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In 1973-74, TMR's audience was expanded greatly when
WCNY, the local public television and radio station,
began broadcasting the weekly sessions. Broadcasts were
usually aired Saturday afternoons and reached a broad
area of Central New York. The relationship with WCNY
has been maintained throughout TMR's existence. In recent
years, an annual collection of contributions from TMR
members has aided the FM station.
During this period, the first of several publications about
TMR and its programs was produced. The Rosamond Gifford Charitable
Corporation provided funds for a tenth anniversary brochure
of photos and history. Later, local businesses and interested
individuals funded publications on a series of TMR programs.
The tenth anniversary was also marked with a very successful
dinner-dance party at the Hotel Syracuse. In later years,
TMR occasionally celebrated events or personalities
("salutes") with parties at the Hotel. TMR
social activities played an important role in developing
group identity during the early years.
As membership grew and interests and backgrounds became
more diverse, activities were organized in addition
to the weekly schedule of programs. It was hoped that
these would improve members' understanding and appreciation
of one another. An early example was the TMR theater
group. The director of the University's Syracuse Repertory
Theater was a member of TMR. Many other members attended
productions of SRT and decided to organize dinners preceding
attendance at the plays. The director discussed the
play with this group. Very soon, TMR organized an after-play
program for SRT-TMR subscribers. Participants paid a
small fee in addition to ticket prices for refreshments
to be shared with cast and staff following each play.
Discussions and critiques of productions were frequently
quite heated and always very interesting. The arrangement,
usually involving 100 or more persons, lasted for eight
seasons until a new theater director was hired by the
University, who rapidly concluded that the Friday evening
discussion parties were too stressful for him and his
actors.
In its early years, much TMR activity involved committees.
Various members volunteered to serve on program committees
covering areas such as criminal justice, health, education,
and other topics. The longest lasting committee interest
was one that planned social occasions. The theater group
already mentioned was just one such activity. For several
years there was a series of "Social Hours."
These were informal gatherings for socializing with
no speeches. Started in a community room at the Plaza
Nursing Home (one of its founders, Dr. Leo Jivoff, was
an active TMR member), the social hours were held either
Thursday or Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. in a variety of
locations. Those at the University's Sutton Pavilion
often featured piano playing or storytelling by members.
Beverages and snacks were always available.
A later version of the Social Hour demonstrated the
talent and ingenuity of many members. Once a month,
two or three members planned and presented a celebration
of certain TMR classes. For example, to recognize those
members who had joined TMR in 1965-67, a committee planned
an appropriate gift, poem, song, or other presentation.
Some class years provoked very imaginative and hilarious
presentations.
Another popular social activity still featured at TMR
is the Holiday Party held at the regular place and hour
of TMR sessions the Thursday preceding Christmas. A
committee plans and prepares entertainment and refreshments
(including Bloody Marys and Irish Coffee!). Outstanding
local talent has entertained members over the years.
At the end of the season in June, a final social hour
is usually held at a member's home. For several years,
this was a clambake (usually without clams) held at
the home of the president of SUNY Health Science Center,
a TMR member. There have also been occasional receptions
for members at the home of Syracuse University's Chancellor.
By the end of its first decade, TMR had expanded to 136 members,
half of whom had been members for five or more years. Most
represented social agencies or civic associations. The second
largest affiliation was business, most of whom were top executives.
The third largest group was governmental representatives,
including city, county, and state officials. These were always
the largest groups in TMR, although business interests grew
the fastest. There were 25 female members by this time and
average weekly attendance had increased to 81.
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