VISIONS Fall 02 | Association News

Iowa State University Alumni Association| online edition | fall 2002

FALL 2002
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The Knoll

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ASSOCIATION NEWS

We value your membership
ISUAA Board of Directors Report
A Legacy of Success
Alumni Days to expand in 2003
Catch the Craze

We value your membership (Return to top)

Jeff Johnson Looking back over my three years as president of the ISU Alumni Association, I am amazed at the wonderful Iowa State alumni, students, and friends that I have met at spirit rallies, homecoming tailgates, and club events. What a great group you are! Occasionally, alumni will enter into conversations with me about their membership in the Association and may even tell me they’re members of the Alumni Association but they’re not receiving VISIONS magazine or their calendar. It generally turns out that their membership has lapsed, or that they had made a gift to Iowa State but hadn’t joined the Alumni Association. Some said they pay their dues to the National Cyclone Club and believed this made them Alumni Association members.

It’s no secret that ISU alumni are great supporters of Iowa State. The Alumni Association appreciates and strongly encourages their financial support to other areas of the university. It’s important that everyone understand that membership in the National Cyclone Club, purchasing season tickets, or even giving a gift to your college doesn’t make you a member of the Alumni Association. The university, its athletics department, the ISU Foundation, and the Alumni Association collaborate and communicate but operate from separate budgets.

Believe me, it would be great if every person who donated time, money, and advice to the university was automatically made a member of the Alumni Association. But as a not-for-profit organization, your Alumni Association is 90 percent self-funded. That means we rely heavily on the dues paid by our 43,000 members. Their dues support the benefits we deliver to them and allow us to serve the university, alumni, students, and friends of Iowa State. Member dues further support alumni events, student programs, scholarships, publications, career networking, the Online Alumni Directory, honors and awards, and many other services.

So here’s the bottom line: If you are a life or current annual member of the Alumni Association, thank you. You are the primary reason we are able to produce this award-winning magazine, host pregame parties for thousands of loyal Cyclone fans, and pair up alumni mentors with enthusiastic undergraduate students. This organization would not exist without your support. If you are not a current member of the Alumni Association, I hope you’ll give serious consideration to becoming a member. For new alumni (within three years of graduation), this is only a $25 annual commitment. For other graduates and friends, just $45 per year will get you four issues of VISIONS, the ISU Events Calendar, access to the Online Alumni Directory, the ISU News Flash bi-weekly electronic newsletter, discounts on products and services, and – perhaps most of all – the knowledge that your dues are helping move Iowa State closer to its aspiration of becoming the nation’s best land-grant institution.

Call me or any member of my staff if you have any questions toll-free at 1-877-ISU-ALUM or go
to www.isualum.org and join today. Become a member of this incredible organization of active and loyal ISU alumni, students, and friends.

As always, I remain yours for Iowa State,

Jeff Johnson

ISU Alumni Association Board of Directors Report (Return to top)
Alumni from Colorado, Wisconsin, and Iowa were
elected to five-year terms on the ISU Alumni Association Board of Directors this spring by members of the Association.

Scott Alan Braucht (‘80 speech and communication), Verona, Wisc.; Martha West Krone (‘78 family environment and family services), Sioux City, Iowa; Martin David Roepke (‘55 animal husbandry,
‘65 DVM), Oskaloosa, Iowa; and Jeffrey Whiton (‘71 economics), Castle Rock, Colo., were confirmed by the current board at its May 17, 2002, meeting.

Also during the spring meeting, the board:

Heard marketing reports from Grizzard University Team on national alumni benchmarking and best practices, and from Ellen Pirro on ISU alumni attitudes, perceptions, and behaviors toward alumni clubs.
Approved the slate of officers for 2002-2003: Martha Lagomarcino Gleason (‘80 elementary educa- tion), Mission Hills, Kan., chair; Stanley J. Thompson (‘82 political science), Des Moines, chair-elect; Bruce H. Hamilton (‘73 industrial administration), Janesville, Wisc., vice chair of finance; and Marcia Klindt, (‘90 ag business), Des Moines, vice chair of records. Les Omotani (‘92 Ph.D.), West Des Moines, becomes immediate past chair, and Warren Madden and Jeffery Johnson retain their positions on the board.
Approved a resolution recognizing Cael Sanderson for his unprecedented achievements in collegiate wrestling.
Approved the Statements of Financial Position and the FY2002-03 Operating Budget as presented.
Appointed Steve Banyas (‘91 liberal studies), Roeland Park, Kan.; Catherine Curtis (‘79 art education, ‘98 MBA), Ames, and Richard Horton (‘62, electrical engineering, ‘63 MS, ‘67 PhD), Ames, to the Nominating Committee.
Appointed a Facility Committee to bring resolution to the permanent location plans for the
ISU Alumni Association.
Approved a revised set of criteria for the Impact Award.
Approved future board meeting dates: Aug. 16-17, 2002; Oct. 11, 2002; and May 17, 2003. The winter meeting date is yet to be determined.

A Legacy of Success (Return to top)

The ISU Alumni Association showcased “A Legacy of Success” at its third annual Cardinal and Gold Dinner and Recognition program May 17 in the Memorial Union’s Great Hall.

The program, which began with the Association’s 69th annual meeting, featured Les M. Omotani, outgoing chair of the Alumni Association Board of Directors, and an address by ISU President Gregory Geoffroy.

The Association also honored key volunteers during the evening: retiring Board of Directors members James T. “Tom” Andreesen (’89 computer engineering), Overland Park, Kan.; Douglas A. Pletcher (’83 industrial engineering), Edina, Minn.; Brenton Saron (’02 community and regional planning), 2001-2002 president of the Student Alumni Leadership Council; and Jamie Lucas Stensland (’88 journalism, MS ’93), Waverly, Iowa; and retiring Nominating Committee members Jill Powell Gabel (’87 dietetics), Fargo, N.D.; Eric Hoiberg, associate dean of the ISU College of Agriculture; and Patricia Leigh, ISU assistant professor of curriculum and instruction. New Board of Directors members, officers, and committee members were introduced (see related story).

The highlight of the evening was the presentation of 2002 Impact Awards to four members of the
university community who have enhanced the visibility of Iowa State and increased the involvement of
students, alumni, and friends in the life and work of the university and the Alumni Association. Honored were Christina Hixson, who has given $12 million for need-based scholarships for Iowa State students; Lynette Pohlman, director of University Museums, whose recent retrospective exhibit of Christian Petersen resulted in national recognition of the Iowa State sculptor’s art; Cael Sanderson (represented by his brother Cody), ISU’s undefeated wrestler who broke national records for his performance; and the late Joe Christensen (represented by his widow, Theresa), who directed the ISU marching bands until his death in 1998. A special Impact Award was also given to Benjamin Allen, ISU interim vice president for external affairs.

Alumni Days to expand in 2003 (Return to top)

Beginning in 2003, Alumni Days will be open to all alumni who graduated 40 or more years (instead of 50 years) before. The 50-year class will be honored, and alumni celebrating 40-, 45-, 55-, 60-, 65-, 70-, and 75-year reunions will also receive recognition.

During Alumni Days 2003, the ISU Alumni Association will honor members of the golden anniversary class of 1953, May 15-17. All other Iowa Staters who graduated before 1964 are invited to return to campus for reunion activities during the three-day celebration. Alumni and guests will enjoy nostalgic displays, campus tours, special performances, educational seminars, and other events with the university president, deans, faculty, and staff. Registration materials will be mailed in early March.

Catch the Craze, and don't miss out on Homecoming 2002 (Return to top)

Catch the Cyclone Craze The celebration begins Oct. 7 and continues through Oct. 13. Special this year is the Homecoming Tailgate hosted by ISU President and Mrs. Gregory L. Geoffroy. Tht tailgate lunch is open to all alumni and friends. Following the tailgate, cheer on the Cyclones as they face Texas Tech at Jack Trice Stadium. Saturday night, alumni are invited to attend the third annual Fall Gala dance. And on Sunday, don't forget the Alumni Golf Outing.