President's Message May 2022

Next Date for 2022 Reunion
(back to our traditional date of the weekend after
Columbus Day!!)
October 14 and 15, 2022
Can you believe it!?!
The class of 1967 and the class of 1962 have a 55th
and 60th Legacy Commemoration!!!
Here’s the class of ’67 from our 2017 reunion –

comon’ back boys, we miss you!!! I think ‘62 may give you a run for your money! And ’57…
surprise us!

Also, we’re going old Lenox School style this year. Thanks to the ever-gracious hosts and friends at Shakespeare & Co. we’re going to have all of our meals on campus. That means Fri after golf, Sat luncheon after the business meeting and Sat night dinner will all be held in the Bernstein Theatre. We’re working with the
caterers now to get a fabulous spread arranged.

2022 – Preparing for the 2026 School Centennial
“Your life is made of two dates and a dash. Make the most of the dash.”  Linda Ellis

The Lenox School Centennial Legacy Fund & working on our dash:
I am always drawn back to the words that Mr. Southworth left us regarding his reminiscences of Lenox School (“What Dreams May Come”): “… I am willing to offer them as a reflection of that Lenox mystique which eludes
specific words, but has existed as an experienced entity, and which touched everyone in one way or another.”

That mystique leads us to this 2022 reunion and the ones that will follow until our 100th anniversary of the founding of the school (1926 - 2026). These all will be devoted to fellowship, reconnecting, and cementing the legacy and lessons of Lenox School and disseminating these through the new website we’re building and through the scholarships and donations that will be sustained in perpetuity through the Lenox School Centennial
Legacy Fund we established – This is Our Enduring Dash!

Speaking of this fund, we have established a goal of $600K to be raised by the 2026 centennial date; and as of the writing of this with donations and pledges, we’re already ~50% there!

“Every man, however wise, needs the advice of some sagacious friend in the
affairs of life.” Plautus

One of the major efforts that the board will undertake is to review and refine the guidance we provided to the Berkshire Taconic Community Fund (BTCF) to ensure that once we are no longer actively engaged, the funds generated there continue to remain true to our intent and don’t end up wandering off into supporting organizations, initiatives, or entities we would never have desired. We are going to be scrupulously careful in this overall endeavor to make sure we get it right. We are actively discussing some fundamental questions and issues to review and refine such as:

• Do we wish these funds to continue benefitting the somewhat geographically local recipients we have supported in the recent past (S&Co, Trinity Church, Miss Hall’s, etc.); or,

• Do we expand our service outreach by directing BTCF to include a broader group of financial recipients, while rigorously remaining consistent with what Lenox stood for while active? Examples would be extending our scholarship and donation initiatives to entities that Lenox School supported as an active school: i.e. Native American entities, KEEP, etc.

• If we’re successful with the legacy campaign, we may be able to supportv recipients from both of the groups above! In any event, if you have some thoughts regarding this you can send them directly to me; and of course we’re going to reach out to get the thoughts and input from masters as well.

(In homage to Mr. Wood):

“Everyone knows that auctions speak louder than words - that's because of the auction-ears.” & “Auctions are the one place where you can get something for nodding.”

Drum roll please: We’re going to start auctioning off the memorabilia at this reunion!!! So bring your checkbook! Always had your eye on a set of Lenox School China? Perhaps desiring to have a
yearbook, a Lenox pennant, an athletic jacket or letter, or that 33 1/3 record of the choir? We’ll provide more details of this in the next Pen & Scroll!