1970

Folks, I'm indeed sorry to report that some of you seem to be real pains in the tush for our tireless class treasurer, Jim Aukerman. A surprising number of you, in fact, expect to continue reading the drivel in this column endlessly without exercising your privilege of paying for it. Poor Jim has become so frustrated over the situation that he's even intimated he might soon cut some of you off from access to news of your classmates by canceling your subscriptions to the Alumni Magazine. I suppose it's probably true that few of you could manage long without these regular doses on the doings of your contemporaries who have so successfully overachieved by age 40 that they've already settled into cushy existences in Concord-Carlisle, New Hope, La Due, Chagrin Falls, etc., etc. But, Jim, while the goodness of your intent is appreciated, if you really want action I'd suggest pulling out the heavy guns. How about a follow-up letter to all these bozos in our midst with a threat to withhold access to news of Modesto? Talk results... get 'em where it hurts. I dare say that the mere mention of such a possibility should net a flood of $20 checks in your mailbox within a matter of days. Let's pay those class dues.

And now on to the lucky first of this month's overachievers.

D. Rodman Thomas is either on the fastest track to the top we've ever seen, or he's got a public relations department behind him which delights in sending junk mail to me over the FAX machine. Yes, we have received yet another clipping detailing his latest semi-annual promotion. In case any of you have forgotten, Rod is a rising star at First Vermont Bank. Most recently he's been asked to manage some $330 million in accounts as senior vice president/senior trust officer. With a title like that, one can only wonder if First Vermont is one of those organizations which substitutes promotions for raises.

Congratulations, Rod, yet again ... and we're sure you will utilize your new powers to the fullest by obliterating whoever keeps finking on you as soon as you figure out who it is.

We think we want to take this opportunity to congratulate Chris Nintzel as well. Commander Nintzel (as he's known these days about the U.S. Navy) recently took command of the USS Lewis B. Puller. We do wish you all the best Chris, but suggest that we've finally discovered why the armed forces flounder so endlessly in public relations snafus. After all you can't really expect your humble class secretary to take very fondly to an announcement of your achievement which includes a printed notice that "Guests will not be invited" to attend the ceremony.

I'd suggest that your first official act be an order for the ship's library to subscribe to a wire service which includes columns by Miss Manners. And I had so looked forward to a junket to the Straits of Hormuz to cover the festivities.

Demonstrating that he hasn't yet completely forgotten all those social graces he learned at Dartmouth, Dennis Jolicoeur recently sent along a truly beautiful (and complimentary) copy of the premier issue of New England Living. No doubt about its success since the ever-optimistic Dennis is its president and publisher. Test marketing last summer produced "terrific" results. With personal seed money representing well over ten percent of required capitalization, Dennis is now soliciting savvy venture capitalists from our ranks. Be' assured that this is no amateur effort. Dennis launched the highly successful Business NH five years ago, and has his wife, Catherine Smith, hard at work editing The Original New England Guide, another magazine which they bought last fall. Call Dennis at 603/668-7330 for details. And Dennis, it has been my pleasure to provide you with this sincere and genuinely deserved plug. Thanks also for including enough news of other classmates in your cover letter to fill all of next month's column. One has to admire a man who so openly demonstrates the method to his madness.

P.O. Box 3934, Modesto, CA 95352-3934

NEW FLASH AUGUSTA, Maine Captain Kangaroo, a.k.a. Bob Keeshan '42, was recently invited to speak at a lecture series sponsored by Gov. John R. McKernan '70. The two Dartmouth alumni met last year when Keeshan made a presentation on child care to the National Governors Association. His topic in Maine: "Small Children Need Big Friends."