Click here for more news and photos from the evening, including the election of new trustees and Corporators and tributes to retiring board members. Click here for a special video shown at the event.
“Historic” was a word oft repeated by those addressing members gathered for the 2012 Annual Meeting of the Winsor Corporation.
The spring gathering again was the occasion for electing new trustees, officers and members to the century-old governing body and honoring retiring trustees. This year, however, members faced a pivotal vote to “keep momentum going on a building plan that has years in the making,” explained President Linda H. Thomas P’02,’06, at the outset.
When it came time to vote, the Corporation unanimously approved a financing plan for the proposed building project.
Before the vote, Director Rachel Friis Stettler spoke of how Winsor’s vision for a 21st-century education for girls is inextricably linked to the proposed centers for performing arts and for athletics and wellness and the new academic spaces designed by architects at William Rawn Associates. The building plans “are critical to ensuring that we fulfill our mission and sustain our strength,” she said.
Treasurer William Elfers P’14,’17, explained the trustees’ recommendation to include borrowing as one part of financing the project. Reiterating a point he made in earlier information sessions, he reflected on how the strategy will not only allow the construction costs to be spread over a longer time period and shared by future beneficiaries but also take advantage of the historically low cost of borrowing.
Trustee Joseph O’Donnell P’05, ’07, reported on the very positive signs for philanthropic support of the project, noting that many donors have already pledged their generous support. As he explained, Winsor will rely on contributions for the majority of the project’s funding.
In thanking Corporators, Ms. Thomas described the vote as “a testament to your belief in Winsor and your grasp of the importance of this moment to the school’s future.”