MINUTES
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE
KANSAS UNIVERSITY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
FRIDAY, MAY 9, AND SATURDAY, MAY 10, 2014
ADAMS ALUMNI CENTER
Present:
Jeff Kennedy, Chair
John W. Ballard III
Luke B. Bobo
Aaron R. Brinkman
Donald R. Brada
James E. Bredfeldt
Kevin E. Carroll
Paul L. Carttar
Ray D. Evans, Immediate Past Chair
Marci K. Deuth
Debi Dennis Duckworth
Gregory E. Ek
John H. Jeter
Shelle Hook McCoy
Douglas C. Miller
Debbie Foltz Nordling
Camille Bribiesca Nyberg, Chair-Elect
Richard E. Putnam
Lori Anderson Piening
Mark C. Randall
Scott R. Seyfarth)
Jerry D. Skillett
Larry D. Stoppel
Brenda Marzett Vann
Jeff L. Wolfe
Kevin J. Corbett, President
Tim Brandt, Director, Adams Alumni Center
Michael W. Davis, Senior Vice President for Alumni
and Student Programs and Membership
Brad Eland, Assistant Director of Kansas Programs
Emily Ellison, Alumni Programs Coordinator for
Operations
William S. Green, Senior Vice President for Information
Systems
Bryan E. Greve, Senior Vice President for Hospitality
Services
Teri Harris, Director of Membership
Kelsey Hill, Alumni Programs Coordinator for National
Programs
Paige Pendarvis Hofer, Coordinator for Student Programs
David Johnston, Director of Internet Services and
Marketing
Jacey Krehbiel, Alumni Programs Coordinator
Michelle Miles Lang, Assistant Director of Kansas
Programs
Lynn Loveland, Assistant Director of Kansas ProgramsWichita
Joy Larson Maxwell, Director of Legacy Relations
Jodi Nachtigal, Controller
Dwight S. Parman, Senior Vice President for Finance
and Human Resources
Heath Peterson, Assistant Vice President for Alumni and
Student Programs
Jennifer Jackson Sanner, Senior Vice President for
Communications and Corporate Secretary
Laura Stephens, Assistant Director for Hospitality Services
Angela Riffey Storey, Associate Development Director for
the Alumni Association at KU Endowment
Dan Storey, Staff Photographer and Videographer
Stefanie Shackelford, Vice President for Alumni Records
Tegan Thornberry, Membership Coordinator
Susan Younger, Creative Director
Absent:
Jill Simpson Miller
Betsy Winetroub, Assistant Director of Kansas City
Programs
CALL TO ORDER:
Mr. Kennedy called the meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. and asked for a motion to approve
the minutes the meeting held February 7-8, 2014. Mrs. McCoy made the motion,
seconded by Dr. Bredfeldt, and the Board unanimously approved the February minutes.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE REPORT:
Mr. Kennedy said the bulk of the committee’s discussion would be covered in reports
from the Finance and Audit committees and the executive session later in the day. He
emphasized the importance of the upcoming online survey of Board members, which
would be sent in the next week, and he urged all members to share their opinions and
return their surveys promptly. The Executive Committee will discuss the survey results at
its summer meeting and share all necessary information at the September general meeting
of the Board, he said.
AUTHORIZATION OF ACCOUNT SIGNATURES AND BORROWING:
Mr. Miller made a motion, seconded by Dr. Brada, to authorize the signatures of Mr.
Corbett, Mr. Parman and Mr. Greve on all checking, savings and investment accounts
during 2015 fiscal year. The motion carried unanimously. Mr. Miller’s second motion
called for the authorization of Mr. Corbett and Mr. Parman to borrow as much as $50,000
if necessary during the 2015 fiscal year, and to use as much as $50,000 from the Life
Membership Reserve Fund after consulting with the chair of the Board or the chair of the
Finance Committee. This motion, seconded by Dr. Bredfeldt, also passed unanimously.
NOMINATING COMMITTEE REPORT:
Mrs. Nyberg, committee chair, reported that the group met April 17. Those attending in
addition to Mrs. Nyberg included Mr. Carroll, Mrs. McCoy, Mr. Putnam, Mr. Wolfe and
Mr. Kennedy. As chair of the national Board, Mr. Kennedy served as an ex-officio
member and did not vote.
The committee reviewed the qualifications of 11 nominees, mindful of the Association’s
need for representation in key geographic areas, including New York, Florida, north
central Kansas and southwest Kansas. With the pending conclusions of five-year terms
and recent moves of Board members, these areas currently lack representation, Mrs.
Nyberg said, adding that after Mrs. Nordling ends her term June 30, the Board would
include only seven women.
Mrs. Nyberg explained that each Nominating Committee member was assigned to
interview the nominators recommending each candidate. After discussion, the committee
selected a slate of five alumni to be considered individually by the Board for five-year
terms beginning July 1, 2014:
Carrie Coulson, b’02, l’05, New York City
Cory Lagerstrom, c’94, g’98, l’98, Mission Hills
Cindy Emig Penzler, c’81, m’85, Lawrence
Al Shank, b’77, Liberal
Tim Trump, b’80, l’83, Tulsa, Oklahoma
Mrs. Nyberg asked committee members to provide comments on each nominee to
supplement the brief biographies Mr. Corbett had sent to Board members.
Mr. Putnam introduced the nomination Ms. Coulson, a Life Member who lives in New
York City and was nominated by former Board member Brad Korell. Ms. Coulson has
volunteered for the New York Chapter for more than six years and currently serves on the
local chapter board. She also has participated in student recruitment. She is a partner at
Park Madison Partners. Mr. Ballard endorsed Ms. Coulson, saying she would be a good
fit for the Board.
Mr. Seyfarth made the motion to approve Ms. Coulson as a new member of the Board.
Mr. Ballard seconded the motion, and the Board unanimously elected Ms. Coulson.
Mr. Wolfe introduced the nomination of Mr. Lagerstrom, who is the former president of
Frontier Wealth Management, LLC, and is starting a new wealth management firm. For
the Association, Mr. Lagerstrom, nominated by former Kansas City Chapter president
Brian King, is a Life Member and a Presidents Club member. Mr. Lagerstrom led the
Kansas City Chapter as president and chaired the Rock Chalk Ball. He also has served on
the Chancellors Club advisory board. Mr. Wolfe said that Mr. Lagerstrom had fulfilled
nearly every volunteer role in Kansas City, and he won the Mildred Clodfelter Alumni
Award in 2010 for his longtime service to KU.
Dr. Brada made the motion to elect Mr. Lagerstrom to the Board. Mr. Carroll seconded
the motion, which passed unanimously.
Mr. Davis introduced his nominee Dr. Penzler, a Life Member and an ophthalmologist
with Kresie & Penzler, PA, in Topeka. She has supported the Kansas Honors Program
and served on the Audio-Reader board. She and her husband, Craig, a’82, are Presidents
Club members and members of the Williams Educational Fund for Kansas Athletics.
Dr. Bredfeldt made the motion to elect Dr. Penzler to the Board. Mr. Wolfe seconded the
motion, and Mrs. Penzler was unanimously elected.
Mrs. McCoy introduced the nomination of Mr. Shank, a Life Member who was
nominated by Mrs. Nordling. Mr. Shank, a 1991 Mildred Clodfelter award winner, has
coordinated the local Kansas Honors Program event since 1978 and participated in
Jayhawks for Higher Education. He has helped lead the Southwest Chapter and
volunteered for KU Endowment and Kansas Athletics. Mrs. Nordling said she had relied
on Mr. Shank, president of his own insurance firm, and his wife, Donna, assoc., a former
chair of the Kansas Board of Regents, as vital resources and advisers on a wide range of
subjects, especially the promotion of KU and higher education in southwest Kansas. They
are Presidents Club members.
Mr. Seyfarth made the motion to elect Mr. Shank to the Board. Seconded by Dr. Brada,
the motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Davis introduced another of his nominees, Mr. Trump, an attorney and partner at
Conner & Winters LLP in Tulsa. Mr. Kennedy commented that he has heard many
favorable comments from fellow attorneys regarding Mr. Trump. As a Life Member, Mr.
Trump has helped establish the Association’s new Tulsa Chapter, and he has assisted KU
with student recruitment. He is a donor to the Presidents Club and the School of Law. He
is originally from Salina.
Mr. Carroll made the motion to elect Mr. Trump to the Board. Mr. Miller seconded the
nomination, and members unanimously elected Mr. Trump.
To continue the election process for the 2014-’15 year, Mr. Kennedy nominated Mrs.
Nyberg to lead the Association as national chair. Mr. Miller seconded the motion, which
passed unanimously, followed by applause for Mrs. Nyberg.
On behalf of the Nominating Committee, Mr. Kennedy nominated Mr. Putnam to serve
as the 2014-’15 chair-elect. Mr. Seyfarth seconded the motion, and the Board
unanimously elected and applauded Mr. Putnam.
Mr. Kennedy also explained that three Executive Committee members, Mr. Evans, Mrs.
Nordling and Mr. Miller, would leave the Board at the conclusion of their terms June 30.
He said the Nominating Committee had recommended Mr. Carroll, Mrs. McCoy and Mr.
Wolfe to succeed them. Mr. Evans moved for the election of the three. Dr. Bredfeldt
seconded the motion, and the Board unanimously approved Mr. Carroll, Mrs. McCoy and
Mr. Wolfe as new Executive Committee members for 2014-’15.
AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Mr. Miller shared highlights of the April 16 Audit Committee meeting, which included
an educational session by Jeff Davis, KU Endowment’s senior vice president for finance
and treasurer, on investment policies and practices. Several members of the Finance
Committee participated in the session via telephone.
Mr. Miller also reported the recent resignation of longtime Audit Committee member
Rob Chestnut, who had changed careers and could no longer devote time to the group.
According to the Association’s bylaws, three members of the Audit Committee must be
current members of the Board, and two must come from outside the Board. Mr. Miller
asked that the Board ratify Mr. Kennedy’s appointment of Sandra Hanson Miller (no
relation) a CPA practicing in Lawrence, to the Audit Committee. She would serve with
fellow non-Board member Jeff Morrison of Lawrence. Mrs. McCoy made a motion to
ratify Mrs. Miller’s appointment. Dr. Jeter seconded the motion, which passed
unanimously.
The Audit Committee also met with the Association’s independent auditors from Mize
Houser; the firm has proposed a 2.8 percent increase in the fees for conducting the
current fiscal year audit. Mr. Parman explained that although the Association has
contracted with Mize Houser for a number of years, the firm assigns new partners to
work with the Association every seven years. By acclamation, the Board approved the
continuing agreement with Mize Houser.
Mr. Miller also reported that the Audit Committee had received no “whistle-blower”
reports from within the Association.
From the Finance Committee, Mr. Parman reported that the group had reviewed and
approved the financial statements as of and for the nine-month period ending March 31,
2014, which showed net income from operations of $92,480 on a modified cash basis,
compared to a budgeted loss of $131,704 before capital expenditures, creating a positive
variance of $224,184. The positive variance through nine months of the year is gratifying,
Mr. Parman said, because in recent years the Association’s financial statements for the
same period have often shown negative variances, which improve later in the spring as a
result of successful fundraising at the Rock Chalk Ball in late April.
The committee also reviewed and approved the operating budget $5.643 million for fiscal
year 2015, which represents a 3.79 percent increase over the current fiscal year. Members
also discussed the Association’s insurance coverage and premiums, which remain
unchanged pending a meeting with insurance broker IMA of Kansas. In addition, Mr.
Parman shared with the committee a tentative five-year plan for capital improvements
that he and Mr. Brandt had prepared at Mr. Miller’s request. As a general guide for future
budget forecasts, the plan did not warrant formal approval.
FUNDRAISING REPORT:
Mrs. Storey distributed copies of her report, which highlighted a record year of gifts to
the Association. Membership in the Presidents Club has climbed to 476, she said, and the
organization received an anonymous planned gift of $20 million (an additional $5 million
is committed to KU scholarships). She also announced a lead gift from Mr. Ek and his
wife, Debby, to create a Diverse Student Internship Program for the Association.
Mr. Davis thanked Mr. Ek, who has been a steadfast proponent of increasing diversity
within the Association staff and has invested in a program that will raise the visibility of
the Association among diverse groups on campus. In recent years, several of the
Association’s student interns have moved into full-time positions after graduation, so by
increasing the diversity of the interns, the Association ultimately can recruit more diverse
staff members, Mr. Davis explained. Board members applauded Mr. Ek, who said he
hoped other members would make their own gifts to help ensure that the Association
continues to reflect the diverse KU community.
A staff team led by Mr. Peterson will develop the internship program and extend
opportunities in both the alumni programs and communications departments of the
Association, Mr. Davis said.
Mrs. Storey said the planned gift to the Association is among the largest commitments to
KU Endowment’s Far Above campaign. Including that gift, the Association had raised
$24,022,723, including $954,723 in cash, she added.
Mr. Kennedy praised Mr. Corbett and Mrs. Storey for securing the planned gift. Other
alumni associations nationally have taken notice of the “transformative” gift, he said.
ALUMNI AWARDS REPORT:
Mr. Davis shared the recent decision of the Fred Ellsworth Medallion Selection
Committee to award two medallions at the annual fall Board meeting dinner September
19. The two medalists are former national chair Jay Howard, j’79, of Austin, Texas, and
Margaret Shirk, c’39, Lawrence, a longtime volunteer and former Association staff
member. Mr. Howard led the effort to help improve KU student recruitment and create
the Jayhawk Generations Scholarship for out-of-state legacy students. Mrs. Shirk helped
organize and host countless Association reunions and other events through the years, and
her family’s barn was the site of many parties for KU students.
Mr. Peterson announced the winners of the Dick Wintermote Volunteer of the Year for
outstanding chapter leaders and the Mildred Clodfelter awards for KU volunteers who
have served 10 years or more in their communities. Both groups will be featured in
upcoming issues of Kansas Alumni magazine and on the Association’s website.
The 2014 Wintermote recipients are:
• Nick Kallail, d’94, l’07, Houston
• Philip Moran, e’80, Houston
• Chris Colyer, b’04, l’09, Phoenix
• Bevan Graybill, c’08, Oklahoma City
The 2014 Millie winners are:
• Dee Burrows Clifford, c’71, Reno, Nevada
• Warren Corman, e’50, Lawrence
• Kelly Finnerty, e’98, Minneapolis, Minnesota
• Leland Hansen, p’71, Hiawatha
CHANCELLOR’S REPORT:
Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little discussed highlights from the 2013-’14 academic year,
which was the third year of implementing the University’s strategic plan, Bold
Aspirations, and the first year of the new undergraduate general education curriculum, the
KU Core. She shared several examples of KU’s achievements and ongoing challenges:
• Fall 2013 marked the second straight year of growth in freshman enrollment and
another record year in the average ACT scores of these new students.
• Graduate enrollment at the master’s level is becoming more challenging as online
courses proliferate. KU now offers an online master’s degree curriculum in special
education, ranked first in the nation among public universities.
• National rankings for the schools of Business, Law and Medicine saw double-digit
increases, and every department in the School of Engineering improved in rankings.
• As part of the Far Above campaign, KU continues to seek support for graduate
fellowships to help strengthen recruitment of graduate students.
• The Kansas Legislature funded the Health Education Building with $25 million in State
General Fund-backed bonds, and in two weeks KU will announce a matching private gift.
In addition, the University has earmarked $15 million from other sources to launch
construction of the building, which will enable the School of Medicine to increase
enrollment to help meet the state’s critical shortage of physicians.
• KU has recruited three renowned scholars to join the faculty as Foundation Professors,
part of a program to help strengthen research and teaching to sustain KU’s membership in
the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU). The new faculty members
are Christopher Beard in paleontology, David Roediger in American Studies and history,
and William Picking in genetics and infectious diseases. Recruitment of nine additional
Foundation Professors is underway.
Following her remarks, Chancellor Gray-Little answered questions from Board members,
including Dr. Brada, who asked about KU’s recruitment of academic “all-stars” from
Lawrence high schools. Acknowledging the tough competition for these students, she
said KU recently hosted its third annual Top Scholars reception for local students. The
event was well attended and helped demonstrate to these students that they can find a
vastly different and broadening experience at KU, even though it is the “local” university.
Mr. Kennedy asked the Chancellor how KU succeeded in securing state funds for the
Health Education Initiative, despite the pervasive pessimism early in the legislative
session about the prospects for higher education. She described the outcome of the
session as “mixed,” because the state-backed bonds for the new building essentially
replaced the $25 million in FICA funds that the federal government had returned to the
School of Medicine. Instead of giving this repayment to the medical school, legislators
used those funds to help pay for K-12 education, she explained.
She also said that another KU proposal of $2 million for the Translational Chemical
Biology Institute was the only project the Legislature rejected on a list of special projects
for all Regents universities, which had been recommended by Governor Sam Brownback.
The Chancellor said the efforts of the Jayhawks for Higher Education were critical in
securing legislative support for the Health Education Building, and she thanked Mr.
Kennedy and the Board for their leadership in advocacy. She said the Association’s
continuing work to identify specific alumni to communicate with individual legislators
would be vital in the upcoming sessions.
Mr. Bobo said he had met recently with an alumna of the School of Social Welfare who
had requested to participate in the hooding ceremony for her daughter, who is receiving
her doctorate in social welfare. The Chancellor said she understood the importance of the
request, but in order to efficiently conduct dozens of graduation ceremonies throughout
Commencement weekend, the University must adhere to its policy of allowing only
faculty members to participating in the hooding ceremonies.
Mr. Carttar asked about the long-term impact on KU of the increasing national trend
toward online education and the University’s plan to remain competitive in a vastly
changing higher education industry. The Chancellor explained that in addition to the
online master’s degree in special education, KU already offers online degrees in all levels
of nursing and blended courses—which combine online and classroom instruction—in
selected programs, including the master’s in social work. The University is working with
a marketing firm to research other potential markets for additional online courses, she
said, and it is stepping up its efforts to recruit international students, with an ambitious
goal of quadrupling international enrollment.
In response to a question from Dr. Bredfeldt about the KU Core undergraduate
curriculum, the Chancellor said the program focuses on six educational outcomes across
all academic disciplines. Students must demonstrate mastery in these areas, but they can
achieve the goals through a variety of classroom, research and community service
experiences. The KU Core simplifies requirements and enables students to complete them
in a reasonable amount of time, she said. Ultimately the curriculum should help KU
achieve its goals of increasing the freshman-to-sophomore retention rate from 80 percent
to 90 percent and the six-year graduation rate from 60 percent to 70 percent.
Mr. Ballard asked about KU’s efforts to help students avoid excessive debt as they
struggle to pay for college. She said KU’s proposed tuition increase of 3.4 percent for the
2014-’15 academic year is the lowest among Regents institutions, and the four-year
tuition compact for freshman means that two-thirds of students will see no increase in
their costs. She emphasized that KU remains committed to maintaining affordability, and
its cost remains comparatively low nationally; KU tuition is currently the ninth lowest
among the 34 public AAU institutions. Campus leaders and students on the Tuition
Advisory Committee agreed on the proposed 3.4 percent increase, she explained.
Mrs. Vann thanked Chancellor Gray-Little for attending the Kauffman Foundation
recruiting event in Kansas City.
Ms. Rohleder and Mr. Seyfarth asked how out-of-state alumni could continue to assist the
University. The Chancellor said KU alumni continue to strengthen KU as dedicated
student recruiters and generous donors. Those who live outside Kansas also can urge their
in-state friends and family to strongly advocate for KU with their local legislators.
MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE REPORT:
Mr. Stoppel thanked members of the committee for their energy and engagement. He
reported that the ranks of Life Members in the Association have increased by a net 600.
Annual membership continues to decline, in part because many annual members have
upgraded to Jayhawk Society or Life membership, but recruitment and retention of
annual members remain challenging. Staff members shared examples from the recent
direct mail appeal that follows the “Proud Member” theme, which resulted from an
executive session discussion among Board members at the May 2013 meeting. Ms. Harris
thanked staff members for rallying to make progress on the Proud Member campaign as a
final membership push for the fiscal year. The direct mail campaign includes 40,000
lapsed or never members with targeted messages for alumni who participated in
fraternities and sororities and those who did not. In addition, the Class of 2013 members
will receive a special flier urging them to renew their memberships with issue No. 3 of
Kansas Alumni magazine, which is the final magazine of their one-year gift membership
provided by KU Endowment. The incentive for renewing is a custom chrome license
plate frame; Ms. Harris thanked Mrs. Younger for designing the frame, adding that
frames are available for Board members.
Ms. Harris also reported that upcoming ’Hawk Days of Summer events would focus on
thanking members for their loyalty and participation; members who attend activities will
choose between Jayhawk luggage tags or custom microfiber cleaning cloths for
eyeglasses or digital screens.
Ms. Thornberry reviewed the “Where in the World is Your Jayhawk?” campaign for
Future Jayhawks membership recruitment.
Mrs. Piening thanked Mr. Stoppel, who completes his five-year term June 30, for his
leadership of the Membership Committee. The Board applauded Mr. Stoppel.
ALUMNI, STUDENT PROGRAMS & SPECIAL EVENTS COMMITTEE REPORT:
Mrs. Nordling described the impressive growth in the variety of programs and
opportunities to engage alumni, citing the popularity of the touring exhibition of James
Naismith artifacts hosted by the Association and KU Libraries. She commended the staff
for working with campus partners to create new academic programs, including new
activities for ’Hawk Days of Summer. She also reminded Board members that for high
school graduates coming to KU, membership in the Student Alumni Association is a
wonderful graduation gift, and she thanked Mr. Ek for providing gifts to several KU
freshmen in recent years. The programs committee also discussed the need to gather
chapter leaders for a biennial retreat to exchange ideas and meet with deans and other KU
representatives from various academic units, she said.
Mrs. Nordling then asked staff members to highlight four recent activities. Mr. Peterson
began by presenting the Rock Chalk Ball report for Ms. Winetroub, who was in Kansas
City to help the chapter host a biospecimen drive to benefit KU Cancer Center research.
The Kentucky Derby-themed ball, “Jayhawks and Juleps,” drew a record crowd of 900
alumni and friends April 26 to the Overland Park Convention Center. Todd and Laura
Sutherland, Presidents Club members and volunteers in Lawrence, chaired the 19th annual
event. Steve Doocy, j’79, of Fox News in New York served as guest emcee. The silent
auction, coordinated by Ms. Krehbiel, included 130 items, and the live auction included a
winning bid of $17,000 on a trip for four to the 2015 Kentucky Derby on a private jet
provided by ball benefactor Executive Airshares and the traditional Fund-a-Need auction
to directly support Association programs. Because of increased attendance, revenue from
ticket sales increased by more than $10,000, Mr. Peterson said. Although all expenses are
not yet final, staff members estimate that the silent and live auctions succeeded in
matching last year’s record fundraising total of $140,000, he said.
Mr. Rockers described the “Snapshots in Time” event for the Lawrence chapter in March
at the Dole Institute of Politics. Keith Wood, d’69, chapter president, assembled a panel
discussion of alumni pictured in a photo from a 1963 visit to Kansas by Sen. Bob Dole,
’45, and the Dole Institute archivist shared artifacts and answered questions from alumni.
Ms. Krehbiel reported on the April reunions of the Class of 1964 and the Gold Medal
Club. The 50-year reunion included 110 alumni and guests, and 73 class members
received their gold Jayhawk pins. The Gold Medal Club reunion included 140 alumni and
friends. The weekend included campus tours by longtime University architect (and 2014
Millie award recipient) Warren Corman, a special Replant Mount Oread event to
celebrate efforts to preserve the campus landscape, KU choral performances and remarks
from the Chancellor, vice chancellor for public affairs Tim Caboni and business dean
Neeli Bendapudi, PhD’95.
Ms. Hill shared highlights from the Southwest Tumble February 22. The event
accomplished its goals of engaging young alumni, identifying new volunteers and
recruiting new Presidents Club members, three of whom joined during the event. Ms. Hill
also read a blog post from alumnus Michael Andrusak, l’13, who had recently moved to
Ulysses from Malibu, California.
Mr. Wolfe thanked Mrs. Nordling for chairing the committee during her five years on the
Board, and fellow members applauded her.
COMMUNICATIONS, MARKETING AND RECORDS COMMITTEE REPORT:
Mr. Putnam thanked the staff members for their thorough and informative discussion of
the Proud Member print and video campaigns, Jayhawks for Higher Education, the
website, pending changes to the contract with iModules for online services, and the
Association’s continuing progress in connecting with alumni through social media.
Highlights included:
• JHE membership grew 15 percent over the legislative session to include 1,771 alumni.
• The Association delivers an average of 143 broadcast emails monthly to 973,000
alumni and friends.
• Beginning with issue No. 4, 2014, all copies of Kansas Alumni will be mailed in plastic
bags made of recycled material to avoid damage caused by new U.S. Postal Service
sorting equipment.
• The Association is working with iModules to renew its contract early and reconfigure
the agreement. Staff members hope to enable other campus units to use the iModules
tools to deliver their own broadcast emails, while the Association would continue its role
in protecting and updating the alumni records database. In preparation for this change, the
Association updated its email policy.
• Ms. Johanning created social media guidelines for staff members and chapter volunteers
to use throughout ’Hawk Days of Summer.
PRESIDENT’S REPORT:
Mr. Corbett thanked Board members for sharing lunch outside with graduating seniors
for SAA’s annual Grad Grill. The May meeting is his favorite time of year, he said,
except for the fact that the staff and the Board must say goodbye to retiring members.
For many reasons 2013-’14 year has been the single best year in the 131-year history of
the KU Alumni Association, he said, and Board members responded with applause.
He offered numerous examples of success, including:
• The Association launched a new website, including enhanced blog posts and video
features from a variety of events throughout the year.
• The Association received consistent praise and gratitude from colleagues in Strong Hall
and across campus for its academic partnerships and persistent legislative advocacy
during a difficult economic and political era.
• The organization has moved forward in its multi-year quest to secure land for a
potential expansion, and anonymous donors already have committed a $2 million gift to
help fund the growth of student programs in a larger Alumni Center.
• Presidents Club membership continues to soar, passing 475 and maintaining a renewal
rate of more than 90 percent. Donors see their funds in action and they appreciate the
Association’s continuing stewardship and expressions of thanks for their generosity. The
organization maintains an outstanding reputation for its service to alumni and friends and
the University as a powerful and relevant force for change. The increasing diversity of
academic programs for alumni has only added to the Association’s prominence.
• The Association delivered more than 1 million emails and its communications won five
regional awards from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education.
• The organization’s LinkedIn page includes the largest number of alumni and friends
among all KU LinkedIn pages.
• Total Association assets grew by more than $1.8 million.
• The 19th annual Rock Chalk Ball in Kansas City was “the best yet,” in the words of the
event’s cofounders.
• Life Members increased to a record level of nearly 18,000.
• An extraordinary $20 million planned gift has helped safeguard the Association’s future
and caused a sensation among alumni associations.
After citing evidence of success, Mr. Corbett also addressed the organization’s challenge
in annual membership, which has declined by 4,000 in recent years—although 2,000
former annual members are now Life Members. He credited Ms. Harris and the entire
staff membership team for working together on numerous efforts to increase membership,
which resulted in revenue surpassing budgeted forecasts for seven months during the
year. He also thanked Mr. Wolfe for recommending a book, The End of Membership as
We Know It, which provides examples of the membership struggles of numerous
organizations and analyzes the motivations of younger generations X and Y, who want to
maintain a work/life balance, remain committed to service, and want to know that their
participation in organizations will make a difference in the world. The Association must
continue to demonstrate in tangible ways its commitment to serve and strengthen KU,
Mr. Corbett said.
He shared a comment from Martin Grenzebach, renowned fundraising consultant who
has assisted in the three most recent KU Endowment campaigns, including Far Above.
Mr. Grenzebach affirmed that the challenge for all alumni associations is to measure and
demonstrate their value to potential members—beyond paving the way for alumni gifts to
future campaigns. He also said that the alumni relations profession as a whole recognizes
that the KU Alumni Association is far ahead of others in redefining the roles of alumni
associations, Mr. Grenzebach told Mr. Corbett.
Mr. Corbett said he is most proud of the fact that the Association has succeeded in
building human capital by recruiting record numbers of volunteers and retaining talented
staff members. The organizations recently celebrated staff anniversaries, including Mr.
Parman’s 15-year tenure, the 20-year tenures of Mr. Green and graphic designer Valerie
Spicher, and the 30-year tenure of Mrs. Sanner.
He concluded by saying, “The KU Alumni Association has staked its flag, raised a lot of
eyebrows, made a major impact on the University and had a lot of fun in the process,”
adding he would always appreciate this year’s success, and he hoped Board members and
staff members would do the same.
The meeting adjourned to executive session at 4 p.m. to discuss the annual
performance evaluation of the president and CEO. The Board reconvened at 10
a.m. Saturday, May 10, at the Dole Institute of Politics, following breakfast and a
tour of the Institute’s exhibits and collections.
ELECTION OF PRESIDENT & CEO, TREASURER AND SECRETARY:
Mr. Kennedy asked the Board to officially re-elect Mr. Corbett, Mr. Parman and Mrs.
Sanner to serve as officers of the corporation for 2014-’15.
Mrs. McCoy made a motion to re-elect Mr. Corbett as president; Dr. Brada seconded the
motion, and the Board unanimously re-elected Mr. Corbett.
Mr. Carroll made the motion to re-elect Mrs. Sanner as secretary. Dr. Brada seconded the
motion, which passed unanimously.
Mrs. McCoy moved to re-elect Mr. Parman as treasurer. Following a second by Dr.
Bredfeldt, the motion carried unanimously.
YEAR IN REVIEW:
Mr. Corbett introduced the annual year-end video created by Mr. Storey. The group
applauded the thoughtful and humorous presentation.
FAREWELL TO RETIRING BOARD MEMBERS AND CHAIR’S REMARKS:
Mr. Kennedy said the tradition of honoring board members as they completed their
service is always bittersweet. As he introduced Mr. Miller, Mr. Kennedy said he “never
felt a moment of discomfort about the Association’s finances” because of the wise and
steady guidance of Mr. Miller as chair of the Audit and Finance committees. He thanked
Mr. Miller for the extensive time he committed to leading the two groups and providing
expert advice to Mr. Parman, Mrs. Nachtigal, Mr. Corbett and other staff members.
Mr. Miller said his service had been a true honor and he was grateful for the long-lasting
friendships he had formed with amazingly talented Board and staff members. He
especially thanked Mr. Corbett, Mr. Parman and Mrs. Nachtigal. Members of the finance
staff are “true gems” and he has never worked with a more talented and competent team.
He also thanked Mrs. Nordling and Mr. Stoppel, his fellow retiring board members. The
Board and staff members applauded Mr. Miller.
As he introduced Mrs. Nordling, Mr. Kennedy said she has been “an absolute joy to work
with,” continuing the Nordling family’s tradition as outstanding Jayhawk volunteers in
southwest Kansas. KU’s increased visibility and reputation in western Kansas results
largely from the efforts of loyal volunteers like Mrs. Nordling. A few years ago, when
former chair Sue Watson asked Board members to recount the stories behind their
decisions to come to KU as students, Mr. Kennedy said he was truly impressed by Mrs.
Nordling’s story, and he knew then “she was a keeper.”
Mrs. Nordling first paid tribute to Mr. Corbett for landing the record $20 million planned
gift to the Association and for his diplomacy in dealing with alumni and University
colleagues. She also thanked Mr. Davis for his empathy and Mr. Peterson for his passion
for KU. She described the ways in which her service on the Board—and learning from
fellow volunteers—have helped her become an effective leader in her community in
founding a local food bank and raising funds for a new organ and new roof at her church.
“I make a difference because you taught me so well,” she said. “Even in the land of the
purple I will fly my ’Hawk high.” As she concluded her remarks, everyone applauded
Mrs. Nordling.
Mr. Kennedy introduced Mr. Stoppel, thanking him for his “incredible energy, devotion
and dedication” to leading the Membership Committee and working with staff members.
He described Mr. Stoppel as a tireless and effective ambassador for the Association.
Mr. Stoppel said his five years had provided a fun, memorable ride for him and his wife,
Nancy, and he pledged their commitment to remain involved in the Association and KU.
He said he appreciated the friendships he had formed with the energetic and quirky staff,
and he thanked Ms. Harris for her professional, methodical approach to membership
recruitment and retention and her gracious team approach to the enterprise. He also
thanked Mr. Parman for his informative “Finance 101” presentation and praised Mr.
Corbett as a respected KU leader. He praised the Association’s commitment to engaging
alumni through varied activities, including academic programs, which now account for
80 percent of the Association’s events. “Everything we do truly does benefit KU,” he
concluded, as Board and staff members applauded.
Mr. Kennedy then introduced Mr. Evans, immediate past chair of the Association, saying
he deeply appreciated Mr. Evans’ thorough notes from his year of leading the
organization and he will always be grateful for his warmth and great judgment.
Mr. Evans said the accomplishments of the staff each year have been remarkable, and he
lauded the Association’s commitment to customer service, especially as so many
University departments continue to struggle in this vital area. The Association is known
for always putting graduate and students first, he said. He thanked Mr. Parman and Mrs.
Nachtigal, Mr. Miller and former Finance and Audit committees chair Howard Cohen for
their timely and thorough financial reports. He praised Mr. Davis, Mr. Johnston and Ms.
Harris for their attention to detailed metrics and their personal thank-you notes. He
thanked Mrs. Sanner for her talent and abiding friendship since their student years. He
commended Mr. Kennedy for his leadership, especially as a champion of legislative
advocacy for higher education, and he thanked Mrs. Nyberg for her graciousness and
ability to build consensus, which he said would serve her well as the Association’s chair.
Mr. Evans cited four qualities of leadership:
• the ability to identify talent and lure capable people to your organization;
• development of talent among existing staff and volunteers;
• attention to customer service and “making the ask”
• institutional knowledge
Mr. Corbett possesses all of these qualities, and he has demonstrated his leadership as
someone willing to “think big,” Mr. Evans said. As a result, the Association is a trusted
organization, and the Presidents Club continues to thrive because it offers the best return
on donors’ investments. Members of the Board and staff applauded Mr. Evans.
Mr. Kennedy said “this has been the best year of my life” both personally and
professionally, and he and his wife, Patti, have treasured his time as chair of the
Association. His friendships with fellow Board members and staff have affirmed that the
University of Kansas is truly a special place that changes lives and teaches young people
to “think differently and make a difference.” He urged everyone to remain ardent
ambassadors for KU and the Association and encourage alumni to become members, and
he continued to believe that the Board’s role was to provide support and advice and “stay
the hell out of the way of a truly remarkable staff.” He thanked Mr. Corbett and his team
for raising the profile of the Association, once considered “a quiet stepchild” to
prominence as a trusted leader.
Mr. Corbett thanked Mr. Kennedy for his stalwart support, especially as a powerful,
behind-the-scenes advocate for KU in the Legislature. He also shared the news that the
Wichita Business Journal had honored Mr. Kennedy as Attorney of the Year. In
appreciation for his leadership, Mr. Corbett presented Jayhawk luggage to Mr. Kennedy
for his continuing travels with Patti.
INCOMING CHAIR’S REMARKS:
As she prepared to begin her term as chair July 1, Mrs. Nyberg said she is honored to
follow the legacy and the “large footprints” of her predecessors. She thanked recent
former chairs for their spirit and vision, lauding Sue Watson for promoting shared
memories and traditions, Jay Howard for advancing student recruitment and legacy
scholarships, Jeff Briley for his tireless travel and vision for expansion, Mr. Evans for his
focus on membership, and Mr. Kennedy for his leadership in legislative matters. All have
advocated successfully for change, she said, and she vowed to listen attentively to the
desires and concerns of fellow Jayhawks as the Association continues to develop new
programs. She said she looked forward to working over the summer to prepare for the fall
Board meeting September 19-20 and an exciting year to come.
Amid applause, the meeting adjourned at 11:25 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Jennifer Jackson Sanner
Corporate Secretary
Senior Vice President for Communications