1995

This summer we had a small but mighty pop-up mini-reunion in Walnut Creek, California. Sara (Wasserbauer) Carlson, Craig Sakowitz ’93, Geoffrey Dolan and I met up and talked late into the night over beers and apps (the analog, edible kind) and had a great time. If you’d like to plan an impromptu gathering—a.k.a. pop-up mini—in your area, please contact our new mini-reunion chair, Tara Gulla, at taraleighgulla@ gmail.com and she can get you set up. Let’s keep the momentum of our 20th reunion going!

The next time you fly a kite, think about Geoff Dolan. At our pop-up mini he talked about his fascinating work at Makani Power, a company developing airborne wind turbines or “energy kites” that operate at higher altitudes and use more cost-effective materials than windmills. Makani’s goal, per the company website, is “to make energy kites and widespread clean energy a commer- cial reality.” Really cool stuff! Makani Power was founded in 2006 and acquired by Google [x] in 2013. Perhaps someday we’ll all have these energy kites flying over our homes and businesses and powering our lives. Check out Geoff’s company website at www.google.com/makani.

I recently started a new job at WGBH, direct- ing the PBS station’s major annual giving program. The work we do in public media and education is amazing and I feel so fortunate to be building my career at this diverse, dynamic place. Downton Abbey fans, I don’t have any spoilers to share but I will say that we’re throwing a heck of a party for the sixth and final season on December 5 at our Boston headquarters if anyone’s interested in meeting some talent from the series (Mr. Carson may be there…). I also owe heartfelt thanks to Nata- lie Herring, Lauren Lieberman, Rebecca (Slisz) Blank and Alyse (Kornfeld) Streicher. The conversations I had with you at our reunion about this opportu- nity—and how I might make my case to take on the role with the part-time schedule that would allow me to be home for the school bus—made all the difference. Onward!

Because of my new role and the proverbial fire hose from which I currently am drinking, this column deadline snuck up on me, so I’m sorry that the content is rather spare. For future columns, I offer this: In my job I work closely with our re- markable board members who dedicate so much of their time and talent to WGBH’s mission, and I would love to celebrate our classmates’ nonprofit

service in upcoming columns. Where are you vol- unteering? What causes are meaningful to you? Please write in with your thoughts and let’s spread the word about the organizations we support that help make the world a better place. And of course, keep your news coming!

2 Bishops Lane, Hing- ham, MA 02043; kaja.k.fickes.95@dartmouth.edu