BY THE FOLLOWING MEASURES, the OHA has never been in better shape: a membership breaking the thousand mark; 40% dues payers who not only pay the paltry $15 stipend, but often send in more to generously support Cabin improvements; a Cabin that over the past several years has gone through major construction improvements that didn’t deplete the treasury; a driveway that can be traveled without leaving mufflers behind; a Cabin watchman that lives in the area and can keep an eye on things during all seasons; a website that is maintained on a weekly basis; our two trails Hall’s Ledge and Hutmen’s recently signed, blazed and cleared; a membership list and financials on a spreadsheet that anyone can understand; crew pictures preserved at Galehead and Greenleaf; the Latchstring Award established to recognize an outstanding hut crew; sponsorship of End of the Season crew parties at the Cabin; generous financial support for the recent Galehead rebuild and the current OH Fund portion of the Club’s current Capital Campaign Vision 2010. So what’s wrong here?

That was the reason for twelve OH to meet in March to take a hard look at the OHA and discuss it’s relevance to the current crews and recent crews no longer working for the Club. The present Steering Committee has labored long to help bring the OHA to where it is, but the signs are clear that it is time to pass the leadership of the committee onto a new group. It is a conventional thought that a group is as strong as its leadership, but it’s also true that if the group has a strong enough tie to its reason for being, then the group should be able to sustain itself without the constant presence of the old guard.

At the winter reunion, Doug Shaffer announced it was time to pass the dinner arrangements onto someone else. Those OH who have attended these dinners through the years have been entertained by Doug’s backlit slide shows during cocktail hour and the different venues that have taken us from Boston to Harvard, Massachusetts for about an hour only to find the place was double booked and we were the losers to Concord where we got a fantastic dinner rate for several years after making a deal to reshingle Thoreau’s cabin replica to Vinny Testa’s in Dedham and finally to the Crest View in Woburn. All these places were thoroughly scouted by Doug, menus were planned with budgets in mind and the success of these annual events was due to his diligence.

For yet another year, John Meserve was persuaded to continue his treasure’s duties that he inherited from Al Folger many years ago, duties that also consist of sending out membership cards and welcome letters, receiving the written news and fulfilling shirt and hat orders.

There were even the rumblings from the Resuscitator editor that it’s time to look around for a replacement since he took the newsletter over from Alex MacPhail seventeen years ago. Over that period of time, the newsletter has moved from Compugraphic phototype set by the printer to an in house Macintosh computer to several in home PC’s, with printing at four presses and four mailing houses. Many articles have been written by OH and there is no end to the OHA talent to supply material. Joan Doyle, Robin Snyder and now the tag team of Malin Bengtsson and Emily Muldoon Kathan have handled the popular Gormings. Stroker Rogovin has resurrected the Among the Crowds page and becomes visiting Professor Strokington when he’s not hobnobbing in New Zealand. Past hut managers Mike Torrey and Chris Thayer have supplied current crew updates.

This winter, there has been a spirited email correspondence among the Steering Committee about how to make the OHA more relevant to younger members. Many of the senior Steering Committee members were drawn into the OHA in the 1960’s even before they left the Hut System because Joe Dodge wanted to see his boys the week before Christmas. Joe also officiated at the Spring Brawl which always produced a big turnout to cross the Ellis to observe Joe calling balls and strikes—the way he saw them, not necessarily the way they were. But over the years as the gender and demographics of the Hut System crews changed, as managers and crew came and went serving shorter terms, it has become apparent what was de rigeur for the earlier generations doesn’t necessarily apply today. Professional and business organizations are experiencing the same decline in replenishing their officer ranks and adding new members for a variety of reasons similar to ours.

At the March Steering Committee meeting, six members had worked in the huts in the 1990’s, five in the 1960’s and one in 1970. Also, a heartfelt thank you to new Huts Manager and OH, Dave Herring, for making the trek south for the meeting and adding valuable insights to the discussion. Some good points were made as follows:
There should be wider generational representation on the Steering Committee. Discussed possibility of voting in 'decade' reps to act as liasons between OH and the Steering Committee. Also, instituting term limits on Steering Committee officer positions (ensuring clear length of time commitment and fresh faces/opinions/leadership on Steering Committee). Current croos and/or Dave Herring elect an involvedconnected current croo to act as representative for summer (keeps contact with summer croo, point person between croo and OH for gormings, events, etc.). Call for class reps from past decades also.

The spring reunion (aka 'Brawl') on May 18 corresponds with the same weekend as when some croo return so why not extend the weekend to include more Sunday activities to promote intentional overlap of current croo and OH. Potential for a fun tradition to kick off the summer!

Try the concept of E-Vites (free online invitations to an event that let you know who is planning to come). Stressing importance for OH to know 'WHO' is coming in order to promote participation throughout OH decades. Aim to try this out for the upcoming Spring Brawl and see what the response is. The Boston venue for a reunion continues to make the most sense because the majority of the attendees coming from the north and the south can get to Boston and back home the same night.

'Decade' reunions, BFD Ball. Promoting inclusion rather than exclusion. Can we coordinate with other AMC alumni such as Trails/Shelters, Pinkham, etc.?

Though our website tracks thousands of hits since it went online, there is a noticeable lack of using the chat line feature. Thought given to shifting Steering Committee meeting e-mail communications to the website, making discussions open to all OH members. Goal to 'activate' website. Call to OH to really 'use' the sight by posting upcoming, informal, regional OH get togethers, recent news/pics, job opportunities. Potential for the website to keep OH across the country more connected.

An OH night in a hut somewhat like the successful End of the Galehead Night party several years ago when a hut can be set aside in the spring or fall of the 2003 season for a discounted OH rate (Sorry, season of 2002 is already booked solid!). Continue to meet current croos at Gala Opening party and End of the Season party. Preferably send 'younger' rep to both events. Helpful to have consistency of OH faces seen by Croo throughout summer (ability to have face/name recognition with OH). Hand out printed sheet at Gala with OH/Cabin info. Publish Summer Resuscitator with current croo stories (written by croo) from the summer. Same flavor as Guinea night slides but in print. Fun way to introduce croo to OHA and the Resuscitator, promote current and future writing contributions and keep the rest of us clued in on life in the huts TODAY.

Imprint our website on the membership cards to encourage members to visit the site more often.

These points and any that you may have can continue to be discussed by visiting the website, by checking the dates and locations of real time Steering Committee meetings or just getting in touch with anyone who you can talk with to share your thoughts. Remember, this is YOUR association (yup, we mean YOU!). Let’s keep the ball rolling.

This report prepared by Malin Bengtsson and Jim Hamilton with a whole lot of input from the OH that made the March 11 meeting: Dave Herring, Tom Kelleher, Chuck Stata, John Meserve, Doug Hotchkiss, Bill Barrett, Emily Muldoon Kathan, John Poor, J. Brian Wentzell and Emma Ansara.