Donovan's Gang

This was our best group shot - it was so hot, no one wanted to pose!

Done!

Thank you so much to everyone who helped make Donovan's graduation a memorable occasion. Here is a link to the pictures & video I took or acquired

Donovan's graduation

Getting Around

Hey, gang!

Below is a link to the 2016 Commencement Map. It's still a work in progress - I'll be adding pictures and other stuff - but there is lots of good info included. The map has 3 "layers." Commencement locations are green, food & lodging is red, and transportation is blue. Click on the locations for photos or links to related websites: 

Donovan's Commencement Map 

Note: not sure how this will view on a smartphone - it may be better to access on a tablet or laptop/desktop.

So now, a few words concerning navigating in southeast Florida. You probably know many cities (eg. Chicago) that have numbered roads going one direction and named roads crossing perpendicular to them. Other cities (eg. New York) can have numbered roads going in both directions, the only difference being the roads going in one direction are streets while the roads crossing them are avenues. Frequently, these cities are also set up on a grid, where two major streets serve as the x- and y-axis separating northeast, southeast, northwest, and southwest quadrants. Well, in Miami, they managed to combine all three of these naming conventions in one city! Arrgh!

In Miami, Flagler Street and Miami Avenue separate north from south and east from west, respectively. And, like most cities, the numbering extends from these base streets into the surrounding suburbs. Metro Miami also utilizes the numbered street/avenue convention, like New York. So, in the southwest quadrant, you may encounter the intersection of SW 57th Street and SW 46th Avenue. Not too complicated, right?  But here's the kicker - some of the numbered roads also have names - whaaa?!  You will encounter this because a couple of these dual-named roads serve as main drags into the UM campus, and we'll be utilizing them to avoid the nightmare which is US 1 (more on that later). 

For example, SW 40th Street, a main east-west thoroughfare feeding the west side of the campus, is also named Bird Road. So not only is it both numbered and named, it's both a street and a road! Same with SW 48th Street/Blue Road. Last school year Donovan lived in an apartment building on a street that was both SW 67th Avenue and Ludlam Road, depending upon which street sign you happened to be looking at.  Mail addressed either way would reach him.

Of course, you may be accustomed to a street with a local number or name also having a state or US highway designation, but this is different. Suffice to say, if you're going to be driving, it wouldn't hurt to get a little mapwork in.

Steven

Home Stretch

Hello!

It's getting close.  If you haven't forwarded your travel itinerary (not just dates, but times) to Melodee, please do so right away. We need the specifics so we can coordinate airport runs & check-ins and all that stuff.

Meanwhile, Melodee has mailed out the invites with Donovan's wonderful portrait.  You should be receiving it shortly - check your (snail) mail.

As it stands, the basic schedule for Thursday, December 15 is as follows:

• Graduation, Watsco Center: 10 am
• Music school reception, Shalala Student Activities Center: immediately following the ceremony
• Photos & hobnobbing: after the reception
• Graduation dinner, Seasons 52 restaurant: 6 pm

Here are some links with helpful info:

Miami Dadeland Hotel

Graduation campus map

Graduation venue information and ground rules

Seasons 52 restaurant

Steven

Gittin' Down To The Nitty Gritty

Hotel Accommodations for Donovan's Graduation Celebration

Aloft Miami Dadeland Hotel

7600 North Kendall Drive

Miami FL 33156

(305) 595-6000

Central Reservations: (866) 716-8143

Link: AloftMiamiDadeland.com

Reservations have been  made as listed below. Please provide me with your travel dates ASAP so that I may verify your stay for this wonderful gathering! The non-refundable booking has been made by me, but your will be able to pay for your stay directly with the hotel upon your check-out.

The date ranges for our stay are Tuesday, December 13 thru Sunday, December 18. If you'd like to arrive earlier or stay later, please inform me immediately!!!

Preliminary Rooming List:

• Melodee & Steven Thomas
• Lorna & Alex Malone (or Samantha Thomas)
• Janeen & Roland Jones
• Rosalyn Moore & Devin Jones
• Alice & Shelby Johnson
• Jennifer Soles & Angela Massey

Thanks,

Melodee

Priceless

In my quest  to complete  my photo montage "Donovan - the UM Experience," I found this priceless video from UM's United Black Students February 2014 Black Awareness Month observance. Below is a link to Donovan, in his element, chronicling the issues of our time via original spoken word:

Immortal Game - A Tribute to Trayvon Martin

Enjoy!

Steven

Firing Up The Blog II

Hello!

When last I posted (November), Donovan had just been crowned University of Miami Homecoming King.  Since that time, Donovan has pledged the next line of Omegas at Miami, been appointed Basileus (President) of the chapter, and attended the fraternity Conclave (convention) in Las Vegas. You'll be happy to know that today, Donovan applied to graduate.

At the time, there was uncertainty as to whether graduation would be May or December. Since it is now September, the obvious answer is - December - the 15th, to be precise. Many of you have already begun making preparations to attend per your communications with Melodee.  She has already reserved a block of rooms at a local hotel, so we're definitely in the home stretch. You'll be able to find logistic updates here, along with my upcoming photographic tribute: "Donovan - The UM Experience."

See you in December!

Steven