ANNUAL REPORT 2010/2011 - Northampton Community College

30
10/11 NCC’s
Alumni Board, 35 Years Strong
“ People on
boards are true
believers; the
hard core, who
understand in
their bones how
their college
degree opened
doors for them.
”
by James L Johnson ’89
The average college grad knows that alumni associations are the focus for fun. You
might make the occasional pledge, attend a fundraising event now and then (also fun,
of course) — or, if you make it big in the world of money … but that’s another story,
and if you have, your alumni folks are already talking to you. The average Joe/Jane
though knows their association as a place to hook up with buddies from classes gone
by to kick around memories and maybe make new ones. But, being a member of an
alumni association board of directors is another, much greater, thing.
People on boards are true believers; the hard core, who understand in their bones
how their college degree opened doors for them. They know that there are thousands
like them who want the same thing. Being a board member takes the fun of planning
good times to a higher level, for a greater good, for the serious business of helping
their college meet its goals — which is: helping others open their own doors.
One of the best examples of a dedicated board is Northampton’s own Alumni
Association, established in 1975. It is one of the oldest continuously active such
organizations in the country. Our board heads a membership of over 40,000 alumni.
The work they do pays off, and the list of their accomplishments is long.
Like most success stories though, it could not have happened without a group
of pioneers nailing together a platform on which to build. Today, ”member of NCC’s
Alumni Association board” stands out nicely on a Lehigh Valley resume. But it takes
time to earn that kind of cred; on the street or in the boardroom. ”Our main goal
at first was just survival,” says liberal arts major Jim Williams ’74, the Association’s
second president. ”We were so young as a board that having a full complement of
members show up for meetings was a challenge at first.”
One reason the board was able to build its success was — and is — the qualities
Alumni Board Members enjoy NCC’s Alumni Night at Coca Cola Park. (top) Scott
Raab ’92 Alumni Board President. (middle; left to right) Brandy Barbera ’07 and Carl
Mancino ’75. (bottom; left to right) Melissa Starace ’95 Alumni Director, Cindy Staffieri
Workman ’74, Sally Jablonski ’78, Nancy Hutt Alumni Office and Anna Stofko ’77.