1953

"Where, O where are the Pea Green Freshmen? Safe at last in the Soph'more Class." We are at that time of year in the autumn when the Dartmouth of of the heart seems to blossom. The matriculation of the new class, the excitement of returning to the campus with the tower of Baker peering over the treeline, all of God's glory in the fall colors on campus and the surrounding land, and the renewal of long and trusted friendships all bring out the essence of the Dartmouth experience. This is a special time in a special place.

When yon have read this, we will be well into the autumn season with Homecoming Weekend already behind us. From all reports from our mini-reunion chair, Freddie Carleton, we expect a turnout of record proportions. All will have gathered at the church to form for the traditional alumni parade Friday night, followed by the rally to hear the 1953 telegram to the football team, the bonfire, a reception at the Inn for the class followed by a buffet dinner at Nancy and Phil Beekman's. All '53s and friends of '53 have been invited. On Saturday we will have had a continental breakfast with a brief class meeting, then on to the devastation of the Colgate team followed by a blowout at the Gosses' on Goose Pond. The eternal question is which came first, the Gosses or the gooses? Navigation to Gosses on Goose Pond is by GPS (you got it, Goose Pond Satellite). After all of that, another memorable mini-reunion will be entered in the 1953 Pagemaker. Our best count of mini-reunions in the 42 years of our alumni history is 553; does anybody have a better number? And, as always, we will raise one to the memory of the pioneer of the minireunion, die immortal Don Smith, who established the institution in this class, and then in the larger Dartmouth family. What an endearing service he has provided to his College and his classmates he loves so dearly.

Bob Malin has recently conducted a survey with the Class Executive Committee on the hopes, fears, anxieties, and desires of the class relative to the expenditure of our treasury funds. Contrary to popular practice, the treasury does not condone deficit funding, issues no 30-year treasuries, and has no equity certificates on the street. Led by the skill of the quill pen of Dick Giesser, we have cash and commitments, and Dick skillfully gets the two to match. While it will be necessary to make a modest adjustment in dues, it was heartwarming to learn that the class still supports the distribution of the Alumni Magazine and the newsletter to those who have not participated in activities for some time, or have stated no interest. The class wants to reach out and touch all '53s on the chance, perhaps outside, that these classmates may choose to re-establish their connection. Many have. It became very clear from the survey that the intensity level of our mini-reunion program and the 12 issues-per-year newsletter were overwhelmingly supported by the class as the primary means by which we are to sustain this long bond of fellowship, friendship, or family call it what you may and that we should sustain those activities at their current level. Bob will explain all the results of the survey in detail at the Homecoming class meeting, which will be duly reported in this column.

Don Goss's monthly newsletter in August carried news on more than 30 classmates. At that rate we theoretically can provide news of well over half of our classmates yearly. We do not repeat that news here and instead have decided to reserve this column for the news of the class in general for those classes around us, and extend to one and all an invitation to receive our newsletter should that be of interest. Let the undersigned scribe know at 700 Spring Valley Road, Altamonte Springs, FL 32714. Don and Norm's newsletters are being considered for inclusion on the College net for students to examine this social phenomena called "1953" in order'to understand in the future how to promote class cohesion in view of the broad curriculum and scheduling diversity. It would be a wonderful element in any database.

"Where, O where are the Grand Old Seniors? Safe at last in the Alumni Fund."

700 Spring Valley Road, Altamonte Springs, FL 32714