A decade ago, the University of Minnesota Alumni Association unveiled its first-ever five-year strategic plan. We aimed to build an alumni center and to increase membership to 50,000. We called it our “big dream” plan.

As most of you are well aware, that big dream was transformed into reality. Thanks to a partnership with the University of Minnesota Foundation (UMF) and the Minnesota Medical Foundation (MMF), the magnificent McNamara Alumni Center opened in February 2000. We eclipsed the 50,000-member mark a year later.

This momentum carried into our second five-year strategic plan, during which we celebrated the 100th anniversaries of both the UMAA and the alumni magazine with great fanfare. And, again with our UMF and MMF partners, we enhanced our alumni center by creating the beautiful Gateway Plaza and the spectacular Alumni Wall of Honor.

With our next five-year plan, for 2006 to 2010, we decided it was essential to tap the individuals and groups whose energy, commitment, and knowledge give the alumni association its vitality and voice. So we solicited input from you to help us build a shared vision for the future. We wanted to know: What do you want from your alumni association?

We conducted interviews with nearly 100 people, held one-on-one discussions with University leaders and alumni board members, and organized small-group discussions with alumni society and chapter volunteers, UMAA staff, and students. In addition, we collected demographic and lifestyle information on 325,000 alumni. We also conducted online surveys of 54,000 current and past UMAA members, as well as alumni who have never tried membership in the alumni association.

I’d like to express my deepest thanks to all who provided us with thoughtful feedback. You talked, we listened, and here are a few of the things we learned:

• Nearly 75 percent of alumni said they believe the primary function of the UMAA should be to support the University.

• UMAA members identified the top three services they want the association to provide. First, they’d like the UMAA to promote academic excellence and to advocate for the U at the legislatlure. Second, they want the UMAA to provide easy access to information about University resources. Finally, UMAA members would like the association to provide them with lifelong learning opportunities.

• Additional resources respondents indicated they would like the UMAA to offer include: online access to University lectures and presentations, an online “reference library” with the latest University research and information on a variety of topics of interest, and a service to help those seeking new jobs or hoping to embark on new careers.

• The most requested types of information alumni want via the UMAA are medical and health care, followed by personal finance and investing, science and technology, current events, and arts and literature. An overwhelming majority (as high as 94 percent) of alumni said they would like to receive this information online. (Note: Respondents to the online survey may be more inclined to seek online resources.)