1951

In the spirit of trying to dig out and report on foundation activities of '51s, following is a nice note from Andy Pincus: "Dear Dave, In response to your inquiry in the Alumni Magazine, I am a member of the board of the Massachusetts Foundation for Humanities and Public Policy. The foundation is the state- level affiliate of the National Endowment for the Arts. We make grants for projects films, lectures, displays, and the like using the humanities to illuminate such policy issues as Agent Orange, women's and minority rights, and economic development. Typically, humanists usually, but not always, from a university will present public policy issues from a historical or other scholarly point of view to bring a broader picture to ongoing discussion. That's what happened in connection with an Agent Orange film, for example, though the project itself was questioned by the National Endowment for being too political.

"The 20 members of the foundation board, drawn half from the academic community and half from other professions and businesses, set policy and approve grants. The budget of about $440,000 a year comes almost entirely from the National Endowment. I was elected to the board this fall as a 'public' mem- ber in my capacity as an editor of The BerkshireEagle and its music critic." It was signed "Andy" with a P.S.: "The job, of course, is voluntary." Any funds or support can be sent to Andy at Under Mountain Road, Lenox, MA 01240.

Bill Pardee has been reappointed chairman of the department of plant breeding and biometry in the New York State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University for an additional three-year term. He has been chairman since 1979. A member of the Cornell faculty since 1966, Bill is a specialist in field crops and is recognized as an authority on seed production. He has developed numerous educational programs for seed growers and dealers, farmers, and. for Cornell Cooperative Extension agriculture agents and specialists. Bill, who grew up on a dairy and crop farm near New Haven, Conn., received his Ph.D. degree from Cornell in 1960.

More kudos for George Southwick. Following is a letter to George: "Dear Mr. Southwick: As President of the Lexington High School class of 1985, I would like to extend to you our sincerest invitation to speak at our commencement excercises on June 6, 1985. There are about 550 people in our graduating class, of whom 80 percent to 90 percent will pursue post-secondary education. I know that you will be well received by our community, and I am confident that we will be an appreciative audience.

"As for having a Lexington High School faculty member speak at our graduation, the class council and I decjded to vary tradition and incorporate this into the commencement excercises. You were chosen by a unanimous vote by the class council for various reasons.

"I am easy to reach during the school hours, and I will be eagerly awaiting your response. Thank you for your consideration. Yours truly, Joel B. B. Alper, President, Class 0f'85."

George's co-faculty member, Nancy Haley, reports that this is the first time that any fac- ulty member of Lexington High School has been chosen to be graduation speaker. Usually it is some politician or celebrity. Nancy will have to report on George's speech to us.

Another nice letter, from Russ Dilks, reports the following: Mike lovenko was elected as a director of the New York City Legal Aid Society for a two-year term. Mike is a member of the law firm of Leßoeuf, Lamb, Leiby, and Macßae. He serves on the banking law committee of the New York State Bar Association and is a member of the House of Delegates. He also is a member of the Committee on Children and the Law of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York and has chaired its Committee on Juvenile Justice. He is president of the New York State Council of Family and Child Care Agencies and a member of the Citizens Committee for Children. He served as an alternate representative of the United States with, the rank of ambassador to the United Nations General Assembly in 1967.

Russ's letter also reported that John Gambling was honored this past fall for 25 years in radio. The article is so rich that I intend to devote a special column to John and his achievements.

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