Ladies and Gentlemen of the Fundraising committee,

I stand on this rostrum with a sense of deep humility and great pride -- humility in the weight of those great architects of Lower Merion history who have stood here before me; pride in the reflection that this home of legislative debate represents human liberty in the purest form yet devised. Here are centered the hopes and aspirations and faith of the entire human race. I do not stand here as advocate for any partisan cause, for the issues are fundamental and reach quite beyond the realm of partisan consideration. They must be resolved on the highest plane of school interest if our course is to prove sound and our future protected. I trust, therefore, that you will do me the justice of receiving that which I have to say as solely expressing the considered viewpoint of a fellow American.

I address you with neither rancor nor bitterness in the fading twilight of life, with but one purpose in mind: to serve my country. The issues are global and so interlocked that to consider the problems of one sector, oblivious to those of another, is but to court disaster for the whole. While Asia is commonly referred to as the Gateway to Europe, it is no less true that Europe is the Gateway to Asia, and the broad influence of the one cannot fail to have its impact upon the other. There are those who claim our strength is inadequate to protect on both fronts, that we cannot divide our effort. I can think of no greater expression of defeatism. If a potential enemy can divide his strength on two fronts, it is for us to counter his effort. The Communist threat is a global one. Its successful advance in one sector threatens the destruction of every other sector. You can not appease or otherwise surrender to communism in Asia without simultaneously undermining our efforts to halt its advance in Europe.

Fundraising remains the most integral part of our school policy. Money is out there needing nothing more than to be raised and used by us. Yet it is with a heavy heart that I state that I cannot be the one to carry this committee forwards on the great ship of American Democracy.

The world has turned over many times since I took that oath at that original meeting, and I can feel the hole left by my departing hopes and dreams. But I never cease to recall the old hallway ballad of those days stating that, “Old Fundraising chairs never die, they just fade away” and like the chair of that song I fade away and close my fundraising career, just a fundraiser trying to do my duty as god gave me the light to see it. Goodbye.

Although Seth's leadership will no doubt be sorely missed by
the committee, his resignation should give him more time
to devote to his first true love: class government. We can
expect to see even better minutes, laced with even more 
witticisms, as this great martinet of fundraising re-devotes
himself to the betterment of the government of the Class
of 2007. Hoorah!




Reported by Tom Smith 12/23/05