Retrospects-1970s

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1970s

1973

1973 RETROSPECT

In 1970 toward the end of the year, I wrote the first, and only previous "Retrospect", and sent copies of it out to some of the members. The 1970 meetings, which involved never more than fifteen or sixteen people were really a milestone in the progress of the group. Previously we had only met periodically, and never did we previously try to get together, all at one time and place.

The members were initialed to prevent anyone from being the recipient of mail or attention not desired, and they were, R.M., J.P., B.D-V., M.F., M.M., R.E., G.C., and L.D. I made a note below these names, that I doubted if all, the above would ever meet, and all be present at another meeting. J.P., John Pere, has since dropped out. B. D-V., or Bee DeVaugn died this year at Parkersburg. R.E., Richard Emblem died last year at the age of 32.

We have made progress since then. Progress has been glow because this is not a money-motivated group that can sustain and promote itself by advertizing, and it appeals to a rare and unique type of people to refuse from the offset to accept the petty, the organizational, the dogmatic, or the soporific factors that appear in many esoteric groups.

In 1972, I compiled the books called the Albigen Papers, and prepared to print them. I received an invitation to speak at the Theosophical Soc. in Pittsburgh, and with that began to hold public meets on Zen end related methods of seeking enlightenment. Study centers were established at the University of Pittsburgh, and at Kent State University.

This Retrospect is now being mailed out to all group members who have purchased the book. In April of 1973, a meeting was held to try to do something substan¬tial for the life of the group. We decided that our previous meetings had been too casual, and that if we wished to maintain the group, it should mean enough to put some effort, and if necessary some annual monetary commitment to maintain first communication with members, and secondly to plan and save enough moneys so committed to eventually establish a permanent Ashram on the farm.

We had failed previously because, we placed no pressure upon ourselves to do more than maintain a social relationship, amd because all of us were extremely reluctant to bring money into the picture, even though the money-contribution might be very small.

We consequently agreed that all who bad purchased the book prior to July 17th of 1973 would automatically be considered members for that year, and that they should be charter members of a sort, so that their participation fee would never exceed ten dollars, for without their efforts in 1973, many other people could never have received the book nor joined the group.

We decided to make some effort to obtain the farm house for a permanent Ashram, and have ruled that starting with Jan. 1, 1974 membership fees for those who wish to be known as members, shall be ten dollars per year. It is estimated that when the group reaches sixty persons, a yearly total of six hundred dollers will be available for the rental of the farmhouse and the land adjacent. This sum is needed to py taxes, insurance and repair costs.

At the time of this meeting (April 15, 73) our group numbered less than thirty people. Bee DeVaughn was elected to be one of the trustees f or the group. We knew that we did not have enough people to guarantee the 600 dollar minimal amount needed, so it was understood that I would continue to rent the farmhouse to a local tenant until enough money accumulated so that it could be taken over. Of course there is no money received for the purpose I mind, because the 1974 dues are not due until the first of the year, and only then will we know our chances for using the farmhouse and gardens for the Ashram. You are consequently invited at this time, to mail in your 1974 dues, if you wish for continued membership and participation. This membership, makes the Ashram available to you and allows you to attend the several annual meetings at which you can meet all of the other members. Also you will be on the mailing list, which shall be an instrument to keep you informed of progress and advantages as they develop.

Also, at the April 15th meeting, it was decided to choose a name for the group. The title TAT was decided upon, meaning Truth and Transmission. It was decided that we avoid identifying our group too closely and singularly with Zen, because of the varied schools of Zen that have cropping up recently.

Some of the younger members have shown heartening interest in the Ashram, and during the summer of 73, about a dozen came down and lived on the farm, in difficult camping accommodations, in order to work and meditate there. About once a week we came together for rapport and sensitive sessions. The work done at the farm included the building of one shelter, and the digging of a foundation for another building to be used as a community building.

Some members have leased portions of the farm, so that they can plan permanent residence with us.

Knowing that we must maintain our numbers in order to succeed, work began in September with the Pittsburgh group, and plans were laid to set up centers in Kent and Columbus. Notices of our group were placed on the bulletin boards of the Universities of, Arizona at Phoenix, California at Sacramento, Utah, at Salt Lake City, Wyoming at Laramie, Nebraska at Lincoln, Illinois at Urbana, West Virginia at Morgantown, and Wisconsin at Madison.

I have been lecturing at the Theosophical Societies of Pittsburgh and Akron, as well as at the Universities.

At this point I wish to remind you that these letters are mailed to keep you informed of our work here, and also to remind you that there is evidence here that sincere people can work together without the work becoming a racket. And I wish to invite your more active participation. Man is the vector of his actions. We must become, and we do not become by just thinking about it.

Sincerely,

(signed) Richard Rose

1974

1974 RETROSPECT

The year 1974 has shown some good gains for the group. Tat membership has reached fifty-seven. Approximately a hundred people have purchased the book.

The 1973 retrospect did not mention the progress in the fall of that year be¬cause it was written in October. In the fall of 1973 a new group was formed primarily as the result of the work of Robert Cergol in Columbus, Ohio.

The fall of 1973 showed many new members and participants. Steve Harnish became the monitor for Kent; Robert Cergol became the monitor for Columbus; and Leigh Gerstenberger became the monitor for the Pittsburgh group. Augie Turak volun¬teered for the work as co-ordinator between the groups. In Pitt we received recognition as a group and were allocated a small amount of money for operating expenses. A post office box was obtained in Pittsburgh so that we could receive mail from applicants.

At the April meeting there were twenty-six people present. At that meeting it was decided to assess delinquent TAT members a dollar each month for delinquency after January first, this rule applying only to TAT members of previous years. Participation fees were agreed to be paid on or before April 15th.

At the July 4th meeting thirty-two people attended. The meeting was primarily taken up with the discussion of future groups and expansion. The summer intensive began on this date, and extended through to Labor Day. In that time much work was accomplished on the farm besides the spiritual exercises there, and the individual spiritual work. Another bus was acquired and placed near the Emblem Lodge, and the Emblem Lodge received additional work. The foundation was poured for part of the new community building after many hours of hand excavation. A garden was planted for the first time, goats were acquired for milk, and Don Seebach was instrumental in making some of the equipment serviceable. Phil Osgood functioned as farm manager with the help of Mark Wintgens and Larry Ferraris.

The Labor Day meeting involved itself with decisions on participation fees, and the management of the farm. Also we discussed the publishing of the book in a new form and the expansion of the groups. It was suggested that this retrospect copy be prepared at this time so that it could be sent to TAT members, in order to encourage the payment of 1975 Tat membership before the end of the year, and thus avoid delinquency.

I wish at this time to remind all TAT members that we appreciate their help in the past, and I wish that they would come to the TAT meetings. Most of the people who are responsible for the TAT Society were members of an anonymous group for many years, and they worked to the best of their ability quietly for some time. The TAT meetings are primarily social and business meetings, and even if the older meters do not wish to be involved in the more strenuous work or spiritual exercises at the farm, their presence will be enjoyed at the meetings.

1974 Notes on the Year

NOTES ON THE YEAR 1974

I think that the year 1974 has been unusually good as far as comparative progress is measured. Prior to 1970, there had been no appreciable signs that our group would ever leave any footprints in the sands of Time, or record any substantial progress, or receive noteworthy recognition from the mind of some segment of mankind.

Prior to 1970 several groups existed, composed of people who could only contribute an hour or two, one night a week, to their own spiritual determination. Such meetings were little more than social gatherings, and many of them broke up. But there remained a core of individuals from each of these groups, who were more dynamic than the rest, who saw that group-work was indispensable, and they continued to meet several times a year to compare experiences and findings.

Down through the years I had always insisted that any expansion of our group would have to come without any commercialism, and with a minimum of organizational trappings. We tried to do things completely without even donations. However, in 1970, the suggestion was made to organize a society with a voluntary contribution of ten dollars per year, which money was to be used strictly for holding the group toge¬ther, and expanding it if possible by mail, or by letters to magazines that might be sympathetic to our direction.

The book, (Albigen Papers) was written in 1972, and practically tint whole year was taken up with that writing. Early in 1973, the book was published and copyrighted. In the Fall of 1972 we began to find groups in Pittsburgh and Kent. In the Fall of 73, we opened a group in Columbus. In The summer of 73 we had our first group in summer session at the farm, and we began to build a shelter there. Sales of the book continued and we had to order another hundred cop¬ies. The TAT membership grew, and applications for summer residence placed a strain on our planning for conveniences.

In the summer of 1974 the boys began another building, this one of concrete. Part of the basement wall was poured. In the Fall of 74 we opened another group in Cleveland. To date, we have given lec¬tures in two Theosophical Lodges, a Unitarian Church, and in the uni¬versities of Pittsburgh, Duquesne, Carnegie-Mellon, Ohio State, Kent State, Cleveland State and Case Western.

Our mail-contacts have grown to several hundred. We have TAT members in many cities across the country. And we have noticed that the calibre of our membership is improving. There is a natural dropping away of a few members who had only desultory interest.

Finally in December of 1974, we managed to purchase an offset press. This acquisition spells for us new possibilities in the work of reaching the minds of other men. We have consolidated, considerably, and we are planning at the same time, so that 1975 should show a con¬siderable improvement for the Ashram.

I realize that none of this report deals with spiritual work, or organizational moves to improve a spiritual climate. In realizing that physical surroundings have a strong bearing on mental accomplish¬ments at the Ashram, we are planning cabins for the coming year. The house has been acquired for group-use in 1974, and we plan to improve accommodations there for visitors, meaning TAT members who can only plan to spend a few days.

Likewise, on the information level, two Papers besides the Albigen Papers have been printed. One (Meditation and Visualization) is avail¬able to purchasers of the book, and the other, (Transmission and the Transmutation of Energy) is available to serious members.

I wish to remind all book-purchasers that they are eligib1e to become TAT members, and share in the functions at the Ashram.

1975

1975 Retrospect

Once again the Labor Day meeting has passed, and it is time to record the progress of the group since last Labor Day.

The Fall of 1974 saw the beginnings of new groups. Augie Turak, besides his work as coordinator, organized a group at Case-Western in Cleveland. This turned out to be a very successful group. Later, Phil Franta set up an Akron group, at the University of Akron. And Mike Treanor, with the help of Augie Turak, set up a lecture at American University at Washington, D.C. A small group has been organized by Mike Treanor in the Washington area.

During the Winter, the boys at the farm accomplished quite a bit besides having to work at their jobs in town. A high picket fence was built in front of the house, and more land was cleared.

In the Spring, a concrete mixer was purchased, as was another trailer for farm guests. During the summer intensive, more work was done on the community building. The basement walls were finished, the cellar floor has been concreted, and preparations are well along for the placing of the main floor above the basement.

Bill King supervised the building of a bridge leading to B section.

Also in the Spring the pocket book Albigen Papers was printed. We have found a sudden increase in circulation of the Albigen Papers with the new book.

With the Labor Day meeting, a new direction has been taken by the TAT Society. We have been incorporated in the State of Ohio, so that we can legally do business, deposit and disburse monies from collected TAT Membership. We are still in the process of being cleared as a tax-free institution.

Another step that has been taken, is the experimentation with a lecture-tour, accompanied by some sort of weekend intensive. In view of this Augie Turak has become the manager of Lectures and intensives. Bill King will be his assistant. Frank Mascara, pre¬viously the monitor from Pittsburgh, has volunteered to function as coordinator for the growing circle of groups.

We have probably come to a turning point. We have been working on a non-profit basis, and this has resulted in considerable ex¬pense for members of the group when they go about setting up new groups. It takes hundreds of dollars to set up a new group, and it takes many months of effort to get a new group established to the point where the monitor can find a replacement for himself. It requires relocation for such a monitor, which means perhaps taking employment below the standards of his capabilities or pre¬vious wage-scale.

So that while we do not wish to charge the public for listening to our speakers or monitors, it is unfair to expect people to go to unreasonable lengths and endure extreme financia1 waste.

So that I am in favor of reorganization, so that the work will begin to support itself in some fashion. This may be done by ac¬cepting payment for lectures and intensives. Or we can cancel out the intensives and cancel out the deliberate sacrificing of time and money in the setting up of new groups, -- allowing gravity to keep the groups going, and allowing group survival to be measured by the groups intrinsic qualities.

We must allow new groups to form, but we should not pump too much money into their formation. Too much time has been spent in the organization of several groups. Our main objective is to make the Albigen system available to a representative section of American people. It is possible that as the book circulates, small groups may wish to form spontaneously, and will require only token help from the central TAT Society.

We should know by Christmas, more about our directions and decis¬ions in the matter of getting the message to the public.

Once again I wish to express a desire to see some of the older members of the group. I managed to find time to pay a visit to Madge Fields in Parkersburg. Linda Panchura drove myself, Debbie Schweibinz, Pat Delaney, Jeanne Mascara, and Nina Boyko to Madge’s. It was good to meet her parents once more and find them in good health. Her dad is ninety five, and her mother is over ninety. And we can easily understand that Madge has little time to travel up for our meetings for a while.

I must at this time also mention the TAT membership. We begin in the Fall of the year to collect the TAT membership-money for the coming year, since the fees (still $10.00) are due by the first of the year, and delinquent for older members after that date.

For those who wish to participate in intensives during the summer, future intensives will be held from July 14th meeting, until Labor Day, and when possible during the month of December. I am asking TAT members and monitors to give full details to prospective TAT members concerning the details of the Intensives, so that they may sign up in time to participate.

TAT members meet in April on the weekend nearest the fifteenth, on the weekend of the 4th of July, on Labor Day weekend, and on Thanksgiving weekend. There is no charge for attending, (for TAT members) or for housing, on the above dates.

1976

1976 RETROSPECT

There has been a lot of progress since the typing of the last Retrospect sheet. Harvard has seen the development of a group. Two other colleges in Boston were contacted and lectures were given in them. For a white we had a small group in Boston University, as well as in Harvard. Augie Turak and Bill King were the pioneers in this direction. Bill King went on down to Providence to start a group there at Brown University, and a back-up crew went from Pittsburgh out to help. Mike Mallinger, Dave Messina and Rob Ayers have been there for some time.

Another group has been started almost single-handedy by Luis Fernandez in Houston, Texas. He has recently been joined by Sandy Beigelman. Last winter a group was formed In Los Angeles. Four men made the trip out to L.A. and took employment there to get things going. These were Phil Osgood, Phil Franta, Craig Smucker, and Alan Fitzpatrick. There was no booming success with the L.A. group because they encountered a different spirit in the public than was found in the East. We did how¬ever, sell a considerable number of books there.

Pete Pankuch, an old friend of the Kent group, appeared at the Summer TAT meeting. Pete has been living In Salt Lake City, and has a small circle of people meeting there.

On the farm things have been moving. The meeting room was finished for the farm house thanks to the efforts of boys who stayed at the farm for the winter. The concrete floor has been poured on the Community Build¬ing foundation. And Augie Turak performed one of his usual miracles by building a vase-shaped spring house by stretching plain plywood.

The most important venture on the farm is the beginnings of the Chautau¬qua shelter in the woods. The idea took hold about the middle of August, and the land was cleared by the time the Labor Day meeting occurred. The following four weeks saw the excavation of holes, and the cutting and hauling of timbers, as well as the pouring of many yards of concrete for the footers. At this writing, more than half of the vertical timbers are in place.

The most successful achievement of the year was accomplished by Augie Turak, Jim Cornie, Dave Gold and Mark Wintgen. This was the promotion of a Pittsburgh Chautauqua. It was practically the first public presen¬tation that paid for itself. Last fall the group, headed by Augie Turak, put on two intensives, one In Columbus, and one In Washington, D.C. A few hundred dollars was taken in but there was a lot of work done for pennies of return.

The Pittsburgh Chautauqua at least paid for itself. (The plans are for a large Chautauqua at the farm next summer.) Besides bringing us an event that brought in a few extra dollars, ten Albigen books were sold at the Chautauqua, and this amount of sales would not occur for two months in a newly organized group. Jim Cornie signed up twenty-eight people for a Pittsburgh TAT Society at the same time. And we have had enquiries from people concerning our work, and our publications.

Page 2

At this time there are plans for a December Intensive, similar to the Summer Intensive that was held at the farm this summer. Those who wish to participate, for the whole month or for any part of it should contact us and let us know which part of the Intensive they can do, meaning which days they can spend at the Ashram. Some may only be able to come for their X-mas holiday-leave from college.

Among the notable events for the group was the reappearance at the farm of Leo Dreman, and of Pete Pankuch. These are people that will always be missed when not around, and who will be a welcome sight whenever Fate allows them time to visit with us.

I must at this time also mention the TAT membership. We begin in the Fall of each year to collect the dues for the coming year, so that we can plan for the use of the money, and the limitations of our planning ability. Except for first year members, the fee is and shall remain, ten dollars. Send it in as soon as you can, and also let us know your plans for summer stays at the farm if any are planned.

TAT members will still meet on the weekend nearest the fifteenth of April, the weekend of the 4th of July, Labor Day weekend and the weekend of Thanksgiving. There is no charge for TAT members for staying at the farm for the weekends of the above dates.

I am asking for each TAT member to acquire about five copies of the Definition of Truth paper (@$.50) and give them to prospective TAT members…..do not give them to just anybody.

October 13, 1976

Richard Rose

1977 TAT Fiscally

TAT FISCALLY JUNE 1977

At the Labor Day meeting, 1976, the TAT Society embarked upon an adventure with symposia. Our first symposium or Chautauqua. was in Pittsburgh. Our major plan was to contact people through the Chautauquas, to see if the Chautauqua idea was feasible or practicable for other cities. To be brief, we have found, after five such symposia, that (at least in the manner in which we run them)--they will not pay the proper compensation for the people who spend their time preparing or pro¬moting the symposium, nor for the people who are good enough to take the time to come and speak at them.

The following figures may give some idea of the percentages of return for five full-time men working at the events from September until the present time, for three others working all of their spare time in the mailing and clerical work, or in preparing food, and for twenty other TAT members working in some part time capacity as ushers, speakers, drivers, or technicians.

……………………………………………………………………………………… Item…………Cumulative

Pittsburgh Chautauqua Net ………………………………………………… $ 211.00

Memberships ……………………………………………………………………. 490.00…………$701.00

Cleveland Chautauqua Net …………………………………………………. 902.00…………1,603.00

Columbus Chautauqua Net …………………………………………………. 1077.78…………2,680.78

Miscellaneous in ……………………………………………………………. 376.17…………3,056.95

Akron Chautauqua Net ……………………………………………………... 1580.50…………4,637.45

Correction (in $.07) ………………………………………………………… 0.07………      4,637.52

Washington D.C. Chautauqua ***Loss ……………………………………. -450.00…………4,187.52 (bills are still to be paid)

Removed from Account to Build Building ………………………………… -1000.00…………3,187.52

Removed from Account to Build Building ………………………………… -3,000.00…………187.52

Receipts from the summer Chautauqua are not completed, but attendance was below estimates, and our event of June 4th and 5th will not bring us any better returns than the Washington Chautauqua. The compensation or comfort for the June event lies in the fact that our expenses were not quite so heavy.

To give an example of the cost of a Chautauqua, the following is a record of the Washington D.C. Chautauqua which grossed less than two thousand dollars:

Printing (30,000 fliers) $1,000.00

Postage $398.58

Promotion Expenses (Gas) 154.54

Expenses (C. Smucher) 171.26

Plane Ticket - Ayers 100.00

Mileage (Speaker) 70.00

Motels Paid (Speakers) 80.00

Expenses (D. Gold) 258.57

Posters & Gas to Deliver (Fran) 70.00

Exp. Turak Incomplete 100.00

Gas Jim Cornie 20.00

Gas Fitzpatrick 30.00

Phone Bill Not Paid Osgood Gas Not Paid TOTAL $2,452.95

2

It is evident that bad judgment was used in the heavy use of fliers. On the other hand, we received percentages of return for our fliers used in Ohio, so that it was safe to guess that the percentages would hold good, and assure us a successful attendance.

You will notice that $4000.00 was used from the TAT account this year. This money was used to build a shelter for rural Chautauquas, and to prepare the grounds there. A building was built 100 feet long and 70 feet wide. A temporary tarpaper roof was used because some of the wood is still green and may shrink. At least two thousand dollars will be needed to put shingles on the roof later.

We must at this time record our thanks for energy put into this work that cannot be recorded in financial ledgers. Several men worked without any remuneration continuously from September until the day of the Summer Chautauqua, June 4th, on the building of the shelter. This shelter would cost at least $50,000 to build if it were contracted out. Many professional men -- educators, doctors, and specialists, spoke at the Chautauquas without any remuneration. I felt that to offer them that which we could have afforded them would have been an insult to their worth. Having given an occasional lecture, I prefer to maintain a standard price for lectures, or else accept nothing and make charity the excuse for doing so.

The TAT group knows the names of those whom we wish to thank at this point. The TAT Society owes much to those who did more than the rest, such as the men at the farm, and the untiring speakers.

Try to attend the TAT meetings and meet these people . . . whom I feel privileged to know.

The remaining meetings this year are for the weekend of July 4th, the weekend of Labor Day, and the weekend of Thanksgiving.

Sincerely,

Richard Rose (signature)

1978

RETROSPECT 1978

The year 1978 has been a settling period. No large projects were under¬taken this year, because too many projects were unfinished from previous years. Two Chautauquas were held this year, both occurring at the farm. However there will be a Pittsburgh Chautauqua in November of this year.

One undertaking has made considerable progress this year, this being the TAT Journal. It really began late last year, but the Spring issue of this year saw the Journal reaching for quality, and receiving wider circulation. The Journal was started by TAT members at Columbus. Paul Cramer and Louis Khourey did the original heavy work. At a recent meeting, other TAT members volunteered to take on commitments by serving in defined positions on the TAT Journal.

The Chautauqua coming up on November 18th and 19th, will be at the Park¬way Center Inn, at Greentree, Pa., just South of Pittsburgh. Leigh Gerstenberger and members of the Pittsburgh TAT Society are doing the work for this project. I would like to encourage all TAT members, who are able, or who are near enough to help, to join with Leigh in making this a success. He can be reached by calling 412-471-2196 (daytime) and 412-731-5426 (evening).

At the farm, considerable work has been accomplished. A brick road has been laid from the highway down to the racetrack. Culverts have been installed on the back of the farm in the road which was previously impassable. A lum¬ber shed has been prepared near the community building. Don Seebach is constructing a much needed garage near the house. Sides have been built on the Chautauqua building, so that the rain will not make conditions miserable for the attendees as it did last year. The west side of the building has been closed in with a hundred or more feet of panels on hinges so that they can be raised to al¬low air and sunshine in when the weather is nice.

The TAT Esoteric Group is holding its own. Since the trend toward esotericism which we experienced in the early 70’s is about gone, we do not have the enthusiasm in the college meetings as we once did. However most of the college groups are still meeting.

It is my belief that no group survives unless it has a common dynamic motivation. The purpose of TAT is to bring together people of the same philosophic eagerness. Not too many people have any philosophic eagerness at all, so it is evident first that we are not going to be overwhelmed with applications from the general public. Secondly, it is difficult to find five or six people out of all the eager philosophers in the country, who will be eager to work together on a given project, and work vigorously for worthwhile results.

TAT promoted the Chautauquas to try to bring people together, and to try at the same time to bring together people of the same inclination, so that at least these smaller groups may see some results from the mutual association.

I use the word “philosophic” loosely here, because many avenues of study are enhanced by movements which seem little more than hobbies, but which af¬ford data for the study of the many unexplained phenomena that affect our lives.

On the other hand TAT does not wish to become involved in one interest alone, or to allow a solitary hobby, interest or direction, to be the sole focus of the Chautauquas, or the prevailing spirit of the TAT Journal. We want to examine things from all sides as well.

1979

1979 RETROSPECT

In July of this year, one of TAT’s biggest adventures came to a halt. We were perhaps too ambitious, perhaps, and allowed it to get too big too soon. A small society can publish a small pamphlet type of journal with six or ten pages on mimeograph machine. However, when fifty or sixty typeset pages are printed on a press that takes only an eight by fourteen sheet, many days are required to print three thousand Journals. When it is printed, it then takes a small army of men to hand-collate it. The time involved takes more than the three months, when all is taken into account, so it becomes impossible to put out a magazine every three months. And it became evident that the volunteers who worked without pay could not keep up this pace.

We have had many letters flattering the TAT Journal since it was stopped, and we are grateful for them. We would also be grateful for any solution to our problem.

1979 saw a general move toward completing some of the unfinished tasks on the TAT farm. The first cattle and chickens have made their appearance on the farm, and with them appeared sheds to house them. Goat pasture was enlarged by about twenty acres, by a large group of volunteers who came from more than a hundred miles in distance to complete the task of building a fence around the new compound, a task performed in a single day.

The various TAT groups are not setting any records. Pittsburgh still meets occasionally. Columbus TAT with the help of Phil Franta is meeting more regularly. However, most of the other TAT units are meeting very irregularly, although the individual TAT members still meet regularly on the four annual meetings at the farm, and between those meetings, generally keep in touch with one another.

We are happy to record the marriage of Dave Messina and Barbara Brozovich, the arrival of a baby boy at the Bob Unger house, and a baby boy at the Frank Mascara house.

New directions are at present being planned for TAT. Plans are in the formative stage, and we hope to materialize our plans sometime In the Spring.

We wish to invite all members to write in, giving suggestions concerning future Chautauquas, and giving criticism or comments about past Chautauquas. We would like to see more representation of members at the four annual TAT meetings at the farm.

We are approaching a new year. Please do not forget to have your member¬ship fee in by the first of the year. Our next regular meeting is on the weekend nearest to Thanksgiving, which this year will be November 22, 23, 24 and 25. You can attend on any or all of these days.

The first meeting in 1980 will be the business meeting of April 12 and 13. This is the meeting at which officers are elected and business in general is handled. For those coming from out of town and wishing to make arrangements to stay overnight, it will be advisable to notify us at this address, and we will arrange for lodging on a-first-come-first-served basis.

Looking forward to seeing all of you,

1686 Marshall Street Benwood, WV 26031

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