Engineering Alumni Society Board of Directors Planning Meeting July 28, 2008

Agenda Incoming Board President’s Initiatives New Ideas Annual Events Board Awards Service Activities Internal Activities

Incoming Board

Board: Harris Romanoff (President) Nancy Harris (Vice President) Russ Miller (Vice President) Jim Brennan (Vice President) Carl Clyde (Secretary) Stan Warchaizer (Treasurer) Directors Farnia Fresnel Alan Schultz Robert Berkovits Ernest Churchville Matt Quale Jocelyn Nelson Dane Carswell Hank Guckes Eileen Feldman McCarthy Harry Vartanian Associates Jason Bethala Lauren Berryman-Neal Jeannine Carr Craig Schorr Wayne Robbins

President’s Initiatives

Initiative: Add EAS Link to Alumni Page Motivation: The Penn Alumni groups page ( provides quick links to many alumni groups but not to any school alumni groups. As such, the suggestion was made to inquire if a section could be added that provided links to school alumni societies. Status: Proposal presented to Elise Betz, Director of Penn Alumni and Penn Traditions in early June. Request forwarded to the E- Communications team Received approval on July 29, 2008

Initiative: Graduating Seniors Motivation: Reach out to engineering undergraduates the summer after their graduation. Welcome letter from EAS about our group and how to stay connected. Status: Obtained list of most active engineering seniors from Elise Betz. Wrote letter to graduating seniors, sent to Janice on August 16th Letter will be sent out via blast during Labor Day week.

Initiative: Hold School Alumni Leaders Meeting Motivation: School alumni societies have a different set of challenges relative to that of regional alumni groups. Proposal was made to Elise Betz to hold a meeting of the leaders of all of Penn’s School alumni societies. Objectives are to: (1) Meet Lee Doty, the new Penn Alumni President. (2) Share ideas & lessons learned. (3) Develop set of best practices on leading successful School Alumni societies – one that could not only benefit Penn internally but if published to the web could be a template for other universities. Status: Obtained buy in from Elise Betz ed Lee Doty proposal, obtained by in Collaborated with Penn Alumni office to establish date of Friday, Oct. 31 st – Homecoming Weekend School Alumni Leaders ed

New Ideas Proposed

New Idea: Alumni Career Panel Champion: Jason Bethala (Chair) Committee: Farnia Fresnel, Wayne Robbins, Bob Berkovits, Sevile Mannickarottu What: An alumni career panel composed of EAS members from different backgrounds (e.g. traditional engineering career, business career, graduate school, start-up, etc.) Who does it benefit? Engineering Students & current SEAS alumni in Philadelphia area Why do it? Provides an opportunity for engineering students to ask questions relating to possible careers paths, graduate schools, etc. The majority of career panels are not targeted specifically towards the general body of engineering students Introduces EAS to current students – opportunity to promote the organization’s mission and potentially meet new recruits Allows SEAS to promote the flexibility and numerous career opportunities associated with an engineering degree, especially in a market where students may find it difficult to obtain jobs Where: An engineering building on campus When: Ideally the September – October timeframe since seniors/ graduate students would likely be applying for jobs or graduate schools and interviewing during this time How: Discuss with Career Services on most effective way to promote the panel and hold the event Gather interest, background information, and availability from current EAS members Draft campaign, hang flyers, etc.

New Idea: Engineering Alumni Ambassadors Champion: Harris Romanoff Committee: Jim Brennan (Chair), Hank Guckes, Bob Berkovits, Stan Warchaiser What: Connect EAS with engineering alumni who are active in Regional Clubs (e.g. Penn Club San Francisco) Who does it benefit? Engineering Alumni & Development Office Why do it? 1) Broaden the active alumni base of EAS 2) Empower engineering alumni at regional clubs to do engineering related events - e.g. "Dinner with a Penn Dean: Eduardo Glandt, Dean of Penn Engineering" 3) Re-connect alumni with Engineering School When: Throughout the year How: 1) EAS forms an "Engineering Alumni Ambassadors" committee. 2) Reach out to several regional clubs and find out if there are any active engineering alumni graduates 3) Connect with those engineering alumni graduates – offer them to become “EAS Ambassadors” 4) Keep communication lines open: We inform them of Penn engineering events of local interest (e.g. visit by Dean) They inform of us of events of local interest involving engineering alumni (e.g. guest speaker)

New Idea: Establish EAS on LinkedIn Champion: Bill Kane Committee: Russ Miller (Chair), Farnia Fresnel, Alison Capponi, Stan Warchaizer What: Establish and maintain a LinkedIn account Who does it benefit? Current students, Alumni, Development Why do it? LinkedIn seems to be well established as a professional networking site, and several Penn groups have already been created. The group could be used to announce and promote events, reconnect with other alums and increase involvement in the Alumni Society When: Ongoing How: Issues seem to revolve around licensing of the Penn name and logo. Once this issue is resolved the creation of a group is trivial

Annual Events

Fall Annual Event Event: Homecoming Weekend Requirements: 1) Collaborate with Development office on planning events for homecoming 2) Promote event to EAS Chair Person: Matt Quale

Spring Annual Event Event: Alumni Weekend Suggested Tasks: 1) Collaborate with Development office on planning events for alumni weekend 2) Promote event to EAS Chair Person: Jocelyn Nelson

Spring Annual Event Event: Senior Design Competition Suggested Tasks: 1) Review rules & edit materials for design competition 2) Facilitate event day of 3) Serve as judge and/or score enterer Co-Chair Person: Walter Korn Co-Chair Person: Stan Warchaizer Committee Members: Farnia Fresnel, Alison Capponi, Paul McLaughlin, Dane Carswell, Ernest Churchville

Summer Annual Event Event: Graduate Student BBQ Suggested Tasks: 1) Collaborate with Development office on planning Graduate Student BBQ 2) Sit at sign-in table, check IDs, work crowd Chair Persons: Hank Guckes, Ernest Churchville, Stan Warchaizer

Bi-Annual Events Event: Patent Presentation (2007, 2009) Suggested Tasks: 1) Collaborate with Development office on planning Graduate Student BBQ 2) Sit at sign-in table, check IDs, work crowd Chair Person: Harry Vartanian Committee Members: Seville George, Bill Kane, Eileen Feldman, Peter Staffeld Event: PE Presentation (2008, 2010) Suggested Tasks: 1) Collaborate with Development office on planning Graduate Student BBQ 2) Sit at sign-in table, check IDs, work crowd Co-Chair Person: ______________ Co-Chair Person: __________________ Committee Members: _________________, ___________________, __________________

Board Awards

Award: Yarnall Suggested Tasks: 1) Collaborate with Development office on obtaining recommendations 2) Tele-conference to review candidate bios 3) Make recommendation to board 4) Reach out to nominees Co-Chair Person: Stan Warchaizer Co-Chair Person: Tim Carlsen Committee Members: Mickey Kaufman, Bob Berkovits, Jim Brennan, Paul Staffeld, Farnia Fresnel

Outreach Activities

Activity: Student Mentoring Suggested Tasks: 1) Collaborate with Career Planning on facilitating freshman mentoring program 2) Help Career Planning in finding needed alumni 3) Promote mentoring program to students and alumni Co-Chair Person: Nancy Harris Committee Members: Jane Fried Sheinfeld, Alison Capponi

Outreach Activities Activity: Increasing Participation in Alumni Activities Suggested Tasks: 1) In January, identify board members who are members of undergraduate classes with reunions the following year. 2) Find out who the assigned staff person is at Penn Alumni Relations for that class. 3) Encourage the board members to contact these staff people 4) Check on status in April or May. Co-Chair Person: Eric Benshetler Committee Members: Farnia Fresnel, Russ Miller

Internal Activities

Activity: Website Updates Suggested Tasks: 1) Continually review website content to ensure it’s up to date 2) Post pictures, board meeting dates, etc Chair Person: Russ Miller

Internal Activities Activity: Speaker Series Suggested Tasks: 1) Shake engineering alumni tree for potential speakers 2) Contact potential speakers 3) Present Bio to board 4) Coordinate times that work for EAS & Speaker Co-Chair Person: Ernest Churchville Co-Chair Person: Hank Guckes