Southwest N.H.

In spite of a rip-roaring snowstorm, we had an excellent turn-out (72) for our annual banquet on December 30 at the Winding Brook Lodge in Keene. At the preceding business meeting, we decided, among other things, to change the name of our club from the "Cheshire County Dartmouth Alumni Club" to the "Southwest New Hampshire Alumni Club" to more accurately reflect our membership area. Elected officers for 1976 are Judson D. Hale '55, president; Earle "Ben" Staples Jr. '46 vice president; and myself as secretary-treasurer.

Reporting on the activities of the Alumni Council was the former Governor of New Hampshire, Walter R. Peterson '47, who brought us up to date on the "female quota" debate insofar as the Alumni Council is concerned. Karen Schofield '76, daughter of our 1974 Club President, Charles E. Schofield '47, then gave us her feelings about Dartmouth and being a woman at Dartmouth - both (fortunately) on the positive side. In answer to a question from the floor as to how our men's sports teams would fare if there were "too many women" enrolled, she replied that most of the current Dartmouth football players she knows have told her they would not have chosen Dartmouth had it not been a coed college. So much for that end of it.

The main speaker was Vice President of the College, George H. Colton '35, who, with Mrs. Colton, had traveled all the way from San Francisco to Boston and then up to Keene in the snowstorm in order to make our meeting. He received a standing ovation - and proceeded to assess the college growth and changes during his 31 years with the administrative staff. Joining him in answering questions afterwards were Walter Peterson and Karen Schofield.

Since the many students and their parents were guests of our club, a small deficit was realized precipitating a move by Frederick Geller '43 that a system of dues be established. After innumerable suggestions as to what the dues should be, Perkins Bass '34, came to the rescue of us all by moving the whole matter be referred to the executive committee. Which it was.

The meeting ended with the showing of the '75 football movies which were taken the next day for viewing by Russell Putney '22, who had been secretary of our club for 41 (!) years and who was not quite up to making the banquet this year.

And by the time it was all over, the snow had stopped. (But next year, we plan to more carefully study The Old Farmer's Almanac prior to setting our banquet date!)

Dartmouth on tour in Paris: (I) Al Cook '62, Mrs. George Boswell, George Boswell '39(f), John Fisk '5B, Walt Yusen '58, Bob Hage '35, Associate Librarian Bill Meredith.

Secretary, 315 Pako Ave. Keene, N.H. 03431