VOLUME 18 #3

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DEPARTMENTS

From our Alumni Association

Alumni Association President Alan Brayman

I’ve been witness recently to an ever-growing amount of enthusiasm from alumni at the many events and alumni club gatherings that I’ve attended and have been told by so many Blue Hens how proud they are to be UD graduates. Now more than ever, it is important for the Association to help maintain and build strong alumni connections with UD through strategic and targeted marketing and events.

I would like to expand on previous letters that highlighted the strategic planning process the Association underwent last year. An important aspect of this process was to create new vision and mission statements that better reflect the UDAA’s commitment to the University’s current and future alumni. The statements listed below are key drivers of future UDAA goals and objectives:

Vision Statement – The UDAA seeks to actively engage and support future and current alumni in a lifelong relationship with the University of Delaware.

Mission Statement – The University of Delaware Alumni Association is proudly dedicated to engaging our entire alumni community by fostering a tradition of lifelong loyalty and commitment to the University of Delaware. We provide exceptional value and ongoing support to our alumni worldwide.

In addition, the board will focus on the following seven “Strategic Initiatives” in the coming years, to help grow alumni engagement and strengthen their connection to UD:

• Expand the benefits and services available to all alumni;

• Increase nominations for board of director positions and alumni awards;

• Promote the UDAA throughout the UD student’s life cycle—from acceptance through the pinning ceremony at graduation;

• Uphold the UDAA brand through all initiatives and programs through strategic marketing and events;

• Increase registration and utilization of the online community;

• Encourage attendance at Alumni Weekend (formerly called Forum and Reunion Weekend) to enhance alumni engagement; and

• Increase UDAA support of regional and affinity/special interest clubs.

The Merchandise & Benefits Committee continually works to provide new benefits for the alumni—the latest being a partnership with Finestationery.com launched this fall. Details about this benefit can be found on the alumni news page.

Earlier this fall, the UDAA launched a new banner-signing tradition for the Class of 2014. The banner—featuring the phrase “Students Today. Blue Hens Forever.”—will be on display throughout their four years at UD and again at graduation and future class reunions.

Several years ago, the Association created the Satellite Assistance Program, also known as SAP, to provide financial assistance to regional and affinity/special interest clubs for special events and club programs. Groups can apply for funding for networking events, new student picnics, new graduate welcome events, reunions and more. Given the increasing number of club events across the country recently, the Association has allocated even more resources to the SAP program to ensure that as many events as possible come to fruition.

Many of the club events planned for the next few months are listed in the Alumni News section of this magazine. You can always refer to UDconnection.com for complete details and the entire list of upcoming alumni activities, and I hope I get the chance to meet you at an event soon.

Sincerely,

Alan L. Brayman ’73BE
President, UD Alumni Association

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