January 2006 Development Newsletter

Article Body: Maybe we should call this our Beaming with Pride edition of the Graceland Development Newsletter. At every turn we can't help but sing the praises of what's been happening with Graceland people. Let's start at the very top...the President's Office.

Early in January, John Menzies journeyed to Pristina, Kosovo along with Board of Trustees member Marshall Harris. The trip had the blessing of the U.S. Government with a goal of encouraging delegates to the upcoming UN "final status" talks on Kosovo's independence from Serbia. Menzies was Chief of the U.S. Mission in Kosovo from 2000-02 and this was a joyful homecoming for him to a place that is close to his heart. John also served as Ambassador to Bosnia-Herzegovina from 1994-96. You can read an in-depth story about the meaning of his mission to Kosovo. You can also see a gallery of photos from the trip.

And while our President was helping make the world a better place overseas, Graceland students were helping rebuild a Community of Christ church family's home in Katrina-ravaged Long Beach, Mississippi. Seventeen Gracelanders paid $450 each to spend their winter terms snoozing in sleeping bags and on modest cots after spending long days utilizing newly-acquired carpentry skills. Click here to see their trip photos. All of us on campus couldn't be prouder. We are equally boastful of other goodwill, winter-term trips to Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica.

Sorry but the bragging doesn't stop there. Graceland has been named a "Champions of Character" school by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. The "Champions" program is all about instilling an understanding of character values in sports and providing practical tools for student-athletes, coaches and parents to employ in modeling exemplary character traits. To be more down to earth...it means our kids play hard...they win...and they do it with class! Graceland fall sports teams set new benchmarks for postseason success and this award is most certainly icing on the cake! You can know the score for all of the athletic teams clicking on Athletics in the Graceland Homepage. Here's a tease to get you to go there...we have a new Head Women's Soccer coach and a Graceland football player has been named Conference Player of the Year!

Time for some "culture." The Performing Arts Series (PAS) has an awesome spring schedule on tap. Grant funding from the DEKKO Foundation has given the green light for six outstanding performances. To get the full story and a complete listing of the six reasons for you to get back on campus, click here to read the article titled Performing Arts Series Back on Track for Spring.

A new era of service to disabled persons and senior citizens in the community has arrived at Graceland. The athletic staff was proud to unveil a brand new pool lift for the Closson Center recently. Swimmers needing assistance entering and exiting the pool will now get it. Professor emeritus Tom Nowlin sat in the "hot seat" for the ribbon cutting ceremony. Get a better look at this gizmo by clicking here. Major "kudos" to Gary and Sandy Naylor of Lamoni, Graceland's Facility Services, the Vredenburg Foundation (John, a 1969 Graceland graduate, and Linda Vredenburg), GU Director of Community Outreach Tom Morain and the 'Graceland morning coffee group' for making the lift a reality.

The Graceland Forever Capital Campaign Phase II got a real lift recently with a gift from Steve and Sharon Graybill of Coppell, Texas. The Graceland alums have already sent $10,000 to "the Hill" and that's just the beginning of a $100,000 commitment. We shine this month's Investor Spotlight on them because they have restricted their gift to the Science and Technology Center Project and plan on taking advantage of a naming opportunity to honor longtime GU Science professor Dr. Bruce Graybill...Steve's dad. When we build it...they will come! You can make your gift today by clicking here.

We don't mean to bring up a touchy subject but in all likelihood you have already broken some of your New Year's resolutions. Well, we've got two more you really shouldn't ignore. When it comes to planning your estate, be prepared and be up-to-date. Easy enough? We think they are achievable goals when you follow this simple idea: send for your FREE copy of "You never need to change your will...unless," by contacting Todd Sturgis at tsturgis@graceland.edu.

Listen up proud members of the Graceland Yellowjacket Club. The new lapel pins are in for 2006 and all it takes is a gift of $100 to re-up your membership. Expect a letter in the mail soon inviting you to renew your membership to "The Team that Supports the Teams." And we want to go ahead and put in one more plug for our second annual golfing extravaganza at the Rancho de los Caballeros resort in Wickenburg, Arizona. Please check April 21-24 on your calendar to see if you can dust off the clubs and make the trip. To get the entire weekend itinerary, click here or contact Todd Sturgis at tsturgis@graceland.edu. Just remember this...everybody's a duffer!

Oh by the way...next time you come back to Graceland be sure to notice our spiffy new "bridge over troubled waters." Actually there is nothing troubling at all about Founders Lake and thanks to the fundraising efforts of the Graceland Classes of 1954 and 1983, we now have a new bridge on the pathway toward downtown Lamoni. Go ahead and get a sneak peek by clicking here.

That should be more than enough Graceland news to get you through February. If you know of alumni and friends who don't get this e-mail, have them send us their e-mail address pronto. Until next month thanks for reading, because you've been great!
Event Date: 1/30/2006 1:45 PM