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. 

     More than three hundred alumni members and guests filled the Memorial Building on Saturday, June 6, for the 96th annual alumni dinner.  Classes were represented from the years 1932 through 1939, which was celebrating its 70th reunion.  Classes in each decade were represented for the 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's, and representatives from five classes from the 1980's were present, as were representatives from the classes of 1997, 2002 and 2004, and 17 scholarships winners from this year's graduating class, and their parents.  Alumni came from as far away as Alaska, with many coming from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, Texas, Oklahoma and Tennessee.

     The evening began with the posting of the colors by Boy Scout Troop 406, followed by the Invocation given by Jacob Zellmer, one of the scholarship recipients.  An excellent dinner was served by Gary Laird's Butcher Shop and B-B-Q.  Gary is a 1976 graduate of Fillmore High.

     Margaret Haskell, class of '42 was recognized for her years of service to the alumni asociation as Secretary and also for her many years of assisting with the alumni dinner.  Ralph Rees, a retired teacher from Fillmore High was also recognized for his 28 plus years of teaching at Fillmore High and his continued support of the alumni association.

     Prior to the awarding of the scholarshps, Sydia Lopez-Reese, class of '79 and Chad Fore, class of '02, told about their college experiences and how much the local scholarships had helped them during their years in college.  Alumni scholarships were presented to Julianne Sandoval, Brina Suttle, Natalie Garnica, Karli Chessani, Jillian Wilber, Rebeca Herrera, Aimee Orozco, Michael Watson, Jacob Zellmer, Bailey Pina, Kyla Hernandez, Miguel Alonso, Gabriel Manzano, Jonathan Escamilla, Stephanie Bolanos, Nathan Liu and Erica Rodriguez.

     The Honored Classes from 1944, '49, '54, '59 and '69 were recognized, and the Board of Directors thanks Biz Basolo, class of '44, Em Wendel, class of '49, Ann Scanlin, class of '54, Bob Morris, class of '59 and Joe Aguirre and Debbie Curnett, class of '69 for all the efforts to get their classmates to attend this alumni dinner.

     Door prizes that were contributed by Carmen Zermeno, Lupe Vasquez, Conway Spitler, Nancy Wallace, Gertrude Lovelace and the alumni association were awarded to twenty lucky attendees.

     The present board of directors of the alumni association was returned to office for the 2009-2010 year, and they are already planning next year's alumni dinner for Saturday, June 12 at the Memorial Building, so put that date on your calendar, alumni members.   Next year's honored classes will be those whose graduation years ended in 0 and 5.

     Oh yes, there will be dessert and two bars for next year's dinner.

     The February Flashbacks were sent out on Wednesday, February 18, so they should be in your hands by now.  If not, please contact the alumni office at staff@FillmoreHighAlumni.com or 805-524-0416.  We do get some issues returned because the mailing label came off in handling at the post office, so we want to make sure that everyone who is a paid up member is receiving their Flashbacks.  We do appreciate hearing from everyone when they change addresses as it makes it a lot easier in mailing the newsletter.

If you have not renewed your membership for this year, please do so before the May issue comes out, as your name will be taken off the roster then.

The February issue of Flashbacks will be coming out the middle of February, so if you are a Life Member or a paid up yearly member, be looking for another great issue put together by Kathleen Penrod McCreary.  Some very interesting letters and comments from graduates of Fillmore High, as well as a picture from earlier years that many of you will find interesting.  The newsletter is only as good as you help make it,  by sending in your letters, comments and pictures.

We really enjoy hearing from all alumni members on what they are doing, the trips they have taken, or the former classmates they have met.  What you are interested in, we are interested in putting in the Flashbacks.