Alumni Board Meeting Minutes

Annual Meeting
Friday, September 29, 2000
Harlan Dining Room, The Commons
Julia H. Gutz '88, presiding

Attending:
Julia H. Gutz '88, president
Michael Conklin '69, president-elect
John K. Lively, '55
Tom Reinhard '65
Joseph Campanelli '69
Nels Lindquist '71
Barbara Schultz '71
Sally Larson Sargent '72
Lu Ann White '78
Ruth Brown Ward '82
Martha Kimbrough '83
Michael Mudlaff '88
Bobbi Buckner '01

Absent:
Richard (Joe) Morton '50
Tom Cox '52
Ann Parker Foote '79
Kirk Wilkie '95
Ryan Tucker '96
Danielle Bright '97
Cinthia Adams '98
Ann Peiffer '99
Jane Riessen '00

Staff:
Les Garner, President
Debbie Green, Director College Advancement
Ruth Keefe Miller '66, Alumni Director
Dee Ann Rexroat '82, College Communications Director
Keith Munson, Director of Career Services
Sharon Grice, Associate Dean of Admissions
Tony Plaut 'Associate Professor, Art

Guests:
Jerry Ringer '59, Chair, Board of Trustees
Tom Jarom, '66, Past Chair, Board of Trustees
Yvonne Bauer Livingston '75 (former board member)
Mark Van Etten '76

Julia Gutz opened the meeting. She welcomed board members to the meeting and thanked everyone for his or her participation.

Minutes of the May 6, 2000 meeting were approved by motion of Michael Mudlaff and second by Tom Jarom.

Julia told everyone that results of the survey board members were asked to complete will be available at the spring meeting. (If you haven't completed your survey and returned it, please do so.)

President Garner addressed the board. He thanked everyone for all they do for the college. He reported that retention was at 80%; Law Hall renovation has been completed and will be rededicated on Saturday morning; John Harp, Dean of Students has had a strong start; the library had the highest use in a long time; and there was a record year in fund-raising ($10.9 million). Admissions will be a top priority of the college with a strong focus on retention. We generally lose 10% of the sophomore class. He stated, "If you walk by Merner and see them throwing things out the window, it is no different than it has ever been, but now it is OK, because it is under renovation!" He told the board of the campaign underway for the renovation of Armstrong Hall and Alumni Gym. He informed the board that their work is important, and they can continue to help the college by recommending students to Admissions; promoting alumni involvement in the life of the college, and supporting career planning. President Garner reported that we are recruiting excellent faculty, but it is a big challenge keeping faculty salaries competitive with other ACM schools. Michael Mudlaff wanted to know if the block plan was affecting recruiting. Tony Plaut responded that it was not.

Jerry Ringer addressed the board and said that they had convinced Les Garner to stay on for another five years, and had given him a 5-year contract. He too, thanked the board for their participation.

Tony Plaut addressed the board and gave an update on the art department and the move to Alumni Gym.

Mike Conklin presented a report of the nominating committee. The following names were placed before the board: Carol Busch Telling '66, Mark Van Etten '76, John Gilliland '89, and Lynn Luce '91. Motion by Nels Lindquist and second by Joe Campanelli, that slate of officers be accepted.

Ruth Keefe Miller gave a report on alumni activities.

She informed the board that Margaret Smyth Emmons '44 and Brian Klepinger '60 resigned their positions on the board.

She told the board that at the last meeting recommendations were made as to the size of the board. Those recommendations need to be changed in the By-Laws and Constitution.
By motion of Sally Sargent Larson and second by Ruth Brown Ward, the following changes were made. Section 3, item d of the By-Laws shall read, "Upon completion of service as President, the President will become the immediate Past President and shall serve a one-year term as a member of the Board of Directors." Motion John Lively and second by Tom Reinhard to make the following changes to the Constitution: Article IV shall read. "The Board of Directors shall consist of the duly elected and acting President, the President-elect and up to 24 Directors."

The general meeting broke out to committee meetings. Communications met in Keeler Dining Room with Dee Ann Rexroat. Alumni and College Advancement met in Updergraf Dining Room with Debbie Green. Student Assistance met in Magee Dining Room with Sharon Grice and Keith Munson.

Following committee meetings, members of CASA joined the board for lunch.

The meeting re-convened and committee reports were given.

Julia Gutz informed the board that a ring committee has been established and several designs were presented to the board. By motion of Barbara Schultz and second by Martha Kimbrough, a design was selected. The committee will go back to the company and ask them to produce a ring with the recommended designs.

The spring meeting will be held on Friday, May 4, 2001.

Meeting adjourned.