Remarks from IUAA
President Tom Martz

June 2008

Dear Alumni and Friends:

True leadership, I have learned, is a rare commodity. As Stephen R. Covey states, "leadership is communicating to people their worth and potential so clearly that they come to see it in themselves."

Over the past few months I have had the pleasure to work with gifted volunteer leaders and staff as the IU Alumni Association Strategic Plan was planned, crafted, and edited. In this document, we found a clear direction and a catalyst for the next level of leadership – leadership of our team, of our association, and all the programs and services that we administer. We see potential for our future and worth in our endeavors that have never before been dreamed.

We’ve been charged to ramp up our engagement in six areas of service to the university: international affairs; student, faculty, and staff recruitment; diversity; advocacy; marketing; and development. This Strategic Plan sets forth a blueprint for the Alumni Association to engage our staff and vast volunteer network in unprecedented ways to help Indiana University continue its leadership role among the world’s great colleges and universities.

The IU Alumni Association has a wonderful opportunity to make the alma mater that we love so much an even greater institution. We stand ready to support President McRobbie’s vision for Indiana University.

We relish the role and are undaunted at the task at hand.

My thanks goes to all the great leaders on the IUAA Board of Managers and the IUAA Cabinet who assisted in the completion of our Strategic Plan. The creative process was an enjoyable and fruitful one.