1948

About the time you receive this and are readying yourselves for the mini-reunion in Hanover Oct. 8-10 (It's never a problem deciding to go at the last minute. Just give Bud Gedney or John Hatheway a call and head for the hills.), your secretary will be enjoying spring in New Zealand. Not neglecting the Hanover Plain, he will have attended the Leadership Weekend in Hanover in September where class and club officers gathered to share ideas and opinions.

The Hartford Courant recently had a long article about how Russ Palmer took the reins of the Connecticut State Golf Association in 1986 after 35 good years with Aetna. He organized and reorganized until he left, in 1996, and the association is running at full speed today. When you consider the growth of the number of courses and players during that time span, this was a real accomplishment. Russ is an unabashed golf nut. Pat McAllister sent a letter from the class to 60 class widows earlier this year. She reports several letters back. Our connection with class widows is an important one. Many shared campus housing with their spouses and more have formed a real attachment to Dartmouth over the years. Our class is unusual in that Pat has made a real effort to stay in touch with other class widows and has participated in class activities for many years. In mid-June skipper Lou Clarke got nearly 900 miles north of Brisbane, Australia, and was about to turn west around the northeastern tip of the continent when Frolic ran aground on a reef at night. It was touch and go for a while but the boat was severely damaged and had to be carried by ship back to Cairns, Australia, for major repairs. Lou came home for a short visit while the repairs are being done before resuming his round-the-world quest. (See Dick Dahl's newsletter for more details.)

When we were putting together the 50 th Reunion yearbook, the "Great Issues" course that President Dickey foisted on us had more favorable comment than any other single campus experience. Indeed, many wondered why it was ever discontinued. It taught us to recognize important issues and do something about them. It seems to this spectator that many of the issues today are either totally ignored or tolerated if they bend our standards. Granted that most people seem to be better off than before but one wonders if the birthright has been sold for a bunch of things. For our age level it is doubly sad because we can afford the good food, wine, travel, etc. but they are fattening and contraindicated for the medications we are taking.

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