1947

Classmates! This is mid-February and I am writing a column for April reading. Soon, here in New Hampshire, it will be sugaring time like right now. We'll boil sap through Marchclean up the first week in April, and begin looking for crocuses and fern sprouts (fiddle heads) to be pushing through the edge of the snow left along warm earth paths.

There was a time during December and January when we began to believe we'd miss winter entirely. No upper New Englander really wants to miss winter. Extreme cold, deep snow or slush, heavy shoveling these we can miss. But not the sunny, clear, blue skies, green pines, white-rutted paths, or distant peaks gleaming in ice. February showed us some snow all right, and we know there'll be a sugar season. Winter Carnival weekend saw enough snow to put everyone in the proper frame of mind. The snow sculptures rose up like magic and a Dartmouth Carnival came and went. Was there ever a Winter Carnival which was "just another Carnival"?

Thirty-four years ago Dottie and I enjoyed our first Carnival. The same one to which Cotton Johnson brought Verah, his bride of near- ly a year, and Frank Weber escorted a smiling Ursula soon to be a bride. You'd have to say Frank's intentions that weekend were honorable, though he may not have known it.

Yes, Winter Carnivals were always special. Reunions are special, too. They're both a link to the past and a firm tie to the future. A reunion is a party, with some care-free and some care-full times to it all. For one thing, the College puts on some things for us if you miss a reunion you miss the freebie dinners, the songs, the fellowship in familiar places. One thing is easy to overlook that one of the things we look forward to is the promise of the College to "be there." It'll be there now and a long way into the future, and it'll be growing and changing and still being there right along with us, as we grow and change and are still here, too.

It takes more than good wishes to keep all that growing and changing at the proper pace it also takes our time and our money as gifts.

I'd like in this column to do a profile on Frank Weber, our reunion giving chairman. He's well known in class and College circles, and why not? He's not reticent, he has lots of ideas and energy, and he puts in his time in the "kitchen." He was an early organizer and director in '47 class activities, serving as reunion chairman for our 25 th by far our most impressive gathering. Frank kept us in the black that year, while other classes were bright red.

Then Frank was elected our class president. He attended every College class meeting, both May and October, in Hanover, sometimes flying from Houston at his own expense. Many of us grew into class jobs and got to participate through Frank's urging.

After the class presidency, when another job needed filling, Frank agreed to be class agent. He brings enthusiasm to that job not an easy one following Mr. Bounce, Alan Epstein. Frank has a lot more people involved, and now, feeling a major responsibility is ours for our 35th, Frank is also reunion giving chairman. Frank has a vision and drawing upon his executive ability he's set the vision in motion. We can hand President Dave McLaughlin a check for $1 million, representing the total giving of the class of '47 since graduation. To gain this, Frank is establishing a challenge fund, which will match our increase in giving through a formula so that when we stretch, big brother stretches with us. It seems from a letter I received from Frank dated February 10, that we need an average gift of $ 1,276 per donor at the rate of the 230 giving last year or, with 60 more contributors, an average of $1,OOO each for the increased total donor pool. I'm going to give Frank a shot at putting this in his own words, in a subsequent letter for pre-re- union mailing.

Anything sounds exciting and possible when Frank says it!

Class news: Not many incoming letters this month. Bill and Virginia Callagy did write to say that they hope to attend reunion, and Saxand Ann Fletcher also hope to be in Hanover on June 13—16.

Stephen Bucklin wrote from Pool Farm, Strattion Audley, Bicester, Oxon OX69AJ England to say that this year is not the year he can attend in June. I include his address in case someone wants to visit England and needs a friend there. Drop a line.

Here are some more certain attendees "We'll be there," they say: Paul and HelenGiiilderson, Bill and Jean Hallager, Tomand Barb Leggatt, Bob and Marlene Snedaker, Seymour and Dolores Stein, and Frank and Guest Towsley. Bob and AnneKeane are trying to plan on reunion; we'll hear soon from them.

Walt Peterson is back at work at Franklin Pierce College after a brief but successful operation. Dorothy P. called and offered her help as needed. Ask a busy person and you get a job done.

That's our news for April (in February). Write news; I want you to be the second to hear it.

1947's 35 JUNE 13-16,1983

63 Maple Avenue Keene, N.H. 03431