President’s Report

Minutes of Class of 1967 Class Meeting
October 13, 2012.

President Sam Ostrow called the Class to order at 8:30 AM. 

Current Reports/Status

The Class Meeting, held in Silsby Hall and attended by over 80 classmates as well as spouses and partners, began with Officers Reports.  These included presentations on class statistics and demographics (Dave Mangelsdorff) and Officers' reports by Rick Geissinger, Treasurer (Class has $64,000 in conservatively invested assets, approximately 280 dues payers and has filed all College and IRS financial reports on a timely basis); Howard Sharfstein , Gift Planning  (We have a good number of Bartlett Tower Society members and creating an estate plan that includes Dartmouth now makes more sense than ever);  and Sam Ostrow (Class website – we are getting over 30 unique hits a week, doing regular updates through our paid webmaster, blogging is NOT doing that well, visit the Superlinks page for photographs, web links for classmates, demographic information, etc.  ).

Updates on current Class Projects included: Win Johnson (Dartmouth Partners in Community Service [DPCS]); Paul Killebrew, Sr. (Dartmouth Athletic Recruiting trips); recent "one-off" projects (ski book, Class of '42 book, Memorial Grove); and Sam Ostrow (Dartmouth Alumni Magazine electronic archive). The DPCS project has been supported up to $5,000 yearly, with a 1 to 1 match of checkoff money up to that level from the Class Treasury. They are seeking alumni mentors to guide students who are looking for projects and activities; volunteers are encouraged to talk with Win Johnson and Michael Tucker who are the class representatives.  Support for Athletic Recruiting comes under two categories: class checkoff sponsors ($1,200 counted toward class participation) and funds sent directly to athletic programs by Friends (not counted as class participation). If you want to maximize the impact, support both. The Ski Book and film Passion for Skiing will no longer be included in the check off option. The Class of '42 book with vignettes from World War II was quite successful. The Memorial Grove refurbishment received an advance of $1,900 from the Class Treasury, which was fully offset by contributions from class members.  Funding will be sought from the Class to ensure perpetual maintenance.  A request to consider funding an electronic archive of the Dartmouth Alumni Magazine was discussed ($65,000 requested).  Further discussions are planned.

Class Dues were voted to remain at $50 per year. Per the decision of the Trustees, funding for the Dartmouth Alumni Magazine will not come from class dues. It was voted that support for DPCS will be matched 1-to-1 from the checkoff up to a $6,000 contribution (i.e., up to $3,000 of checkoff contributions will be matched by up to $3,000 from the Treasury. Athletic Recruiting receives nominal Treasury support as required to reach $1200.

The 2012-13 Mini-Reunion Schedule remains active.  The Washington DC gathering was held November 3 (Bob Burka and John Isaacs).  The Boston mini is set for February 9 (John Manaras).  A New York City event is proposed for May (perhaps a sports event).  The Rhode Island golf event (Larry Bowen) date will be set after consultation with the RICC.  A 67 contingent will meet at CarniVAIL in Colorado from March 1-3, 2013 (John Lobitz).  

50th Reunion planning
50th Reunion Planning began with a discussion of proposed major class projects (Ed Kern: Moosilauke and rebuilding the Jean Baptiste cabin; Hugh Freund and David Lowenstein: creating a permanent Class of 1967 A Space for Dialogue Room in the expanded Hood Museum). It was agreed the Class will go forward with both projects, subject to formal proposals from sponsors of each project including adequate advance funding commitments.
College Fund Report and 50th Reunion Planning: John Kornet (Head Agent) reported on support of the College Fund. The Class raised $356,000 with 47.7% participation. It was proposed to target a 67%
participation rate (everyone donating something) for the 50th reunion. The consensus was the class supported multiple specific class projects rather than an overall gift to the College and, therefore, that a modest College Fund dollar goal would be adopted.  

Class Connections Program Rob Kugler talked of adopting the Class of 2017 thru the Class Connections
Program in which the graduating class 2017 is paired with the 50 year reunion class attending the commencement. The intent is to bridge Dartmouth's past and present. 

50th Year book will present individual classmate’s reflections on the milestones of our era (Vietnam, Human Rights movements, etc.). John Isaacs leading).  Interviews and alumni surveys are being considered.  An electronic collection of photos and other mementoes of classmates, class reunions and other class activities will be researched and developed.  

Class Elections

The Slate of Class Officers (all of the current officers accepted renewal) was ratified and approved by those attending   David Millane was nominated and approved as Alumni Council representative to succeed Rob Kugler for the 2013-16 term.  Ed Kern was nominated, approved, and added to the Class Executive Committee.

No new business was considered.  The meeting adjourned at 11:43 AM.

Submitted,

1. David Mangelsdorff

Secretary, Dartmouth Class of 1967

 

45th Reunion

The Executive Committee confirmed that the Dartmouth College Class of 1967 45th Reunion will be held October 11-14, 2012 in and around Hanover. The theme is “67 is 67.” The event will feature panels led by experts from the College on Maintaining Physical, Mental and Emotional Health and on Maintaining Financial Security. We will provide tours on Thursday afternoon of The Hood Museum, the new Visual Arts Center, the new North Campus buildings and the new Life Sciences Building, followed by dinner at the new Thayer. Friday will feature the panels, and dinner and entertainment at our classmate John and Gail Wasson’s wonderful old barn in Lebanon. On Saturday we will have a Class Meeting (including a Class panel on being 67, a discussion of Planned Giving to Dartmouth, approval of Class projects, discussion of plans for the 50th, election of Class Officers) and a Memorial Service and rededication of the Class of 67 Memorial Grove at Occum Pond. . There will be a Class Tent and lunch before the football game, and afternoon activities for non-fans are being scheduled. Dinner will be at the fabulous McLane Lodge at the Dartmouth Skiway. Complete details and budgets are being developed and will be provided via e-mail alerts, on the Class of 67 website (www.dartmouth.org/classes/67), in letters to the Class and in upcoming newsletters. The Class and the College will NOT provide accommodations. Bruce Pacht, the World’s Greatest Reunion Chairman, and mastermind of the 45th, is publishing a list of hotels and inns in the area. It will be mailed and e-mailed to all classmates and posted on the website.

New York City Mini-Reunion, May 19, 2012

The Executive Committee confirmed plans for a New York City Mini-Reunion at the World Trade Center Memorial and City Hall Restaurant on May 19, 2012. Howard Sharfstein, Hugh Freund and Jack Harris have been organizing this stellar event. Please see the enclosed announcement for details and please use the reply card enclosed with the class newsletter to signify your attendance.

Washington, Boston and Rhode Island Mini-Reunions for 2012

The Mini-Reunion chairs for each of our annual events confirmed those events will be held at their usual times (Boston January 28, Rhode Island late September, Washington late October) in 2012.

Financial Report

Rick Geissinger presented the Financial Report. The Class Treasury has over $66,000 in secure, interest paying deposits, and had a nominal asset gain in FY 2011. We experienced a net increase of one dues payer, although we are down approximately 50 payers over the past few years. Most classes have even greater declines. A team, led by former Class President Bill Bogardus, is being put together to assist Rick in contacting non-payers to encourage participation. Dues were set again at $50 for the year, which includes the required subscription for all Class members to the Dartmouth Alumni Magazine. It was agreed to keep 67 widows on the Magazine and newsletter mailing lists unless they request to be removed. It was agreed to maintain all of the check-offs for Class projects, including Treasury matches 1-1 up to a total Class gift of $5,000 to Dartmouth Partners, and a match up to a Class total of $1,200 for the Dartmouth Athletic Recruiting Trips project. The Ski History project will remain on the check-off cards for this year, but will NOT be matched.

Class of 67 Memorial Grove at Occum Pond

It was agreed that the Class will raise funds as well as use Treasury funds to refurbish the Memorial Grove, including the planting of additional hardwood trees, pruning the current trees and erecting a granite or similar pedestal on which to place the current plaque. Details will be provided to the Class when they become available. Sam Ostrow and Paul Killebrew will work with the College arborist and Alumni Affairs to develop the project.

Class Newsletter

The Executive Committee expressed its appreciation to Bob Burka for the superb job of producing an outstanding, informative, interesting, embracing Class newsletter four times a year! It was agreed to continue producing the newsletter on a quality, slick stock and to run photographs as available, but not to use color printing in an effort to conserve funds for other Class activities.

Dartmouth College Fund

John Kornet, Head Agent, expressed the need for additional active agents to support his efforts to boost Class of 67 participation levels in the Dartmouth College Fund. Several Executive Committee members not already agents volunteered to John. If you want to participate as an agent, please e-mail John at jkornet@giraffe-group.com. John said that the College’s desire that the Class set a goal in excess of $600,000 for the 45th Reunion effort was not achievable (with which the Executive Committee concurred), but that reaching a much higher level of participation was (again, with Executive Committee concurrence). A dollar and a participation goal will be announced after January 1.

50th Reunion Issues:

• 50th Reunion – June 2017. It was agreed that the Class of 1967 50th Reunion will be held coincident with Commencement at the graduation of the Dartmouth Class of 2017 (that will come as a considerable relief to the College).
• Class of 67 50th Reunion Book. It was agreed that the Class will develop and produce a 50th Reunion book in which classmates will have the opportunity to describe their lives since our graduation, how their Dartmouth experience and experiences with the Class influenced their lives and most important, their views, hopes and plans for the future. Text as well as current and historic photos will be solicited. Dave Mangelsdorff, Jack Harris and Howard Sharfstein will be organizing a team to get this done over the next several months. Dave will also investigate the possibility of producing a DVD from the book (possibly with additional features) for those interested.
• Class of 67 50th Reunion Project: It was agreed that the Class would prefer to fund a meaningful project, defined as one significant to students, rather than emphasize contributions to the Dartmouth College Fund, although funds will be raised for both. A Committee is being formed under Paul Killebrew and Sam Ostrow to identify the appropriate project and lead funding.
• Adoption of the Class of 2017: Rob Kugler was authorized to work with the College to determine how the Class of 67 will develop a relationship with the Class of 2017 leading to meaningful interaction at the 50th Reunion.
• Honorary Degree Candidate: The Alumni Council has a committee which recommends to the Trustees alumni who warrant receipt of an honorary degree. This happens frequently at the 50th Reunion, but the process of presenting a name to the Council Committee and moving it thourgh the vetting process takes several years. If you know of a member of the Class of 67 who you believe is worthy of consideration please contact Rob Kugler at rkugler@archerlaw.com.

Nominating Committee:

A nominating committee of Steve Cheheyl, Howard Sharfstein and Sam Ostrow was appointed to seek and make nominations for Class Officers to be elected at the Class Meeting at the 45th Reunion. The class offices to be elected include President, Vice Presidents, Treasurer and Secretary. All other class offices – except Alumni Councilor – are nominated by the officers and appointed by the Executive Committee. The Alumni Councilor is elected a year before the expiration of the term of the then current Councilor. The current officers will be polled as to their interest in continuing to serve and the Class will be kept informed.

I am delighted that we have a new Dartmouth 67 website – one that will be frequently updated and which that lets us “talk” (as the younger generations describe blogging) to each other on a real time basis.  Our Great Class has always been about dialogue – and our new website will reflect that.

In May, I proudly accepted the Dartmouth Alumni Award, but, as I noted in my remarks:
I am honored that so many members of the Great Class of 1967 have come here to be with Judy, Adam and me tonight.  I would like Rob and Sandy Kugler, Paul and Joyce Killebrew, Howard and Jill Sharfstein, Bill Bogardus and Hal Cash, John and Susan Manaras and Jim Peck to stand and share in this recognition, which is as much for them and all of our Class as it is for me.

When I am asked why I am so committed to Dartmouth the answer is these men and women. While I respect and support the institution that Dartmouth is, its academic excellence, its commitment to undergraduate education and its leadership on so many of the important issues of our world, the real reasons for my support of Dartmouth are the 802 men with whom I was admitted, and who have become my friends, my partners and, with my family, the loves of my life. There is not enough that I can ever do for Dartmouth to thank it for making me a part of this class, 46 years ago this Spring.  I cannot imagine waking up in the morning without the opportunity to serve my Class and in so doing, serve Dartmouth as well. While I take great pride in what I have done for Dartmouth, in my heart this Alumni Award is recognition for what my father gave to me, and for what my Great Class continues to mean to this College.    

Our Great Class remains a highly visible participant in student life at Dartmouth.  Our “A Space for Dialogue” just celebrated its 50th student interned exhibition at the entrance to The Hood Museum and our Memorial Grove was described to me by a student as “the place we go for peace.”  We remain a leading partner class in Dartmouth Partners in Community Service, funding student internships in community service organizations around the country. And, next year, recruited athletes will be playing for Dartmouth athletic teams because of our funding for their visits to Hanover during their senior years in high school.

The news of our Class is also good.  From my calls, e-mails, letters and visits with classmates, I am pretty sure there isn’t one of us who hasn’t been affected in some way by “the recent unpleasantness.”  Whatever the personal circumstances, everyone is telling me that their plans and expectations have in some way changed.  At the same time, I am finding terrific personal optimism – “my family and I will get through this” – which coming from classmates who have shared so many of the traumas of the past 43 years – is an optimism based on irreplaceable experience.

Reflecting the economic downturn, our participation rate in both class dues payments and support of the College Fund is down a bit as I write this, notwithstanding the great work of Rick Geissinger on dues and John Kornet and his agent squad on the College Fund.  You can still pay your dues – and as important support our Class projects – and contribute to the College Fund. The Treasurer’s and Class Find pages on this website will tell you how. 

Again, this is your website Bill Sjogren (William.A.Sjogren.67@alum.dartmouth.org), our webmaster, and I (ceo@ostrow-partners.com) will welcome your comments, criticisms, suggestions and requests.  Our goal is to always make it better, and for you to always find it, your 67.

Safe home.

Sam