Association Name Change Resolution Passed - 9/19/09
The Alumnae Association held the Annual Meeting this morning and the alumnae voted in favor of the resolution to change the name of the Association and support the amendments.
Accepting a friendly amendment from Mary Brewer Guthrow ’65 to add "Alumnae" to the revised name, the alumnae voted to support the amendments as presented. The new name of the Association will be Randolph-Macon Woman’s College Alumnae and Randolph College Alumni Association.
The vote was 1973 in favor, 871 opposed. The percentage was 69.4% in favor, 30.6% opposed. A 66.7% favorable vote was required for the motion to carry.
We want to thank everyone who voted, thank those who made a special effort to encourage alumnae to vote, and thank everyone who stayed involved and connected through this very long process.
The Alumnae Association will work to find ways for all alumnae to be part of the Randolph-Macon Woman’s College Alumnae and Randolph College Alumni Association.
Due date for Alumnae Association Proxy Approaching-9/16/2009
Alumnae are reminded to return their Proxy for the Annual Meeting of members by Wednesday, September 16, 2009. Your individualized proxy was mailed to you in mid-August. If you have misplaced your proxy, you may request an additional proxy be sent to you. Include your first name, maiden name, last name, and class year in your request. Completed proxies are being collected and tabulated by an outside firm. Instructions for returning your proxy will be included.
Questions and Answers on the Process to Determine the Future Direction of the R-MWC Alumnae Association
Monty Shepardson '89, chair of the Special Task Force, prepared two documents to answer questions and provide additional information about the work of the Special Task Force surrounding the future direction of the Alumnae Association of Randolph-Macon Woman's College.
A Message from the Special Task Force
We would like to express our appreciation to those of you who completed the recent Alumnae Association survey intended to gather your preferences and feedback on the future direction of the Alumnae Association. We had an enthusiastic response, with 2,628 alumnae registering their opinion on how to structure the Association. This number represents approximately 22% of the reachable alumnae base. Please click on the link provided here to view the actual results.
The results of the survey indicate that the majority of alumnae prefer an Association that is inclusive of Randolph College alumni and one that maintains a connection to the College. In crafting the final option or options for the basic structure of the organization, we will be guided both by these results as well as a careful evaluation of how potential changes to the Association's infrastructure will best meet the needs of those loyal to the ideals of Randolph-Macon Woman’s College.
We believe that the Alumnae Association will always be a place where our diverse ideas and opinions can be expressed, while we continue to celebrate our shared heritage as alumnae of Randolph-Macon Woman’s College.
Download the Summary of the Survey Results
Sincerely,
Special Task Force
Monty Shepardson ’89, Chair
Elizabeth-Latta Brother ’91
Becky Rawls Habel ’73
Lynn Hodge ’68
Kristin Callis Hodges ’89
Sarah Beckham Howard ’69
Ann Morton DeMuth Neale ’65
Lelia Perkins Richardson ’66
Emily Gill Mills ’79, Ex Officio
Heather Ayers Garnett ’86, Ex Officio
Your Feedback is Critical by June 15
In January 2009, the Board of Directors of the Alumnae Association of Randolph-Macon Woman’s College convened a Special Task Force to study models for our Association. The Task Force has composed a survey, with the help of an independent market research company, to collect your input in determining the future direction of the Association. The Alumnae Survey was mailed to all alumnae on May 27, 2009 with a letter explaining the survey process.
You have two options for completing the 8-question survey:
1) You may fill out your survey online at www.surveymonkey.com/R-MWCAASurvey
2) You may complete the printed survey and return to the firm that is compling the survey results: BMS Direct, Dept RC2, 37 Millrace Road, Lynchburg, VA 24502-9951
For your opinion to be heard, we must have your completed questionnaire by June 15, 2009
Instructions for Casting your Official Ballot
If you have already voted, thank you! If not, please vote as soon as possible. We will be counting the ballots on April 28 and 29 and plan to post the results to this web site as soon as the ballots are tabulated.
1. Please read about the alumnae who are presented on the slate by the Nominating Committee with approval from the current Alumnae Association Board of Directors
2. Check the box that indicates your vote or write in a nominee.
3. Please vote for all positions on the slate—not just the nominee for the district director for your state.
4. Complete your ballot by voting, signing your name, and printing your first name, maiden name, last name, and class year.
Only the Official Ballot will be accepted. Only one vote per alumna will be counted. Only ballots received by Alumnae Office fax, by the Ballot e-mail box, or in sealed envelopes mailed individually through the U.S. Post Office to the address below will be valid.
- Envelopes must be postmarked by April 22 to be valid.
- Faxes sent to the Alumnae Office fax number and e-mails to ballot@randolphcollege.edu will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. EST on April 27th.
Print the Official Ballot and choose any of the three (3) options for returning it:
MAIL: Please mark the ballot, sign the ballot, and print your first name, maiden name, last name, and class year in the lines provided.
Mail your Official Ballot to:
Randolph-Macon Woman's College Alumnae Association
Attention: Alumnae Association Ballot
2500 Rivermont Avenue
Lynchburg, VA 24503-1555
OR
E-MAIL:
1. You may use the Official Ballot printed in the overwrap cover of the winter Alumnae Bulletin , or a print an Official Ballot from this web site.
2. Be sure to sign your Official Ballot, and print your first name, maiden name, last name, and class year.
3. Scan the page and save it as a .pdf file. (file size not larger than 2MB)
4. E-mail the .pdf file as an attachment to ballot@randolphcollege.edu
OR
FAX: The Official Ballot may be faxed to 434-947-8282. Please verify that you have signed the ballot, and printed your first name, maiden name, last name and class year prior to faxing.
R-MWC Alumnae Association Election Results - 4/29/08
Thank you for participating in the Alumnae Board of Directors election. A group of alumnae volunteers processed and counted ballots. We received 2020 ballots, 1996 were counted, 24 were declared invalid. A Teller’s Report is available with additional details.
Please join me in congratulating the following alumnae on their election to the Alumnae Board in the positions listed below.
President- Barbara Niedland McCarthy '73
Secretary- Karen Patterson '73
Member-at-Large, Career Development -Alison Buckley '91
District Directors
District 4-Virginia
Kristin Callis Hodges '89
District 7-GA, FL
Sarah Beckham Howard ’69
District 8-AL, MS, LA, AR
Bradford Anne Kachelhofer'90
District 9-TX, OK, KS
Sultana Kaldis '70
Executive Summary of January 2009 meeting of the Alumnae Association Board - 2/6/09
Teller’s Report - 9/20/08 5:00 p.m.
The motion to approve the Resolution to change the name of the Alumnae Association to Randolph-Macon Woman’s College and Randolph College Alumnae/Alumni Association did not pass. Two thirds of the votes cast were required to pass the resolution.
Number of votes cast……4,156
Total FOR the matter……2,668 (64.20%)
Total AGAINST……….. 1,488 (35.80%)
The Alumnae Board will endeavor to find ways to come together to meet the needs of our constituency. Thank you to everyone who voted on this very important matter.
Questions & Answers about the Proxy - 8/20/08
View and print Q&A about the Proxy and the Annual Meeting
Proxy Vote Information for the Sept 20 Alumnae Association Board Meeting - 8/15/08
In the next week all alumnae will be receiving a mailing from the Alumnae Office that contains several enclosures including a Proxy Form to be used for casting a vote at the Alumnae Association’s Annual Meeting on September 20, 2008. Please open the envelope as soon as it arrives and VOTE on a critical matter that affects all alumnae of Randolph-Macon Woman's College. The mailing contains a letter from Alumnae Director Heather Garnett, a letter from several past Alumnae Association presidents and a former Director of the Association, a copy of the resolution on which you will be voting, a Q&A document that explains the reasons for a Proxy vote, a Proxy vote form and a pre-stamped return envelope.
Click here to download a PDF copy of the entire contents of the mailing. The proxy form is *not* included as only original copies will counted in the election.
Alumnae Association Board Resolution - 8/1/08
Dear R-MWC Alumnae,
On Friday August 1, 2008, the Alumnae Association Board voted to approve a resolution to present to members at Alumnae Leadership Council for a vote. The resolution (included below) proposes we change the name of the Association to “Randolph-Macon Woman’s College and Randolph College Alumnae/Alumni Association.” The resolution recognizes the change in the College’s admission policy and the change in its name, welcomes current and future alums of Randolph College as members of the Association, and proposes that the name be changed to reflect the history of alumnae, past, present, and future.
In my capacity as Alumnae Association President, I am dedicated to providing you, the members, the opportunity to express your opinions on this important matter. I am therefore writing to let you know that the resolution will be presented for a vote at the Annual Business meeting to be held in Lynchburg on Saturday, September 20th at 1:00 p.m.
There are members who will oppose this resolution because they wish to break the connection between our Association and the College. It is important for each of you to know that the College will not financially support two Associations or an Association that does not include both current and future alumnae/i. The staff and all the Alumnae Association programming is funded by the College. Therefore, an alumnae group that is not inclusive of both current and future alums would have no staff, no Alumnae Bulletin , and no reunion support.
The Alumnae Association of Randolph-Macon Woman’s College was incorporated on June 12, 1952 to support the College in its commitment to academic excellence and its motto Vita Abundantior. From its inception, the Association has promoted the mission of the College, providing a forum through which alumnae may remain connected to the College and to each other. It has also allowed alumnae to positively influence the next generation of students through gifts of time, money, and service.
I sincerely believe that the Alumnae Association is more important now than ever before. The objectives of the Association, to connect alumnae to alumnae; alumnae to students; and alumnae to the College, are essential to preserving the honor, the history, and the traditions of the College. To accomplish this, the Association must maintain its existing connection to the College.
The Alumnae Association’s attorney was asked to issue an opinion regarding the question of whether or not Randolph-Macon Woman's College and Randolph College are the same entity. He said, “It is our opinion that the entities are one and the same. The existing Randolph-Macon Woman’s College merely changed its name by amendment to its Articles of Incorporation to Randolph College, Inc. As such the entity has remained the same.” He also said, “In addition, as the Association was incorporated with the purpose of promoting and furnishing pecuniary and other material aid to Randolph-Macon Woman’s College it is also our opinion that the Association’s purpose clause is still valid.”
Communication and maintaining connections are essential to honoring the past and upholding the traditions of the College. The strength o fthe College, born in its history as a woman's college, can only be preserved by passing on the the next generation of students the same strong bonds that alumnae have forged for more than a century. We believe that changing the name of the Association is an important step in this journey.
I invite and encourage you to attend the Annual Business meeting on September 20 and support the action of the Alumnae Board by casting your vote in favor of the resolution. If you have questions, please e-mail alumnaeoffice@randolphcollege.edu and allow sufficient time for the office staff to respond. We will continue to keep you informed of the work of the Alumnae Association.
Sincerely, .jpg)
Emily Gill Mills ’79
Alumnae Association President
This is an official communication from the Alumnae Association, 2500 Rivermont Avenue, Lynchburg, VA 24503
RESOLUTION OF ALUMNAE ASSOCIATION OF RANDOLPH-MACON WOMAN'S COLLEGE
Whereas , the mission of the Association has been to support Randolph-Macon Woman's College in its commitment to academic excellence and its motto Vita Abundantior;
Whereas , the Association has carried out its mission by providing an active association through which the College's alumnae are connected to each other and the College by keeping the alumnae informed and involved in the life and work of the College and by helping to preserve and honor its history and traditions and by assisting the College in soliciting financial donations and other gifts of time and service;
Whereas , we acknowledge that in the face of increasing challenges to the recruitment and retention of students and in order to place the College on a financially stable foundation, the College has revised its admission policy to admit men as well as women and has changed its name to Randolph College;
Whereas , we recognize that the changes having sparked discussion, debate, and discord we feel it is now time for members of the Association to heal the divisions and come together and help confront and overcome the existing challenges; and
Whereas , we believe that the Association continues to have an important role in the life of the College, and its mission will best be served by maintaining its existing connections with the College:
Now, therefore, be it resolved that:
The mission of the Association shall continue to be to:
- Support the College - Randolph College which was founded as Randolph-Macon Woman's College.
- Welcome alumnae/i, both women and men, as members of the Association.
- Maintain and strengthen the links between the Association, the Alumnae and future College generations.
- Keep existing Alumnae connected to the life and work of the College as it meets the challenges of the future.
Further resolved that:
The name of the Association shall be changed to Randolph-Macon Woman's College and Randolph College Alumnae/Alumni Association.
Further resolved that:
The Articles of Incorporation shall be amended as follows:
(a) Paragraph 1 of the Articles of Incorporation shall be amended to read in its entirety as follows:
"1.The name of the corporation is to be Randolph-Macon Woman's College and Randolph College Alumnae/Alumni Association, Incorporated.", and
(b) Section 1 of Paragraph 3 of the Articles of Incorporation shall be amended to replace the words "Randolph-Macon Woman's College" with the words "Randolph College",.
The Bylaws shall be amended as follows:
(a) Article I, Section 1 of the Bylaws shall be amended to read in its entirety as follows:
"Section 1. Name. The name of this organization is Randolph-Macon Woman's College and Randolph College Alumnae/Alumni Association, Incorporated, which is referred to in these Bylaws as the Association or the Alumnae Association."
(b) Article 1, Section 2 of the Bylaws shall be amended to replace the words: "Randolph-Macon Woman's College Alumnae Association" with the words "the Association".
(c) Article 1, Section 3 of the Bylaws shall be amended to read in its entirety as follows:
"Section 3. Official Publication. The official publication is the Bulletin of Randolph-Macon Woman's College and Randolph College Alumnae/Alumni Association"
(d) References in the Bylaws to "Randolph-Macon Woman's College" shall be replaced with a reference to " Randolph College".
Statement from Attorney Regarding Connection of Alumnae Association and the College - 7/16/08
R-MWC Alumnae Association Election Results - 6/3/08
The election for the following positions on your Alumnae Association Board was completed on May 30, 2008. These women will join the Alumnae Board beginning July 1, 2008 serving a three year term.
1st Vice President- Geri Long Cecil ’68
Alumnae Representative to the Board of Trustees- Betsy Gordon McCrodden '66
Member-at-Large, Communications -Elizabeth-Latta Brother ’91
District Directors
District 1-CT, ME, MA, NH, NJ, NY, RI, and VT
Ann Cammack ’85
District 3-IL, IN, MI, MO, OH, WI
Kathleen O’Malley Bunder ’80
District 6-Cincinnati, OH, KY, TN, WV
Christina Paterson Humphreys ’91
A Teller's Report lists the votes received for each individual candidate.
Executive Summary of May 2008 meeting of the Alumnae Association Board - 5/23/08
Print the Executive Summary of the May 2008 Board Meeting
Alumnae Invited to Share Comments on Agenda - 4/23/08
You are invited to share your comments on the published agenda items to be discussed at the Alumnae Association Board of Directors meeting. An open session is planned for Saturday, May 3 from 1:00-1:30 p.m. in Leggett 537. Print the May 2008 agenda
- Comments should be e-mailed or mailed to the Alumnae Office, alumnaeoffice@randolphcollege.edu by May 1st to allow time for the comments to be disseminated to all Board members.
- If an alumna wants to speak in person, she must register with the Alumnae Office three (3) days before the scheduled Board meeting, not later than April 30th.
- Each alumna will be given equal time to speak to the Board. Time allocation will be determined by how many people register to speak in person.
- Additional comments can be submitted in writing.
Keep Up with Activities and Actions of Your Alumnae Association Board - 2/18/08
Following each meeting of the full Alumnae Association Board, an executive summary of the agenda items and action items from the meeting will be posted here. Complete meeting minutes will be provided when approved by the Board. Please check the website often to keep up with the governance of your association.Print the Executive Summary of February 2008 Alumnae Association Board Meeting
Election of Alumnae Association Board Complete - 11/6/07
The following alumnae have been elected by majority vote to serve on the Alumnae Association Board of Directors. Board members are listed by position and term end date.
Emily Gill Mills ’79, Association President, June ’09
Martha Martin Field ’56, 1st Vice President, June ’08
Ann Morton DeMuth Neale ’65, 2nd Vice President, June ’10
Carol Haley ’70, Secretary, June ’09
Sue-Gray Goller ’73, Board of Trustees Representative, June ’10
Alison Buckley ’91, Board of Trustees Representative, June ’08
Dorothy Chew Clark ’86, Chair of Nominating, June ’09
Elizabeth Latta Brother '91, Member at Large Communications, June ’08
Melanie Kielb West '90, Member at Large, June ’09
Beth Zielinski ’04, Member at Large Young Alumnae, June ’10
Monty Shepardson ’89, Director, District 1, June ’08
Glee Smith ’92, Director, District 2, June ’10
Amanda Anthony Alford ’96, Director, District 3, June ’08
Kristin Callis Hodges ’89, Director, District 4, June ’09
Peggy Presto Koppel ’76, Director, District 5, June ’10
Ellen Morgan ’89, Director, District 6, June ’08
Jane Romberg Chance ’96, Director, District 7, June ’09
Allyson Rozelle Leonard ’91, Director, District 8, June ’09
Muffie Moroney ’65, Director, District 9, June ’09
Lisa Watt Wilson ’75, Director, District 10, June ’10
A Teller's Report lists the votes received for each individual candidate, as well as the names of the committee that processed the ballots.
Clarification on Membership - 9/18/2007
It has come to our attention that an independent association has formed and has invited friends and alumnae of Randolph-Macon Woman’s College to join. The newly-formed Association is not affiliated with the Alumnae Association of Randolph-Macon Woman’s College, Inc. or Randolph College.
The Alumnae Association of Randolph-Macon Woman’s College will continue to provide the same programs and events as in the past: Reunion, Alumnae Leadership Council, as well as chapter events, Online Community, and the Alumnae Bulletin magazine.
Understanding Your Association Bylaws - 9/3/2007
View and print the R-MWC Alumnae Association Bylaws (PDF) The Bylaws document is in PDF format. You will need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the document.
Please contact Heather Garnett ( hgarnett@randolphcollege.edu ) with any questions.
Proposed Revisions to Alumnae Association Bylaws - 8/23/2007
During the Annual Business meeting to be held September 15 at 9:00 a.m. in Smith Hall Theatre, we will review the proposed revisions to the bylaws and vote on each to go into effect immediately. To view the proposed changes, please click on the attachment Please contact Heather Garnett ( hgarnett@randolphcollege.edu ) with any questions.
Summer Letter from the Alumnae Association President - 6/14/2007
Dear Sister Alumnae,
One year ago we learned that our beloved R-MWC would soon become a coeducational institution under a new name. As alums, we have grieved over the changes and are working our way through that grief. While the decision was not well-received by many alumnae, it was the path the Trustees deemed the most likely to ensure that future generations will enjoy the same caliber of education provided to us. I have made this journey with you.
As President of the Alumnae Association and proud member of the Class of 1979, I attended the 2007 graduation in May. The weather was perfect, much like the day my class graduated, although it was a pleasant 20 degrees cooler than May 1979! I was seated on the stage, looking out over the beautiful Dell at the graduating class, their families and friends. It was very emotional for me and I was so proud to be there representing the Alumnae Association and welcoming the Class of 2007 to our alumnae ranks.
Two weeks later, I returned for Alumnae Reunion. I am pleased to report that I was invited to be an “honorary” member of the Class of 1952. (Even though they are “Evens”, I accepted!) My mother is a member of that class and they were celebrating their 55th Reunion. The weather was wonderful, the campus looked beautiful, and I visited with many of the 260 alums attendance. It was especially fun to see the Class of 1982 celebrating their 25th reunion, whom I had welcomed as first-years as an Orientation Chair. The ’82 reunion group included a sister of one of my classmates who came all the way from India!
During the weekend, Interim President Ginger Worden ’69, Incoming President of the Board of Trustees Lucy Williams Hooper ’73, and Consultant for Enrollment Rebecca Dixon ’60 held a question and answer session with the alumnae. As you would expect, there was much discussion regarding the art collection. The Roanoke Times published an article on this topic:
Ginger addressed the alumnae concerns at our Saturday reunion meeting. Outgoing senior class president, Lianna Carrera was very well-received as she spoke of her journey through this year and the “sense of spirit” that she feels on campus and among the alumnae. There were poems and songs that accompanied class gifts. We closed with everyone singing Henry Hallstrom’s “To Randolph-Macon”.
My sense was that Reunion 2007 was fun for all, no matter how they view the challenges and changes we are facing. The future looks much brighter when we are among friends staying in the dorms and reminiscing with our classmates. Each and every member of the campus staff, from groundskeepers and van drivers to alumnae office and administrative personnel treated everyone “like royalty”, according to one alum. I hope that each of you will return for your Reunions and see for yourself that the campus still has the magic that each of us felt when we were in school.
THE FUTURE IS, IN FACT, BRIGHT. We have a wonderful new President, John E. Klein, who comes to us from Washington University in St. Louis. He serves as Executive Vice Chancellor for Administration. He has a 28-year background in business with Bunge, Ltd., an international agribusiness company, including years as CEO of Bunge North America. He is a graduate of Princeton University and received his law degree from the University of Michigan. Prior to his time with Bunge, he practiced law in New York City and, just out of Princeton, was a teaching fellow at the International College in Beirut, Lebanon. Link to the press release on the college website web.randolphcollege.edu/newsevents/pressreleases or web.randolphcollege.edu
I was privileged to have a lengthy one-on-one conversation with John, from which I concluded that he, and his wife Susan, are the right fit for the College and for the alumnae. His energy is infectious and his “can do” attitude is just what we need at the helm. Incoming President Klein plans to travel across the country to meet as many alumnae as possible. He is energetic and a good listener and is ready for the challenges ahead. We spoke about the importance of maintaining traditions and the close-knit community that we all enjoy. These are qualities that have drawn him to our College. Involvement and interaction with faculty, staff, students, parents and alumnae are all important to our new president. He told me that he plans to “build a bridge from the past to the future”. The personal touch has always been the hallmark of our College—John Klein will continue that as he leads us forward.
As of today, our admission numbers are looking good. We started the admissions process late in the year and I am proud to say that we are currently looking at 179 deposits for the Class of 2011. Of these, 57 are male and we have 23 international students in the class. We also have 9 transfer students, 5 of whom are male. The discount rate for incoming students has been reduced by 11 points and the quality of the students is high.
It is my hope that, as you work through the changes occurring at our beloved alma mater, you will come to realize that the trustees have made some difficult decisions necessary to keep our College thriving and in the top tier of small, private, coeducational institutions. We need and want all of our alumnae with us in supporting the outstanding administration, faculty, staff and student body.
Please e-mail, write, or call me. I am always available. The Alumnae Office will help you to reach me directly; call 888-769-2258 . We are moving ahead and the future looks bright.
Vita abundantior,
Emily Gill Mills ’79
Update on Process Timeline - 5/16/2007
At the Alumnae Association meetings on May 5 and 6, 2007 the Alumnae Association Board decided to extend the process timeline that had been developed at the September 2006 Annual Business Meeting of the Association, and later published in the Alumnae Association Update newsletter and posted on the Randolph Alumnae web site.
The Board discussed several possible future structures for the Association and charged the Task Force with developing further details of those proposals. The Task Force is chaired by Randall Johnson Watts ’77 and includes Muriel Zimmerman Casey ’53, Monty Shepardson ’89, Nancy Leese Wood ’86, Muffie Moroney ’65, Emily Gill Mills ’79, Mary Brewer Guthrow ’65, and Heather Ayers Garnett ’86.
According to the new timeline, the Task Force will present alternative structures and seek input from members of the Association at the Annual Business Meeting on Saturday, September 15, 2007 during Alumnae Leadership Council. All members of the Alumnae Association are invited to attend the annual meeting.
Summary of Themes on Association Questionnaire - 3/9/2007
Per the process/timeline published following our September 2006 business meeting: The Alumnae Association Board has appointed a special committee to study the emerging themes outlined in the summary and to develop possible scenarios for future Association structure, including any potential by-laws changes. A summary of the major themes identified from responses to the Alumnae Association questionnaire are available here. View the Summary
The Summary is in PDF format. You will need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the document.
Action Plan for the Alumnae Association Board - 3/2/2007
Given the new strategic direction of the College, the Alumnae Association Board has established a committee to investigate any necessary bylaws changes which take into account our Association’s autonomy while maintaining our connections to the College. The almost 800 questionnaires returned by alumnae are being studied and the results will be included in a report to the full Board at the May meeting along with any suggested Association bylaws changes.
Once approved by the Alumnae Association Board, bylaws changes will be voted on at the Annual Business meeting, to be held during Alumnae Leadership Council in September. The questionaire results will also be presented.