PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE


When I think of the transformational journey thousands of first-year students will begin this fall at the University of Manitoba, it takes me back to my own time on campus and all the new opportunities I enjoyed. But when I shift my perspective from the past to the present, that same word ‘new’ applies just as much to my U of M experience as an alumna.

Every time I drive on to campus, I see stunning examples of new in buildings such as Investors Group Field and the Pembina Hall residence. When I think of what projects like the Taché Arts Complex and Visionary (re) Generation will further do to make the U of M a beacon for the greater community, I am filled with pride and excitement. Gearing up for Homecoming Week, I already know one of my personal highlights will be watching our Bisons football team take to the field in a facility that is among the best in the nation!

As your Association president for 2013-14, I am also inspired by the new approach we are developing to help engage you with the dynamic environment of your alma mater. You have already made crucial contributions to this effort; the engagement and preferences survey many of you participated in earlier this year continues to assist us as we work closely with Alumni Relations and the university on our three-pillar program emphasizing student engagement, lifelong learning and alumni achievement.  I am delighted to share with you some of the progress we are making towards this goal.

Working with Student Life, we have developed a speaker series during Homecoming featuring alumni leaders who will share stories of their success to inspire and engage students. We will support the next exciting season of the award-winning Visionary Conversations series, which kicks off in fall as well, and once again invite all alumni to experience this wonderful learning opportunity. On the horizon in the spring of 2014 is an expansion of the Distinguished Alumni Award program to recognize more people across a variety of categories. I’m hesitant to call it our version of the Oscars, but I can assure you it will be an incredible event!

To keep you informed of all of these opportunities, a new communications plan is being developed to help us make the best use of our communications channels (print, e-mail, Web and social media) and capitalize on more opportunities for timely knowledge sharing with you.
I look forward to the work we have ahead of us in the coming year as we create the new alumni experience you have helped us to define. And I hope to see you at Homecoming 2013 (September 23 to 29) and throughout my term as your president.

Sincerely,
 
Heather Reichert [BComm(Hons)/83, CA/86]
President, Alumni Association of the University of Manitoba

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Heather Reichert, President
Ian Chambers, Vice-President (Lifelong Learning)
Shona Connelly, Vice-President (Alumni Achievement)
Kim Metcalfe, Treasurer & Vice-President* (Student Engagement)
Ryan Buchanan, Past President
Jeff Lieberman, Member at Large
Mark Robertson, Secretary, Ex-Officio
*When a board member holds 2 executive positions, an additional member at large will be added to the executive committee

BOARD OF DIRECTORS (includes Executive members)
Ryan Buchanan [BSc/03, MSc/06]
Ian Chambers [BN/93]
Shona Connelly [BA /81, MA/85]
Sajjad Hashmi [BA /97, BSc /06, MD/03]
Jeffrey Lieberman [BA /80, BComm (Hons)/83]
Kenneth Letander [BSW /12]
Joe Masi [BA/80, Ext Ed/89]
Kim Metcalfe [BComm(Hons)/97, CA/00]
Dawn Nedohin-Macek [BSc (CompE)/02]
Coleen Rajotte [BA (Adv)/89]
Heather Reichert [BComm (Hons)/83, CA/86]
Peri Venkatesh [MN/91]

UNIVERSITY REPRESENTATIVES
John Kearsey, Vice-President (External), representing the University President
Tony Iacopino, representing the Provost’s Council
Allan Turnbull, President, University of Manitoba Students’ Union
Monika Wetzel [BHEcol/12] President, University of Manitoba Graduate’s Student Association

ELECTED TO THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS
Romel Dhalla [BA/99, BComm (Hons)/04]
Gwen Hatch [LLB/81]
Rennie Zegalski [BComm (Hons)/95]

STANDING COMMITTEE CHAIRS
Executive -- Heather Reichert
Committee of the Alumni Fund and Finance -- Kim Metcalfe
Nominating -- Ryan Buchanan