1954

Executive Committee

Minutes

 

Friday October 28, 2011

Colonnade Hotel

Boston, MA

 

President Don Berlin called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m.

 

The following 18 members of the class were in attendance: Bob Adnopoz, Don Berlin, Luke Case, Jay Chandler, Jay Davis, Bob Dean, John Gillespie, Dick Gorsey, Bill Grover, Rick Hartman, Tom Kelsey, Peter Kenyon, Dick Lewis, Dick Page, Harry Robinson, Dick Steinberg, Jim Tofias and Shelly Woolf.

 

Approval of Minutes of 10/18/10 Meeting

 

In the absence of Secretary Tony Kane, Don Berlin asked Rick Hartman to assume the position of Acting Secretary for the duration of the meeting. Minutes of the 2010 Executive Committee meeting had been emailed to all members. There being no corrections or additions, the minutes of the 2010 Executive Committee meeting were approved unanimously.

 

Presidents Report: Don Berlin

 

The names of the following 10 classmates who have died since our last executive committee meeting were read, followed by a moment of silence in their memory: John Christy, Bob Drawbaugh, Cliff Feakes, Skip Gale, Sky Grey, Victor Mahler, Joe Mesics, Don Miller, Hugh Roberts and Joel Wertheim.

 

Tony Kane has resigned the position of Class Secretary and Newsletter Editor. A motion to accept Tony’s resignation with thanks was made, seconded and approved unanimously. Until a replacement is found, Rick will handle the minutes of executive committee meetings and he and Don will share the duty of writing obituaries of classmates which will be published via the College Harris System as well as in the on line version of the Alumni Magazine. In a command performance, Pete Barker will resume his time honored job as Newsletter Editor.

 

In the absence of a class secretary, the question was raised whether we need to continue to publish class notes six times a year in the Alumni Magazine. It was suggested we can use the Harris System for distribution of current events while relying on the class newsletter for publication of more extensive news. Following a discussion of the pros and cons of the issue, it was agreed that should continue to publish the class notes in the Alumni Magazine provided volunteers would step forward to do the job. Jay Davis and Tom Kelsey volunteered to coordinate this effort and Don agreed to write the next column.

 

Shelly Woolf was commended for his outstanding job as Head Agent and a citation from the College was read congratulating Shelly on achieving “a milestone never reached by any other non-reunion class in the history of the College, more that 90% alumni participation in a single year in gifts through the Dartmouth College Fund.”

 

Steve Mullins and Jay Davis were thanked for hosting mini-reunion events during the Penn/Dartmouth football weekend and for the traditional Homecoming weekend in Hanover. Dick Page was asked to update us on Dick Barkers recuperation from recent neck surgery. Dick has now successfully completed a rehabilitation program in Boston and is well on the way to recovery from his ordeal. He is now back in command of the Harris System for the class.

 

Recent international class trips to such places as the Greek Isles, the Dalmatian Coast, Southern France, Morocco and Spain and the Italian Lake District were discussed with the conclusion that they were getting increasingly expensive and difficult to guarantee participation. It was suggested for 2013 we consider a nine day class trip in September proposed by Steve Mullins to include an historic/recreational circle tour of Lake Michigan by luxury bus, culminating with the Dartmouth-Butler football game to be played in Indianapolis. This trip would cost an estimated $2,000-$2,500 including bus tour, lodging for nine nights and most meals. Alternatively, a similar trip by boat arranged by Travel Dynamics might cost from $5,000 to $7,000 per person. Classmates can provide feedback directly to Steve regarding their interest and preference of bus vs. boat.

 

Plans for our three 80th Birthday Celebrations were reviewed and Dick Page was thanked for his leadership in making arrangements for our first celebration in Boston immediately following our executive committee meeting. The next birthday party will take place in Sarasota, Florida under the guidance of Mort Galper during a planned mini-reunion from February 26 to March 1, 2012 and the final party will be hosted by David Mandelbaum at the Sunnyside Golf Club in Scarsdale, NY on May 23, 2012. Don will continue to distribute personal birthday cards to classmates as they turn 80.

 

In anticipation of our 60th Reunion in 2014, Wayne Weil created a new class logo which was unanimously accepted with thanks.

 

Treasurers Report: Jim Tofias

 

The class began FY 2011 on July 1, 2010 with a cash balance of $21,574. During the year, receipts amounted to $41, 962 and disbursements amounted to $39, 891, resulting in a positive cash flow of $2,071 and leaving a balance at the end of the year of $23,645. When combined with invested reserves of $23,087, net class resources amounted to $46,732 as of June 30, 2011.

 

For FY 2012, it was moved, seconded and voted unanimously to authorize a subsidy of $5,000 from the class treasury to help defray expenses of the three 80th Birthday Celebrations - $1,500 for each celebration plus $500 for miscellaneous expenses.

 

Head Agents Report: Shelly Woolf

 

The entire class, including thirty class agents, was thanked and congratulated for the extraordinary effort that lead to 90.4% participation and a record that has never been achieved before by a non-reunion class.

 

In the immortal words of our head agent:

 

We exceeded our 85% participation goal.      

We blew away the 57 year-out participation record of 79% set by the Class of 1942.   

We exceeded 90% participation which no other non-reunion class has ever done.

We raised $306,803 which was 22.7% over our $250,000 goal.  

We had 28 members of our class support the Dartmouth College Fund who were not on board last year or, in some cases, for many years.

It is exciting to have those guys back and I take it as a vote of confidence for Jim Kim and the Dartmouth of today.

 

It was noted that the scoring base of our class, and other classes as well, has been increased as a number of “fund omit” classmates have been added back as a result of solicitation efforts. Consequently, it will be necessary to reduce somewhat our participation goals in future years.

 

After some discussion, it was moved, seconded and voted unanimously to set the Dartmouth College Fund class goal for FY 2012 at $275,000 with a participation goal of 75% on the new scoring base.

 

Mini-Reunion Chair Report: Jay Davis

 

The following mini-reunions are being planned:

 

2011

Holiday luncheons at the Yale-Dartmouth Club in New York on December 8 and the Weston Golf Club on December 14

 

2012

The Mt. Snow ski weekend January 8-10

 

80th Birthday Parties in Sarasota, FL during the mini-reunion from February 26 to March 1and Scarsdale, NY on May 23

 

Penn game weekend in Hanover September 27-29

 

2013

A customized week-long Road Scholar (formerly Elderhostel) program in Santa Fe in May on the subject of Inside the Art World Today

 

A Lake Michigan bus or boat trip in September

 

Hanover Homecoming in October

 

 

Alumni Council Report: Jay Davis

 

At its next meeting in December, candidates will be nominated for an uncontested election of three alumni trustees.

 

Class Awards: Bob Adnopoz

 

The next class award will be presented at the Holiday Luncheon in New York in December at the Yale-Dartmouth Club.

 

 

Special Projects: Peter Kenyon

 

  • Memorial Books: 17 books have been so far donated in 2011 in memory of classmates who died during the year for an expenditure of $991. The Memorial Book Fund started in 1957 now stands at $22,620.

 

 

  • Athletic Recruitment Donation:  Each year the class donates $3,000 to the Athletic Department to help recruit an athlete to Dartmouth for the incoming freshman class. This year the athlete is basketball player Kamala Thompson from Selden, NY. This $3,000 class donation is underfunded by $750 in donations from classmates.

 

 

  • Class Sponsored Internships 

 

 Tucker Foundation: Michelle Shankar, 12, in memory of George F. Murdoch, 54

 Rockefeller Center: Anna Villaruel, 12, in memory of John F. Reilly, 54

       Dickey Center: Giulia Siccardo, 12, in memory of Joseph E. Mesics, 54

 DPCS (Tucker): Francisco Herrera, 13, in memory of Irwin M. Herrman, 54

 

Each year the class donates 4 internships at $3,000 each for a total of $12,000. The selection process is managed by an internship committee composed of Tony Kane, Peter Kenyon, Dan McCarthy, Jon Moore and Dick Trowbridge. This $12,000 class donation is underfunded by $5,500 in donations from classmates.

 

Bequest Chair Report: Tom Kelsey

 

20 classmates have established 24 Life Income Plans or Lead Trusts with the College including 1 classmate who has 3 and 2 classmates who have 2 each. These plans and trusts have assets totaling $4.2 million in value. Additionally, $1.1 million of gifts have been received from 4 bequests made by classmates, or their family members, who have died.

 

This compares with the following classes:

1951…33 plans and trusts worth $2.2 million from 28 class members

1952…36 plans and trusts worth $3.1 million from 25 class members

1953…28 plans and trusts worth $4.8 million from 22 class members

1955…19 plans and trusts worth $6.2 million from 10 class members

 

 

Classmates are encouraged to consider these types of investments through the College at rates superior to what are currently being paid on most fixed income investments available elsewhere. An additional benefit is a gift tax exemption resulting from the gift.

 

The Bartlett Tower Society recognizes classmates who have made some kind of bequest to the College in their wills. To date, 36 classmates are members. This represents only 6% of the living members of the class vs. a suggested goal of 20%.

 

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 5:00 pm.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Rick Hartman

Acting Class Secretary