Governors Academy - Milestone Yearbook (Byfield, MA)

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-X 15 33 ....il.. ow i708 -xv Xxx- gag e w, X L., rE4XJ 6A u' I k S f X, ' N Vs- xX'QX!q.. -V , , f V! L13 S 5 5 X 4 . Y N x 'Q . K Nl N . A I I, -' if ,V -if ,.L,. .-Y X-at --X 3. - ,g s - f - Q-7, - 1 - 1 -- , -l . ,. , - 0 ' -' 'la' if J ?'. ff- N - ' J ll! A W 'fx ' The Second Building Campaign By D.AVID HARRIS SOLOMON The great importance of the second campaign in the past four years rests not only on the actual need of the remaining two wings of the building but even more on the fact that the impetus for the campaign was supplied by the student body, acting of its own accord and working from within. Early in November six boys, all of whom had attended Governor Dummer in previous years and had seen the need of completing the commons building, met informally and discussed at length the possibility of initiating a drive for the neces- sary funds. They realized that, if the school's rapid growth of the last decade was to be continued, the additional facilities must be provided. They then consulted with Mr. Murphy of the faculty regarding the details of setting the campaign in motion. Satisfied that success was a definite possibility, and willing to contribute the necessary time and energy, the group launched a whispering inquiry to determine if the school would be unanimously behind the campaign. So encouraging were the results of their inquiry that a school meeting was called for November QQ to present the idea formally, if suddenly, to Mr. Eames and the faculty. The school's enthusi- astic support was so obviously assured at that meeting that positive action on the part of the Headmaster was not long deferred. During the Thanksgiving recess he secured an initial pledge of 2iS30,000, thereby nearly assuring success in the next part of the task, namely to secure the approval of the Board of Trustees. Directly after the Thanksgiving recess the boys began preparations for present- ing their plan to the trustees. The original group who had initiated the campaign included John Newman, John Eshelman, David Goodhart, Robert Lyle, Edwin Sheffield, and Philip Simpson. Formally organized, with John Newman as chairman, this executive committee decided to form a larger general committee which would include a cross section of the entire student body. Dana Babcock, Thomas Collins, James Dodge, John Dyer, Locke Ellis, Francis Farnum, Eugene Gardner, John Hastings, Karl Klaussen, James Melick, Paul lNIorgan, Donald Mortimer, Theodore Munro, Robert Nutter, Robert Schumann, David Solomon, William Torrey, Arthur Wellman, and Sanford Young were the new members added to the general committee, which met occasionally, talked over problems in connection with the boys' solicitation of gifts, and made a number of suggestions to the executive committee and to the Headmaster. Before the Trustees' meeting on December 13, Chairman John Newman and the executive committee met with the trustees informally and presented their ideas for approval. During the formal meeting of the Board the boys waited anxiously: us. Ri . .X 1- .1 , . ,ia -. - ' --1 f' ' 1' - ' i' -YR-IQ'-'. 'f' w . 4-iii?-I ,M 9

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33 .JL ,, rvoef s',X fe . 't ' igieef fffn, f' f,A f,-f, ' AV! Y k V ' ,N N ' X 5 A , I 1 1 f f 4 1 ,. ' D ' , - X s be - . e . N X t . f ff .+ ,. Q: f f f- f 7 ,Y -5, V xy N f , f , - Q I .,.., ,f T' V ' ' Q' ' N X X ' -' ' X ' 'd W' 77' f! i 'JT-T': 1 Rza f.,-AW W . but at nine-thirty that rainy evening the bell in the little red schoolhouse rang out the news that official approval had been granted. The last two days of the fall term were frantic ones for the committee, with blanks to be distributed and innumerable instructions to be given to the volunteer solicitors. Campaign literature was distributed and arrangements made for report- ing progress. It was decided that contributions were to be solicited from friends of the schooland from relatives and friends of the boys, but that the parents of the boys were not to be asked to contribute at that time. Formal launching of the campaign occurred at the Fhristmas dinner on Dec- ember H, where John Newman of the Boys' Fommittee and lNIr. David Wfheatland of the Board of Trustees explained the nature and the purpose of the campaign to the many friends of the school gathered for the occasion. After two weeks of the Christmas holidays John Newman and Edwin Sheffield were able to report from the cards sent in by the members of the student body that 841,018 had been pledged by friends, other than the parents. Meanwhile hir. Eames and the members of the committee had been busy approaching other possible donors beyond the sphere of student acquaintances. When receipts were tabulated after the holiday, it was found that nearly 334,000 had been added from that source, and soon after vacation another 531,250 was added to the 330,000 foundation block when student pledges were received. These gifts represented for the most part personal earnings or savings. Added to those items, an accumulation of 815,000 from other sources made it possible for the Headmaster to announce at the end of January that a total of 850,000 had been pledged or contributed toward the required 5B80,000. Shortly the figure had risen to 5B55,000, and after a second Trustees' meeting in April Mr. Eames was able to announce a total of 5B69,000. By May the figure had risen to 5li7'2,000. As this publication goes to press, no further announcement has been made, but there is general confidence on the part of the committee that the remaining 38,000 will be raised and that completion of the building will crown the efforts of the many devoted students and friends who have worked at the task and contributed to the fund. As a result of their efforts Governor Dummer Academy will have, in the two new wings of the building, a spacious living and meeting room, public reception rooms, and space for many activities now carried on in crowded or inadequate quarters. The completed building will greatly improve the appearance of the campus and will be a beautiful and permanent monument to the loyalty and en- thusiasm of the students and friends who have initiated and completed the two campaigns. -rfv . -, .ni .' f f -' -- 1 ' ' ' m'-123 j .Jiv- 1 ' - ,, - Q .- 7 , - 115, ,A -- w--'34 'Q Q., -X rss 1 Y ,, 5- 7 , . . .. 4. A i 10