Connecticut State Association
The annual meeting of the Connecticut Alumni Association was held on Thursday, May 24, 1934, at the Brooklawn Country Club, Bridgeport, with 237 participating in the day's fun. This is by far the largest attendance in the history of the state association. Fifty-three golfers teed off at noon. Sarg Eaton '11, Hartford, carried away the spoils for low net.
Dean Laycock was in fine fettle for his last testimonial dinner of the year. President Hopkins gave his usual splendid talk, summarizing his present-day problems of education and the point of view at Hanover. Sid Hayward reported progress on various Hanover institutions, particularly the ALUMNI MAGAZINE and Secretaries Association. Coach Blaik's first visit with Connecticut alumni was one of the pleasant features, and his remarks on the football situation drew high favor. Other guests at dinner were: Fred Walker '88, New London, Eastern Association, and Henry B. Thayer '79, New Canaan, representing the Western section. J. F. Conners '14, State Association President, acted as toastmaster.
The Connecticut Association rotates the annual state meeting with the five organized city associations, namely: Hartford, New Britain, New Haven, Waterbury, and Bridgeport.
The problem of contact with the districts outside the organized areas has been interesting in development, and is well established except for some of the Western sections. Carrying the state organization to the entire area has resulted in the completion of the state file, and with the discovery of an increase in membership from 658 to 740 alumni. Interest in the Eastern part of the state has resulted in an additional local association being organized.
The Dartmouth Alumni Association of Eastern Connecticut has its first meeting May 20th at Old Lyme. A cruise on the Sound, followed by a lobster dinner at the summer home of Dr. Hugh Lena '12, was an excellent start. The host was honored with the presidency of the new association, and Arthur Shurtz '3O was elected secretary.
Leaders of the five established local associations are:
District President Secretary Hartford H. W. Alcorn '23 Charles Rice '23 New Britain * A. H. Schilling 'O2 W. J. Moore 'l9 New Haven Eric Ball 'lB C. W. Gowrie '24 Waterbury A. L. Martin '24 Steele Smith '32 Bridgeport Dr. A. C. Sides 'OB H. E. White '25
This group, along with state association officers for the past year, served as a nominating committee to elect the following slate of officers:
President, Kenneth W. Weeks '26, Hartford.
Vice-President, Richard E. Pritchard '14, New Britain.
Secretary, John F. Conners 'l4, Bridgeport. Executive Committee, John Booth '23, Danbury; Stuart Cleaveland '27, Torrington; John Clark '32, New Canaan; Harold Rider '25, Stamford; Edward G. Moran '24, Norwich.
Next year's meeting will be in Hartford.
Prior to the dinner, forty-one members of the Fathers' Association, under the leadership of Dr. Sprague, president of the Bridgeport Fathers' Association, enjoyed an informal discussion bearing principally on policies of admission and undergraduate development.
New Britain took first possession of the attendance cup, suggested as an urge to competition for attendance honors. Both Waterbury and New Britain far outstripped the field. Waterbury, with go alumni at dinner, had the best showing numerically, but based on a point-mile basis rated 960 points; whereas New Britain, with but 24 alumni, scored 1104 point-miles, to throw the percentage in favor of the New Britain area.
Ken Weeks, the new President, took over the reins and after an outline of policy for the Hartford Party, made a neat speech in presentation of a silver cigarette case to Dean Laycock. The first showing of the Connecticut Association movies followed.
Active at Bridgeport in the work of party arrangements were: Sarg Eaton 'ii, golf and prizes; President Sides, general committee work: Reg Horton '27, tickets; Stan Lonsdale '24, tennis; Walter Lasher '27, housing; Ed Spargo '24, transportation; Harry White '25, Bridgeport secretary, in addition to his regular duties, handled the music—his "Flying Trapeze" parody on the "Yale Bowl Jinx" was much enjoyed (Pat Partridge and Paul Felt stepped out in front on this one). Harry Fischer, Hartford, is in charge of the golf tournaments scheduled one for each city.
Dr. John Booth's patients are not wellbehaved. We needed John to lead songs, and perhaps it wasn't healthy for the patient who delayed him nearly two hours. He made up for it later, though. Frank Smith, master politician, wasted no' timehe brought his constituents with him.
It is doubtful if any of the following have ever missed a state meeting: Water-bury—Charlie McCarthy 'BB, Frankie Smith '23, Ned Herr 'O6, A 1 Martin '24, Ralph Paine 'io; New Haven—C. W. Gowrie '24, Eric Ball 'lB, George Adams 'O9; Hart-ford E. M. Stone '94, Pat Partridge 'll, Johnny Johnson 'l4, Charlie Rice '23; Middletown—Paul Felt 'O6; New Britain—Dick Pritchard 'l4, Dr. Potts 'O5, Curt Sheldon 'O9, Charlie Chase 'B5, Phil Pelletier '15.
Secretary.
