It was with pride and excitement that I began my term as alumni association president a year ago, and it is with great optimism for our future that I hand over the association’s reins to incoming president, Terri Moses.
I have no doubt that the combination of her leadership skills and the continuing hard work of our staff and volunteers will carry the association to new heights this year.
The last year was filled with several wonderful successes. Steve Onken and Bryan Frye chaired a great “Blair Wu Project” volunteer committee that led our Shocker Auction in a new direction (North, to the Kansas Coliseum!) and set fund-raising (and fun) records.
Our Breakfast Series, under the direction of Lois Hubbard, brought a variety of speakers to Wichita, all of whom were entertaining and informative. The association’s Internet presence and use of technology were enhanced with the introduction of a new website, the ability to sign up for events online and a greater use of electronic mail to communicate with our members.
The association hosted more than 40 events, including a delightful evening in San Francisco, published four more outstanding issues of The Shocker and took two packed buses to watch the Shocker men’s hoops team in post-season action for the first time in, well, too long a time.
These accomplishments do not happen by accident. The association is blessed with an enthusiastic executive director, a hard-working and highly competent professional staff, an involved and interested board of directors, and many dedicated volunteers.
I thank you all for making my job as president as easy as possible. I want to particularly thank my immediate predecessors, Chris Shank and Sheryl Wohlford, who have been, and continue to be, wonderful mentors.
A number of challenges face us in the coming year. Our membership and fund-raising levels are just short of our goals, perhaps owing to a still soft economy. We must continue to discover and cultivate new volunteers for the university. In the midst of budget cuts, we must continue to support our athletics department, our fine arts programs and our university colleges. I look forward to seeing many of you at the fabulous Charles Koch Arena in the fall.
Go Shocks!
