Thank you for your continued support as a valued member of the Chancellor’s Century Council. My wife, Lou Ann, and I are strongly committed to the pursuit of excellence across the entire Texas A&M University System, and we envision the Council playing an increasingly important role in this pursuit. We plan to expand Council activities in the near future, and will need your input on how we can work together more effectively.
We have an exciting agenda planned for the Council’s upcoming annual meeting on the campuses of Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and Texas A&M University-Kingsville. The meeting will provide a terrific opportunity for us to get to know each other better, and to brainstorm ideas about how we can involve others who share our interest in our flagship university, the A&M System, our agencies and higher education in general.
I value your input as a Council member, and plan to involve you more through increased communications and regular meetings across the state. My priorities also include keeping you updated on important legislative activities and soliciting your input on policy matters in the Chancellor’s Office. I would like to establish new programs to reward our star educators and researchers and provide scholarships to worthy students.
Again, thank you for all you do for the A&M System, and for the warm welcome Lou Ann and I already have received. We look forward to seeing you soon in Corpus Christi and Kingsville.
Michael D. McKinney, M.D.
Chancellor
| Mildred and Ross George | College Station |
| Ann and Jay Kimbrough | Franklin |
| Nancy and Randy Blair | Laredo |
| Carol and Bob Gravis | College Station |
| Chairs | Bettie and Charles Mattei |
| Chairs-Elect | Patty and Joe Mueller |
| Vice Chairs – Region I | Nita and Warren Roberts |
| Vice Chair – Region II | Tracey D. Wolfe |
| Vice Chairs – Region III | Barbara and Dan Clinton |
| Vice Chairs – Region IV | Berta and Eddie Garcia |
| Vice Chairs – At Large | Melba and Lavon Anderson |
| Tedi and Chuck Ellison | |
| Ann LeBlanc | |
| Marian and Gayle E. Moore | |
| Immediate Past Chairs | Phyllis and Wayne Prescott |
I hope your winter is going well, and that you are looking forward to our annual meeting February 15-17. Don’t forget to make your hotel reservations by Monday, January 29.
We have an exciting meeting planned. I hope you’ll be there to join me in welcoming the new A&M System chancellor, Dr. Michael McKinney, and his lovely wife, Lou Ann. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to meet and visit with the McKinneys at the meeting.
I know the McKinneys have hit the ground running, and have a number of ideas and goals to help further the mission of the A&M System, including increased involvement with the Chancellor’s Century Council. I’m looking forward to hearing more—from him, you and our future members—about how our group can help them achieve these goals.
If you haven’t visited the A&M System campuses in Corpus Christi and Kingsville, you are in for a real treat. I believe you will be amazed yet again at the breadth of the A&M System and all it does for our state—providing excellent educational opportunity, creating a more robust economy and a better quality of life for our citizens.
If you plan on extending your visit around the meeting, the area has a number of excellent attractions, including the Art Museum of South Texas, Corpus Christi Greyhound Race Track, King Ranch, Museum of Science and History, Texas State Aquarium, and the USS Lexington.
Bettie and I look forward to seeing you in South Texas.
Charlie Mattei
Ann LeBlanc Wilson and Robert S. Wilson on the occasion of their marriage.
We regret to announce the passing of Sam Rowland of Bryan, on October 3, 2006. Condolences to his wife, Betsy and their family.
February 15-17
Honoring the Council’s 20th Anniversary
| Thursday, February 15, 2007 | |
|---|---|
| 10 a.m. | Registration at the Omni Hotel |
| 12:30 p.m. |
Depart hotel for Texas A&M University- Corpus Christi (Business Casual)
|
| 4:30 p.m. | Depart for hotel |
| 6:30 p.m. |
Social at hotel (Casual) Hospitality suite will be open |
| Friday, February 16, 2007 * | |
| 8:30 a.m. |
Depart hotel for Texas A&M University- Kingsville (Business Casual)
|
| 3:30 p.m. | Depart for Hotel |
| 6:30 p.m. |
Reception and Annual Banquet, Omni Hotel (Business) Keynote Speaker: Michael D. McKinney Chancellor, The Texas A&M University System Hospitality suite will be open after the banquet |
| Saturday, February 17, 2007 * | |
| 9 a.m. |
A&M System Briefings, Omni Hotel (Casual)
|
| Noon | Adjourn (Afternoon free) |
| 6:30 p.m. | Casual Dinner (Location to be determined) |
| *Breakfast vouchers will be available at registration. | |
For more information about the meeting, contact Janet Smalley at Janet Smalley@tamu.edu or (979) 458-6000.
Hotel Reservation Deadline: Monday, January 29
Please make your own hotel reservations with the Omni Bayfront Hotel, 900 N. Shoreline Blvd. in Corpus Christi.
Call (800) 843-6664 or (361) 887-1600 and request the Chancellor’s Century Council block of rooms/rates.
The Chancellor’s Century Council regularly provides funding for a variety of worthwhile projects and initiatives across the A&M System. Here are a few recent projects for which the Council has provided support:
The Council provided $1,000 to cover the registration fees of twelve students who attended a conference hosted by the A&M System, “The Energy Policy Act of 2005: One Year Later, a Look to the Future.” Speakers at this important event held August 31, 2006 included David Garman, undersecretary of the U.S. Department of Energy.
The Council annually provides funding for the A&M System Regents Awards, which are presented to outstanding university faculty and agency professionals. Funds given by the Council provided each of this year’s fourteen recipients with a beautiful, custom-made wood shadow box encasing a certificate and System medallion. The awards ceremony was held November 30, 2006.
The Council will cover primary expenses for the Chancellor’s Student Advisory Board’s upcoming trip to Austin February 7-10, 2007. The board is comprised of the student body presidents from the A&M System universities. During their trip to Austin, board members, along with alternate student leaders and A&M System Student Regent Tyson Voelkel, will meet with legislators at the State Capitol, the commissioner and executive staff members at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, and governmental relations team members based at the A&M System’s Hirshfeld-Moore House. Students will provide an update about their trip at the Council’s upcoming annual meeting.
The Chancellor’s Century Council is planning regional meetings across the state. Chancellor McKinney is eager to meet with you and university officials at these events, and encourages you to attend and bring prospective members. Watch your mailbox for invitations to events at the following locations this spring:
| February 20 | Stephenville |
| February 21 | Commerce |
| February 22 | Texarkana |
| March 8 | Laredo |
| March 13 | Austin |
| April 11 | College Station |
| April 12 | Canyon |
| TBD | Arlington |
| TBD | Houston |