Ripon College Alumni Association

Minutes and Meeting Highlights

Friday & Saturday, March 30-31, 2007

Presiding:  Des Lauriers

Attending:  Alumni Board:  Carlson, Clemons, Cochrane, Emanuel (Student), Hansen, Houston, Janssen, Kegel, Kummer, Lander (Student), McCullough, Miller, Nemecek (Alumni Trustee), Padilla, Rush (Student), Ryberg, Shogren, Spaeth, Sparks, Umhoefer, Woodard.  College Administration/Staff:  De War (Residence Life), Gabriel, Seeliger (Alumni Relations), Gallagher, Hintz (Annual Fund), Joyce (President), Malchow (Development), Minor (Corporate and Foundation Relations), Mlodzik (Admission), Seaman (Dean of Faculty), Vaubel (Career Development).

Absent:  Alberts, Babcock, Leach (Student), MacLeod, Palmer, Retson (Alumni Trustee), Robinson, Schmidt (Alumni Trustee), Schultz.

A. Proceedings (Friday, 3/30/07)

Meeting called to order by Des Lauriers.  The Alma Mater was sung by all.

BOARD ACTION: The minutes from the October 6-7, 2006 meeting were reviewed and the spelling correction from "massed" to "passed" on the second page was noted and the minutes were approved with the correction.

Sparks gave a report on the DAC/OYA plaque location options being looked at by the College Operations Committee.

Joyce reported on the State of the College with information regarding the removal of the street in front of the Commons and Harwood Memorial Union.  The college is in a growth mode with a new residence hall and renovation to the Commons.

Seaman reported on faculty salaries which are currently 5% behind other colleges Ripon's size.   The college was able to increase the retirement contributions for employees this year.

Joyce and Seaman gave a Strategic Initiatives Workshop.  The discussion started out by focusing in depth on each of the core values.  After a short break, the board resumed with a follow-up discussion on what Joyce and Seaman presented.

The board broke for lunch attending the Friends of Lane Library meeting or the healthcare Speaker Series event brainstorming meeting with faculty set up by Carlson and Hansen. 

The meeting resumed at 1:22 p.m.

Malchow introduced Stephanie Sommer '08 as the Annual Fund intern and she explained what she is doing for the office this semester.

Umhoefer gave a report from the Governance sub-committee.  Work needs to be continued on the new operating procedures document. Umhoefer is to chair the Governance committee and asked for board members to volunteer on the ad-hoc committee. 

Gallagher gave the Senior Class Gift update.  The senior class has raised over $1,111 with 40% participation.  The Senior Class Gift will be metal benches for the court yard for the new residence hall and a grill if enough money is raised. 

The Senior Class Board helped plan senior week activities and Cap and Gown Party.  Gabriel thanked the board for the gifts given towards prizes for the Cap and Gown Party which will start at 6:30 p.m. in Great Hall this evening.  Commencement work is being handled by the Alumni Office, including a total review of the invitation process.

Alumni Weekend brochures were mailed yesterday.  There will be a recognition trophy for the reunion class with the highest participation and the highest money amount given.  There is going to be a free "Educating Students…Enriching Lives" luncheon on campus this year.  New this year, the Class of '82 is sponsoring an All Alumni Reception on Friday night, while a reception on Saturday afternoon will be provided compliments of the Delta Upsilon Fraternity.  There will be a Golden "R" Breakfast where the 50th class will receive their pins and diplomas.  A program will be given to alumni on wills and leaving a legacy by Bill Neill.

The nomination committee report was given by Des Lauriers. 

BOARD ACTION:  The board approved two Alumni Association Senior Award recipients to be honored at the Awards Convocation.

BOARD ACTION:  The board approved the nominee list for Alumni Trustee.

BOARD ACTION:  The board approved the nominee list of Alumni Board directors.

Additional nomination committee members are needed and Janssen volunteered.  The full board was asked to nominate new alumni board members, as well as award nominees. 

The Alumni Board gave their informal recommendation of the Medal of Merit awards nominees to be forwarded to the Board of Trustees.  The board suggested a photo for each person for 2008 be included in the Commencement program.

BOARD ACTION:  The board approved Sparks to run for Vice President even though he only has one year of eligibility left on the board and the constitution requires two years.

The board voted on Vice President and Sparks was elected.

Mlodzik gave the Admission report.  The first ever Ripon College Accepted Student Days was very successful and campus visits are strong.  He discussed the new Alumni/Parent Admission Alliance (AAA) program.

The "Educating Students…Enriching Lives" video from 2006 was viewed.

The board was dismissed into committee meetings.

At 4:30 p.m. the board participated in the Faculty Career Networking reception followed by the Senior Cap and Gown Party at 6:30 p.m. 

B.  Proceedings (Saturday, 3/31/07)

Breakfast and committee meetings were held in the Commons Main Dining Room from 7:30-9:30 a.m. followed by committee reports. 

BOARD ACTION:  The board approved a motion to request allocation of funds from Ripon College for DAC, OYA, and MOM plaques to be located in Great Hall and/or Rotunda or a space to be determined by Administrative Council.

The board broke at 10:40 a.m.

Beth Nemecek gave the trustee report.  She discussed an article on getting giving percentages up for small town college alumni.  All alumni should follow the motto "give early, give often."  She met with the trustee sub-committee on Marketing and Communication with Ric Damm and others.  The Strategic Plan is in the final stages of approval.

There was no old business and no new business.

Des Lauriers gave his closing remarks since he is stepping down as president and turned the meeting over to Ryberg.

Ryberg recognized retiring board members in attendance, Hannah R. Emanuel '09, Paul L. Kegel '57, Jordan E. Lander '09, and Jordyn E. Rush '07 with gifts.  Dorian A. Des Lauriers '82 retired as President to Immediate Past President (under Ryberg's recommendation) and was recognized with a plaque.  Recognition was given to Brad W. Alberts '92, Elizabeth H. Leach '07, and Susan Rigler Palmer '92 who were unable to attend.

BOARD ACTION:  The board approved Woodard and Shogren to continue on with an extended term of two years each.

Committee chairs were asked to gather right after the meeting to set a date for the steering committee conference call; August 26 at 7 p.m. CST was selected.  The Alma Mater was sung in closing.

BOARD ACTION:  Adjournment

Respectfully submitted,

Amy Gabriel '04

Assistant Director of Alumni Relations

Ripon College Alumni Association