Greetings Fellow Alumni:
Happy 2004! As Chairman of Wharton’s worldwide Alumni Association Board, I wish to welcome you to what I know will be an exciting year for Wharton and the Wharton alumni network. Vige Barrie, Board President and I, along with other members of the board, are working diligently to strengthen our alumni network and to continue to support and build alumni connections with each other throughout the world.
Specifically, Our Board’s Mission Is To:
1) Encourage and improve the professional and volunteer relationships between the alumni and the School, including career placement, admissions, alumni affairs and development;
2) Encourage and assist in the formation, development and operation of both regional and affinity-based alumni clubs worldwide;
3) Represent the alumni in communication and interaction among the School, its alumni and the business community; and
4) Strengthen ties between alumni and students so that both prospective and actual Wharton students recognize the value of the alumni network.
Some of Our Goals for the Year Ahead Are As Follows:
Alumni Conference. Assist with the organization of a Global Alumni Forum within the United States to complement the extremely successful international forums.
New Clubs. Encourage new affinity-based clubs and groups. This will add to the Wharton Health Care Network, the Wharton Private Equity Network and the newly formed Wharton Women in Business and “Wharton Out For
Business” Club. Also, we plan to increase interaction among alumni club leaders through annual Alumni Leadership Conferences.
Reunions and 125th Anniversary. Help the School organize another year of successful alumni reunions. Also, begin planning alumni involvement in the School’s 125th anniversary in 2006.
Career Management. Continue working with the career management office to improve benefits offered to alumni in career management and job search.
More Annual Fund Participation. Help to increase not only the total dollars raised, but the percentage of alumni participating in the Wharton Annual Fund.
Increase Campus Presence. Ensure that more alumni make speeches and appearances on campus in an effort to expand connections between students and alumni. Also, encourage student clubs to organize alumni advisory boards.
The one element that is essential to the success of our mission is YOU. All Wharton graduates are a vital part of Wharton’s Alumni Association. Without your involvement, Wharton cannot maintain its level of excellence. We need you!
It is my belief that the network does not come to you – you must affirmatively access it. I also believe that, in our network, enthusiasm is meaningful currency.
If you are currently an active member of Wharton’s alumni network, thank you for your dedication. If you are interested in getting involved and would like to find out more information on volunteer opportunities, please contact the Alumni Affairs office at alumni.affairs@wharton.upenn.edu.
There are many ways in which you can make a difference. Start by going to wave.wharton.upenn.edu for a Wharton alumni club in your region or your area of interest.
I look forward to communicating our activities and achievements in upcoming issues of the Wharton Alumni Magazine. Please feel free to e-mail me directly with any questions.
Thank you for your support of the Wharton Alumni Association.
Sincerely,
David N. Feldman, Esq., W’82, L’85
Chairman, Wharton Alumni Association
dfeldman@feldmanweinstein.com
SAVE THE DATE – MARCH 18TH THE NEW LEADER: BEYOND HIERARCHY AND POWER
The Wharton Women’s Task Force and Wharton Alumni Affairs are sponsoring an evening of animated discussion with four New Leaders – prominent women role models who will describe their unique leadership approach.
Featured leaders are Dorrit Bern, Chairman, CEO & President, Charming Shoppes, Inc.; Dina Dublon, EVP & CFO, J.P. Morgan Chase; Rosemarie Greco, Director of Health Care Reform, Office of the Governor, State of PA; and Carol Ammon, Chairman & CEO, Endo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Roz Courtney, WG’76, will moderate.
Place: Huntsman Hall
Reception: 6:00 p.m.
Panel Discussion: 6:45 p.m.
Please join this provocative discussion. For more information contact Wharton Alumni Affairs at 215.898.8478 or email alumni.affairs@wharton.upenn.edu.
ATTENTION LGBT WHARTON ALUMNI: OUT FOR BUSINESS
Out For Business, the gay/lesbian Wharton alumni organization, was recently formed and already has more than 175 members. The group is geared to helping gay/lesbian Wharton alumni to network as well as to help current students. Out For Business has developed an alumni/student mentorship program, and has various social/networking events in New York City throughout the year, including an annual Fall Dinner. Among the group’s goals for 2004 is to establish chapters in other parts of the country. If you are interested in joining, please go to www.outforbusiness.org and register online.
