First Day of Spring and it's Snowing

As of this writing it is the first day of spring for the year 2009. It is snowing in 11001 and 06037. Despite this I am in a less unpleased mood than usual. Perhaps because I who enjoy history & archaeology have this sense of ancientness about this day. Great pains in older cultures went into calculating this day......observing this day ...........having expectations for this day & the near future. Through celebrations , spiritual ceremony and just knowing it is the first day of a new season. Survived the winter , expectations often turn more positive. The season which goes before all others in it's inport for the rest of the year. I am pleased somewhat, to be part of the equation ancient and modern of this day.

Oarsmen Society Part II

To add additional Info since my last blog I wish to include a few more facts. The Oarsmen Society after their low of membership in 1968 expanded to other schools. St. Lawrence University has had some members as well as Williams. Colgate has also contributed some members especially in the late 1970's. Initiation is generally after Spring break in the respective schools usually early April. Their financial situation is an area I have not been able to find much about , however , they did receive a substantial gift in 1970 which greatly aided the society to increase their number. A symbol some use to identify their group is a cross with 3 stars or dots under the cross. Another symbol is 3 dots in the shape of a pyramid with the number 322 in the middle. This seems to be a number shared by Skull & Bones of Yale. More often used in later yrs is simply the 3 dots in pyramid form without the number. A cross is also used at times in the middle of the triangle shape. It has been said that this symbol may be derived from a Medici family symbol. There have been deep lasting friendships made in this society while others have drifted off to never be formally heard from again. About the only well known person I was told was a member is Erin Burnett of the CNBC cable channel. She joined while at Williams.

Oarsmen Society

Within many of especially the older or more tradition laden universities are found private clubs or societies. Probably the best known is Skull & Bones of Yale University. Scroll & Key being another. The society I have found fascinating after I by chance discovered or heard about it is The Oarsmen Society. It was started circa 1947 at Cornell University by 3 students , two of which were GI Bill students at the time. It obtained it's name to obscure itself somewhat. One of the founders had rowed while in England. What it is essentially is a private society{they hate the word secret} that is dedicated to aiding those in their junior and senior yrs who become initiated to gain a philosophic underpinning to their life. Their basic document was written in the later 1950's by a long deceased actor named Jack Carson. Perhaps his most famous role was in the movie version of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof with recently deceased actor Paul Newman. This appx 14 page treatise give an essential guide to conducting ones life. How to ponder the existence of GOD etc. I have never read the full document for it is truly a guarded paper. Afterone is initiated it is not unusual for members to have dinners together to discuss their lives and ambitions. This is mainly done in the senior year. The only request after leaving school is on the second Thursday of February between 10:00 pm and 11:00 in the evening their local time one thinks over the past few months and of their fellow members. The members also do not discuss their membership except to spouses and close family members. This is essentially what I have uncovered in my occasional moments of research on this topic.