ANNUAL MEETING OF THE DARTMOUTH SECRETARIES ASSOCIATION APRIL 22, 23, 1921

The seventeenth annual meeting of the Secretaries Association was notable in a variety of ways. Accustomed as they are to coming to Hanover during the rigors of the winter season, the secretaries this year seemed to appreciate the innovation of a spring date when the outdoor activities of the College were in full swing. This may have had something to do with the large attendance. But the meeting was especially notable from the fact that it was in a sense a joint meeting with the Board of Trustees of the College, and the two organizations met together twice during their brief stay in Hanover.

The sessions were delightfully opened with an informal reception at the home of President and Mrs. Hopkins, when opportunity was given for the reunion of old friends and for new secretaries to get acquainted with their colleagues. As the afternoon was drawing on the trustees withdrew to take up their deliberations and the secretaries adjourned to the Faculty Room in Parkhurst Hall for their first business session.

AFTERNOON SESSION

Gathered in Parkhurst Hall-, Dr. Henry H. Piper '76, the president of the Association, declared the secretaries in session and the roll was called. A total of forty-eight classes responded, the big majority being represented by their secretaries and a few by proxy. Aside from the class secretaries, ten clubs and associations were represented by officials, the Canadian Association and the Dartmouth Club of Chicago deserving special mention. The Dartmouth Club of Buffalo was also represented for the first time and as usual the secretary of the Northern and Eastern New York Association was on hand. The oldest class represented was that of '57 by its secretary, Samuel E. Pingree. The sixties were represented by three classes, the seventies by seven, the eighties by six, the nineties by seven, and from 1898 to 1924 but one class had no representative present. The total number in attendance was 59.

Following the roll call, President Piper appointed the following committees:—

Nominations—William S. Dana '71, Luther B. Little '82, Warde Wilkins '13.

Resolutions—John M. Comstock '77, Charles F. Emerson '68, Conrad E. Snow '12.

Welcome to New Secretaries—Natt W. Emerson '00.

Eight new class secretaries qualified for initiation into the Secretaries Association this year and no better spokesman to welcome them could have been selected than N. W. Emerson '00, to whom so much of the success and initiative of the Association is due. Although Mr. Emerson was prevented at the last moment from being present himself, his welcome, which follows, was read by C. C. Merrill '94.

"New secretaries, we who often write in vain salute you! Many will be your trials and tribulations. A class in its youth, like migrant birds, flits carelessly from place to place and seems to have no fixed habitation. It mates without notice and reproduces its kind regardless of your well kept statistics.

"He whom you reported as resident manager of the Anglo-American Trading Company in Calcutta turns up as the proprietor of a general store in Lisbon, New Hampshire. He whose name appeared on your records free of all ties shows up at a reunion with a wife and twin boys. Occupations seem meaningless and the lawyer of today overnight becomes the manager of his wife's father's business, and forgets to tell you that you may honor him by an increased quota for the Class Fund.

"Many and varied will be the replies to your questionnaires. He who travels to view the magnificence of Niagara Falls will fill your report with the intimate details of his trip, while he who in daily peril and constantly changing conditions carries the flag to far off lands will write you thirteen words, to wit: 'No change. Holding down the same old job. Remember me to the fellows.'

"Sleepless nights you will spend trying to shed varied and unusual lustre upon the myriad chairmen of town school boards, Masters of Masonic Lodges, and chairmen of local Red Cross drives. Mumps, measles and whooping cough periods must be passed, rendering the father of the victims mental derelicts for months at a time.

"What miracles you will behold! The swash buckler of College days trails meekly behind the skirts of his masterful wife, while the timid youth you once knew slays savage beasts in Africa as he tells his gentle wife of the exploits of college days.

"Your first report, what agonies it will entail! The snappy letter sent out on its mission to gather data; your desk cleared to hold the shower of quick returns; your dream exploded. The tempter urges you to say: 'Can't get out a report because my class was all busted up by politics in College and never answers letters,' or, 'I'll send them a mimeographed bulletin which I will call a report and cut down expense and work.' But you aren't that kind of chap. You drill ahead. Lo and behold! Muzzy gets the result of your labors and how you look forward to its first appearance. But it doesn't appear, and you write Muzzy and find it's the town report period, or his foreman has left, or the New Hampshire Legislature is in session. You are in despair and fear that some quip of your fancy will appear where an obituary notice is now called for.

"A secretary's job is not a sinecure. You were picked because you are a real man. When you have done your job well what will it mean to the class and to you? To the class, a gradual getting together, the slow growth of that priceless thing called 'Class Spirit.' Old feuds will be 'forgotten, new abiding friendships formed resting on common love for the old college. And then one fine day there is born that priceless jewel to the College,—a live class matured by contact with the world, broadened by new experiences and unified by one common aim—service to their Alma Mater and to the world in her honor.

"To you will come the silent job of helping accomplish the result. The reward for your labors will return a thousand fold from sources least expected. He who has lived in foreign lands will return and grasp you by the hand and tell you that your reports made him see again the Promised Land, the mountains of New Hampshire, and kept him steadfast in his work that he might return some day an honor to his class and College.

"He whom you never understood and thought unfeeling and hard will draw you aside and tell you that your letter when little Tom died couldn't be answered but never will be forgotten, and together you will shed tears of sympathy.

"Some day the lost sheep will return to the fold, and you will rejoice and judge him of more worth than the other ninety and nine who never went astray. For you are the Shepherd of the flock and you will not labor in vain. Methinks wordly wealth, high office and signal honor will look small compared with the satisfaction of giving your best for your class, the good old class which has carried, and will carry till the last man goes, the standard of Dartmouth—the spirit of service.

"HENRY MELVILLE—Yours is an illustrious class, rich in achievement. May the joys of the present day through your efforts offset the gaps in your ranks!

"HARRY BLUNT—Able administrator, Trustee-elect of the College, justly beloved by all your classmates. May you organize the wonderful individual ability of your class into united effort for the College.

"KENNETH BEAL—Worthy successor of an illustrious list of '99 secretaries!' May you carry on to even greater heights the achievements of your predecessors!

"EVERETT STEVENS—Leader of the class which counts as a brother the leader of the. College. May you cement and strengthen the bond of unity which now exists!

"FLETCHER HALE—You are called to succeeds stalwart brother to whom your class owes more than it can repay! Carry forward with "courage the banner he raised!

"JOSEPH WORTHEN—Bred in Hanover, scion of a father beloved by all Dartmouth men. Yours is an interitance of service. May you impart this to your class and carry on your family tradition !

"DONALD BENNINK—Yours is a class hallowed by the memory of the eight who gave their lives for liberty! Guided by you, may the rest carry on till the last has traversed the long, long trail!

"SECRETARY OF 1921—Your class will soon join the great body of Dartmouth Alumni. At first your step will be slow and tottering, but with years will come confidence and unity. Yours is a mighty task, but never lose courage, for the greater the burden the larger the reward!

"BROTHERS!—We welcome you and extend the hand of fellowship and help. Dartmouth depends on you to keep her light burning ever more brightly."

Fitting response was made by Henry Melville '79. Speaking for the new secretaries, he expressed his thorough belief in the doctrine "Once a Dartmouth man, a Dartmouth man forever" from the time of matriculation until his obituary notice is written, and in the desire of all the new secretaries to assist in maintaining the active interest in the College of all the members of the class. He stated frankly that the function of the new secretaries at this meeting was not to tell how to do it themselves but to learn from the veterans how to realize the thing that was so near to the hearts of all those present.

Report on Alumni Magazine—Eugene F. Clark '01, Harry R. Wellman '07.

The editorial report of the ALUMNI MAGAZINE dealt particularly with the new personnel that had been drafted into service this year in the persons of Philip S. Marden '94, editorial writer, H. R. Wellman '07, business manager, and Thomas Groves '18, news editor, and expressed the value to the MAGAZINE of the interest and initiative that these men had put into their work.

In speaking of the financial situation, Mr. Wellman was optimistic about the possibilities of further expansion in advertising and subscriptions, mentioning particularly the action of the Detroit Association in including the subscription to the MAGAZINE with their annual dues. Mr. Wellman also referred to the change of policy in running advertising through the alumni notes, stating the arguments which seemed "to make it desirable. There seemed to be general agreement among the secretaries that such action as had been taken was desirable if it would tend to reduce the annual deficit to which the MAGAZINE has been subject of late years. The subscription list shows a net increase of 249 names, the classes of 1910, 1918, 1919 and 1920 leading all the rest in subscriptions.

Report on the Alumni Council—Laurence W. Symmes '08.

The report of the activities of the Alumni Council for the past year was made in behalf of L. W. Symmes '08 by R. R. Marsden '08, proxy. The report contained a statement of the Council's work, stressing particularly the activities in connection with the raising of the Alumni Fund and its distribution. Among the matters of importance discussed by the Council were the policy of the College in regard to further growth of the undergraduate body, the establishment of an intercollegiate bureau for the placement of graduates in business positions, the publication of another Dartmouth College book, the status of the Memorial Field Fund, and the nomination for election by the alumni of two members of the Board of Trustees of the College, Harry H. Blunt '97 and Clarence B. Little '81.

Following the report of Mr. Symmes a brief and illuminating statement was made by William D. Parkinson '78, also a member of the Council, outlining the relationship between the College, Alumni Council and the Secretaries Association.

Report of the Executive Committee-David N. Blakely '89.

The chairman of the Executive Committee, Dr. Blakely, was unfortunately prevented from attending the meeting owing to ill health, but he was represented by another member of the Committee, Clyfton Chandler '14, who presented the report which is here printed in part and indicates a most successful and active year:

Your Executive Committee had a few definite tasks assigned to it at the last annual meeting. Under unfinished business we have tried to complete the proper listing of those who belonged to two or more classes and we believe that the lists are now as accurate as is feasible in such an elusive matter. The credit for this piece of work belongs to Mr. Chandler for he conducted the entire correspondence and looked after all the details. This year's work began with the Class of 1910 and ended with 1919. Scores of letters were sent out and a somewhat smaller number of replies received.

At last year's meeting it was voted to ask each class, Alumni Association and Club represented in the membership of the Secretaries Association to contribute five dollars ($5.) to the treasury for current expenses. The Executive Committee was asked to attend to the collection of this fund, using due discretion in the appeal made. A circular letter was prepared and sent out. To the classes '54 to '70, inclusive, this supplementary note was added: "The Committee believes that classes fifty years and more out of college should not be asked to make the above mentioned contribution." One of the older classes had already paid in five dollars, in fact it was turned over to Secretary Clark at the close of the session at which the vote was taken; and in spite of the "waiver" quoted, another remitted promptly. Of the forty-nine classes, '71 to '19, inclusive, thirty-three responded with checks and three more sent letters of explanation, leaving thirteen from whom no response came. The Committee did not use a system of "follow up letters" as would have been necessary had the financial pressure been greater. A discussion of these silent classes, including such points as Effective Class Organization, Attendance on the Meetings of this Association, Publication of Class Reports, News Items in the ALUMNI MAGAZINE, Contributions to the Alumni .Fund, might be illuminating but we believe it to be too delicate a matter to be included in this report.

Of local Associations and Clubs there are listed at present fifty-seven—one, at least, has been added during the year and one has been removed by request of the sole surviving member. Several of these organizations are in a more or less doubtful state of existence or non-existence.

To summarize, we received— From thirty-five classes $175 and from sixteen associations and clubs 80 A total of $255

It is interesting to note that of the thirty organizations that did not reply only three, so far as the Committee can recall, have been represented at any of our recent annual meetings.

Another item of unfinished business was the question of the advisability of asking the College to give some sort of certificate to those students who, while in good standing, are obliged to cut short their college course. We asked the different secretaries to send the names of any non-graduates likely to be interested in this subject whom they might know. A relatively small number of names was received. We wrote to all 'the men named and a part of them responded. All tHe replies received were turned over to Mr. Parkinson and he will give us the benefit of his conclusions and suggestions.

It is not necessary to report that the Committee has not sent out many general letters to the members of the Association during the year. A more or less extended correspondence, however, has been carried on with individual men and we believe that the past year has seen as good work done by the class organizations as any previous year.

An address list, vest pocket size, of the members of this Association and the Alumni Council was prepared and mailed to you all in December. A few changes in personnel have been reported since that date. Corrections should be made from time to time as new names appear in the ALUMNI MAGAZINE. There are extra copies available for any who may wish them.

Last summer our attention was called to the fact that three classes in the fifties were represented each by a single surviving member. We wrote to each to ask that he consent to be listed as a Class Secretary. One sent a prompt and cordial response. A letter sent to another brought no reply but a second letter, a few weeks later, was answered by a former business associate who reported that the member in question had died in December, 1919. Repeated letters to the third man brought no reply.

One thing which we, as secretaries, have wished over and over again, both in public and in private, is that a larger proportion of the Alumni and our own classmates in particular, were subscribers to the ALUMNI MAGAZINE. The recent action of the Detroit Club, reported by the MAGAZINE for February, in having the membership dues include a subscription to the MAGAZINE, deserves especial commendation. It seems such a simple device for accomplishing a thing which has proved difficult by other methods that one wonders why it has not been tried before. Why should not other organizations adopt the same plan ?

The Executive Committee believes that the most important question before Dartmouth College today—and in the word College we include Trustees, Faculty, Undergraduates and Alumni—is that of effective co-operation between the College in Hanover and the Alumni in the field. There is no doubt that there is a lot of energy already available and more that can be developed to aid in the maintenance and enlargement of the College Plant; the practical question is how, when and where shall this energy be distributed and applied. We believe that the most important item in our program at this meeting is No. 8, Opportunities for Service of the Smaller Dartmouth Clubs and Associations. We believe that the discussion will bring out valuable suggestions and in addition, shall we not, as an Association, representing all the scattered alumni, express to the Trustees at this time our earnest desire for loyal and active service wherever, whenever and in such a manner as they shall direct?

DAVID N. BLAKELY, '89 ARTHUR M. STRONG, '92 CLYFTON CHANDLER, '14 Executive Committee.

Class Reports of the Year—Frank E. Rowe '91.

Fourteen reports of classes have appeared during the year—in the seventies, '76 and '77; in the eighties, '87 and '89; in the nineties, '99; and from 1900, '01, '03, '05, '08, '09, '11, '12, '13, and '17. Mr. Rowe found something to commend in all the reports that had appeared. The report for '76 contains a careful account of the war history of the sons of '76, while the report for '77 devotes considerable space to the activities of the second and third generation. The typographical appearance of the '89 report is especially commended, as is its vest pocket address book. '99 has produced a publication of high quality entitled "Vicennial Etchings and Echoings" and 1901, which specializes in governors and college presidents, finds splendid co-operation in a publicity committee. 1908, which issues an annual report, contains four directories at its close: addresses of the living, list of the deceased and dates of death, marriages and births. The report of '11 is dedicated to its five members who died in service and is full of interest through some admirable letters relating to the war record of its members. 1912 has as its slogan for class reports, "No letter, no report," and adds to the military record a painstaking civilian war record. The other reports are commended in different ways, many of them for their illustrations and in general they present an invaluable record, not only for the activities of the members of the class, but, in many cases, they will be of the utmost service for the future historian of the College.

This report aroused considerable discussion on the part of the various secretaries, indicating their keen realization of the importance of this part of the secretary's work. When the discussion had finally subsided, the afternoon session was declared adjourned by the president, and the members of the Association were warned to meet promptly at the Grill for the annual dinner.