Clubs & Groups

In May the Dartmouth Alumni Club of the Virgin Is- lands (DACVI) successfully completed an 11-day alumni club annual meeting, certainly the longest annual meeting of any club or affiliated group. DACVI members live on five Caribbean islands and in 17 U.S. states. Gathering at the Fort Burt Hotel in Tortola, British Virgin Islands (BVI), on May 6 for the DACVI meeting and election of officers, 18 sailors left the next morning for Flotilla III, a nine-night sail through the BVI, overnighting at Norman, Cooper, Virgin Gorda, Anegada, Great Camanoe, Jost Van Dyke, Tor- tola and Peter islands. Returning to homeport on May 16, they convened for a breakup dinner at the Royal BVI Yacht Club, where the officers welcomed them with the respect they were due. Days were spent on board, sailing to numerous quiet and picturesque anchorages for swimming and snorkeling. Nights were spent at beachfront restaurants, where shipmates swapped sailing stories and joined in hearty renditions of “As the Backs Go Tearing By,” “Glory to Dartmouth” and the alma mater. They left stunned diners in absolute awe of their spirit and camaraderie. One of the trip’s highlights was the wedding-at-sea of two DACVI members aboard the good ship Verakai, performed by Gerry Hills ’68, ship’s cap- tain and president of the DACVI. The newlyweds began their honeymoon ashore at Cooper Island Beach Club and rejoined the ship’s company for the rest of the trip. DACVI is organizing Flotilla IV for May 5-14, 2016, in the BVI. Some early reservations have already been received, and they expect a record number of sailors will be joining. Bareboat sailboats will be chartered from Road Town, Tortola, and sailed by club members. All are welcome—accomplished sailors and those who have never been sailing. For information about Flotilla IV, email Gerry Hills at stjohncap- tain@aol.com.

The Black Alumni of Dartmouth Association in May elected new executive leadership headed by Leah Threatte Bojnowski ’01, president. Congratu- lations are also in order for first vice president Al Forbes ’82, second vice president Diamer Panna Bloe ’00, secretary Tiffany Harper ’05, treasurer Heiyab Tessema ’04, Th’05, Alumni Council repre- sentative Adrienne Lotson ’82, webmaster Charles Bay ’11, co-chaplains Cleo Robertson ’80 and Adri- enne Lotson ’82, development chair Bernard V. Thompson III ’82, young alumni representative Mary Tate ’12, career networking committee chair Natasha Herring ’12, mentoring chair Jalieh Shepa- rd ’93, Boston representative Ben Moynihan ’87, Washington, D.C., regional representative Karim D. Marshall ’03, Texas regional representative Robert R. Jones ’89, Chicago-Midwest regional representative Darrayl Cummings ’08, Philadel- phia representative Damaris Walker ’09, Atlanta representative Simon Trabelsi ’08, San Francisco regional representative Jacqueline Francis ’85, N.Y.C. co-regional representatives Maria Cole ’85 and Nikkita McPherson ’13 and international re-

gional representative Micah Dortch ’05.

On April 12 Howard Hodel ’75 and spouse Pat- ty Chan hosted an evening dinner party at their home for the Dartmouth Club of Hawaii featuring a chef preparing fresh sushi along with a dinner buffet. Guests included regular-decision stu- dents considering matriculation at Dartmouth and early-decision students in the class of 2019, along with admit siblings, parents and alumni children. Committed to attending Dartmouth are Bun Straton ’19, Lindsey Hodel ’19, Makena Kauhane ’19, Maddy Maeshiro ’19 and Kama Hobbs ’19. Among the 60 guests were Staffan, Th’07, and Vanessa, ’07, Skallenas, Daniel Tom ’68, Keith Schurict ’05, Christine Terada ’07, Cecily Kaya ’09, Mark Stitham ’72, Nora and John Haraguchi ’67, Joy Piotrowski ’13 and father Karl, Micki and Everett McCassey ’89, Tung Chan ’92 and spouse J.P. Schmitt, Jim Leavitt ’63, Tim McDevitt, DMS’87, Tom and Giovan King ’79, Joelle Simonpietri ’05, Abbey and David Kay ’06, Elise Leroux ’95 and Matt Yee ’82.

On April 29 the Dartmouth Club of Wash- ington, D.C., presented Ambassador Francis Ric- ciardone ’73 with its 2015 Daniel Webster Award for Public Service at the club’s annual cocktail reception and dinner at the historic Whittmore House near Dupont Circle. More than 70 alumni and guests, including the ambassador’s former mentor, professor John Rassias, celebrated Ric- ciardone’s distinguished foreign service career as a Middle East expert and the U.S. ambassador in Egypt and in Turkey. Howard Morse ’81 was the event chair.

27 Manor Dr., Glenmont, NY 12077; robert.conway.73@alum.dartmouth.org