LOVE YOUR SCHOOL – Around The Frame

Valentines are in the air and talk of love is everywhere! (So much for sappy poetry.)

You can go to any card shop, grocery store or pharmacy and find the usual array of cards for spouses, lovers, kids, teachers, etc., but a valentine for your Alma Mater? No way!

I am a graduate of Indiana University – Purdue University Fort Wayne and hold a degree from both schools. I used to alternate paying alumni dues between the two mother schools but stopped a couple of years ago because their alumni magazines primarily offered news and events targeted toward students who graduated from the two main campuses and offered little news on the regional ones.

Allen County is home to over 20,000 IPFW grads and on February 5, the Allen County Chapter of the IPFW Alumni Association was launched. One of the chapter’s first initiatives is to identify IPFW graduates who either own or operate a business. Similar to “Shop Local” and “Shop Waynedale” campaigns, IPFW is committed to supporting IPFW Alums by purchasing from them and encouraging other alums to purchase too whenever possible. Currently only 39 businesses have been identified as being owned or operated by IPFW Alums. Certainly there are hundreds of them out there, so if you are one or know of one please go to: www.ipfw.edu/ and complete a short form to have your name and business name added to the list.

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At the Gathering five alum-owned business set up displays so fellow alums, faculty, and local politicians could discover unique businesses piloted by alums. They included Tilted Kilt Pub & Eatery, Old Crown Coffee Roasters, Vanilla Bean Unique Cookies, Crackerjack Catering and Born Again Quilts.

Born Again Quilts conducted quilt autopsies and showed “before” photos of quilts chewed by dogs, faded by age, ripped, missing fabric pieces, etc. and their incredible “after” photos complete with smiling owners. Attendees could see how closely many of the vintage replacement fabrics matched the original fabric in color and design. Some attendees shared fond memories of a quilt now tucked away and will now take it out of hiding to assess its condition and bring it by for some TLC if needed.

When you consider the precious gift of your education whether high school, college or university, take a moment to send some love back. I may just send my alumni dues inside a Valentine card!

Lois Levihn is the owner of Born Again Quilts a restoration studio and quilt gallery. She may be contacted at bornagainquilts@frontier.com or 260-515-9446. Check out the website at www.bornagainquilts.com