President's Message August 2019

Message from Bob Sansone, LSAA President:

Almost 3 years ago, I wrote the following in one of the P&S editions:

The Dash (---) is that space one finds on tombstones between the date of birth and the date of death. It is the shortest of shorthand representations for the life one lives. But for the observer, it leaves a story untold …

And while Lenox School is represented by a beginning (1926); the dash on our flag is replaced by our school crest. In a sense, the school completed working on its dash and turned the responsibility for extending it through the LSAA.

Paraphrasing Sir Terry Pratchett: “Nothing is actually gone until the ripples it caused in the world die away...”

The Lenox School ripples continue as we again assemble in OCT for our annual reunion to celebrate the legacy years for the classes of 1969, 1964, 1959, 1954 and 1949. This is a celebration of a shared experience as well as a pivotal year for us to undertake a number of important initiatives, which we need to decide upon to determine how to reasonably maintain the ripples that Lenox School created.

The reunion also serves as a unique opportunity for us to connect with old friends, welcome back and profoundly thank Lenox masters, family and staff who mentored, guided, and in many ways launched us onto the next formative phase of our lives. The impact and benefit they bestowed upon us remains as an example of the fact that some debts just can’t be repaid; we can only nod and affirm each year our appreciation for their selflessness.

“If it's your job to eat a frog, it's best to do it first thing in the morning. And if it's your job to eat two frogs, it's best to eat the biggest one first.” Mark Twain

While there is no frog eating involved, a number of board members have been diligently trying to accomplish some jobs they accepted and have been actively assessing some specific initiatives that the members need to ultimately approve on how to reasonably keep these Lenox School ripples going.

That makes this particular business meeting on 19 OCT a critical session, as we plan to put forth motions for a vote by dues paying members present at that meeting that will chart the future course of the LSAA.

Here is a distillation of the motions that will be put to a vote at the business meeting by dues paying members (please see the actual wording in the accompanying article in this P&S):

• That the LSAA proceed to engage a fiduciary entity to create a fund whereby the financial assets of the LSAA are ultimately managed to continue supporting scholarships and other alumni activities now or in the future to perpetuate the spirit of Lenox School (such as fund an existing website, which includes digitized information on the important papers, yearbook, documents, history, and other memorabilia of Lenox School as directed by the LSAA);

• That the LSAA proceed to engage qualified entities to digitize (scan/photograph) important documents, history, and other memorabilia for ultimate inclusion via a Website and archival CDs/DVDs;

• That the LSAA provide matching funds of $12,500 to meet the endowment challenge by an alum who supports the trust engagement but who wishes to remain anonymous; and

• That the LSAA proceed with efforts to arrange for an orderly disposal of physical memorabilia by:

a) seeking opportunities to have other entities afford space for permanent care/display of some items (historical societies, Lenox Library, Trinity Church, S&Co, etc.)

b) returning items to donors if identifiable, desired and where reasonably possible;

c) holding a sale/auction exclusively for the LSAA members of memorabilia; and/or

d) offering items for sale to the general public via online sales (eBay, etc.)

“The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” Mark Twain

Part of the LSAA’s raison d'être is striving to fulfill the service motto of Lenox School. In this regard, I am pleased to share with you that he LSAA was actively engaged in scholarship donations again this year, bestowing 3 of these for deserving young ladies of need at Miss Hall’s in May. Representing the LSAA were Don Foster, John Schneiter, Paul Denzel and Bob Sansone. Sed Ministrare.

Following this, I had a brief meeting with our good friends and hosts at S&Co for this upcoming reunion. I know that I have stated this before, but we are fortunate beyond words that S&Co ended up in possession of the campus. We need to find a way to help them in more significant ways.

“Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.” Søren Kierkegaard

A little backward reflection by me is in order: When I stepped into the LSAA role I currently have, I was not thinking whatsoever about the somewhat distant future of the LSAA and what we would do when the inexorable march of time progressed (and one started to think about exactly how many trips around the sun one would be allowed).

Fast forward to today and here we are; celebrating another reunion with the class of ’69 celebrating their 50^th; yet recognizing that we have a point of departure at some time in the future where the last class to graduate (’71) will be celebrating their 50^th in 2021.

Then what? Never in my early days did I think I’d have to figure out with the approval of the members and the board how to find an elegant solution to sun-set the LSAA while transitioning the mission to an as yet un-named trust entity to carry on or spread the LSAA mission, message, history and legacy of our school.

We actually did start that process several years ago with the LSAA board, and we’re now at a point where we have to chart the course for this. In my estimation, we owe this to the masters and headmasters that created Lenox School into what we remember.

What to do with the incredible memorabilia we have cherished for our annual displays, the ephemera of Lenox School including important founding documents, etc.? The good news is that the dedicated efforts of our board members may offer us a path forward to resolving these issues with options for elegant solutions.

As previously indicated, we will be placing all of this before the dues paying members at the business meeting for consideration and approval. We are indeed living forward.

“A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.” Jackie Robinson

I would urge members to submit nominees for consideration to be inducted into the LSAA Hall of Fame, which we’ll do at the dinner on Saturday evening. We have a long list of alums that have enriched the lives of others and we take great pride in recognizing and honoring them.

I look forward to seeing everyone back at school!

Save the date, and be there:  OCT 18 – OCT 19