Dear Classmate,

According to the latest figures from AOG, the current total of cash received and amounts pledged stands at just over $1.9M toward our Class Gift target of $2.5M.

We currently have over $.5M in dollars pledged but not yet received.  Of course pledges are promises reflecting an intention to contribute and can't really be counted at the bottom line unless and until they are
fulfilled  - and experience shared by AOG suggests that, despite the earnest intentions of those making pledges, class fund-raising activities almost always see a shortfall in fulfillment of pledges due to changed financial circumstances. As a result, it is only prudent for us to aim from 10% to 15% above the mark in our fund-raising efforts. In short, we still need your help in closing the equation.  Also, in order to allow timely satisfaction of our class commitment to the Academy, we ask that all outstanding pledges be fulfilled not later than 5 June 2008 - a deadline date that should be relatively easy to remember.  Please keep this date in mind when doing your financial planning.

So, we've made substantial progress, but we're not there yet.

Some of that substantial progress is reflected in the increasing number of classmates who have qualified for bronze and silver class coins.  Since the Class Coin List was last updated in June, the following classmates have attained the bronze coin level:

A-1 Ray Rhodes
B-2 Dale Hansen
C-1 Ron Feher
D-4 Lou Hansen
E-1 Dean Becker
E-2 Don Jones
G-2 Bob Merritt
G-2 Rich Witherspoon
G-3 Jerry Cobb
G-3 Joaquin Perez
H-1 Jim Black
H-3 Jim Madora


and the following classmates have attained the silver coin level:

B-4 Pete Swan
F-1 Fred Johnson
F-1 Ed Larson
G-2 Bob Merritt
H-2 Dave Gerard

Sincere thanks to each of these classmates for their generous support of the Class Gift effort. You may recall that bronze class coins are presented to classmates whose cumulative contributions since 5 June 1968 in support of our Class Gift reach the "fair share" total of $5,000.00; silver class coins are presented for cumulative contributions reaching $10,000.00.  An updated Class Coin List indicating everyone earning
bronze and silver coins to date is attached.  The updated list will also be posted on the class webpage at
< http://www.west-point.org/class/usma1968>

Subject to USMA approval, we also plan to recognize major contributors (over $150K), leading contributors (over $50K) and significant contributors (over $15K) by name on a bronze plaque to be permanently placed in the Class of 1968 Rotunda.  Similar recognition has been approved in association with gifts from other classes to the Academy.

Of course, in addition to the $2.5M figure, we also need to raise sufficient funds to cover the costs of appropriately memorializing our class in the library rotunda and adjacent main hallway spaces.  The Class Memorialization Committee, chaired by Pres Miller, is finalizing a formal proposal which soon will be submitted for approval by the powers that be at USMA, and Pres' committee is currently working up a cost
estimate for implementation of that proposal to determine just how much additional funding will be necessary to complete the project.  Again, money for memorialization of our class will be incremental - - over and
above the $2.5M price tag for our class gift.

Thanks to those who participated in this year's "virtual march", dedicated to the memory of our classmates  who fell in RVN, we're off to a good start - - that event raised $55K earmarked to help cover class memorialization costs.

In case you've been wondering, the construction of the new USMA Library is well under way.  You can track progress and get a live web cam view, by clicking on < http://www.library.usma.edu/jeffhall/default.asp>.

The new library is taking shape - - concrete and steel have risen from a hole in the ground, and the outline of the Rotunda clearly discernable in the current web cam view.  The new USMA library is becoming a reality
- which adds an urgency to our fund-raising efforts.  So, now would be a good time for everyone to grip hands in support of the Class Gift.

If you've already contributed in support of the Class Gift effort, thanks.  Your continuing support is greatly appreciated.  If you haven't yet gotten around to doing so, please join the growing  majority of classmates closing ranks to help make the Class of 1968  Rotunda a reality.

If you have questions or require information or assistance in making your contribution, please feel free to contact your company representative listed  on the class web page at www.west-point.org/class/usma1968 or any of the Class Gift Committee members listed below.

No task too great!
Dutch

===========================================================================

Dutch Hostler - < mailto:dhostler@west-point.org>

Dave Ohle - < mailto:dohle@csc.com >

Dan Kaufman - < mailto:dkaufman@ggc.usg.edu>

Dave Gerard - <mailto: gerardd@charter.net>

Paul DeCoursey - < mailto:pdecoursey@finsvcs.com>

John Calabro - < mailto:john.calabro@usma.edu>