Spectrum - Volume 21 Issue 07 October 8, 1998 - Alumni Association forum features presentations by university personnel

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Alumni Association forum features presentations by university personnel

By Jill Elswick

Spectrum Volume 21 Issue 07 - October 8, 1998

Officers of the Virginia Tech Alumni Association's 92 chapters across the United States gathered at on campus Friday and Saturday, Sept. 4-5, for the annual Chapter Officers Forum, hosted by the association.

Officers toured the new Merryman Center before the first session held at the Donaldson Brown Hotel and Conference Center. At the opening session, participants heard from several speakers, including Tom Tillar, vice president for alumni relations, who provided an overview of alumni programs and services; Ralph Byers, director of government relations, who reviewed state legislative concerns; Nevin Kessler, associate vice president for Development, who gave an update on the Campaign for Virginia Tech; David Nutter, associate director of Public Affairs, who briefed participants on Virginia Tech's new television public-relations campaign; and Deborah Day Shelton, director of alumni relations, who provided an overview of successful chapter programs of the 1997-98 year.

An awards banquet capped the evening, highlighted by special guest speakers President Paul Torgersen, and John Rocovich, current president of the Virginia Tech Alumni Association. Peter Darby, president of the New England Chapter, received the 1997-98 Outstanding Chapter Officer award. The Tampa Bay Chapter received the Outstanding New Chapter award. The Greater Alleghany Highlands, Amherst/Nelson, New River Valley, Northern Virginia, Shenandoah, Southwest Virginia, Tidewater, Atlanta, Charlotte, East Tennessee, Middle Tennessee, Research Triangle, and Southern Maryland chapters received chapter-excellence awards, which each include a $500 addition to their scholarship funds to award next year.
At breakfast the next morning, participants heard from Jim Weaver, director of athletics, before attending their choice of three break-out sessions: "Alumni Admissions Council," by Jacqueline Nottingham, assistant director of Admissions; "Organizing a Scholarship Program," by Deborah Day Shelton, director of alumni relations; and "Event Planning and Budgeting," by Jack Hutcheson, associate director of alumni relations. After the break-out sessions, officers met in groups with their assigned chapter liaison from the alumni association. Jack Dudley, director of the University Honors Program, and several honors students shared comments about the honors program following lunch.
With the forum's business concluded, participants attended the Virginia Tech football game against East Carolina University and celebrated Tech's victory afterward.