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Beyond the President and VP

Creative Leadership Models for Alumni Groups, Part I

By Stephanie Fox '89 and Larry Taylor '73

Ed. Note: This is the first of two articles about the various ways Cornellians structure alumni organizations; the second will appear in the July/August issue.

Cornell alumni groups employ a diverse and dynamic array of leadership models, engaging different ones at different times in each group's particular evolution. We offer the following ideas as catalysts to alumni groups seeking leadership solutions that extend beyond the traditional president/ vice president model.

Interestingly, these solutions are found in groups of all sizes, ranging from 300 to 3,000 members. Each has unique merits; none is perfect. Indeed, Cornell organizations freely hybridize multiple styles that work for them. Here are a few that recur throughout Cornell's alumni community.

Co-Leads with Simultaneous Terms

In this model, two alumni agree to share the role of president during simultaneous terms. This approach is effective for either experienced twosomes or an experienced leader with an understudy. One great example is the Cornell Club of Chicago, where Celia Rodee '80 and Peter Cooper '81, who are married, share joint leadership as co-presidents. Here, a large and active club benefits from two experienced leaders while the co-presidents effectively share the responsibilities of a large alumni base. On smaller scales, the Cornell clubs of Pittsburgh, Oklahoma, and

North Texas have also elected co-presidents with simultaneous terms. The Cornell Alumni Association of North Texas, which encompasses the Dallas/ Fort Worth metroplex, benefits from having one president located in Dallas and another in Fort Worth—an ideal arrangement for coverage of two geographically distinct pockets of alumni.

Co-presidents are also a logical solution when leadership candidates are only able or willing to take on part of the time commitment of this important role. It also works when two leaders complement each other's skills and interests. For example, the Cornell Club of Northern New Jersey found success in the past with one co-president who excelled at organizing events and running meetings; the other co-president was more comfortable in the public role and acting as spokesperson at programs.

One challenge that this model presents is succession. Early development of the subsequent leadership team is important to avoid a gap when the coleads' terms expire.

Co-Leads with Staggered Terms

In this version of co-leads, the terms of two presidents or leaders overlap. The twin benefits are that the co-leads can share the load and focus on training and developing the subsequent leadership. The Chicago Young Alumni Committee practices this model; co-chairs are selected for two-year terms, and one or more new co-leads are chosen in committee each year. Using this cycle, one of the co-leads is always experienced in the annual flow of events while the newer leadership has the opportunity to learn for the coming year. This technique is particularly suited to alumni communities with a relatively transient nature, such as alumni with newly established careers. This model also maintains institutional memory, which greatly benefits the organization.

Cornell alumni groups have been quite flexible in adjusting the term of office and creative in naming their leadership positions in order to match the needs of their club with the capacity of the leadership candidates. Tom Mulligan '73, MBA '77, of the Cornell Alumni Federation Board echoes this need for flexibility. "Gel, don't freeze," he advises. The result is a healthy continuity of leadership.

The President-Elect

Having a president-elect is a common succession stratagem among volunteer organizations. Some use the more traditional titles of vice president or first vice president. Either way, the key element is that it is expressly understood this person will assume the presidency when the current president's term expires.

The president-elect must be committed to assuming prime leadership within an agreed timeline. This method of pre-determined succession (whether president-elect or vice president) allows the future president ample time to learn the job in advance; this is particularly helpful when the presidentelect is a relatively recent graduate or new to alumni group leadership. Clubs of all sizes report success with this deliberate approach to succession planning, including smaller clubs such as Sarasota Manatee, medium clubs such as Wisconsin, and larger clubs such as Washington, D.C. The Rochester Club, which celebrated its centennial in 2004, has maintained the president-elect model even while changing the length of term from one year to three. "Be flexible, but maintain continuity," says Tom Cummings '75, president of the Rochester Club.

The Past President

Past leaders provide alumni organizations with valuable expertise and experience in many ways. Alumni groups such as the Cornell clubs of Oklahoma and St. Louis have established an official position on the board for the immediate past president. Transition management is a key role for these seasoned leaders. Often the past president is a willing assistant on key projects, particularly if she or he is not asked to take the lead responsibility. For example, the Mid-America Club in Kansas City had a particularly successful planned transition spread over two years. Club leaders from the Suncoast to Cape Cod say "thank heavens for my predecessor" for assisting with operations in their recent transitions. The experience of these leaders is also appropriately tapped for certain club functions, such as conducting the annual nominating process or facilitating a periodic strategic planning session.

Having such advice and guidance on hand is "phenomenally helpful," says Chuck Schilke, JD '88, of Washington, D.C. Moreover, this source of experience may help avoid that bane of volunteer organizations, the dreaded burnout of a new president.

Changing of the Guard

New Directors and Officers Chosen for the CAF Board

At its January 21 meeting, the Cornell Alumni Federation board unanimously endorsed the nominations committee's slate of candidates for two- and one-year positions. These include seven at-large directors and nine directors-from-the-region who started their two-year terms in April, and one at-large director and three directorsfrom- the-region who also started their one-year terms in April.

Beginning new two-year terms as directors-at-large are: Mary Maxon Grainger '79, MPS '87, Kenneth Gurrola, MBA '95, and Annie Wong '77. Beginning a new one-year term as a director- at-large is Linda Vecchiotti Saal '71. Retiring directors-at-large whose terms ended in April are: Christine Felton '90, Robert Ramin '82, MBA '85, and Robert Stelletello '83. Beginning their second two-year terms are: Laurie Berke-Weiss '71, Natalie Cornell '79, Cynthia Froggatt, MS '85, and Ruby Saake '84.

In all, eighteen directors-from-theregion represent Cornell Clubs and Alumni Associations from nine regions around the world. Beginning new two-year terms as directorsfrom- the-region are: Mark Yuan '96 (International), Charles Hunt '68 (Southeast), and Rana Glasgal '87, ME '92 (Western). Beginning new one-year terms as directors-from-the-region are: Bernard MacCabe '75, MBA '79 (International), and Scott Pesner '87 (Metro/New York).

Beginning their second two-year terms are: Howard Sobel '66 (Metro/ New York), Mary Kahn '79 (Mid-Atlantic), Lawrence Taylor '73 (Midwest), S. Edward Wilson Jr. '69 (New York/Ontario), Meredith Rosenberg '92 (Northeast), and Stephanie Keene Fox '89 (Southwest/Mountain). Martha Sherman '73, MPS '75 (Northeast), continues on the board for a one-year term. Retiring directors-from-the-region whose terms ended in April are: J. Roger O'Neil, MBA '61 (International), Natalie Teich '65 (International), Annie Wong ' 77 (Metro/New York), Mark Mayrsohn '77 (Southeast), and Andrew Traum '85 (Western).

Also at its January 21 meeting, the board unanimously approved the slate of 2005–07 officers presented by its nominations committee. They are: Rolf Frantz '66, ME '67 (president), Nancy Abrams Dreier '86 (vice president), Jeffrey Goldstein '90 (vice president), Terrance Horner Jr. '92, PhD '98 (vice president), Sally Anne Levine '70, JD '73 (vice president), and Robert Metcalf, MBA '61 (vice president). Director of Alumni Affairs Mary Berens '74 continues as secretary/treasurer. Retiring executive committee members whose terms ended in April are: Muriel Kuhs '61 (president), Ginger So '79 (vice president), and Christine Miller Whaley '84, MBA '89 (vice president).

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