1948

In case you haven't noticed it, 2003 is 55 years after 1948 and a blue ribbon committee headed by Ray Richard has been hard at work planning for our reunion boondoggle June 9-11,2003. By now you should have received some kind of inquiry wanting to know if you are enthusiastically putting this on your calendar and have already called the Inn for reservations or are just figuring to come, anyway.

In either case, this is a mellow meeting. No big drive to beat the last reuning class on buying a new dormitory or two for the College. Less emphasis on tennis singles matches and more on strolling around campus. Less bragging about ones conquests and more discussion about ones cures. A first class concert combining the famed Upper Valley Mens Chorus and those Glee Club alumni who can still carry a tune and are willing to rehearse. They even sing banned "Eleazor Wheelock" and other ditties we used to enjoy-our inimitable "Twilight Song," "Dartmouth Undying" and "Men of Dartmouth."

But more than this, Hanover can be so sweet in June with the warm days and cool nights. It doesn't take much imagination to recall those summer days in 1943-44-45 when we were on campus marching, road tripping all over New England on our thumbs and enduring classrooms that didn't know what air conditioning meant. The basics are still a lot like we knew and it's fun to share those days with classmates, some of whom may not be around five years later.

To keep up with the plans you can go to Pete Fosters 1948 Web page under www.dartmouth. edu in the alumni section or just read your mail before you discard it. Rumor has it that Bud Gedney is trying to stretch the party by a day to make it more worthwhile for the long-distance travelers.

A reminder that our fall mini-reunion this year is set for October 10-12. It's worth a try if for no other reason than to find out for yourself how class business is done in no-longer smokefilled rooms. With the new schedule there is plenty of time to meet and greet without a football game getting in the way. The dinner at the Inn is generally top-notch and it's a great chance to check out those gorgeous fall colors in New England. This is particularly true for sun-belt transplants who yeam for the change in seasons. (This has never bothered this writer, who left Michigan winters and never looked back. Lala Land, as Bud Munson calls it, ain't all that bad.)

Kudos to Dick Dahl and the great newsletters he's been getting out. The pictures, production and frequency have never been better. Give the guy a break by sharing your goings on with him and us.

That's all for this issue. Drop by if you're in San Diego, which is one of the most sought-after destinations in the country.

6442 Cardeno Drive, La Jolla, CA92037-6929; (619) 459-5133; bobherrick@aol.com