For the week of February 13, 2006

From the 6th floor

Another relatively mild week in Upper Michigan, although the temperature has dropped from last week's moderate highs in the 30s. Some light snow is expected over the next few days, but accumulation should only be around 1-3 inches. The forecast calls for the temperature to steadily drop throughout the week with Friday's high only in the single digits.

NMU Alumni Association Board of Directors meet

	The NMU Alumni Association Board of Directors held its winter meeting in Milwaukee, Saturday, Feb. 11. This was the first meeting of the board under new leadership. Garnet Lewis '86, Ph.D. took over as president on the first of the year. The NMU Alumni Association Board of Directors is comprised of 25-30 alumni who are appointed by a nominating committee to serve two three-year terms of office. Responsibilities of board members include: Evaluating effectiveness of programs and services for alumni and Northern Michigan University. Advising alumni staff on new programming. Guiding policy. Reviewing the Association's budget and income generating programs. Monitors progress on the NMU Alumni Association's strategic plan. Are you interested in being a member of the NMU Alumni Association Board of Directors? Do you know someone who would be a great board member? Visit our Alumni Association Board of Directors FAQs to learn more.
"If you are reading this newsletter, you are likely already connected with the institution in some way. We could use your help in finding those who who have lost touch with university. In the meantime, consider a trip to Marquette sometime soon. The campus continues to grow and change, with new and renovated residence halls and buildings. It is worth checking out. If there is something that you would like to see done on behalf of or for alumni, please contact us at 1-877-GRAD NMU or send an e-mail to alumni@nmu.edu." NMU Alumni Association President Garnet Lewis '86, Ph.D.
Joe Evans '81, '83 of Oakton, Va. was selected vice president at the meeting.
Items of business included a university update from NMU President Les Wong and a discussion on Homecoming activities. The group also held a reception for Milwaukee area alumni.

Milwaukee area alumni gather

NMU Alumni Association board member Jodie Filpus '00 and Krystiane Brunner '03.	Allison Hansen '02 and Luke Erickson '01.
Beth Lee '98, NMU Alumni Association board member Rich Dabney '87, Corey Taratuta '96, and Mike Lee '91.	Jo Kraych and Marcy Canel.
Lynn '01 and Mark Edmunds.	Mary Jane Antilla '77
Kristin Susedik '90 and Angie Phillips.	Doug '92 and Emily Ihrke.

Legislative season has started

Governor Jennifer Granholm’s executive budget was presented to the state legislators recently with higher education faring reasonably well considering the slow economic recovery process. The proposal is an increase in funding of 2 percent for higher education, including a 2 percent hike to Michigan, Michigan State and Wayne State.  The remaining universities would receive a 1 percent across-the-board increase and up to an additional 1 percent increase according to a funding formula that takes into consideration degree completion, accessibility (state aid versus tuition), affordability (institutional financial aid), and outreach to low income students (Pell Grant eligible enrollees). This proposal means Northern would not suffer any funding cuts for the upcoming fiscal year and would, in fact, receive a slight increase.  The executive budget is only the starting point of the legislative discussion and some things will change between now and when an appropriations bill is signed, but at least the starting point is positive rather than negative. Northern was also informed of the dates for its Senate and House Appropriation Subcommittee for Higher Education annual hearings, which are Friday, Feb. 17 and Wednesday, April 26, respectively.

No medals yet for current and former Wildcats at the Olympics

Student directed plays on tap

Dierks Bentley headlines Berry Events Center show

Country Music Star Dierks Bentley will be performing on Sunday, February 19 at 7:30 pm in the Berry Events Center. He will be joined by opening act Chasin' Steel, a band comprised of three NMU alumni and a current Northern student . Ticket sales for the Bentley concert are selling well and there is some talk that the show may sell out before Sunday. The concert is part of this year's "Don't Break the Ice" Winter Fest. Click here for a list of Winter Fest activities. Tickets for the Bentley concert are available at all EZ Ticket outlets, by calling 227-1032, or online at www.nmu.edu/tickets.

Wildcat sports update

Thanks for stopping by.....

.....James Gawne, Sr. '81 of Peoria, Ill.

"I enjoy reading the updates from NMU. As I write this I am sitting in my room in the Marquette Holiday Inn. This week I am reacquainting myself with Marquette, while I set up the health services unit and train our staff who will work at the Marquette County Jail. Health Professionals Ltd. has won the contract as provider of health services for the county jail inmates. When I graduated from the School of Nursing in '81, I never envisioned that one day I'd return to Marquette in a professional capacity. What a pleasure. And my, how Marquette has grown. But despite the growth, Marquette is just as hospitable as it was 29 years ago when I first arrived.
I don't know if I will be able to drop in and visit this trip, but it appears I will be a frequent visitor in the upcoming months, and I look forward to stopping by when things settle down. Keep up the good work, Northern seems a bit closer each time I read a newsletter."

Don't forget...if you are in the area visiting, stop by the 6th floor and say hello!

From the E-mail bag

" I want to thank the Appleton area alumni for their hospitality. We live on Washington Island, but were in Appleton for the weekend of the Wildcat Night party on Jan. 28th to see my younger son Luc play in an indoor soccer tournament in the area. We had some time before he played so we looked up the location of the party and showed up and crashed their party. Not only did they let us win their first door prize, an autographed hockey stick, but we had to run out before the end of the game to watch soccer. At least we saw all the scoring in the game on the TV. Some of the alumni there did know another alum in the area that I knew. Mike Ross has a house around the corner from mine on the island. The following weekend we were in Marquette to visit our older son, Jack, who is a student there now. We got to see NMU beat Wayne State on Saturday night and had a great time skiing in fresh snow on Sunday. Glad we did not wait til this weekend to go to Marquette and watch hockey like we had considered! Attached is a photo of our family as we are at the ferry saying goodbye to Jack, on the right, as he heads back to school after the Christmas break. With the mild winter so far there has not been too much ice for the ferry to break." Jim Rose '77 Washington Island, WI jjrose@dcwis.com

"Loved the photos from Wildcat Night. So disappointed we didn't attend the Scottsdale event. Hopefully we can in future months. We both work at the Phoenix Coyotes arena and see many NMU fans enter the doors. When we acknowledge the alumni, we're always greeted with a hug. Makes us feel so much better living so far from 'home' now."
Liz '82 and George Ellis
Sun City West, Ariz.
tobzyup@cox.net

"Dear NMU Community: Former USOEC speedskater Allison Baver is competing at the Torino Olympics and is also bidding for a spot on the NBC television show The Apprentice. Olympians at the Torino Olympics who are competing for a spot on The Apprentice television show are listed at nbcolympics.com. Please go to the following web site and support Baver by casting your vote for her. http://www.nbcolympics.com/apprentice/index.html I know she appreciates our support."
Tony Tollefson '82
Marquette, MI
ttollefs@nmu.edu

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