Association Newsletter College of the Atlantic April 1984 Vol. 2, No. 3 The College of the Atlantic Association (COAA) is an organization of people interested in COA. It Includes former students, faculty, staff, parents, and anyone else who asks to join. It is also the formal alumni association of the college, is incorporated, has a constitution and by-laws, and will soon be granted tax exempt status. COAA was started by former students for three primary purposes: 1. To allow us all to keep track of each other 2. To stay informed about goings-on at the college 3. To help support the college This newsletter is published three times a year to help us keep track and stay informed. This issue is devoted to the changes and progress that have been made at the college since the fire. LETTER FROM THE SECRETARY 2 - Committees are a good way to set policy. By Bruce Bender They are a damn lousy way to administer it. The accreditation folks have pointed this A little over two years ago a group out to the College. The administration of us sat down at Maine Audubon to function is becoming centralized, as sooner begin what evolved into this Associa- or later seems inevitable. This is causing tion. It's time to reflect a bit on turmoil within the College, but is neces- where we're at, and where we go from sary as the focus of COA changes from within itself to include a bit more without here. as well. Or, if you like the analogy of First I will throw out two thoughts: institutional lifespans to human ones, COA is in early adolescence. 1 - When you are dealing with groups of people, a problem solved is not The informal feedback which I am getting from COAA members is that we are a little a problem solved. In carpentry, when disaffected with current goings on at the you screw two pieces of wood together College. I offer the above two thoughts with epoxy in the joint, you can be in response, and one more: the COA/COAA reasonably sure that the joint will rumor mill is like network news. The last as long as the wood does: the sensational stuff, devoid of background problem is solved. With groups of and context, filters through. All news people, when you agree on a solu- is bad news, ie. "Bill Carpenter, new tion to a problem you can be Dean of the faculty, is continuing to reasonably sure that the problem boost College morale with his vast supply is taken care of until somebody has of insight, wit, good humor, and equani- second thoughts, which may take 10 years or 10 minutes. This makes mity, guided by his puissant perspective of the overall picture" doesn't get into problem solving among groups of the rumor mill, because it ain't juicy. people an ongoing process. There But it's true, and it's part of what's has been a lot of this going on at COA recently. It doesn't mean that going on at COA. So don't believe the gossip. Go there and find out for yourself the institution is coming apart. It what's going on. Or come to the COAA means that there are a lot of problems to solve at the moment. annual meeting, where among the general fooferaw we will also be discussing these things. Letter from the Secretary (Continued): A comment about fundraising: it is the least pleasant but most essential thing ENCOURAGING THINGS AND NOT-SO-ENCOURAGING that we do. If we all stay interested THINGS and participate actively in COAA, the fundraising will take its proper place The original purpose of COAA was threefold, among the many COAA concerns and activities. as I pointed out two newsletters ago: to If we don't, the fundraising will loom allow us to keep track of each other, to larger and larger as the one thing inevitably keep informed about COA, and to help support associated with COAA, which has the tendency COA. We now have a quite complete mailing to turn people off a little, which will list, as far as who all is on it. The make it loom larger, which will turn more problem is we all move around so much that people off, and SO on in a sad self- it requires constant updating, and many of reinforcing negative spiral. Let's not get the addresses are not current or complete. into any such thing. There are about 500 of us on the list - and I just wonder how many of we 500 are read- ing this. Still, it is a quantum leap from WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? where we were even last year, and about all we can do is keep at it. Sally Crock is the As is true of any volunteer group, most person to contact at the College with of the work gets done by a small number current addresses and phone numbers. of people. About a dozen of us have been involved with starting and organizing COAA. Keeping informed is not so easy. I feel that Another dozen or so have kept the committees the people putting together the newsletter performing. It has taken more time, effort, are the hardest working bunch of all of us and plain hard work than most of us antici- involved with COAA, and my hat is off to pated, and looking ahead to next year I see them. Yet I still hear the kind of complaint many of us no longer involved. So, gentle about our newsletter that I was hearing about reader, it's really up to you. We need the COA News two years ago: "superficial," new faces, new ideas, and new directions, and "not enough depth.' Well, if you are one of I warmly encourage you to become more in- those pointing such a finger, take a good volved. COAA is, after all, among human look at the end of it: you are pointing endeavors, of the most noble sort. it at yourself. We have the opportunity to make our newsletter into whatever we wish, P.S. You can get more involved through but we are a volunteer organization limited your class secretary. The list of secreta- by the amount of spontaneous effort we can ries is published later in this newsletter. muster. If you don't like the newsletter, help it out. We are doing a good job of helping the PHOENIX PHONATHON by Bob Holley college. COAA members are helping with the new competitive recruitment effort. Our fundraising is becoming more significant The Association's initial efforts to gene- each year. This year, with the fire and the rate funds for the rebuilding of the College financial problems, and the matching grant successfully took place this March. A keyed to the percentage of us that give, giving letter was sent to all graduates and fundraising is more important then ever. former students followed by a phonathon. At the time of this writing, both efforts Where we aren't doing such a good job is have secured pledges over the next three helping ourselves. COAA is unique in the years totaling $26,065. way we have membership: anyone expressing an interest in COA may join. But our We were able to contact 145 Association efforts to collect dues (without running up a phone bill in excess of the dues members by phone, of which 133 people collected) have been miserable. 100 out of pledged $22,935. Twenty two members who 500 of you have responded. So now we will were not contacted by phone mailed in resort to Plan 2, which is to ask for part pledges totaling $3,125. From both appeals, 155 members, or 34% of the total membership, of your donation to the College to be ear- have responded with pledges totaling marked for the Association. noenix Phonathon (Continued): A LETTER FROM THE EDITOR By Nancy Gunnlaugsson $26,065. The average pledge per person was In his article Bruce Bender mentioned that he 68. has heard complaints about the superficiality of the newsletter. I would like to address One interesting statistic concerning the this issue here, in the last newsletter which phonathon is that 92% of those contacted by I will be editing. phone made pledges. This is a remarkably high rate of support from such a young alumni First, I would like to state that no one body. The majority of those not making has come directly to me with criticisms. pledges either had no money or had only The responses I have received have all been attended COA for a short time. positive. I have talked with people who don't read the newsletter, but they simply All pledges, whether they were of modest or are not interested in the work of the grand amounts, have clearly demonstrated Association. Although this saddens me, I the financial and moral support of the respect their feelings and opinions. Association for the College at a time when it is most needed. In addition, the phona- I do not respect the actions of people who thon enabled us to update information on complain about the newsletter to people who 32% of our membership. have nothing to do with it. I feel criticism should be constructive. As such, it must Our largest obstacles in conducting the be directed to the person who can apply it phonathon were the outdated addresses and to improve the quality of their work. As the telephone numbers of our membership. We editor of the newsletter, I would have are a transient bunch. If you were not welcomed discussion with dissatisfied readers. contacted by phone, don't feel badly; it just means we do not have your correct I know that the newsletter is superficial. address or phone number. We wish to update COA has undergone many drastic changes, e whereabouts of lost alumni and could painful metamorphoses if you will. It is ertainly use your assistance - please hard to keep up with them even when you are inform the College of your current location. in the middle of these changes. Taken out of context, descriptions and brief mentions We have begun to organize the second phase of these activities would propogate vicious of our fund raising effort with plans for rumors from coast to coast. I feel that a second phonathon this fall to contact the this newsletter has too little space and remaining 68% of the Association members. too much time between issues to delve into Efforts by the College and the Association the hard core politics of the College. If to contact parents for updated addresses you want to know more, contact people at the and telephone numbers are underway. College for specifics. It is critical to maintain the same pledge I also realize that the newsletter tends ratio of support, not only to generate a to be very business like. We have asked total pledge of $75,000 which is feasible for artwork, poetry and other materials based on current trends, but also to main- but so far, no one has responded. I would tain a 50% participation rate of members like to see the newsletter broaden its to meet a challenge grant of $10,000 made scope and improve its format. Some encourage- by two anonymous alumni. Second, we need ment or criticism is needed from you to to continually demonstrate our strong keep the newsletter staff motivated and ex- support for the College and the Phoenix Fund cited. to aid the fund raising efforts of the Development Office. As I mentioned earlier, my term as editor is coming to an end. Anyone interested in Further information on the fall phonathon this role should contact me and come to the will be available at the annual Association annual meeting in June. We will need to eting this spring in Boston. If you would replace other members of the Communication like to help in the organization of the Committee, Recruitment Committee and Fund phonathon, or do some calling this fall, Raising Committee. It isn't too early to contact Bob Holley, 45 Dartmouth St., begin thinking about joining any of these Belmont, MA 02178. illustrious groups. COAA INVITES MEMBERS AND FRIENDS TO THE ANNUAL MEETING and PARTY SATURDAY 23 JUNE 1984 at the DISCOVERY, NEW ENGLAND AQUARIUM, Boston Starting at noon, we will have a buffet lunch, followed by a business meeting and a variety of speakers. In the evening we will reconvene after dinner, at 7 p.m., for a party with music and a cash bar. You are all invited to bring musical instruments. Cost per person is $10.00 which includes lunch and facility fees. See you there! AGENDA 12:00 - 1:00 Buffet Lunch Panel Discussion 1:00 - 4:00 Business Meeting and Speakers Judith Swazey, President of COA Report from the Secretary of Bill Carpenter, Faculty Member the Board of Directors Board Activities 1983-84 A Member of the Board of Trustees Committee Accomplishments: A 1984 COA Graduate Communications, Contributions, Recruitment, Nominations 4:00 - 7:00 Break for dinner: we're all Treasurer's Report on our own Treasurer's Report 7:00 -11:00 Reconvene for PARTY back at the Discovery, NEA, for Election of 1984-85 COAA Board drinks, music and fun of Directors TEAR ALONG DOTTED LINE AND SEND ALONG I will see you on Saturday, June 23rd, at noon at the New England Aquarium in Boston. I am enclosing $ ($10.00 per person) for people. Send (and make payable to) Sally Morong, Treasurer COAA your name your address FROM THE PRESIDENT'S DESK - The '84-'85 budget has been worked on prodigously, and we are close to projecting By Judith Swazey a balance between income and expenses. On the Development front: Dear Alumnus/a: - Annual giving is doing very well. It's a pleasure to share some good news To date, we've received $532,000 toward items with you, some of which you may our budget figure of $550,000. Outstanding already have heard about. pledges, and an April appeal, mean that we will substantially top our goal. For the second year in a row, one of our seniors has received a Watson Fellowship. - The Phoenix Fund is marching ahead. Congratulations to RICK EPSTEIN and to COA! Over $1 million is in or pledged. We're working on capital funds grants from Enrollment has risen this year. It's a Glenmede Trust and The National Endowment slight gain, but an important one, as for for the Humanities, among others, along several years we've had a winter-spring drop with individual giving. I'm delighted, as of about 9%. Ann Peach is coping with the I know you are, with the success of the shock of adjusting tuition income upwards! first COAA Phonathon on March 27 and 28! 1983-84 Term Enrollments: I'm enjoying being back in the classroom Fall Winter Spring this spring, co-teaching a seminar with Total # 132 130 134 Sue Mehrtens on "The Meaning of 'Person' in American Culture." FTE 119 119 122 Graduation is June 2, and we hope you can attend. On the Admissions front: I look forward to seeing you at the - On March 24 we had a very successful COAA annual meeting on June 23 in Boston. reception for prospective students at the New England Aquarium. Some 80 high school students and parents attended. ANOTHER INVITATION - Pray for good weather the weekend of The graduating class of 1984 invites you to May 18--prospective students are being in- their commencement ceremony on Saturday, vited to COA for a "Seal and Seabird" weekend. June 2 at the shrine (weather permitting) at 2:00. There will be a reception immediately - As of April, the number of completed following in the Great Hall of Turrets. Helen applications for fall '84 are more than Nearing will be their guest speaker. double the number a year ago (a total of 94 applications this year, of which 56 are The morning of June 2nd, the Association for September '84). Hats off to Judy Knudson invites you to attend a continental break- and her staff. fast for alumni/ae between 9:00 and 11:00 at the home of Judith Swazey, 118 West St., On the budget front: Bar Harbor. Breakfast will be catered by Jonathan and Nina Gormley and will cost - This year's budget is in far better $3.75 per person. (Friends and family of shape than we projected last fall. Why? alumni/ae are welcome.) Increased tuition income; annual giving is doing very well; we've cut operating ex- If you plan to attend the breakfast, please penses in every area--it's "ouch," but we're R.S.V.P. to Marcia Dorr, Thorndike Library, withstanding it. You, as Alumni, will es- College of the Atlantic, Bar Harbor, ME 04609 cially appreciate the fact that one of the by May 19th. most significant cuts, has come from volun- tary salary reductions by faculty and staff-- HOPE TO SEE MANY OF YOU THERE!! from January 1 to June 30, a total of $29,400. COMINGS AND GOINGS When last heard from they were on their way to Guadeloupe for some R&R at the Club Med This is the first issue of the Association down there. Oh so middle class! In Newsletter in which the "Comings and Goings" contrast to the Caribbean, ALEXANDRA (77) section is written by class secretaries. and GARRETT (78) CONOVER are taking people In each issue, we will feature news on three on canoe and snowshoe trips in Maine and or four of the classes, determined by which Canada. They are running North Woods Ways classes received the information data sheet and also the North Woods Arts Center while in the previous newsletter. For this issue, living in Dover Foxcroft. the classes of '77, '80, and '83 will receive the data sheet, and we will report CATHY RAMSDELL (78) continues to operate on those classes in the summer issue. and manage the Haagen-Dazs Shoppe in the Burlington Mall and, as of last December, The following is a list of class secretaries was looking for assistant managers if and their addresses. Please feel free to anyone is interested. contact the secretary of the class with which you feel most closely associated. JACKSON GILLMAN (78) is getting even more Remember--this applies to graduates and non- famous (infamous) as a storyteller. He's graduates! living in Portland, Maine, but his work (and his hew car) take him on the road a Class of: Secretary: good deal. 1974 & '75 Bill Ginn NADINE GERDTS keeps going to school first a BA in American Civilization from Brown and now she's working towards a master's in 1976 Chellie Pingree landscape architecture from Harvard's Graduate School of Design. 1977 David Winship, LOLLY COCHRAN (78) is married to Neil B. Colan and they're living in Sherborn, Mas 1978 Barbara Sassaman Lolly will graduate from Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine this May. 1979 Neil is studying Counselling and Psychology Susan Inches at Boston University. They'll be sticking around Boston for the next two years until 1980 Rowie Symon Neil gets his Ph. but then they hope to move back to Maine. Meanwhile, they're 1981 Kathy Weinstock raising sheep for fun and profit. JUNE TUSON DUFFORD (78) is out in Alaska 1982 Jane Winchell being a wife and mother in addition to managing her husband Jim's construction 1983 Bob Hooper company. She has an (almost) two-year old son, Aaron and another child due in June. She writes that they're looking forward to building a house on their land this spring. NEWS FROM THE CLASS OF '78 JENNY DOUVILLE VanHORNE (78) is also married (to Eric Lee VanHorne) and a mother (to Torie Maria VanHorne, born in November Class Secretary, Barbara Sassaman 1982) and they'r all living in Litchfield, Connecticut. NINA (78) and JONATHAN (78) GORMLEY continue to live in Bar Harbor. Nina's been the Executive Director and Curator of the Wendell Gilley Museum in Southwest Harbor since it opened three years ago. Jonathan, however, has just changed jobs and is now the General Manager of the Bar Harbor Times. DAVID GRAY is in Annapolis being extremely BUNDY VANAKEN recently graduated from Pace happy. The major reason is Kerry, who, University with a masters of Science and according to David, is "about as fine a an RN degree. She is now in Ashland, lady as you would ever want to meet." Oregon doing a 4-month internship with a They are planning to marry (each other) this family nurse practitioner. Upon completion fall. David is working now as Operations of this internship she's eligible for Manager for the Maryland Pennsysaver Group. certification as a practitioner and will He says it's not his life's ambition, but be able to make money, a dream many COA right now it's paying the bills. Alumni share! ANN FITT was finally heard from. She's ALISON MINER spent one year at the Antioch moved back home to Connecticut after spending School of Law in Washington, DC before two years in Denver running a kennel with a deciding there must be a better way to become friend out there. She's now enrolled at a lawyer. She is currently a law clerk in Porter and Chester Institute in Stratford, Stowe, Vermont. Vermont is one of the few Conn. where she's learning to be a computer states that allows people to take the Bar repairman. She still has a full complement Exam after a clerkship rather than the usual of dogs in tow this month it's three requirement of graduation from Law School. Tibetan terriers. Alison highly recommends the clerkship! Many members of the class of '81 have been NEWS FROM THE CLASS OF '81 lured west by graduate schools. BEN WALTERS is studying law, but is following the more Class Correspondent conventional route by attending Lewis & Kathy Weinstock Clark Law School in Portland, Oregon. In addition to his studies he has a part-time Some COA graduates just can't seem to stay job as law clerk for the U.S. Attorney away from Bar Harbor very long. STEVE in Portland. MULLANE is based on MDI doing field research on whales and seabirds as well as carpentry BOB MAY has moved to Seattle, Washington and boat building. He and Ann Rivers are where he is currently applying to the going to build a house this summer and John Bostyr College of Naturopathic plan to marry in the near future. Medicine. NANCY GUNNLAUGSSON also finds herself AMY KITAY is still a student working on her back in this coastal town. She is student graduate degree in public policy and teaching junior high in Southwest Harbor Business Administration at the Claremont and plans to be certified (to teach that is) Graduate School in Claremont, California. by June. With UMO coursework behind her, she hopes to find a way to combine her BILL HOHENSEE is in his first year of an interest in marine science with education. MS/PhD program in computer science at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. ABBIE GOODYEAR supports herself on MDI as Bill is also politically active in the a self-employed weaver and part-time Illinois Alliance to Prevent Nuclear War draftsperson. She is part owner of the and the Champaign-Urbana Freeze Coalition. Island Artisans in Bar Harbor and markets her work wholesale and at retail fairs. CATHERINE LUYSTER has been going to the Social Economy's Social Policy Program at BRUCE BECQUE is keeping busy as a drafts- Boston College but is taking a break to person for an architecture/engineering work in London and travel before returning firm in Bangor. He is also the owner/ to school next fall. manager of "Native Pine Furniture" a fledgling business in Brattleboro, VT. Our alumni farthest from home is MARK He and his wife, Suzanne Hutchins have SIMONDS. Mark is a Peace Corp Volunteer bought land in Halifax, VT and will be in Ghana, West Africa where he is working moving there after Suzanne's graduation on the development of agriculturally from UMO this spring. appropriate technology for small scale rural dwellers. Nancy Gunnlaugsson received a letter from of the Association who may not be FRICKE KAISER a short time ago. She is familiar with you. Please include in home in Germany studying agriculture. your statement a description of your She sounds happy but homesick for friends relationship to COA. All nominations and philosophies at COA. She writes, "Here and statements of intent should be when you see many things clearly, it is addressed to Joy Knowlton and Abbie easy to become discouraged and lose all your Goodyear, RFD 1, Box 28A, Bar Harbor, energy. That is just what I love about COA: Maine 04609, by May 1. all the energy, just in spite of all the odds, that will build something positive. You can write to Fricke at GoBlerstr. 17a, 3400 Gottingen, West Germany. FROM THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE HUMAN ECOLOGY ESSAYS & FINAL PROJECTS Joy Knowlton, Abigail Goodyear The Library is still requesting Human Ecology Essays and final projects to As the Nominating Committee, Abigail replace those burned in the fire. These Goodyear and Joy Knowlton have been asked are important for the COA archives, so by the COAA Board of Directors to develop if you still have your originals, please a slate of candidates to serve on the Board send us copies! for the coming year. They would like to invite members of COAA to consider them- selves or any other member for this position. Serving as the vital link between COA and its alumni, the group coordinates fund- raising, promotion efforts, and maintains communication. As most of the organizatio- nal details have been covered the past two years, the Board will have a greater opportunity this year to explore issues directly related to the current state of affairs at COA. The Board consists of five members, each of whom is responsible for attending meetings every two months, in addition to the COAA Annual Meeting, all of which take place in a location central to most of New England. This year's Annual Meeting will be held on June 23, at the New England Aquarium in Boston. It will be at this meeting that the new Board will be elected. We urge you to attend, even if you are not interested in becoming a member of the Board. Twelve years of COA's existence is repre- sented in the association membership of 500 graduates and affiliates. It is for this reason we ask that you submit a statement of intent, to introduce yourself to members INFORMATION SHEET College of the Atlantic Association Dear Member, To help us keep our information up-to-date and to give you an opportunity to contribute thoughts and opinions to the Association Newsletter, we will ask you to complete this form once each year. Carole will see that completed forms are forwarded to appropriate class correspondants. If things haven't changed since the last form, answer "same". Thank you!! 1. Name: Name of partner/spouse: children: Home Address: Home phone: Work phone: 2. Years attended COA: Graduating class: 3. Further education: Name of institution/program: Years attended: Degree: 4. Employment/Occupation: Position and Employer Brief description of organization Potential sponsor of COA intern? yes no maybe 5. Would you like to participate in COAA committee work? (Please specify) We ask you to submit personal news, editorial comment, poetry, artwork, letter, or song which you would like to contribute to the COAA Newsletter. 04609 Maine Bar Harbor College of the Atlantic Non Profit Organization College of the Atlantic U.S. Postage Paid Bar Harbor, Me BAR HARBOR, MAINE 04609 (207) 288-5015 Permit #47