Secretaries Meetings

On May 1 and 2 the 27th annual gathering of secretaries of Dartmouth classes, associations, and clubs was held in Hanover. The 77 secretaries present were invited to Hanover as the guests of the College for the week-end. A business and social program was enjoyed during the two day sessions.

President and Mrs. Hopkins greeted the secretaries at their home Friday afternoon, May 1, preceding the first business session in Parkhurst Hall. The business meeting was called at 5:30 by Warde Wilkins '13, vicepresident of the Association, who filled the chair in the absence of Morton C. Tuttle '97, president. Mr. Wilkins first called upon the secretary of the Association, Sidney C. Hayward '26, for the roll call which revealed that a majority of the classes and associations were represented at the meeting. The oldest secretary present was the late Henry W. Whittemore '66, and the secretary who travelled the greatest distance to be in attendance was Arba J. Irvin 'O2 representing the Tulsa, Oklahoma, Association. Mr. Wilkins then announced the appointment of the nominating committee and the committee on resolutions, and then welcomed the new class secretaries who were: Rev. Clifford H. Smith '79, Arthur E. McClary '05, Harold P. Hinman '15, and John R. Warwick '31. He then spoke of the death of Henry Melville '79, long time secretary of his class and supporter of the Association.

The Alumni Magazine

The first item of business to come before the meeting was the report on the ALUMNI MAGAZINE which was presented by Professor Eric P. Kelly 'O6, managing editor, and Albert W. Frey '2O, business manager. The editors reported that three years ago when the new format of the MAGAZINE was first adopted, historic articles and photographs of the College were featured. Last year articles by undergraduates dealing with student organizations and societies were used to a large degree, and this year the policy has been to invite students to write articles on subjects of general interest to alumni. The editors invite the co-operation of alumni in the preparation of reminiscent articles. It was brought out that a number of other colleges are developing weekly magazines but there is no indication at the present time that the Dartmouth MAGAZINE will shift to this form of alumni publication. Mr. Kelly closed his report by saying that the statement of the late Henry Melville '79 accurately described the purpose of the MAGAZINE as: "Carrying out and presenting the adventurous spirit of the College."

The report of the business manager showed the MAGAZINE to be in a sound financial position although there has been some slight decrease in the number of subscribers during the past year. Mr. Frey also reported that the August number will give way, beginning with next year, to an October issue. He stated that group subscriptions for a three year period may be made at a fee of $4.50 and subscription for a longer period may be made at a corresponding reduction over what the subscription fee would be were the customary plan of subscribing year by year adopted.

The Alumni Fund

A talk on the Alumni Fund was next given by Robert C. Strong '24, executive secretary of the Alumni Fund committee, in the absence of the chairman, William J. Minsch '07. Mr. Strong stated that the campaign was approached with misgivings in view of the bad times. In spite of a deficit of approximately $14,000 in the 1930 campaign the quota was left at $135,000 for the current campaign. It was felt that the committee did not wish to plead hard times and talk about the deficit facing the College this year, but rather that the alumni should be invited to contribute to the Fund as an opportunity to take part in the program and growth of the College.

Three general mailing pieces are being sent this year to all alumni regardless of when their contributions may be made. It is felt that these will be of value to alumni in the general educational program and that they will also be of assistance in raising the quota of the Fund. The feature of the campaign this year is the publication and distribution of a large map of Hanover that shows the town and College as it is today and represents in an attractive and informative manner the growth of Dartmouth's resources and plant in the past 15 years. Another innovation of the mailing campaign this year is the distribution of attractively printed and bound copies of President Hopkins' opening address to the College to all contributors to the Fund. It is expected that this plan will be continued in future years in order that alumni may acquire a collection of the President's opening addresses. Although the standing of the Fund at the time of the report was not encouraging when compared with the previous year, Mr. Strong pointed out that the average contribution was athe same and that there was no immediate cause for discouragement.

The secretaries were urged by the Fund Committee to assist the class agents at every possible point especially to the end of securing a record number of contributors during this campaign.

Discussion followed the report. Mr. Strong stated that alumni associations as well as class secretaries could be of assistance to the committee in raising its quota since alumni of various sections of the country could be urged to contribute by the officers of their associations.

Dartmouth Athletics

Professor L. F. Murch, one of the three faculty members of the Dartmouth Athletic Council, gave a talk on "Athletics of the College" in which he stressed the important development of the intramural program in the College. Although this phase of the athletic program does not receive as much publicity as intercollegiate competition receives, there is an ever increasing amount of interest in the undergraduate body in the intramural contests. These have been built up between dormitories and fraternities to a point where they are participated in by a large number of students. Touch football, basketball, hockey, and baseball are the most popular sports and draw large numbers of enthusiastic participants as members of dormitor 7 and fraternity teams.

Mr. Murch said that the making of satisfactory football schedules was one of the most difficult problems in the work of the athletic council. He outlined the schedules as these stand for the next two years and said- that the addition of the Holy Cross game in 1931 and the Lafayette game in 1932, both of which are to be played in Hanover, have been arranged largely in order to give the undergraduates a good early season game on the home field. He also spoke of the additional wing which is being built at the west end of the alumni gymnasium to provide ten regulation squash courts and one double court. The building program for this summer will also include remodelling shower rooms. The total expenditure will be about $95,000 which will come -out of the reserve fund accumulated from football receipts. Mr. Murch also spoke of the cordial relations existing between Dartmouth and Harvard at the present time.

Dinner at the Inn

As the outstanding feature of the Secretaries Meetings the annual dinner was held at the Inn following the first business session. Mr. Wilkins presided and first introduced F. N. Blodgett, secretary of the class of '25, who gave a most entertaining talk on his trip to Alaska by plane last summer. Paul J. Crehan of the senior class-followed with a talk on "The Undergraduates" in which he gave an interesting and informative sketch of his own career as an undergraduate, reflecting in this way what the development of the undergraduate is during each of the years he spends in Hanover.

President Hopkins was introduced as the principal speaker of the evening and gave what many of the secretaries felt to be one of his finest addresses. He described in his own scholarly and interesting manner many of the problems facing the College and the plans which the trustees have for its future development. The secretaries have great appreciation of his willingness to talk at the dinner each year. The event has become one of the outstanding occasions of the College year.

Saturday Meetings

The secretaries reconvened Saturday morning in Parkhurst Hall and first listened to a talk by Donald G. Mix '21, secretary of the Dartmouth Club of Worcester, Mass. Mr. Mix spoke on the question of "Planning Association Meetings." He recommended that the secretaries of associations serve for terms of five years in order that the benefit of this continuity in the work involved in these positions might be secured. He also recommended that the movies of the College as released by "Dartmouth College News" be used as often as possible since the Worcester Association had found the films to be of great assistance in securing a maximum attendance from its members. He suggested that special occasions during the year should include a sub-freshman night, an outing of some sort, and a ladies night, as well as other meetings when speakers from the College or speakers recruited from alumni of prominence within the vicinity could be heard. Mr. Mix said that the issuing of a complete calendar of events for the year, showing things which might be of interest in Hanover as well as in the local association program, was a distinct asset in the activity of his association.

Magazine Class Notes

John M. Comstock '77 has been alumni editor of the MAGAZINE for 24 years and he has found, as he told the secretaries, that the problem of securing class notes has decreased greatly during that time. He urged the secretaries to condense their notes as much as possible, using newspaper clippings and letters only as a basis for individual items. He suggested that it would be a good plan to occasionally give write-ups of prominent men in each class who are doing distinguished work in their own particular field of activity, and in this connection Mr. Comstock said that the MAGAZINE would be willing to print snapshots of such members of the class. He urged the careful attention of secretaries to such matters as uniform punctuation and the use of a typewriter in preparing class notes. Copy for all notes should be received by him not later than the tenth of each month preceding publication. This date also applies to obituary notices which he recommended should contain the essential facts regarding the life of the man in addition to a tribute about him.

Samples of a printed form for use in preparing class notes were exhibited to the secretaries. The motion was made and carried to accept the offer of the MAGAZINE for the furnishing of this copy paper to the secretaries.

The Alumni Council

Allan M. Cate '20, one of the three representatives of the Secretaries Association on the Alumni Council, spoke concerning the activities of this important alumni organization. He mentioned the three new men who had come on the Council since the last Secretaries Meetings. These are E. R. Bartlett '04 of the Middle and Southern States district, Leigh C. Turner '04 of the Western States, and Carl F. Woods '04 of the New England States section. Mr. Cate spoke of the fact that there are now six members at large elected to the Council in order to maintain geographical representation for districts which could not otherwise be represented. He spoke of a number of the activities carried on by members of the Council in connection with the Alumni Fund, the selective process, representation at secondary schools, and several other duties which councilors perform from time to time. Representatives from the Secretaries Association now consist of Joseph W. Worthen '09, Mr. Cate, and John R. Burleigh '14.

The Boston Pow Wow

The committee of 15 alumni who are in charge of the Pow Wow which it is proposed to hold in Boston in conjunction with the Stanford game there November 28 is headed by Allan L. Priddy '15. Mr. Priddy spoke to the secretaries in behalf of this committee and said that no definite plans had yet been formulated by the Boston Association since the question of holding the Pow Wow had not been definitely settled. He described their negotiations to date and invited discussion on the part of the secretaries as to whether or not the Pow Wow would be a desirable addition to the Dartmouth program for next year.

An Alumni Register

Robert C. Strong '24, executive assistant to the President, spoke concerning a register for returning alumni. He relayed to the secretaries the suggestion which has been made that there should be some way for alumni visiting Hanover to determine what other alumni may be in town and also to learn the addresses of those members of their classes who are residents of Hanover. It was suggested that the register be kept at the Inn where it would be easily accessible. A resolution was passed to refer this subject to the executive committee for action.

Committee on Resolutions

The committee on resolutions consisting of E. H. Crane '98, A. E. McClary '05, and Doane Arnold '27, presented the following resolutions which were unanimously adopted: "The members of the Secretaries Association, assembled in annual meeting, wish to express their deep appreciation of the willingness and apparent desire of the administration and faculty of the College to allow the alumni to participate in the discussion and to assist in the solution of various college problems.

"Resolved: that our formal thanks as the "Secretaries Association for the hospitalityextended be conveyed in writing to the President of the College, as well as our appreciation for his splendid message to us last evening.

"Resolved: that in the death of Henry Melville, secretary and class agent of the class of 1879, the Secretaries Association has suffered an irreparable loss, which is deeply regretted. Always whole-heartedly devoted to his college and to his class, he was one of the finest of class secretaries, an inspiration to us all."

New Officers

Officers for the ensuing year were chosen following the report of the nominating committee as read by Allan M. Cate '20. The officers as elected consist of: President Warde Wilkins '13 Vice-President Frank P, Horan '22 Secretary and Treasurer Sidney C. Hayward '26 Editor-in-Chief of the ALUMNI MAGAZINE Sidney C. Hayward '26 Member of the Alumni Council for 3 years Ephraim H. Crane '98 Executive Committee. .First three officers named and Judge Leslie P. Snow '86, Donald G. Mix '21

The formal meetings of the Association were adjourned and the only remaining event on the program was the informal dinner at the Outing Club House Saturday evening when the latest release of movies was shown. In connection with this showing of films a report on the movie service was given. A total of 22 associations subscribed to this year's series of movies and there have been 25 additional shows by individuals and associations who were non-subscribers. It was recommended that the Association continue the sponsorship of this movie service and it is felt that two releases of two reels each per year are sufficient to cover the outstanding events in Hanover and to give a complete picture of College life during any one year. It was also recommended that the subscription fee of $15 for the two releases of films be continued next year and that every effort be made to secure as large a number of subscribers as possible.