That is absolutely true.
Trustee Kay Salvino: “The Alumni Assoc is not in the business of getting students scholarships."
- Thread starter Mary QBA
- Start date
And by limiting the number of elected reps to the Council, they ensure that any mgmt or policy efforts will be minimized. Then, by reprimanding those who talk about the double-secret stuff that is discussed, they ensure that that vast majority of Alums remain in the dark. But, maybe they will contribute anyway for a few years.
I have not read the mission statement recently, but if it states that they exist to cultivate friends and donors, they are not really an alumni-focused group imo. Why not put the focus squarely on Alumni in this org. via words and actions? Do they state loud and clear that the AA exists to serve the Alumni? I believe they should if not. I think that includes cultivating relationships with deserving students who will become alumni and recognizing some with financial aid where deserved.... creating more organic donors in the long-term. This, among other programs and efforts to support the local groups.
We have other fund-raising depts. and efforts to accomplish the friends / donors aspects of that important goal.
Btw, I heard through the grapevine that a number of chapters want to show "The Joe We Know" again or for the first time, and have mentioned that to Clifford. From what I hear, he is looking into how to support that. Don't know where that stands, though. It was a solid fund-raiser for chapters.... mostly for their scholarship programs.
[QUOTE="psu1969a, post: 2394591, member: 9698". Thank God her term on BoT is up next year.[/QUOTE]
Seriously?
"Her" term is NEVER up.
"Her" term in now codified into perpetuity.....and Crypt-Keeper Salvino will not leave until "her" spot is filled by the NEXT Immediate Past President - - - - the gallant Mr Steele
Steele - who is only serving his penance as the PSU AA El Presidente for that very reason........because it is required to first BE the El Presidente - before one can be the PAST President
Seriously?
"Her" term is NEVER up.
"Her" term in now codified into perpetuity.....and Crypt-Keeper Salvino will not leave until "her" spot is filled by the NEXT Immediate Past President - - - - the gallant Mr Steele
Steele - who is only serving his penance as the PSU AA El Presidente for that very reason........because it is required to first BE the El Presidente - before one can be the PAST President
LMAO - then why is the PSU AA Immediate Past El Presidente granted a seat on the PSU BOT..........the group that is supposed to be THE governance body for the Pennsylvania State University?
And you would think anyone at PSU cares about that.......why?
The PSU AA is - to them - a resource to assist in their propaganda dissemination......and to provide a launch point to add an additional sycophant to the PSU BOT
If the "membership" drops by 90% - why would they care?
[rhetorical question of course - they couldn't care less]
PS4RS recently formed a non-profit organization to award scholarships. Will it morph into an independent alumni association? In some ways, PS4RS is just that.
don't forget, the alumni association at Baylor is codified as independent from their University
feel free to compare and contrast THEIR response to a recent scandal . . .
It means that the alumni association doesn't represent the initerests of its members (the alumni); instead it's a mechanism for the university to get the members to "engage" (i.e. give money).
That’s a really good question. PSAAforAll’s plan has only been to educate and disrupt (in a positive sense). We want to educate as many members and friends of Penn State as possible about Kay’s statements because she is the Immediate Past President and is speaking for the organization. If they’re wasting their time thinking PSAA supports scholarships for students then they should know that.
Even though we are very small we have managed to disrupt the Alumni Associations agenda rather well in the past eighteen months. They’ve had to admit they are a wholly owned subsidiary of the university (making Roger William’s testimony in 2014 perjury); we’ve shown how the nomination process for Alumni Council is entirely rigged; and that Paul Clifford, Kevin Steele, and Kay Salvino tried to blackmail Sue Paterno into coming to the negotiation table with the University (remember that letter in May?).
If PSAA CEO Paul Clifford were to take out a full page ad in the Collegian admitting that from now on the AA only wants Alumni Council members who are young and diversity candidates; that only the Philadelphia, New York, and Washington DC alumni chapters get any resources; that they have been lying for years to the IRS about Alumni Council being the governing body; that the Executive Board makes all the decisions and Alumni Council is a lavishly feted advisory panel; and that the Board of Trustees exercises full control over all aspects of governing the Alumni Association, then we could say “Yup, that’s all true” and get on with our lives.
Instead he sits in Hintz Building calling people demanding that they shut us up.
The representatives we endorse are trying hard to work within the system, as Jim Smith and Laurie Stannell mentioned in earlier posts. They want to make the Alumni Association either tell the truth or live up to what it markets itself as (and reports to the IRS). God love them, I wouldn’t last two minutes.
PSAAforALL doesn’t have the resources, or frankly the temperament, to build a new association of alumni. But the Legacy Initiative seems to be making a good start by actually being in the scholarship business, which we feel supporting is the highest calling an alumnus can answer.
Straight up, my family would never qualify as diversity candidates in anyone’s book. But Dad got to Penn State on the GI Bill and ended up President of the International Microchemical Association, among other honors. He was a working kid from Reading. Penn State made my family, it made my husband’s family, and I bet it made your family too. I want more local working class kids of any faith, color, gender, nationality, attention span, whatever – to be able to go to the best university in the world.
So I don’t appreciate the Immediate Past President of an organization whose chapters are funding hundreds of local scholarships announce repeatedly that they are not in the scholarship business. As long as they continue to deceive, we will continue to shine spotlights.
Exactly .... we need to foster and give scholarships and be an organization where this is one of our primary reasons for existence for the PSU students . You never forget those who help you in your times of need.
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Here is the mission statement from the PSU AA website:
Mission
The mission of the Alumni Association is to connect alumni to the University and to each other, to provide valued services to members, and to support the University's mission of teaching, research, and service.
Today, that mission is brought to life through events and programs such as:
The mission is also embodied in the Alumni Association's commitment to recognize outstanding alumni and alumni volunteers through its award programs.
http://alumni.psu.edu/about_us/overview
http://alumni.psu.edu/about_us/overview
Would providing scholarship money to deserving students come under the "support the University's mission of teaching, research and service"? Not sure... that could be a stretch. But, imo, scholarship money and support is far more important and mission-worthy than stating that pep rallies are #2 on the mission highlight hit parade. Maybe the scholarship effort could be included under "and so much more".
I maintain that by reaching out to students with scholarship money and making a big deal out of what the students accomplished to earn that cash award would do a lot more to cultivate future alums and engage them for a longer stretch of their lives than the pep rallies (no knock on pep rallies - they are fine). The scholarship would reinforce the idea of giving back and paying forward, thus strengthening the future ranks of the AA.
But these are all just my off-the-top thoughts, and I've done no research into any viability. To me, at least it is a thought-starter to prompt discussion and consideration. Better than simply declaring that scholarships are not within the AA's purview out of hand at a meeting where it sounded like thinking otherwise was just silly. Oh, Kay.
I admit that since 2012, I no longer give any money to PSU directly outside of athletics. I do continue to give to my local AA Chapter to support their scholarship efforts. I will reconsider my donation decision after we get an apology from the PSU BOT regarding their whole Sandusky screw-up. So, probably never.
Mission
The mission of the Alumni Association is to connect alumni to the University and to each other, to provide valued services to members, and to support the University's mission of teaching, research, and service.
Today, that mission is brought to life through events and programs such as:
- City Lights;
- pep rallies;
- Huddle with the Faculty;
- Alumni Reunion Weekend;
- Homecoming events, and so much more.
The mission is also embodied in the Alumni Association's commitment to recognize outstanding alumni and alumni volunteers through its award programs.
http://alumni.psu.edu/about_us/overview
http://alumni.psu.edu/about_us/overview
Would providing scholarship money to deserving students come under the "support the University's mission of teaching, research and service"? Not sure... that could be a stretch. But, imo, scholarship money and support is far more important and mission-worthy than stating that pep rallies are #2 on the mission highlight hit parade. Maybe the scholarship effort could be included under "and so much more".
I maintain that by reaching out to students with scholarship money and making a big deal out of what the students accomplished to earn that cash award would do a lot more to cultivate future alums and engage them for a longer stretch of their lives than the pep rallies (no knock on pep rallies - they are fine). The scholarship would reinforce the idea of giving back and paying forward, thus strengthening the future ranks of the AA.
But these are all just my off-the-top thoughts, and I've done no research into any viability. To me, at least it is a thought-starter to prompt discussion and consideration. Better than simply declaring that scholarships are not within the AA's purview out of hand at a meeting where it sounded like thinking otherwise was just silly. Oh, Kay.
I admit that since 2012, I no longer give any money to PSU directly outside of athletics. I do continue to give to my local AA Chapter to support their scholarship efforts. I will reconsider my donation decision after we get an apology from the PSU BOT regarding their whole Sandusky screw-up. So, probably never.
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I read your post this morning and thoroughly enjoyed it, especially your satirical observations.
Don't let the pinheads get you, or the other good soldiers, down. It's a group of 99, so no "actual work" is ever going to "get done" in an actual meeting. The important "stuff" is negotiated and pre- determined long before most of the 99 "members" even know.
That said, I have a few questions of interest.
- Which, if any, of the following "incurred expenses" does the PSUAA reimburse you and members (bow tie overhead excluded)
- Curb to curb travel expenses from home to meeting location including
- Town car/limo/taxi transport
- Coach vs. Business class air fare
- $/mile reimbursement for those members who elect to drive.
- Lodging. I assume that the PSUAA Brain-Trust pre-arranges pre-paid lodging at a discounted rate, but
- If so, what is your estimate of the lodging expense incurred, per person, per night?
- If not, what is the PSUAA policy for reimbusing members for out of pocket lodging expenses?
- Meals & Entertainment: again, I assume that PSUAA pre-arranges "group dining"
- Based on my assumption, what is your estimate of the per person meal expense for the semi-annual sessions?
- Are other "meal and entertainment" suitable for inclusion on a PSUAA "reimbursement report?
- Curb to curb travel expenses from home to meeting location including
I'm trying to "do the math" behind the semi-annual meeting expense associated with assembling 99 members, plus pinheaded overhead, for such meetings.
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Question for you Laurie
To what extent does the PSUAA attempt to make their membership records accurate for the "Deceased", especially as they pertain to "Life Members"?
After looking at the "chart", it occurred to me that the "life membership" bar might be highly overstated.
Here's why. When and if a Life Member "passes", it's probably not a priority of their heirs to notify the PSUAA that said person has "passed".
Given the changing demographics of the nation, and particularly the PSUAA, it is my suspicion that the PSUAA "Life Member" statistic is overstated by as much as 25%. The PSUAA is quick to "add the adds" but is probably woefully slow in "subtracting the minuses"
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We should start a club of (wannabe) Ex-Lifers. I'd join.
I'm not complaining about these expenses, simply answering since you asked. I volunteered for this job and expected to pay these myself. I believe the policy is the same, i.e. no reimbursement, for all Alumni Council but I can't say for sure if that is different for the officers. I believe the staff employees and CEO are reimbursed per university policy as employees if they need to travel.
There is an Alumni Association box suite at Beaver Stadium. I have not nor do I know of any other rank and file members of the Alumni Council that gets to sit in that box. On the occasion that I have been a guest in someone else's box, I have stopped by the Alumni Council suite. On those occasions, I have seen the President, Vice President, and Past President with their families in that box. Alumni Council as a whole does receive two tickets to one football game on the top level in the end zone.
- Which, if any, of the following "incurred expenses" does the PSUAA reimburse you and members (bow tie overhead excluded)
- Curb to curb travel expenses from home to meeting location including
- Town car/limo/taxi transport NO
- Coach vs. Business class air fare NO
- $/mile reimbursement for those members who elect to drive. NO
- Lodging. I assume that the PSUAA Brain-Trust pre-arranges pre-paid lodging at a discounted rate, but (IN PAST YEARS, THEY RESERVED ROOMS AT THE NITTANY LION INN AND PENN STATER BUT STOPPED THAT PRACTICE THIS YEAR. ROOMS WERE CLOSE TO FULL PRICE - $300 OR SO PER NIGHT)
- If so, what is your estimate of the lodging expense incurred, per person, per night? About $300 per night (not reimbursed)
- If not, what is the PSUAA policy for reimbusing members for out of pocket lodging expenses? I have no idea of the written policy itself, we just don't get reimbursed.
- Meals & Entertainment: again, I assume that PSUAA pre-arranges "group dining"
- Based on my assumption, what is your estimate of the per person meal expense fir the semi-annual sessions? THEY DO FEED US WELL FOR ALL 3 MEALS A DAY AND ADD SOME SNACKS AND DRINKS IN AS WELL.
- Are other "meal and entertainment" suitable for inclusion on a PSUAA "reimbursement report? NO, THERE IS NO REIMBURSEMENT REPORT, I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY REIMBURSEMENTS FROM PSAA
- Curb to curb travel expenses from home to meeting location including
Jim Smith you forgot our lovely blue "book bag" that we got at the meeting. And the nasty chocolate chip cookies that came at Christmas.
I missed the book bag this time, had to leave for the airport. But I did get a luggage tag last time and a blanket at the meeting before that. The cookies were a nice gesture, I passed them on to some PSU students who needed the calories more than I.
Such a relief to hear that Kay doesn't sound like a shallow, "look at me!" type person......
bwifan
Well-Known Member
I am sure the PSU paper weight will be the next bounty passed around at the next meeting....
Maybe have the manufacturer come in and give a 2 hour power point presentation on how the paper weights were made...
Holy shit does that make me mad, and I'm not even a PSU alum.
It absolutely boggles my mind and drives me nuts that Clifford and his cabal: (1) purport to represent all PSU alums; (2) are abetted by both the absence of viable competition and this ludicrous "life membership" structure, making it appear as if membership is growing when it is in fact moribund; (3) do absolutely nothing for PSU alums; and (4) serve primarily as a sycophantic cheerleader for the BoT.
There cannot be any other university alumni association that is anywhere NEAR so eff'ed up.
It absolutely boggles my mind and drives me nuts that Clifford and his cabal: (1) purport to represent all PSU alums; (2) are abetted by both the absence of viable competition and this ludicrous "life membership" structure, making it appear as if membership is growing when it is in fact moribund; (3) do absolutely nothing for PSU alums; and (4) serve primarily as a sycophantic cheerleader for the BoT.
There cannot be any other university alumni association that is anywhere NEAR so eff'ed up.
My wife and I (both PSU grads) decided to drop our annual membership within the last year so you can count us as part of the downward trend. Several years ago were involved in local campus alumni association for over 2 years. During that time we would go to meetings at the local branch campus where there were anywhere between 5 & 10 people in attendance, and suggestions/ideas for events were considered in a very political way. Unless you were one of the "in" crowd (3 particular individuals) you were dismissed, yet in the next moment you were asked to canvas local businesses and beg for donations. Often times there were too few people in attendance to get anything accomplished. For as many alumni live in our area the turnout at events was so-so at best. So after banging our heads against a brick wall for little benefit we left the group. We kept our membership for several more years, but at this point decided that there is really no reason to be a member and will just attend local chapter events instead of association events.
Little back story as to why membership is down. Paul decided to do a reorg of the PSAA several months ago. He eliminated the membership team and demoted the person who was working as the interim director of membership (the previous director had left months prior) to associate director of membership and made him report to strategic communications instead of directly to Paul. The director of strategic communications has no idea how to do membership and the associate director of membership refuses to do anything since he was demoted. So now you do not have a membership team and the only person who had been managing the membership work for upwards of a year is throwing a tantrum and not sending anything out. The director of strategic communications has her own stuff to worry about, so she's not concerned about membership in the very least. No solicitations have been sent out and there was not an ask to support the sustaining life member program this year. In the meantime, our ILLUSTRIOUS CEO spends upwards of 10 hours a day on social media, which has less and less appeal to older constituents, and the platforms he's using Millennials are fleeing from, so he's pretty much only talking to about 1k alumni of which the majority are already members.
bwifan
Well-Known Member
I used to worry that the heads of the BOT were the only one's at PSU who could not manage their way out of a wet paper bag. Glad to see poor management skills are in abundance and flourishing at PSU these days... smh
Unfortunately, I believe the millennials agree with you on the general state of management at PSU. (Please note this is a general comment and not directed at any particular person nor position - so, Paul, please no email - not directed at you.) My daughter was the first person ever in our family to attend a college other than Penn State. When we discussed her choice, she cited the governance issues with the BoT and her belief that they would not be fixed during her 4 year college tenure as her reason for not being willing to consider it.
(Also please note that PSUCRUX11 and I are different people despite having a similar name and, at times, similar opinions, so again, Paul, please no email related to comments from PSUCRUX11. I may or may not agree with him depending upon the topic, but we are different people.)
Omg, is Paul that insecure that disclaimers are needed all over a post discussing and disagreeing with the tactics of the PSUAA?
Paul, if you're out there, look past the temptation to take it personally and consider the input from a segment of constituents who care very, very deeply about Penn State and have for decades.
Do not 'blame' jhsmith for this post or its content. The PSUAA Council members who post here should be commended for using a popular PSU site to raise and discuss PSUAA things, recognizing the passion for PSU that is on display here on an hourly basis.
Paul, consider coming on here and soliciting feedback yourself. Consider it leadership ala "A Team of Rivals" in a sense. Opposing opinions strengthen the whole, they don't harm it unless the intentions of the leadership is not service, but self-interest. And I'm sure that is not what you have in mind!
Jim, my apologies for the confusion and for the obvious inconvenience you've had to deal with. I thought it was interesting that we share the same name, but never would have even considered you would receive push back for my comments.
Jim, Not your fault that we both share a common name. I do blame the folks that confuse us AFTER I explain to them and they forget a month later. Hence, the disclaimer to Paul (and yes this note is directed at Paul).
I'm not sure about this. I seem to recall getting a Supporting Life request some time in the past couple of months. Needless to say, it went into my recycling bin. But I recall getting it.
PSUCRUX11 we are *huge* fans. Thank you for the insight, please keep it coming. It will only make our AA stronger in the long run.
The link to this thread was sent to Paul Clifford and he said the post is full of inaccurate information
Paul,The link to this thread was sent to Paul Clifford and he said the post is full of inaccurate information
It would be helpful if you could correct any misinformation. I've answered as much as I know on the cost of being on Alumni Council.
Jim
If it is indeed true that Clifford reorganized his staff such that the individual heading up "Membership" (one of, if not the most important functions in a membership-based organization) is no longer a "direct report" and/or that the "Membership Team/Function" was eliminated, then Mr. Clifford needs to resign or be fired based on demonstrated incompetence.
It's evident that he lacks even the most basic of organizational and managerial skills to be an effective leader.
It's evident that he lacks even the most basic of organizational and managerial skills to be an effective leader.
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Paul, sign up for an account and get in here to answer some questions. Maybe you will win a few people back. It must feel icky to lurk and not rebut misconceptions. You don't want to feel icky Paul.
Oh....shockingThe link to this thread was sent to Paul Clifford and he said the post is full of inaccurate information
When Paul takes his first action that is supportive of the concerns of Alumni - and in any way opposing the desires of the c^cks^ckers who sign his check - it will be the first time.
So, I've been traveling the last two days and only now can catch up and contribute to this discussion. I was at the Council meeting last week and let me say that Mary's report is accurate. My frustration is that I go to these meetings and spend so much time listening and only minimal time actually working or contributing - you all remember my pie chart from last year. I took some grief for that chart but it was all true. I really wanted to work for all of you but the opportunities are so limited.
I fly from Florida and I easily spent over $1000 in airfare, rental car and hotel room for each of these meetings. I knew that I would have to pay these costs when I requested to be on the ballot. It is not the cost. It is the passive nature of the meetings that is frustrating. We don't WORK, we just sit (well, I answer email because some times the listening drives me nuts). Most of the work is done by the Executive Committee (at other times) and seems purposely to occur in venues that limit discussion. Let me give you an example. Up until now there was always a room block at the Nittany Lion Inn and the Penn Stater, where we could reassured of getting rooms. Now suddenly the block has disappeared and we, as individuals, have to scramble for rooms. I don't blame the Alumni Association for there not being a block. However, when it happened, several people asked if we could discuss it at the next meeting so that we might think about alternative times for the meeting. Non-football weekends or perhaps a football weekend that was not Ohio State. I assumed we would discuss this. INSTEAD, we are told that we should respond to an online survey about it. Well, an online survey does not allow discussion amongst the members. I simply allows us to put in our ideas. But why would we not discuss this as a group - allowing us to discuss it as a group and perhaps learn why other people feel the way that they do. WHEN DID A UNIVERSITY BECOME A PLACE THAT MUFFLES DISCUSSION? (sorry for the shouting but I am frustrated). There are so many actions by the leadership that are designed to negate or minimize the input of Council members.
Last year, I was appointed to the Nominations committee. As those of you who know me might guess, I was upset that the Past President (who is a BOT member) was still on the committee - yes, this was Kay. I raised my concern as I believe that it is a conflict of interest. No response by anyone. AFTER nominations were submitted, the nominations committee was told that we had to develop criteria by which to judge people. When I suggested in an email that I looked forward to a vigorous discussion, I immediately got a call from Kevin Steele who told me that "I better not go into the meeting ready to fight." See - no discussion is allowed. When I did suggest in the meeting that devising the criteria AFTER the applications were closed was not fair to those who applied - no one would respond. How could we judge whether people who submitted an application met "criteria" that we had not yet established? But that's what happened. People were judged based on "secret"criteria. Now, there is a new Nominations committee (of course I was not invited back) and the criteria are supposed to be on the website now so people will know. So perhaps fairer this year - but still think about this - It is now HARDER to get on the ballot for Alumni Council (where council members are allowed to do nothing) than it is for the Board of Trustees? How backwards is this and to what end?
The bottom line is that these meetings are only for show. We all eat well, we typically sing the Alma Mater, there is a banquet to give awards to individuals and chapters,and there is the opportunity to go to a football game or the Blue White game. But as for the opportunity to contribute to the leadership of the AA, unless you are willing to spout the party line, the best that will happen is that you will leave with a lovely parting gift - and in my case, resentment that I wasted time NOT representing all of you.
I fly from Florida and I easily spent over $1000 in airfare, rental car and hotel room for each of these meetings. I knew that I would have to pay these costs when I requested to be on the ballot. It is not the cost. It is the passive nature of the meetings that is frustrating. We don't WORK, we just sit (well, I answer email because some times the listening drives me nuts). Most of the work is done by the Executive Committee (at other times) and seems purposely to occur in venues that limit discussion. Let me give you an example. Up until now there was always a room block at the Nittany Lion Inn and the Penn Stater, where we could reassured of getting rooms. Now suddenly the block has disappeared and we, as individuals, have to scramble for rooms. I don't blame the Alumni Association for there not being a block. However, when it happened, several people asked if we could discuss it at the next meeting so that we might think about alternative times for the meeting. Non-football weekends or perhaps a football weekend that was not Ohio State. I assumed we would discuss this. INSTEAD, we are told that we should respond to an online survey about it. Well, an online survey does not allow discussion amongst the members. I simply allows us to put in our ideas. But why would we not discuss this as a group - allowing us to discuss it as a group and perhaps learn why other people feel the way that they do. WHEN DID A UNIVERSITY BECOME A PLACE THAT MUFFLES DISCUSSION? (sorry for the shouting but I am frustrated). There are so many actions by the leadership that are designed to negate or minimize the input of Council members.
Last year, I was appointed to the Nominations committee. As those of you who know me might guess, I was upset that the Past President (who is a BOT member) was still on the committee - yes, this was Kay. I raised my concern as I believe that it is a conflict of interest. No response by anyone. AFTER nominations were submitted, the nominations committee was told that we had to develop criteria by which to judge people. When I suggested in an email that I looked forward to a vigorous discussion, I immediately got a call from Kevin Steele who told me that "I better not go into the meeting ready to fight." See - no discussion is allowed. When I did suggest in the meeting that devising the criteria AFTER the applications were closed was not fair to those who applied - no one would respond. How could we judge whether people who submitted an application met "criteria" that we had not yet established? But that's what happened. People were judged based on "secret"criteria. Now, there is a new Nominations committee (of course I was not invited back) and the criteria are supposed to be on the website now so people will know. So perhaps fairer this year - but still think about this - It is now HARDER to get on the ballot for Alumni Council (where council members are allowed to do nothing) than it is for the Board of Trustees? How backwards is this and to what end?
The bottom line is that these meetings are only for show. We all eat well, we typically sing the Alma Mater, there is a banquet to give awards to individuals and chapters,and there is the opportunity to go to a football game or the Blue White game. But as for the opportunity to contribute to the leadership of the AA, unless you are willing to spout the party line, the best that will happen is that you will leave with a lovely parting gift - and in my case, resentment that I wasted time NOT representing all of you.
bwifan
Well-Known Member
Dear Lord.... I don't know where to begin... a survey? Was it one of the online monkey survey's? One might think the leaders you speak of have read and are putting into use from the book of Rodney Erickson Management Skills... What in the world has happened to PSU...
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