1973

And another year winds down.

While working on summer backpacking trip plans I had a nice chat with Doug Noll, who continues to be an avid outdoorsman and who has backpacked throughout the Sierra Nevada. Formerly a trial lawyer practicing all over the country, Doug gave that up to pursue a masters in peacemaking and conflict studies at Fresno Pacific University and now assists people with conflict resolution without litigation (www.nollassociates.com). His book, Peacemaking: Practicing at the Intersection of Lawand Human Conflict was published last year by Cascadia Publishing and he has a second book in progress. Doug also writes a monthly column for The Fresno Business Journal and is an adjunct professor of law at San Joaquin College of Law. Doug believes that lawyers should be trained as peacemakers, that children should be trained in the social knowledge regarding making things right and reconciling interests and that everyone should learn how to apply the ancient principles of confession, apology and atonement to everyday business life. When he is not mediating, teaching or lecturing around the country on peacemaking, Doug resides on 20 acres in the foothills outside of Clovis, California.

Senior year captain of the track team and Ivy League shot put champion Mike Shiaras is still at the top of his game. Living and working in Scottsdale, Arizona, Mike read about the Grand Canyon State Games in 1999, entered the discus and shot put events and won both. He has since focused on the shot put, and won the National Masters Championship in 2000, 2001 and 2003. Mike took the gold medal at the inaugural Masters Indoor World Championships in Germany in March with a "subpar" throw of 15.08 meters and handily won this years Golden State Games 5059 division with a throw of 15.21 meters. (Fifty-and-over competitors use a 13.2-pound shot rather than a 16-pound shot.) Mike credits Carl Wallin, his coach since freshman year and the first New Englander to throw 60 feet, with his continued success. In his spare time Mike practices law.

As of July 1 Dave Bracken joined Applied Psychological Techniques Inc. in Darien, Connecticut, a full-service human resource consulting firm populated largely with organizational psychologists like him. He intends to commute from Hastings-on-Hudson until the traffic drives him "crazier." His youngest daughter's wedding was in Atlanta in August and now Dave and wife Liz are under the delusion that their parenting responsibilities are done after paying for two college educations and two weddings. Anyone can contact him with any questions or comments regarding the Alumni Association, since the next meeting is in early December.

Harold Kurland, renowned Kleen Linen rep senior year, reports that he, Christine and their two sons ("both were interested in cities for college, having grown up in Rochester, so they left Dartmouth out of active consideration") took a trip to Juneau, Alaska, in August. Harold notes that all is well in his constitutional, litigation and malpractice work at Ward Norris Heller & Reidy.

227 Sylvan Ave., San Mateo, CA9443; val.armento@alum.dartmouth.org