REACH OUT AND GRAB A '54 BY THE CLASS SPIRIT!

     The reservation checks are coming in like the 45th reunion was a great investment vehicle. As a matter of fact, it is! You will receive tremendous value for your investment, plus you will walk away much richer for the experience, buoyed by the immersion in good friends, new friends, outstanding food/drink/entertainment and fond memories. Several things to discuss here:

     1. The Rate Card. An allocated-cost schedule has been developed which will allow those close by or with limited time or funds to join us for less than the entire reunion period. For instance, Hamburgers at Hestons can be done for $27, including drinks. For another $7, we'll throw in the phenomenal hat JOHN GILLESPIE has obtained for us (with a non-'54 band you can put on it after reunion). So call, email or write PETE BARKER (203-661-7611) for information. Make the effort - people want to see you and/or your mate! (whether you want to see them or not).

     2. The Directory. Pete Barker has really appreciated all the notes about what a great job he did on the Directory - particularly since he didn't do it. His distant cousin, DICK BARKER did it, as he has done over all the reunions in recent memory, so send him a note. However, to compound the confusion, continue to send corrections to Pete Barker for inclusion in the newsletter (see later section). This time around, there is a new-tech aspect that encourages contact with classmates - email addresses. Use 'em! Nothing better for the "remember the time .." conversations, plus the instant reply button makes it like a real palaver. Convince those still on the fence to come up to the reunion for at least a bite and a drink.

     3. Email Communication. With the proliferation of emailing, a problem has arisen - identification. While a goodly number of us went the boring route of selecting an address which incorporates our names, the wild side of the Class got quite creative: SKIP WEYMOUTH's enufjazz, DON KENNEDY's 2xscull, JIM FISHER's fishsnark, JIM LOVE's sbljrl, or BOB LEVINE's vtnh. The point here, particularly with reunion questions, is to identify yourself if it isn't self-evident from your address. At this point, the non-email guys are thinking either they should get on the Net or quit reading this page. Try it! It opens all sorts of horizons!

     4. The Sweater. With an uncanny sense of what turns on the Class of 1954, John has done it again with a reasonably priced white sweater adorned with a distinctive, but unobtrusive '54 logo. With over 50 orders already in hand, John has been asked whether sweaters may be also purchased for women. The answer is a resounding YES! Either order the appropriate size for your adored one, or, better yet, get the Super-Large and you can both wear it at the same time!

     5. Music. Not only will we have the returning Fred Haas performing nightly in the tent, joined by the musical geniuses of our Class, but RON DUNTON has managed to gather up a few men from older classes whose Sultans sounds you will still recognize, almost a half-century later. If nothing else, come for a dinner and a jam session!

'54s in the News

     The real news, sort-of news and mentions.  In the March Alumni Magazine, TOM HALL took on both Jim Wright and the editors of the magazine for the "demotic" usage of the word "so", when the intent was "very" or "greatly". He described Jim's exuberant "I am so enthused about the responsibility ..." as an ante-penultimate sentence. Tom went on to chastise with a grace that makes you proud to be a '54.

     In the same issue, somewhat to the other end of the spectrum, a '55 alluded to a JOE MESICS letter relative to the diner known as the "Pit". A waitress, Annie, had apparently gained admiration for her ability to carry six beer glasses in one hand, "providing a vivid magnification of her perpetually dirty fingernails". A nice balance to the Tom Hall letter.

     To cap off our domination of the March issue, CHARLES "PETE" DAVIS wrote to thank the magazine for the Noel Perrin (The curmudgeon) article on 100-year old Pyotr Jarotski in whose Wigwam apartment he met his future wife.

     Don Goss, editor of the '53 newsletter, in reporting on the 10th Annual Dartmouth Golfing Jamboree at Harbour Ridge in Florida, mentioned JOHN POPE as a member of a winning foursome. The '53s insisted on including a '52 (Jack Boyle) in the foursome so the average would still be '53. I guess that’s why they’re called ‘53s and not ‘54s ...... Then, the capper. The national edition of the March 21st New York Times contained a full section on retirement. The lead article, "Not an Age, but an Expanding State of Mind" featured quotes and current attitude/activities of five individuals. Two were ‘54s!:  "WILLIAM H. MANSFIELD 3rd of Bethesda, MD, has retired three times, and, at 66, he’s still looking for work. In 1989, he left the State Department, where he had been a foreign service officer specializing in environmental matters.  He was hired by the United Nations, but had to retire when he reached 60. His last full-time job was with the Worldwatch Institute, and that ended in the spring of 1997.  He has had some consulting assignments since and he would like more. "I don’t like to say I’m retired," Mr. Mansfield remarked. "I like to think I can keep on working because I enjoyed it a lot".  Money is not a major issue; among other income, Mr. Mansfield has both Federal and UN pensions.  I asked him for some other reasons why people seek to hang onto their jobs. ‘Much of their status depends upon the organization and position they hold,’ he said. ‘Once that’s gone, you are groping around to find out where your status, your distinction, comes from.’"  Next came ‘JOHN HESTON, of Hanover, NH, goes with the flow. At 66, he has been retired from his career in advertising and communications for three years, but his days are full. He does paid consulting; he teaches a class at his alma mater, Dartmouth College, and is an advisor to its alumni magazine. ÔI can’t imagine retiring and doing nothing the way my Dad did,’ Mr. Heston said. ‘Now we look for new challenges. We’re expected to. It’s the spirit of the times.’" Other than John’s dissing his father, makes you proud, doesn’t it.

The Last Newsletter

Some highs, some lows. Let’s start with the high road - the color photographs. Normally, a color photograph in the newsletter is a very expensive item, so we have shied away from them. For this particular issue, however, the newsletter staff in Hanover wanted to experiment with a new, less expensive process and they picked us. Just happened to be the one where JOHN STEEL is wearing a red dinner jacket and his especially white teeth. The photo was also enlarged beyond the one submitted. Every '54 should frame this one - former Trustee, Navy pilot, physician and standard bearer for the conservatives. The other, smaller photo was also propitious in that it caught Marine Lt. General TONY LUKEMAN in dress uniform. Depending on the costs, we may well opt for the occasional color shot if the subject warrants.

Now for the low - JERKY. Well, what can you say? In the last newsletter, the nominating committee, made up of four of our past presidents, was named. One of the men named was JERKY GOLDSTEIN (formerly known as JERRY GOLDSTEIN). Excuse me for reverting to the first person here, but it makes the writing easier. In submitting the hard copy and disc to Hanover for processing, I apparently fouled up the disc badly enough to warrant re-typing the copy. With some 70 newsletters pouring into Blunt on a regular basis, it seems logical that a few typos might sneak through (note other typos in the same issue). However, Mr. Goldstein's battery of lawyers have pointed out to me that the distance from the "R" key to the "K" key on a normal keyboard is 3.25 inches, a distance, they purport, which is great enough to disallow the argument of a "simple typo". While not so blatantly stated, the allegation of deliberate prose-tampering may be included in the indictment. Why not DORK Page, or DRECK Barker, or Tomb Kelsey, they ask. Well, here's the real answer. JERKY was not meant to be an adjective, but a noun! If you have been to Jamaica, you will know that an island delicacy is beef or chicken jerky! It makes you feel good, it's tough, it's full of spirit, it's an all-around nice food, one you would be proud to have on your plate! Yeah, that's the answer - JERKY is a noun! So be sure to greet past-president Goldstein at the reunion with a hearty ........ well, on second thought ...... Seriously, Jerry was a dynamic, productive leader of our Class for five years and the error is regretted.

Directory Corrections

     The compilation of the Directory this year (by Dick Barker) was made particularly difficult because of where we are in our lives. Retirements and physical moves negated a great deal of the information generally obtained from the College -made necessary when classmates did not return questionnaires. The resulting errors in the listings, however, are the stuff newsletter editor’s dreams are made of! MAIL! Here is the first batch of changes and additions - go get your copy of the Directory and write them in, even if you didn’t know the guy:

      Tiihonen - delete the email address - Des had to leave it at AT&T when he retired.
      McLaughlin - delete Dave's Nov/Apr Annapolis address and number.
      Goldstein – Jerry’s Mt Kisco, NY farm telephone number is (914) 666-2206.
      Sullivan – Kev’s email address is sullysrl @aol.com. 
                        His business phone is (716) 883-6065.
      Neiditz – Dan’s email address is dneid@webtv.net.
      Everett – Ted’s email address is teverett@webtv.net.
      Love – Jim’s email address is sbljrl @aol.com and his fax number is (336) 643-6930.
      Titus – John’s email address is jtitus@gis.net.
      Borden – Brad’s email address is mborden@neca.com.
      Davis - an alternate to Perry’s all-number email address is
                  perrydavis@compuserve.com.
      Settlemier – Grant’s email address is GRANTSETT@WEBTV.NET.

There’s a Green card in this newsletter. If you have changes to report, you have the means if you have a 20 cent stamp.

The Trustees’ Five Principles

     In early February, The Board of Trustees announced the identification of five principles which they have determined should characterize the residential and social systems at the College. Every alum has received messages from the Trustees and the President, outlining the principles and detailing the background, intent and rationale underlying the initiative. There likely is not a single living alum that has not been engaged in some sort of discussion of the situation, one that has become surrounded with outcry, controversy and the broadest range of opinion. The newsletter editor’s email and mailbox has not been ignored. Regular reading of The Dartmouth has reflected an organized approach to the study and fulfillment of the principles involving students and faculty. Every alum has been asked, by mail, to participate in the planning and execution of these major changes to student life. While individual contributors to "The D" continue to expound on issues, the general tone seems to have moderated.

     Since this newsletter is a dedicated means for communication amongst classmates, it would be inappropriate for the editor to adopt a "stance" (not that it hasn’t happened in lesser situations), therefore, here’s some commentary and observations:

     -Considering the breadth and depth of the five principles, it is difficult to oppose most of the content. The implied and, to some degree, stated aspects of yet unspecified actions relative to the future of fraternities and sororities have gotten all the attention. Principles 1,2,4 and 5 are to most, "no-brainers." Actions to deal with the disruptions in student life created by the Dartmouth Plan have finally been put into print with plans for implementation now in process. Concerns about the perceived (by some) "negative" aspects of fraternities, and now sororities, were probably being discussed when we were on campus - nobody, however, ever managed to move the Trustees toward taking "corrective" action. That time is apparently upon us.

     -Newsletter mail has ranged from "liberal social engineering at its worst - concludes my disenfranchisement." to "proud of Dartmouth for having the courage .....". Many have taken the stance of "Well, I really haven’t been on campus that much in the last 44 years – don’t have a feel for student life today – can’t really develop an opinion."

     -the "fraternity/sorority issue" has been "easy press" for the newspapers in New England and even merited a pro-principle editorial in the New York Times. On balance, there is an even split between the thrusts of the articles. Entertainment Weekly magazine included it on their weekly Hotsheet - What the Country is Talking About This Week ... "#11-Dartmouth. They’re forcing all their frats to become coed. How do you say, "Put the toilet seat down in Greek?"

     -The reunion has not been affected. Classmates recognize that we celebrating our Class and our common experiences and memories from a half-century ago.. Only one ‘54 has made noise about not coming and he is currently being inundated with barrages of epithets, challenging his judgment, his choice of bourbon, his loyalty, his politics, his manhood, his ‘54-ness, his hairstyle, his forged military records and his apparent desire to deprive his classmates of his scintillating company. The name is being withheld, pending further harassment.

     -The Trustees and the President are obviously committed to the stated course. It is difficult to imagine any substantive changes in the intent of the principles, although innovative ways may emerge for their implementation from the engagement of all parties.

     -The College Relations Group, the Alumni Council mechanism for interactive liaison between the alumni at large and the Trustees, has established an email address for direct input from alums: college.relations.group@dartmouth.edu. Snailmail can be sent to College Relations

     Dartmouth College, 6068 Blunt Alumni Center, Room 221, Hanover, NH. Also, if you are on-line, not a bad idea to look at articles in The Dartmouth: http://www.thedartmouth.com.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

     Two consecutive postcards from Dr. TOM SCOTT in Huntington, West Virginia: "A happy hillbilly, working very little and enjoying Social Security", "See two patients a day - not overworked. Every day is a bonus day." The cards have been forwarded to the New York Times retirement editor.

     According to the Webster (MA) Times last September, Professor JIM CONRAD was named Vice President for External Academic Affairs of Nichols College. "Dr. Conrad will oversee the MBA and continuing education programs and the Institute for American Values. In addition, Conrad will head the development of a proposed teacher certification program, serve as a liaison to the New England Association of Schools and Colleges and chair the Rank and Appointments Committee." Jim joined Nichols as assistant to the dean and director of admissions in 1957. He joined the faculty in 1963, having gained an M.A. from Clark University and a Ph.D. from the University of California, and made professor of history in 1973. Col. James L. Conrad, Jim’s father, founded Nichols Junior in 1931, became its first president and watched it mature into a four-year institution before he retired in 1966.

     DON BERLIN reports receiving an email, notifying him that RUEL SMITH had passed away. A proper write-up on Ruel will be forthcoming when details are available.

     The earlier comments on '54 sweaters for the distaff side were prompted by a query from NANCY MILKEY, who expressed concern about the "basketball player" sleeves of Lands End sweaters. LEW asked if they could be tried on because of his 32Ó arms ("among my other ‘shortcomings’"). Since John is sending tangible orders to Lands End, the answer is: Yes, they can be tried on - after you buy’em!

     The February 15 Time Magazine contained a half-page photograph, featuring Treasury Under Secretary for International Affairs Timothy GEITHNER, standing in the lead of six others with the superimposed comment: "Once one of the most bureaucratic departments, Treasury is now run with the zip of a high-powered investment bank, including its very own international brain trust." Wonder where he gets his smarts?

     TOM SAYLES forwarded a page from the March Golf Digest, featuring Dr. DON BRIEF. Actually, it was about Don’s son, Eric, but included an obviously touched-up photo of Don and the following: "Eric Brief;s family golf tree has deep roots. His father, Dr. Don Brief, is a board member of the New Jersey State Golf Association and played in the U.S. and British Senior Amateur. His grandfather was an avid golfer who suffered a fatal fall on the golf course he co-founded (Cedar Hills Country Club, Livingston, NJ). Nephew Jesse Schwartz, a par-shooter at 13, owns several junior club championships. Brief’s family also holds the rare distinction of four generations of holes-in-one at the same golf club (Green Brook Country Club, North Caldwell, NJ), on four different holes, over four decades." Golfing classmates are invited to top that!

     Sort of an off-beat, but thought-provoking story from MIKE BIGGS. Noticing that JOHN "Jake" TOWLE’s name was not included in the directory, he called Jake’s cousin, a high school classmate. For some background, you might want to pull out "Reflections" and read the direction Jake has taken in his life and the motivations therefor. The cousin indicated to Mike that "Jake and his wife, Janet, are alive and ‘presumably ‘well, as are their kids. However, Jake has gone to great lengths to not be found, including legally changing his name." Respecting Jake’s wishes, the cousin felt that this much information could be released, but no more. His road is certainly one "less traveled", but hopefully one that is peaceful and satisfying.

     Here is Part 2 from PETER KENYON’s report of the December Alumni Council meeting:

COMMENTS BY JIM WRIGHT

1. They have just authorized a significant increase in student aid to remain competitive.

2  Dartmouth will apply for reaccredidation in the coming year. The Chair of the Study Group will be the President of the University of Chicago. The key study areas Jim outlined are:
     a. International studies
     b. Information technology
     c. Student research opportunities

3. He will go back to the classroom and teach a course in 20th century politics. Hasn’t finalized anything on the Clinton Administration yet. Thinks there is a great lesson to be learned here, "but damned if I know what it is."

Note: During the dinner at which Jim spoke, STEVE FAST was introduced as a new member of the Council. Steve is from Pacific Palisades, CA and is a Regional Metropolitan Representative to the Council.

SPACE

1. LO-YI CHAN made a masterful presentation of the Campus Master Plan.

    a. There are $100 million in construction works at the present time with another $100 million planned.

    b. He presented the key concerns in his development of the plan:

        1) Open space .. development of the buildings in relation to open space.

        2) Preservation of the "townscape"

        3) Connection within the campus. Want one cohesive campus. For instance, they will tie the graduate medical school closer to the center for sciences.

    c. He presented a history of the campus since1769, showing, with overlays, the expansion to date and plans for the future.

2. Additional social space is in great demand.

    a. The Big Green Bean, a coffee house, has recently opened in Collis. Big success.

    b. The loss of Webster Hall for social events has caused a problem. There is not enough space for student activities.

    c. Proposals are to replace Webster, expand on Big Green Bean, look at social spaces in residence halls, incorporate social spaces in new buildings.

    d. Social space expansion could take some focus off alcohol and the Greek system.

    e. It would make student groups more effective and promote cultural activities.

3. The panel asked for Alumni help:

    a. Looking for alumni who want to help

    b. Give money

    c. Stress the importance to the administration

4. Dan Nelson (Acting Dean):

    a. Two new student housing buildings are now planned.

    b. Want the ratio of beds to social space to reflect the need to improve social life.

    c. "It will take time."

5. During the Trustees report, it was noted that pace was a major on-going study. It was also noted that a replacement for Webster is being looked into.

6. There seems to be no answer to the question of why there are no more Wheeler Clusters in the planning stage. Very high ratings from the students on Wheeler.

*More from Peter’s report in the next issue*

     JOHN CUNNINGHAM’s run as the Titanic’s captain comes to end in late March. Perhaps we’ll see him in Hanover, acting like a ‘54.

     For the Class memorial service at reunion, Rev. DAVE RANSOM has planned a highly interactive service with the opportunity for classmates to participate actively. Returning to the Appalachian Trail, Dave and LOUISE have underlined the importance of "trail support people" by supplying a list of 33 individuals in multiple locations, including the electric company and the propane guy. Looks like a mid-March to just before reunion trek.

     BRAD BORDEN keeps shapely, clearing brush on his 140 acre trail system. Brad Borden?

     In the January newsletter, you were introduced to our newly adopted classmate, CARRIE PELZEL, 54A Dartmouth College’s Director of Development, with the promise of a later reporting of her complete background. It took a little time to get all the files from Interpol. Her professional life has been dazzling and impressive, along with some satisfying recognition. From Northfield Mount Hermon School, she proceeded to a B.A. from Trinity College, then later, a little fine-tuning at the Institute of European Studies in Nantes, France. Academia had been her arena since then, involving line and staff functions encompassing external affairs, recruitment, fund-raising, information services, financial management and the broad area of development. Starting at her alma mater, Northfield Mount Hermon for five years, Carrie moved to the National Association of Independent Schools, then into two firms which provide a range of key services to independent schools and other institutions (Williamson Group and The Franklin Group). All of this culminated in a dozen years at Harvard with the ultimate title of Associate Director of University Development and Director of External Relations. The need for a shorter title and more fun in her life brought her to Hanover. She arrived at the conclusion of the DICK PAGE - led The Will to Excel campaign and has been trying, unsuccessfully, to take full credit for its success.

     On the flip side of Carrie’s resume, there are impressive acknowledgements to her accomplishments and contributions. A former Alumni Trustee of Trinity, she received its highest alumni award, The Medal for Excellence. She has been a Trustee of the Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies and continues in the role of National Chair for Trinity’s Special Gifts Campaign. Under the Ô54 specification for athletic prowess, she listed "Black Diamond skier." Talk to her at reunion about that one. Carrie is married to Bruce McClintock, chairman of Marts & Lundy, a leading fund-raising consulting firm. Bruce is insanely jealous of her cavorting with 580 mature, world-wise rascals - us. Behave.

     Former newsletter editor JIM B. (for Burke) FISHER made good on his December promise to communicate. The man has been on a wild ride! After the military, he did post-grad work at Harvard, including the role of Teaching Fellow, then picked up an M.A. at NYU. The next couple of decades were a spirited romp through virtually all the distinguished publishing houses - Doubleday, Curtis Publications, McCall’s, Hearst, ITT Consumer Books, Grosset & Dunlap, Network Publishing Group and Springhouse Book. They let him be most anything he wanted to be - general manager, president, senior editor, publisher - the old "give it to Mikie!" syndrome. An impressive list of collaborative works published with National Audubon, Smithsonian, Nobel Prize Committee, MOMA, etc. Also interesting folk like Vincent Price, Ayn Rand, Colette, William Styron and the Hardy Boys. Then it was time to settle down, so he left the excitement of Litchfield County, CT and Greenwich Village for the bucolic climes of Burke, VA, where he and ROBIN preside over a 10-acre farm just 2 miles south of Washington. ItÕs riding country and the Fisher estate is very horsey.

     In a prologue to a 1989 book entitled Intermediate Riding Skills, Jim penned a marvelous real-life fable about a "Captain of Industry" who naively went off to a fox hunt in an effort to impress a comely young miss he had met at a dinner party. Equipped with only childhood dobbin-like easy riding, the Captain was overwhelmed with the huge, spirited hunter his hostess provided him and proceeded to do a Marx Brothers version of fox-hunting. Swallowing his pride, he asked her for help in learning the skills, went after it, became a proficient rider to the hunt and steeplechaser. Oh yes, he also married the girl. Yep, that’s right - it was Jim and she was Robin. The cap to the story is (are) the 11-year twins that grace their lives.