Members Present: Tom Andrews, Cathey Boggs, John Bowles, Julie Bradshaw, Jacque Brown, Tom DeWeese, Kevin Ervin, Mark Ervin, Wayne Estopinal, Tom Farris, Charles Green, Jim Grim, Hollis Hughes, Kathy Hutson, Jenell Joiner, Dave Land, Holly Mahnensmith, Mike McMillen, Phil Metcalf, Doug Reddington, Ed Shipley, Mark Smith, Kim Stout, Steph Walton, and Lori Wean.

Staff Present: Tracy Curry, Ernie Krug, Debbie Linegar, Charlotte Shepperd, Sue Taylor, Michelle Vore, and Kate Webber.

Guests Present: Jennifer Witman and Melissa Kish.

President Cathey Boggs called the 106th meeting of the Ball State University Alumni Council to order at 10:20 a.m.

MINUTES

Referring the Council to pages 3-10 of the background report for a review of the minutes of the previous Council meeting, Boggs asked for corrections or additions.  There being none, Phil Metcalf moved to approve the minutes as presented, Wayne Estopinal seconded the motion, and it passed by voice vote.

REPORTS

A.  Executive and Finance Committee - President Boggs began by recapping activities in which she had participated throughout the summer.  Boggs commented on the variety of activities that continue to be hosted by the Association and encouraged Council members to attend any events they could fit into their schedules.  She added that the pre-game rallies are a very good addition to the Association's activities.  Ed Shipley noted that the first rally was hosted before Ball State's first game of the season, played under lights against Indiana State.  It was an excellent event, he said, and commented that the rally to follow the Council meeting would include 40-plus legacy scholarship recipients and their families, in addition to 20-plus past presidents of the Alumni Association.  The count for each of the first two rallies has well-exceeded 300.  The rallies, which will be hosted before each of the Cardinals' home games this year, will follow the same format.  There is no formal program and fans attending are coming to be a part of the festive pre-game atmosphere.

The Executive and Finance Committee met prior to the full Council meeting.  Boggs informed the Council that the Association is in good financial shape.

B.   Financial Position - Wayne Estopinal referred to page 11 of the background report for a review of the Association's Foundation accounts.  He stated that there were no specific items of note since the last meeting.  The balance in the combined accounts of $2,070,639.88 indicates that the Association has strong reserves.  The savings account has declined by nearly $114,000 since May, Estopinal said, referencing Item 3 of the 2003 budget on page 12 of the background report, Departmental Support/Alumni Programs to demonstrate how that money has been used to date.  Changes in the production of the Ball State Alumnus magazine have already begun to show predicted results, as the Association looks to the entire budget year.  Estopinal also referenced the license plate revenue as being one significant revenue opportunity for the Association.  In summary, Estopinal reported that, with over $2 million in reserves and the cost-cutting measures doing what had been projected so far, the Association remains in financially sound shape.

C.  Ball StateBoard of Trustees - Tom DeWeese, president of the board, reported that it appears that the athletic cuts have been accepted and gave credit to Intercollegiate Athletics Director Bubba Cunningham for tackling a very difficult situation and including many individuals and groups in the process.  He added that enrollment is up this year and the university's retention rate is good.  We have done a lot at Ball State to continue to increase the quality of students attending the institution.  The previous week, the board met to accept a gift from the Wallace T. Miller, Jr. estate, the largest single individual gift ($17.1 million) in the university's history.  The gift, evolving from a long-time cultivation of the Miller family, will be used, in part, for an endowed professorship in Phyllis Miller's name, and also becomes the impetus for the naming of the College of Business in honor of the donor.

D.  Ball State University Foundation - Mark Ervin stated that the Foundation board met June 28 in the Alumni Center.  He reported that a task force concluded its work and significant policy was approved that will affect how the Foundation is funded.  In an effort to provide some insulation for prospective economic shock that can result from a volatile stock market, the Foundation is looking at establishing a fees structure to cover operational expenses for the maintenance of accounts.  To a question from Kevin Ervin regarding how the fees will be determined and allocated, Mark Ervin said that the structure is still being evaluated, but will likely include management fees for permanently maintained funds.  He said the general concept is still that 100 percent of any restricted gift be available through the designated fund.  Fees might come through telemarketing efforts and increased giving to the university's Greater University Fund, which provides unrestricted money to the university, averting an assessment structure from contributions made for specified purposes. Ervin said that the philosophical change is the greatest concern at this point.

The Foundation has been very active in keeping with its strategic plan.  The task force is in the process of addressing internal operations of the board and will prepare recommendations on a number of items, including such issues as recruiting and retaining board members and how to acknowledge and grant emeritus status to its members.

Ervin concluded by acknowledging and commending the Alumni Association staff and the Alumni Council body for helping work through the arduous process of budget restraints.

E.  Nominating Committee - Wayne Estopinal referred the Council to page 14 of the background report for the committee's recommendations for officers, executive committee members, and new and retiring members.  Officers for 2004 include: Estopinal, president; Cathey Boggs, past president; Mark Ervin, Foundation representative; Julie Bradshaw, president elect; and vice presidents Tom Cochrun, Tom Farris, Charles Green, and Jo Ann Johnston.  Lori Wean retires from the Council at the end of the calendar year.  Jerilyn Meditch Giska was recommended for appointment as a new at-large member.  Dave Land moved to accept the slate as presented, Doug Reddington seconded the motion, and it passed by voice vote.

F.  Services - Steph Walton referred to pages 15-17 of the background report for a review of the Association's services.  Cardinal Corner remains solvent.  Walton reported that the Services Committee had met prior to the Council meeting to hear two presentations on ways to improve and increase our offerings to alumni.  One opportunity is through a loan consolidation program through our current partner insurance company, AIA.  Ed Shipley stated that there are two companies that offer insurance programs through collegiate associations.  The Association works with one that represents some 280 institutions across the country, so it is well-grounded. Offerings are extensive and we are faced with the decision of whether or not we wish to be involved with additional offerings.  Shipley said that the Council needs to look at, essentially, two issues: 1) whether the Association should be involved in assisting graduates to evaluate loan consolidation; and 2) whether we wish to provide a program.

A fact was stated that currently 61 percent of Ball State students have college loans of $10,000 or more.

Kevin Ervin said that, "We certainly don't need a credit card service, because if you look in your mailbox everyday, there is a credit card mailer.  But we know the potential is there to bring revenue to us."  Walton inquired whether it is ethical for us to "create the loan, then offer a way to pay it back."  Ed Shipley said the loan program offerings through institutions is relatively new.  Perhaps we need to look at the fact that the consolidation reduces the loan diversity and provides, prospectively, a lower interest rate to the borrower than might be available through other means.  He added that the Alumni Association would not be making money from the loan itself, but through the company as it promotes the opportunity to alumni.  Therefore, the borrower incurs no additional debt.  Hollis Hughes pointed out that the Council should not forget that the silent partner in the entire process is the state legislature, which continues to dictate our necessity for raising tuition.  Wayne Estopinal added that, if the Association would decide to become involved, we would, in effect, become a silent partner, too.  He suggested that an added obligation is to evaluate the company's ethics and collection practices to be sure that we have selected a reputable company.

The committee will meet at lunch to review the concepts and proposals.  A final proposal will be distributed by e-mail or at the next Council meeting for approval.

G.  Coach of the Year - Julie Bradshaw referred the Council to page 17 of the background report for a listing of the spring 2003 award recipients.  They are: Mike Holman, ‘78MAE85, Lawrence Central High School, boy's track; Steve Kearney, ‘70, Chesterton High School, girl's track; Tim Cleland, ‘87, Delta High School, girl's tennis; Jennifer Mascari, ‘99, Culver Academy, softball; Ron Murphy, ‘87, Richmond High School, boy's golf; and Bill Stoudt, ‘71MA75, Pendleton Heights, baseball.

ALUMNI ACTIVITIES

Pages 19-20 of the background report contains past events, while upcoming events are listed on pages 21-22.  A variety of summer activities, including reunions, symphonies, and golf outings was mentioned.  Upcoming activities include a Delta Sigma Theta reunion, athletic team reunions, and Homecoming week events.

Jennifer Witman, general chair, and Melissa Kish, community and Greek liaison, represented this year's Homecoming Steering Committee.  With the theme, "Wild With Pride," the committee is comprised of 17 members.  There are a number of activities planned for Homecoming week, including the traditional bed race, student talent search, royalty coronation, and parade.  A step show, sponsored by the National Panhellenic Council, has been added to the agenda for Opening Day.  This year's spirit event is set for Wednesday night and will include a block party in the Village, with radio station 93.1 participating.  To encourage greater participation with the parade, the committee this year will offer golf carts to student organizations, which will offer an alternative to floats.  Carts will be decorated Homecoming morning and will be undecorated and returned immediately following the parade.  Seventy-six royalty candidates will compete for king, queen, and their respective courts, and the steering committee will sponsor a faculty/staff king and queen competition for the second year.

Promotional items include a shirt, cup, and inflatable football.  Council members were offered a complimentary shirt and cup during the meeting.

CONSTITUENT ORGANIZATION REPORTS

A.  Constituent Societies

Alumni Ambassadors and Alumni Leaders - Tom Andrews reported that a number of events had been hosted by ambassadors throughout the summer.  Among them, Andrews said, was the Eastern Indiana golf and dinner outing, chaired by Ric Study; the Kokomo area golf and dinner outing, coordinated by Craig Dunn; the Sigma Alpha Epsilon golf and dinner outing, chaired by Jason Llewellyn; and the Sigma Phi Epsilon golf and dinner outing, chaired by Dan Van Treese. Traci Knoblauch is coordinating activities for a Boston-area activity in conjunction with Ball State's game against Boston College September 27.

Black Alumni - Jenell Joiner reported on the Black Alumni reunion, which was hosted on campus August 1-3.  Several alumni attended for the first time, she said, adding that a few Council members were present, including President Cathey Boggs.  Three alumni were honored as Outstanding Black Alumni.  They are: Eugene White, Milbert Brown, and Mary Dollison.  The Black Alumni board will meet September 27 on campus to review the reunion and begin planning activities for 2004.

Cardinal Football Alliance- Tracy Curry stated that 96 golfers and a total of 110 individuals participated in a CFA lettermen golf outing and dinner hosted at the Muncie Elks Club, August 1. Membership for the group continues to grow and the group plans to conduct three or four events next year.  The next activity will be during Homecoming, when all lettermen will be invited back to campus.

B.  Professional Societies

Architecture and Planning - In opening remarks, Doug Reddington commented that he was proud to say that Mike Holman, who received the Alumnus Coach of the Year Award for boy's track, was his roommate in college.  CAP's alumni weekend is set for September 19-20, during which a reunion is scheduled for the class of 1978 CAP graduates.  CAP Alumni Day is on Saturday.  There will also be a board meeting during the weekend.  CAP alumni participated in the Indy Art Walk, sponsored by the College of Fine Arts Alumni Society, September 4.  Reddington stated that The Indy Center, with space in the downtown area, welcomes requests for use of the space.  In coming months, the CAP group will discuss ways to get alumni engaged and involved with the university.

Business - Mark Smith stated that the board met June 25.  Among the group's accomplishments, Smith said that a successful letter-writing campaign involved 50 alumni who collectively sent 962 letters to prospective students of the college.  He added that 449 students had committed to attend Ball State in the fall.  Smith said that the annual dialogue activities will extend for a week, October 27-31, and will precede Family Weekend.  He concluded by adding that the gift from the Miller estate places the college in an even higher echelon among business schools nationwide. Wally Miller, who obtained a civil engineering degree from Purdue, received his master's degree from Ball State.  The President of Miller's Merry Manors, he had served four terms on the College of Business Alumni board and was a professor of business at Ball State.  Two children of Wally and Phyllis Miller are also Ball State graduates.

Family and Consumer Sciences - Sue Taylor stated that the group had not met since the last Council meeting.  The board will meet November 20, following the sixth annual Career Mentoring Day.  Nearly 30 alumni will share career experiences with the students who attend.

Fine Arts - Jacque Brown reported that the Indy Art Walk, September 4 in Indianapolis, was a successful event, involving 191 registered participants.  The event began and concluded at the Rathskeller and included stops at other local vendors along Massachusetts Avenue.  The College of Fine Arts board will meet October 21.

Journalism - Jim Grim reported that nearly 100 alumni and guests attended the first-ever Student Media Alumni Reunion at the Alumni Center, June 21.  In addition to a casual dinner, a DJ provided music and MP Records in Indianapolis, owned and operated by board member Pam Records and her husband Mark, took photos of guests and developed them as part of a special edition cover for the event.  The Chicago outing, scheduled for August 9, was canceled and the board will consider another activity that might involve Chicagoland area alumni.  The next meeting is set for September 13 at the Alumni Center.

NREM - Sue Taylor reported that the board had met August 28, prior to the Indiana State vs. Ball State football game.  The group discussed its awards program and reviewed information on prospective alumni.  The NREM Society will host its annual Career Day, October 7, on campus.  Internship Day is set for January 27, 2004 in the Alumni Center.                       

Nursing - Kathy Hutson said that the board met August 26.  Members continue planning a community service project, scheduled for the Muncie Children's Museum.  Among opportunities, visitors will be able to engage in hands-on experiences.  The nursing pinning ceremony is December 20 in Pruis Hall.  There will be a picnic for prospective and current nursing students, September 15.  Ball State's School of Nursing continues to rank very well among nursing schools nationwide.  The school received excellent at pass rate (100%) by the NCLEX-RN Accrediting Association.  The next board meeting is October 28.

Teachers College - Phil Metcalf said that the board had not met since the last Council meeting, but members had been active throughout the summer to help Teachers College gain visibility.  Teachers College alumni were especially invited to take part in the Indianapolis area Symphony on the Prairie and will participate in an event at Churchill Downs next May.  The next board meeting is set for September 20.

C.  Alumni Clubs

Adams-Wells - Holly Mahnensmith reported that the Adams-Wells Club hosted its annual golf outing June 26 in Decatur.  Despite rain, 52 individuals participated in the golf and dinner event.  The Adopt-a-Highway sign is up on the stretch of highway that has been claimed for clean-up by the Adams-Wells Club.  The next trash pick-up date is October 4.  The group will also participate in the Bluffton Street Parade this fall.   The next meeting for the board is scheduled for September 9.

Greater Indianapolis- Kevin Ervin stated that the club had enjoyed its standard fare of summer event.  Symphony on the Prairie was successful with approximately 100 participants and 63 were registered for the Hoosier Park outing in Anderson, September 7.  Other outings included the annual Continuing Education/CPE seminar and golf outing and the baseball game and outing at Victory Field.

Michiana - Kim Stout reported that the summer golf outing at Blackthorn was successful. Upcoming events for the group include the shopping trip to Woodfield Mall in November, in addition to the now-annual wine-tasting event.  The board continues to plan for basketball watch parties and will announce dates as they become available.

Northeastern Indiana - Mike McMillen said the annual summer golf outing, June 12, was successful, with 65 attending.  Twenty participated in the annual Fort Wayne Wizards event, July 3.  The board, which will meet again October 7, continues to have a board member in the mayor's race, Linda Buskirk.

OTHER BUSINESS

Dave Land distributed a brochure to the Council describing athletic compliance guidelines.

John Bowles inquired about whether any further discussion or action had occurred regarding the Cardinal logo, referencing Council discussions from previous meetings.  Ed Shipley responded that the new athletic director had put that item on hold.  He indicated that there had been some concern expressed at one time as to whether Ball State should change its brand at this time. Decisions and further discussion have been suspended at the moment.

Phil Metcalf commended and thanked all involved with the evening football game, August 28.  To see the huge participation by students and the total crowd of 23,000 in the stands, Metcalf said, created a very proud moment for Ball State and its alumni.

Dave Land indicated that Athletics Director Bubba Cunningham had shared information with the Athletics Committee regarding MAC membership.  He said that the MAC commissioner is working with university presidents to persuade the University of Central Florida to join the MAC as a full participant.  Currently, they are a football member only.  The strength of the conference is at stake.

Presiding over her final meeting, Boggs thanked the Association staff and the entire Council membership for assisting her as she served during the past year.  She said she was grateful for the work everyone does to continue the successful efforts of the Association.

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 12:00 noon.  The pre-game rally and football game against Missouri followed.

Important Dates