Willis Newton reports that Zoom is still a valuable tool for classmates to communicate. His weekly Zooms on Wednesdays at 2 p.m. ET have a regular following of about 30, with 12 to 15 attending weekly. These calls are open to everyone, so contact Willis to get on the list. Ted Eismeier’s literary efforts on Zoom have been quite popular. Successful one-hour discussions have been held on Hermann Hesse’s works (October), films from our College years (December) and Kurt Vonnegut’s novels (January). One of Vonnegut’s many quotations is: “ ‘To be is to do,’ Socrates. ‘To do is to be,’ Sartre. ‘Do be do be do,’ Sinatra.” Needless to say, that discussion was much lighter than Hesse’s! Finally, the travel committee is looking at class trips and facilitating classmate travel for summer of 2023 and beyond—so we can go before we “go”!

As I write, Homecoming Weekend has begun and I can report that 16 classmates and guests are registered and 25 from the class of ’21 joined us after the bonfire. The class of ’71 continues to sponsor opportunities to meet throughout the year and across the country. Already on the 2023 calendar is the annual gathering in Naples, Florida, on February 23-26, which Jim Rager reports will include golfing, fishing, shopping, cruising and beachcombing; and CarniVail hosted by Wayne Hobin on March 3-5. Ted and Betsy Eismeier will host a new mini reunion in Austin, Texas, April 27-30. A welcome party, music and dancing, golf, hiking, biking, kayaking, paddle boarding, a dinner at the Onion Creek Club and tours of the LBJ Presidential Library and the University of Texas Harry Ransom Center will round out the activities.

Sam Cuddeback reported at Homecoming that our class projects are largely funded by class dues and directed toward College programs. During the past several years we have made continuing commitments to support the Rockefeller Center’s summer internship program. (Willis Newton’s reaction: “a highlight of Homecoming—the Rocky intern from Alaska spoke to us and she had a great experience last summer. She had a big wow factor!”) We also support the Center for Social Impact Summer Enrichment at Dartmouth program, the Native American program, and the arts as well as athletics. Looking forward, we hope to expand the College’s positive impact on social justice issues in the Upper Valley as well as support emerging student-faculty efforts focusing on sustainability at the College. The renovation of the Hop offers intriguing possibilities for our support. Finally, tightening our connection to the class of 2021 is also a priority.

Additionally, classmates’ philanthropic contributions beyond dues allow us to support the growing Class of 1971 Endowed Scholarship Fund, the Steve Zrike family’s efforts on behalf of MS research, and other projects that emerge each year. A recent example is the hybrid gift of class funds and private gifts to a Ukrainian relief organization honoring the Ukrainian students at Dartmouth.

The age to engage is here. Go to dartmouth71.org to see what’s happening!

—Alice Reno Malone, 834 Colridge Drive, Charlottesville, VA 22903; tammyarm@aol.com