The Washington, DC, UTS alumni association invited our Alumni Relations Director, Robin Graham, to join them for a meeting. Here are Robin's notes, with names removed. I hope they might stimulate discussion and development of alumni associations elsewhere. Thanks to Tim Elder and Kim Dadachanji, association Pres and VP, and Jim Borer, for their gracious hosting.

Maybe 25-30 alumni came.

Food, talk, and then I gave a 10-15 minute talk on state of the seminary, vision for future, potential of alumni.

Alumni were then offered a few 2 minutes to sound off about whatever they chose. If they went over 2 minutes they had to pay $2 per minute to a maximum of 5 extra minutes.

Some highlights:

Concerned because as CPA he would like to build upon his teaching credentials. (Adjunct in finance), but needs 2 Masters, and to fulfill MRE at UTS would not fit well with his Masters in Finance. Suggested others explore with their employers the availability of employee-funded education. It had helped him.

Welcomed alumni director visit. UTS is not like other institutions. Need to build up goodwill. Carrot, not stick. Now many alumni are older and wiser. Recommended identifying class representatives from the different classes (this meeting had most representation from classes of 1980 and 1981) to build cross "generational" and cross-cultural links.

Working with Blessed Family Department. Interested in needs for family programs, counseling, marriage preparation. Still great weaknesses in these areas.

Gave history of the development of the DC Alumni Association. Key growth factor was development through friendship. Also the regularity of meetings.

He sends donation, though not much. All can do that. Concern for actions to be connected to UTS. e.g. connect "missionary" activity to UTS through world/community program. Emphasis that UTS needs to convey action not only faith and theology. Possibility to reconfigure a degree?

Supported counseling as need within community. Times subscriptions income to support UTS donations. Discussed the pool of recruitment for UTS from within the community. What does it take for alumni to provide scholarship?

When there is friendship, then things can happen. Pointed out need for UTS to prepare ministers for Christian interfaith. Grateful for alumni meeting.

ACLC relationship with UTS? Question of the ordination of ministers. Can the bonds of heart be built upon?

Local development of the alumni in area as a resource. Alumni are not well represented in the programming and administration of local communities.

Fails to see relationship between church and seminary. Can UTS contribute a forum for debate e.g. on abortion? Can connections be built through web site? He is looking for a St. Paul.

Can UTS provide continuing education programs, seminars? There had been question of EC in DC.

Spoke about the EC requested books site on the UTS web site, which connects to amazon.com, which alumni and friends can donate.

Delighted that the UTS building is still there, loves the property. Would like to bring family. A great resource. How to develop seminars etc. Challenges of youth. Need for counseling. Attended previous educators conference and found that very valuable.

Lack of good sermons at the local churches. No passion. What value is a UTS degree? How can his daughters who are in health and nursing programs at college benefit from a UTS graduate degree?

After the official meeting ended, several alumni stayed to catch up and discuss.

I asked the congregation to "use" their talents and abilities. I also asked the alumni to be a resource to the community.

A suggestion for alumni funding for students coming from within the major unification markets e.g. LA, SF, DC, NY, Chicago. I expect him to forward his ideas soon.

Conclusions.

There is a continuing lack of knowledge about UTS e.g. current curriculum and programs. Some alumni mentioned the e-cornerstone, but UTS cannot assume that alumni are in any way "current" with UTS.

Many questions arose about the relevance of UTS. There are severe UTS identity, purpose and value problems to overcome, which then reflect on alumni initiative and sense of power and ability to move anything forward.

They have concerns about the ability of UTS to change direction.

There is a wealth of talent in the alumni.

There is a willingness to be engaged, though uncertainty of commitment.

There is a core group of alumni who welcome the initiative of UTS to reach out, discuss and create value.

Indirect relationships with alumni not currently in the DC "mainstream" also suggest a desire to be involved on the local level of alumni relations if the focus is not "UC based".

Improved communication can be leveraged into moral, educational, recruitment, placement and financial support for UTS.

There is an opportunity to lead the UM in this area of vision and purpose and be in the vanguard rather than the rearguard.

A strategy for UTS to position itselfŠ a field of action with parameters that are really inclusive, not just publicly inclusive but privately exclusive.

This will mean careful assessment of assumptions, of language, of culture at the alumni level. For example, the opening prayer was for the Cheon Il Guk and True Parents.

There were no "non-unification" alumni present, but I think that there needs to be careful negotiation of the alumni waters. Alumni non-UCers may think that the UTS/alumni link is solely UC based.

This overall reassessment (coupled with integrity) has the potential to invigorate the alumni of all types.

This is part of the ongoing discussion.

Robin Graham

Follow-up note from one DC Alum:

The idea would get Americans into UTS. It would tie communities to UTS. (Not just grads would fund someone from their community going. The support effort would be community-wide.) It would resolve any placement problem for those sent. It would have communities review and evaluate their organizational structures. It would facilitate development of ministry in the church. The institution would serve the church directly - not just through headquarters, but in a real connection to Chicago, DC, NY, Dallas, LA, San Fran, and any etc that are inspired. Church headquarters might be moved to suggest that each region sponsor at least one student per year. A confidence will build and be institutionalized - confidence and clear plan for the capability of our ministers, so necessary and vital now as we are entering a successful outreach mode. UTS will be functioning as a church seminary as well as all the other aspects of its mission. I am aware of some youth ministers in different communities (part-time paid and volunteer) who say they want to do what they do as a career. What should we be thinking? It was good to see you Robin. (Your exhortation to the MD church to use seminary grads was effective. I meet tonight with a group of UTS grads, blessed by the board to set up a plan for Sunday sermons.) Thanks from all of us here.

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