Class Meeting Minutes
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Dartmouth
Class of 1961 Class Meeting Minutes |
May
15, 1999 1. President Oscar Arslanian called the meeting to order and immediately expressed thanks to Bill Hutton for his great job in organizing Dartmouth By The Bay. 2. Treasurer’s Report. Class Treasurer Ivar Jozus passed out a treasurer’s report as of May 10. We have money in the treasury; dues have been paid by 295 classmates. If you have not paid your dues, please do so before June 30. Some bills are still outstanding. The biggest expenditure continues to be the Dartmouth Alumni Magazine, followed by communications and mini-reunions. 3. Secretary’s Report: Bob Conn read highlights from the class meeting on Dartmouth Night weekend, especially focusing on the statue award. (See those minutes) 4. Alumni Council representative Art Kelton discussed the upcoming meeting of the Alumni Council at which student life will be the key issue. Five or six trustees will be present. Art described some of the background as he understood it. There really are two parallel and entangled issues: fraternities and sororities and out-of-control drinking. President Wright believes that drinking at Dartmouth is beyond the norm in the Ivy League for drinking behavior. The fraternities today, more than ever, have led to a split society. Art said it was his hope that the college and the trustees will listen to the alumni. He said the greatest concern had been from the classes in the 80s and 90s, with not much reactions from the classes of the 50s-60s-70s. On another note, he said that as far as financial aid and admissions, it had always been Harvard, Yale, Princeton and then Dartmouth, and today it is Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Dartmouth. We’re competing head to head with the Big Three. He said even with the social life issue, President Wright has remained a popular guy who will make an effort to improve Dartmouth. An extended discussion ensued. 5. Minireunions. Art Johnson reported that Dartmouth Night weekend will be the Cornell game, the weekend of Oct. 23. He said we would do a lot of the same things as in the past. The class dinner on Saturday night will again be at the Sumner Inn, and catered by I’Tasca. Art said he had invited Athletics Director Dick Yeager, but Yeager had not yet accepted. The Sumner will be the headquarters, but a block of rooms has been reserved at the Airport Economy Inn. Because it also will be a fall foliage weekend(although near the end of it), book hotel reservations early. He said details would be on the class website. 6. Reunion. Art Johnson, Our 40th reunion, our last big one, is set for 2001. At an earlier class meeting it was decided that the reunion would be a mid-week affair, for two reasons, First, it is our largest reunion after the 25th, and we therefore will need facilities. At midweek, the College will give us first call on all facilities, whereas on the weekend, we would be competing with lots of other classes, and the 25th reunion group will have the prime space. By going midweek, we get the use of the air conditioned dormitory complex down by the gym. Secondly, there’s been a big change in our status, with many classmates retiring and others in a position to call the shots of when they take off. By announcing the date well in advance, most classmates should be able to block out the week. 7. 40th reunion book. Oscar noted that we are living rich, interesting lives, often very different from where we were at the 25th reunion. There had been growing discussion of the possibility of putting out a new class book for the 40th, with the text being primarily a response to a questionnaire. The new electronic techniques should make publishing far easier, with most classmates able to submit their answers by e-mail or fax (which can be captured on computer). If we decide to go with it, we will begin exploring costs with classmates in the business. We already have some volunteers to help with the book. A motion was made to proceed with the book, which passed unanimously. 8. Alumni Fund: Vic Rich reported for Pete Bleyler. As of the time of the meeting, we have raised $119,000 with 259 donors. Participation is now 45 percent; our goal is 55 percent participation. Our class goal is $175,000, so we still have a way to go. 53 classmates gave leadership gifts, which totaled $83,000. Classmates present were asked to encourage participation. 9. Website. Ron Wybranowski. Ron reported the website had now been up about 18 months. He is making improvements. He will have information on the reunions as they become available. He is concerned that classmates are not taking advantage of it, noting the limited number of email addresses in the directory, and the lack of participation in the places on the site where classmates are encouraged to participate. It can be used to publicize things or by other artists or photographers in the class. He also is encouraging links to personal sites. 10. Class project: the class of 1961 legacy. Oscar and Pete Palin reported. They passed out a three-page prospectus and narrative of what is being called "The Class of 1961 Legacy -- the American Tradition of Performance." The project is the brainchild of actor David Birney, strongly encouraged by Oscar. The prospectus begins:: "The members of the class of 1961, in appreciation for the unique and valuable contribution that College has made to our lives, wish to express our gratitude by creating a continuing gift, one dedicated to the future of Dartmouth. We wish to provide an ongoing legacy -- a living gift -- both to honor the importance of live performance in the arts in America and to sustain the long tradition of the American performance in the arts --its theater, its music, its dance -- within the Dartmouth community. This endowment would make provision for the presentation each year at the Hopkins Center an event which would be central to the American tradition of performance....Through the endowment, we also intend to promote important and substantial contact between artists and the Dartmouth student community..." Oscar said the endowment would provide programming money for generations, money that is surprisingly scarce at the Hopkins Center. Pete Palin, our bequest chair, suggested thinking of Dartmouth as you prepare or revise your will, and especially the Performing Arts Endowment. No class has done something like this, so we would be in the leadership. The quiet fund raising campaign has gone well. Of the first 10 called, eight pledged. The campaign has raised $115,000 from the first 19 gifts. He distributed a list of those 19 donors, and two additional anonymous donors. Three of the gifts are in the form of bequests, With this class meeting, the campaign goes public. Every member of the class can participate, and Oscar said he hoped to raise another $50,000 in the next days and weeks. More leadership gifts are being sought. The campaign is generating growing excitement. Oscar said he would like to see something like $250,000 in the endowment so it would be on solid footing as it begins providing performances. [The prospectus and the list of leadership gifts is attached to the written "hard" copy of these minutes.] 11. Adjourned
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