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FSAS Annual Meeting - 2007Thursday, May 31, 2007The Family Sudies Alumni Society (FSAS) 2006-2007 Annual Meeting and Dinner was held on Thursday, May 31, 2007 at the UConn Alumni House. The event began with a reception, a time for folks to greet and mingle with each other, and a viewing of poster displays of undergraduate honors students, graduate students, and faculty research posters.
The Society is expecting to celebrate its tenth anniversary in 2009. This coming year, Jennifer noted, will in part be devoted to making a long-range plan based on the experience gained in the past. Members are invited to contact her at jennfidget@aol.com and share their thoughts on the future of the Society. She also encouraged more members to join actively in the life of the Society. The Nominations, the Scholarship Committee, the Ruzicka Project and the Annual Meeting and Dinner organizers, can all use more members. As noted, they also seek more board members from the undergraduate and graduate alumni.
Three members are leaving or have left the board this year: Aliza Boritz Makuch '01, Carrie Musil '01, and Amy Tedesco '04. Also leaving after six years of devoted service that includes two years as the third President of the Society, and as its Treasurer this year, is Cathy Foley Geib. Jennifer plans to recognize Cathy's many contributions to the life of the Society at next year's annual meeting, since she could not attend this year. FSAS business was followed by dinner and an awards ceremony recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of Sarah Rogers '07. Associate Professor Nancy W. Sheehan presented Sarah with the 2007 Outstanding Student Award. Event co-chairs, Gayle Carroll Stewart and Shirley Randazzo, presented Joshua L. Miller, Ph.D. '97 with the 2007 Lorraine Wetherell Family Studies Alumni Society Distinguished Service Award. After a brief introduction by Professor Steven Wisensale, Joshua gave an inspiring speech in which he spoke about his involvement with disaster mental health counseling, and training professionals to respond to war and trauma. He also touched upon racism/antiracism and explained what has motivated him to keep actively and passionately involved with these issues. His current appointment is as Professor & Chair, Social Welfare Policy and Services Sequence of the School for Social Work at Smith College in Northampton, MA.
At the conclusion of the event, Emeritus Professor Irene Q. Brown remembered alumni who passed away during the last year and honored them with a moment of silence. The date of next year's event has not yet been set. The planning effort may result in changing the date of the Annual Meeting that has traditionally been held during Reunion Weekend. Stay tuned by checking out the HDFS website which includes newsletters with upcoming events and other HDFS information.
Read more about Joshua L. Miller, PhD. '97 recipient of the 2007 Lorraine Wetherell Family Studies Alumni Society Distinguished Service Award.
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The meeting began with a welcome and introduction by Ronald Sabatelli, Professor and Department Head. The FSAS President, Jennifer Fairbanks '00, in her second year as President of the Society, then welcomed the assembled guests, gave a brief report of its activities and future plans, and asked for a vote on two matters. Completing a process begun last year, she asked for a formal voice vote on changing the Society name from the "School of Family Studies Alumni Society" to the "Family Studies Alumni Society". The membership present approved the change. She also presented three nominations for the Board of Directors, and with no additional names coming from the floor, the following three individuals were elected: Johanna Fleming-Kurtz '94, Gina Proia '03, and Nancy DiCapua Walsh '95. Their willingness to serve is most welcome as the Society makes plans for the near and more distant future. Jennifer will serve a third year as President. The new board will elect its officers later this summer, and they are still looking for more board members, especially from graduate alumni.
Jennifer concluded her remarks by thanking her board for their contributions of the past year. She singled out Gayle Carroll Stewart and Shirley Randazzo who have organized the annual meeting and dinner for the past five years. They will mentor their successors next year, but are looking for individuals who will step up and volunteer for this position.
Following the dinner, Professor JoAnn Robinson shared a PowerPoint presentation entitled, "Teacher Training Opportunities with Young Children in the Human Development and Family Studies Major", followed by her colleague, Associate Professor Maureen T. Mulroy who presented, "Building Family Futures: Providing Parenting Education for Families in Recovery".