Aug 1998

So you’re probably wondering what happened to your class notes (if not your class secretary). It’s a long, and actually fairly prosaic story, involving family pressures (dealing with young kids, dying old folks), work pressures (corporate life isn’t the same since they did away with the executive dining room), and travel (work and pleasure). But you probably don’t care much, and here we are back. I have had offers of help, and intend to take them up to ensure a smoother flow of drivel to the crowd. There have been complaints as well. A pox on those who cursed the darkness, and many thanks (from others) for the offers of help. There is a large backload of letters, news, and the like, some happy and some very sad, and we’ll start working that off. But since the Notes have been away so long, I need to catch you up on true class news.

Last fall, your class officers sent all of you a letter (enclosed with your dues solicitation, so only the masochists read it) inviting you to a meeting in New York to form a class council. We took all volunteers, on the theory that if we had too many folks that would be a high-class problem. We felt that, in our advanced state, we needed more structure to the governance of the class, more involvement from more people than the tired old regulars, and more events to unite us as we lurch to our dotage. The meeting was duly held in January, and another after that. The result: we have a class council to run our class affairs. George Chopivsky has unselfishly volunteered to be the “chief executive” (we never really settled on a title; maybe, given his heritage and interests, “czar” would be better). Rick Lannamann has ceded his treasurer’s duties to Tom Emmons. Bogatycontinues for the time being as class secretary, but with much promised help. Walt Cummins and Woody Collins have (as I understand it) volunteered to suit up as our reunion chairmen for our upcoming in 1999 (think about it). Bruce Weinstein and Guy Cooper were appointed our class delegates to AYA. Whew. Let me take a breath for a minute.

The council has discussed at some length a number of events, both big and small, that might be held around the country, and also at Yale, to bring us together bit by bit. A number of ideas are being worked on, and some coming closer to fruition. On this front, I understand that John Gazzoli has volunteered to be (non-reunion) events chairman for the class. Several folks are working on events. These include: (1) a leisurely trip to the Napa Valley for wine tasting this fall, organized by Gazzoli; (2) a ski trip to an appropriate Colorado site this winter, organized by Mike Schonbrun, and (3) an open house in Cambridge this fall contemporaneous with the Harvard game, organized by and at the manse of Lang Wheeler. More news and info on all these events will be forthcoming promptly. While I would normally hesitate to offer up contact numbers in these pages, in view of the timing, those interested in Napa should contact Gazzoli at fax: 314-241-6056, or e-mail: jgazzoli@lewisrice.com. You can also contact me at fax: 202-331-0414, or e-mail: william_j_bogaty@email.mobil.com; or Chopivsky at fax: 202-955-3996. We would welcome other ideas for class events, especially if you bright-idea guys are also willing to be the organizers. Let’s see what American studies really taught you.

Speaking of the Internet, you can start feeling like ’90s kind of guys, because Howard Newman is looking into possibilities of a class web site, in part to help publicize events of the sort aired above. He may need some help in website design, as Yale may be able to give us web space but not design. Any volunteers? Let him (or me) know.

Before I forget, in addition to all the above-named folks, several others have attended our class council meetings, and have offered advice, succor, remonstrations, and especially, support. They are (forgive me if my list is incomplete): Reed Hundt, Art Klebanoff, Tom McCaughey, George McNamee, Keith Nelson, and Mac Thompson. All in the class who feel like wasting time with guys with gray or no hair, fond memories of the ’60s, and who are also willing to put in some time and effort, are welcome. We are expecting to have another class meeting in the summer (date not yet set), probably in Virginia. Contact Chopivsky or me if you are really, really interested in participating in the class council. (Those class members upset by lack of class notes might want to demonstrate loyalty and sincerity by joining in.)

Your class is in excellent hands; it’s exciting to see people getting lathered up about getting together after all these years, and willing to put in the time. I encourage you to join up; it’s not a road trip, but it’s the best we can do at our age.

Lots of you have been having interesting lives (for a change), and there is a lot of news. We’ll get to it all in the fall, together with more info on the class events around the country. Have a great summer, and be of good cheer. Oh, by the way, did you hear the one about . . .