1968 Alumni Fund

The arrival of spring across the nation once again heralds the start of the Dartmouth Alumni Fund campaign. This year, however, as the 54th annual campaign begins on April 1 there is one unique aspect to it. For the first time in history, the Fund is operating in parallel with a major capital gifts campaign - the Third Century Fund, aiming to raise $51 million for the College.

In deference to the Third Century Fund, the Alumni Fund Committee did not increase its goal this year, but is seeking $2,101,560.68, precisely the amount achieved last year.

In his opening message to all alumni, Fund Chairman Ralph Lazarus '35 emphasized that this was a minimum goal and that the Fund Committee hoped it might be substantially exceeded in order that the Fund might continue to meet one-eighth of Dartmouth's basic educational budget.

The policy of sustaining Dartmouth's annual Fund throughout the period of the Third Century Fund was recommended last year by the Fund Committee and was approved by the Alumni Council, the Board of Trustees, and the Executive Committee of the Third Century Fund.

Alumni are being urged to give first priority to continuing their annual support of the College through contributions to the Alumni Fund at the same level, at least, as in previous years, and then to decide what they want to do beyond this for the Third Century Fund when called upon.

Early results would seem to indicate that alumni understand this policy. By late March advance gifts and pledges amounting to $657,750 from 2,790 donors had been recorded, putting the 1968 pre-campaign ahead of last year by some $30,000 and 200 contributors.

Nearly 4,000 volunteer Class Agents have been recruited to solicit classmates this spring. A series of Class Agent meetings were held in late March and early April at ten major alumni centers across the country, with President Dickey, Chairman Lazarus, and Executive Secretary Clifford L. Jor- dan '45 talking at these gatherings.