Some
Reflections

from outgoing Club president,
Aaron Hamburger,
October, 2004.

After nearly 14 years, I'm retiring as President of the Arden Club. I'd like to share some reflections on this period of Club history.

There have been significant changes in the Club and Gild Hall over these years. We've grown from five to nine Gilds, we restored the Moonlight Theater, the electrical system in the Gild Hall was upgraded and modernized, we successfully transitioned from the live-in custodial arrangement with the Brattens to the present Gild Hall Superintendent position of George Brocklesby, we weathered serious financial and organizational difficulties with two Gilds in the mid-90s, and we achieved 501(c)(3) tax status.

We have a great organization because of the work of the Board, the Gilds, and numerous volunteers. I want to cite four special people who have been my right arms during my Presidency.

• Dorsey Lebeis, for as long as I can remember, has organized and run the craft activities at the Club, both for the Fair and craft shows. This is a year-round job and central to one of the missions of the Club.
• Janet Cosgrove, as scheduler and rental agent, has performed with efficiency and good cheer and is one of our key faces to the general public.
• Peter Renzetti, our First Vice-President, has directed numerous Club projects and has been a constant source of wisdom and reason in support of the Gild Hall.
• Finally, Alton Dahl, as House Manager and sometimes vice-president, is the principal person responsible for keeping the Gild Hall in good shape. He is also a source of reason and wisdom but chiefly a man of action.

We now will undergo major changes in Arden Club leadership. This year we will have four new officers -- President, Oliver Gutsche; Second Vice-President, Randy Hoopes; Treasurer, Marguerite Archer; Secretary, Katrina Nelson -- and three new Board Directors -- Roseanne Dell Aversano, Stephen Harcourt and Dan McNeil. I'm impressed that the new Officers and Board are all seasoned Club members, committed to the Club's mission. They will bring both vitality and wisdom to our organization.

I want to thank our retiring Officers and Board Directors -- Jeff Politis, Barbara Henry, Cynthia Dewick and Lynda Kolski -- for their valuable contributions to the Club over many years.

I'll conclude by reminding us of the Arden Club's mission which can be concisely stated as: To create community.

Thank you all for making my years as President stimulating, productive and even fun.

--Aaron Hamburger