1961
Early this year, Joel Heathcote wrote me asking to be relieved of the chores associated with being Class Secretary. His reasons are perhaps best expressed in the following paragraphs which were received too late for inclusion in the February issue.
"Last year about this time I decided that the way I'd been writing this column for eight or nine or whatever years was irrelevant. Ahh, yes, "irrelevant. I figured that if I was bored by the cold statistics of job, address and children's names, you were probably getting bored too. So the 'All New Format' came out and the column started talking about the feelings and values and all the like that of any of you who cared to write and share. I liked the column much better. It was far more interesting for me to put together every month. Most of you liked the idea. Some of the older alumni accused me of being a radical who was trying to destroy something, some of the younger alumni thought the change was refreshing. Most everybody else, however, didn't take much notice. An alumni column is hardly the first thing people think about every morning.
Well, it's been a year now and the letters and phone calls from you are trailing off. My spirits are confused and I think it's time for a change again.
The amount of news I get every month is miniscule. There are generally three or four clippings reporting maybe a promotion or maybe a marriage. That's not enough to make 1000 words. I considered filling the spaces with charming little nuggets from my own philosophy but that's an ego trip of outrageous proportions.
... So the column is stuck. I won't stoop to trivia and we (myself included) aren't willing to share the important stuff."
Thus Joel ends a long stint as our Class Secretary, and I am sure that many will join me in thanking him for often making our column fun, challenging, annoying, and certainly unique. I have a feeling, though, that an inscribed gold watch might not be appreciated. A sincere thank you to Joel does seem to be in order.
I will be taking over the column for the next few months until the new executive committee can appoint a Class Secretary. But in the meantime, if any of you would like to take on the column, let me know so that I can pass your name on to my successor in June.
Of course, the big news is our 10th Reunion on June 18-20. Larry Holden and the members of his committee are working hard to put together a program which will enable us to learn about each other and the College while having a good deal of fun. The news from the College is certainly exciting but equally as important will be the chance to discover and probe the amazing variety of ideas, talents, and accomplishments of the members of our class. Indeed, I suggest that it is the very diversity and ability of its alumni that indicate how fine a College Dartmouth is. Anyway, come to Reunion, interact, and perhaps argue with your classmates, meet members of the college administration, faculty, and students, and then tell me whether you agree with me or not.
However, you won't be able to make this assessment unless you spend June 18-20 in Hanover this summer. Make your plans now to join some diverse and fascinating people—your classmates and their wives. A steady stream of material from the reunion committee will be informing us about the various activities that are planned.
Alan Orschel is the chairman of the nominating committee, and it is his task to organize and implement the procedure by which a new executive committee is chosen. Right now he is most anxious to obtain an indication of interest from those who would like to serve on the executive committee. Thus, he has asked me to urge you to submit the names of those whom you wish to lead the class for the next five years. Probably in May, a mail ballot will be sent to the class to select the members of this committee. It should be stressed that this committee will become increasingly active, and it is Alan's wish that we have a broadly representative slate of nominees.
Send your list of candidates to any of the following members of the nominating committee. Alan Orschel, Crowley Sprecher Barrett & Kraba, 111 West Monroe Street, Chicago, Ill. 60603; Dennis Dinan, Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H. 03755; JackReno, G.H. Walker Co., 225 Franklin St., Boston, Mass. 02110; Larry Holden, 10 Tremont St., Boston, Mass., or myself (address at head of this column).
Incidentally, do not hold back from submitting your name for reasons of false modesty. We are all anxious to have as members of the executive committee those classmates who are anxious to work for us, and an indication of your interest will be helpful.
In closing this column, let me issue a plea for news, notes, and ideas from all of you. Frankly, the College was unable to send me a single piece of news about our classmates, and future columns will be painful for you and me if you don't let me know what you are up to.
John Lehman '63 (right) was honored as"Colonel of the Year" by Peters, Griffin,Woodward of New York, TV stationrepresentatives. The award, for outstandingprofessional growth, was presented byPresident Lloyd Griffin.
President, 221 Guyasuta Rd., Pittsburgh, Pa. 15215
Treasurer, Chase Manhattan Bank I Chase Manhattan Plaza, New York, N.Y. 10015
