Alumni Council Meeting Minutes November 5, 2005
Minutes
Alumni Council
Berry Alumni Association
Saturday, November 5, 2005
Opening Session
Dr. Ouida Dickey (50C), Berry Alumni Association (BAA) president, called the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m. by welcoming all members and staff to the second meeting of the 97th year of the BAA. Dr. David Fite (51H), BAA chaplain, gave the opening prayer.
President Dr. Scott Colley spoke to the Council briefly. He announced that the $100- million campaign had not only been met eight months early, but the amount was approximately $101 million! He stressed that we still have the Cage Athletic Center’s goal of $32.5 million toward which to work. He spoke of planning for his retirement in June 2006 and living on the family farm in Virginia. He stated that Berry is moving along well. He encouraged the members to read Berry College, a History, written by Dr. Dickey and Dr. Doyle Mathis. Dr. Colley reported the presidential search has rendered several very strong candidates from all over the country. He left the meeting early to attend the equestrian team’s competition against the University of Georgia.
Reports
The council meeting minutes from August 12, 2005, were approved by members after a motion by Jack Jones (57C) and a second by Tom Bowen (55H).
Alumni Director. Faye Fron (92c) thanked all for attending and announced meeting-room changes between the Institutional Relations Committee and the Alumni Events Committee. She recognized Kathleen Ray (79C) for coordinating the stellar donor event of approximately 250 guests on Friday evening, November 4, and thanked other staff who helped. Jennifer Edgerly, coordinator of regional and chapter events, was recognized for a successful Presidents Summit at the House o’ Dreams on Friday. Two representatives from Georgia Tech Alumni, Jane Stoner and Melanie Stevens, gave a detailed report of their alumni functions. Tami Garner, of the UGA alumni office, spoke about UGA’s alumni activities and experiences. A search is being conducted to fill the vacancy created by Brenda Baldwin’s resignation. The job description and application process are on the Web site. Faye promoted the Alumni Travel Program for the end of 2005 and for 2006. She also reported that some chapters conducted projects on “Make a Difference Day.” Attendance on Mountain Day 2005 was lower than previously, possibly as a result of there being no class reunions as in past years; Mountain Day’s occurring so early in the month (October 1); and the hike in gasoline prices to over $3 a gallon. Responding to recommendations from the last Alumni Council meeting, Faye reported that graduating students will be able to continue the use of their Berry e-mail addresses and that Possum Trot alumni will have PT added to their name tag, as in the H/A designation for high school or academy and C for college.
Berry Business Alumni Association. Brad Roberts ((95C, 03G) stated that this group now has a full slate of officers. A reception was held on Mountain Day 2005 and another is planned for spring 2006. Staff and students will be involved.
Berry Education Alumni Association. Tim Howard (82C) reported that the BEAA is enjoying a good start with two receptions held in the department. Also, plans are being made for an “Education Hall of Honor” in the education department of the Charter School of Education and Human Sciences.
Berry Math and Sciences Alumni Association. Celeste Creswell (93C) reported that Larry McRae (60C) had agreed to be vice president of the BMSAA. Approximately 50 people attended the two open houses held in the school to date. This group plans to create a Web site to help members find jobs.
Humanities and Social Sciences. Dr. Dickey gave an update on this group, which is now ready to prepare for organizing.
In connection with the school affiliates, Dr. Dickey thanked Ed England (57C) for his vision, beginning with the organization of the Berry Business Alumni Association.
Study of Alumni Connections. Bill Roseen (78C) was encouraged that 80 percent of the Alumni Council members had returned the survey designed for this group. His committee will review the findings and report to the Council in February. Approximately 1000 alumni have been selected randomly to receive a questionnaire in January 2006.
Standing Committee Reports
Alumni Events. Steve Tankersley (56H), chair, told of the changes in meal cost during Work Week. The main focus of work in 2006 will be at Oak Hill again, but there will be other work projects in progress as well.
Association Awards. Lewis Copeland (60C), chair, said his committee has established a timeline for the nominations for each award. The Web site can be used to nominate eligible persons. Current nominees and nominees from the past three years still in the pool are being considered for these awards.
Berry Heritage. Chairman Jerry Shelton (58C) said that “Voices of the Past” will be presented on Founder’s Day, January 12, 2006. The committee has discussed matters related to Historic Berry and new brochures for historic sites.
Financial Support. Barbara McCollum (79C), chair, thanked all the volunteers who helped with the “Count-Me-In” campaign, which netted a collection of over $1,000. First-time donors contributed $800. Barbara announced the following Alumni Council participation rates:
| |
Percent |
| |
October 31, 2005 |
February 4, 2005 |
All Alumni Council Members
|
76.0 |
75.6 |
Executive Committee Members
|
100.0 |
100.0 |
Elected Council Members
|
58.3 |
66.7 |
Past Presidents
|
77.0 |
78.6 |
Chapter and Affiliated Organization Presidents
|
84.2 |
72.2
|
Lifetime Members
|
100.0 |
100.0 |
Appointed Council Members
|
78.0 |
87.5 |
Institutional Relations. Genyth Travis (96C), chair, reported that a separate questionnaire was sent to chapter presidents and two had responded. Other responses were expected at the meeting or later. The questionnaire relates to perceptions of the chapter and ways to improve it. A report will be prepared on the findings.
Association President. Dr. Dickey thanked Earl DeVane (45C) for assuming the Macon chapter’s presidency following the resignation of Leslie Howard.
She said that eight of nineteen gifts of over a million dollars in the capital campaign have come from alumni. Dr. Dickey has visited the school’s affiliated organizations and several chapters, the most recent being the East Tennessee Chapter. She and Lisa Nichols participated in the chapter’s National Service Day. Faye Fron and Dr. Dickey will go to Richmond November 12 to reactivate that chapter.
Dr. Dickey prepared a written quarterly report to the Board of Trustees on alumni activities, and Bill Roseen attended the board meeting in her absence. She thanked Faye Fron and the staff for the tee-shirt project “It’s a Pride Thing,” the travel program, and noted the schedule of alumni events included in the notebooks material. Bill Roseen commented briefly on the Board meeting.
Announcements
President Dickey announced the Nominating Committee makeup following guidelines in the Association’s Bylaws:
Bill Roseen (78C) president-elect
|
Frances Hobdy (69C)
|
Tracy Morgan (05C) secretary
|
Betty Whitten (60C) |
| Ouida Dickey (50C) ex officio |
Bart Cox (92C) |
| Faye Fron (92c) ex officio |
Michael Sudduth (96C) |
The Nominating Committee will meet in December and will present a slate in February. It will include nominees for the vice presidencies for Alumni Events, Berry Heritage, and Institutional Relations, and twelve council positions. Council members who had not done so were invited to submit nominations on the forms that were mailed.
Dr. Dickey also announced that the book Berry College, a History is available in the Museum Store at Oak Hill and in the bookstore. A new exhibit, “Behind the Velvet Ropes,” is open in the upper gallery of the Martha Berry Museum.
Berry Update
Four members of the Search Committee for a Berry president gave a short summary of their role in the presidential search. Pete Roberts, member of the Board of Trustees and chair of the search committee, noted that a list of Dr. Colley’s accomplishments during his eight years here will be used as a guide in comparing the qualifications of the candidates. The search team of twenty people includes faculty, staff, alumni, and trustees. Alumni on the committee include Glenn Cornell (62C), Cecily Crow (94C), Ouida Dickey, Bernice Henderson (77C), Bill Roseen, Gary Waters (80C), and Buster Wright (73C). The trustees will have the final decision in selecting the president. Witt/Kieffer, a professional search company specializing in higher education, is leading the search.
Bernice Henderson, who represents the Staff Advisory Council, is reviewing the applicants along with two other staff members, Cecily Crow, and Gary Waters.
David Bayne (06C), Student Government Association president, said he had met with students regarding their interest in the new president and explained the timeline of the search.
Frank Stephenson, faculty representative from the Campbell School of Business, commented that a representative from each school was on the search team. Meetings of the team produced the criteria for selecting the candidates. The draft, done by the consultants and reviewed by the team, can be found on the Web site. Nine to ten candidates will be interviewed at the airport during December, and three or four candidates will be selected for visits to the campus before the two final candidates are chosen for submission to the Board of Trustees. The chosen candidate will be notified in the spring and the orientation process will start before Dr. Colley leaves.
A council member noted that the new president would need to learn Berry’s strategic plan and adhere to the head, heart and hands mission. Others commented that the president would need to be available to communicate with the students about their issues and allow them to express their opinions. The students want a president who is committed to the core values of the student body.
Tim Farnham, director of information technology, made a Power-Point presentation on the state of information technology at Berry today. He said that most students step down a notch when they come to Berry because they have so much computer power at home.
However, all students have computers and can register for classes, get their assignments and grades and other necessary information on line.
Forty-one classrooms have multimedia; soon all will be so equipped. In the dorms the students have internet, electronic door entry with cards, and cards which can be used also for copying materials, operating laundry machines, and dining. Students have free music and free long distance, and seem to be constantly in communication with someone. Mr. Farnham described students of today as learners by trial and error and multi-taskers; they are also communication-oriented. Several buildings are already wireless, and plans are in place to make every building wireless. Farnham noted that students probably exceed faculty in technology skills. To be determined is the role of portable devices in the classroom. Following his presentation, Farnham answered questions.
The meeting was then recessed for lunch at noon in Ford Dining Hall.
Joy Bernice Ogle Whaley (53 H)
Recorder in the absence of the Secretary
Closing Session
President Dickey brought the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m. and called for reports from the committee chairmen.
Alumni Events Committee. Steve Tankersley, chairman, reported that the committee focused its discussion of Work Week primarily on income from meal charges. A subcommittee was formed to determine criteria for using these funds and handling all funds, new and old, in the existing Work Week bank account: Whit Whitaker (81C), chair; Jim Hamrick (59H, 63c), Charles Mosby (associate member), Brad Roberts (95C, 03G), Faye Darby (72C), Celeste Creswell (93C), and Bob Aiken (82A). The committee voted to leave meal charges as they are--$65 for 13 meals. The committee established “Historic Berry” as the focus of Work Week 2006. Steve appointed Cecily Crow (94C) and Celeste Creswell (93C) to look into the possibility of inviting students who are on campus to work during Work Week. They will also explore the possibility of a camp for children to attract parents to Work Week. Tom Bowen moved that the report be accepted and Genyth Travis seconded; the motion carried.
Association Awards Committee. Lewis Copeland, chairman, reported that his committee approved the awards timeline, deleted redundant letters to help streamline the process, and approved the Association president’s letters to winners and nonwinners, subject to Dr. Dickey’s revisions. They deferred honorary membership selections until February; endorsed the creation of awards within the affiliate (academic) groups; and expressed consensus that emphasis should continue to be placed on the four existing alumni awards. Bill Roseen moved that the report be accepted and Betty Whitten seconded; the motion carried.
Berry Heritage Committee. Jerry Shelton, chairman, reported on the four topics of this committee’s discussion: (1) Voices of the Past—Jerry called on Rebecca Roberts for an update on plans. She announced that the event would be a part of Founder’s Day celebration on Thursday, January 12, 2006, rather than the 13th. Thursday is one of two days a week on which the 11 a.m. hour is set aside for important school meetings. A panel of five alumni moderated by Bill Roseen will present the program. (2) Founder’s Day 2006—The committee discussed the possibility of recommending a speaker but felt previous recommendations are sufficient at this time. (3) Historic Berry—Jerry called on Jennifer Dickey for an update on brochures for historic buildings and other matters relating to historic Berry. She reported that Berry’s public relations office will work with her on the production of one inclusive brochure rather than a separate brochure for each place. It will be designed to guide visitors on a driving tour of Berry with emphasis on historic places. She also is working with consultants on a master preservation plan for all historic buildings under the Getty grant, and on policies for the use of the Oak Hill home. (4) Wild Flower Project—In the absence of Pam Ferguson, Jerry reported that she had sent letters to alumni living along Highway 27 from Tennessee through Georgia to Florida, asking for their assistance. She had ordered and received $450 worth of seeds to be sown along Highway 27 in the Rome area. Garden Clubs along U.S. 27 were also asked to help, but most already have their own projects. Following a motion by Buford Jennings and a second by Bernice Whaley, the report was accepted.
Financial Support Committee. Barbara McCollum, chair, said that she had solicited commitments from her committee members to be in attendance at major events on campus. A committee member suggested putting the Alumni Council’s participation rate of 93 percent in the Honor Roll report. Various ideas were discussed for increasing alumni giving. Committee members agreed that each would call five persons whose pledges were outstanding. The committee will evaluate the success of these calls.
Genyth Travis moved the report be accepted and Lewis Copeland seconded; the motion carried.
Institutional Relations Committee. Genyth Travis reported that her committee’s new constituency of chapter presidents discussed the purpose of an alumni chapter, the challenges a chapter faces, and some possible positive actions that might be taken. These included staging affinity reunions or receptions in the Atlanta area and possibly dividing Atlanta into regions for coverage by chapters there. Martha Bowen moved the report be accepted and Mitch Elrod seconded; the motion carried.
Announcements
President Dickey asked members to review the Council membership directory printed on the yellow sheets, and let her know of corrections.
Bill Roseen announced that the Nominating Committee will meet in Marietta or Cartersville as a convenience to those living away from Rome.
President Dickey thanked staff and others who helped to prepare for and implement the meeting.
The meeting was adjourned at 3:50 p.m.
Carolyn Thompson Smith (53C)
Recorder in absence of the Secretary