1984
The January-February, 1984, newsletter announced the First Anniversary Gala Dance on the front page: general information about the club was moved to the second page; and a five page newsletter was mailed. Trip notices for skiing in NH, a St. Patrick’s Day parade in New York, and the Celtics in Philadelphia were advertised. The Dance was celebrated at the Holiday Inn in Newton with honorary memberships presented to Mike Levett of WNEV-TV, who stood at 6’3”, Liz Walker of WBZ-TV, at 6’2” and Wally Brine, at 6’3”. Door prizes, free membership, and T-shirts to the tallest woman and man were awarded. Over 300 people attended the Dance, and they were hoping for one hundred. T-shirts went to Katy Swanson as the tallest woman at 6’3”; Ed Spadafora and Ed Washington tied for tallest man at 6’8”. $25 gift certificates went to Lauri Baker and Ted Crowley. Sara Edwards from Evening Magazine taped the dance for an upcoming show. Other events held to cure the winter doldrums were a party at Gail Wright’s house in Stoneham and several happy hours. Holly Nylander hosted a Valentine’s Day party in Needham and members stuffed themselves at an “All-You-Can-Eat Dinner Buffet” at Ming Garden in Brookline. An article about the BBTC in The Boston Globe from November 4, 1983, titled “Where they can stand tall” was reprinted in the newsletter. The treasurer’s first report and minutes of the Executive Board Meeting were highlighted. The Board looked at house parties and decided to charge $1 for members and $4 for non-members attending. The Board also decided to continue hosting happy hours as people joined at them. Because the club needed more volunteers, the Board created Area Directors. The state of Massachusetts would be divided into areas and a director from each area would call people in his/her area to keep them updated on current social activities; this would be helpful in recruiting people for different projects.
The March-April, 1984, newsletter reprinted an article from the Lowell Sun called “They share ‘tall tales’.” Holly Nylander, the new Social Chair, skied in Vermont, Mark Dane discussed tall issues over beer and pizza, Lynne Stinson celebrated at her St. Patrick’s Day Party, Holly Nylander took a trip to the New England Whaling Museum, and happy hours continued to flourish. April began with Louise Davy hosting both a house party in Lincoln and a jazz brunch at Three Cheers in Boston. Folk music and happy hours continued to fill the social calendar. “Call a tall,” the TCI 24 hour telephone line was listed to provide members with contacts while traveling. John and Marcia Clements resigned to move to Maine. Members are sent a questionnaire to list their top four choices for activities and volunteers are sought to run for office. The BBTC was featured on Evening Magazine on April 4 and film clips from the anniversary dance were included.
The May-June, 1984, calendar included the Walk for Hunger, house parties at Lee Michaels’ in Sudbury and Sara Wooster’s in Arlington, and oldies night at the Holiday Inn in Boston. June offered softball in Waltham, volleyball on the Esplanade, pot luck brunch at Louise Davy’s in Lincoln, UU single book club at Holly Nylander’s in Needham, the second canoe trip with Jeff Trubisz on the Concord River, and an oldies night at Scotch ‘N Sirloin in Boston.
The first elections were held, and the new officers of the Board assumed their duties on July 1, 1984. President-elect- Louise Davy, Vice-President- Lee Michaels, Secretary- Donna Waghorne, Treasurer- Mark Dane, Membership- Bill Jewett, Social- Holly Nylander, Public Relations- Wini Lord, and Newsletter- Lynne Stinson. One of the first decisions of the Board was to change the dues to $15 a single person and $25 a couple. Hosts/hostesses were reinstituted at happy hours. Minutes of the Executive Board meetings were organized and kept in a binder for reference and printed in the newsletter. The activities included a weekend stay at Ed Spadafora’s chalet in NH, ice skating at the Boston Skating club, oldies concert at Club Casino in Hampton Beach, NH, a house party at Barbara Lampkin’s in Arlington, a beach party at Singing beach in Manchester, and happy hours.
The August, 1984, newsletter included an interest survey on the outside page and a membership application on the inside page. The names of the Executive Board were listed along with the height requirement, but the purpose and mottos were dropped. Volleyball started the month and continued with a Livingston Taylor concert, polo watching at Myopia Hunt Club, a house party at Dorothy Drennen’s in Salem, a “Burn-up the Mortgage” party at Holly Nylander’s in Needham, a bike ride along the Charles with Mark McKay, and music and happy hours.
In September, 1984, a telephone-network committee was initiated to call members and seek volunteers. Mark McKay was recruited to screen prospective members and provide general information. Events this month included horse back riding with Bill Mason in Andover, folk dancing with Holly Nylander in Chestnut Hill, playing volleyball on the Esplanade with Mark McKay, attending a play in Gloucester with Gerard Kiler (producer and club member), feasting at a cook-out with Morris Ferrari in Rockland, planning a surprise event at a member’s open night and traveling to NJ to party with the Moonrakers for a “Fall Fling.”
October, 1984, offered the 125 members choices such as hiking Mt. Monadnock with Bill Mason, canoeing the Concord with Jeff Trubisz, lunching with Linda Pansire in Natick, and partying at Nancy White’s in Beverly and dressing for Halloween at Barbara Lampkin’s in Arlington. The Board voted to continue the present height requirement for future membership in TCI. Business cards were printed for current members to hand out to other tall people for recruitment. Also a call for volunteers over 5’8” was made to get tall members involved in respiratory research at Children’s Hospital.
November, 1984, was ushered in with a lot publicity including Susan McCarthy and Lynne Stinson being interviewed on Dick Syatt’s Hot Line, and Louise Davy and Morris Ferrari being interviewed on Channel Four’s People are Talking. The theme for the dance, “New Fall Faces,” brought new faces from as far away as NJ, Baltimore, and Long Island and was celebrated at Heritage Hall in Lexington, costing $3 for members and $5 non-members. The DJ was hired at $200 and the hall $250. The door was staffed on an hourly basis by two BBTC members who welcomed the 185 tall people who danced the night away. Brunch at the Sheraton Dunfey in Lexington, a day trip to Plimoth Plantation, and Holly Nylander’s “Mid-Life Crisis Party” rounded out the month. The Board voted to send two renewal notices, one in the mail and one in the newsletter, to encourage people to renew.
December, 1984, brought Christmas parties at Louise Davy’s in Lincoln and Julianne Flosman’s in Andover, a concert, and a games night at Diane Mathieson’s in Lincoln. The New Year’s Eve party at Lynne Stinson's in Lexington ushered in 1985. Business and personal ads were published in the newsletter, of which 350 were being mailed each month. Barbara Lampkin took over as Publicity chair.
