University of Wisconsin Platteville
Engineering, Mathematics and Science Alumni Chapter
Meeting Minutes: Saturday, September 30, 2000
8:00-10:00 AM, Iowa Room Ullsvik Center
Board Members present: Board Members Absent: Guests Attending:
John Belken Mike Dailey Barb Daus, Alumni Director
Laura Fenley Jeff Kronser Lori Grady ('85, Mathematics)
Mike Jansen Tim Marko George Hellert ('71, CE )
Dan Kaul Robert Schmitt Jay Jochman, Theta Tau
Dave Kaul John Wandsnider Lisa Riedle, EMS Assistant Dean
Tammy Salmon Stephanie Skowronski, Theta Tau
I. Call to Order
President Kaul called the meeting to order at 8:07 AM.
II. Introductions
Members and guests introduced themselves.
III. Approval of Past Meeting Minutes
Motion to approve the April 8, 2000 meeting minutes made by Past President Jansen. Director Dan Kaul seconded the motion. Motion passed.
IV. Geode and M-Ball Report
Jay Jochman and Stephanie Skowronski from Theta Tau were present to report the following about the Geode and M-Ball:
· The Geode was sent out late this past summer due to some problems with publishing.
· Theta Tau has decided to move the deadlines for gathering articles. Goal is to have all the articles in and ready for publishing in December.
· Theta Tau will be working more with the publishing and formatting this year and will then hire a printer.
· The board complemented Theta Tau on the quality of the articles presented in the Geode.
· April 7, 2001 is the M-Ball. Theta Tau is planning a Mardi Gras or 1980's theme. Theta Tau is requesting $600 for funding to support M Ball.
New initiatives and follow-up items
· Alumni board articles needed by mid November. Articles include, president's message, advertise supporting members, calendar of events, and an article on awards.
· As done on an annual basis, requested money for the production of the Geode, $597.17 for printing, $281.00 for postage and $500 to Theta Tau.
· Board members are encouraged to submit pictures for the Geode (brat bash, golf outing, and fish fry). Pictures when taken with Digital camera should be set to high-resolution photos.
· Need to add the production of the articles for the Geode to the November activity calendar. Barb Daus will update the change. Changes should also be submitted to Salmon to also update the web page.
· Expenses for M-Ball should remain about the same for 2001. Theta Tau requested $600 to assist in funding M-Ball.
VI. Financial Report
· Treasurer Wandsnider presented, in a cover letter an opening balance for 7-1-99 was $6,303.56 and the closing balance for 9-30-99 was $9, 852.82. Attached are the cover letter and statements presented by Treasurer Wandsnider.
· The increase in the budget is due to the supporting members program. Life member distribution has not yet occurred but will be distributed this October. Barb Daus will follow-up on the distribution and will also report on the balance in the endowed scholarships at the April 2001 meeting.
· Currently, two, $400 scholarships are given. Based on a report from Barb Daus about the life member distributions at the April 2001 meeting we may be able to give additional scholarships
· Two checks need to be issued to cover expenses of the supporting member display board and for the Fish Fry expenses, $116.24 to the College of EMS Deans office and $2,016.17 to the Governor Dodge Convention Center.
· Discussion took place on the utilization of the Supporting Membership income. Many ideas were presented: recognize student leaders and/or student organizations, scholarships, gifts for seniors, mouse pad, lapel pin, invite student leaders to Fish Fry, etc. Board decided to budget $500 (student/faculty support line item) for this purpose in the budget. The actions associated with this include, deleting the scholarship line item and then adding a student/faculty support line item under expenses for use of some of the Supporting Membership funds.
· A motion to approve all budget payments as noted was made by Director Belken and seconded by Director, Dan Kaul. Motion passed.
· A motion to approve the 2000/2001 Budget was made by First Vice-President Fenley and seconded by Director Kaul. Motion passed.
New initiatives and follow-up items
A committee lead by Past-President Jansen will present ideas on how to best utilize the money from the Supporting Membership Program. Dr. Lisa Riedle will assist in gathering information. This committee also has the option to increase/decrease the budgeted money for this line item, based on the committee's ideas and presentation at the April 2001 meeting.
VI. & VII. EMS Dean's Report and Faculty Liaison Report
In the absence of Dean Shultz and Faculty Liaison Schmitt, Dr. Lisa Riedle, EMS Assistant Dean reported.
· The UW-Platteville Women in Engineering Program has received funding for a Mentor Center. Construction will begin shortly on room 045 in Ottensman. The center will house computers, a lounge area, office for the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) and other applicable items.
· The College of EMS Advising Committee is looking into a mentor program for all students in the college. The EMS alumni board expressed an interest in assisting this program.
· The international initiative is going well. The first German student is enrolled this fall at UWP. Two UWP students will be going to Germany in the spring. Students going to Germany will work on special industry projects. Two students will be going to Ireland in the spring. Other international initiatives are being explored in China and Taiwan. Japan and Sweden are other international options that UWP is considering.
· The Fox Valley initiative has over 300 students on the list to participate. Industry in the Fox River Valley is looking for financing to begin during spring 2001 semester. Final legislative approval is hoped to be granted by July 2001 with funding to begin in September 2001. A lot of lobbying is needed to make this go through the legislature. Two courses are offered this semester, physics and engineering economics.
· Upon funding approval, UWP will add three faculty members, one to stay in the Fox River Valley to coordinate the program. The other two faculty members would rotate between UWP and Fox River Valley. Courses will probably be in the evening, therefore, faculty could perform research and work on special projects in industry during the day.
· An additional idea recently proposed by UW-Stout is to offer UWP electrical engineering degree through UW-Stout. Currently, UW-Stout has three staff members with electrical engineering expertise. This project is currently at the idea stage.
· The Master of Engineering program is up and running. Several other programs are also on line, project management, criminal justice, and business. Interested parties should check out the programs on the UWP web page under distance education.
· UWP engineering students are continuing to consult at Taliesin via the senior design course. Recently an article in Geode reported on this project.
New initiatives and follow-up items
Alumni Director, Barb Daus mentioned that the alumni board should consider making a connection with students who participate in the Fox River Valley initiative. The board needs to evaluate how to make those individuals feel a part of the alumni at UWP. These students may be a good source for the Supporting Members Program. These same issues also apply to the online programs offered by UWP.
VIII. Supporting Member Program
Currently, there are thirty members. We have recently obtained more memberships due to the published list of current members in the Geode. A complete listing is located on the EMS alumni web page (http://www.uwplatt.edu/ems/alumni/). Links to the supporting member web pages are also included.
New initiatives and follow-up items
· It is critical that the Supporting Member Committee evaluate the next steps with this program. For example, a report should be submitted to the members to show how the Alumni Board is using the funds. Need to evaluate the possibility of technical conferences for members. What other benefits can we supply to members? How can we advertise the supporting members to graduating students? Can we send additional information to supporting members from the placement office to give them an edge in hiring our top graduates? Any ideas about the supporting member program should be submitted to Past President Jansen.
· The brochure for the program needs to be updated.
IX. Alumni Office Report
Alumni Director Barb Daus needed to leave in order to assist at the Homecoming parade. The board discussed the possibility of moving the semi-annual alumni meetings.
New initiatives and follow-up items
Board discussed the idea of setting up additional meetings during the year specifically for committee work. This would allow the two board meetings to run more smoothly and more timely. President Kaul will evaluate the options for these types of meetings and will make a proposal at the April meeting or at the first committee work meeting (which would probably occur before April 2001).
X. EMS Board Elections, Vacancies and Appointments
· Currently, three positions expire, Secretary (Tammy Salmon), Director (Dan Kaul), and Director (Jeff Kronser).
· President Kaul read letters of resignation from Treasurer, John Wandsnider (term expires in one year) and Second Vice-President, Mike Dailey (term expires in two years). Other alumni have expressed an interest in board positions (Lori Grady, Kim Houston, George Hellert, Mike Felker, and Rob Ellers).
· A motion was made by alumnus George Hellert and seconded by Director Belken to re-elect Tammy Salmon as Secretary, Jeff Kronser as a Director and Dan Kaul as a Director. Motion passed. All terms expire 10/2003.
· A motion was made by Director Kaul and seconded by Secretary Salmon to nominate John Belken for Treasurer. Motion passed. Treasurer term expires 10/2001.
· A motion was made by Treasurer Belken and seconded by Secretary Salmon to nominate alumnae Kim Houston for a Director position. Motion Passed. Director Houston's term expires 10/2002.
· A motion was made by Treasurer Belken and seconded by Secretary Salmon to nominate alumnae Lori Grady for 2nd Vice-President. Motion passed. 2nd Vice-President Grady's term expires on 10/2002.
New initiatives and follow-up items
· Board members agreed that it was great to have many more people interested in positions on the board than were available. Alumnus George Hellert agreed to work with Past President Jansen on the membership committee. Secretary Salmon will note the change on the Committees Document (available on the web).
· Those people who expressed an interest in a board position should be asked to participate in the many committees established by the board. Those alumni are Mike Felker and Rob Ellers.
XI. Establish Meeting Dates for 2000-2001
· The Miners Ball (M Ball) is scheduled for April 7, 2001. The next EMS Alumni Board Meeting is scheduled for April 7, 2001 at 10:00 AM.
· Homecoming 2001 is scheduled for October 6. The EMS Alumni Board Meeting is scheduled for Saturday, October 6, 2001 at 8:00 AM.
XII. Other chapter business
Director Kaul discussed possible cell phone rate plans for EMS Alumni. The UWP Parent Alumni Board is interested in offering this to alumni. Specifics about the rates and the number of allowable minutes may be obtained from Director Kaul.
XII. Motion to adjourn