After seriously considering dissolving their organization, the Monogram Club rebounded, not with new blood, but with new volunteers to help operate the club. Members donate $8,500 per year in college scholarships to about seven West Seattle High School male and female athletes. Their scholarship program has continued since the club began in 1965 and has awarded nearly 200 scholarships. To become a member you must have lettered in a varsity sport at West Seattle High School at least 50 years ago.

Past-President Ed Bangsund, Class of ’53, who lettered in baseball, basketball, football, and track as a pole vaulter, suggested the Monogram Club should end, as a result of a lack of interest of existing members to join the board, and volunteer.

"For the last year at the meetings I said we got the same guys as board members for years, and have been losing old board members, either passing away or whatever," said Bangsund, once Boeing’s director of space operations. "You've got to step up and share the work load. I said we might as well shut 'er down."

Some club members have discussed lowering the age of eligibility from lettering 50 years ago, to lettering 40 years ago. In addition to attracting more members in general, and potentially more volunteers, that would also allow women to soon join. The first female students to letter came in 1973 with the passage of Title IX of the Education Amendments of enacted on June 23, 1972 which states:

"No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance..."

That means those first female athletes would be eligible next year, in 2013.

"Even if they change the age, still we need the workers and there'd be more work with more members," Bangsund pointed out. "I don't have a problem with the idea of lowing the age. They'll have to do something after a while. It's tough to hold on to these things. To keep these organizations going you've got to resort to these other tricks."

The Monogram Club held a luncheon Thursday, Feb. 2, at the West Seattle Golf Club following the board meeting where the club decided to continue. Nearly 40 of its 125 or so members attended.

"There was a proposal made to the board by Ed that caught them by surprise," explained the clubs president, Jerry Thornton. "It was simply out of frustration. We've only added one board member in five years. We couldn't really stimulate any activity. Everybody liked to come to the luncheons but nobody wanted to do the work. Well, today we added two more. We have nine total. We also just established a liaison, Ted Foss, who is active with the West Seattle High School Alumni Association. He will be helpful in recruiting new members."

The idea of lowering the age of qualifying to become a member was sent up the flagpole during the luncheon and many saluted, particularly when the likelihood of future female members was mentioned.

Also at the luncheon, they had a moment of silence for three Monogram members who recently passed away, all iconic in West Seattle.

They include Al Bolstrom, Class of ’34. He lettered in basketball and baseball, and was "the heart and soul of the club," Thornton said. Also, Jack Hanning, a lifelong resident of West Seattle who graduated in '43, and Silius Ranta, born in 1914, Class of '31.

"I'm excited there is a little revival here," said Monogram member Don Conner, Class of '58, referring to the club getting back on its feet. "I enjoy the camaraderie." Many from West Seattle remember Conner because he taught math, and coached basketball, soccer, and cross-country at WSHS from 1972 to 1998. As a student, he lettered in basketball and track.

Also a member, with a nostalgic family connection here, is Len Vann, Class of '46. He lettered in football playing guard. His father, Ervin, and uncle, Reuel, started The Vann Brothers Restaurant.

"We started in the Admiral Junction (2656 California Ave. S.W) in 1922, then moved to 4542 California Ave. SW in the Alaska Junction in 1928. I worked there, and for 31 years with the Seattle School District, as an administrator downtown, and I was vice-principal Boren Junior High on Delridge Way for eight years."

The Monogram Club is looking for new members. If you or someone you know qualifies and would be interested in joining, please contact Bob Bruck, (206) 938-3582. His email: bob.bruck@comcast. net