1973

Mudtime in Hanover (and possibly elsewhere as we head into the presidential elections)!

"I find the great thing in this world is not so much where we stand as in what direction we are moving...we must sometimes sail with the wind and sometimes against it. But we must sail and not drift or lie at anchor." Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr., professor of anatomy, Dartmouth Medical School, 1838-1841.

This quote is found at the beginning of President Wrights 1998-2003 "Five-Year Report." The report is worth reading and can easily be found on the College Web site. It seems just like yesterday when he addressed us as the new president at our 25th.

The Power of Strategy Innovation is an opus authored by Doug Bate and his co-founding partner at the Visterra Group, a Boston-based company dedicated to advancing the practice of corporate strategic planning through strategy innovation. This book outlines the five-step discovery process the two consultants have developed, using an indepth case study of the Moen plumbing corporation. Doug got a head start on strategic thinking when he served as coach for the Colleges first women's basketball team, which briefly was the only undefeated team on campus.

David Wilson is keeping busy as first vice president of research and director of private client investment policy for Merrill Lynch in New Canaan, Connecticut. Wils, a chartered financial analyst, started his career with Merrill Lynch after graduation but moved on to several other financial and investment firms before returning to Merrill Lynch in 1999. He assumed his current responsibilities in October 2000.

Managing money in a different context is Phil Brown, new chief executive officer of United Way of Monmouth County, New Jersey. Although much of Phil's career has been spent in hospital administration, in this position he plans to focus on fund-raising and enhancing connections with donors and companies, especially as giving has been down around the country recently. His master's in business administration and master's in social work will undoubtedly be an asset.

Using College resources I've been working to become familiar with where '"round the girdled earth" we can be found. Assuming our alma mater is current on your whereabouts, '73s abound on the East and West coasts of the United States, as well as most everywhere in-between, and also Ontario, Canada, to the north. None of us, however, are located in either North or South Dakota or Nebraska. We also can be found on every continent other than Antarctica. Kudos, everyone, on the coverage! Send your news to me so I can tell others what's going on in your corner of the world.

If you missed catching this tidbit in your local paper, the Libertarian Party has started the Free State Project, which aims to make all of New Hampshire a laboratory for libertarian politics by recruiting people to move to New Hampshire to jump-start political change. Project leaders calculate 20,000 people are what is needed and reportedly about 5,000 have made a commitment so far.

227 Sylvan Ave., San Mateo, CA94403; val.armento@alum.dartmouth.org