1944

If we don't break another Alumni Fund record this year, it won't be the fault of your fast moving, hard working appointees. As I'm scribbling this at Idlewild, across the river at the Hotel Pierre several of the faithful are convening for a mid-campaign strategy meeting. High Llama Phil Penberthy (who has been home only ten days in the past seven weeks and just boomed in from the Coast), Bill McElnea (who flew in from Birmingham, Ala., this morning), HoseCraig (who flew in from Dayton with Liz last night), and Tank Bruce (who squarewheeled it in from Greenwich) are formulating their attack on each of last year's records.

1962 saw Phil and associate agents StanBarr and Hose Craig with their loyal band of 48 sub-agents shatter all past records in dollar volume, average gift, and participation. Most outstanding was their work in bringing to the fold a large number of men who had never given before, making 1944 one of the leading "participation" classes. Rather remarkable for a so-called "war class."

Another interesting achievement is the steady growth of the Century Club, composed of those men who give $100 or more. The membership is now over forty. Based on results to date, this membership record is going to topple early.

The swath of the advertising business apparently cuts beyond the boundaries of Madison Avenue. A vice president of Lennen and Newell, Phil has recently been spending most of his time on Las Vegas and Hollywood stage sets putting Edie Adams through her "commercial" paces. But he and Ad and the kids were able to sneak away for a bit of Vermont skiing earlier in the spring. Like others who were at that informal football weekend reunion last fall, Phil couldn't say enough about it. Obviously, this is something which will become a '44 institution. Perhaps I reported this before, but Joe McDevitt and his very attractive wife, Ann, came in from Frisco for that weekend. In the construction business, Joe is one of the largest and most successful builders in the peninsula area, a veritable tycoon who "hasn't changed a bit and looks like he could make first string end right now."

As you know, it was Bill McElnea who originally conceived of that informal reunion idea. Now he's being hounded to get a summer golfing "do" going. This will probably come about but we're going to have to find someone else to help take over some of the organizational responsibilities. One of the chaps in the bond department of Bill's investment outfit, Van Alsyne & Noel, is a next-door neighbor of Dr. Al and Bea Cook and keeps Bill current on the success and well being of the eminent Brooklyn brain surgeon. Chuck Glines apparently is as busy as a cranberry merchant running the T.J. Glines, Inc. insurance agency, and very successfully, I might add.

John Berry's philosophy of just holding the right thought and taking good bets came through when Mardel presented him with their first son, Richard Lauren. Here go some more scholastic records.

Alex McPherson is in Kansas City, General Manager of Research for the Gustin Bacon Manufacturing Company. Lt. Commander Charlie McDowell is now operating out of Newport, R.I.

Maybe I mentioned this before, but promotions have been coming so fast for Claude Shuchter, I can't keep up. His latest was election to the post of executive vice president of the Manufacturer's & Trading Trust Company in Buffalo.

Bill and Virginia Carey are back from their two-year trip around the world, a "low budget and low calorie diet" voyage which saw them make it with only two suitcases, one filled with maps. Now they're back at the old grind and finding most of their evenings taken up with giving talks to all and sundry groups about their adventures. Speaking about those suitcases, I wonder how many Liz Craig took with her for that weekend in New York. Incidentally, the Craigs had lunch today with Tank at JerryBrodie's fabulous Four Seasons restaurant.

Secretary, 1105 Center St., Milford, O.

Class Agent, 67 Highland Ave., Rowayton, Conn.