Passing the Torch

On the subject of passing the torch to younger folks, I seem to be on
the cutting edge of unrequited enthusiasms.  I am an all-but-retired
architect whose interests and skills are in classical and traditional
building.  It's much the same problem to find, cultivate or educate
folks about architecture and place as it is to find an appreciative
audience.  This is not the "TradArch" forum site, so I'll spare you
the diatribe about modern architecture and our built environment.

I particularly love sailing Flying Dutchman Class boats and I have a
1950s all-mahogany boat that I'm restoring (and two more in the barn).
The US Class had 1500 or so active members in the 1960s and there are
about 20 now across the US and Canada; there are hundreds of active
Flying Dutchmen in Europe.  The 1950s was a time of do-it-yourselfers
and everybody fiddled with something; now the kids want a finished
object presented to them.

I'm a singing member of the Orpheus Club of Philadelphia.  Founded
in 1872, the club has been attracting new members and associate members
(our paying audience) for 139 years.  Members in their 90s sing with
those in their 20s.  Twenty years ago, we were worrying about the
future of the Club -- no member was under about 40.  We now number
about a third of the club under 40.  It remains tough to maintain the
required numbers of associate members.

The Club's regrowing success seems to be in unremitting effort to keep
up the quality and variety of the music and presentation, coupled with
word of mouth.  We hosted a Solstice garden party last night for about
30 people.  I rolled the Flying Dutchman out of the barn and after the
initial buzz, about six gathered around the boat for a close look and
talk.  Two or three were entranced.

Toward the end of the evening, I let it be known that I was going to
fire up the Ampico.  Six or eight came into the living room; some
talked during the first roll.  During the second roll, two, unbidden,
sat down to listen to Rachmaninoff play Chopin's Nocturne, Op. 15, No. 1.

Douglas S. Heckrotte
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania