By Jennifer Meeropol, RFC Executive Director
Despite my best efforts, I am a pack rat. I'm more likely to hold onto a program from a fabulous dance performance or keep a card from a friend than recycle or get rid of these mementoes. I come by this honestly, since my dad has the same tendencies, but my mom is much more organized than either of us and more minimalist in her aesthetic.
This summer, that meant her weeding unnecessary papers out of an old filing cabinet and, once emptied, giving it to me for my home office. My dad and I both got inspired, motivated…and perhaps a little guilted by her efforts and went through our own files. The result was a treasure trove of RFC memories.
My dad, RFC founder Robert Meeropol, rediscovered one of the most moving letters we’ve ever received. Written by a former beneficiary, it began, “Dear Robby, you are quite possibly the most inspiring person in my life.” From there, this child of an imprisoned activist shared, “You should know that the RFC is the single most influential aspect of my childhood…Between court dates and prison visits, the support of the RFC turned out to be one of the few constants in my life. Mostly I appreciate that your support actually had very little to do with the political troubles of my stepfather and more to do with my basic needs as a child… The unconditional support of the RFC was life saving.”
Later, I came across the first check that I ever wrote to the RFC, for $32 for tickets for the 1997 Celebrate the Children of Resistance event in Northampton, Mass. I also found the note my parents wrote to me a decade later when I appeared on stage at the 2007 Celebrate event, letting me know how proud of me they were. Those items, and the memories they brought back of RFC public events, sent me to the office to look through some event files (an excellent example of how I get side tracked when I start decluttering!). There, I found a copy of the letter we sent to a performer in the 1997 Northampton show which perfectly captured the magic of those events: “The first two rows of the center section of the orchestra were filled with RFC beneficiary families. Many of them have told me that they gained incredible strength from having their stories dramatized, and then having 2,000 people seated directly behind them stand up and cheer!”
Looking around the office, I found the photo book a beneficiary made of participants at a Family Gathering more than 15 years ago. Each page contained a close up of one or two attendees, making funny faces and smiling at the camera. On another shelf in my office is the blanket a political prisoner crocheted for us of the RFC’s first logo.
All of these items, and so many others, are an important part of our history. Yes, I need to declutter sometimes, but the memories so many of these papers and mementoes represent are worth holding on to. And they feel particularly significant as we look to the 35th anniversary of the RFC next fall. We’ve marked previous anniversaries with public events, including dramatic readings, a concert and other gatherings.
As we begin to consider how to mark this anniversary, I’d love to hear from you what you’d find most meaningful. You can email us at info@rfc.org. And thank you for being part of making it all possible.