ANNUAL MEETING OF THE DARTMOUTH SECRETARIES ASSOCIATION

Fifty-eight alumni associations and classes were represented at the thirteenth annual meeting of the Secretaries Association held in Hanover, March 16th and 17th. The opening session was called together at 5:45 Friday afternoon the 16th, by the President, Alfred E. Watson, '83. Proceedings were started auspiciously' when the president announced his gift of $100.00 to the Association, to be used to defray general expenses.

The following committees were then appointed:

Nominations: Hon. Samuel E. Pingree '57, C. C. Davis '79, and R. F. Paul '11.

Resolutions : John M. Comstock '77, C. P. Chase '69, and W. C. Hill '92.

W. R. Gray '04 Business Manager of the ALUMNI MAGAZINE, was the first speaker of the afternoon. In his annual report of the finances of the MAGAZINE Mr. Gray showed the increase or decrease in subscriptions by classes since last year. The total number of subscriptions is 1143 a gain over last year of 37. Almost every item on the balance sheet showed an increase. Total receipts were $2183.63; cash disbursements were $2159.32, and a cash balance at the end of the fiscal year, August 31st, $29.31 as compared with $68.51 for the year 1914-15. The speaker pointed out that the business growth had not kept pace with the editorial growth, and that heroic measures were in order to put the MAGAZINE on a better financial basis.

E. F. Clark '01, directing editor of the MAGAZINE then reported on the editorial branch, showing a general increase in all departments for the last four years, and urged that the department of alumni opinion, be made a little more active and spontaneous. The increase in size of the body of the MAGAZINE calls for especial attention because of the present inflated paper market.

C. E. Snow, '12, then made a report on "Class Reports of Other Colleges," illustrating the formality of one report and familiarity of another, and urging a happy medium for Dartmouth reports. The combination of human element and dignity of expression were the ideals to be aimed at in any comprehensive class report.

E. A. Bayley '85, reviewed the year's class reports. In substance, Mr. Bayley said that the function of class reports was to give college inspiration through class information. He complimented especially the classes of '85,eing careful to state that this report had been prepared by his predecessor in office H. D. Foster,—'89, '95, and '00 on their reports, partly for uniformity in outward appearance, and partly for novel and interesting arrangement of contents.

Recess was then taken until dinner at 7:30 in the Commons.

ANNUAL BANQUET

After a dinner, served by Manager Fairfield, Mr. Watson introduced as the first speaker, Professor C. E. Bolser '97, who reviewed the athletic situation. He emphasized the business side of athletics from the viewpoint of training it afforded the undergraduate managers, and complimented Graduate Manager Pender on the improved financial standing of all departments. He then went on to discuss track, saying that it was a wonderful sport, from a college standpoint, because it offered unlimited opportunities for individual achievement and development to any one who competed, because of the variety of events. The speaker then took up the football situation, and although he could say nothing definite as to coaching arrangements for the coming year, he prophesied a satisfactory outcome and urged alumni support.

Professor G. B. Zug, was the second speaker on the program. His subject was the value of art exhibitions in Hanover. He described the purpose and field of the new Art Association, and said that through the generous gifts of alumni and friends of the College, excellent opportunity was being offered to students and townspeople to heighten their appreciation of the best works of the leading artists.

Professor C. D. Adams '77, followed with a picturesque account of Outing Club trips and Winter Carnival activities. Referring to Professor Zug's remarks, Professor Adams, declared that the student who frequented the mountain trails and slept beside the fire in the far-off cabins could not fail to return to his work with a greater appreciation of Nature and love for the artistic and ideal. Stating that the snowshoe had become antiquated, he remarked that there was no finer picture of manly vigor, than that of a skillful performer descending a hill on skis. Training to jump he said, was not irksome, but thrilling and interesting. The Outing Club through the generosity of the Rev. John Edgar Johnson, '66, a tangible means of fostering the spirit of comradeship among all students and classes.

At this time Secretary Knapp, read the following letter from President Emeritus William Jewett Tucker.

My Dear Mr. Knapp and Fellow Secretaries :

I have felt from the first meeting of the secretaries that each meeting has brought an infusion of red blood into the College life. I trust that the College has not failed to show the effect from year to year.

Recalling as I do so clearly the first meeting, and remembering that the organization came, into being through the invention and efforts of Mr. Hopkins, then secretary of the College, I may congratulate you both upon the success of the undertaking, and upon his merited promotion. The common work which you then took in hand, is the same now as then, only intensified by the very serious demands of the country on our colleges. May I remind you that these demands require of us that we look well into the working' of any and all of those agencies which can insure on our part the greatest possible unity and cooperation. May the present session be as stimulating in its purpose as it is quickening in its fellowship.

Very cordially and sincerely,

President Hopkins was the final speaker of the evening. Taking as a theme, "Dartmouth as a business organization to make good American citizens," he said that boys go to college without any idea of work, too little idea of obedience, and with too much of the American attitude of insistence on rights without corresponding obligations and duties. Parents are often too anxious to have their sons derive the social benefits of college life without regard to record made in scholarship. The service of the college is to remedy the failure of the home to train American youth. The President declared that the College must inspire those students who meet with the requirements of the curriculum, but separate those who do not, for the reputation of Dartmouth depends on the showing of the alumni in after life. If these scholastic requirements are relaxed, the reaction upon the College would be two-fold within a generation. The President showed great enthusiasm for his recent visit to the Alumni Associations in the West and in New England, and demonstrated the increasing growth of Dartmouth influence and popularity throughout the country as evidenced by the geographical distribution of the present student body, and the warm reception he received wherever he went. In conclusion he discussed a plan of utilizing the college plant all the year by instituting a sysstem of four quarters instead of two semesters. This would not only insure continuity of effort but would also enable a man to do in three years, work now requiring four, a very important gain if universal military training is adopted. He added however that he was not presenting this plan as a final conviction on his part", but rather as a suggestion for the consideration of the body of secretaries. The meeting then adjourned until the next morning at 8:15.

SATURDAY MORNING

Saturday morning's session was opened by a speech by President Hopkins, in which he complimented, the Association on its growth and the increasing value of its services to the College.

he report of the Nominations Committee followed, which resulted in the unanimous election of the following officers for next year:

President, William C. Hill, '02 Vice-President, Lawrence M. Symmes, '08 Secretary, Eugene D. Towler '17 Treasurer, W. R. Gray '04 Member of Alumni Council for three year term, Morton C. Tuttle '97 Editor of ALUMNI MAGAZINE, Homer E. Keyes '00 Directing Editor ALUMNI MAGAZINE, Eugene F. Clark '01 Executive Committee (to absorb the Committee on Cooperation), N. W. Emerson '00, Chairman, G. G. Clark '99, Secretary, E. H. Kenerson '03, C. E. Snow '12.

The Committee on Resolutions then made the following report which was unanimously adopted.

RESOLVED:

1. That in the death of the Rev. Samuel C. Beane, D.D. of the class of '58, we mourn the loss of a devoted son of the College and a loyal and revered member of the Secretaries Association. ,Dr. Beane was a constant attendant upon these meetings from their inception. We shall miss his wise counsel and his cordial friendship. We rejoice that he was spared to enjoy a long life given to the service of his fellow men.

2. That the Secretaries Association express its appreciation of the splendid service given the Association by its secretary, Mr. Gray Knapp, and learn with regret of his inability to longer serve as secretary; that it extend to Mr. Knapp its thanks for past services, and wish him success in his future career.

3. That the Secretaries Association express to the College its appreciation of the hospitality extended it once again at its annual gathering.

4. That the Secretaries Association express its appreciation and thanks to its president, Mr. Alfred E. Watson '83, for his generous subscription of $100. to the general fund of the Association.

The report of the Committee on Cooperation by Prof. H. D. Foster '85, was next received and unanimously accepted. The gist of the report is embodied in the resolutions offered by the committee which appear elsewhere and were unanimously passed.

George G. Clark '99 spoke on "The ALUMNI MAGAZINE — Its Possibilities for the Future," suggesting that the subject might well be changed to ''Our Possibilities for its Future." He stated that the MAGAZINE seemed to stand for four things, for a benefit to the College, for profit to the alumni, as a corollary to class reports and as a medium of alumni expression. After a very careful and detailed comparison of the scope of our magazine as compared with the alumni publication of seventeen other colleges and universities he suggested several ways in which the secretaries might assist in giving the MAGAZINE more financial independence by increasing the circulation and advertising. The paper closed with an analysis of the type of news from the classes that the secretaries were furnishing. It was shown that 64 per cent of all the items refer to the alumni under 39, that is 1901 and after, and that 30 per cent of all are genealogical in aspect. The problem of the secretary under 39 seems to be how to paraphase "engagement," "marriage," "birth," and "getting a job," while the problems of the secretary over 39 is not how to paraphrase but how to find any news items at all.

R. F. Paul '11, opened an interesting discussion by outlining the problems of the secretary of a large class. Among the most important were:

(a) The mass of clerical work involved.

(b) The wide geographical distribution of the members of the class.

(c) The difficulty of obtaining immediately the degree of unity which is possible in a smaller class where evenyone knows everyone else.

(d) The danger of losing entirely some members of the class, e.g., Paul lamented the fact that he could not locate six men. With an enrollment of over three hundred and fifty, this is a remarkably fine record.

(e) Large numbers make it more difficult for the secretary to maintain intimate association with all the members of his class.

While Paul's address showed clearly the greater number of problems the secretaries of large classes have, their keen desire for suggestion and help, and the patience and energy with which the majority were meeting this responsibility were a source of inspiration to the Association.

N. W. Emerson '00 was the next scheduled speaker, whose topic was interclass gatherings. He favored outdoor and week-end gatherings as much as possible, as the best means of bringing back the comradeship which the alumni enjoyed as undergraduates. A banquet he said was too formal and allowed too short a time for personal conversation and reminisence. He desired the furtherance of interclass gatherings of alumni, especially among classes that were together at the same time in College.

General discussion followed. William D. Parkinson '78 suggested the advisability of arranging class reunions, which would naturally fall around the year 1919, the 150 th. anniversary of the college, to focus on that year. Mr. Homer E. Keyes '00, answered that the college was already .hard pressed in providing accommodations for the usual Commencement crowd, and that any such action would throw matters into chaos, and lead to 'the dissatisfaction and discomfort of all.

On motion of W. A. Hatch '86 it was voted that: The Executive Committee of the Secretaries Association after conference with the Administration of the College, and any other proper authority consider, and at the next meeting of the Association report on the question of whether any or all of the members of the Alumni Council chosen by the Secretaries Association, may not properly be selected exclusively from the membership of the said Secretaries Association.

N. W. Emerson '00 raised the question of whether or not permanent secretaries of the graduating classes might be elected by a competitive plan similar to that used in the selection of athletic managers. Professor C. E. Bolser '97 made the suggestion that interest in such competition would be keen if the permanent class secretary were made an ex-officio member of Palæopitus.

E. A. Bay ley '85 urged greater contact between the alumnus and undergraduate through the columns of the ALUMNI MAGAZINE. G. G. Clark 99 recommended that the temporary undergraduate secretaries be invited to attend the annual meetings of the Association. W. Sewall '17 new permanent secretary of the graduating class, expressed his regret at the apathy of the average undergraduate in matters pertaining to the alumni. E. D. Towler '17 suggested that the right way to create interest in alumni affairs and incidentally to increase the circulation of the ALUMNIMAGAZINE, was to make a subscription to the MAGAZINE a part of the senior class commencement tax.

On motion of Prof. Foster '85 it was voted: That the executive committee of the Class of 1917 be requested to cooperate with the business manager of the ALUMNI MAGAZINE relative to the advisability of a tax upon the senior class for a subscription to the ALUMNIMAGAZINE.

It was also voted that there be referred to the executive committee of the Association the general question of subscription to the ALUMNI MAGAZINE by members of the graduating class annually.

The Association further voted to refer to its Executive Committee the matter of securing greater support of its class secretary's work through creating a greater interest in it during undergraduate days, and to request their consideration of the following specific points.

(1) Inviting the temporary undergraduate secretaries to the meetings of the Association.

(2) Election of the permanent secretary earlier in the course than is now the custom.

(3) Education of the undergraduate as to the value of the secretary's work.

Recommendations from the Committee on Cooperation.

In the course of the morning session the following resolutions were adopted as presented by the Committee on Cooperation :

Resolved that:

A. The following recommendations concerning the treatment by class secretaries and class representatives, of men connected with more than one class in Dartmouth College, be adopted:

Ist: Graduates shall, subject to the provisions of Section 3 and Section 5 be included in the class with which they graduated, according to the official list published by the College.

2nd: Non-graduates shall, subject to the provisions of Section 3 and Section 5, be included in the class with which they entered college.

3rd: Either graduates or non-graduates shall, for the purpose of class reports and class affairs, be included in the class of their preference, if they signify that preference in writing to the secretary of the class with which they desire to be included in class reports. Said secretary to notify other secretaries interested.

4th: In competition for Commencement reunion cup, (or like trophies), graduates shall always be reckoned as of the class in which they are listed in the official list published by the College.

sth: Contributions to alumni funds by graduates shall be credited to the class with which the contributor graduated according to the official list published by the College, unless the contributor signify, in writing, to the committee in charge of such funds, his wish to have the contribution credited to a different class.

Contributions from non-graduates shall be credited to the class with which they entered, unless they signify, in writing, to the committee in charge of such funds, a preference to have contribution credited to another class; or unless they have already signified a preference to be carried on the list of another class, as provided under Section 3.

6th: The Secretaries Association requests the College to provide as heretofore for furnishing to each class secretary, at or before graduation, a list of all men who have entered college in his class. .The Association also requests .the College to make provision for furnishing to the secretary of this Association a similar list for preservation in the files of the Association.

7th: Secretaries of classes, associations, and clubs, are urged to keep track of non-graduates, as well as of graduates.

B. It is the feeling of the Secretaries Association that steps should be taken to increase the circulation and revenue of the ALUMNI MAGAZINE. We recommend that there be delegated to a committee the duty of increasing the amount of advertising and the number of subscriptions. This committee to work in close co-öperation with Professor Gray.

C. Realizing the problems which face the secretaries of the larger classes, the Secretaries Association suggests that the secretaries of the larger classes appoint lieutenants, so that at least the cities of Boston, New York, and Chicago may be covered. These lieutenants shall simply be' assistants to the class secretaries. They are to keep closely in touch with the men in their territory; carry out the instructions of the class secretary; and do everything possible to promote their class interests in the section in which they are located.

D; The Secretaries Association recommends that the class secretaries should see to it that the proper class committees are appointed for the collection of money to be applied to the Tucker Alumni Fund. Furthermore, that in every report, mention should be made of what has been done, so that this subject may be covered completely, and called to the attention of all members of the classes. In the appointment of class committees by the College, or any alumni body, it is the feeling of the Association that the class secretaries should be consulted.

E. It is the feeling of the Secretaries Association that interclass gatherings, and class outdoor Round-ups, tend greatly to promote college and class spirit. We recommend that such occasions be promoted by the different secretaries in any way in which they may see fit.

F. The Secretaries Association recommends that each class be urged to conform to the policy already indicated in previous' votes or customs of this Association, viz.: That the traveling expenses of each secretary be borne by the class, or club or association treasury, and that if the secretary cannot be present, he secure the attendance in his place of some classmate or alumnus not living in Hanover, if possible.

G. The Secretaries Association recommends that each secretary be requested to send copy of his report, or other class publications, to the college library for preservation in its file; and also to the secretary of this Association.

H. The Committee recommends the adoption of the following as an expression of the opinion of the Secretaries Association as to a working definition of Association and Club, viz.:

. In general the name for the ordinary organization of Dartmouth alumni meeting only annually, or comparatively infrequently, and covering a considerable territory, would be an Association.

In general the name Club would be applied to an organization which meets comparatively frequently; is less formal and more social than an Association; and usually covers a smaller territory and includes a smaller membership than the association.

Eugene D. Towler '17, Secretary of the Association