Dear Catlin Gabel community members:

Catlin Gabel is hosting a community-wide workshop to brainstorm ideas about What’s Next for the school after Rummage. The workshop is on Saturday, January 23, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. All Catlin Gabel community members were invited.

RSVPs were required by January 8, so preparations could be made for materials, furniture arrangements, and the appropriate number of breakout groups. Sorry, no drop-ins.

However, portions of the day will be available to those who cannot attend in person via video broadcast with an opportunity to submit comments. Visit the website on January 23 and find the link on the home page. Or, submit your ideas on the website forum.

The process

Mindy Clark—a former trustee, a parent of alumni, and an ace facilitator—has graciously agreed to run the workshop and advise us as the process unfolds.

I selected a What’s Next steering committee to spearhead this project, facilitate the community-wide workshop, collect ideas, and present a recommendation to the board and me. Dedicated Rummage Sale volunteers Susan Koe and Don Vollum ’84 co-chair the steering committee. Susan is a current parent and former Rummage volunteer coordinator. Don is a current parent, an alumnus, and a board member.

The What’s Next steering committee members, listed below, include people who represent all Catlin Gabel constituent groups. Some have long histories with the school, while others bring fresh perspectives. We formed a steering committee that reflects the diversity of interests in our community and will effectively steer this process toward a clear recommendation. Most steering committee members expressed interest in working on What’s Next when we announced the Rummage Sale retirement.

The workshop

The What’s Next community-wide workshop on January 23 will begin with an introduction to the process and a conversation about the Rummage Sale’s venerated attributes that we want to carry forward. Breakout groups will then meet with facilitators to brainstorm ideas for potential projects. After lunch, everyone will come together to share the ideas that floated to the top and work toward consensus about What’s Next.

Participating from afar

Portions of the day will be available to those who cannot attend in person via video broadcast with an opportunity to submit comments. Visit the website on January 23 and find the link on the home page.

If you cannot attend virtually or in person, please submit your ideas to the steering committee via our website’s online forum.

Those who have already made suggestions by e-mail or on the forum, rest assured that your input will be included in our conversations.

This is an exciting period in the school’s history — a time when we get to ask, What’s Next?

Yours truly,
Lark P. Palma, Head of School

Steering Committee

Susan Koe, co-chair, parent
Don Vollum '84, co-chair, parent, trustee, alumnus

Stephanie Broad, parent
Li-Ling Cheng, faculty MS, parent
Roberta Cohen, former faculty-staff, parent of alumni
Annette Cragg, parent
Spencer Ehrman '68, alumnus
Qiddist Hammerly, student
Herb Jahncke, faculty LS, parent
Karen “Kitty” Katz '74, staff, alumna, parent
Debbie Ehrman Kaye '73, alumna, parent of alumni
Ted Kaye '73, alumnus, parent of alumni
Art Leo, faculty US, parent
John Mayer, faculty LS
Heather Renjen, parent
Robin Schauffler '68, alumna, former faculty member
Colleen Shoemaker, parent
Tom Tucker '66, faculty MS & US, alumnus, parent
Peg Watson, former faculty, parent of alumni
Patrick Wheary, parent of alumna, current grandparent