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Alumni Council

Made up of 25 alumni appointed to three-year terms and the president of the Student Alumni Association, this board meets on a quarterly basis at WIU. Members represent the interests of alumni and serve as liaisons to 25 University areas. The council assists in the recruitment of students, selects Alumni Award recipients, and was instrumental in establishing the Student Alumni Association.

NEXT MEETING: Friday, October 11, 2013
Western Illinois University
Macomb, Illinois

For more information, join the Alumni Council group on RockeNetwork .

2013 Alumni Council Meetings
Saturday, January 19
Saturday, April 27
Friday, October 11

A letter from the Alumni Council President
(from the Spring 2013 Western News)

Kris Kelly, Alumni Council President

In the Fall 2012 issue of the Western News, I issued a challenge to all alumni to complete two of five opportunities to be connected with their alma mater during my two-year tenure as president. In addition, I asked Alumni Council members to complete all five opportunities. I encouraged alumni to take the challenge when I spoke with them at Homecoming and at other alumni and University events. Here are the five opportunities I presented:

1) Return to WIU for Homecoming. This is our pinnacle annual event as alumni. 2) Attend an alumni and friends event. The Alumni Association hosts events throughout the country (and even internationally), so please come and actively participate. 3) Share the WIU story. Talk to family, friends and colleagues about your experiences at Western and how they have influenced who you are. 4) Reconnect. With the variety of social media available today, it has become easier to make contact with former roommates, classmates, professors and administrators. Utilize the social media links on the alumni web site. Tell an old friend "hi" or a former professor "thank you." 5) Recruit. The strength of most organizations lies in its future members. For the Alumni Association, that starts with students. Identify friends and family exploring college, and individuals who may be seeking advancement through graduate studies, and encourage them to consider Western.

Now we have an opportunity to assess how we have done as the permanent trustees of Western Illinois University. As I have heard back from Alumni Council members, many have completed all five challenges and others are well on their way to meeting them. In an effort to gauge the progress being made toward the challenge by you (our 115,000+ alumni), we are providing a way to share your progress. Please email A-Association@wiu.edu and report your activity. I will provide a summary of our results in the Summer 2013 issue of The Western News.

I noted at the start of my term as president that Western Illinois University was in a time of change. We are now in a time of growth and strategically pursuing excellence as a university. Despite economic challenges, progress is made through the things that are done by faculty, staff, students and alumni to make Western a great place to learn and grow. Be a part of that growth and pursuit of excellence: complete the challenge and THINK PURPLE!

Thinking PURPLE,
Kristopher L. Kelly '90 MS '92

Alumni Council Members Sought

The WIU Alumni Association is looking for dedicated leaders of all ages, ethnicity, gender, geographic location, career fields, etc. to serve on the WIU Alumni Council. If you or someone you know is an active alumnus that would be a good candidate, please send the nomination form and resume to the Alumni Association at 1 University Circle, Macomb, IL 61455 or fax (309)298-2914. The deadline is March 1. (You may save and email your form to A-Association@wiu.edu only if your computer has Adobe Acrobat Professional, not Adobe Acrobat Reader.)

Or, click here to print off and then fill out the nomination form.

2012 - 2013 Council Members

Alumni Council Featured Member

Brett GoadBrett Goad 1974 1976

Degree: Bachelor of Arts degree in education and Master of Arts degree in music, both from WIU; Type 75 Administration Certificate from NIU in 1991

Business Information: Retired Director of Student Activities at Hinsdale South High School in Darien, Illinois

Advice for Freshman: Balance is the key--work hard, get involved and have fun.

Favorite WIU Memory: Working with the WIU Summer Camp Staff--I attended as a camper in the summer of '69, and I served as a counselor, head counselor and camp director for 10 years.

Family/Hobbies: My wife Sue and I have a daughter Rachel who is a masters candidate in Biology at SIU-C and our son Gene is deceased.