Alumni Banquet

Mon, 06/06/2016 - 3:15pm

KEVIN BURNHAM

Clive Farrin talks about rebuilding the industrial arts and home economics programs in schools, as the guest speaker at the 2016 Alumni Banquet on Sunday, June 5. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Members of the BRHS class of 2016 enter the elementary school gym for the Alumni Banquet. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Lynn Gilley Martin, president of the Boothbay Region Alumni Association, welcomes everyone to the 2016 Alumni Banquet. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

BRHS seniors get first dibs on the food. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Robin Reed and Martin Page share a light moment at the head table. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Lisa Orne Hallinan gets the beverage table ready for the banquet. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Alumni Banquet attendees. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Some of the older alumni get their food. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Waiting to get their food are, from left, clockwise, Nancy Mccullough, Sheila Sears, Merlin Gray, Bruce Burnham, Faye Gray and Louis Burnham. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Lucille Machon, the oldest alumni and great-grandmother of Angela Machon, a member of the class of 2016. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Lynn Martin, right, thanks Lisa Hallinan for preparing the banquet food. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Martin Page sells 50/50 tickets to Mary Brewer. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

BRHS Principal Dan Welch. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

The Lucille Machon family gathers around the oldest alumni. From left, are Angela Machon, Connie and Ira Machon, and David Machon. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Clive Farrin talks about rebuilding the industrial arts and home economics programs in schools, as the guest speaker at the 2016 Alumni Banquet on Sunday, June 5. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Members of the BRHS class of 2016 enter the elementary school gym for the Alumni Banquet. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Lynn Gilley Martin, president of the Boothbay Region Alumni Association, welcomes everyone to the 2016 Alumni Banquet. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

BRHS seniors get first dibs on the food. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Robin Reed and Martin Page share a light moment at the head table. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Lisa Orne Hallinan gets the beverage table ready for the banquet. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Alumni Banquet attendees. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Some of the older alumni get their food. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Waiting to get their food are, from left, clockwise, Nancy Mccullough, Sheila Sears, Merlin Gray, Bruce Burnham, Faye Gray and Louis Burnham. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Lucille Machon, the oldest alumni and great-grandmother of Angela Machon, a member of the class of 2016. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Lynn Martin, right, thanks Lisa Hallinan for preparing the banquet food. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Martin Page sells 50/50 tickets to Mary Brewer. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

BRHS Principal Dan Welch. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

The Lucille Machon family gathers around the oldest alumni. From left, are Angela Machon, Connie and Ira Machon, and David Machon. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Clive Farrin, who taught industrial arts locally for 28 years before becoming a full-time lobster fisherman in 1999, told the members of the Boothbay Region High School class of 2016 to “keep your options open” when deciding what to do after graduation.

Farrin, a 1965 BRHS graduate and this year’s Alumni Banquet guest speaker, said at the Sunday night event, “If you find that you hate your job, perhaps it’s time for a career change. Sometimes hobbies can be quite lucrative.”

After relating a story about how he, Charlie Begin and Butch Cressey spent a winter school day afternoon making a six-foot diameter snowball and leaving it in the middle of Atlantic Avenue for the snow plow to hit (“it never showed!”), Farrin talked about his many years of being involved with the Fishermen’s Festival, the Lobster Boat Races and on many boards related to the lobstering industry.

He then went on to talk about how trades, such as building construction, are not being taught in the schools, not just locally, but around the country.

“We need to teach industrial arts and home economics,” Farrin said, who added that the average age in the trade industry is 55. “We don’t have a lot of people going into these professions. We need to have people who know how to fix stuff, build stuff.” Farrin commended BRHS teacher Chip Schwehm for the program he started in the school, saying it is a step in the right direction.”

“We need to work toward bringing these classes back to life,” said Farrin.

In closing, he told the class to “Be safe during graduation. Don’t take any risky chances.”

The audience of around 200, including 30 members of the class of 2016, then heard from BRHS Principal Dan Welch, who began by praising the Alumni Association and the community for keeping these “time honored” graduation traditions alive.

In addressing the class of 2016, he said, “You are well-prepared. The ball is now in your court. The choices you make now are yours. If you are going to college, get the best return on your investment. Study hard. Meet new people, some from all over the world, and call your parents. Let them know how you’re doing. If you’re struggling, let them know it.

“Once you get out and get a job, learn your job well. Learn your supervisor’s job. Be that go-to person in the company. Get involved in the community by joining the Masons, the Rotary. Develop a social network.”

In conclusion, Welch said, “There is no substitution for hard work. Keep your eye on the future, but always remember where you came from.”

Alumni Association President Lynn Gilley Martin (BRHS class of 1977), once again acting as emcee of the banquet, presented Lisa Orne Hallinan with a bouquet of flowers. Hallinan and others prepared the delicious banquet buffet, featuring lemon chicken and barbecued pulled pork, with several side dishes. BRHS Saida Riddell won the senior raffle and Nate Sample was honored for being the only senior to help set up for the banquet. Both received special water bottles.

Once again, Lucille Machon (Boothbay Harbor High School class of 1934) was introduced as the oldest alumni in attendance.