1941

Lots of news from here and there in Don Hagen's "Dope" for December last, and I was glad to see a spread of the President's letter of October 24 responding to Dan Provost about issues involved in the operations of the College. The positions of the College, reflecting policies of the Trustees as indicated in the letter, seem pretty reasonable to me, and I have had the opportunity to read Dan's correspondence on the subject. (So, too, can anyone by checking off the last item on the green card enclosed with Dan's letter to the class, dated January 24.)

Not so reasonable, on the other hand, are the occasions for Dartmouth to have been making headlines in the past few months. Much of this was bad news and, as Doug Greenwood '66 put it editorially in, the January/February issue of the Magazine, "when the College gets a black eye for whatever reason, it's not just a PR problem but a personal embarrassment." Under the circumstances of this kind of news-making, I was glad to see the President's letter of January 28 go forth to all hands in "The Bulletin" of Dartmouth College. This communication saves me the trouble of making an explanation to Bruce Brown, who asks: "What the hell is going on there?"

This query was at the tail end of a note tacked on to the letter Bruce wrote me January 29 from San Francisco. This is . home base for Bruce, but check this 1985 itinerary: "I snorkeled in Puerto Rico, climbed the ice in St. Lawrence River in Quebec, rode horseback on the western coast of Costa Rica, went boating in Puget Sound, got chased off Pigeon Key in Florida by Hurricane Kate, went on a geology expedition in Rocky Mountain National Park, went nude-swimming in Jamaica, got drunk in Barbados, took a computer course in Savannah, attended reunion of officers of USS Wisconsin at New York Yacht Club (40th year after returning from Japan), and so many more things that I really have trouble remembering them all." On top of all.that, as if it wasn't enough for one year, Hanover was revisited in January and December. "Wow, what a year!" writes Bruce Brown, and I'd have to agree.

Maybe the foregoing will be an inspiration for Hank Palmer as he shifts gears following the sale of his stationery business in Salisbury, N.C., last November. But maybe not, on the other hand, because the news clip reporting the sale also notes that Hank Palmer and Associates will be continuing to do business in advertising specialities. Whether or not, Hank told The Salisbury Post that "he looked forward to an easier pace," and let's wish him well in that regard.

A letter from Bob Harvey reveals that his respite from the chores of class secretary has been abbreviated by a new job as scholarship fund chair for the class. But he allowed as how this wasn't going to stop him and Barbara from spending February in the Sarasota area. Now that is good news.

Neither good nor bad, but news of a sort, is the address, list of Dartmouth Alumni Officers that someone in Hanover sent along to me. Looking it over I find the following activities by our crowd: Priscilla K. "Sally" Frechette Board of Trustees; Ed Lamer Alumni Council; Dave Chittim-president, Alumni Club Association Officers; Bill Sleepeck- treasurer, Dartmouth Club of Southwest Florida; George Baine-treasurer; Monmouth County (N.J.) Club; Brodie Bjorklund continuing education officer, Dartmouth Alumni Association of Long Island; Bruce Friedlich-same post, New York City; Jim Eckels liaison officer, Dartmouth Club of Utah; Jake Gidney district enrollment director for northern Nevada; Roy Rowan editorial board of DAM; and Steve Winship- alumni representative on the board of proprietors of The Dartmouth.

That's not too shabby, is it? In addition, Dick Hill appears in this little green book twice, as a living former Trustee and as former Alumni Councilor. The listing of the latter gives Friedlich a second mention, and other 1941 living former Alumni Councilors are: Chuck Bolte, Rich Fisher,George Flather, Tinner Gordon, Bill Hotaling, Lew Johnstone, Hugh Kenworthy,Charlie McLane, and Ed McMillan. Did I miss anyone? (Yes, class officers are set forth, too, but no need to run those names again.)

If you're still with me, dear reader, please help yourself to a sniff of spring, take quill in hand, and tell me what you are doing with your life to "Take Off." For now, Peace and Joy.

Bob Wilson '42 sent in a photo taken at his class's Commencement 44 years ago. The picturewas taken by Wilson's brother.

464 Main Street, #106 Port Washington, NY 11050