President's Letter June 2006

Dear Classmates and Special Others.
            I am writing to share some exciting news about our class.   While attending the December Alumni Council meeting as an at-large representative, I spoke briefly with Rex Morey, Assistant Director for Young Alumni and Student Programs, about our class “adopting” the incoming class of 2010.  At our 50th reunion, we will march with them at their graduation ceremonies.  This concept of “adoption” is developing into a new Dartmouth tradition.  Then, in late January or early February, Gene Kohn and Gordon Starkey met with Gail Zimmerman, Dean of First Year Students (they are no longer called freshmen) to discuss how we could best interact with the incoming class,  Out of these preliminary discussions a program developed that we now call the 1960/2010 project.  Meetings among local classmates were held each month at the Norwich Inn.  We had a teleconference with Gail Zimmerman and Rex Morey on May 3rd at which we discussed a sequence of events that our class could support financially and with classmate participation.   In addition to a 1960/2010 lapel pin, other ideas were discussed such as subsidizing the book selected for required reading, a lap top computer protective cover, memory stick, a lanyard.   Kudos are extended to Gene Kohn who researched the cost of each suggestion. The lapel pin is an item that has been given for a number of years. The First Year office entreated us to continue the tradition.  The lanyard was selected as another memento.  Overall, the cost of the pin and lanyard will be less then $4.00 per person.  Here is the 1960/2010 project schedule as it appears today.

1. Post card to the 2010 class in late July.  Denny Goodman and Bob Hager have prepared the card which will show a sepia tone picture of a bonfire during our years at Dartmouth juxtaposed with a color picture of a recent bonfire with Baker library in the background.  There will be “1960” written on the top left of the sepia photo and “2010” on the bottom right of the color photo.  The top left front will also read, “Lest the old traditions fail.”

   The message on the address side will read. 50 years later.

   The Class of 1960 welcomes the class of 2010 to the Dartmouth family
   -We’ll meet you at your September matriculation.
   -We’ll be there to support you during your years in Hanover…and beyond.
   -We’ll join you at your 2010 graduation (our 50th reunion).

2. On July 29th a copy of the Daily Dartmouth will be mailed to every member of the 2010 class.  We are trying to see if that edition can include an interview with Mort Kondracke.  If that cannot be accomplished, we intend to place an advertisement in the Daily “D” welcoming the class of 2010.
3. First year class trips to Mount Moosilauke and the College Grant.   Roger Hanlon and John Hannon are spear-heading this effort.  The trips are divided into 10 sections and start on August 29th and run through September 11.   The class trips include a wide variety of activities that include canoeing, rock climbing, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, kayaking, mountain biking, nature painting, nature photography, nature writing, organic farming, road biking, and trail-work.   Roger and John have met with the Class Trips Director and are making plans to interact with the class of 2010.   They can use help from other classmates willing to spend a day or two with them.   If you are interested, please e-mail Roger at jrhanlon@dbh.com.  Roger and John are also looking for ideas that will provide the class of 2010 with a memento from the class of 1960.
4. Matriculation on Sunday, September 17th.  The event runs from 9:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M and covers the time when lapel pins will be presented to each member of the class of 2010. We hope to have our class tent set up outside of Parkhurst Hall with a banner welcoming the new class.  Gordon Starkey along with Rick Roesch, Jim Adler, Bill Moorman, Denny Goodman, Gene Kohn, Dudley Smith, Eric Sailer, and others are coordinating the lapel pin presentation.  The goal is to have a cadre of classmates and their wives or special others working staggered hours so that no one has to commit to more than an hour or two at matriculation.  If you are interested in participating, please contact Gordon by e-mail at keystar38@tds.net.   Please use the name “Dartmouth” in the subject box so that your message is not relegated to his junk box. 
5. Lanyard presentation.  The lanyard was chosen because so many students use it to attach their room keys and college ID’s. Gene Kohn has chatted with the admissions office and is working on the time and place where the lanyard can best be presented to the members of the class of 2010.   

The required summer reading for the first year students has been selected.  The title of the book is Testimony, the Memoirs of Dmitri Shostakovich.  The book is available from the Dartmouth book store for $20 plus shipping.  Steve Swayne, Associate Professor of Music, will be the lecturer for discussions with the class of 2010.  On Friday Ocotober13th there are plans for a special discussion among classes returning for Homecoming.  Watch for a future announcement regarding the time and place for this lecture.  First year students are also encouraged to listen to Henryk Gorecki’s Symphony No. 3, Opus 36 (Symphony of Sorrowful Songs) as performed by the London Sinfonietta with Dawn Upshaw and conducted by David Zinman.

On July 8th in Hanover there will be a bike marathon in support of the Norris Cotton Cancer Center at Dartmouth.  Two teams are participating in the name of deceased classmates, “Emery’s Eagles” for Jay Emery and “Weider’s Riders” for Dudley Weider.  You can help to sponsor either or both teams by logging on to www.theprouty.org.  On the far right side of the page under Team Rank, click on “more” and scroll down to “Emery’s Eagles” and/or “Weider’s Riders.  Then, follow the directions to make a donation to Norris Cotton Cancer Center under a General Team Donation or to sponsor a particular person.  If you prefer to send a check, you can mail it c/o Rick Roesch, P.O. Box 60, Etna, NH 03750.  Make the check payable to NCCC (Norris Cotton Cancer Center) and note Emery’s Eagles and/or Weider’s Riders on the memo line.  Rick will make sure that your gift gets credited to the right team.

Finally, at its May meeting, the Alumni Council unanimously passed the new constitution that will reunite the Council and the Dartmouth Association of Alumni.  It is an exceptional document that deserves your attention and approval.  Every Dartmouth alumnus/alumna will receive a copy in July for all-media voting between September 15 and October 31.  It will take a 2/3rds majority for approval.  I urge every one of you to vote for the constitution.
I am looking forward to seeing many of you at our mini-reunion: October 13 – 15, 2006.  Watch for mini-reunion details in future correspondence.

For Dartmouth,

Ken Johansen