Nominations sought for Vanneman Award
The Cornell Association of Class Officers (CACO) is seeking nominations for one of its most prestigious honors, the William "Bill" Vanneman '31 Outstanding Class Leader Award for 2009.
The award recognizes class officers who have provided long-term exemplary service to the University and to their individual classes. CACO created the award in 2005 to honor Bill, who has served his class tirelessly for more than seventy-five years and continues to actively volunteer today. The honor is presented annually at CACO's Mid-Winter Meeting, in February.
One of Cornell's strengths is the commitment of its alumni, many of whom continue to serve the University for decades after graduation. They include class officers—1,736 men and women who organize reunions, create scholarship funds, plan regional activities, and otherwise keep classmates connected with each other and with Cornell.
All Cornellians are invited to nominate officers who have worked actively for a sustained period on behalf of their graduating classes. Current and past officers are eligible for the Vanneman Award after they have celebrated their 40th Reunion. Recipients are selected solely on the basis of their contributions as class leaders. For additional information and a nomination form, please visit www.alumni.cornell.edu/caco/. Forms can be returned at any time, but only those received by November 4, 2008, will be considered for the 2009 award. Take this opportunity to recognize one of the many unsung heroes whose hard work is a tribute to Cornell and an inspiration to fellow alumni.
New Directors Join CAF Board
At its February 9, 2008, meeting, the board of the Cornell Alumni Federation (CAF) unanimously endorsed the nominations committee's slate of candidates for fifteen director positions. The directors will serve for two years, beginning in May.
Betty Eng '92 and Lawrence Taylor '73 will start new terms as directors-at-large, replacing Dean Burrell '77, BS '79, and Ross Lanzafame '77, MPS '79, whose terms end in May. Beginning their second terms as directors-at-large are Angela Clark '88, Jerrold Day '71, MBA '78, and Linda Vecchiotti Saal '71.
New directors-from-the-regions are Jill Fields '88 (Mid-Atlantic), Thomas Cummings '75 (New York/Ontario), Rachelle Montano '94 (Southeast), and Catherine Chang Cocco '85 (Southwest/Mountain). Beginning second terms are Bernard MacCabe '75, MBA '79 (International), Scott Pesner '87 (Metro New York), Aaron Gadouas '86 (Midwest), Shana Mueller '95 (Northeast), and Bradford Wellstead '83, MS '96 (Western). Margaret Tallman '92 (Mid-Atlantic) will serve a new one-year term. They will replace retiring directors Charles Schilke, JD '88 (Mid-Atlantic), David Tetor '65 (New York/Ontario), Debra Alzner '93 (Southeast), and David Harap '89 (Southwest/Mountain). In all, eighteen directors represent Cornell Clubs and Alumni Associations from nine regions around the world.
The CAF thanks retiring and current directors for their dedicated service.
A Leader Looks Back
Robert Metcalf, MBA '61, completed twenty-five years of leadership in alumni affairs in 2007, stepping down as a Cornell Alumni Federation (CAF) vice president. "Cornell's success rests on its mission to serve people, and this should be foremost in your thoughts," Bob said at his last CAF board meeting, noting that the organization assists a remarkable variety of constituents, from alumni to current and prospective students to faculty, staff, and communities touched by University outreach.
Bob began his alumni volunteer career with the Cornell Club of Rochester. He proudly recalls when the group won the 1981 Outstanding Large Club Award, presented by then-President Frank H. T. Rhodes on the fifty-yard line of Schoellkopf Stadium during half time at Homecoming.
He joined the board of the Federation of Cornell Clubs several years later. As a vice president, he served on a task force that recommended the formation of the CAF in 1990 as an umbrella organization for all alumni activities. In fact, it was Bob who coined the name "Cornell Alumni Federation." His many CAF roles include serving as a Johnson School representative, advisor to the grants committee, and member of the ways and means committee. He reminisced about overlapping with seven Cornell presidents and his good fortune to work with alumni communities in New York and Connecticut. He also expressed gratitude to outstanding administrators such as Frank Clifford '50, Dick Ramin '51, Jim Hazzard '50, Mary Berens '74, Inge Reichenbach, and Charlie Phlegar.
In closing, Bob reminded the CAF board members of their responsibility to reach out to all alumni and encourage them to become active. "They will be receptive to your request to give of their time, talent, and treasure to ensure that Cornell will continue to be one of the world's outstanding universities," Bob said. "If you do these things, it will be one of your most rewarding experiences—and it will do wonders for our beloved Cornell."