The meeting commenced at 1200EDT. Present were Galloway, Voorhees, Schwehm, McNeil, Kehoe, Kovel, Wells and Stevens. Stephenson, Golden and Gadd were absent. Class Trustee Hatch did not attend.

1. The agenda was approved, with an added item from Galloway. It was noted that the minutes of the previous meeting, 11 April 2006, were previously approved by email vote.

2. Kovel reported that orders have been received for 417 50th Year Books from 355 individuals, including 22 widows and two children of deceased classmates. Book deposits and patron donations total $30,687.00. He calculates that 500 copies of a book of 336 pages will cost approximately $42,800. After accounting for the patron donations received (some of which exceeded the $30 suggested) supplemented by the very generous donation from Jerry Scott, this will result in a cost for each individual book of about $61. The first payment to the publisher is 40% of the total cost, to be paid with the initial input. Five hundred copies will permit a book to be offered to class widows without charge. Refunds (for one book only) will be made to those widows who have made deposits.

Scott will lead a campaign to procure advertising. It is estimated that perhaps $5,000 can be raised, which will further reduce the cost per copy.

Biographies have been received from 303 classmates and more are expected. For those who do not respond, information will be extracted from The Register and graduation photographs will be used.

3. Galloway led a review of the class participation in the Distinguished Graduate program.

4. Galloway reported that 25% of the class has contributed $161,000 to the gift fund.

5a. Schwehm reported 339 classmates, ex-cadets, widows, and other deceased classmates’ family members expect to attend. Fifty-four classmates have not responded to the letters and postcard, and another 54 have declined to attend. A total of 701 individuals is tentatively expected to take the harbor cruise. This exceeds the comfortable capacity of the two vessels under contract. Contracting a third is a possibility; Mrs. Emmer is investigating. Schwehm forecasts that a simple first-come-first-served policy to limit the numbers is not practicable, e.g., many classmates are bringing large parties. It would be unfair to disallow several classmates and their wives in favor of a classmate accompanied by numerous family members, and undoubtedly a number or classmates and wives would opt out completely if the remainder of their party was disallowed. Schwehm recommended that a significant deposit be assessed for each cruise passenger as soon as possible to gain a better estimate of the passenger total.

Galloway outlined a middle ground solution: accept deposits from all classmates, but inform them that if the total response exceeds the comfortable capacity, family guests will be restricted. Classmates bringing family other than wives would be queried if they and their wives would want to participate if their guests are restricted. Also, a response time system could be used to accept families, similar to the reunion hotel reservation system previously arranged. He then referred the Board to the first draft of a mass mailing, to which he suggested adding a $30 per cruise passenger deposit requirement.

5b. Galloway continued a review of the draft letter, which generated a lengthy discussion of how and when to assess fees for reunion costs. It was agreed in principal to assess a registration fee for each attendee, plus cruise deposits, in the first mass mailing. The second (and final) would detail each reunion event requiring payments and permit classmates to make selections. Galloway will refine the letter.

5c. The Board reviewed the reunion schedule and project persons who will act in coordination with Mrs. Emmer. Kovel will handle the Trophy Point memorial service; Voorhees the tours; Wells, the lunch at Camp Buckner; Mrs. Emmer, bus arrangements; Schwehm, harbor cruise; Kehoe, class dinner and entertainment. Voorhees described the tour challenge and opportunities. The challenge is how to orchestrate so many bodies--700 plus-- in buses around Our Rockbound Highland Home. Opportunities include new athletic facilities, e.g., Kimsey, Holleder, Lichtenberger, Arvin; the mess hall; the cemetery; gift shops and the cadet store; Ninninger Hall (old 1^st Division). Tours of graduates’ own barrack rooms remain a possibility, but there are obstacles: numbers, timing, and in many cases, they no longer exist!

5d. Jim Blake of the AOG joined the meeting by telephone to explain the Association’s role in reunion memorabilia and apparel. A catalog depicting some 50 samples, most with "class- of" decorations, was distributed to the Board. In the past two years the AOG has become a full service provider of such items. Their reunion service has three components. They provide memorabilia chosen and budgeted for by the Board to be included in each welcome package at registration. They arrange the opportunity for class members to order other memorabilia and apparel in advance of the reunion. The Board would choose items from the catalog (six to eight suggested) and the AOG would insert pictures and an order form in one of our reunion mass mailings. The items would be delivered to purchasers at the reunion hotel. Lastly, they would maintain a sales area at the reunion hotel and possibly reunion sites at West Point. Blake assured that the Association will match or beat competitors’ prices and quality. Profits from sales are directed to Alumni Support (80%) and the Long Grey Line Endowment (20%).

Kovel presented his committee proposal for the Alumni Review dress of grey (preferred) or tan slacks, navy blue or black blazer, and white shirt. Class or West Point ties and blazer crests are suggested. A straw hat to be included in the reception package was agreed upon, pending resolution of hat size issues. Galloway tasked the committee to study and compare the AOG and competing companies’ capabilities, and to identify a memorabilia selection for the package costing about $50 for each graduate and $50 for each spouse.

6. Voorhees updated the Board on AOG activities. He sits on the Distinguished Graduate Selection Board, and reported that seven out of the 32 nominees were selected for this year. Five were quite junior, perhaps a reflection of the makeup of the Board, which itself is a reflection of our 44,000 living graduates, the median of which is the Class of 1982. Graduates of "The Greatest Generation" are being overlooked: a Death March survivor, for instance, who went on to a distinguished military and after-retirement civilian career, failed of selection. Voorhees reported that AOG Chairman Ted Stroup has asked Hank Hatch to analyze the system and "make the policy more clear as to what we think a West Point Distinguished Graduate should be," and also to dispel the idea that more letters of support, and more societies in support of the nomination will somehow add to the chances of the nominee, regardless of the substance. Voorhees spoke favorably of Stroup’s aggressive plans and many initiatives to better the Association, change its culture, and further its usefulness in serving West Point, its graduates, friends, cadets, and their families.

He reported that the new bylaws have changed the makeup of nominating committees and eliminated the practice of "stacking" the committees, which fostered the image of self-perpetuation that has been so roundly criticized. The committee is now composed of two members from the Board of Directors, four from the Advisory Council, and six from the classes and societies. On 18 April the committee nominated Bill Ray, Alan Salisbury, ‘58 and a graduate each from ‘74 and ‘87 for election to the Board of Directors.

The nominating committee selects only Advisors-at-Large to the Advisory Council (the Council consists of 18 members at large, 18 from the classes, and 18 from the societies). The committee recently selected six, spread from ‘52 to ‘93.

Seth Hudgins, the AOG CEO (a paid position, in charge of the paid staff) will soon retire. A search for his replacement will commence.

7. The Board concluded that there is no benefit to be had in registering the class crest. The matter is closed.

8. Stevens reported that 150 copies of the mess hall mural print have been sold since he took over the project. At some point, we must decide how to handle our rights to the print. Galloway will speak to Blake of the AOG (see para. 5d. above) to gauge their interest in marketing it.

9. The Board approved a resolution commending Tony Ferraiuolo, Director, AOG Class Support Program upon the occasion of his retirement.

The meeting adjourned at 1530EDT.

Respectfully Submitted,