Once again, with the assistance of many alumni members and with the interest earned from investments contributed by alumni members, the alumni association scholarship foundation was able to award eight Continuation Grants to graduates of Fillmore High School.  Fewer applications were received than were expected, but the eight recipients are very well qualified and are pursuing degrees of higher education at different colleges and universities.     The eight recipients are:  Karli Chessani who finished her first year at U.C. Berkeley and has not yet declared a major.  Amy DelaPiedra is continuing her nursing studies at Oxnard College in preparation to transfer to Moorpark College next year to enter their nursing program.  Nathan Liu spent last year at Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo, but next year will be attending Moorpark College, majoring in Art and Graphic Design.  Brianna Rojo will be entering her third year at San Francisco State majoring in Biology with a concentration in Physiology.  Danielle Rojo is continuing her studies at U.C. Santa Barbara towards a Master's Degree and a teaching credential.  Bailey Pina will be in her second year at Boise State University, majoring in Chemistry with an emphasis on Forensics.  Jillian Wilber is at Westmont college, majoring in History and Liberal Arts.  Jacob Zellmer is at Azusa Pacific majoring in Bible Studies.

     Those graduates of Fillmore High who are continuing their education at colleges or universities who are interested in applying for a Continuation Grant next year can obtain an application on the alumni website under Applications and Forms, or from the alumni office.  Next date of acceptance will be June 30, 2011.

     The May meeting of the Board of Directors for the Fillmore Alumni Association was held Monday, May 17, with all but one board member present.  This meeting was primarily for planning the alumni dinner, but other business was also addressed.

     Tricia Gradias reported that she had sent letters, followed up by an e-mail to all the employees of the Fillmore Unified School District who are graduates  of Fillmore High, asking them to become paid up members of the association by subscribing to the Flashbacks or by becoming Life Members.  We would like to have all graduates of Fillmore High be subscribers to Flashbacks as it helps to keep the association running.

     It was decided that if the alumni would join Facebook that we could contact members for whom we do not have up to date mailing or e-mail addresses.  It helps the alumni office a great deal if we have your current addresses and phone numbers.  We do not give out this information without your permission, but use it to send you information regarding the alumni.

     The DVD that will cover the 99 game history of the Fillmore/Santa Paula football rivalry is in the process of being made, with interviews of former players from Fillmore and Santa Paula teams, as well as clips from game films over the past 99 games.  A short preview of this DVD will be on display at the alumni dinner on June 12.  

     The Shasta Daisy project is moving along in good shape, and although there won't be enough daisies this year to completely cover the arches as in the past, the junior class has a plan to use them along with other greenery.  We look forward to having the arches back on display for graduation.

     The plans for the alumni dinner on June 12 are underway, and the board of directors is hoping for another good turnout this year.  Reservations are coming in each day, many from the honored classes of 1945, 1950, and 1960.

     Excitement is already building in preparation for the 100th meeting of the Fillmore/Santa Paula football rivalry which will be held in Fillmore on November 12, 2010.  In anticipation of the interest in the rivalry of these two schools over the last 99 meetings, Isaac Reyes, class of '94, and his counter parts at FX (Fox Cable group) are compiling interviews, stories and old game film, along with photos of this rivalry, with which they will develop into a 45 minute to 60 minute documentary of this football history.

     Isaac is looking to interview anyone who has played in any of these games or has had a part in any of the past games to please contact him.  He also is looking for more game film and photos of this rivalry.  If you have any information, please contact Isaac at:  ireyes88@gmail.com. 

     This documentary will be put on a DVD and will be available November 1, 2010, at a cost of $20.00, or $25.00 if you wish to have it packaged and mailed to an address.  Pre-orders will be accepted starting this summer and running all through the fall.  Pre-orders will also be available at the alumni dinner on Saturday, June 12.

     There is a Facebook page (Fillmore/Santa Paula 100th Rivalry) and soon there will be posted a 30 to 40 second clip of the DVD.  If you wish to see a longer clip of the DVD, come to the alumni dinner.

     At last Wednesday's home basketball game, which Fillmore won 49 to 47 over Santa Paula, Fillmore High School Principal John Wilber, Presented a plaque of appreciation to the Fillmore High Alumni Association for the assistance they have given to the school to help carry on some of the traditions in the 100 year history of the school.

     Singled out was the effort put forth by Marla DeZavala in the improvement of the gym, which consisted of refinishing the floor, repainting the emblem, providing pads at each end of the court, and the dividers placed between the balcony and lower level.  Marla contacted many alumni members to help finance these improvements and she is to be commended for her efforts.  Also provided by the alumni were the two banners in the gym, one with the words to the alma mater and the other with the words to the fight song.  It was rewarding to see so many students at the game singing both songs as they were played by the band.  Another activity being supported by the alumni association is the growing of Shasta Daisies for the graduation arches, which is being carried on by Kirk Ricther and his Horticulture class.  It is hoped that there will be enough flowers available for this year's graduation ceremony, which will be the 100th for this school.

     The following letter was received in the alumni office from Linda Jackson Durand, class of '65

     Last Friday night Fillmore High School played Grace Brethren and won, which made them the Frontier League Champions.  At the end of the game, Susan Dollar and I began to sing the Alma Mater and most of the people in the crowd sang along with us.  What pride we all had in our team and what pride we had that so many people in the stands knew the song.

     Sadly, I don't believe this song is known by most of the Fillmore High sudents.  When I was in high school, the cheerleading squad began singing this song after each football, basketball and baseball game.  Unfortunately, our cheerleaders don't do the same today.  Since it is the cheerleader's responsibility to keep the crowd cheering and supporting the players, I would love to see it become mandatory for the cheerleaders to know both the Alma Mater, the Fillmore Fight Song and have a basic knowledge of the games.  This is something that the kids and the community could particpate in and be proud of.  Greg Godfrey is doing an excellent job with the band.  The band does play the Fight Song...but again, I don't believe most students know the words.

     Wouldn't it be wonderful for the school and community spirit if EVERYONE knew the words to these songs??  Perhaps this is something that Mr. Wilber and the teachers can work on together for the students.  This spirit is something that a small school like Fillmore can enjoy in the present and it will make memories for their future.

Sincerely, Linda Durand

(Editors note:)  The alumni board has felt the same way as Linda, and with the help of John Wilber and Marla DeZavala, the alumni is purchasing two six by twelve foot banners, with the words to both songs on them, to be hung in the gym prior to basketball season.

     The Shasta Daisy project, to grow flowers for the Junior arches at graduation, has been under discussion for many months, but it is now on its way to being a reality.  Inasmuch as rooted cuttings were not available from home owners, the alumni board decided to purchase rooted cuttings and have them planted by Kirk Richter's Horticulture class.  With the help of the grounds crew for the school district, an area on the east side of the football field has been laid out in block letters that spell out FLASHES, and the daisies will be planted within the block letters.  Kirk also plans to plant blue ground cover around the block letters and design a flash in yellow flowers on one end of the planting.  It should be an impressive display.

     The alumni is hoping that alumni members will help defray the cost of the ten flats of plants which cost $55 per flat.  If interested, please send your check to the Fillmore High Alumni, P. O. Box 385, Fillmore, CA  93016-0385, and mark your check "For Shasta Daisies".

     Many alumni members are looking forward to once again seeing the Shasta Daisy laden arches during the graduation ceremonies.  Not many high schools have such an impressive ceremony as does Fillmore High.

     The third Alumni Board meeting of the year was held Monday, August 17 at the home of Marla DeZavala, with all members present.  The minutes of the May meeting were approved, and the financial report was given by Marla.  It was mentioned that we need to maintain a good balance in all the accounts so the alumni can continue to operate in the manner that it has been in the past, along with increasing the scholarship awards to graduating seniors and to Continuation Grant recipients.

    The Shasta Daisy project was again discussed, and since there have not been many offers to supply us with plants, it was decided to grow our own, with the assistance of Kirk Richter and his Horticulture class at the high school. Mark Ortega had made a contact with a plant supplier, but the cost may be too prohibitive for the number of plants needed for the graduation arches.

     Barry Thompson reported that the alumni coffee mugs are still selling and he is looking for other places to distribute them.  It was suggested that classes having reunions would be an outlet, as well as being present at the Homecoming game.  These mugs have been a popular item for alumni members.

     A review of the Alumni Dinner was held, and it was the general opinion that it was a great success, but there have been numerous suggestions how to improve the dinner in 2010.  These suggestions and any new ideas will be discussed at the planning meeting in May, 2010.

     A suggestion was made to look into buying a scanner that would allow us to scan all the Copa de Oro's that we have and put each one on a CD, so that anyone wishing a copy of their annual, or any other annual, could purchase the CD.  A search will be made to see if such a scanner is available, or if there is some other way to do the scanning.

     It was mentioned that the high school is planning some type of event in recognition of the 100 years since Fillmore High was started.  Discussion ensued as to when the high school really started.  Some thought it was 1909 and others thought it was 1910.  The alumni would like to be involved in this, so contact will be made with the high school to see what they plan to do.

     The meeting was adjourned at 8:15.  The next board meeting will be November 16, 2009.

     Linda Jackson Durand, class of '65 wanted the words to the Fillmore High fight song, so with the help of Debbie Curnett, Sue Adams and Lynda Edmonds we now have the words for everyone to share.  It is amazing how many younger graduates of Fillmore High do not know the words to the fight song OR the alma mater.  Through the alumni efforts, we will try to inform these young people of the traditions of Fillmore High.  Here are the words to the fight song, sung to the fight song of the University of Notre Dame :

     Fight on for Fillmore sing of her fame.

     Stand up for Fillmore shout out her name

     As her colors wave on high

     Come on you Flashes hit the sky

     We love our colors, our white and blue

     We'll do our best to fight on for you

     We're for you so don't forget to

     Fight on for Fillmore High.

The alumni is also sponsoring a new banner, with the words of the alma mater on it, to be hung in the gym so everyone can sing along with the band when they play it at the end of a game.