Whisperings of spring are felt in our area, and we hope that, wherever you are, the change to a milder season is making itself noticed for you. We realize that we here in the Midwest have been very fortunate in comparison with the Northeast, the Northwest, the Southeast, and the South, all of which have had torrents of rain resulting in flooding, deep snow, sleet, cold temperatures, and/or tornadoes. All of us here at the University of Illinois hope that all of you have escaped injury and property damage. We are still here, unharmed.
Well, along with the breath of spring we can enjoy some other cheerful notes. An ever-present source of cheer is our talented and beloved P.R. lady who goes to bat for us when necessary and who holds things together at 307 East John. This is attested to both by present residents' appreciation of her willingness to help them with their problems and to make a comfortable home for them, and by the expressions of gratitude and affection shown for her by residents of the past in the many cards and letters sent to her at Christmas time. I refer, of course, to Andrea Shields, our remarkable Coordinator. In fact, I would like to dedicate this May Alumni Report to Andrea.
Besides being an advisor/counselor to the residents and possibly to non-residents, she has accomplished a feat which not every one of us here realizes, and which those not living here cannot be aware of. Only those who have seen the house before and after Andrea became our Coordinator can appreciate the change that she is largely responsible for bringing about. She has accomplished this by comparing, judging, looking and seeing, advising, seizing opportunities, listening, and mostly by just thinking and doing. She has had a profound effect upon not only the physical aspect of our house, but also upon the residents' attitude and that of the community--including the campus--toward Cosmo and the life of the entire organization. She has a steadying influence upon the Board also.
One talent that Andrea possesses has been very instrumental, especially in respect to improving the "physical plant"; she has the ability to persuade. She has successfully obtained several much-needed and good-looking items for the house and its programs by convincing the owners of all sorts of merchandise that it would be to everyone's advantage if they would be kind enough to donate certain articles to the Cosmopolitan Club! Thus we now have several new pieces of furniture for the TV room; a new, attractive rug for the living room already graced by a grand piano on loan from a friend; and a new coffee maker and a 32" TV.
As you know, the house was renovated in 1991, and this plus all of the above-mentioned acquisitions, along with the donations that some of you kind alums have made, have transformed 307 from a too-nearly plain, barren home into a warm, cozy yet bright and inviting haven for students who may be homesick, depressed, or even frightened in a strange country.
Add to all of this the very presence of Andrea herself, upon whom the residents depend for guidance and sympathy. She is a gracious hostess. The house is always clean, attractive, and inviting, and when the sun is shining or when all of the lights on the first floor are on for a festive occasion, it is indeed a delightfully fresh and bright experience to be there.
Another cheerful note: the residents have renovated and furnished a basement room for study and to house a computer, which was a gift to the club. It is a bit old, but many of the residents know computers and have been/are using it.
So, we are all enjoying our everyday life and the special occasions: highly successful Sunday evening dinners and Thursday coffee hours--all well attended and enjoyable.
Come and see what Andrea hath wrought!
Mary A. Hussey '28 Chair, Alumni Committee University of Illinois