Read Monument to the Dead for Free Online Page B

“I’ve just been assigned to help Courtney Gould with the Society’s business,
     and I wanted to take this chance to introduce myself, since I was in the neighborhood.
     You’re the president of this organization?”
    “I am, for the last few months. You’ve gone over our files?”
    “I’ve just begun.”
    “What exactly has Courtney asked you to do?” I’d worked with Courtney on and off for
     several years, and I had found her efficient and pleasant, although I wouldn’t call
     her a friend.
    “First, familiarize myself with the scope of your needs. Then she wanted to do a review
     of the legal status of some of your internal trusts. You know—laws keep changing,
     and as I understand it, some of your funds and bequests are virtually moribund. If
     their terms permit, there might be a way to consolidate and streamline your holdings.”
    I didn’t doubt that what he said was true, but I had to wonder if he was here trying
     to generate billable hours for himself and the law firm—and I didn’t want to incur
     any more bills right now. But that probably wasn’t something I should take up with
     this young, eager lawyer. I made a mental note to check with Courtney before he got
     too carried away. “That sounds like a good idea,” I said noncommittally. “Are you
     interested in history?”
    “Oh, sure. I love old buildings and stuff. Maybe you could give me a tour of this
     place? Not today,” he hastened to add, “but sometime?”
    “Of course,” I agreed. “I love to show this place off.” And it wouldn’t hurt to keep
     our lawyers happy and show them that we had nothing to hide. Just not right now.
    He said quickly, “I won’t keep you any longer, but I’ll hold you to that. Great meeting
     you!” He all but jumped out of his chair to shake hands yet again.
    I came around my desk to take his hand this time, and gently guided him toward Eric’s
     desk. “Eric, will you take Mr. Miller downstairs, please?”
    “I’ll be happy to.”
    I watched them go down the hall, and returned slowly to my desk. I couldn’t even remember
     what I’d been doing before Jacob Miller had appeared. Great. I scribbled a note to
     myself:
call law firm
. I wasn’t sure whether Courtney was trying to send a message by stepping back and
     letting a junior member take over our business, or if she was just busy and needed
     some help, but I thought I should find out.
    Shelby came by late in the day, looking pleased with herself.
    “Don’t tell me you’ve got results already!”
    “I sure do.” She smiled. “Once I figured out where to look, it went fast. I went back
     as far as fifteen years, which is about as long as people have been putting that kind
     of institutional information online. Hard to remember the world before the Internet,
     isn’t it?”
    I had to agree. “I don’t know whether that’s good or bad for places like ours. On
     the one hand, the documents and materials we have will become more and more precious.
     On the other hand, people will be so accustomed to calling up quick answers and images
     online that they’re going to be less likely to make a trip to look at the real thing.
     Not much we can do about it, though, except put as much of our stuff online as we
     can so we look proactive.”
    “Amen!” Shelby said. “Anyway, I made you a copy of what I’ve got so far. Consider
     it a first draft.” She passed me a sheaf of papers. “That includes all Philadelphia
     institutions and those in the near suburbs, and those that kind of compete with us
     or complement us, like Valley Forge. That’s one column. Then there are the board members
     for each, over the past ten years and currently, with another column for their years
     of service. What else would you like to see?”
    “Great start, Shelby!” I thought for a moment. “How about their age when they joined
     each board? And when they died?”
    “You mean, did they die with their boots on, still on the board, or did