Annual Report of the Rabirius Alumni AssociationAlpha Rho Chi 65th National Convention

Jacksonville, Florida - March 22-24, 2012

Rabirius Alumni Associationwww.alpharhochi.orglRabirAArabiriusalumni@gmail.com

Officers for 2011-2012President - Michael ShoupSecretary - Jamie FranzTreasuer - Emily BowersDirector-at-Large - David O'ConnellDirector-at-Large - Sharon Estill

GrowthIn June of 20 II the Rabirius Chapter graduated one of its largest, if not the largest, classes, with thirteen brothers earningdegrees. The annual graduation celebration was moved to a venue on campus and was well attended by graduating brothersand their families. Previously held in the Rabirius Chapter house, attendees appreciate the more professional feel of thelecture hall, not to mention air conditioning, which was a fIrst for the graduation celebration! We are very hopeful to seethese new alumni involved in the future ofthe alumni association.

Interaction with the Rabirius ChapterThe Rabirius Alumni Association has many members living in the Cincinnati area who regularly communicate with theactive chapter. In 20 II the active chapter and alumni association intereacted at the active chapter's spring formal, thegraduation celebration, the University of Cincinnati homecoming, and at the installation ofthe Isidorus Chapter, an event in\vhich brothers of Rabirius, both active and alu..T.Jli, \vere honored to participate.

Alumni OutreachWhat began in 20 I0 as a small "happy hour" group in Cincinnati has turned into a regular gathering of local alumni. 20 IIsaw a continuation ofthese social gatherings, and 2012 promises more of these opportunities for local alumni. The grouphas remained small, however in 2012 the hope is that we can increase interest among local alumni and even active brothers.

ScholarshipLast year's scholarship competition had a positive turnout, the fIrst of a new format less dependent on formal question andanswer essays and more geared towards the skills of the design students through a design charette in which active brotherswere challenged with creating a sculpture fIt for display on the mantle in beside the charter, using only four peices of paper.The alumni association was pleased to award the 20 II Scholarship to Brother Nate Hammitt aboard one of Cincinnati'sRiverboats during the Rabirius Chapter's spring formal.

The 2012 competition has seen delays in development. As President, I take full responsibility for these delays and hope tolearn to provide the motivation required for the scholarship committee to resume its scholarship planning and execution. Weare preparing to execute and award the 2012 scholarship during the upcoming spring quarter.

Additionally, looking ahead to the 2012-2013 school year, the alumni association faces a change in the scholarshipcompetition format as the University of Cincinnati transistions from quarters to semesters, while maintaing a co-op programwith many students away from Cincinnati for halfthe school year.

FinanceThe Rabirius Alumni Association continues to maintain a small but positive and growing operating budget. The goal of anyevent is to self-fund or fundraise so that the alumni association can continue to focus on growing the scholarship fund.Primary alumni association expenses are towards gifts to graduating active Rabirians and mailings. As is tradition, thealumni association continues its policy to award graduating actives with the fIrst year of alumni association membershipfree, and aims to minimize alumni association dues to promote participation

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Annual Report of the Rabirius Alumni AssociationAlpha Rho Chi 65th National Convention

Jacksonville, Florida - March 22-24,2012

Website and CommunicationPerhaps the biggest focus in the past year has been on setting up means to improve communication within the alumniassociation. The Rabirius Alumni Association website www.alpharhochi.org/RabirAA has seen some minor improvementsin the last year. Improvements have focused on providing more open communication with alumni brothers by means ofintegrating the alumni association's FaceBook feed on the page, as well as incorporating the alumni association scheduleinto the website calendar. A standing goal for the alumni association is further development of the website, and we arealways looking for brothers to share and develop content.

Further improvements were made in alumni association communication through the creation of a new FaceBook page andmigrating our listserv to the google environment, allowing the alumni association to more openly share messages, calendars,and documents.

Outlook for the next yearCompared to years past, the last year has not been as active or opportunistic for the Rabirius Alumni Association, though Iwould not say we've had a bad year, just a slow one. This year, however, the wheels are already set in motion for the nextGraduation Celebration, Alumni Retreat, and we welcome three new board members to energize the alumni association.

Already on our radar is the Graduation Celebration in June, the 2012 Alumni Retreat, 2012 UC Homecoming, and kick offofa 2012-2013 scholarship redesigned for UC's switch to semesters, to name a few.

With Fidelitas, Amor et Artes,

Michael ShoupPresident, Rabirius Alumni Association

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