Events

SPARK INSPIRES ALUMNI PURCHASES

Thanks to Tom Wybenga who sent a photo of purchases he made from alumni-owned businesses after reading about them in our last issue of Spark. His support of these businesses has inspired us to create an alumni-owned business directory. As we develop the project, we will be turning to you for input on which businesses to include.

SHARE YOUR PANDEMIC STORIES

2020 feels like a year to forget because of COVID-19, but you should document your experience. Future generations and historians will be interested in personal stories about the pandemic. At Heritage Hall, we are collecting stories like yours.

Heritage Hall is located in the Hekman Library at Calvin University. It is the archive for Calvin University, Calvin Theological Seminary, and the Christian Reformed Church. We are documenting the experiences of people with the church, seminary, and university during the COVID-19 pandemic. We invite you to share your story. At our COVID-19 portal (a Google site), you can upload photos, videos, digital audio recordings, written stories, and other files that document how you are experiencing the pandemic. We will archive your stories. Eventually we will make this material public through the Heritage Hall website and Hekman Library.

You can read more about the COVID-19 archive at Origins Online, the blog of Heritage Hall. It includes a link to the portal where you can upload your story.

VISIT THE BLOG origins.calvin.edu/2020/06/17/preserving-our-covid-19-stories/ VIRTUAL BOOK CLUB

Join our virtual book club and connect with alumni around the world. Every two months participants get to vote on a new book, with options ranging from lifelong learning and personal growth to novels and other genres of interest. Read the book on your own and then participate in the online discussions as part of our private forum.

Participation is free! Sign up at calvin.edu/go/book-club

FACEBOOK LIVE

One of the goals of the alumni association’s new strategic plan is to “expand programs which are accessible to all alumni worldwide and not dependent on geographically based resources.” The move to working from home has helped us implement this goal quite quickly. We started offering Facebook Live events, including a concert with Jon Troast and weekly interviews about resources available to alumni. Announcements of upcoming events will be made on the Calvin Alumni Association Facebook page as well. The alumni staff is working on several other digital ideas to bring to you in the coming months. If you have ideas for other types of digital programming, please let us know.

VISIT FACEBOOK

and “like” the Calvin University Facebook page to find past talks.

VIRTUAL CHOIRS

To help celebrate the Class of 2020, the Calvin Alumni Choir recorded a choral version of “How Great Thou Art” as a blessing to our graduates. As part of the virtual graduation celebration, students, alumni, faculty, and staff sang “The Blessing” to honor the Class of 2020. These songs can also be a blessing to you.

VISIT YOUTUBE

How Great Thou Art: https://youtu.be/AmMEXLPF The Blessing: https://youtu.be/DM04x_XyswY

SAVE THE DATE!

This fall, Calvin University is prioritizing the health of our students living and learning on campus. To help ensure our entire community stays safe, most of our Homecoming & Family Weekend events will be hosted online. We will still have some in-person activities for our students, but the Calvin Classic 5K and Youth Fun Run is moving to a virtual format so you can run wherever you are! Register by Oct. 3 at calvin.edu/events/classic. This event supports the Calvin Alumni Association and allows us to continue to offer networking events, lifelong learning opportunities, and other resources to you as a Knight for Life.

TRAVEL WITH CALVIN

In the Light of Jesus: Pilgrimage to the Holy Land

Follow the footsteps of Jesus Hosts: Pastor Bill ’69 and Lyn ’70 Vanden Bosch March 1–13, 2021

Florence through the Eyes of Dante

Excursions include Siena, Lucca, Rome Host: Jennifer Holberg May 14–27, 2021

History and Beauty of Quebec

Montreal to Quebec City Host: Karin Maag June 7-14, 2021

Venice to Croatia: Highlights of the Adriatic

Includes a cruise along the Croatian coast Host: Ken Bratt Aug. 7–22, 2021

Netherlands: Off the Beaten Path

Explore and discover how the Dutch made the Netherlands Hosts: Henk Aay, Robert Hoeksema Sept. 24–Oct. 6, 2021

Hawaii: Volcanoes in the Sun

Hiking and geological exploration on the Big Island and Kaua Host: Gerry Van Kooten Nov. 9-21, 2021

See calvin.edu/go/travel for details. Email alumni@calvin.edu to request tour brochures for specific trips.