EASTON, Pa.(www.lafayette.edu), December 1, 2008 —

The Alumni Council of the Alumni Association met at 10:35 a.m. on Friday, August 22, 2008 in the Wilson Room of Pfenning Alumni Center.

I. ROLL CALL

Alumni Council members in attendance: Paul McCurdy ’82 (President), Pamela Gaary Holran ’88 (VP, Programs, President-elect), Dave Reif ’68 (Vice President, Outreach), Ed Auble ’61, Simmone Chaddan ’04, Greg Crawford ’68, Sallie Howell ’80, Sherri Jones (Secretary), Alex Karapetian ’04, Amanda Niederauer ’08, Carolyn Romney ’08, William Tucker ’81, Ellen Weiler ’83 and Michael Weisburger ’82.

Alumni Council members unable to attend: Bill Kirby ’59 (Vice President At-Large), Morgan Mooney ’03, David Schwager ’84 and Lauren Steinitz ’08.

Staff members in attendance: Linda Arra ’74, Dave Block ’93, Jamie Hughes ’05 and Mary Pat Staats.

II. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES (Paul McCurdy ’82)

Mr. McCurdy welcomed back Ms. Holran who was elected to the position of Vice President, Programs and President–elect at the open meeting of the Alumni Association meeting during Reunion Weekend 2008. He also welcomed new Council members Alex Karapetian ’04, Amanda Niederauer ’08, Carolyn Romney ’08 and Michael Weisburger ’82. Ms. Niederauer and Mr. Karapetian will chair the Young Alumni Committee; Ms. Romney and Ms. Steinitz will chair the Undergraduate Relations Committee; and, Mr. Weisburger will co-chair the Chapters Committee. To facilitate the “get-to-know-you” process, Mr. McCurdy asked Council members to introduce themselves to the group.

Mr. McCurdy called for a motion to approve minutes from last meeting. Mr. Tucker made the motion to approve the minutes. Mr. Reif seconded the motion. All were in favor and the minutes were approved.

III. PRESIDENT’S REPORT (Paul McCurdy ’82)

Mr. McCurdy reiterated from an earlier message to the Council that during his term as Council president, he would like to use the Council meetings as time for “think tank-ing” and discussion about the work of the Council and its committees. For the next 22 months, with the help of Pam Gaary Holran as president-elect, he would like to build on the theme of connectivity and relevance established by past-president Jamie McLaughlin ’76. He would like the cornerstone of his term to be the enhancement of communications for all alumni with special emphasis on alumni with active email addresses in the College’s database. The special challenge will be to determine how to reduce the printed invitations and publications while not losing sight of alumni who are not connected by email. Ms. Jones shared that approximately 54% of the 28,000 alumni have active email addresses; however, 70% of the classes beginning with the 1970’s are connected by email.

Mr. McCurdy added that to enhance the theme of improved communications, there are three goals he would like to emphasize:

Action Item: Mr. McCurdy encouraged Council members to subscribe to the electronic version of The Laf. To subscribe, visit http://www.thelaf.com/

Action Item: Mr. McCurdy asked Ms. Romney, Ms. Steinitz and Mr. Hughes to advance the placement of a question/factoid or other piece of interest in The Laf and approach Campus Pizza regarding prizes.

Action Item: Send a welcome email to the Class of 2012 as a follow-up to the Convocation greeting. The message should come from Mr. McCurdy and/or the Undergraduate Relations chairs. The message could be altered to include returning students with a special greeting to the Class of 2012.

Action Item: Mr. McCurdy asked Ms. Holran to write a piece on “Why is There Corn on the Quad?” for the website and feature photos of the plots of corn.

Action Item: Add a paragraph to Mr. McCurdy’s letter to alumni found on the alumni web site regarding the importance of providing internship and externship opportunities for current students. Add an electronic link to the Career Services homepage.

Action Item: The Alumni Council members agreed to think about whether their business organizations can host internship (summer) and externships (January break) and to identify a friend or two who they might ask to host interns and externs. Council members are directed to send your leads to Sallie Howell (swhowell@alumni.lafayette.edu) who will filter them to Career Services.

As we look for the best strategies, we also must consider ideas for content. The discussion then turned to generating ideas on how the Alumni Association might build on this past year’s Lives of Liberty series by the Alumni Association sponsoring relevant, high profile speakers on topics of humanitarianism, sustainability or other important social issues. Mr. McCurdy challenged the Council to “think big” and not let brainstorming ideas be constrained by perceived costs.

Action Item: Council members agreed to think of alumni, friends, and parents to participate in a speakers program and to identify “big” names for the Lives of Liberty speaker series. Names of potential speakers should be sent to Mr. McCurdy (paulmccurdy@alumni.lafayette.edu).

I. DIRECTOR’S REPORT (Sherri Jones)

Ms. Jones reported that in January the Office of Alumni Affairs launched an events management module through Harris Connect. This new service enables alumni to register and pay for events online. Alumni report that they appreciate the ease of use and the opportunity to pay by credit card in a secure environment. Event attendance has increased, particularly with our younger alumni.

A few weeks ago, the Alumni Affairs office sent out the “Join our Team We’re Going Green” postcard announcing Lafayette’s initiative to go green by driving alumni to the College’s website to find information regarding this fall’s key alumni events and to register online for these events. The postcard was mailed to the classes of 1969 and older. Ms. Jones noted that reducing printed invitations will be environmentally responsible and save costs but would involve a culture change. She mentioned that our colleagues at Lehigh went through a similar transition that took three years. Ms. Jones shared that key alumni chapter events such as annual dinners and some of the larger campus events would continue to have printed invitations. A discussion followed which resulted in the following suggestions: the need to monitor the older alumni who may stop coming to chapter events; possibly sending printed invitations to a range of class years for the more senior alumni; distributing flyers at chapter events listing upcoming events; printing a schedule of key alumni events on the back page of the Lafayette News; and mentioning events during phonathon conversations. This year, Homecoming will be promoted exclusively by email and on the Alumni web page.

Ms. Jones announced that Alumni Affairs is currently conducting a search to fill the vacant assistant director’s position. The search committee is in place and is currently reviewing resumes.

I. The New Initiative for Alumni Association and the Admissions Office (Paul McCurdy ’82)

Mr. McCurdy reported to the Council about the new initiative with the Admissions Office. Mr. McCurdy, Ms. Holran, Mr. Reif and Mr. Tucker met with Carol Rowlands ’81, Director of Admissions and Roberto Noya, Dean of Enrollment Services to discuss how the Alumni Association might assist the admissions staff in their outreach to prospective students in areas targeted for further development in response to Lafayette’s Strategic Plan. At present, the following 12 alumni chapters are involved in this initiative: Los Angeles; San Diego; San Francisco; Denver; Washington D.C.; FL: Gold Coast and Gulf Coast; Naples/Fort Myers; Chicago; Albuquerque/Santa Fe; Dallas; and Houston.

Mr. Noya proposed that the Alumni Council identify key alumni in the targeted chapters who might assist in creating a higher profile in areas where the College has not yet developed a strong identity. He has asked Council members to identify an alumnus or alumna in each chapter who might serve as an area coordinator for AARs. The role of the area coordinator is still being developed but might include visiting with principals and guidance or college counselors in designated high schools; making and coordinating AAR assignments in response to invitations for college fairs or requests for interviews received from Anne Marie Ferriere, Senior Associate Director of Admissions and AAR coordinator; assisting in the recruitment and training for new AARs and hosting events for administrators from designated high schools. Key among these responsibilities would be to serve as a member of the area alumni chapter executive committee. In this role, the AAR coordinator can keep chapter members abreast of recruitment activities within the chapter and find ways to include prospective students, their parents and guidance counselors in appropriate chapter events and activities.

Action Item: Council members will consider the targeted markets and nominate alumni who they would consider as potential area coordinator for the local Alumni Admissions Representatives (AARs). Names of the potential leaders should be forwarded to Ms. Jones (joness@lafayette.edu).

Once the list is established and the alumni are selected, the Council member who made the nominations will be asked to contact the nominees.

II. PRESENTATION ON CAREER SERVICES (Linda Arra ’74)

Ms. Arra distributed two handouts: a report from the Career Services Committee and a Career Services Update with five-year trend data which are attached to the minutes of this Council meeting. The statistics indicate a steady and significant increase in alumni and student participation. At present, the staff does not have enough resources to meet the current demands and students are experiencing a two-week wait for an appointment.

The College’s 27 year-old Externship Program has become a model job shadowing program for colleges and universities. Students and alumni report great satisfaction with the program. 99% of the students said that they would recommend the program and 90% of the alumni would host again. The externships often lead to internships which turn into job offers.

Please note that the 2008 Career Fair is scheduled for September 17. Students remark that this event as an important networking event with alumni and human resource representatives. The Career Fair is limited to 65 participants largely due to space constraints. There are additional networking events scheduled for alumni in media and finance.

Ms. Arra reported that stipends for the Internship Program are drawn down from seven alumni endowments and funds donated by the senior class. As noted on the handout, last year 63 students applied for a stipend and only 19 were awarded. There are always more deserving students than funds available making these committee decisions difficult. The committee bases its decisions on estimated expenses for the internship and the student’s financial need.

Career services for alumni are most heavily used by alumni out five years or less. Ms. Arra reported that alumni also request services while in career transitions, following graduate study or when alumnae re-enter the work force. The Alumni Job Vault was launched by a single email in December 2008. To date, the number of alumni who have established accounts has grown to 3,285.

In closing, Ms. Arra announced that there are seven new webshops available this fall for students. Students now also can develop electronic career portfolios using the Job Vault module. She shared a final thought about how alumni can help Career Services by stating that there is a need to increase the number of paid internships and raise funds for internship stipends.

Action Item: The Council endorses the idea of reunion year class gifts being designated for endowing internship stipends. Mr. McCurdy will pass the suggestion for this initiative to Mr. Schwager, Reunion Committee Chair.

I. YOUNG ALUMNI COMMITTEE REPORT (Simmone Chaddan ’04, Amanda Niederauer ’08 and Alex Karapetian ’04)

Ms. Chaddan shared an update on last year’s objectives for the Young Alumni Committee. She mentioned that there were four objectives and three were completed: The committee hosted the Orientation to Life program on March 1, 2008; a survey was conducted that provided useful information about events of interest to young alumni; and, as a result of the survey, the Young Alumni Committee hosted an event at the Jersey Shore for over 120 alumni. The fourth objective, an electronic newsletter from the Alumni Association specifically geared to young alumni, is being planned for spring 2009 and also will be sent to graduating seniors.

Ms. Niederauer suggested for future planning that the Council consider redefining “young alumni” to represent a narrower range of classes, perhaps ten years out from graduation. She related that the current range of classes represents 15 years out and this presents challenges in programming because of the significant difference in interests represented by this wider range of ages. There was general agreement that the range of classes designated with “young alumni” might be too broad but may be tied into other College initiatives. Further discussion will take place within the committee to formulate a proposal for the next Council meeting. No action was taken at this time.

II. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE REPORT (Ed Auble ’61)

Mr. Auble introduced a discussion of how to indentify prospective international ambassadors by suggesting that his committee work with Landis Community Outreach Center Director Bonnie Winfield. It was noted that Ms. Winfield knows recent alumni and current students with sustaining leadership capacities. Mr. Auble suggested that the Council contact current student leaders before they graduate to encourage them to focus their volunteer efforts for Lafayette.

Action Item: Mr. McCurdy and Ms. Jones will contact Bonnie Winfield, Director of the Landis Community Outreach Center to ask for her assistance in identifying student and young alumni volunteers who are consistent leaders so that the Alumni Association might encourage them to direct their volunteerism to serve the College.

III. UNDERGRADUATE RELATIONS COMMITTEE REPORT (Carolyn Romney ’08)

Ms. Romney shared a progress report on the launching of the Class of 2008 web site. The web page will include photos and a list of officers, links to events, and a forum for postings and class notes. She offered this site as a template for other classes wishing to host interactive web sites. Ms. Chaddan encouraged the Class of 2008 to tie into the College’s web site with a minimum of “click throughs” to make it more desirable to navigate.

IV. NOMINATING COMMITTEE REPORT (Pamela Gaary Holran ’88)

No report at this time.

V. CHAPTERS COMMITTEE REPORT (Bill Tucker ’81 and Michael Weisburger ’82) Mr. Tucker announced that the Handbook for Chapter Leaders was mailed in mid July to all chapter executive committee members and to the twelve active chapter leaders who were nominated by the Chapters Committee to serve as mentors to new chapter leaders. On August 5, Mr. Tucker and Ms. Staats held conference calls or left detailed messages with those nominated. To date, eight of the 13 chapters have been assigned. The chapter mentors have been encouraged to begin their mentor relationship with their chapter after September 1.

This afternoon, Mr. Tucker and Mr. Weisburger will join the Council officers, Ms. Jones, Ms. Staats and Mr. Hughes in a meeting with Roberto Noya, Dean of Enrollment Services and Carol Rowlands ’81, Director of Admissions to discuss how the Alumni Association can assist the admissions staff with enhancing recruitment efforts in 12 alumni chapters previously mentioned in the section regarding the new admissions initiatives. Mr. Weisburger will serve as co-chair of the Chapters Committee for new initiatives such as the one involving the targeted markets. Key among the tasks will be the identification of Alumni Admissions Representative Coordinators, the continued recruitment of AARs and raising the visibility of the College in each of the chapters.

I. VOLUNTEER COMMITTEE REPORT (Ellen Weiler ’83)

Ms. Weiler reported that the Volunteer Committee has been discussing how to “ramp-up” communications for alumni volunteers. The committee suggests that at every chapter event, sign-up cards be available for alumni to volunteer for Lafayette. It will be important for the options be listed so that alumni might indicate their interest in specific activities, programs and events. Ms. Weiler presented the idea of promoting the alumni web site as a place to find information about volunteer opportunities and possibly podcasts to be used for training purposes. Mr. McCurdy also suggested that the theme of “Going Green” be promoted through the chapters.

Action Item: A script should be written for use at chapter events to plug the “Green” theme and ways to volunteer.

II. CLOSING COMMENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS (Paul McCurdy ’82)

Action Item: Mr. McCurdy asked Council members to review their contact information in the docket packet and report any corrections or updates to Alumni Affairs Office Coordinator Ruth Hutnik, hutnikr@lafayette.edu, (610) 330-5041.

Mr. McCurdy suggested that the Council should consider this new admissions initiative as alumni who are serving as “boots on the ground” and that the Council members must know alumni who can help enhance the recruitment efforts. Enlisting these key alumni will refresh chapter leadership, build synergy and will be important to the admissions initiative.

The next meeting of the Alumni Council is scheduled for Friday, November 14, 2008 at 2 p.m. in Pfenning Alumni Center. Mr. McCurdy asked all present to indicate their interest in gathering for cocktails and dinner that night.

The Alumni Volunteer Recognition Luncheon is Saturday, November 15, 2008 in the Bergethon Room of Marquis Hall. A reception will begin at 10 a.m. with a luncheon at 11 a.m. The awards ceremony will immediately follow the luncheon. Kick-off for the Lafayette-Holy Cross football game is at 1 p.m.

III. Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 12:35 p.m.