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Alumni Association Home > Minnesota Magazine > Past Issues > 2003 > May-June 2003	Print View

UMAA National President: Celebrating a Century
5/12/2003

Before you read any further, take out your calendar and put a big maroon or gold circle around Thursday, May 29. Not only does that save the date for the UMAA’s annual celebration, it also marks the kickoff for our yearlong 100th anniversary salute.

This is a big deal. Centennial events do not come along every day. Quick research through state records shows that of more than 400 associations, only 31 have reached the 100-year mark.

So what is the best way to celebrate the accomplishments of one of the largest and most successful alumni associations in the nation? By calling on one of its most accomplished and successful alumni to be the keynote speaker. Who better than Harvey Mackay (B.A. ’54)?

A member of the Minnesota Business Hall of Fame, Harvey has been named one of the top five speakers in the world by Toastmasters and has translated his business success strategies into four New York Times bestsellers and a no-nonsense weekly column syndicated in more than 50 U.S. newspapers.

That is in addition to his tireless efforts on behalf of the University of Minnesota. Just this winter he helped engineer the $2.7 million Save Gopher Sports fund-raising campaign to spare the men’s and women’s golf and men’s gymnastics teams from elimination. And I’d be willing to bet he would have worked just as tirelessly if as a student he had not been a member of the Gopher men’s golf team.

Over the decades, Harvey has served on or chaired numerous task forces and committees at the University, and he’s been a major force for the Carlson School of Management. We can also take great pride in knowing that Harvey was president of your alumni association in 1986–87. This is all in addition to his service to the entire local community.

Tucked away in the UMAA files is a letter written by the late Curt Carlson (B.A. ’37) back in 1987, nominating Harvey for a volunteer award. It pretty much says it all.

"As successful as he has been in business, he probably could have been even more successful if he’d devoted all his time to it. Fortunately for all of us, this human dynamo has spent the major part of his energy and effort on making the world a better place," Carlson wrote. "He’s served as president of the Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce, a working president, not a figurehead, and he, more than any single person, is responsible for having provided the leadership to build [the Metrodome]. . . . He’ll have to get his reward in heaven for that one, because every ounce of that effort was unpaid and unsung. He did it because he believed it was good for the community."

For years the UMAA’s message has been about changing the world one graduate at a time. Few live that message better than Harvey Mackay. So thank you, Harvey, for rearranging your schedule to celebrate with us May 29.

And where to hold such an important party for hundreds of our closest friends? Where can we evoke the memories of 100 years and still enjoy all the style and beauty of today’s modern campus? Fortunately, the perfect site reopened just a few months ago. After a $71 million, top-to-bottom renovation, Coffman Memorial Union is more than ready for us. We’ll take full advantage of the beautiful terraced plaza overlooking the newly accessible Mississippi River as well as the beautiful interiors of the Great Hall, the atrium, and the dining hall. A huge tented area facing the river will serve as the picturesque backdrop for Harvey’s after-dinner address.

This year’s annual celebration is the ideal excuse to reconnect with old University friends as we remember our 100-year history. For tickets call the 612-624-2345. For more information, visit our Web site or call 612-625-9180.

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Speaking of getting University friends together: The long-awaited alumni directory—an exciting new UMAA initiative—is nearing completion. The company that is helping the UMAA create this directory is contacting all U of M alumni by phone or mail to update their information. Please respond to be sure you are included and to help make this the most valuable resource possible for networking and reconnecting.

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