Clubs

Each Winter Carnival Dartmouth club leaders from around the globe make a pilgrimage to Hanover for Club and Affiliated Group Officers Weekend. This year 125 alumni officers came together to share ideas and hear the latest news from the College, some traveling from as far away as Germany and China.

One annual highlight is the Friday awards dinner in Alumni Hall, which recognizes outstanding clubs and affiliated groups. Janna Annest ’00, president of the Club Officers Association’s executive committee, presided over the program and announced this year’s winners: Metro Club of the Year, Dartmouth Club of Los Angeles; Large Club of the Year, Dartmouth Club of Suburban New Jersey; Medium Club of the Year, Dartmouth Club of Dallas; Small Club of the Year, Dartmouth Club of Hawaii; Club President of the Year, Jethro Rothe-Kushel ’03, president of the Dartmouth Club of Los Angeles; Affiliated Group of the Year, Dartmouth Gay, Lesbian Bisexual and Transgender Alumni/ae Association (DGALA); Affiliated Group Officer of the Year, Garrett A. Hornsby ’87, vice chair of DGALA and co-chair of the DGALA 25th anniversary reunion.

“The awards are intended to honor the clubs and affiliated groups that performed exceptional service for the College and to spotlight some of the unique ideas and programs they have developed,” said Janna. “The College relies on our organizations to maintain the connection between Dartmouth and its alumni and appreciates the opportunity to publicly recognize and thank its alumni leaders.”

In the spirit of the 2010 Olympics the executive committee presented a series of “medal moments” to recognize clubs for noteworthy events or achievements. These recognized the Dartmouth clubs of Georgia, Kentucky, Hawaii, New Orleans, Eastern New York, Philadelphia, Germany and China, as well as the Dartmouth Women’s Club of Boston.

Jennifer Tudder Walus ’97 was presented with a Young Alumni Distinguished Service Award. Over the years Jennifer has served on Alumni Council and volunteered in many roles for the class of 1997, including as class president. She has served as the Dartmouth Club of Chicago’s president, events chair and treasurer.

Many Dartmouth clubs have community service activities, but one that goes the extra mile is the Dartmouth Club of Boston, which has a volunteer event on its calendar almost every month. It’s no surprise then that Jane A. Parkin Kullman ’01 holds the titles of both president and community service chair.

“In a way it feels like such a small thing, but these nonprofit organizations run on volunteers,” says Jane. “In the grand scheme of things you are making a big difference.”

Sorting food at the Greater Boston Food Bank is particularly popular among club members, especially young alumni in their 20s and 30s. But Jane has learned from experience that these events take advance planning; group volunteer slots at certain charities are so popular they fill quickly. For the Food Bank she had to sign up in September to secure a volunteer date for March of the following year. It’s not just young alumni who participate. One popular event for families with children is helping sort donated books, clothing, school supplies and toys at Cradles to Crayons, a clearinghouse that distributes these items to Boston-area children. The club has also participated in a Charles River clean-up, served meals at soup kitchens, delivered food to homebound individuals and volunteered at charities assisting women who are homeless or in crisis.

“We as a club are capable of getting people together,” observes Jane. “So why not harness that power to do something good for others? It’s just another way to have fun. It’s free and you feel pretty good after you do it, so it’s the best of all worlds.”

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