Clubs & Groups

Clubs & Groups

CLASS NOTES

As always, Dartmouth clubs and groups organized many fun and thoughtful events this fall. Tara Gulla ’95, club officer of the Dartmouth Club of Suburban

New Jersey, reported that the club recently rallied to wish one oftheir own, Tom Swartz ’49, apatriarch of the club and tireless volunteer, a big happy 92nd birthday in September this year. Joining in the celebration were David Dietze 78, Dr. Don Syracuse ’69, and Tom’s son, Tom Swartz III 76. Sadly, Tom passed away after a short illness on October 18. The club was glad to have been able to celebrate his 92nd birthday with him. Pat Berry ’81, Joe Dempsey ’83, Tara Gulla ’95, Tracey Salmon-Smith ’87, and David Dietze 78 all traveled from New Jersey to Hanover in September for the Dartmouth’s VOX Conference. VOX brought together club, group, and class volunteers from all around the world for a weekend oftraining and celebration. It was great to be back in Hanover and very useful to meet with other Dartmouth alumni club and group leaders.

Matthew J. Feeley ’94, president of the Dartmouth Club of South Florida, shared thatthe club just concluded a successful fundraising drive to benefit incoming Dartmouth students from south Florida. The program, dubbed “Fleeces for Floridians,” seeks to provide financial assistance to incoming first-year students for the purchase of cold weather gear. The assistance is need-based, and this year the club was able to assist 10 new students. As a reminder to alumni in the area, there are more students that would benefit from assistance. Please consider a donation to the program. The Fleeces for Floridians programis designed and managed by Laura Roberts ’85. The club wishes to thank Laura for all her hard work and congratulate her on the continued success ofthe program.

In the spirit of celeb rating the College’s 250th, the Dartmouth Club of Greater Boston organized a private tour of the Boston Athenaeum, one of the country’s oldest private libraries. Hugh O’Reilly ’86, club treasurer, reported that the sold-out group of 60 alums and guests enjoyed the special tour and then retired to a private room in a restaurant across the street for a reception. Check out the club’s website for photos of a number of items relating to Dartmouth that the curators pulled specificallyfor the event. The club wishes to give a rouse to Shamus Hyland 11 for putting the great event together!

In August the Dartmouth Club of the Upper Valley organized aflotilla of boats to cruise on the Connecticut River north of Orford, New Hampshire. Sue Reed ’81 reported that the event included two local historians who joined to educate the group about the Connecticut River’s important history.

Barry Weeks 72, executive director of the Dartmouth Club of New York (DCNY), shared several updates. Earlier this year the DCNY held its annual D’art Blocks Night at the New York City Ballet (NYCB). This is always aunique three-feature event. The customized program began with a preevent talk by a NYCB dancer and continued with a backstage tour, culminating with the prime time evening program and complimentary champagne during intermission. This year it was coordinated by Nancy Koltes, parent of a T5 and chair of DCNY cultural affairs. Also this year, proud Dartmouth parents Ken Marable 74 (with an ’05 and an ’08) and Joan Marable 74 (with an ’05 and an ’08) arranged for DCNY to purchase a block of tickets to Hadestown, featuring Kimberly Marable ’05, even as the show was rapidly becoming famous and selling out. The Marables also hosted a post-performance gathering attended by Adrienne “Tee” Lotson ’82 and many others. Hadestown soon became a 2019 Tony Award winner. On April 26,2019, Big Apple Circus cofounder Paul Binder ’63 invited N.Y.C. alums to see “How Lucky Can You Get, Dartmouth 55th Reunion Show, Cabaret!’ It featured the class of ’63 Players Petie Subin ’63, Marty Bowne ’63, John Chamberlin ’63, Steve Kurland ’63, and Joyce and Tim Ratner ’63. Finally, in this special “Call to Lead” year, B any wanted to call attentionto DCNY community service chair Soh Won Cha ’04. For nearly 10 years she has been arranging as many as eight community service events peryear forthe DCNY. The most recent was a volunteer event at St. Joseph’s soup kitchen. Thank you for your service, Soh Won Cha!

Amanda Rosenblum ’07 provided an update from Women of Dartmouth. Women of Dartmouth hosted a large number of inspiring events around the country this year. Women of Dartmouth Upper Valley hosted a book club and previewed the new Still North Books and Bar store in Hanover with owner Allie Levy ’ll. Women of Dartmouth New York launched its own book club series at the home of Amanda Geduld ’15. Women of Dartmouth Boston and Women of Dartmouth Fairfield County participated in a pasta-making workshops and cooking classes. Women of Dartmouth D.C. bravely hosted a Congressional Cemetery soul strolls tour, while Women of Dartmouth Chicago explored the Ukrainian Village. Women of Dartmouth Los Angeles and Women of Dartmouth D.C. went to see La te Night, the film by Mindy Kaling ’01. Women of Dartmouth’s newest group, Women of Dartmouth Houston, held a curated tour ofthe “Icons of Style Fashion Photography” exhibit at the Houston Museum of Fine Arts. Women of Dartmouth has also focused on leading all regional Women of Dartmouth groups in volunteering hours for the “Call to Serve” and continues to provide community service programming, from events such as a breast cancer awareness walk team in Fairfield County to a Habitat for Humanity women’s build effort in Chicago. During Homecoming on campus this year Women of Dartmouth held a film screening of Early Daughters of Dartmouth, an intergenerational breakfast, and a halftime reception.

Finally, Barbara Murphy 79 shared that the

Dartmouth Lawyers Association (DLA) was very pleased to be recognized as the Group ofthe Year this year. She noted that the DLA has many interesting upcoming programs planned, including a timely debate about the implications ofthe Mueller

report and the DLA’s annual ski and meeting in February at Chateau Lake Louise in Canada. The annual event will feature seminars on immigration issues and financial forensic accounting. The DLA also continues to host group admissions to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Please send me updates about the great events that your club, association, or affiliated group have organized.

—Stina Brock ’01, P.O. Box 9274, Jackson, WY83002; stina.brock@gmail.com