1936

Summer on Cape Cod is over. The year-rounders lined the Mid-Cape Highway and the approaches to the two Cape Cod canal bridges to wave goodbye to the summer visitors and secretly wish a speedy return. And then they returned for the Bluefish Derby, the Yarmouth Seaside Festival, monthly meetings of the Dartmouth Club of Cape Cod, etc.

For the 50th reunion committee, however, there is no change of season. Many individuals and many committees are busy around the clock regardless of season, putting the pieces together to assure the whole class that our 50th will be historically the greatest and a permanent challenge to future classes.

Have you seen the logo for our 50th? Eleazar with Indian at stump of old pine (no rabbit) with 1936 above 50th in gold and at the bottom the reunion slogan, "Survival With Class." The letterheads carry the reunion committee names flush across the bottom, with the logo at top left - very snazzy.

Of course you all have received the reunion kickoff letter which went out October 1, but in case you somehow missed this mailing and would like to see this letterhead closely before the turn of the year, drop a note to Al Gibney, 251 Kibbe Road, East Longmeadow, MA 01028. Ask him what you can do for the event, and he will personally reply on reunion stationery.

One thing you all can and must do is show up with your family in Hanover, June 6, 7, and 8,1986. To surpass the attendance record set by the class of '35 we must have a turnout of 436 classmates, associates, wives, children, etc. If you take the class officers, the executive committee, the reunion committees, and others who are working for the comfort and success of the occasion, there is a nucleus of more than 100 to start the count rolling. Just the tip of the iceberg. You out there - each one bring one, and we will exceed the 436 goal easily.

And speaking of goals, Norb Hoffman has sent out his requests for workers on the 1986 Alumni Fund drive. "The pinnacle of $300,000 is a far cry from the $115,000 raised in 1985. But statistics indicate that there is always a fantastic upswing in alumni giving for the milestone anniversary." Norb is convinced we can make it. Aren't we all?

The Early Bird Fund efforts by BobKeeler and his committee brought in $246,986 as a nest egg. "This is a marvelous beginning toward our class 50th reunion gift - the largest giving in the young history of Early Bird Funds - and with the interest accumulated and to be accumulated, the largest early giving at this stage of any 50-year class in the history of Dartmouth." Congratulations Bob, committee, and class. Think Big!

A card from "Huffy" Huffman reports that the "St. Luke's on the Trail" project of Joe and Jane Schaeffer, way up on Sugar Island in northern Michigan, is progressing very well, thanks in good part to contributions from the class. The Schaeffers expect to miss at least one Sunday service when they come to Hanover next June.

In the local (Lebanon, N.H.) obituary for Robert D. Densmore it was stated that memorial contributions could be made to David's House, Box 768, Hanover, NH 03755. As all good '36ers, I knew about Dick's House, but what is David's House? The answer came from Class Notes Editor Teri Allbright. "A young boy, nine or ten, named David Cyr, died last fall of leukemia. His parents have been trying to fund a house near Hitchcock where the families of terminally ill children can stay while their children receive treatment. They have raised a lot of money and have bought a house at 1 Prospect Street and expect to renovate it by this fall. It is to be called 'David's House,' and the whole community has been very receptive to the idea."

No respecter of seasons, our tireless social chairman, Barry Sullivan, has leapfrogged into another football season. Dartmouth will be playing Navy at Annapolis on Saturday, October 4, 1986, and a fabulous weekend is being put together under the auspices of the Dartmouth Club of Maryland.

Our home for the weekend will be the Baltimore Hyatt - where there are 30 rooms set aside for the class of '36. A special "package" for the entire weekend is being arranged - more details later - but of immediate urgency, anyone who might even remotely consider attending this game and reunion should call or write Barry Sullivan, 1730 "M" Street, N.W., Suite 701, Washington, DC 20036-4505 (phone: 202/872-8890). Do it now, now, now!

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

12 Godfrey Road Mashpee, MA 02649