I think the unanimous sentiment regarding the reunion was:  "A great time was had by all!"

The Founders and First Followers were in fine voice, stunning us all with their memory of the music and their continuing musical flair.

The 70s Generation resurrected the instrumental interlude of the group to great fanfare.

The Silverians acquitted themselves notably.

Slade and the CD Generation - sort of like Sinatra singing with Van Halen.

The late 80s / early 90s table at the Graduate Club dinner - no one sang better, louder or longer.

The Turn of the Millennium group - what incredible singing, what unbelievable sound and passion.

The current group - morons, every single one.

The singing was rivaled only by the fellowship.

The historical panels were informative and full of joyful memories.

The concert was amazing - what a tribute to the group's evolving musicality.

Every venue loved us for the size of our bar bill.

And our final dinner was a true celebration of what it means to be a Duke's Man.

Thank you to the Hennings for coming to our reunion and sharing our memories.  We send our love to their mother, Allison, and salute the memory of their father, our Basil Duke Henning.

A final financial accounting of the reunion is still a few days away - things look good in that regard.

But whatever the financial results, it must be said:  from the perspective of joy, music, friendship and community-building, the reunion was an unqualified success.

So what's next?

Over the next little while, we will begin posting photos of the reunion on a special section of the Duke's Men website.

Once Jon Krupp finishes his editing (including some historical footage provided to us by Cam Henning), we'll try to post some videos of the reunion weekend on the website.

And once Tom Bulleit completes his remix of the 55th Anniversary Concert - I'd say this should take no more than three or four years - then we'll post the audio download on the website as well.

I will be responsible for proactively contacting you all when these various items are available.  (This requires me to work with current group members, who are in exams now.  So some patience may be in order - we'll move as quickly as prudence allows.)

I have received VERY STRONG input that there are individuals on this copy list do NOT want to receive too many doox-related e-mails.

(The "unsubscribe" messages from earlier this year ranged from displeased to irate.  Let's not go there again.)

Please be advised that emails sent to dooxreunion@canyongrp.com come only to me.  All "mass mailing" messages to the Doox Nation (like this one) are made via blind carbon copy.

But with the blessing of the Duke's Men Alumni Association (see below), we will be changing that.

First, we will be making available to each cohort the lists of e-mail addresses that pertain to their group.

We will structure this so that we find out in advance who wants to be on an active list, and who wants to remain "bcc" only.

We will then release to each cohort the e-mails they can use to banter among each other.

(We will reserve the "bcc" list for official group business, such as invitations to regional events and future reunions - see below.)

Second, we will be organizing cohorts around initiatives relevant to their group.

So, for example, Mark Sargis has alerted the Silverian cohort of the need to rally around one of our members - Jerome Parrish - who has suffered some significant health problems recently.  Mark and I will be contacting our cohort with a plan, once we figure out what the right steps are.

Third, I'll be seeking other "cohort captains" to spearhead the communications among their litter mates.  If you're interested in serving as a generational leader in the Doox Nation, please let me know.  We'll put you to good use!!

Wave Three:  The Duke's Men Alumni Association

Utilizing the pro bono legal services of super baritone Jon Elliot, Tom Bulleit and I will be the incorporators for the official Duke's Men Alumni Association.  Once we form this association, all future contributions to the group will be tax deductible.

We will also help the current group incorporate as a charitable / tax deductible entity.

We will keep you all updated on these developments, and how we will use these new entities to expand our vision - for example, get ready for Duke's Men benefit concerts for worthy causes, as well as a mentoring program for alumni to help current group members be at least a little less moronic.  (O.K., that last one might be a bit of a stretch.)

I guarantee you this:

1) we will start having regional gatherings of doox alum.  I guarantee you that in the Fall of 2008 we will have the first New York City Doox Gathering, probably a dinner / singing event at some nice venue in the city.  I guarantee you that in the Spring of 2008 we will have the first West Coast Doox Gathering, probably in San Francisco (sure to be a magnet for maximizing group attendance);

2) starting in 2009, I guarantee you that we will begin having at least 2 and perhaps as many as 4 regional gatherings a year.  Simple but joyous affairs.  Easy for people to get to . . . informal and fun . . . a way for us all to keep in touch.  And I guarantee you I will attend each and every one (so no one has to worry about the details!);

3) I guarantee you that I will start coordinating tours with the current group, so you will all know when the current group is scheduled to tour your city;  and

4) before long, we'll be planning the 60th reunion.  We'll contact you all well in advance to talk about possible themes (perhaps:  "A Tribute to Middle Aged Business Managers?") and events.  I guarantee you this:  the next reunion will be better than this one (if that's even possible).

I can't remember having more fun than I had working on this event.

For every expression of gratitude I've received from you guys - and I thank you all for the many generous comments - I guarantee you that I had more fun than anyone.

I look forward to making the Doox Nation something we all derive enormous joy from - something we're enormously proud of - and something that is ever-present in our lives (I mean that in a good way).

Istanbul and off!