first newsletter for the Alumni Association is planned for early August.

Anyone interested in joining the Lorain Schools Alumni Association can visit the Lorain City Schools website at www. lorainschools.org/alumni.

The hope is for the Alumni Association to bring together former foes and adversaries to work together to make Lorain a better place.

Alumni Association members can use their professional expertise to help enrich the lives of others.

With the Lorain School District in academic distress, maybe some of the Alumni Association members could give back and use their resources to help improve the district.

Alumni associations provide many benefits to a school. Some members could be powerful ambassadors for the school in the civic and business community. The database of members can act as a resource for business partnerships in Lorain.

Also, alumni could help to establish and evaluate programs in the district. They can publish newsletters, organize social events such as monthly mixers where members get together for networking.

Most important of all, the Alumni Association can raise money for some programs at Lorain High and its feeder schools.

This should bring excitement to the city of Lorain.