The meeting commenced by teleconference at 2100 EDT. Present were Galloway, Stephenson, Voorhees, Schwehm, McNeil, Kehoe, Kovel, Gadd, Stevens, Wells and Class Trustee Hatch. Golden was absent.

1. Schwehm recapped Mrs. Emmer’s 26 September reunion registration report. Two hundred thirty-eight graduates, widows and ex-cadets had registered. Reservations have been made for 459 on the dinner cruise. The postcards and emails sent to the not-yet-registered on 27 September have been effective, as seen by the number telephone calls and emails acknowledging receipt. Galloway informed that the reunion hotel had made ten more rooms available and those who had previously been turned down should be advised to try again.

2. Schwehm reported having received a query proposing to bring two very young children on the cruise, and his resultant consultation with Mrs. Emmer. She had never had children younger than 16 or so onboard the many evening cruises she had arranged and was strongly opposed, citing the length of the trip, the two bus rides, and the late return, that there is a potential for disruptive behavior, and that such a semi-formal, costly and collegial event is inappropriate for small children. Counter-arguments were presented that this was a circumstance we perhaps should have foreseen, that we had strongly hyped the cruise as a highpoint of the reunion entertainment, and that a restriction at this time would cause disruption and hard feelings. Most of the Board generally favored a restriction, however, and felt that the two other evening events should be similarly considered. A proposal to establish a policy which advised against young children at evening affairs without setting age limits was not favorably received. Kovel proposed a two-tier age limit, older for the cruise and somewhat younger for the other evening events. The board settled on 16 for the cruise and 12 for the other. Additionally, the USMA reunion staff has asked that small children not be brought to the Superintendent’s briefing. Otherwise, they are welcome at all daytime events.

Before proceeding further, however, we will contact the possibly affected classmates and widows by telephone to gain a sense of the magnitude of the problem, the attitude of those affected, and to alert them in considerate way. Names of those bringing large parties were distributed among the Board members for them to contact. Kehoe and Schwehm will consolidate the reported results of the conversations.

3. Galloway reported on the developing AOG program to bring order to the level of support provided to a class through its years at USMA by the class fifty years its senior. Classes are being asked to commit $50,000 to support their affiliated classes, and a set number of projects and events are being identified. Our Class of 1957 is not bound by the program, although in 2005 we did agree to support the purchase and presentation of 2LT bars (‘first brass") for 2007 with the understanding that it was to be our sole commitment. We were subsequently asked to support the class ring ceremony, a modest affair, and we did so. More recently, we were approached to fund another support item in the AOG package, a "graduation packet" consisting of a mini-diploma, AOG membership card and other items. We demurred. Now we are being asked split the cost with the AOG. Considering the state of our funding, we can afford this $3,000 expenditure and it was suggested that we agree.

4. Stephenson reported that the classwide participation in the Gift Fund is now at 35%, with six Companies exceeding 50%. We are reasonably close to our goal, particularly since a forthcoming reunion always results in an uptick in contributions. It is still apparent that some classmates have firm intentions to contribute further but have not so-informed the AOG in the form of a pledge, thereby precluding an accurate estimate of the state of the fund drive. Each Gift Fund CQ will be asked to remind their companymates to do so.

Galloway has been asked by AOG and USMA for authority to slightly modify the distribution of our gift funding. Specifically, the proposal is to increase the perpetual maintenance portion from $25,000 to $50,000, the funds to come from that allotted to library enhancements. The maintenance funding increase demonstrates a resolve to ensure proper upkeep of our gifts. The reduction in the library portion has no effect on the size or quality of the items for which we have naming rights What is given is symbolic only. The amount given has no direct relationship to construction costs. The Board agreed.

Additionally, USMA requests that $300,000 of our gift funds be released now so as to be available when needed for payments supporting our gift items. The Board agreed.

5. Kovel solicited ideas for the cover of the 50 Year Book. Barring any, the default choice is something resembling Howitzer covers. Time is approaching to select reunion souvenirs. Those proposed thus far are afghans, straw hats, wine glasses, coins, picture frames, name tag/eyeglass straps, black gold and gray ribbon ensembles for luggage identifiers in airport carousels. He solicits other suggestions.

The meeting adjourned at 2210 EDT.