Alumni Council Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, October 2, 1999

Welcome— Lou Richardson ’67

Vice Chair of the Alumni Council Lou Richardson opened the meeting at 1:30 p.m. for Chair John Devine '78, who had a conflict with a trustee meeting where he had to make a presentation. Lou asked for a motion that the minutes for the June 4, 1999, general meeting be approved as mailed. It was moved and seconded, and the minutes were approved. She then asked for committee reports. 

Committee Reports/Updates

Admissions and Financial Aid—Chris Tompkins ’89
Chris reported that his committee will be sponsoring workshops on financial aid and admission information for legacy students next spring. These are offered to children of Colby alumni who are in high school and want general information about the college admissions process. The Admissions Office staff reported 4506 applications for the entering class, 32.7 percent were accepted. The average SAT score was 1310. There were 27 legacy students. ALANA students increased significantly this year, with 64 students choosing Colby (44 last year). There were 489 entering students, including 11 transfers.

Alumni Fund—Lisa Hallee ’81
Lisa reported that the Alumni Fund made our 50 percent participation and monetary goal for fiscal year 1999. She thanked everyone who helped to make that possible but reminded them that the real work ahead is to maintain that goal of fifty percent. The monetary goal for FY00 is $2,650,000. The main focus in this post-campaign period will be to instill the idea that giving to Colby every year is a tradition.  
 
Alumni on Campus—Phil Wysor ’70
Phil reported that his committee discussed the possibility of a new alumni house located more centrally on campus. He indicated that the committee wanted to give its official support behind a new alumni house. He also wanted to endorse the idea that the structure be a symbol of permanence and blend with the rest of the campus in the Georgian Brick style. Phil also reminded everyone that Homecoming was October 15-16 and urged everyone to return to support the senior class alumni reception and other events for the weekend.

Athletics—Alex Wilson ’73
Alex added his committee's endorsement for a new alumni building on campus. He invited everyone to return for Homecoming (Oct. 15) to the 96th Annual C Club Colby Night dinner this year, honoring Larry Pugh and William R. Cotter as the C Club People of the Year. The Carl Nelson Sports Achievement Award winner for 2000 has been selected. The award will be presented to Stephen Freyer '68 in the spring. The committee has also created a new award in memory of past athletic committee and C Club member Warren Finegan '51. It will be awarded to a member of the senior class who has done the most for athletics behind the scenes, as opposed to on the playing field. This year, the committee will also focus their efforts on how to help attract qualified student athletes to attend Colby.

Awards—Barbara Bone Leavitt ’52
Barbara informed the group that her committee had met to discuss the 2000 awards, but that the information would have to remain confidential until January.

Career Services—Bruce Drouin ’74
Bruce reported that his committee has been actively at work with the Office of Career Services in helping to coordinate career information sessions on campus. Committee member Tracy Roy Hankin '90 and two other alumni participated on a career panel on management consulting this weekend. In two weeks, at Homecoming, three alumni will present a session on investment banking or "Colby on Wall Street." Then, in the spring, they will sponsor other alumni panels with a science, government, and entrepreneurship theme.

Clubs—James Bourne ’81
James reported that this was the Clubs Committee's second meeting as an official Alumni Council committee. Their goals this year are to revitalize regional club leadership, to expand on the Welcome to the City events, and to develop a succession strategy to help clubs when leadership transition occurs.

Nominating—Woofie Fleming Amidon ’75
Woofie reported that there are several vacancies in the class representative and member-at-large positions that will be ending in the spring. The committee will be working to fill those vacancies. In the meantime, they had three nominees to present for the alumni trustees on the Board of Trustees.

1. Carol Beaumier '72 was nominated for re-election to her second three-year term. The election was so moved, seconded, and unanimously approved.
2. John Cornell '65 was nominated for re-election to his second three-year term. The election was so moved, seconded, and unanimously approved.
3. Kate O'Neil '85 was nominated for her first term of a renewable three-year term. The election was so moved, seconded, and unanimously approved.

Planned Giving Liaison
Ernie Fortin '51 reported that his planned giving volunteers are working to keep planned giving options on the forefront of alumni giving opportunities. Twenty-eight classes now have a planned giving agent. Planned gifts can be complicated, but the volunteers hope it will become a Colby tradition as part of the 50th reunion gift to the College.

There will be three components to the 50th reunion gift:

1. Annual gift
2. Estate planning--life income gift
3. Bequests

Also, the Planned Giving Office will be sponsoring planned giving seminars for alumni across the country.

Lou Richardson then mentioned that the Executive Committee will be attending a weekend retreat on campus on November 5-7. They will be looking at the structure of the council, what is working and what is not. They will also be clarifying term limits for appointed members and for committee chairs. Anyone with comments about their Alumni Council experience was asked to share it with the Executive Committee or their committee chair.