Mort Kondracke for Dartmouth Trustee

Dear Fellow Alumni:

2010-04-11T07:52:00.001-07:00

The results have been announced and we are humbled to have been elected to the board of trustees in the largest voter turnout in Dartmouth election history. 32% of alumni cast a ballot over the four week election period. At 17,762 Mort received the highest number of votes for trustee ever. In the head-to-head contest John received 14,176 votes while Joe Asch '79 received 5,823 votes. This turnout and the margin of victory are a clear sign that the vast majority of voters support Dartmouth and are squarely focused on moving beyond divisiveness and infighting in favor of helping Dartmouth tackle the tough challenges it faces. As we have said throughout the campaign, we too support this point of view and are honored to have the opportunity to work in the College's best interests as members of the board come June 13th.

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to those of you who voted for us as we realize that without your support we would not have the opportunity to serve Dartmouth on the board. With the privilege of being trustees comes the responsibility of representing all alumni and so to those whose support we did not earn we say that we will seek counsel and input from across the spectrum. While the election results clearly indicate alumni sentiment we firmly believe that listening to all input is an integral part of the the board's duties. We look forward to doing so throughout our terms.

In closing we's like to congratulate Joe Asch for a well-run and vigorous campaign. His passion for Dartmouth is evident and we hope and expect that it will continue unabated.

For Dartmouth,

Mort and John

Replogle, Kondracke elected to the Board of Trustees

2010-04-10T10:39:00.000-07:00

The following article was taken from The Dartmouth:

Alumni Council-nominated candidate John Replogle ‘88 won the election for one of two open seats on the Board of Trustees over petition candidate Joe Asch ‘79, garnering 70.9 percent of votes in the election, Association of Alumni president John Mathias announced at the Association meeting Saturday. His nomination to the Board of Trustees was approved by the Board this morning, along with the nomination of Council-nominated candidate Morton Kondracke ‘60, who ran uncontested for the other seat.

To view the full article, please click here.

Prez. Kim on Trustee Qualities

2010-03-25T09:03:00.002-07:00

Before the largest crowd in the Dartmouth Club of DC’s history, President Kim responded on Wednesday (3/24) to an alumna’s question about the optimal Trustee qualifications as follows: “This is not a management job – it’s my responsibility to manage the College. We need someone with wide experience across a broad career, who will come in for the five annual meetings and focus on the critical strategic challenges we face. And I need someone who can provide real expertise when I want to reach out for counsel. How great is it that when questions come up on human resources challenges, or other important matters, I can tap into the expertise of someone like Jeff Immelt (CEO of GE), who can give me the benefit of what he’s doing running a big business right now.”

NAAAD Supports John and Mort

2010-03-24T08:45:00.000-07:00

NAAAD urges you to vote in the Dartmouth Trustee and Association of Alumni Executive Committee elections, from March 10-April 7, 2010.

The Native American Alumni Association of Dartmouth (NAAAD) will endorse Morton Kondrake '60 and John Replogle '88 for the Board of Trustees.

Kondrake and Replogle have been fully vetted by the Alumni Council over a two-year process. For more information on this process, click here.

Morton Kondrake, Class of '60, has been a national journalist for over 40 years, and an executive editor and columist at Roll Call. He was an editor at The New Republic, Washington bureau chief of Newsweek and a Wall Street Journal columnist. Mort frequently appeared on Meet the Press and NPR. He is on the boards of the Michael J. Fox Foundation and Parkinson's Foundation, and Communities in Schools for the Nation's Capital. He brings a firm commitment to Dartmouth's diverse and globally-minded population, and supports President Kim's vision for the College. For more information on Mort and his commitment to Dartmouth, see his website: www.mort4dartmouth.com.

John Replogle, Class of '88, is the CEO of Burt's Bees. Under Replogle's leadership, Burt's Bees has expanded globally while also becoming a recognized leader in sustainable business practices. Previously, John served as the general manager of Unilever skin care and as president of Guiness Brewing in the U.S. and Great Britain. He started his career with The Boston Consulting Group and earned his MBA from Harvard Business School. In addition to his extensive humanitarian work, including Terracycle and Habitat for Humanity, John has actively supported Dartmouth in the last 25 years. In addition to bringing his real world business experience as a Trustee, John has pledged to support the vision of President Kim, extend global education and shrink Dartmouth's environmental footprint. For more information on John and his commitment to the Dartmouth, see John's website: www.john4dartmouth.com.

Morton Kondrake is unopposed. John Replogle will run against Joe Asch, '79. A questionnaire was submitted to the candidates by the Alumni Council and the Affiliated Groups (NAAAD, Dartmouth Association of Latino Alumni, Black Alumni of Dartmouth, Dartmouth Asian Pacific American Alumni Association and Dartmouth Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Alumni/ae Asociation). The candidate responses are available for your viewing here.

The official election website is: http://www.voxthevote.org/

Please take the time to vote today. Voting ends April 7, 2010.

Sincerely,
NAAAD Executive Board,

Anna Tsouhlarakis, '99, President
Elizabeth Sumida Huaman, '98, Vice-President
Catherine McCarthy Hutasuhut, '99, Treasurer
Carmen Lopez, '97, Secretary
Rachel Froman-Bettencourt, '82, Newsletter Chair
Melissa Candelaria, '97, Website Chair
Drew Ryce, '74, Board Member
Hans Klose, '93, Board Member
Debbie Atuk, Tu'04, Board Member and Alumni Council Representative
Hilary Abe, '08, Alumni Council Representative
Mabelle Hueston, '84, Liaison to NAVC
Julianne, Begay, '10, Liaison to NAD

Chair of Native American Studies Endorses John

2010-03-18T16:28:00.002-07:00

John and Mort have been endorsed by both BADA and DGALA, 25 former Trustees, the full Alumni Council, a long list of legendary and current faculty, and now Bruce Duthu '80 Chair Native American Studies. He explains:

“I'm supporting John Replogle because he understands that Dartmouth's top ranking… is inextricably linked with our long-standing commitment to research and scholarship. John is committed to the proposition that responsible stewardship of the college starts with creating an atmosphere marked by civility, hard but honest debate, courage to speak the truth, and commitment to future generations of Dartmouth's sons and daughters.”

- N. Bruce Duthu '80, Samson Occom Professor and Chair Native American Studies

Co-Founder of Nat’l Review & Legendary Prof Jeff Hart Endorses Mort & John

2010-03-18T16:28:00.001-07:00

Proving that quality transcends politics, Professor of English Emeritus Jeffrey Hart has joined the long list of legendary and current faculty endorsing John and Mort. He writes:

“Mort Kondracke (unopposed) and John Replogle have my support. Of the two contesting candidates (Replogle and Asch), both good men, I consider John Replogle better prepared and superior in judgment.

- Professor Emeritus Jeffrey Hart '51 (English)

Endorsement Letter – Peter Saccio

2010-03-15T18:38:00.001-07:00

Dear Former Students,

Two years ago, when Dartmouth was being sued by the Executive Council of its own Association of Alumni, I wrote many of you urging you to vote for a new membership of that Executive Council. Your votes brought about the withdrawal of the suit, a gratifying result for which I thank you.

Now there is an election for two vacancies on the Board of Trustees, both to be decided by alumni/ae voting. I write again, with several requests.

The first is simply that you vote. In these elections, the decision is made by a rather small turnout. I blame no one for that: you are busy with your lives, you may not recognize the names of the candidates, you are bombarded by mystifying statements. I feel the same way about elections at my own alma mater. But I urge you to make an effort: it really does matter up here. Support for petition candidates has been a conservative hard-core, nearly all of whom always vote. Victory of people nominated by the Alumni Council depends on how many other alumni/ae participate.

Second, I have suggestions about whom to vote for. The system has been simplified. The Alumni Council, after thoughtful search and careful interviewing, has nominated only one candidate for each vacancy, and on this occasion only one of the two is opposed by a petition candidate.

Morton Kondrake ’60 is a very distinguished journalist who has covered Washington for many years (Newsweek, New Republic etc), one of the few people I read and believe. He is running unopposed. Still, vote for him. If you want more information, see www.mort4dartmouth.com.

John Replogle ’88 is the CEO of Burt’s Bees, the personal care company. I didn’t teach him (I taught one of his brothers) but I have met and talked with him at some length. He is smart, and he is committed to a Dartmouth based on distinguished faculty, diverse and energetic students, and the unique opportunities that the College provides. He is well qualified to support our present excellences, to set policies that will extend them, and to address the financial and other problems that currently beset the College.

John is far better qualified than his opponent Joseph Asch ’79, one of the gadflies who have been troubling the College in recent years, now nominated by signatures of the usual group that supports petition candidates. Gadflies can be useful, of course, but Asch makes statements that lead me seriously to doubt his judgment. He supported the lawsuit of two years ago. He made a number of self-contradictory, shoot-from-the-hip, negative comments on the selection of Jim Kim as the new President. It bothers me deeply that he has publicly and repeatedly said that “the quality of education at Dartmouth is declining.” In the judgment of most of us on campus, and of our professional colleagues and evaluators elsewhere, that is simply not true. Dartmouth provides an extraordinary quality of attention to its undergraduates, as it has in the 44 years I have been here. In a letter sent to many of you two years ago, my colleague Susan Ackerman documented the excellence of Dartmouth’s teaching of undergraduates with descriptions of the opportunities available to students and with the testimony and surveys of recent alumni/ae. Last fall, in a new category of evaluation, U. S. News and World Report ranked Dartmouth first in the nation in the quality of its undergraduate teaching. I think Asch merely slings around these opinions to gain support from those who are, for one reason or another, dissatisfied with the College. But the major problem with Asch is that he wants to micro-manage Dartmouth. The work of the Trustees would be seriously impaired by his sitting on the Board: their job is to set policy, and leave daily administration to the Administration. John Replogle’s career, and his previous work for Dartmouth, indicates that he has the intelligence, vision, and experience that can help Dartmouth in the present difficult times, and build Dartmouth for the future. For further remarks, see www.john4dartmouth.com.

My last request is this: if you have found this letter worth reading, forward it to fellow alumni/ae whose email addresses I may not have.

Polling began on March 10 and ends on April 7. If you have not yet received a ballot by e-mail or ordinary mail, Dartmouth has lost track of your whereabouts. Since the ballot manufacturer has finished his job, the only way you can receive a ballot in time to vote in this election is to e-mail the person who manages the voting database, Sally.Bourdon@Dartmouth.edu.

With warm and hopeful greetings to you all,

Peter Saccio

Leon Black Professor of Shakespearean Studies (emeritus)

March 15, 2010

Appeal filed in case; litigation continues

2010-03-15T16:35:00.001-07:00

From today's Dartmouth comes news of another effort to continue the lawsuit that has wasted more than $1 million of Dartmouth's scarce resources. John and Mort have been consistent in their opposition to this and related litigation. Read the full article here.

Early Voter Turnout Sets Record

2010-03-13T18:49:00.000-08:00

Voting for two Trustee seats began March 10; turnout in the first week ran substantially ahead of past elections. Lynne Gaudet '81, the director of alumni leadership in the College's Office of Alumni Relations attributed the activity to “increased access to candidate information through online media, electronic communications and mailings.” Read the full story at www.thedartmouth.com/2010/03/09/news/elections.

President Kim Makes His Views on Asch Candidacy Clear

2010-03-13T18:48:00.000-08:00

…”I do not — either directly or indirectly — endorse Mr. Asch's candidacy, nor did I encourage him to run.” Read the full letter from President Kim at www.thedartmouth.com/2010/03/09/opinion/letter.

Trustees Emeriti Support Mort

2010-03-09T14:40:00.000-08:00

To the Dartmouth Community:

As trustees emeriti of Dartmouth, we know that selecting women and men to serve on the College’s Board requires great care and deliberation. This is why we fully support the process through which the Dartmouth Alumni Council's Nominating and Alumni Search Committee identifies candidates for seats on the Board. The committee, composed of dedicated alumni, undertakes a wide-ranging search, reviews dozens of dossiers and conducts thorough interviews to find the most qualified candidates. Those whom it selects have the requisite backgrounds to become Trustees truly worthy of that name.

This year, the Committee recommended, and the full Alumni Council ratified, the selection of two candidates for two open seats. One of those candidates, Mort Kondracke '60, is running unopposed for one seat. The other, John Replogle '88, is opposed by another candidate, Joe Asch '79, who collected the requisite number of signatures to be a petition candidate on the ballot.

We strongly urge our fellow alumni to respect the Alumni Council’s selection process and vote for the candidates it selected, Mr. Kondracke and Mr. Replogle. The Council’s imprimatur makes clear that these two were far and away the most qualified candidates that it identified for Board service this year. They have the personal characteristics, talents, skills and track record of achievements to be the ultimate stewards of Dartmouth that Board service entails. Dartmouth deserves no less.

Please mark your ballots in the forthcoming Trustee Nomination process for Mort Kondracke ’60 and John Replogle ’88. Also, with regard to the separate vote to elect the leadership of the Association of Alumni, please vote for the slate proposed by the Association Nominating Committee. This proposed slate consists essentially of the same group of people who ended the costly law suit against the College and the Board of Trustees. They are committed to working constructively with the Alumni Council and the Board.

Sincerely yours,

Trustees Emeriti of Dartmouth

Stephen W. Bosworth '61
Russell L. Carson '65
Michael Chu '68
Robert A. Danziger '56
Susan Dentzer ’77
Peter M. Fahey ‘68
Robert E. Field '43
Karen C. Francis '84
Ann Fritz Hackett '76
Robert P. Henderson '53
Ira Michael Heyman '51
Richard D. Hill '41
Nancy K. Jeton ‘76
William Haven King ‘63
Barry L. MacLean '60
Priscilla F. Maynard '41W
Norman E. McCulloch Jr. '50
William H. Neukom '64
Jonathan Newcomb '68
Richard M. Page ‘54
Robert B. Reich '68
Ronald B. Schram '64
David M. Shribman ‘76
Kate Stith-Cabranes '73
David R. Weber '65

President Kim on Trustee Qualifications

2010-03-09T14:38:00.000-08:00

Last Wednesday night (March 3) President Kim met with some 700 alumni at the Dartmouth Club of New York. When asked in the public Q&A session what qualifications he'd like to see in Trustees to be elected by alumni beginning March 10, President Kim “I think we need someone who is wildly successful in his career, who would bring to the Board a wealth of experiences that would help us to take Dartmouth to new heights. I also think that what we don’t need is someone who wants to second-guess everything we do and get involved in micromanaging our administration around operational details that are really my responsibility. The Board needs a big thinker who is an accomplished, proven leader, and I need a true partner whose counsel I can seek. I’ve developed that relationship with many on the board who are world-class leaders of global companies and I think that’s a great model.”

These characteristics were also valued by the Trustees Nominating Committee for the Alumni Council, which considered over 400 alumni for these two open posts, and are strongly reflected in the backgrounds of the two candidates (John Replogle ’88 and Mort Kondracke ’60) overwhelmingly nominated by the full Alumni Council.

Class of '60 Representatives Endorse Mort & John

2010-03-08T19:05:00.000-08:00

Phil Kron, Gene Kohn and Jim Adler recently wrote their class, endorsing Mort and John for Trustees. The following is an excerpt from that letter:

“Our classmate Mort Kondracke is running unopposed for Alumni Trustee. Mort is well known nationally as an insightful journalist who does his homework and calls 'em as he sees 'em. We know him as a loyal classmate and a great guy. Let's show our support with a 100% class-wide vote for one of our own! (For more about Mort's background and views, visit his website at www.Mort4Dartmouth.com )”

“The second Alumni Trustee seat is a contested election, with John Replogle '88, the Alumni Council's nominated candidate, running against Joe Asch '79, a self-selected petition candidate.”

“JOHN REPLOGLE - Starting with his student days, John has a long record of service to Dartmouth, stemming from his love of and respect for its traditions and confidence in its future. He has an outstanding track record as a corporate executive and extensive board experience, with a clear understanding of the proper consultative and advisory nature of such a role. John is seen by those who know him as a critical thinker, a person able to work constructively with others to get the job done. He has the stature and experience needed for the job. (For more about John's background and views, visit his website at www.John4Dartmouth.com.)”

“JOE ASCH - Joe is a local Upper Valley businessman and blogger, known for being an unrelenting critic of the Dartmouth administration on subjects ranging from class size to the manner in which employee time sheets are submitted. Many believe his aggressively confrontational, micro-managing style makes him ill equipped to serve as a Dartmouth Trustee. While he now says he supports President Jim Kim, he was highly critical of his appointment by the Board of Trustees, immediately saying publicly he lacked the scholarly credentials and chief executive experience needed for the job.”

“Joe has the support of The Dartmouth Review, The Hanover Institute and others who initiated or supported the recent lawsuits against the College - yet he does NOT have the support of key people in his own class! The current and past Class of 1979 presidents and several other class leaders who know him well have signed a strong statement supporting John Replogle (and Mort). They do NOT want to see their own classmate become a Trustee! Can you imagine the Class of 1960 not backing Mort Kondracke???”

Alumni Council Representative of Class of ’65 Endorses Mort and John

2010-03-08T19:00:00.000-08:00

Pete Frederick’s recent letter to his class laid out the context for the Alumni Council’s 89-1 vote nominating Mort and John, and his own reasons for supporting them. The following is an excerpt from that letter:

“Much has and will be written about the competition between the nominated candidates and the petition candidates. I have followed this issue quite closely for 10 years. Allow my quick synopsis. With the exceptions of the College President, the Governor of New Hampshire and one widow who completed her husband’s term the members of the Dartmouth board have been and are alumni. There are three ways to get on the board 1) the sitting board of 24 alumni selects an individual to serve on the board. The board members do their research consult with other alumni and alumni organizations to select an alumnus that has the skills the board needs. 2) The alumni Council of over 100 alumni representing over 100 groups ( I represent the class of ‘65) select a nominating committee from their number which spends literally years preparing lists of potential trustees, vetting the list and seeking more nominees. We all have been asked at one time on another to suggest someone to be on the board. The committee nominates an alumnus for each open position on the board. 3) An alumnus/ae who was not nominated by the alumni council or was not selected by the board can pass a petition to get on the ballot. All alumni have the opportunity to vote for those nominated in 2 and 3. Dartmouth is truly unique in that its alumni have the opportunity to vote for its management team. Please take advantage of that opportunity and vote between March 10 and April 7. There have been arguments and lawsuits dealing with which of the 3 processes is used to select how many trustees. The lawsuits have been a waste of money and will only benefit the lawyers, not the College nor the alumni. (Yes you are correct, I am not a lawyer). The situation is as it is and can be changed via negotiations between the Trustees and those elected / selected by the larger alumni body to represent them….

“I know and respect the folks on the alumni council nominating committee, and am aware of the process they use to select nominees. I think they have selected two very good candidates. I know Mort and respect him. I have met John and like him. I am impressed with the demonstrated abilities of both. I do not know Joe. I know he wants to be a trustee and was not selected by the current board or the alumni council nominating committee. I know at one point he supported the lawsuit which I personally think was frivolous and a financial drain to the college. According to the D, Joe applauded the dismissal of Deans Marty Redman and Deb Carney as a good step in cleaning out the cobwebs of the administration. I personally worked with both Deb and Marty to get Beta reinstated on campus. I hold both in high regard. We did not always agree, however Beta is back. I disagree with the comments about them accredited to Joe. “

"Trustee hopefuls seek faculty, alum. support"

2010-03-03T19:31:00.000-08:00

The following article was taken from The Dartmouth:

With the voting period for the upcoming alumni-elected Board of Trustees election beginning next Wednesday, March 10, both Alumni Council-nominated candidates — Morton Kondracke ’60 and John Replogle ’88 — will continue to visit Dartmouth Alumni Clubs nationwide, while petition candidate Joe Asch ’79 has spent roughly $28,000 to send a mailing to thousands of College alumni. Several College faculty members have also released public statements on their opinions of Replogle and Asch, who are competing for one seat as candidates for the Board.

To view the full article, please click here.

Parity Statement

2010-03-03T10:21:00.000-08:00

I appreciate that some alumni consider "parity" between charter trustees and alumni-elected trustees to be the most important issue in this election--in fact, a litmus test of trustee qualification.

I certainly favor expanded elected alumni representation on the board and will work to achieve it. I am even open to working for parity if it can be achieved while providing Dartmouth with the qualified trustees we need.

But Dartmouth faces more important issues than this--first, a fiscal crisis and the imperative to solve it and maintaiin Dartmouth's historic excellence as an undergraduate teaching institution. And, equally important, insuring the success of Jim Kim's visionary presidency.

I think trustee candidates should be judged on the basis of their capacity to meet these priorities--and their ability to convince other board members to address the governance issue in a collaborative manner that takes into account alumni sentiment. Having supported a lawsuit against the College would not meet that qualification.

John Replogle '88, CEO of global companies and an expert on eliminating waste, is superbly qualified by skill and temperament to be a trustee. His opponent, an unremitting critic of the College and supporter of lawsuits, is not.

Having carefully studied the governance committee report that led to departing from the parity tradition, I'm satisfied that Dartmouth's board did need to be expanded. The committee and board determined that nominations by the Alumni Council - and elections - would not reliably produce enough trustees with the qualifications that the board needs.

This is a question that needs further study. I believe the Alumni Council is entirely capable of finding superbly qualified alums. It has in the past and, this year, meticulously considered 400 potential candidates before making its nominations.

So, for a certainty, the alumni election process can fill more trustee seats than the eight now contemplated. I will work to see that accomplished.

Legendary Faculty Member Don Pease Supports John

2010-03-03T09:59:00.001-08:00

Dear Alumni,

I strongly support the candidacy of John Replogle for the sole contested seat in the Trustee Elections for which voting will begin on March 10.

His service to the College as a student leader and alumni officer amply demonstrates his commitment to Dartmouth's betterment. In my conversations with him over the years I have also found that John Replogle possesses the temperament and leadership skills that I consider the prerequisite for a Dartmouth College Trustee. He knows how to listen to disparate viewpoints, how to ask challenging questions, and how to make tough decisions.

In a recent discussion with faculty and students, Replogle cogently described Dartmouth's unique academic standing as founded upon the assumption that research and teaching are not opposed but interdependent aspects of the scholar-teacher. Dartmouth students become the beneficiaries of this dynamic interaction by participating in it.

But in columns and blogs he has published over the past several years, Replogle's opponent, Joe Asch, has described teaching and research as mutually exclusive. In advancing this belief and comparably polarizing opinions, Joe often adopts an aggressive rhetorical style. The invective Joe directs against Dartmouth administrators, faculty and fellow alums undermine efforts to promote thoughtful discussion about matters of vital importance to the college. Joe's combative, no-holds-barred stance has served the purpose of promoting interest in his blog. But since that temperament has no place in a Board of Trustees meeting, I urge you to vote for John Replogle on March 10.

Sincerely

Don Pease

Communications

2010-02-23T16:47:00.000-08:00

Even though Dartmouth attracts some of the best young people in the country and is rated by US News as the No. 1 institution for undergraduate teaching, the College has a communications problem. I hope to help fix it.

One piece of evidence is that when a student is accepted at both Dartmouth and any other Ivy League school, we lose the overwhelming number to every one but Cornell.

Why? Part of it is the “Animal House” image that doesn’t even apply any longer to the fraternity, Alpha Delta, that the movie depicted. There’s a good story-- that’s not being told—about AD’s transformation into house with a high GPA and a good record of service.

President Jim Kim is in the process of enlisting Dartmouth’s fraternities to work on their image and the College’s and they are responding.

Moreover—and I learned this in conversations with students—the College is not enlisting its very enthusiastic undergraduates to communicate with candidates for admission.

We need to tell our story better. We need to tell the world how much our students love Dartmouth—and how successful they are in the world when they graduate. I’ve been in the communications field for 50 years and will strive to help our world-renowned new president spread the word about Dartmouth’s greatness.

Dartmouth's Collaborative Atmosphere

2010-02-23T16:39:00.000-08:00

Dartmouth’s most exceptional characteristic—its dedication to undergraduate teaching—is not just of theoretical matter to me. Close association with a professor saved my college career from early failure. As a trustee, I will dedicate myself to insuring that the teaching tradition is maintained.

Arriving ill-prepared for Dartmouth from a small town public high school, I struggled to achieve a C- average in my first semester and even considered transferring. I was rescued academically and psychologically by my freshman English professor, John Hurd--a senior full professor--and his wife, who read German with me three evenings a week, and also convinced me I could succeed at Dartmouth.

It would never have happened at Harvard or another huge research university, where my freshman English class would have been a large lecture class and my personal contact, if any, would have been with a graduate student.

Inter-action between students and faculty has become much more collaborative in the half-century since I was a student. Many of today’s students are working with their professors actually solving the problems of the world, not just studying about them. That’s part of what makes Dartmouth the great institution it is. The student body and faculty also have become more diverse, a development I supported as a Daily D editor and have applauded as an alumnus.

Still, many aspects of College life that I valued as an undergraduate prevail—the opportunity for membership in fraternities (now also sororities and co-ed societies), the DOC, and wide options in sports, music and art. I will strive to sustain, expand and improve them. I’m confident that John Replogle ’88, who’s running for the other vacant alumni seat on the board, shares this vision.

Joe's Classmates Support John

2010-02-22T22:34:00.000-08:00

We, the undersigned, want you to know that Mort Kondracke '60 and John Replogle '88 have our full support in the election for the Dartmouth Board of Trustees that begins on March 10, 2010. Both candidates were selected by the Dartmouth Alumni Council's Nominating and Alumni Search Committee in a thorough review of dozens of qualified candidates. We believe in this method of candidate selection since it gives dedicated alumni from diverse backgrounds ample opportunity to assess the abilities of candidates to both add compelling value to the existing Board of Trustees and effectively work with the existing Trustees and President.

This election is important as it provides us with an opportunity to break from the divisive political process that has characterized our most recent elections. The new Association of Alumni rules that establish the election process for Dartmouth's alumni trustee elections now permit the Alumni Council to nominate only one candidate for each open seat. Accordingly, the Alumni Council has put forth the names of Mort Kondracke and John Replogle as the two candidates for the two open alumni-nominated seats on the Board. Mort is running unopposed, but John will be opposed by one candidate, Joe Asch '79, who collected enough signatures to be a petition candidate on the ballot. We endorse Mort happily in the uncontested election and in the contested election, we fully endorse John.

We believe John Replogle is the superior candidate because:

• John is the CEO of Burt's Bees, a leading natural personal care company. Under John's leadership, Burt's Bees has expanded globally and doubled sales and profitability while becoming a recognized leader in sustainable business practices.

• In his role as a successful CEO, John has demonstrated his ability to both identify and solve the complex strategic, financial, operational and global challenges of the type that Dartmouth faces and will continue to face.

• John's world class career gives him important perspective for service as Trustee.

• His involvement as an undergraduate and alumni leader of Dartmouth organizations demonstrates the clear dedication and leadership capability of this son of Dartmouth.

• John Replogle will honor and bring honor to Dartmouth in his public representation of the College as a Trustee. While he believes in robust debate, he has always been against a culture that endorses suing the College and consuming financial resources that could be better used on furthering Dartmouth's commitment to offering an outstanding undergraduate experience

We urge you to join the undersigned in supporting John Replogle in the upcoming Trustee election which begins on March 10, 2010. For more, please go to: www.john4dartmouth.com/.

William H. Mitchell '79 P'10 Class Mini Reunion Chair, former Class President, Vice President, Treasurer

Otho Kerr '79, former President Dartmouth Alumni Council

Peggy Epstein Tanner '79 P'10, former Class Head Agent

Jim Wasz '79 Class President 1979

Laurie Laidlaw Roulston, '79 Class Vice President, former Class President, Treasurer

Ted Winterer '79, former Class President

Kent Matthewson '79, former Class President

Louisa Guthrie '79, Alumni Councilor, former Class President

Deb Jennings '79 P'08 P'11, Class Secretary

Laurie Rosenfeld, Class Reinvention Guru

"Electing the Owner"

2010-02-22T18:08:00.000-08:00

The following article was taken from The Dartmouth:

As Dartmouth faces another trustee election, long before choosing which candidate to back, many alumni will decide it’s not worth going to the polls. Ten years ago, an election like this made me an alumni-elected trustee, and I served on the Board until last June. Like any other busy alum, I understand why people wonder if it’s worth the time to figure out the election. The answer of course depends on what’s at stake...

To view the full article, please click here.

Letter to the Editor: "An Immodest Proposal"

2010-02-10T18:11:00.000-08:00

The following letter to the editor was taken from The Dartmouth:

To the Editor:

In a paid ad in The Dartmouth Tuesday, Joseph Asch ’79 disingenuously proposed a campaign finance “truce” with me and his opponent for trustee, John Replogle ’88...

To view the full article, please click here.

Statement Regarding President Kim’s Initial Budget Proposal

2010-02-08T14:40:00.000-08:00

I am impressed that President Kim is dealing with Dartmouth’s fiscal crisis is a manner that is strategic, humane and dedicated to not only to maintaining, but improving, the College’s excellence as an undergraduate teaching institution.

It’s also impressive that President Kim has been consistently open in explaining the origins of the crisis and its consequences, sending out messages and holding one meeting after another with faculty, students, the community and alumni where he has exposed himself to questioning and invited recommendations.

The plans announced Monday call for no reductions in faculty or academic programs, an increase of 10 percent in financial aid, maintenance of needs-blind admissions and layoffs of just 76 workers this year.

Far bigger staff cuts were widely feared and it’s significant that President Kim, Senior Vice President Steve Kadish and Provost Carol Folt have demonstrated their concern for the College and community by donating 10 percent of their salaries to the Dartmouth College Fund and an employee hardship fund.

Many of the details on savings have yet to be spelled out in the areas of administrative reorganization and restructuring, program reductions and revenue. I will be interested in learning what exact programs the administration will put into place. As a trustee, I would do my best to evaluate and oversee them.

However, the overall approach being taken by President Kim is to contain the fiscal crisis by making Dartmouth better—more efficient and “green” in its operations and administration and more “student friendly” by consolidating services. It’s important that no sports programs will be eliminated.

I am impressed that Dartmouth has increased revenue from federal research grants by 45 percent in the past year, indicating that the faculty has successfully competed for money available under the American Recovery and Re-investment Act (Stimulus Program). It’s important that the College join with other institutions to insure that Congress and the Obama administration continue increasing federal R and D funding on a permanent basis—a crucial investment in improving America’s economic competitiveness. As a longtime advocate of R and D increases, I hope to offer advice in that effort.

For more on President Kim’s plans, see http://thedartmouth.com/2010/02/09/news/budget.

Statement on Hanover Police Sting Operations

2010-02-07T20:17:00.000-08:00

I agree with all the points made by John Replogle. I'd add that, instead of unilaterally establishing a sting policy against Dartmouth students, Hanover's police chief and other town leaders owe the College's new president the opportunity to work with them on alcohol policy--and on the full gamut of town-gown issues as well.

President Kim has demonstrated that he is sensitive to the well-being of the Upper Valley community in the way he is handling Dartmouth’s fiscal crisis, limiting the number of layoffs to the minimum. Dartmouth’s home town owes him similar consideration.

Not only is President Kim uniquely qualified in health risk matters, he is already encouraging Greek letter organizations to improve their behavior with respect to alcohol. I urge Hanover officials to work with him to establish policies that enhance respect for the law and protect the health of students.

Current Hanover policies, notably the arrest of students seeking medical help for over-consumption, do not reduce health risks, but heighten them. Moreover, Chief Giaccone's sting policy is not likely to curtail underage drinking, but lead students to find ways to evade the law.

I hope he will suspend it and collaborate with the College on ways to encourage responsible drinking.

President Kim also has indicated he will intervene with the State of New Hampshire to change the law that allows persons to be charged with possession of alcohol on evidence they have consumed it. The result is that even a student who's decided he or she has had "enough" and is headed home can be arrested. I support the president in this reform effort.

For more on the Hanover Police Department plans, see http://thedartmouth.com/2010/02/05/news/greek.

Letter to the Editor: Picking Sides by Merle Adelman ’80

2010-02-06T20:27:00.000-08:00

The following letter to the editor was taken from The Dartmouth:

To the Editor:

Did I hear a flip-flop drop?

Petition trustee hopeful Joe Asch ’79 claims he never supported the second round of litigation funded by the Hanover Institute against the College. Perhaps he has forgotten attending the December hearing in Grafton County Superior Court, sitting and commiserating with Frank Gado ’58, affiliate of the Hanover Institute and ardent litigant. Asch skipped the announcement of the Alumni Council’s trustee candidates in Hanover that morning in order to attend...

Asch will say whatever it takes to get himself elected. To view the full article, please click here.

The Dartmouth: Steering committee set for Board candidates

2010-02-01T08:15:00.000-08:00

"The two Alumni Council-nominated trustee candidates for the upcoming Board of Trustees election — Morton Kondracke ’60 and John Replogle ’88 — announced the composition of a joint steering committee for their campaigns on Thursday. The candidates will both use the committee — composed of over 100 Dartmouth alumni — as a forum for dialogue between the candidates and the alumni body, Replogle said."

To read more, CLICK HERE.

Steering Committee

2010-01-31T09:12:00.000-08:00

John and I have received a tremendous amount of support and encouragement from a broad cross section of alumni since the Alumni Council voted in December for us to run for the two open seats on the board in the election that begins March 10. Today we're pleased to announce the initial 100 members of our campaign steering committees representing nearly every class from 1951 to 2008 and an enormous variety of backgrounds all of whom are united with a common interest in supporting the College and President Kim. We are humbled by the number and wide-range of alumni who have stepped forward to support us as trustee candidates and are grateful for their time and efforts.

Looking ahead, the balloting period starts on March 10th. Joe Asch'79 - lauded by the Review as "...everyone's favorite blogger and critic of the administration..." - has announced his intent to run against John as a petition candidate, so can use all the support we can get. If you are in favor of moving past divisive governance issues, focusing on classrooms not courtrooms, and electing two independent-minded trustees who have the professional and board experience to help Dartmouth through a very challenging time John and I – and the 100 fellow alumni listed below -- would appreciate your votes.

Mort

Statement of Governance and Trustee Responsibilities

2010-01-27T20:00:00.000-08:00

Here's a quick link to Dartmouth's Statement of Governance and Trustee Responsibilities. Please click here to head over to the Dartmouth site and read more about trustee responsibilities.

About the Alumni Council Nominating Process

2009-12-10T11:02:00.000-08:00

The Nominating and Alumni Trustee Search Committee, chaired by Tom Daniels ‘82, conducted a thorough and rigorous process. It reviewed over 400 alumni over the course of 16 meetings over the past two years. This included vetting over 100 alumni who were formally nominated, as well as over 300 other alumni whom the committee thought deserved consideration to ensure that the process included a full look at the entire alumni body and skill sets that could be brought to the board. The key attributes considered were superior professional and personal achievement; critical thinking skills; independence; strong interpersonal and collaborative skills in a board context; broad appeal; a willingness to run a campaign and serve if elected; and passion for Dartmouth. In many cases, references were solicited on a highly discrete basis from professional and personal colleagues. From this process, a short list was developed and a group was selected to meet with committee, as well as submit personal statements and answers to questions drawn up by the committee. Following a week-end of interviews in New York City, Mort and John were selected and the recommendations were approved by the Executive Committee and full Alumni Council.

Mort brings a 40+ year in journalism analyzing politics, policy, health care, education and the economy. He has been known as a fierce independent and voice of moderation throughout his career, which includes serving as an original panelist on “The McLaughlin Group,” panelist for the 1984 Reagan-Mondale debate and stints as the Washington bureau chief for Newsweek and executive editor for the New Republic before his current role as executive editor of Roll Call. He is former president of The D, on the editorial board of the Dartmouth Alumni Magazine and served as a class officer. John brings over 20 years of experience as a business leader as former president of Guinness Bass Import Company, general manager of Unilever Skin Care and now President and CEO of Burt’s Bees, a leading global personal skin care company. He started his career at Boston Consulting Group, is a recognized leader in corporate social responsibility and sustainability issues, serves on the board for Habitat for Humanity and Ravenscroft School. John is a second generation Dartmouth alum who was in the Student Assembly, a member of Bones Gate and has been active in his class since graduation.

Dartmouth Alumni Council Nominates Two Trustee Candidates

2009-12-05T19:20:00.000-08:00

Following an extensive review process by its Nominating and Alumni Trustee Search Committee and in accordance with the Association of Alumni constitution, the Dartmouth Alumni Council has nominated one candidate for each of two open alumni-nominated trustee seats on the Dartmouth College Board of Trustees. They include:

Morton Kondracke ’60
Morton Kondracke has been a national journalist for 42 years, for the past 18 years as executive editor and columnist at Roll Call. He was a senior editor at The New Republic, Washington bureau chief of Newsweek, and a Wall Street Journal columnist. He has been a Fox News commentator since 1996 and was a regular panelist on The McLaughlin Group and ABC’s This Week. He frequently appeared on Meet the Press and NPR and was a panelist in the 1984 Reagan-Mondale debate on foreign policy. Kondracke is on the board of Communities in Schools for the Nation’s Capital, the Parkinson’s Action Network, and the Michael J. Fox Foundation. He is the author of Saving Milly: Love, Politics and Parkinson’s Disease. He has served as a board member of the Dartmouth Alumni Magazine and as class secretary. At Dartmouth, he was an English Honors major, president of The Dartmouth, and a member of Delta Upsilon (Foley House). He is married and has two daughters, Alexandra ’91 and Andrea.

John Replogle ’88
John Replogle is the CEO of Burt’s Bees, the leading natural personal care company in the U.S. Under Replogle’s leadership, Burt’s Bees has expanded globally and doubled sales and profitability while becoming a recognized leader in sustainable business practices. John was previously GM of Unilever skin care as well as president of Guinness Brewing in the U.S. and U.K. Replogle started his career with The Boston Consulting Group and earned an MBA with distinction from the Harvard Business School. John graduated from Dartmouth in 1988 with an AB in government and has served the College continuously for 25 years. As an undergraduate, he served on his class council and Student Assembly. Since graduation, John has volunteered as class vice president, treasurer, and mini-reunion chair, and currently serves as co-head agent. John serves on the boards of Terracycle, the Ravenscroft School, and Habitat for Humanity in Durham, NC. He lives in Raleigh, NC, with his wife and four daughters. He is the son of David ’53 and brother to Bill ’77.

Trustee balloting will take place online and by mail from March 10–April 7, 2010.