TISEP Reunion October, 2007
Philadelphia

Margaret Deffobis Thomas, Reba Harris Mohan, and Jim Culbertson coordinated the Group 26 bi-annual (i.e., every 2 years) reunion.  In October 2007, we held it in Philadelphia.  The schedule was:

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5th:  Dinner at the Fork Restaurant

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6th: 

10 a.m.--Tour of the QUAKER MEETING HOUSE

11:00 a.m. MURAL ARTS TOUR

1:00 p.m. -LUNCH at the Bourse Building

2:30 p.m. - WALKING TOUR OF HISTORIC AREA

4:00 p.m. - Happy hour at the Holiday Inn

6:00 p.m. - DINNER AT POSITANO COAST

SUNDAY - OCTOBER 7th:

NOON - THE PHILADELPHIA ART MUSEUM

4:00 p.m. - FAREWELL DINNER AT LONG'S GOURMET CHINESE RESTAURANT

In addition to the three hosts, the attendees included:

George Chuzi
Lucille Comforti Sposato
Steve &  Ronnie Denes
Sandra Frazier & Gordon Hinnant
Karen Keefer
Ed & Mary Jane Weidenbach
Frank Method & Bonnie Cain
Allen & Carol Parfitt
Frank Regan
Arlene Foy Reynolds
Lyn & John Shaw
Martha Brownlee Wallace

Comments from individuals after the reunion:

"We had a great time in Philadelphia!  Good food, interesting sights, old friends--we couldn't ask for anything more.   Thanks to the organizing committee, everyone who was there, and those people who couldn't make it but encouraged us anyway."

"I think each time we get to  know each other just a little better. And what a blessing it is to be in each other's lives, even infrequently."

"It's amazing that so many of our group has changed so little---a little more mature, but still a great looking bunch.  I really enjoyed being with each of you and hearing what you've been doing all these years.  Look forward to seeing you all in Chicago in 2 more years."

"It was good to be together again in Philadelphia, if only for a  short time.  I hope Chicago will be as much fun and that we have even a  bigger turnout."

"I am slow to send my thanks to the Philadelphia hosts- Reba, Margaret and Ed, and Jim- but my  thoughts are the same as those who expressed it earlier than I- it was a   wonderful weekend! I loved our opportunities to catch up on what was important to us then and now."

"It's hard to summarize so much fun in a paragraph, but here goes.  This trip was all about getting together again with our old friends who went on the great adventure to Africa 40 years ago.  We've changed a lot—but in some ways we haven't changed that much.  In particular we still seem to have that sense of hope and idealism that we had in 1966.  It was also great to visit Philadelphia, a place we'd never been in a meaningful way.

 We enjoyed the mural tour, the visit to the art museum, and the trip to the downtown Friends Meeting House."

"Can you believe all that's gone on since we met at the campgrounds at Pacific Palisades???  This has been an anniversary kind of year: I attended my 45th high school reunion.  I had a really good time; and I wondered why a 45th!!! I guess we really don't want to wait for the 50th. And then the Peace Corps 40th?  I really enjoyed the quality time."

"Sometime in the summer of 1968 the VOA recorded our group singing  three or four numbers, including, I think, the Tuwon Dawa song......Someone made a tape, from which a 45-rpm vinyl was cut.........I've got a copy around  home someplace..........Will try to dig it out. So much was going on at home, in Nigeria, in West Africa, and in the world in 1968, that I never knew whether the recording was ever broadcast on the VOA, West African Service (out of Bome River, Liberia, as I recall....)" 

Pictures by Karen Keefer and Al Parfitt:
Sandra Frazier & Reba Mohan
Sandra FrazierMargaret Deffobis Thomas
Al Parfitt
Dueling photographers
Frank Method
Steve Denes
Martha Wallace
Lynn & John Shaw
Mural Art reflected
More Mural Art
Tourists
Gordon Hinnant
Ed Weidenbach & Reba Mohan

Mary Jane Weidenbach & Carol Parfitt Sandra Frazier & Karen Keefer Ed ThomasJohn Shaw