1939

777 West Street Pittsfield, MA 01201

Once again we are obliged to lead off this column by recounting the death of a good classmate. Bob Willheim died February 25 after a tough struggle with leukemia.

The spring Executive Committee meeting was held in New York City at the Reader's Digest offices in the Pan Am Building on April 22, 10:00 a.m. On hand were President Bert MacMannis, presiding, Jim Corner, Bill McCarthy, Al Tishman, Hugh McLaren, Cornie Miller, Tom Brooks, Sam Hird, Bob Kaiser, Hank Conkle, Zeke Hill, Andy Ruoff and wife Evie, and your scribe.

The meeting opened with Miller's Treasurer's Report listing cash on hand of $25,495, up $6,400 from last year. Three hundred and one dues payers swelled the coffers by $11,366, up 32 men and $1,250 from 1986. Happily, expenses were down by $1,400 from last year.

Your Secretary's Report followed, lamenting 1) lack of news, and 2) the difficulty in recruiting guest authors. Also just three deaths were reported since our last Executive Committee meeting, a rate considerably lower than that of recent months. Your Secretary was elected President of the Secretaries Association at the spring Class Officers' Meeting.

It was decided that a class address booklet similar to the one published in the spring of '85 would be developed and mailed directly to all classmates. It will go out by first class mail to overcome the problems we experienced with third class mail when some booklets never found those to whom they were addressed.

Editor Bob Davidson, in absentia, reported progress on the 50th Yearbook, which is scheduled for publication in the winter of 1988-89. A form for the biographical queries to be requested of each classmate was discussed.

Class Agent Jim Corner reported that he expected to make our goal of $108,000 with the able assistance of his 57 assistant class agents. Disappointment was expressed over the scheduled early deadline of the current fund year, moved from June 30 to June 15. By a unanimous vote the Committee asked President MacMannis to write the College expressing our belief that the change of date would be detrimental to our effort as well as to that of other classes. Corner reported that Wes Goding, Participation Chair, has written a letter to 107 classmates who have a record of giving, but did not participate in last year's fund.

Bob Kaiser was heard from on three counts. Firstly, as a "friend of the College Treasurer," he reported that 33 men had entered into the Early Bird 50th Reunion Campaign with a grand total of $84,398.69 as of March 31, 1987. Your Executive Committee was disappointed in the number participating, as we had hoped for at least 75 participants. It is a good way to have your gift earn extra dollars for the College and to swell the class 50th Reunion effort.

Wearing a second hat, Bequest Chairman Kaiser stated that the late Roy C. Demmon's bequest has now fully matured and amounted to a whopping $2,181,500.

And finally Mini-reunion Chairman Kaiser said that he made arrangements with the Sheraton for our fall mini over the Princeton weekend, September 18-19, with some recommendations to overcome past problems experienced at this hostelry.

President MacMannis read a letter from the College Scholarship Office indicating the substantive background of Eric Schnack '87, the 1939 Scholar. Eric is an engineering major with excellent grades and is a first string defensive back on the football team.

Andy Ruoff and Bill McCarthy, Chair and Vice Chair, respectively, of our 50th Reunion, reported progress on early plans for June 9-11, 1989. Since the 50th year class had first dibs on the Hanover Inn rooms (WE FINALLY MADE IT) you are each advised to write in directly and immediately to the Inn should you fancy bedding down in such hallowed splendor.

As a means of working up to the 50th, plans were discussed for a possible minireunion to be held in Florida in the winter of 1988-89. Hank Conkle countered with a suggestion that a mini-reunion be considered for the fall of '88 in Charlotte, N.C., over the Dartmouth-Davidson game. There is nothing definite on either of the above and we'll report on any developments in the future.

And finally, we were joined at lunch by Mike Choukas, Director of the Alumni Affairs Office. Mike evidenced the Hanover excitement over the '39 proposal to inaugurate a faculty/alumni committee a la Dave Lilly's suggestion. Jack Cumming is to formally present the proposal at the Alumni Council summer meeting. Choukas advised that it has received enthusiastic support from faculty and. Council leadership.

This completes our 1986/87 magazine commitment. We wish you all a pleasant and healthy summer and we'll be back in September with our next, God willing.