Dartmouth College

Class

of

1968

Sixty-fifth Birthday

*** Listen while you read ... ***

Click the play button

(Be sure to install the latest Adobe Flash player if prompted to do so)

For our collective 50^th and 60^th birthdays, we have gathered to join in the celebration, to commiserate but also to give thanks for achieving these milestones.

I am writing this to present early thoughts for your review and feedback.  Our collective 65^th happens next year (Holy Cow!), so we must begin the planning now to bring it off.

Let me share with you my thinking for now:

• Our two past gatherings have taken place in the fall, so I would lean toward repeating this again, most likely in early-to-mid September.  Labor Day 2011 is Monday September 5, so we are most likely looking at the weekend of Thursday September 15 through Sunday September 18.  Our experience so far is that this schedule (Thursday through Sunday) seems to offer the highest probability of participation, especially by those attendees who must travel a distance to attend.

• Ideally, wherever we go should offer a range of activities, including athletic (golf, tennis, cycling, hiking and the like), artistic (galleries), historic (museums, antiques), shopping and personal (spa).  In addition, the availability of dining and lodging options is a must, to accommodate varied budgets as well as group gatherings.  While no one location may satisfy every criteria above, we would still like to have a variety available to allow individual choices to customize each participant’s experience.

• Reasonable travel access is also important.  While the annual golf trip that seems now well established requires up to a 4 ½ hour drive from a major airport, I do not think this would be acceptable for our birthday gathering.  Thus, staying within a 1 to 2 hour drive seems within bounds for consideration.

• Our last gathering raised the topic of holding one of these celebrations outside the country, such as in Italy.  I am not prepared enough at this time to consider such an undertaking, but this is one concept I think is worth keeping in mind for our 70^th, so long as other classmates step up and join in the planning.  Therefore, staying in the US seems again to be the best approach.

With all of this said, I have these thoughts as to where to go (I know secretly that many of you would love to tell me where to go any, so here will be your chance!):

• Napa-Return to Napa again.  We had a great time, and the availability of activities, lodging and dining options are endless.  I have already looked into having a wine-tasting class at the Culinary Institute of America and other events.  I have several reasons for including Napa in the consideration and listing it first:

• Since our normal every-five-years reunions at the College always happen in Hanover (east coast), why not consider always having our every-five-year birthday gathering on the west coast;

            • There is truly something for everyone;

            • It allows for easy planning for planners and attendees.

• Santa Fe New Mexico-Dining, artistic, historic, lodging and activity variety all easily accessible;

• Vail Colorado-Fall in the Rockies, the aspen trees golden in the mountains.  Loads of dining, lodging, artistic and activity offerings, in a 2 hour drive from Denver or a ½ hour drive from Eagle County Airport;

• Nashville TN-Something completely different-Grand Old Opry, barbeque;

• Williamsburg VA-History abounds, along with arts, activities, lodging, reasonably accessible.

So, here is where you come in.  Will you please share with me your reactions to those above, as well as any additional ideas you have that you feel would be worth considering?  I feel as though I am having the equivalent of writer’s block not necessarily coming up with great alternatives.  I do personally lean toward the Napa version, but I do not want to overlook a suitable substitute. 

Please take your time and let me know as soon as possible, so that I can put together a plan to present to the class as a whole during the summer/early fall.  I also eagerly solicit your assisting with the planning and execution of this event, if you are so inclined.

Thanks-let me know ASAP, Ed Heald (Ed will share your thoughts with all who are interested)

You can reach Ed at: esheald@aol.com