Judy and I (Andy) joined others on the executive committee in a recent conference call. Topics included: agenda for class meeting at homecoming; succession planning & filling officer vacacies; pros & cons of our new " Dartmouth Class of 1976 facebook group" vis a vis the newsletter; financial status of the class & dues; and the class website.

* Homecoming: dates October 17, 18, & 19. We plan to have a class meeting. It will be at 11:00 AM in Room 206 Dartmouth Hall so as not to conflict with Buddy Teeven's chalk talk at 9:00 and Peter Saccio's lecture at 10:00 (stay tuned to our website: http://www.dartmouth.org/classes/76/class76.html for clarification and late breaking details). Post game on Saturday, Bob Wetzel is hosting a mini-reunion at his beautiful home in Lyme. All are welcome. Please let us know if you are joining us so that we can plan appropriately.

* Among other topics for class meeting will be discussion about adopting Dean Tom Crady as an honorary member of the class of '76. Carey Heckman has nominated Dean Crady with the enthusiastic endorsement and seconding by David Spalding. See excerpts from their nominations at the end of this note. All on the executive committee call that have met Dean Crady were very enthusiastic about the adoption. If you have thoughts please share them with Judy and me.

* Opportunities: we have two class officer positions that are open. Newsletter editor and Mini-reunion/Reunion chair. Also, Brewer Doran resigned as Gift Planning chair but nimbly recruited Steffi Valar to fill that role. Kudo's and thanks to Lynn Brooks who has been a tremendous newsletter editor (tireless in her sleuthing of materiel about us & elegant in its presentation) and Brewer Doran who continues to contribute to the class in many capacities. Similarly, Martha Beattie's many contributions to the College make it difficult for her to continue as class mini-reunion chair. Please volunteer or feel free to pass on recommendations of classmates that are just waiting to be asked.....

* Last & by no means least......we have endorsed a 6 - 12 month trial of using Facebook as a means to communicate among us (read Jay Josselyn's recent post in the alumni magazine). The thinking behind this: it serves as an interim means of being "like" the newsletter with the option of adding pictures or video; it is "self-maintaining"; it provides an opportunity to prove to other classes that we are not "sticks in the mud" on the "paper-only" side of the digital divide; and finally, there are no class incurred costs (the newsletter is about $1500/issue in black & white). It is a closed but not moderated group - i.e. generally only classmates will be on & able to view the postings. If you don't have a Facebook account please consider setting one up (children, whether your own or ones in the neighborhood, are a great asset in this regards if you need help). If you do have one, please join the "Dartmouth Class of 1976" group and share some news. We will send a link to facebook's sign-up page & the Dartmouth Class of 1976 soon.

We hope to see you at Homecoming. Until then, best regards & give the facebook group a try,

Judy Csatari & Andy Gettinger
Co-Presidents

http://www.dartmouth.org/classes/76/class76.html

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Excerpts of Dean Crady's nomination notes:

From Carey:

Tom Crady, New Dean of the College. Tom Crady, former dean of students
at Grinnell, made a very favorable first impression speaking about his
first six months as Dean of the College. Before the meeting some
members of the Alumni Council were lamenting the new Dean was not an
alumnus; that consideration did not seem so important when Tom was
done speaking.

Tom's family had not yet moved to Hanover so he had plenty of time to
roam the campus at all hours and meet students informally. He held
meetings at Collis with students. Tom reports that every student
constituency has positive things to say about Dartmouth - the first
time that has happened to him at any college. Tom noted his status as
an outsider but his fresh pair of eyes had the following observations:

1) female students do not have the same resources available to them as
male students do,

2) social and activity space for all students has to be expanded and
reorganized and

3) disciplinary procedures for students have to be updated - Tom was
surprised at the level of concern students expressed about the current
disciplinary process, which has been in place for many years.

Tom believes the College alcohol policy should not be punitive; students
will drink and they must be protected. Tom told us that in prior jobs he has
had to call parents on several occasions to let them know their child might
not make it through the night because of alcohol abuse - that had not yet
happened to him at Dartmouth. Tom believes the campus police force has
been extremely helpful and user friendly in dealing with drinking
issues; the Hanover police are more rigorous and less flexible in
approach.

From David:

I would like to second Carey Heckman's nomination of Dean Tom Crady for adoption by the Class of 1976. Dean Crady has been on the job for only seven months,but he has already gained a reputation as an open and straightforward leader of the wide variety of student services that are provided by the Dean of the College's office. He has made a point of going to where the students are to hear their thoughts and concerns. He holds open office hours in Collis,rather than in Parkhurst,to encourage more students to come see him. He has taken on some challenges in his short time here,but gets high marks from all sides for the way he has approached them.

Dean Crady received undergraduate and masters degrees from Northern Michigan University. He received a Ph.D. in education from Iowa State University. Before coming to Dartmouth,he spent 25 years at Grinell College. He held a number of positions there,most recently serving as vice president for student services.