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Alumni Association Home > Past Issues > 2008 > November-December 2008   Print View Alumni Association Angle 11/5/2008 Legislative Champions. PHOTOGRAPH BY MIKE LEE Legislative Champions Honored Last year the Minnesota Legislature approved funding for the Minnesota Biomedical Research Program, a landmark $292 million project that authorizes the construction of four state-of-the-art biomedical research buildings on the East Bank campus. The buildings will create space to conduct interdisciplinary research in heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, and other illnesses. The Alumni Association honored nine lawmakers who showed unwavering support and leadership in securing funding for the program with a 2008 Legislative Champion award during the Building a Better Future event in October. The awards presentation took place in a tent next to the Medical Biosciences Building that is currently under construction, and tours of nearby biomedical research buildings followed the presentation. Pictured at the award ceremony are (left to right): Alumni Association CEO Margaret Sughrue Carlson (Ph.D. ’83); University President Bob Bruininks; Representative Alice Hausman, St. Paul; Representative Lyndon Carlson, Crystal; Senator Richard Cohen, St. Paul; Representative John Berns (J.D. ’97), Wayzata; Alumni Association President-Elect Archie Givens (B.A. ’66, M.H.A. ’68); Senator Keith Langseth, Clay, Wilkin, Becker, and Traverse Counties; and Board of Regents Chair Patricia Simmons. Not pictured are Senator Sandra Pappas, St. Paul; Senator David Senjem, Rochester; Representative Tim Mahoney, St. Paul; and Representative Loren Solberg, Aitkin, Itasca, and Kanabec Counties. Ready for a Change? The College of Continuing Education is introducing a new career planning workshop, “Exploring Your Professional Future.” This interactive workshop is designed to help clarify individual goals and needs, develop a strategy to explore lifework options, and develop an action plan aimed at helping achieve career and life goals. Alumni Association members receive a 20 percent discount on College of Continuing Education career and lifework planning workshops. Call 612-624-4000 or go to www.cce.umn.edu/career for details. You can also explore David Wippman (right) was installed as dean of the Law School during a ceremony at the McNamara Alumni Center. He is pictured with U President Bob Bruininks. PHOTOGRAPH BY MIKE MINEHART CCE’s free online career planning resource, CareerPath, at www.navagility.com/ccem. MinneColleges Coming Up Last year the Southwest Florida chapter of the Alumni Associated hosted the inaugural MinneCollege, a half-day of inspired learning and discussions with U experts from several disciplines. The event was so successful that this year there will be two MinneColleges. Mark your calendar for January 24 in Naples, Florida, and March 7 in Arizona, city to be determined. This year’s lineup includes faculty from the School of Public Health, the Medical School, the Institute of Technology, and more. Watch for more information at www.alumni.umn.edu/events. Welcome, Wippman University of Minnesota president Bob Bruininks (left) introduced David Wippman to campus during a ceremony at the McNamara Alumni Center in which he was installed as the 10th dean of the Law School. Most recently vice provost for international relations and professor of law at Cornell University, Wippman is an authority in international law and a former director in the National Security Council’s Office of Multilateral and Humanitarian Affairs. The keynote speaker for the ceremony was Michael Hurley (J.D. ’80), a CIA officer for 25 years, senior counsel on the 9/11 Commission, consultant to the U.S. State Department on the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, and a high school classmate of Wippman. Opened in 2000, the McNamara Alumni Center has become one of the most popular event sites in the Twin Cities, hosting approximately 900 events a year, including weddings, corporate parties, and campus celebrations. At its September meeting, the Board of Regents approved plans for a $9.7 million addition to the alumni center to add event and office space. The building’s three owners—the University of Minnesota Alumni Association, the University of Minnesota Foundation, and the Minnesota Medical Foundation—will pay for the expansion. On the Road Again Last year the Alumni Association traveled to 40 communities throughout the state to share stories with Minnesotans about the great work going on at the U (see accompanying map). The 2008-09 statewide tour, now under way, focuses on The Ultimate Homecoming, the much-anticipated return of Gopher football to campus next year. It’s an opportunity for citizens throughout the state of Minnesota to learn about the role that TCF Bank Stadium is playing in revitalizing campus traditions and how it will benefit the entire University. University Athletics is partnering with the Alumni Association in this effort to share with all Minnesotans the excitement of Gopher football’s return to campus. For more information about hosting a stop on the Alumni Association’s statewide tour, contact Mary Kay Delvo, director of advocacy, at 612-626-1417, 800-862-5867, or delvo003@umn.edu. No Poker Faces Here Members of the Alumni Association’s Phoenix Chapter gathered at the Phoenix Greyhound Park on September 19 to enjoy a Texas Hold ’Em tourney.  Members have previously come together to watch Gopher sporting events, but the poker tournament was an opportunity to appeal to members who don’t like sports or wanted to try something new. “Although I lost all my chips in the first half-hour and was relegated to watching my fellow alums, I still had a wonderful time and would do it all over again, hopefully with better success,” says chapter president Mickey Latz (M.B.A. ’93). Become a Life Member and Grab a Great Seat As the 2008 Big Ten football schedule winds down, Gopher fans are looking forward to the first kickoff in the new TCF Bank Stadium on September 12, 2009. University Athletics has created the Gopher Points system to determine seating in the new stadium. The system rewards season ticket holders’ loyalty, support, and relationship to the U—including life membership in the Alumni Association. New life members or members who upgrade to a fully paid single or joint life membership will be awarded 25 and 50 points, respectively, in their Gopher Points totals. In addition to earning Gopher Points, life members are ambassadors for the University who support important Alumni Association HOOPS SPRING ETERNAL. The 1907 Gopher women's basketball team, undefeated in its three-game season, tried to boost attendance by offering informal dances after each game. These foremothers would be proud to know they laid a solid foundation: In recent years the Gopher women, who open their season this month, have averaged close to 6,000 fans per home game at Williams Arena. PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES initiatives that help students, honor outstanding faculty, advocate for the U at the legislature, and much more. Be a part of football’s return to campus, one of the most exciting events in recent University history. Upgrade to a fully paid life membership today to ensure a great seat for the first snap of the 2009 season. Deadline for earning points is December 31, 2008. To join or to upgrade, call 612-624-9658 or go to www.alumni.umn.edu/life. For more information on Gopher Points, go to www.gophersports.com. January 28: Save the Date The 2009 session of the Minnesota Legislature will convene in February to set the state’s budget for the 2010 and 2011 biennium. One of the key items on the docket will be the University’s $141.2 million biennium budget request. This year, as in years past, grassroots advocacy will be essential to ensure that the state funds the University at a level that allows it to stay competitive. Plan to attend the 2009 Legislative Briefing and reception at the McNamara Alumni Center on January 28 and get the tools you need to advocate for the U. President Bob Bruininks will provide an insider’s preview of the U’s 2009 budget request, and a special guest will lead an informal training session about how to share your U story. Mark your calendar now for January 28 and watch for more details at www.supporttheU.umn.edu. A New All-time High Membership in the Alumni Association reached a milestone in mid-September. Life members are now more than 14,400 strong, surpassing all other categories of membership. Life members help make the Alumni Association and the University strong. Thank you! Member Rewards Made Easy Check out the new Alumni Benefits Event Calendar at www.alumni.umn.edu/events. Members can search by date to view a list of all events in the Twin Cities area related to Alumni Association member benefits. It’s a great new way to take advantage of the rewards associated with membership.

Last modified on 11/6/2008 2:26:44 PM ©2009 by the University of Minnesota Alumni Association. The University of Minnesota Alumni Association is an equal opportunity educator and employer.

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