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The Belltower: December 2022 Alumni News

December 2022
We are so grateful for you!
‘Tis the season to be grateful for our community. We are so thankful for all of the ways that you show up for Burr and Burton - you donate, you volunteer, you attend Reunion, you nominate Hall of Fame winners, and you offer your expertise and advice to students and fellow alumni. Simply said, our cups runneth over this holiday season! We are grateful for YOU! 
Do you have questions about The Belltower? Contact Meredith Morin at mmorin@burrburt on.org, or reach out by phone at 802-549-8103.
Five Things That Matter with Bryan Dalton '81
Bryan Dalton ’81 knew early on that he wanted a career abroad. His family moved to Manchester, Vermont from California in 1972 when he was in fourth grade. At Burr and Burton, Bryan found that his talent and interest lay in “the power of language,” encouraged by Harvey Dorfman in English, and the strong world language department. He graduated from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service in 1985 and served as an intern with the non-governmental organization Africare in Niamey, Niger. After a year’s stint as a temp worker living with his parents, from 1987-2015 Bryan was a Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. State Department, serving in Mexico, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, Washington DC (first in the Africa Bureau, later dealing with international parental child abductions), New York City (International Visitor Leadership Program), Romania, and India, and in Bulgaria as Deputy Chief of Mission.
Throughout his life and career, Bryan felt the tension of what he called a cloud of not being able to be yourself, navigating the dicey waters of the early years working for the State Department during a time of secrecy and open hostility that surrounded him and anyone who was gay, lesbian, bisexual or gender non-conforming. In 1991, Bryan was unceremoniously outed by a colleague, which set him on a course of advocacy for equal rights for LGBTQ personnel in the U.S. State Department. He helped co-found Gays and Lesbians in Foreign Affairs Agencies (GLIFAA) in 1992. As of its 30th anniversary this year, GLIFAA now has more than 1,200 members across a dozen federal agencies addressing discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The history of GLIFAA describes the first meetings at members’ homes:  “Worry hung in the air, as those present knew that the State Department’s security office was investigating personnel thought to be gay and driving them out of government service.”
For 193 years, Burr and Burton alumni have set the foundation for Burr and Burton’s success. Now you can help set the stage for an exciting and challenging future for the next generation of Burr and Burton alumni. Your gifts to the Annual Fund are meaningful in any denomination, as they inspire participation by other donors. Thanks to you, we help every student, every day. Your gift to the Annual Fund helps all Bulldogs rise. Please join us in the important work of educating today’s students to embrace tomorrow’s opportunities, and thank you for working to build this community that rises together. 
Now that you’ve donated, how about we DOUBLE your donation?
POP QUIZ: What do Microsoft, Bank of America, IBM, and Verizon all have in common? Each one matches donations made by their employees to nonprofit organizations. Many major employers offer similar employee matching gift programs. Does yours? Click HERE or on the button below to find out if your employer offers a match to your (much-appreciated) donation to the Burr and Burton Annual Fund.
Alumni College and Career Fair - January 9
Calling all Burr and Burton alumni from the classes of 2018-2022! We are once again excited to offer a College and Career Fair for Burr and Burton students, and we need YOUR help. If you are a graduate from the classes of 2018-2022, we’d love for you to share your post-BBA experiences with current students during Flex Block. If you are interested in attending, please fill out the form by clicking HERE or on the link below. Join us for lunch at noon, and head down to the gym to meet with students at 12:30 pm. Questions? Contact Emily Kohler at ekohler@burrbur ton.org or 802-549-8242.
TICK TOCK - It’s nomination time for the 2023 Hall of Fame
We are gearing up for the 2023 Hall of Fame, which will be held during Reunion Weekend in September 2023 (dates to follow). And, we need YOUR help! Click HERE or on the button below to nominate the next class of Hall of Fame winners. Want some inspiration? Click HERE for a list of all Burr and Burton Hall of Fame winners.
 
Join us on Tuesday, December 6th at 6:00PM for the Flicks and Riffs winter showcase.  Students have been working hard to create music and short films for the inaugural “Flicks and Riffs” showcase. Tickets are on sale now at BBAtickets.com.
 
Winter Theater and Dance Festival - December 15
Revel in the Arts at BBA at the the Winter Theater and Dance Festival. The event will be held in the Riley Center on the BBA campus on December 15 at 6:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at BBAtickets.com.
 
The One Act Play that Goes Wrong wows audience
The Riley Center was alive with laughter November 9-12 during the performance of The One-Act Play That Goes Wrong. The play follows the notion that the show must go on regardless of the reasons why. Click HERE or on the image to view a slideshow of photos.
GMALL features Burr and Burton history
On November 3, Manchester Historical Society Director Shawn Harrington presented a lecture hosted by GMALL in the Belltower Room of Founders Hall. He took participants on a journey back into the history of Burr and Burton, from the early days of the Seminary as a castle in the pasture, to its current position as a world-class educational institution. The event was filmed by GNAT-TV and will be available for viewing soon. Check back in the coming weeks on the GMALL website and the GNAT-TV website to view this presentation. Thank you to Burr and Burton alumna and GMALL Executive Director Gloria Palmer ’81 for shining a light on the place we love!
 
Wild in the Dawn published by Rob Hunter
Hoping for a perfect gift for the Burr and Burton alumni in your life? Now you can advance order Wild in the Dawn (shipping in February 2023), a compilation of poetry by longtime Burr and Burton English Teacher Rob Hunter. Click HERE to order your copy today from Finishing Line Press. 
(Greg Joly, author of Village Limits) "These poems startle one with their certain honesty and humane gravity. All the small fears and daily events that engulf us are here. A torrent of visions and dreams broken in the cold dawn of mice and crow. Houses that are homes and the home that is our body. These poems are not simply to visit, but to inhabit. Rob Hunter makes you welcome."
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Burr and Burton's mission is to educate students intellectually and morally for a life of responsibility, integrity, and service.
PO Box 498 Manchester, VT 05254
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