A Letter from the GLBTAA President

My name is Rob DeCleene and I am very happy to say I am the new president of the IU GLBT Alumni Association. It seems somehow appropriate at this time of major transition at IU – a new President, Provost, and Chief Executive of the Alumni Association – that the GLBT Alumni Association follows suit with a transition of our own. I assume this position with much excitement, dedication, and motivation to improve upon the incredible work of my predecessors in guiding the GLBT Alumni Association through the next two years.

I am humbled to follow in the footsteps of two very successful presidents in Kim Davis and Erica DeSantis. Together with Nancy Kalina, they have a provided leadership team that is, to say the least, a tough act to follow. Erica remains on the board as immediate past president and Kim & Nancy have assured me they are available for any consultation and guidance they can provide. That cooperation, coupled with the talented new board of directors we convened in late August, will ensure continued advancement of the very worthy and critical goals of the IU GLBT Alumni Association.

As with any transition, an opportunity for change and altered direction presents itself. Together with your entire board of directors, the GLBT Alumni Association is committed to some fresh ideas along with the continuation of so many successfully established programs, advocacy, and events. There is much excitement throughout the board to make the next two years as prolific as possible. Here are some ideas set forth at the August board meeting to guide us throughout this process:

• Development of a GLBT Homecoming Weekend in conjunction with the annual PRIDE Film Festival held in Bloomington the last weekend of January
• Establishment of an “e-mentoring” program connecting members with IU students from all campuses for networking, internship, employment, and advocacy opportunities
• Identification of successful programs and events already in existence with other alumni affiliate groups that can be modified to fit the needs of members of the GLBT Alumni Association
• Improve the content and appearance of the website; some changes have already taken place, with more to come – be on the lookout
• Institute an option on the website for member and corporate donations
• Increase available funds allocated to scholarship program; this has already begun in the budget for the current fiscal year with the hopes of continued, measured increases as needed
• Hold a board meeting on a satellite campus or city with a large membership contingent once a year
• Active involvement in any way possible or necessary in the planning and staging of the 2009 Midwest Bisexual, Lesbian, Gay, Transgender, Ally Collegiate Conference; this event will bring 1,500 collegians to the IUB campus February 13-15, 2009 and serve as the largest such gathering in the country
• Planning of a GLBT Alumni trip, similar to other trips already offered through the general IU Alumni Association; this has been accomplished with much success at other campuses throughout the country
• Double membership from current level of 930; ambitious yes, but why not?
• Establishment of a monthly social opportunity for members – in Bloomington and elsewhere when possible
• Establishment of a "Distinguished Alumni of the Year" award to be presented at the annual meeting/dinner
• Continue upon success of the 2007 annual meeting/dinner in transitioning the event into a larger scale entertainment & social opportunity

I am confidant all of these goals can be achieved, primarily due to the precedent set by our amazing membership. The GLBT Alumni Association would be nothing without each and every one of our 930 members. It’s all about the membership and the willingness of those members to continue their dedication to the organization. And what an organization! Imagine in just 10 years to go from non-existence to an almost 1,000-strong membership. We all can take great pride in that and thank each and every previous board member that helped make it happen.

What a difference 10 years make. As an undergraduate at IU, I never had the opportunity for guidance from Doug & Carol at the GLBTSSS Office. It just didn’t exist. I’m sure many of us can relate to that fact. In turn, there was certainly no GLBT Alumni Association for me to join upon commencement in May 1994. I am certain my undergraduate experience would have been profoundly impacted by these organizations had they existed in my time, a fact many of us can state. It is with this knowledge and personal experience that I dedicate, to the best of my abilities, my full attention to advancing this organization into it’s next 10 years of existence; an existence with unlimited possibilities to benefit our wonderful students, GLBTSSS Office, and of course, incredible membership.

Please feel free to email me any suggestions, issues, and ideas you might have to guide myself and the board in shaping the efforts of the GLBT Alumni Association. In the meantime, let’s take note of what a privilege it is being affiliated with an institution such as IU which has transformed the experience for GLBT students, alumni, friends and allies in just 10 short years. Hail to old IU indeed!

-Rob DeCleene, B.S.’94