Clubs

Although the summer is now a distant memory, let’s go back to August 21 off the shores of Honolulu, Hawaii, for the Dartmouth Club of Hawaii’s Back-to-School Event. The SS Dartmouth catamaran welcomed 18 people aboard, including four current stu- dents, for a two-hour sunset cruise. Everyone had the opportunity to steer the 40-foot sailboat while enjoying great company and food. Club president Howard Hodel ’75 commented, “It’s always special to get the Dartmouth family together here in Hawaii, especially when students are present.”

Another club that had a successful summer event was the Dartmouth Club of Suburban New Jersey. The club’s June 27 picnic was well attended and the soon-to-be freshmen from the class of 2014 were welcomed to the Dartmouth family by alumni and current students. Club president David Dietze ’78 reported that after a fantastic meal the parents of the current students and the parents of the incoming freshmen gathered for a session to discuss the Dartmouth experience from a parent’s perspective and addressed some of the concerns and comments. Jim Felter ’74 did a wonderful job of planning and organizing the picnic and was assisted by Jeff Dahlman ’70.

The men’s rugby team competed in the first USA Sevens Collegiate Championship Invitational tournament in Columbus, Ohio, in late spring. Charlie Winslow ’82, from the Dartmouth Club of Central Ohio, opened his home to the student-athletes and “the Dartmouth boys were welcomed by old green ruggers and their families from the greater Columbus area.” Some of the attendees at the barbecue were Chuck Winslow ’57, Rolli Kolman ’60, Craig Woods ’79, Webb Vory ’80 and Frank Merrill ’80.

A club that continues to be innovative and ahead of the curve in terms of events is the Dartmouth Alumni Association of Silicon Valley (DAASV). This club has introduced two new “hot topic” series this spring/summer: alumni networking and green energy. Club president James von Rittmann ’95 reported that attendance records are being shattered and the club is leveraging partnerships with three of the Silicon Valley’s most highly recognized companies. The alumni networking series consists of four events sponsored by and held at the headquarters of Facebook and LinkedIn. The first two events, “Comfortable Networking Techniques” (March 30) and “Strategic Networking: Make Your Most Useful Contacts with the Least Effort” (May 25) attracted more than 90 attendees each. Strategic marketing consultant Theresa Lina Stevens captured the audience by offering insight and practical advice about networking. “What Your Online Presence Says About You…Like It or Not,” scheduled for September 15, had 140 registrants as of late August and was still rising. Distinguished representatives from Heidrick & Struggles, Korn Ferry International and VTG Staffing Management Consulting will join Stevens to make this a memorable and valuable experience. The last event in the series, “Using Technology to Network Effectively,” is scheduled for November and is sure to attract record numbers as well. The green energy series, sponsored by Tesla Motors, was launched at the electric car manufacturer’s headquarters on August 9. The 217 alumni who attended eagerly listened to a company update from the vice president of business development, Diarmuid O’Connell ’86, and the director of battery engineering, Dorian West. The alumni also went on facility tours and were able to test-drive the Tesla Roadster. These two new initiatives have sparked the interest of alumni across the country and have drawn in attendees from New York City, Boston and Washington, D.C. Make sure to check out the club’s website (www.daasv.or) for pictures and get inspired to host a similar event in your club or travel to a DAASV event.

209 Vernon St., Worcester, MA 01607; (508) 340-5336; cherie.comeau@ alum.dartmouth.org