Class Note 1974
Issue
March-April 2020
I hope you all had a merry Christmas, happy Hanukkah, etc. Although you are reading this in the spring, I am writing just before New Year’s.
By now the College is finalizing the matriculating class of 2024, with whom we will forever be linked. Our class president, Matt Putnam, wrote that our class executive committee is already working on plans to connect us with the 50-year-on class. “It is a privilege to serve the class in my new role leading toward the 50th reunion. The class officers believe we have established a reachable goal of supporting a full, yearly scholarship as our target 50th reunion gift. This does not let us off the hook to bring (continued) energy (and money) to the Dartmouth College Fund [DCF] during that same reunion year.”
As you may know, at our last reunion some disturbing statistics were presented, showing that our classmates of color were dying at a much earlier age and higher rate than the class as a whole. This was also seen at Yale and confirmed across several different classes (’73-’75). A morbidity and mortality working group was established and is hoping to work with a college department in an effort to investigate the causes and potential actions to take. I’m advocating for the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy & Clinical Practice, an offshoot of the Geisel School of Medicine that offers master’s, since this type of assessment is right up its alley.
Fundraising update from John Haulenbeek: Dartmouth “kicked off this year’s fundraising with a challenge tied to Dartmouth’s 250th anniversary. With the help of very committed alumni, the plan tied participation to scholarship grants.” Participation of 4,740 donors was almost twice the 2,500-person goal and at least five $50,000 scholarships were created. The challenge raised $4,108,520 total. Our class had 66 donors who gave a total of $26,158 during the challenge.
Our class goals for this year’s DCF are $450,000 with 55-percent participation (which equals 391 donors). The status as of December 20 was $128,810 from 111 donors (16 percent).
John added: “It is impossible to overstate the value of the organization created by Peter DeNatale. Our class and Dartmouth are the beneficiaries of his work and the team he assembled. Technology has created a hurdle in contacting folks. The flood of unsolicited marketing (spam) calls makes people less likely to answer an unfamiliar number, so we end up in voicemail. Coupled with the fact that landlines are often not active, it’s unusual to get a live person on the phone. Email has become the default method to connect with the highest percentage of classmates. I’m considering using texts to reach out and would appreciate knowing how you would feel about receiving DCF texts.”
Please feel free to respond to John, Matt, or me if you have any comments or questions regarding the above. Also, please check out ’74 obituaries in the online DAM, as we have lost a couple more classmates since last summer. Blessings to you all!
—Philip Stebbins, 17 Hardy Road, Londonderry, NH 03053; p.stebs@comcast.net
By now the College is finalizing the matriculating class of 2024, with whom we will forever be linked. Our class president, Matt Putnam, wrote that our class executive committee is already working on plans to connect us with the 50-year-on class. “It is a privilege to serve the class in my new role leading toward the 50th reunion. The class officers believe we have established a reachable goal of supporting a full, yearly scholarship as our target 50th reunion gift. This does not let us off the hook to bring (continued) energy (and money) to the Dartmouth College Fund [DCF] during that same reunion year.”
As you may know, at our last reunion some disturbing statistics were presented, showing that our classmates of color were dying at a much earlier age and higher rate than the class as a whole. This was also seen at Yale and confirmed across several different classes (’73-’75). A morbidity and mortality working group was established and is hoping to work with a college department in an effort to investigate the causes and potential actions to take. I’m advocating for the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy & Clinical Practice, an offshoot of the Geisel School of Medicine that offers master’s, since this type of assessment is right up its alley.
Fundraising update from John Haulenbeek: Dartmouth “kicked off this year’s fundraising with a challenge tied to Dartmouth’s 250th anniversary. With the help of very committed alumni, the plan tied participation to scholarship grants.” Participation of 4,740 donors was almost twice the 2,500-person goal and at least five $50,000 scholarships were created. The challenge raised $4,108,520 total. Our class had 66 donors who gave a total of $26,158 during the challenge.
Our class goals for this year’s DCF are $450,000 with 55-percent participation (which equals 391 donors). The status as of December 20 was $128,810 from 111 donors (16 percent).
John added: “It is impossible to overstate the value of the organization created by Peter DeNatale. Our class and Dartmouth are the beneficiaries of his work and the team he assembled. Technology has created a hurdle in contacting folks. The flood of unsolicited marketing (spam) calls makes people less likely to answer an unfamiliar number, so we end up in voicemail. Coupled with the fact that landlines are often not active, it’s unusual to get a live person on the phone. Email has become the default method to connect with the highest percentage of classmates. I’m considering using texts to reach out and would appreciate knowing how you would feel about receiving DCF texts.”
Please feel free to respond to John, Matt, or me if you have any comments or questions regarding the above. Also, please check out ’74 obituaries in the online DAM, as we have lost a couple more classmates since last summer. Blessings to you all!
—Philip Stebbins, 17 Hardy Road, Londonderry, NH 03053; p.stebs@comcast.net