Class Newsletter April 2002

New Guinea Comes to San Francisco, Where the Jet Set Hangs, A Casual Hole-in-One, and a Big Green Wooley Bugger

Before we begin this brief escape from useful pursuits, four reminders:

• October 11-13 is our Fall Mini-Reunion this year, to be held jointly with the '59s and '61s;

• June 5-8, 2003 will be our Class Birthday Party, Chicago 65;

• The Class website is as noted above; the "forum" section, for when you really want to sound off, is www.alum.dartmouth.org/~classtlk/; and

• No matter what happens (or what follows), somebody will find a way to take it too seriously

Baseball season has begun with an average salary of over $2 million (per player, not per team), 40 times higher than in 1967; the Final Four is over, the student athletes having returned to their first love, the library; and the Queen Mum has been laid to rest with the kind of pageantry only the British can still muster. Spring is here, and this is a free country: you can turn to the tube and boost your spirits with tales of the Middle East, campaign finance reform, and Arthur Andersen. Or you can read on and chuckle at the foibles of your classmates and the College on the Hill.

Ken Taber is already getting ginned up (maybe "ginned" is not the right word for someone whose address is "Church on the Hill") for Chicago 65. Says he: "Connie and I are definitely YES to attend the Birthday Bash in Chicago. That town is Connie's 'stomping grounds' and we will help the committee in contacting people or facilitating events. We hope many, many come! We have new jobs! Connie accepted the top Human Resources position for Goodwill Industries with 11 retail outlets in West Michigan. I am going back into Church leadership when I start as Rector of St. Michael's Episcopal Church, Cascade, Michigan, a suburb of Grand Rapids, on June 1^st. I will still do counseling/coaching contracts 'on the side' to continue bridging corporate and spiritual life balances--a fascinating practice in this world. I'll have new phone June1 but in the meantime, reach me at 1-888-KEN-TABER."

McB also plans on a journey to Chicago. Writes Tom McBurney: "Yes, Barbara and I are planning on being in Chicago in June '03. It'll be great to see a lot of classmates. I keep busy with family, travel, and quite a few boards. I'm particularly enjoying the not-for-profit boards, --public radio, Minnesota Opera, and Freedom from Hunger. Barbara and I just returned from three weeks in Florence. We've spent a lot of time there over the past ten years. My interest in Renaissance art and history was sparked by some of my courses at Dartmouth. I guess a liberal arts education is a good deal [at least when it was $3,000 a year]. I'm doing a lot of writing--working on another book, plus essays, commentaries and some light stuff. All is well."

Hasenkamp (you already know he has no useable first name) says "65^th in Chicago--For Sure!" He also says, "Stop promising T-shirts! I sent the few 60^th birthday leftovers to Adler and all that remains is one slightly ratty remnant in my gym bag, which no one wants! [Hasenkamp has a gym bag? No kidding. Must be in search of immortality.] Maybe Chicago will resupply the world!" I'm just the humble messenger. If you don't get what's coming to you, shoot Hasenkamp or Adler. Finally, writes Hasenkamp, " ... I thought Reed Browning's analysis of the academy clear, accurate and compelling" (as did several other classmates).

Department of "Kids Say the Darndest Things": from the "Daily D" of Feb. 28 in a column by an '05 (a freshperson): "No matter what positive spin I try to give to the situation, the truth remains that I am not getting any younger." As JFK might have intoned, "Let her come to Chicago."

"Mort Kondracke Green Cards: "Thanks to you and Ken Reich for giving so much kind attention to Saving Milly. And to classmates who've written me and/or contributed money to the Parkinson's Action Network. I've corrected the 'Dartmouth University' egregious error in the paperback edition which is coming out in May. FYI, Milly did decide to get a feeding tube and it's made a great difference in her strength, health and attitude." Mort is at mmk@ROLLCALL.com

Looking for something to read? Round John Mitchell offers this: "Next time pick Dawn to Decadence by Jacques Barzun. It's literate and fascinating. It's a survey course in Western thought from 1500 to 2000 AD ... .His style is spellbinding. I just finished it. I'll trade it for a Dartmouth Bible. My father read the DB in Freshman English in 1926, so maybe it has survived the test of time, if not PC deconstruction. As Bloom said in How to Read, "You could de-construct Shakespeare ... but why bother?"

The cover of the program of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco reads "Masterworks of New Guinea Art, Selections from the Marcia and John Friede Collection." The program is for a Feb. 2-May 5 exhibit of works possessing "a primal artistry that is unparalleled anywhere else in the world.". "The Friede Collection," says an announcement "is ranked both in quality and quantity as the most outstanding private collection of Oceanic Art in the world, and rivals some of the most important museum holdings in the United States, Europe, and Australia ... Marcia and John Friede, are New York connoisseurs and collectors who, within the last three and a half decades, have assembled the largest and most important collection of New Guinea art in the world .... In assembling this spectacular collection, Marcia and John Friede have preserved for the world a piece of fragile humanity that might have otherwise been lost."

A review in the San Francisco "Chronicle" calls the collection "an astonishing display of Oceanic art ... . The 19 objects ... ..being exhibited have come to the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco by gift and purchase from eminent New York collectors Marcia and John Friede. An agreement with the Friedes promises that hundreds more artifacts belonging to them will follow those on view at the Fine Arts Museums, which would make the de Young Museum one of the great repositories of Oceanic art in America when it reopens in 2005 ... .. the Oceanic artifacts on view ... .have an intensity of presence that modern painting and sculpture seldom achieve ... .. the disquieting effect of the New Guinea artifacts at the Legion begs to be explained. To dwell on their graces of craft and formal invention seems like postponement of a reckoning with their uncanny force."

Tom Marx has sent not only the attached photo of granddaughter Amalia and him, but this exchange between the two of them: "On your grandkids theme. Early the other morning my six-year-old granddaughter, Amalia, ... .. accompanied me as I got ready for work and joined me for breakfast. As I was leaving the house the following exchange took place at the front door. Grandpa: I enjoyed our morning together Amalia. Amalia: So did I Grandpa. Grandpa: I love you baby. Amalia: I know that Grandpa. Grandpa: That's just something I like to say to people in our family. Amaila: Everyone in the world's in our family. Grandpa: How's that baby? Amalia: Adam and Eve were the first parents. Their children had children and the children kept having children. So everyone's in our family. Even robbers." [And politicians?]

Jack Hodgson, see photo, has a fishing boat named "Big Green Wooley Bugger," which he says "matches the Dartmouth Green Explorer that tows it. The name and the logo are painted near the bow." For a mythical Hasenkamp T-shirt, who knows what a Wooley Bugger is?

Leach Grands Samantha, Phoebe, and Paige, with various relatives.

Samantha feeds Phoebe

Gus Leach has been lying low of late, but surfaced recently with the following: "It's time for all you Republicans, whether overt or closet types, to take note of what your President is permitting to be done to Canada and other countries. Protectionism seems to be running rampant in the USA these days. We're getting screwed by the US lumber lobby (to the detriment of your domestic housing industry by the way); and other countries are encountering similar problems with other materials. Guys, it's serious. Really. Backlash talk is already surfacing up here - such as imposing export duties on oil, natural gas & water. Remember, we supply a large amount of your daily energy needs [like Molson's and LaBatt's] ... ..If you've got any pull with anyone in Washington, now's the time to speak up. The USA thrives on free trade .... so don't let your government stifle it. Your North-of-the-Border pal." Gus, meanwhile, suffering intensely from this latest U.S. injustice, finishes a recent message thusly: "Well, enough pontificating. Time to get organized for the day's skiing. It'll feel a bit odd, having been away from the boards for 2 1/2 weeks. But, with my superior skills and athletic physique, I'm sure I'll overcome any jitters - as long as I stay on the baby runs!!"

From David Horn: "Just got your latest and sat right down to read it. I like the way you mix the heavy and the light stuff. [What light stuff? This is serious information we're pedaling.] Time to let you and the others in on the latest lifestyle change for Horn. I'm going fulltiming. No, not on the Harley, although that will be part of it. I'm selling the house and just about everything in it and moving into my new 38 ft motor home, and I intend to start traveling fulltime. I just turned 63 and I've been talking about this for a few years and decided it was now time to get on with it. I'll pack the Harley on a lift on the back of the motor home and pull a car behind that so I will be totally mobile. Just me and my little Norfolk terrier ... .[Shades of Steinbeck.]

"And what will I do? Well, I intend to get around and see as many Frank Lloyd Wright buildings as I can and also indulge in my new Civil War interest by visiting the many battlefields and important locations. [To quote Dave Barry here, "There is a very fine line between 'hobby' and 'mental illness.'] I'll need a list of classmates around the country with 40 ft flat driveways ... . I'll accept email offers at dshogman@charter.net"

Doug Whitney isn't about to retire it seems. He's reported in the Perinton-Fairport "Post," the paper of record (for Pittsford, NY) to have split with his old law partner and will practice on his own now. Doug, says the article, has been engaged in the general practice of law for 34 years. He is a member of the Monroe County and New York State Bar Associations, and is the current attorney for the village of Fairport. He is a former director and chairman of the board of directors of the Fairport Baptist Homes, and currently serves on its foundation board of directors, is a member and past president of the Fairport Rotary Club, and was elected to the Fairport High School Wall of Fame. Doug, look soon for fellow Rotarian Horn to be parking his trailer in your drive.

While going to some effort over the years to put our neighbors to the north--specifically Leach and Bond--in their proper places, it is worth noting that some nice things are to be found up there. Check out www.imagesofcanada.com on the Internet. It just happens to be the mail order company of Diane Bond, who somehow manages to live with our David. He, meanwhile, obviously suffering from one too many body checks, would have you not forget too quickly the Olympic hockey results. Scribbles Economist Bond: " ... . Remember, I want major cowtowing with regards to hockey (male and female)."

Ace cub reporter Allen Stowe, now covering the sports scene, reports, "Dorla's Back! Playing with a 36 handicap, Dorla Brock shot a 97 and 98 to carry Tom and Allen and Wendy Stowe to victory Feb. 21-24 in the Quail Valley Golf Club Mixed Member/Guest Championship [Vero Beach's answer to the Masters]. Allen is a "for sure" for both our early Homecoming (Oct. 11-13) and for Chicago 65,

And speaking of the little round ball, Hank Greer writes: " ... several of us hosted a Dragon Invitational golf tournament here in the Lowcountry of SC. Dick Chase and I were the only '60s. Bottom line: Dick had his first hole-in-one...and the first hole-in-one ever on a new Rees Jones course that was opened in November of last year. Chasie didn't see the big deal with it all...but the rest of us did!"

Mal Churchill, who must think he's still writing State Department cables, has crammed all of the following onto one Green Card: "We've attended a couple of Association for Asian Studies annual meetings in Chicago in March (!) and loved it. June will be even better. I hate to say this but the last newsletter made me think that some of us are in danger of turning into old fogies, the kind that think nothing is as good as when they were young and everything is going to hell in a hand basket. Fortunately, most of us still seem able to see shades of gray [especially in Hanover in March].

"For those who do, here's a quandary for which there probably is no good answer. Most of us, I think, applaud the tolerance that Americans have shown toward Muslims since 9/11. How do we maintain this tolerance while at the same time speaking out, as we should, against intolerance when it is displayed by Muslims? Today's [Feb. 26] 'Washington Post' has an article on Muslim schools. While the article contains many examples of Muslims and Muslim schools seeking to be faithful both to Islam and to American values, consider these chilling lines: 'The 11^th -grade text book, for example, says one sign of the Day of Judgment will be that Muslims will fight and kill Jews, who all will hide behind trees that say "Oh, Muslim, here is a Jew hiding behind me. Come and kill him." Several students said that in Islamic studies they are taught that it is better to shun and even to dislike Christians, Jews, and Shiite Muslims. Some teachers focus more on hatred ... .they teach students that whatever is Kuffar (non-Muslim), it is okay for you to hurt or steal from that person.' Picture the reaction (continues Mal) if any non-Muslim school were found to be teaching such intolerance directed against some other group. We would condemn it without hesitation." [And I, for one, would stay clear of talking trees.]

Bob and Maura Prouty, like any good American medical family, were off gallivanting in Europe on Sept. 11, but only got around to sending a Green Card in late February. Scribbles Bob: "Maura and I were in Ireland on Sept. 11 on a Dartmouth Alumni college trip. The Irish people were wonderful and very sympathetic. There was a moving prayer service in the center of Kinsale, the lovely small town where we were staying. This was our second Dartmouth Alumni trip. The first was a year before to Wales. Both trips were excellent and educational with several lectures by a Dartmouth professors. Frank and Judy Virnelli were also on the Ireland trip. I'm still practicing Pediatrics full time." Laura-Beth and I were in Warsaw Sept. 11 and the response from Poles was truly moving: day after day they covered the sidewalk in front of our embassy with hundreds of fresh candles and signs expressing their sympathy and support, while scores of people stood there, some in prayer, some in tears.

Spencer Morgan has finally ended his long war with the 20^th and 21^st Centuries, bought a Dell, and is on email. Says he: "I refuse to become a slave to this dang thing; so if people don't hear from me they will know why. I'd rather ski or paint soldiers." Well, it wouldn't hurt if about 300 of you introduced him to the real world by sending him something at smorgan863@aol.com Spencer is about to forsake the Uppah Valley, moving to North Carolina (near Asheville) in May.

Dick Davidson, after surgery for cancer of the lymph nodes, reports, "I am in good health ... .We'll see you in October."

If you need a good occasional laugh, check out the sophisticated and irreverent website www.satirewire.com/news/feb02/judge.shtml That much-circulated satire on the countries that were unhappy not to be included in the president's evil axis originated there. So did one on how the French judge ruled that the Taliban, based on style, had won the Afghan war over its American/British competition. According to the spoof, "Despite making what most observers agreed were 'obvious technical errors,' such as surrendering, the Taliban were awarded victory in the Afghanistan war last night after the French judge said they won on presentation ... .."

From a "NYTimes" article on Feb. 17, the topic, campaign finance reform: "But Robert A. Farmer--who notes that he is still called 'the father of soft money' for his success in building an intimidating war chest for Michael S. Dukakis's presidential campaign in 1988--said big donors are not about to fade away. 'At the end of the day, whoever wins the presidential nomination will have a list of several hundred people who have traditionally given $100,000 or more,' Mr. Farmer said. 'They'll get the list and call those people. They'll say, "You can't give $100,000 now, but you are permitted to give money to parties in these 10 states where we have the biggest problem."'" (Bob's numbers are probably more accurate than my quotation marks.)

A March 29 Mort Kondracke column offers this definitive wisdom on the same subject: "It's good that political parties soon won't be able to collect soft money, but campaign finance reform isn't about to turn political operatives into angels. It's possible that one unintended consequence of reform will be to make American politics even more negative, harsh and partisan than at present. That's because, to make up for the loss of soft money ($500 million in 2000), the parties will have to collect as much as they can in hard money and spend it in ways that will deliver the most devastating bang for the buck. So we should expect direct-mail soliciting that is even more strident than now, fund-raising calls to corporate executives that are higher pressure, and ads that excoriate opponents even more harshly to get the message across The best aspect of the new reform law is that it will bar federal officeholders, including presidents and members of Congress, from pressuring corporate executives, union officers and rich people to make huge contributions to national parties. That has been a corrupting process all around."

I was sure there must have been another plane crash, but instead there was Bob Hager in his Olympic duds at Salt Lake City, reporting on security measures there. Wanna bet that NBC folks like our guy Bob didn't go through any metal detectors?

Recent headlines from the "Daily D": De-recognized Zete still partying, recruiting; College hosts third year of 'Vagina Monologues'; Trustees increase tuition 4.5 percent; College can't touch Zeta Psi (Dartmouth has lost its authority to regulate the de-recognized house, legal experts say); Sharpton social justice speech receives mixed reactions (Al Sharpton spoke at Rollins); College sets strategic plan; modernization of academic facilities and increased efforts to promote diversity among the initiatives proposed by College President James Wright; Dartmouth athletics receives top-20 rank (from "U.S. News and World Report"); Class of 2006 at a Glance: Applicants admitted-2077; Acceptance rate-20%; Students of color-37%; Women admitted 50.6%, Men 49.4%, Others 16% [just kidding]; Avg. SAT-Math 724, Verbal 714.

You will be pleased to know that the Class now has one of the foremost experts on Navajo chanting in the country. L-B and I met up in Las Vegas last October with Hap Dunning and Carolyn Geiger and spent eight great days traveling east across southern Utah and west across northern Arizona. Brice, Zion, Capitol Reef, Bridges, Monument Valley, Canyon de Chelly, Grand Canyon, Sedona, Hoover Dam. Fabulous scenery, great company. But the car was small, especially carrying a huge pumpkin carved up on Halloween at a nice B&B in Blanding, UT. And it got a lot smaller when Hap purchased a CD of Navajo chanting, which he insisted we listen to constantly for the next three days while in Indian country. I am no musical expert, but I can guarantee you there were no more than two notes and five syllables on that entire disk. Now we are thinking of meeting up next fall in the U.K. A week of Sgt. Pepper?

Got a few minutes to mess around on the Internet? Who doesn't? Try this: www.michaeltroberts.com/lotus It's a glimpse of what Al and Pam Roberts' son Michael '00 produced as a Senior Fellow, a rock opera on Viet Nam. Interesting, and very impressive.

John Goyette, recently returned from flitting about Puerto Rico and the D.R., sent this about an outing last Fall: "Pete Hawks and I had a fabulous hike up Camel's Hump in VT yesterday. It's a totally 'bald' mountain with snow on the roof! At the summit he gave me a visual tour of Lake Champlain and Adirondacks west, Mt Mansfield, north and NH 'Whites' to the east. On top, the whole world gets into perspective. Regarding professors at D, they are not the A types who get things done in the world. .Consequently one has to balance what you hear, and at times chuckle at their naivete. The best prof I ever had at D was Churchill Lathrop teaching art appreciation. He was a shoe salesman before he became a professor...brought credence to the classroom. Regards the ongoing D debate, it's nice but out there we are in a war and we have to get them before they get us. It's not a time for being in a defensive mode. It's time for the A types to act."

Gary and future hoopster, Paul

Our ancient hoopsters have a full court press on me for a slight omission in the last NL. In recalling our old round ball heroes, I guess I neglected some guy named Vandeweghe.. I mentioned Sos, Chuck, 'Banks, and Barney but neglected my Ripley neighbor, Gary. I think he may have had a little to do with that 1959 title, but these days he probably wishes he'd spent that time with the golf team. Let the record stand corrected, thanks to Scoops Farnsworth and to that old jump shot artist himself, Gary, who assures me, "No offense, but I wanted you to know I read the NL with interest." And I thought all he did was play golf. To make amends, here is Gary's response to the request for photos with your grands.

Life must be unusually dull in Europe these days. Well, after all, the general conclusion in our part of the world is that Europe is not much more than an afterthought, able to complain endlessly about the U.S., but unable any longer to carry its load in the world. Maybe that's why Nate Witham has time to write the following: "Latest newsletter was the usual welcome mix of enlightenment [you're kidding, of course], controversy and jollification. I read it just as soon as I finish the Lincoln County News of Damariscotta, Maine. Grandchildren are a good topic, and our first was born a while ago in Hannover (the one with two n's). [So where is the photo?] As for pastimes, I'm not sure if living outside the country counts as extended foreign travel or is just an aberration. Latest figures show that 17,000 Americans immigrated to Germany in the course of a year--seventh largest group after Yugoslavians, Poles, Turks, Italians, Russians, and Romanians. I have no idea what that means. Could be the pernicious influence of those liberal professors. As for myself, I have a good excuse, and we've just celebrated our 35^th wedding anniversary." Find Nate at Siekenweg 29, 37603 Holzminden, Germany. Better yet, read his interesting contribution to "More Musings," as I just did.

Say your prayers: It's not enough that our chief fund raiser and arm twister is about the biggest guy in the class, but now Ken Johansen is going to have even greater power over us. Scribbles the gentle giant: " ... you may recall a conversation we had at Homecoming in 1999 that I was studying to be a Lay Minister. Well, on January 12, 2002 I was commissioned as a Parish Lay Minister by the bishop of the North Texas/North Louisiana Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The ceremony culminated two years of study that included the Gospels, the Epistles of Paul, the major and minor prophets, the Torah, church history, pastoral care, leadership, and preaching. Believe it or not, I can be assigned by the bishop to deliver a sermon where a congregation does not have a pastor. [Friends, we are gathered here to raise a few bucks for a small college ... ] ... ..I have taken on a ministry for my own congregation in developing and leading an Adult Forum wherein we examine today's social, economic, and philosophic events from a Christian perspective. We conduct an occasional bible study just to keep us on the straight and narrow. My wife Ruth will also be commissioned this year after completing one more semester of study. Outside of church, we are also volunteer trail guides at the Heard Wildlife Museum and Sanctuary. The Heard is a private charity that conducts outdoor classes for adults, teachers, children from local public schools, people who school their children at home. The sanctuary is comprised of 289 acres ... .On a bird walk in September, ... .. Ruth and I flushed a flock of 150 or so white pelicans. What a sight to see. It is almost needless to say that Ruth and I are totally enjoying our life in Texas. In addition to the church and the Heard Sanctuary, another reason for that enjoyment is my involvement with the Dartmouth Club of Dallas. I was asked and accepted the job of Treasurer in January last year. You can add to that the job of Head Agent for our class and its wonderful, but sometimes frustrating, contact with classmates. Right now, I wouldn't trade places with anyone ... ." Sounds like Regestein. To pay for this life of luxury, I forward the following, sent separately by Ken:

"With class of 1960 goals of $401,960 with 70% participation, here are the results for our class through March 1, 2002

As you can readily see, we are ahead in participation but lag far behind in terms of dollars."

And in the same vein, Dudley Smith sends this: "The Gift Planning Office reports the College has received a $100,000. distribution from the estate of Anne Youle Stein. The funds are to be used for scholarships. She is the aunt of classmate John Youle. For information regarding bequest provisions and life income trusts, write or call the Gift Planning Office (1-800-451-4067) or Dudley Smith, our Class Chair."

Looking for a little extra cash in retirement? Come to the Uppah Valley. This from a recent classified ad in the local paper: Dartmouth College--It's Where You Want to Be: Administration: Associate Dean of Pluralism & Leadership; Director, Animal Care & Use Program. Athletics: 2^nd Assistant Coach--Women's Ice Hockey; Assistant Coach-Women's Volleyball. [Sorry, guys, they don't seem to need a tight ends coach this year, but Assoc. Dean of Pluralism???]

Which somehow brings us to this from Allan Cameron: "As I was reading the latest Alumni Magazine, I began to wonder if I'm the only one these days who reads it from the back. Who died and what's going on with my class/generation seem more important than what's going on with the College.

"I was taken aback, though, by Armknecht's comment that some of us 'have reached the end of our economic productivity.' Just don't tell my wife--I'd catch hell! On the other hand, I also found that, when reaching 62, there is no reason to defer taking a government annuity if one is available, so I do that in addition to being employed. It occurs to me that my 'work' might not meet Armknecht's test of 'productivity.' Sobering thought."

And from Allan's Inside-the-Beltway lunch mate, Andy Paul: "Allan and I are still at it over an occasional lunch that inevitably turns into a foreign policy discussion (and we seem to agree most of the time!). I think it is the Cold War warrior mind set that we were all raised, educated and trained in, and I guess that he and I still haven't let go -- actually not such a bad thing in light of everything that has been going on in the world. And, of course, even though I'll forgive Allan at having been in the Navy while I did my time in the Army, our approach to so many of these problems seems quite the same (although I can't speak for him).

"I'm flattered that you asked me for some observations on the current situation, not that I am more qualified than the next guy to make a commentary. However, several distinct issues come to mind as I contemplate the current state of affairs. 1) There is an uncanny confluence of trends that has come to bear in our society as the events of 9/11 have unfolded. On the one hand, we have the most sophisticated and powerful war making ability in the history of civilization. And, as our military technologies continue to develop, we are witnessing specialized combat on an almost risk-free scale due to the increasingly precise nature of weapons delivery systems, i.e., pinpoint destruction of specific targets by remote control instead of having to utilize mass armies as envisioned in the older NATO Cold War model. At the same time, our society was in the process of perfecting the 'Me First' model, as individualism, greed, excess, and general social insensitivity had acquired a level that, at least in my opinion, threatened to dissolve what little remains of our national ethic. The overriding question in my mind is whether (or when) we will revert to this behavior. The battle to confront and eradicate the Al Quaeda may not be put to rest for years, as it is inextricably woven into some broader global issues. I fear that at some point our social fabric will continue to erode once Americans become over-confident that our high-tech military can contain any threat from outside.

"An interesting side issue: I spent some time in a Special Forces unit (are Jablonski and I the only airborne qualified '60's?) from 1962-1965 when the mission then was based on the OSS model from WWII. That entailed infiltration by Allied teams behind the lines to train partisans to engage in guerrilla and/or conventional warfare against the Germans. The concept was successful and contributed at least partially to the creation of the Special Forces concept as a permanent part of the U.S. military. During the Vietnam era, the SF mission became one of counter-guerrilla warfare, on the notion that if they knew how to fight like guerrillas, then they should be able to fight against guerrillas. Now, interestingly enough, the modern SF became the force on the ground in Afghanistan, acquiring targets for the smart munitions and working with the Northern Alliance groups that were resisting the Taliban - back to the WWII model!

"I urge any classmate who is interested in the U.S./Al Quaeda issue to read Thomas Friedman's pieces in the 'NY Times.' He is precise, concise, and knows the Middle East like no one else. Above all, his book, From Beirut to Jerusalem, is a masterpiece and should be required reading for anyone with curiosity in the matter.

"I left my job as the chief lobbyist for the satellite industry last November and have set up a consulting business from home which is just getting off the ground (the business, not my home). Britt-Marie continues to work at the Swedish Embassy so we aren't looking at quitting just yet - but I'm pleased to report that our vacations are becoming more frequent and are of longer duration."

Pat Ingersoll, clearly the more literate one in that family, writes Feb. 20 of Russ: "This is a big day for the Ingersolls. Russ announced his retirement today -he will serve as Headmaster of Christ School to the end of academic year 2002-2003 and then FREEDOM. We'll probably be in your neck of the woods more often than you like."

John "Black Label" Walker will be on sabbatical this fall, coming east to do research at some unnamed university on the Charles River and, possibly to attend our Oct. 11-13 Class homecoming mini-reunion. But poor John has a minor problem. "Things are going quite well for me, other than having to bear the name of a Taliban warrior. But that is not so bad as sharing a name with an even more dangerous atomic spy in the 1980's. It would have been far better to have stuck with the Scotch Whiskey."

Rick Roesch has been hiding out in San Francisco to avoid facing A Real Man's Winter in Etna. But he is still up to his neck in Green: "Attended, along with Bob Caulfield and his Princess Margaret, a meet-the-author event at Barnes & Noble in Berkeley to celebrate Mary Ford-Grabowsy's (Axel's better half) [I thought Axel's better half was his good knee] wonderful new book Sacred Voices, a most impressive compilation of 'essential women's wisdom through the ages.' Included is a piece by their daughter Tara (D'91 who you will recall sang with her group at our 35th) who has completed Stanford Medical and recounts an interaction with a patient - Tara had flown out from her residency in Boston and read the piece, and it brought tears to many eyes (mine included). This book is a must gift for every '60 spouse and special other, and the rest of us will be better for reading it as well.

"I also have a lengthy baseball article from yesterday's SF 'Chronicle' entitled 'Local teams have been guided by eclectic assortment of GMs.' It lauds the A's 'cool and sophisticated Roy Eisenhardt' as 'a lawyer, tennis player, carpenter, pianist, former crew coach and patron of the arts, with a natural wit and charm that disarmed everyone.' The author goes on to say, 'I remember him as the most impressive person I'd ever met in a sporting front office and that hasn't changed over 20-plus years. He might have baffled people with his observations (he once described the A's efforts as "Sisyphean"), but he proved to be a marvelous tonic in a stuffed-shirt world.' It also confirms that Roy attended 'Dartmouth University.'" Rick suggests Roy might be a good candidate to replace Dick Jaeger as the "University's" athletic director, but I hear the search committee is trying to get Robert Hutchens.

From Montana, this from doc Wheeler Daniels, recently in NYC: "I gathered from your NL that the Dartmouth faculty was critical of the US and demonstrated little or no compassion for the victims - it is so easy to sit in their ivory tower, smoking their pipes and pontificate - without any concept of the real world - the more distressing aspect is the fact that they impart their liberalism to their students - I spent 5 weeks as a volunteer at Ground Zero and saw first hand the devastation and grief - perhaps some of those professors should do the same - I'm sorry to be associated with the college."

Amidst the comments from many, and not just Wheeler, about the bias and possibly the wrong-headedness of some members of the Dartmouth faculty, I offer this, culled from a booklet of John Sloan Dickey speeches of another era, the date, March 13, 1953: "I want to remind each one of us, including again particularly myself, that there is another duty, a large, positive, pervasive duty that goes with the daily work of this business, and that is to see to it that the honest and independent-minded scholar who is deemed by his colleagues to be professionally competent is not driven from the market places of higher education because his views are unpopular in the eyes of his critics."

Ever wonder what the Jet Set is up to? Here from the mountains of Colorado this word from Alan Danson: "I met Mickey Straus and wife Laila on the slopes in Vail last week - we rode the lift together. Five '60s, with wives, will attend a performance of dance group Pilobolus (Dartmouth origin) next Sunday evening, 03/31, at the Vilar Center for the Performing Arts - Richard and Sissel Pomboy; Gerry and Cat Huttrer; Jim and Judy Progin; Joe and Brenda McHugh and yours truly with Silvia. All are full or part time residents in the area (Huttrers in Breckenridge, Progins in Beaver Creek, the rest in Vail). All attended a wonderful St Patrick's-day party at the McHugh's on the 17th, which is where I hatched the idea of going to see Pilobolus.

The Jet Set (707 vintage): Beadle, Foley, Dunning, and Hirschey.

  Hirshcey Urban Hirschey sends pictures from the most recent skiing reunion of some other Jet Set '60s, including Hap Dunning, Dick Foley, Tom Beadle and Urban. "We are still hanging ["drooping" might be a more appropriate word for it] in there - even Tom had a lot of energy and although he didn't hit the slopes this year, he hung in there for the apres skiing part - which as we get older seems to grow in proportion to the skiing part. We skied Heavenly and stayed in a condo at South Lake Tahoe this year ... ..We have lost count of the number of skiing reunions we have had but are sure it is in excess of 20."

When not on the Vail slopes, Danson would have you know that "Planning continues apace for the June 5-8, 2003 Chicago Birthday Party. PLEASE SAVE THE DATES, and thank you to those of you who e-mailed with your intentions. Detailed information will go out by mail in the fall. In the meantime, if you know what your plans are, please send me an e-mail at aland@vailnet.com Also, the organizing committee (Danson, Freedman, MacLean and Notaro) is looking for local volunteers to help with the planning and execution. [Dave Chevrier, you can run, but you can't hide.] If you are interested in helping, contact Walter Freedman at wfreeds@aol.com" Among those so far planning definitely on "Chi 65" are Sam McMurtrie, Ken Taber, Mal Churchill, Phil Kron, Tom McBurney, Bruce Hasenkamp, Bob Prouty, Cub Reporter Stowe, Russ Brooks, and, naturally, the poor unfortunate ladies who live with them.

I know some of you more intellectual types collect these off the net, but I pass them along for the less cultured among us: OLD IS WHEN....A sexy babe catches your eye and your pacemaker opens the garage door; OLD IS WHEN..."Getting a little action" means you don't have to take any fiber that day; OLD IS WHEN...."Getting lucky" means you find your car in the parking lot.

[image of post card goes here]

Next time you curse the Post Office, consider that this card from "Rafter Jack" "Patsy" Patterson, somewhere out on the Appalachian Trail in NC, or TN, arrived at its destination address, sans zip, in four days. As the address says, "wahoo."

Our newly-discovered Class Poet Alan Danson, welcomes spring thusly:

High Country Spring: "The sun like a tireless climber finally crests the icy peak to warm the frozen valley it had abandoned in the fall. Gathering strength and climbing higher by the day, it breaks the ice jams and clears the beaver pond for the newly arrived geese pairs.

"Unlocked from winter ice the river tests its voice, like a singer warming up for a concert, while shadowed, north-facing canyons still hold frozen waterfalls, now dirty and in disrepair and soon to add their trickle to the rising flow.

"Meadows of grasses appear, compressed like hair too long under a cap, an occasional stalk of last autumn's thistle still standing tall -- nature's cowlick left to remind us of the continuity of seasons.

"Patches of gritty snow remain in the shade of rocks, preserving momentarily the tracks of fox and deer and elk as Paleolithic sandstone preserves the marks of other, long vanished creatures. Deer mouse and vole runs uncovered by the retreating snow are everywhere, dark meanders looking like tunnels built by children on the beach at low tide. Bones held fast in the frozen mud of the riverbank, picked clean over winter by hungry scavengers, testify to an earlier struggle in the winter=s cold and dark.

"The willow bush at the sunny turning in the trail, its south facing branches already greening, provides a sign of abundant growth to come. Gardens have been blooming in the lower valleys for at least a month, but here there still will be more freezes and snowfalls. Spring comes slowly to the high country, and all the sweeter for that."

Further Green Carding or emailing of your intentions re the October football weekend and Chicago 65 would be most appreciated. Happy Mud Season. 

dg