Tribute to Outgoing President, Burch Ford. Bo Lauder – for Ellen Stein

And now we will be hearing from Bo Lauder, who is the secretary of NAPSG.

MR. LAUDER: This is the moment when we typically welcome our new president and thank our outgoing president. As you know, Ellen Stein couldn't be with us today, and she has sent a statement to you, which she's asked that I read.

"I'm delighted to be the next president of NAPSG, and only hope I can fill Burch's shoes. She has garnered respect from all who knew her, her supporters and the many colleagues with whom she has worked over the years. Having recently learned a bit about her, I know she will be a very tough act to follow. She has been president of NAPSG for three years, including this last year when she has already retired from being an active school head. She was host at Miss Porter's for the last seven to eight years for the seminar for female leaders, the perfect role model for all those who attended. She probably knew all the touches that would make a difference, as she herself attended the seminar before becoming a school head.

"But more about her special qualities which benefited all of us here at NAPSG. Her dedication to education and to teaching is evident. In fact, Burch had a 15-year tenure at Miss Porter's. The former associate head once said, 'Burch bleeds green,' the school color. She was in school 24 hours a day and dedicated her life to the school. In addition, Burch's assistant said no matter how early the assistant came to work, Burch was always there first, having worked out in the gym or read several newspapers while exercising or been out on the town on her rollerblades. Sometimes she was even still wet from the shower, but she was the first one there.

"Burch maintained an open door policy to such an extent that her husband never knew who would be staying at their home. Students on suspension, graduates passing through town, guest speakers, world travelers, trustees. She didn't know it, but her house was called Hotel Ford.

"Burch runs on nuclear energy. While at Miss Porter's, she never tired and barely ever took a sick day. No one on campus could keep up with her. Amazingly, her intellectual energy is equal to her physical energy. She has read extensively and can quote by memory much of which she has read. Her curiosity is limitless. She wants to know everything, do everything, read everything, see everything, know everyone, and go everywhere. Burch's credo is a quote from Francois de la Rochefoucauld. 'There is no security but courage.'

"She is a traveler, a risk-taker, a lover of nature, a doer, and an adventurer. In thinking about Burch, where her journey will lead her, I was inspired by the first two verses of a poem by Walt Whitman entitled ≥Song of the Open Road.≤

Afoot and light-hearted, I take to the open road, Healthy, free, the road before me,

The long brown path before me leading wherever I choose. Henceforth I ask not good-fortune -- I myself am good fortune;

Henceforth, I whimper no more, postpone no more, need nothing,

Done with indoor complaints, libraries, querulous criticisms,

strong and content,

I travel the open road.

"Burch, as you travel the open road, our gratitude goes to you for sharing your many wonderful qualities with us at NAPSG and with the hope that you continue to share in our fellowship at future conferences. Thank you."

At our November Council meeting it was voted to put Burch's name before you as an honorary member. The Council has made that motion and I would ask if there is a second. (Second from the floor.)

All those in favor? All of those opposed? Anyone abstaining? So be it. Congratulations, and thank you very much.

We have a little gift for you, Burch, and a surprise. Naomi Nye is here, and she has written something especially for you, and I think it's a very special moment. So she is going to read for us the inscription on your plaque.

MS. NYE: "For Burch. Some people are so inviting, so solidly rooted and balanced and generally well lit, you want to plant yourself near to them, stay respectfully close, if only in mind, to soak up their generous encouragement and wisdom to learn better how to pass it on. Thank you, Burch, for your gracious glorious spirit, your huge gifts of kindness and care, dispensed warmly to so many. We cheer for you."

MS. FORD: Thank you so much. I knew that something was coming, but this is really overwhelming. And as I was listening to the things that Ellen said, I thought, gosh, you know, hyperbole is not all bad. Thank you all so much. It's been an honor and a privilege and a pleasure working with Bruce, who is an outstanding leader, not to mention executive director of NAPSG, but also the Council, which is great fun, they're smart, they are wise, they're committed, they're energetic; their counsel, their humor, wisdom I'm very grateful for.

I'm also very grateful that, according to the bylaws, the president can stay on for an extra year. So I look forward to that, as well.

I think that Ellen Stein is going to be a wonderful president, and I just want to read you just a little bit of the very bold strokes of her bio. She will assume the NAPSG presidency at the end of this conference, and I'm so sorry she can't be with us because I think the company of everyone here would be probably one of the most healing things that she could experience.

She brings such a rich educational and professional background, starting with her own education, a BA in history from Penn, an MBA from Columbia. Before becoming the head of Dalton in 2001, she served as director of development, director of admission, and vice principal at Friends Seminary, Bo's school in New York, from 1979 to 1994, and then on to the post of interim high school director and associate director at Dalton before her current leadership position in that fine school.

In addition, Ellen serves on several New York boards, including the Parents League, the Grace School, the Guild of Independent Schools, and the Independent School Admission Association. I know that NAPSG will be in excellent hands with Ellen, and we're all grateful to her commitment for the ongoing strength and vitality of this organization that has meant to much to so many over so many years. So our congratulations, our gratitude, and sadly our condolences go out to Ellen, and I know that she will miss very much not being with us, but I know you will enjoy her company and her leadership and her company going forward.

And thank you all very much, thank you, Naomi, and thank you, Bo, and thank you, everyone.