Ohio Civil Service Employees Association
2017
My name is Kathleen Gersper (formerly Stewart) and I am a graduate of the class of 2017. I followed my president, Chris Mabe, who attended the Harvard Trade Program class of 2016. I can’t tell you how I felt sitting in the law school knowing that President Kennedy and President Obama both attended. I know there were other presidents who attended, but these two were my favorites. As a matter of fact, my family (my maiden name is Fitzgerald) is related to President Kennedy’s mother. I was once told we were either 4th or 5th cousins. My father even had a letter signed by President Kennedy confirming what I was told. Ok, back to my Harvard experience: While walking out one evening to catch my ride to attend a dinner offered by one of AFSCME’s Internal Vice Presidents, I slipped on Boston’s slippery, icy brick sidewalk and splat! Here I was in a black suit wearing a black coat and I knew if I didn’t get up that no one would see me until the sun rolled up the next day – that is if I wasn’t totally covered in snow and ice by then! So I brushed myself off, met my ride, and went to dinner. Needless to say, I consumed a few drinks which helped with the pain I was feeling. Of course, it also helped me deal with the fact I was such a clutz and was totally grateful no one saw me fall. Elaine’s husband drove me to urgent care the next day. I suffered a hairline break in the leg and I broke a bone in my hand and wrist. They placed a cast on my hand and wrist and being that I was there representing my local and my international I chose our color green which unfortunately really stood out in the group picture. Elaine asked if I wanted to return home and I could attend next year’s class without additional cost. I politely declined her generous offer. I knew this was Elaine’s last year with the Harvard Trade Program and I didn’t want to miss any of her classes. I am usually pretty outgoing, but while attending I was like a shy school girl attending school her first day. I still can’t figure out why. I know I was somewhat intimidated based on what I didn’t know. But it was so unlike me! But I completed the class and would be willing to attend it every year if I could, obviously preferring anything but the winter quarter. I have been appointed to the Appeals Committee.