1945

Back in April National Secretaries' Week slipped by uneventfully. I guess it's just as well. Shirley's trying to keep me on a diet which positively won't tolerate candy and frowns on restaurant luncheons. And I guess flowers don't become me anyhow.

Late in the same month Heaven's Gate, retrieved from the cutting room, was back in your neighborhood movie theater, somewhat shorter, but apparently not much better. The gist of Vincent Canby's re-review in The New York Times was quoted on N.B.C. NightlyNews: "Like a fat man who's been on a diet thinner, but not appreciably different."

I guess that goes for us secretaries, too.

Also back in April Shirley and I attended the 117 th annual dinner of the Dartmouth Alumni Association of Eastern Massachusetts at the Park Plaza in Boston. This association includes several Dartmouth clubs and boasts of being the "largest Dartmouth alumni association in the world." After dinner President Kemeny, who was introduced by President-elect McLaughlin, reviewed his years in office, pointing out that after this June one-third of all living alumni will have graduated during those years. Also attending the meeting were Dave McAuliffe, Betsy and George Barr, Moe Frye, Beverly and Bert Glovsky, Ruth and John Leggat, Pat and Ted Smith, and Margot Spaulding.

Which brings us up to Class Officers Weekend early in May. The Leggats and the Barrs were there along with Vesta and VicSmith and Molly and John White. MooseRowan showed up with Joan and sporting a badge labeled "Impeachment Committee." At the opening get-together we got right down to business and voted by secret ballot. The result was one vote in favor (I'm suspicious of Shirley) and a bunch of abstentions. It then turned out that Don Cole had sent in an absentee ballot opposing the impeachment, which accordingly failed by dint of a one-to-one tie. So you fellows out there 'round the girdled earth are still stuck with me, or . . . I'm still stuck with this job, ... I don't know . . . they tell me sometimes you can't tell the winners from the losers.

Moose was a true winner, though, and on Saturday received an Alumni Award in recognition of the time and effort he has devoted to the College.

At the joint luncheon meeting in Thompson Arena Saturday noon, the roles were reversed, as this time Dave McLaughlin was introduced by President Kemeny. Molly and John White had signed up for the D.O.C. hike to Holt's Ledge that afternoon. Overcome by such a demonstration of true grit, I gave them an enthusiastic show-biz send-off of "Break a leg!" Score another foot-in-the-mouth for me. John, who has been with Consumers Water Company since 1946 and its president since 1966, recently relinquished that position to become chairman of the board and chief executive officer. Consumers owns water companies in seven states and is the tenth-largest investor-owned company in this field.

Seen passing through Hanover on their way to Vermont were Nancy and Peter Beck. Those of us who weren't passing through and who didn't have to leave early were joined by FrankEdmunds and enjoyed a Kentucky Derby party hosted by the Barrs and Betty and Cliff Jordan. The party featured the Derby on TV, followed by cocktails and conversation.

Perhaps because of the time of the year, some of the conversation centered on the Alumni Fund. This is my sneaky way into this column's one and only pitch for the fund. As most everyone knows, Dartmouth ranked first in the country last year in terms of percentage of alumni support. If you have not been participating recently, how about this? One day give up a couple beers, or that extra martini or perhaps have a Big Mac instead of a steak. Then send along the few bucks you saved to the fund. The amount is not the most important thing; adding your name to the list is.

Let's keep Dartmouth number one.

Charles Aubrey Rowan Jr. '45, whose business career has been spent with Western Electric in personnel and purchasing, received a Dartmouth Alumni Award in May in appreciation for his outstanding service and devotion to the College. Rowan has served his class as class agent, head agent, president, bequest chairman, newsletter editor, and reunion giving chairman.

P.O. Box 39 Atkinson, N.H. 03811