1999 fall layout - Uwpiaa.org

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ALUMNIWORLDWATC HAlumni Get Together DownUnderby Anki Lenksjo (87A), Stockholm, Swedenif you could dig a deep hole in theground in Sweden, where wouldyou end up? Down Under! When Ihad the opportunity to study abroad ona scholarship from my work, I chose togo to a country with unspoiled landscapes,nice climate and friendlypeople. New Zealand has been all thatand more!But I was notlooking forward to twomonths in a dull, expensivemotel. As I researchedalternativehousing, I thought,“Here is a great chanceto use that alumnidirectory!” I wrote lettersto the 10 New Zealandalumni and heard backfrom six. Jennifer Thompson (85C)invited me to stay with her. What agreat experience! This type of networkingwould not be possible without ourcommon experience.The few UWP alumni in NewZealand are virtually unaware of eachother except for those who traveledtogether. We changed that by invitingthe New Zealand alumni to a gatheringat Jennifer’s house in Auckland. Jennifer(Cottrell) Thompson, Monica(Thompson) Mercury (90E), LynnBennet (88D) and I attended. Monicaand Lynn are both “real kiwis” (NewWe had a funafternoon sharingmemories, looking atphotos, recognizingfriends we had incommon and, ofcourse, singing classicUWP tunes!Zealanders), Jennifer is an Americanmarried to a New Zealander, and Icome from Sweden. We were quite aninternational group.We had a fun afternoon sharingmemories, looking at photos, recognizingfriends we had in common and, ofcourse, singing classicUWP tunes! Monicaand Lynn learned thatthey live only fiveminutes from each otherand that they are bothteachers.Alumni in NewZealand have fewopportunities to stay intouch with UWP, astours are rare. UWP lastvisited New Zealand in 1989 and,unfortunately, the tour was not considereda great success. However, alumnikeep the hope alive that UWP willreturn to New Zealand – most haven’tseen a show since they left the road.Meeting other alumni is inspiring.One does not have to explain to afellow alumni what you experienced.The energy that you thought you hadlost is suddenly revitalized. You realizethe impact UWP has had on yourlife, and how many friends you havearound the world. And you want to goagain... uB UP EATConcourse on the CoastVeteran Alumni Share Experiences with Bill LivelyBy Linda Ruffin (82E), Santa Barbara, CaliforniaConcourse, an informal, semiannualgathering of veteranUWP alumni, recently enjoyedan inspiring reunion on the US westcoast. We met in the home and gardenin Santa Barbara, California, whereJohn (65A) and I live. Attendeestraveled from as far away as Montreal,Toronto, New York,Jamaica and Alaska, aswell as the West Coast.Also present wereUWP President andCEO Bill Lively andExecutive Vice-PresidentPaul Whitaker. It was anopportunity for them towitness the impact ofUWP veterans on thecivic, business and sociallives of their communities.The reunion began with personalreports of the struggles, triumphs andhardships of individuals and couples.It progressed to a discussion of theopportunities and needs facing thisELM 2000 DatesAnnouncedMake your plans now - the nextEuropean Leadership Meeting (ELM)is not that far away. The meeting willbe held in the Netherlands on March11 and 12, 2000. Amsterdam andUtrecht are being considered as thelocation. Watch UpBeat andwww.uwpiaa.org for details.German AlumniAnnual MeetingOctober 29 - 30, 1999country at the close of the 20th century,and the contribution that Concoursemembers should make.John Sayre (65A) told of his workorganizing the preservation of therapidly disappearing salmon in thenorthwestern U.S. Stewart Lancaster(65A) described his efforts to increasethe continuing educationof thousands ofretired people inTucson, Arizona. PatEctor (66A) stressedthe moral and spiritualrenewal of individualsas key to the racialreconciliation neededin today’s society.Bill Lively expressedhis appreciation of allhe had heard and assured us that hewas putting his emphasis on theempowerment of UWP along theselines, rather than depending primarilyon good management and financialsecurity. uThe reunionprogressed to adiscussion of theopportunities andneeds facing thiscountry at the close ofthe 20th century.Sing Out NewRochelle ReunionThe Sing Out New Rochelle cast ishaving its first reunion in 30 years!When: Saturday, October 16, 1999Time: 7 p.m.Where: Spectators Sports Pub219 North AvenueNew Rochelle, New YorkCost: $20 per personRSVP: Mike Ferrara78 Pratt StreetNew Rochelle, NY 10801Will be outsideDüsseldorf, in RatingenPlease make checks payable toMike Ferrara. See you there!4 fall’99From left: Jennifer Thompson (85C), Monica Mercury (90E), LynnBenner (88D), and Anki Lenksjö (87A)
B UP EATSpeaking Out on the Success of the First YearBy Bill Lively, UWP President and CEOFROMUWPhea d q ua rtersusually atthe endof thefirst year ofservice to anyorganization, theyear’s results aremeasured. OnMay 18, Icompleted myBill Livelyfirst year with UWP. The Board ofDirectors and I have evaluated UWP’sprogress during the past year, as well asmy progress as President and CEO. Iwanted to share some insights intothese measurements with you.I reviewed our progress of theimplementation of UWP’s 13-pointaction business plan for fiscal year 1999- a plan that refocused UWP on itsmission to serve young people whilesignificantly improving the infrastructureof the company’s worldwideoperations.On a performance rating scale ofone to 10, (with 10 being the highestrating for efficiency and productivity), Ievaluated our progress in implementingthe action plan at 6.3.This grade is an honest one - I’mnot inclined to camouflage the truth.During the last year, new appointmentswere made for the company’s vicepresidents and senior managers inNorth America, Europeand Japan. We revisedmany procedures andoperating strategies.Changes of this magnitudeare difficult toachieve in a short time,and are seldom accompaniedby enormousimprovements inproductivity. This is notan excuse, but rather anexplanation to put the overall ratinginto perspective.While we did not achieve thehighest desired level in implementingall 13 initiatives in our plan, we didmake extraordinary progress on severalfronts.Alumni Relations. UWP significantlyre-engaged its alumni familythrough receptions in Denmark,Germany, Switzerland, Belgium,Mexico and 15 US cities. More than1,100 alumni participated in thesereceptions. This gave me an opportunityto meet many alumni and shareChanges of thismagnitude aredifficult to achieve ina short time, and areseldom accompaniedby enormousimprovements inproductivity.with them the course UWP is takinginto the new century.Recruiting and Admissions. UWP’sinternational recruiting and admissionsprogram experienced a remarkableturnaround in efficiency and productivity.The number ofmatriculates (studentswho were accepted andtraveled) in Februaryand July are impressivein both volume andquality.Sales and Marketing.We have started aprogram to improvesales and marketingworldwide by implementinga three-yearfinancial managementplan. The restructuringtook effect late in thefiscal year in NorthAmerica, and we hope to begin increasingproductivity in worldwide sales andmarketing in the next year.Creative Productions Group. Thenew Creative Productions Groupdeveloped the entertainment componentsof UWP’s new show. A previewwill be presented to UWP’s Board ofDirectors and the UWPIAA Board ofGovernors on November 5. The worldpremiere is scheduled forUWP significantlyre-engaged itsalumni familythrough receptions inDenmark, Germany,Switzerland,Belgium, Mexicoand 15 US cities.More than 1,100alumni participatedin these receptions.winter of 2000. From myperspective as a musicianand educator, the newshow is extraordinary. Itsconcept, script, music,lyrics and proposedchoreography are outstandingand will reinforceUWP’s messageduring the first two yearsof the new century.Fund-raising. Thispast year proved to be the most successfulfor fund-raising in UWP’s history.Nearly $5 million in new gifts andpledges were made, much of it supportingUWP’s 1999 International StudentProgram. In addition, the Board ofDirectors’ financial gifts surpassed thatof any previous year in UWP’s history.Celebration of Peace Banquet. Acapacity audience of 1,300 business,education and civic leaders and othersfrom the US, Europe and Japan attendedthe 1999 Celebration of PeaceBanquet. We announced UWP’s newNational Student Life Initiative,dedicated to addressing some of thecauses of violence in schools. GeneralColin Powell was the keynote speaker.The event was the single most successfulfund-raising event in our history,generating more than$420,000 of incomebeyond expenses.New ManagementStructure. The companyappointed a new seniormanagement team andimportant new directorsof European and Japanoperations. The impact ofthese appointments willnot be fully realized untilnext fiscal year. I amencouraged by the qualityof UWP’s leadershipworldwide, and I believemanagement has thecompetence and dedication to guidethe company into the new millennium.There were areas of the plan wherewe failed to deliver the performanceand productivity for which I hadhoped. These areas will take more timeto change.• We were not as successful inturning around sales and marketingproblems as hoped.• We did not stabilize our Europeanoperations and begin makingmeasurable progress in theschedule.• We did not generate the merchandisesales projected, resulting in therethinking of how we shouldmarket merchandise worldwide.• Show revenues did not achieve thelevels we wished, and progress wasLooking Ahead to Next YearWhat’s ahead for UWP next year?Here are just a few of the changes wecan expect to see:• Tuition will not increase in fiscalyear 2000.• Most worldwide personnel (includingroad staff) will receive a salaryincrease and/or a per diem upgrade.limited in executing a new formulathat directs where we tour and howwe spend our time.• We did not generate the cashreserves anticipated to implementa pension program for UWPemployees.However, we did make measurableprogress on all these fronts, and we willcontinue addressing these initiatives inour action plan for fiscal 2000.Special thanks to Pat GlassnerI would like to express my appreciationfor Director of AlumniRelations Pat Glassner. Pat did anexcellent job in helping me “connect”with alumni and in developing creativeformats in which to re-engage alumni.With Pat’s help, we hope to expand thenumber of these “town meetings” withalumni throughout the world.I also wish to include my appreciationof the exemplary service providedby Executive Vice-President PaulWhitaker and Vice-President andChief Operating Officer KimCoupounas. Every achievement madein the last year was due in part to Pauland Kim. They are far more responsiblethan I for what went right in the lastfiscal year.The Executive Committee of theBoard of Directors assessed my performancein July. Their assessment wasgenerous. I appreciate the Committee’ssupport, and I look forward to workingwith them, the Board of Directors, theUWPIAA Board of Governors, alumniand friends throughout the world as weimplement our plan for UWP’s 2000fiscal year. u• Effective June 1, 1999, UWP’sDepartment of Public Relations wasdismantled and its staff released.New contracts have been negotiatedwith both local and national publicrelations organizations. UWPestimates that outsourcing publicrelations operations will save thecompany more than $100,000 nextyear.UpBeat 5
Page 1 and 2: InsideUP BEATUP BEATPresident’s M
Page 3: B UP EATUpBeat is published quarter
Page 7 and 8: UWP S2K: Show 2000 Updateby Pat Mur
Page 9 and 10: A Tribute to Lynne Morris:Memories,
Page 11 and 12: B UP EATReunion ’99 a Smashing Su
Page 13 and 14: Viva El Swing Clap!By Eduardo Aguir
Page 15 and 16: Beth Sazama (92D) marriedJeff Lyons

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