A couple of weeks back, this column announced a program to be held at Windham Historical Society on Monday, May 26. This is incorrect. The date is Tuesday, May 27 – and the program is about dairy farming in Maine, and a book called “The Cows Are Out.” I apologize for this error and hope to see many of you at the Tuesday program, 7 p.m. at the society headquarters in the old brick building on Windham Center Road.

The past week is kind of a blur of discussions, phone calls, e-mails and frantic folks getting last minute reservations for the 97th Windham High School Alumni banquet, which was held May 17.

It appeared as though the crowd was bigger than usual, which is wonderful. The “roll call” of classes starts with 1936, believe it or not and nearly every class from then on was represented, except for the last 20 years or so. I’m sure young people have lots of things to do which preclude their attending such an event – even some of the older grads were absent this year, due to grandchildren’s graduations and other events that happen this time of year.

My favorite class, other than my own, was the class of 1958 and this year, there were many of them on hand to mark their 50th anniversary. For some reason, that class always seemed to be so bright and active and I must say, the years have been kind – if anything, they’re all better looking nowadays! Of course, the occasional gray hair blends right in with the rest of us!

This event, so popular with so many, would never happen if it wasn’t for the volunteers who gladly do the planning. We (all Windham High School graduates) will never understand the attitude expressed recently (and vocally by parents and children alike) against community service, another way to say volunteerism. But so be it. It is just part of our fabric.

Those hundreds of unpaid volunteers who helped build Dundee Park, the skate park, helped plan the new high school, the library and shelve the library books that are returned; who give time to schools, townspeople and dozens of groups of young and old, must have been very surprised to hear the vehemence against giving 10 hours in, what, a year? Four years?

I doubt if these young people (and some of their parents) even understand what is involved in community service. It’s the word “required” that establishes a barrier, in my opinion. Tell one of them that they cannot help and see what happens.

I know, and have talked with, many young people who spend hours and plan to spend many more on projects to benefit this community and others, but I did not hear them talking to the school committee. Maybe they were volunteering somewhere!

Volunteering, community service, whatever term you use, it’s what makes a community.

See you next week. And we’ll see former classmates at next year’s Alumni Banquet!