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Alumni Association establishes New regional chapters

The FIU Alumni Association has hit the road and is branching out to get its network of chapters alive and thriving!

On the regional front, the Association is forming organized groups of members in most of the major metropolitan areas of the United States that have a large alumni contingent.

This past February, Interim Alumni Relations Director Carlos Becerra and Chapters Coordinator Wil Lash hosted an ambitious group of alumni in Atlanta and formally launched efforts in that area. Also in attendance at the reception held at the Hyatt Regency were Steve Sauls, vice president of University Relations, and Delois Weekes, associate vice president of Sponsored Research, who brought the group up to speed on the University's current accomplishments and goals.

The Atlanta group is starting to plan regular programs for their chapter. There are over 700 alumni currently living in the metro-Atlanta area.

Next on the agenda was the San Francisco area, which boasts more than 200 alumni. Alumni Relations staff and President Modesto A. Maidique were in San Francisco for an April 18th launch reception. Former Alumni Association President Leonard Simpson is heading up the efforts there and is looking forward to great success. In addition to Atlanta and San Francisco, several other cities are in the works, including Chicago and New York, and closer to South Florida, Tallahassee, Orlando and Tampa slated to launch this summer. These cities will eventually join Washington D.C., which has the most active regional chapter.

Lash, the new chapters coordinator, was hired in December 1999 to oversee and coordinate the development of these regional chapters as well as those for academic units. To date, the colleges of Business and Education, as well as the Honors College and the School Of Architecture, have begun efforts to formalize their alumni groups. They join the longstanding chapter of the School of Hospitality Management.

If you reside in any of the previously mentioned areas or are interested in helping form a chapter for an academic unit, please contact Wil Lash, chapters coordinator, at 305-348-1572, or 1-800-FIU-ALUM.

Call for e-mail addresses

Help us keep in touch with you by letting us know your current e-mail address. We want to keep you well informed of your association's activities as well as what's going on at your alma mater - and will be doing so more and more via e-mail. Send your e-mail address to alumni@fiu.edu.

Member travelers save on parking

Airport Fast Park, an airport off-site parking facility, is happy to offer FIU Alumni Association members (with current membership card) a reduced rate of $6 per day. This is $2 off the regular rate and off the daily parking rate at the airport. They guarantee fast, courteous and comfortable service from the parking lot to terminal and return, assisting you in each direction with luggage handling and optimum drop-off location. Their facility is completely fenced, video monitored, well lit and attended 24 hours a day. Also available are additional incentives for frequent customers as well as optional American or United air miles for each day when you pay their full rate of $8 per day.

Airport Fast Park is located on NW 31st Street and Le Jeune Road (east of Baker Aviation) For alumni who do not hail from Miami, Fast Park is growing and presently offers their preferred rate and services at the following airports: Albuquerque, Baltimore, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky, Memphis and a soon to be opened location in Austin. For more information, you can read about them on their web site at www.airportfastpark.com. Pack Your Bags with FIUAA

Imagine traveling the world - or maybe just to New York City - with your Alumni Association! The FIUAA is presently looking into the possibility of offering travel packages to alumni as part of its new programming. Under consideration are excursions to both domestic and foreign destinations, with a variety of themes and expense ranges. Alumni feedback regarding preferred locations, length of travel, desired price range, and type of itinerary will allow staff to select appropriate and attractive packages that best meet their needs and provide a memorable experience for all. Call Karen Siegall, programs and services coordinator, at 1-800-FIU-ALUM for more information and to offer your suggestions.

Association Joins the Team

At its January meeting, the Alumni Association Board of Directors voted to become a Football Founder and be among the exclusive group of individual and corporate leaders providing financial support to help FIU field its first football team in 2002.

FIU Homecoming 2000 Golf Open First Place Foursome
FIU Police Department, left to right: Chief Jesse Campbell,
director, University Police; Gregg Isom; Harvey Clayton; Bruce Hardy,
FIU Football Operations; Don Strock, director, FIU Football
Operations and tournament host; and Jerry Isom.

The board recognized that intercollegiate football will bring new levels of visibility to FIU. The Alumni Board of Directors is proud to be a visible participant during this important period in FIU history. To become involved in this effort, call Carlos Becerra at 1-800-FIU-ALUM

Mentor Program Launched

On March 16, the FIU Alumni Association Mentor's Program was launched at a luncheon at the University Park campus. This joint effort of the Alumni Association and the Student Alumni Association pairs members with current students who share career interests. Participants are encouraged to set their own pace and be creative in the ways they interact. If you are interested in serving as a mentor, call Wil Lash at 1-800-FIU-ALUM.

Annual Alumni Awards Program Postponed

The Annual Alumni Awards program, originally scheduled for May, has been postponed until September and will be presented as part of a new annual program commemorating the opening of FIU. A signature event of the Alumni Association, the Annual Alumni Awards ceremony seeks to recognize outstanding and distinguished alumni in the areas of professional achievement, community service and service to the University. For more information or for sponsorship opportunities, call Karen Siegall at 1-800-FIU-ALUM.

Association Annual Meeting

The Board of Directors invites all members to the Annual Meeting of the Alumni Association on Thursday, June 15 at the Hotel Intercontinental in downtown Miami. The evening will begin with a brief business meeting and presentation of the association's strategic plan and end with a cocktail reception.