2025 Biennial Reunion Recap
The 20th Biennial Reunion in Palm Springs was a real gas and wouldn't have been possible without the Reunion Committee, co-chaired by Mara Urenovich Barth and Debbie Urenovich Vassallo. Thank you, ladies, for a fabulous event and some very cool swag! And a big shukran to all who volunteered during the event - it takes a village!
We loved catching up with everyone who made it and missed those of you who couldn't. Get a look at the festivities from the photo booth during the Welcome Reception and Banquet! Photos are downloadable, so share 'em!
Town Hall Meeting:
The ABI town hall was held on Saturday, June 27th. A 2025 Report , detailing reunion attendance, financial figures, donors, and other organizational updates, was provided as a handout to attendees. Login to your member account to read the Town Hall Meeting Minutes.
Sports Winners:
The 2025 ABI Reunion in Palm Springs included two sport tournaments organized for attendees. A golf tournament was held on June 27, 2025 at the Cimarron Golf Resort in nearby Cathedral City, and a bowling tournament occurred the following day at Palm Springs Lanes, also in Cathedral City. Winners of awards for each tournament were announced at the Reunion Banquet Saturday evening, June 28. Participants were complimentary of the tournament sites and the volunteer work conducted to make each event possible.
Golf Tournament
21 participants competed in the golf tournament across 6 different teams. The following awards were recognized for this tournament:
- Winning Team – James Juszczak (DH69), Brad Larsen (DH69), Mike Morrow (DH69), and Jim Tycom (DH69)
- Longest Drive (Male) – Brad Larsen (DH69)
- Closest to Pin (Male) – James Juszczak (DH69)
Bowling Tournament
62 participants competed in the bowling tournament across 16 different teams. Due to time constraints, all bowlers and their teams were ranked for their game/series scores across two games (instead of three). The following awards were recognized:
- Winning Team – James Banville (DH85), Michele Fallon-Scott (RT87), Ted Hughes (DH85), and Kurt Wilson (DH85)
- Highest Game (Male) – Jim Tycom (DH69)
- Highest Series (Male) – James Banville (DH85)
- Highest Game (Female) – Michele Fallon-Scott (RT87)
- Highest Series (Female) – Michele Fallon-Scott (RT87)
Auction Winners:
The Live and Silent Auctions had some amazing items! In the Live Auction, Raidah Ziadeh Hudson (DH77) was the high bidder for the Taif Wedding Dress quilt, and Rick Owen (DH61) outbid the others for the Kuwaiti chest.
Silent auction winners:
Deb Vassallo (DH84) "Coffee" art quilt
Rick Owen (DH61) Framed print of bedouin
Celeste Brooks-Barrentine (RT74) Small prayer rug #1
Celeste Brooks-Barrentine (RT74) Large prayer rug #1
Celeste Brooks-Barrentine (RT74) Small prayer rug #2
Paula Owen (Spouse) Chef's apron with Sid & friends
The proceeds from these auctions and the raffle help offset your organization's overhead costs, and we couldn't do it without the generous people who donate their time, creativity, money, and well-loved treasures from home. Thank you to Marie Littlejohn Dunn, Penny Dougharty Maher, Jim and John Curry, and Karen Hermann-Martin.
For those who submitted the survey, the results can be viewed on your Member Dashboard by selecting Surveys from the Engagement tab. If you did not participate in the survey, the results can be viewed here. The 2027 Reunion Interest survey will be sent to all BrAts soon, so keep an eye out for it! It'll be sent to the email address on file with a unique link for you to complete. Shukhran for your participation! We appreciate your feedback.