How to Become "Club of the Year"
At the annual meeting of the Dartmouth Club Officers Association in November 1970, the Dartmouth Club of Delaware was named "Club of the Year" in recognition of its programs and activities for an alumni organization with less than 250 members (small club category). Here we offer a summary of some of our events and areas of interest during the past two years.
As a regional club organization with a strong local base in metropolitan Wilmington, the Dartmouth Club of Delaware has sponsored a wide range of programs of a social, scholarship fund, enrollment, and continuing education nature. The club year starts around Labor Day when our annual family picnic is held at the home of JimCorner '39. The combination of young children, older graduates, wives, younger alumni, undergraduates, incoming freshmen, and parents has provided a relaxed informal atmosphere of Dartmouth fellowship. Brad Curtis '57 is the chef, and his hamburgers are always well remembered the next day. The family of Jeff Blomstedt '70 fields an exciting volleyball team and currently holds the picnic challenge championship.
Luncheon meetings are held twice weekly during the fall and winter at Piane Grille in Wilmington. These informal gatherings provide an opportunity for alumni who work in downtown Wilmington to discuss timely Dartmouth happenings such as the prospects of coeducation. Coleman Dorsey '52 is responsible for the continued success and popularity of these luncheons.
Our key fall social event is a charter bus trip to a Dartmouth football game—either Penn or Princeton. John Dingle '26 has been a prime contractor and suggestions from Jack Cathcart '39 have significantly added to a more comfortable ride.
Also in the fall, our enrollment program, headed by Robb DeGraff '39 moves into high gear. At this time, Dick Jaeger '59, Assistant Director of Admissions, visits the Wilmington area and, with the assistance of our enrollment team, calls on local secondary schools to discuss Dartmouth with guidance counselors and prospective applicants. In the evening, the alumni enrollment workers meet with Dick for an informal buffet supper at the home of an alumnus. This provides an opportunity for questions and a review of admissions and financial aid procedures, as well as an updating on the Hanover scene. Following dinner, there is an enrollment meeting to which are invited prospective applicant parents, guidance counselors, teachers, and coaches. The meeting features the new film strip about Dartmouth and an ope-' discussion period with light refreshment Recent graduates of the College are particularly helpful in this work, and Tom Charles '70 assisted us this past year. In addition to personal contact, a large part of the enrollment effort is spent in interview, ing candidates for admission. This year's group was coordinated by Ken Lundstrom '55 with assistance from Jim Sullivan '50, Jim Lawrence '57, Jerry Herlihy '63,Dick Gardener '55, and Tom Parkinson '64. As a result of this year's work, six Delawareans are in the Class of 1975.
During the Christmas vacation, we continue contact with applicants and renew ties with undergraduates by hosting them at our annual luncheon. This event, led by John Foote '50, features talks by undergraduates about Dartmouth and promotes discussion between the students and alumni. Alumni have responded enthusiastically to contacts with our undergraduates and an extremely useful discussion was held in May, 1970 with three members of the Class of 1970. We plan to continue dialogue meetings of this type, and will be greatly helped by Ted Mertz '73 as student liaison.
Beyond meetings with students, alumni also met with Harrison Dunning '30. Trustee of the College, to share concerns and ideas about Dartmouth's future in this time of change. This informal gathering provided a needed channel of communication to our Trustees for a direct exchange of questions and answers.
In the area of fund raising, the Dartmouth Club of Delaware participates with other Ivy alumni clubs in sponsoring the Ivy Ball in February of each year for the benefit of our scholarship fund. Dick Bugbee '57, Tom Herlihy '57, and Lee Foote '64 have served as representatives and chairmen of this event. Tom Calloway '55 helped bring the Glee Club to town in the spring which also had an impact on the scholarship fund. Bob Bryant '66 is chairman of the scholarship committee, and we are now looking forward to making our initial award to a student from Delaware.
The Delaware Club joined with Baltimore and Washington alumni groups to sponsor the Eastern Shore Alumni Seminar held in Easton, Md., in April 1970. The seminar is designed as a weekend version of the Alumni College, and we experienced an enthusiastic turnout of alumni and wives from Atlantic City to Northern Virginia. Pete Larson '47 served as a discussion leader and Paul Mannes '55 (Washington) and Scott Corey '57 (Baltimore) coordinated efforts for their areas.
The club year ends in the spring with a dinner meeting (with wives) featuring a guest speaker from Hanover. This spring Charles F. Dey '52, Dean of the Tucker Foundation, presented a thoughtful talk which prompted a useful discussion of the many issues facing Dartmouth today.
The officers of the Dartmouth Club of Delaware are grateful for the outstanding support that alumni have given the Club. There is a high percentage of dues-paying members, and active participation in our many activities. We thank all who have helped us become "Club of the Year."
Officers of the Delaware "Club of the Year" in the under-250-members category are(l to r) Brad Curtis '57, treasurer; Ken Lundstrom '55, president, holding prize gavel;Bob Bryant '66, secretary; and Dick Bugbee '57, scholarship fund chairman.
