Dear INROADS Alumnus and Alumna,
As I embark on yet another journey in my life, I wanted to thank you, INROADS Alumni, for enabling me to know and serve you for the past 11 years.
INROADS alumni relations really began in the 1970's with the earliest graduates' involvement as volunteers, individually and collectively, in affiliate and community affairs.
The National INROADS Alumni Association (NIAA), officially established in 1980 and incorporated in 1982, has continuously been a primary link in alumni involvement and support of INROADS and their fellow alumni through programs, events and services |  |
In September 1994, when Charles Story hired me to start up the Office of Alumni Relations(OAR), I could not have known how many of you I would meet, the enduring relationships we would forge and the shared goals we would accomplish. To Tracy McMillan and Jada Reese, the first alumni I met, and all those INROADS stakeholders who have, in many ways over the last 11 years, supported OAR in performance of the alumni relations function, I say, thank you. Now, as I prepare to embark on a yet another phase of life's fast journey, allow me to reflect on some of the more memorable aspects of our work in serving our alumni.
As director of alumni relations, my job was to orchestrate and manage a ground swell of organized activities among alumni and to facilitate their ongoing connectivity with and support of INROADS' noble mission. Your response and continued support was instrumental in the successful establishment, growth and accomplishment of our every day efforts. We collaborated to develop corporate and affiliate chapters and to plan and implement a myriad of alumni events. As I traveled from one affiliate to the other, to NIAA meetings, conventions and other events, I met many of you who willingly shared your ideas, concerns and visions which we tried to incorporate into alumni programs, publications and services. I do hope we have been able to realize some of your expectations.
Along the way, our office has been blessed with few staff changes. After the lone ranger for nine months, Steve McLain, an INROADS alumnus, came aboard. His energy and technical skills were instrumental in mapping the programs and initial direction of the office. Renee Hargrove, another alumna bridged the gap, for three months, after Steve went off to pursue other interests and until Barbara Reuben-Powell joined us. For the past six years, Barbara and I have collaborated and partnered with INROADS Alumni, staff, interns, client companies and a host of other organizations to provide a comprehensive array of programs, services and publication, and to consistently promote alumni as the paramount trustees and ambassadors of INROADS. Thanks, Barbara, for being a caring person and for a job well done!
It has been a privilege and honor to have been the first full-time INROADS staffer exclusively dedicated to serving our alumni. I will always be a strong INROADS advocate. To all of you, stellar alumni, my best wishes for continued success, both personally and professionally.
I know you will continue to be "the true measure of INROADS success" where ever you live and work.
Sincerely,
Horace |