Dear Friends,

I am very excited to be involved in another Web site for Ankara alumni. I had a great time designing and maintaining AnkaraReunion.com.

Since shutting down AnkaraReunion.com, I came to realize how much a part of my life it had become. I looked forward to sitting down at the computer each night after a busy day at work and visiting with you.

I was only in Ankara for a few months of my junior year but all of my senior year. The senior year was disrupted with the move of the dormitory to Karamursel. My class dropped from 90 to 30 students. It was not a senior year that dreams are made of. So, for me the best part of maintaining a Web site for Ankara alumni has been discovering new friendships outside of my class year.

Mike Morrison ‘64 and his wife Gloria visited me and my husband in Minden, Nevada. I had lunch with Vicki Preston ‘65 in Big Fork, MT while on vacation in Montana. At the 2000 reunion, I went straight from the airport to meet Doug Larson ’70 and a dozen of his classmates at a Turkish restaurant. This was the first time I had met any of them. Most recently, I had Toni Kula ‘86 and her wonderful twin daughters as patients before they moved to France. I did not know any of these people before I started maintaining a Web site. None of them were in my graduation class and we live in different states, even countries. But the minute I met these new friends there was an instant connection and a sense of coming home.

Anita Donohoe ’66 and I worked closely together on the first Ankara Web site and forged a very close friendship. She has become one of my dearest friends and we have stayed in constant contact since the dismantling of Ankara Reunion. She approached me recently, and we discussed the idea of starting a new site. She told me that John Hainley ’75 was interested in becoming involved. He was the missing link we needed to be successful. After a flurry of e-mails and a few phone calls, Ankara High School Connections was conceived.

I am thrilled to be working with Anita once again. John brings enthusiasm and professionalism to the project as well as a great sense of humor. I am having the time of my life. We make a very strong team as we move ahead with Ankara High School Connections.

Sincerely,
Jill Park (Doyle) ’71
Condon, MT, September 27, 2004