ANNUAL MEETING OF THE SECRETARIES ASSOCIATION

On May 4 and 5 the secretaries gathered in Hanover for their twenty-fourth annual meeting. The response to the roll call showed that the attendance was large, comparing favorably with the record attained last year. Fifty-five classes were represented by their secretaries or proxies and seventeen association representatives responded. The oldest class represented in the person of its secretary was that of 1863, John Scales, secretary, now the second in the seniority list of Dartmouth graduates. '64 was also represented by the secretary, William T. Gage, of Detroit, '66 by Henry Whittemore and '67 by Arthur W. Dudley. Before the opening of the formal session the secretaries gathered at the home of President and Mrs. Hopkins on Tuck Drive for an informal reception, an opportunity always eagerly awaited by the secretaries.

The first of the formal sessions was called to order by President W. D. Parkinson, '78, in the Faculty Room of Parkhurst Hall at 5:30. The following responded to the roll call:

Class Secretaries

'63 John Scales '64 William T. Gage '66 Henry Whittemore '67 Arthur W. Dudley '71 William S. Dana '72 Prof. E. J. Bartlett '73 Rev. S. W. Adriance '75 Henry W. Stevens '76 Dr. H. H. Piper '77 John M. Comstock '78 William D. Parkinson '79 Henry Melville '81 Dr. E. H. Trowbridge '82 Frank A. Pease '83 Alfred E. Watson '84 Josiah F. Hill '86 James W. Newton j '87 James B. Wallace '89 Dr. D. N. Blakely '90 Charles A. Perkins '91 Frank E. Rowe '92 Arthur M. Strong '93 Rev. George E. Kinney '94 Rev. C. C. Merrill '96 Craven Laycock '98 James R. Chandler '99 Louis P. Benezet '00 Leonard W. Tuttle '01 Everett M. Stevens '02 Robert H. Elliott 'O3 Charles L. Luce 'O4 Harry B. Johnson '05 Frederick Chase '06 Professor F. L. Childs '07 Charles P. Woodworth '08 Lawrence M. Symmes '09 Joseph W. Worthen '10 Arthur P. Allen '11 Prof. N. G. Burleigh '12 Alvaro M. Garcia '13 Warde Wilkins '14 Herbert S. Austin '15 W. Dale Barker '16 Jesse K. Fenno '17 John W. White '18 Frederick W. Cassebeer '20 Allan M. Cate '21 John W. Hubbell '22 Francis H. Horan '23 George S. Fuller '24 Clarence S. Luitwieler '26 Charles D. Webster '27 G. Doane Arnold '28 Leroy C. Milliken '31 John B. Martin, Jr.

Association Secretaries

E. F. Nason '24, Dartmouth Club of Hartford M. G. Rollins '11, Dartmouth College Club of New York C. F. Woods '04, Dartmouth Club of Winchester E. H. Crane '98, Dartmouth Club of Brattleboro D. G. Mix '21, Dartmouth College Club of Worcester W. D. Barker '15, Boston Association K. W. Davis '24, Manchester Association O. H. Hicks '21, Dartmouth Alumni Association of New York A. F. Woodies '14, Dartmouth Club of Lowell J. S. Learoyd '11, Dartmouth Association of Southern Essex M. D. Pomeroy '14, Dartmouth Club of Holyoke R. R. Marsden '08, Thayer Society of Engineers G. H. Tapley '16, Amos Tuck School Clearing House E. F. Malz '20, Dartmouth Club of Cleveland V. M. Cutter '03, Dartmouth Club of Newton W. M. Hunt '13, Medical School Association O. Skinner '28, Dartmouth Club of the Lehigh Valley W. T. Gage '64, Dartmouth club of Detroit Before starting the business of the meetings President Parkinson presented the Association a gavel in behalf of the Fitchburg Normal School whose principal he had been for many years previous to his retirement last year. He then appointed the following committees:

Nominating Committee

Frank E. Rowe '91, chairman

L. M. Symmes '08 C. D. Webster '26 Committee on Resolutions

A. E. Watson '83, chairman D. N. Blakely '89 F. W. Cassebeer '18

Since the last meeting of the Association the following secretaries have been appointed by their respective classes: William T. Gage '64 William B. Stevens '65 Channing Folsom '70 John R. Burleigh '14 Leroy C. Milliken '28

Before welcoming these new secretaries President Parkinson asked the secretaries present to stand for a moment as a silent tribute to those secretaries deceased since the last meeting: Henry I. Cushman '65, Lemuel S. Hastings '70, and William B. Forbush '88. Then with a few words of welcome he inducted the new secretaries into their office pointing out the responsibilities and compensations of the secretary's office.

The Alumni Magazine

The editorial and business departments of the ALUMNI MAGAZINE report on the activities of the year. In speaking for the editors of the MAGAZINE E. F. Clark '01 emphasized the co-operative features of the MAGAZINE, showing how the whole body of Association members was in reality on the editorial staff, and that it was only through their voluntary service that the life and interest of the MAGAZINE could be maintained.

A. W. Frey '20 presented a mimeographed report showing the status of the circulation and the MAGAZINE finances. The number of classes subscribing on the unit basis was shown to be about the same as in the previous year while the number of subscribers has increased by one hundred and twenty-five, giving a total subscription list of 4775. Of the graduates 53 percent subscribe and of the non-graduates 12 percent. The balance sheet as of May 1, 1928, shows a surplus of $1216.26, indicating that the finances of the MAGAZINE are in a satisfactory condition.

Report of Committee on The AlumniMagazine

This committee had been asked at the last meeting of the Secretaries Association to investigate and report on the possibility of putting into effect a 100 percent circulation of the ALUMNI MAGAZINE by class action. Through its chairman, A. M. Garcia '12, the report was made that this project was not practicable at the present time. The conclusion was arrived at as the result of questionnaires submitted to the various class secretaries which brought out the fact that many classes do not collect dues from their members and so have no funds. Other classes put out bulletins and news sheets from time to time and the varying types of organization prevent any uniform action. The report presented three definite recommendations: (1) That classes be so organized that the collection of dues would be a recognized procedure in the class; (2) that more information be available to secretaries on costs of publication of reports, news sheets, and so forth; and (3) that consideration be given to the suggestion that a full-time paid business manager of the MAGAZINE be secured.

In the resulting discussion Mr. Frey pointed out the fact that the MAGAZINE was not in a precarious condition financially as might have been gathered from the report but was meeting its obligations and showing a surplus each year. He did not consider the proposal of a full-time business manager as a practicable one owing to the limited field in which the MAGAZINE must operate. The discussion brought out the fact which had already been evident from the answers to questionnaires that the secretaries were desirous of obtaining as wide a circulation within their classes of the MAGAZINE as possible but also the opinion seemed to be evident that a 100 percent circulation could only be effected by class action. It was finally Voted: That the report be accepted and placed on file and the committee discharged with the thanks of the Association. It was also Voted: That the report be referred to the Executive Committee for such action as it deems best.

Report of the Executive Committee

The Executive Committee had been asked to consider a report on three matters: (1) The desirability of preparing and distributing a calendar containing college events for the first six months of the year; (2) An inquiry into the non-graduate situation in the various classes; and (3) An inquiry concerning the method of keeping class records.

The chairman of the Committee, President Parkinson, reported on the calendar, stating that in view of the difficulties involved in financing the project and the small interest displayed in it, it seemed inadvisable to carry out the program and he therefore recommended that no further consideration be given to the proposal at the present time.

The secretary then read a detailed report on the non-graduate situation as revealed by questionnaires sent to the last fifty-five classes. On January 1, 1928, there were 7652 living graduates of whom 46 were lost and 4322 living non-graduates of whom 464 were lost. These figures illustrated the difficulty of keeping in touch with non-graduates since less than 1 percent of the graduates were recorded as lost while over 10 percent of the non-graduates were so listed. The class of 1914 was studied intensively as a class which might be taken as typical. In this class 50 percent of those not graduating left by the end of the first year and all but 16 percent of the non-graduates by the end of the second year. A study of the cause of leaving showed that 43 percent of the total was separated or allowed to withdraw and were granted readmission only by faculty vote. The other 57 percent left for varying reasons and of this latter group fifteen men went to other institutions where they received degrees and where their first interest now is. The conclusion of the Committee was that the best prospect of arousing college or class interest lay within the 57 percent who left of their own volition, deducting those who took degrees elsewhere. It was therefore recommended that those secretaries who requested it be given information as to non-graduates in their classes who left for disciplinary reasons in the hope that interest in the College now dormant might be rearoused.

The responses from secretaries show that the strength and activity of the class was largely in the graduate group, though many exceptions were noted in various classes. Many secretaries paid tribute to the devotion and activity of individual non-graduates in their classes.

A further report was presented on the method of keeping records and the desirability of continuing the old type of secretary's book. It was found that in many cases the book had been lost through failure of one secretary to transmit it to his successor and in many cases even where it was in the possession, of the secretary it was not in use. Others found it helpful particularly as an official and authoritative source of information concerning the members of the class. Many of the secretaries, and particularly those from the larger and more recent classes, have already changed to a card system and most of those replying to the questionnaire favored this method as the most desirable practice. While it was not the desire of the Committee to attempt to enforce any uniformity in the keeping of records it was recommended that in the future the official record provided for each class by the College be transmitted on cards rather than in the old type of book and that the Dean's Office be requested to change to a card system such as may be approved by the Executive Committee. Following the report it was Voted: That the report of the Executive Committee be accepted and the recommendations adopted.

The meeting then adjourned for the annual dinner at the Inn.

DINNER SESSION

Following the dinner President Parkinson introduced as the first speaker Professor Samuel L. Joshi of the Department of Comparative Religion. His theme was "Impressions of the American College," a subject to which he brought long experience in this country, Europe and Asia. It was Professor Joshi's observation that the moral, cultural and spiritual leadership of western civilization had shifted from the church to the college and that the college had accepted the challenge of the times. He pointed out the tremendous advantage the American college has over the colleges of the old world in its tremendous money resources, the readiness with which the American college extends intellectual hospitality to new ideas and the unfailing devotion and loyalty of its alumni. But the greatest of all assets is the great teacher and this has been so throughout the ages. Lest the college fail in the great experiment in American democracy Professor Joshi pointed out that it must build four great bridges on its highway of progress: between industry and culture, between western 'civilization and Christianity, between scientific pursuits a'pd spiritual ideals, and between nationalism and internationalism, and he emphasized the advantages which Dartmouth possesses in its rich traditions, its nation-wide constituency, and its fast developing international outlook.

The second speaker was Daniel P. Hatch, Jr. '28, president of the Outing Club. In presenting to the secretaries the undergraduate viewpoint as now current on the Campus, Mr. Hatch referred to the cycles of opinion that sweep oyer the College. He referred to the supplanting of a sweat-shirt era by a period of aestheticism and the reaction at the present time to the sweater and dungarees of earlier days. The recent reorganization of Palaeopitus and the Green Key were referred to as an attempt to get true representation of undergraduate feeling. He predicted the gradual disappearance of the old era of competition for positions and managerships, a system which has already been eliminated from the Outing Club, and looked forward confidently to the day when men would go into the work of the different organizations for the pleasure of the activity rather than for the office to be gained.

The final speaker was President Hopkins whose theme was "The College." As usual he held the close attention of his audience as he outlined the growth in equipment and educational facilities that is now going on and told of the developments that are on the program for the immediate future. With the growing facilities have come increased resources but also very heavy increased expenses and it cannot be assumed that because of the recent generous gifts which have come to the College the continued devoted support of the alumni is no longer necessary. The greatly increased cost in maintenance for such buildings as the Baker Library, and the new Science Hall, were used as illustrations of the fact that improved equipment necessarily means increased expense. In conclusion the president entered the field of educational theory and developed his belief that the purpose of a college should be education for usefulness rather than for leadership alone. The exceptional men able to develop as leaders will necessarily come to the front but there must be many who are equipped to follow these leaders in the various fields of service, both local and national.

Following the president's stimulating address President Parkinson adjourned the meeting to meet again in Parkhurst at nine o'clock on Saturday morning.