Association News

BLOOMINGTON — During 2008, the ACUI Education and Research Fund reached $66,000 in pledges from ACUI members. This $66,000 includes contributions to the annual fund as well as contributions to endow the numerous annual awards given at the Community Builders Awards Ceremony during the annual conference. Monies contributed to the annual fund directly benefit ACUI members by providing scholarships to ACUI programs and by funding research grants.

The Helen M. Blood Spouse, Partner, and Family Program and both the Gretchen Laatsch and Affirmative Action awards are fully endowed. The Richard Scott award has received enough pledges from ACUI members to endow it, which will allow for a cash prize to be awarded annually once all pledges have been collected. The program team is currently seeking contributions and pledges to endow all of ACUI‘s annual awards, including the Richard D. Blackburn New Professional Award, Two-Year College Professional Service Award, and the Meg Sutton I-LEAD® Scholarship.
 
Additionally, the Fund Program Team has established lifetime societies to recognize the contributions ACUI members make to the ACUI Education and Research Fund. These societies acknowledge the members’ generosity and the role their financial support plays in maintaining a leading and vibrant professional association.
 
This year, the Education Councils, in collaboration with the Education and Research Fund, have developed a grant program to support scholarly research in the college union and student activities field. This grant is supported by contributions to the annual fund and will be open to graduate students and professionals who, through their research, will add to our professional knowledge base. The program will be unveiled at ACUI annual conference in April.
 
The Fund Program Team was pleased to be able to award two scholarships for members to attend ACUI programs using monies raised through the annual fund. A scholarship was awarded to Eric Wheeler, a student from Texas State University–San Marcos, to attend ACUI’s premier student program, the Institute for Leadership Education and Development (I-LEAD®). Additionally, the fund provided a scholarship for Molly Collins, assistant director of the University Center for Student Involvement and Leadership Development at the University of Montana, to attend ACUI’s Indiana Professional Development Seminar. These scholarships affirm the commitment ACUI has to developing talented students and professionals committed to building community on their campuses.
 
The silent auction and live auction at the annual conference in New Orleans were hugely successful. Over $21,000 was raised through member participation in the silent and live auctions. The generosity of members who contributed items to the auction and bid on auction items was inspiring. If you attended the live auction, you saw just how far ACUI members were willing to go to support the Education and Research Fund. The FUNd Run/Walk, also at the annual conference in New Orleans, boasted a large turnout and allowed members to see the French Quarter as it was waking up in the morning and coming to life.
 
This year in Anaheim the Fund Program Team is excited to build upon last year’s successful conference events. The team is currently seeking donations large and small for the auctions, especially those one-of-a-kind items that build excitement among bidders. The Anaheim Conference Program Team has chosen a scenic FUNd Run/Walk route for participants of all abilities. Additionally, the annual fund will kick off during the conference and will be a fun and memorable experience. Keep an eye out for more information about associated programs and events in the coming months.
 
If you participated in the silent auction at the international or regional level, ran or walked in the fund run, contributed to the annual fund, helped endow an award, or played in the golf tournament, thank you for contributing to the future of ACUI and our profession. The program team hopes it can count on your continued support in 2009.