January 30, 2005
Attendance: Dr. Robert M. Cole, Ms. Lynne C. Corboy, Dr. William F. Johnston, Jr, Dr. Harry Kaplan, Dr. Thomas J. Landry, Dr. Richard D. Lappen, Mrs. Stephanie J. Lappen, Dr. Thomas L. Lewis, Dr. Marie A. Marrone-Moriarty, Dr. Alan B. Ostroff, Dr. Robert A. Rosenberg, Dr. Robert N. Spivack, Dr. Harold Wiener, and Ms. Ellen J. Mueller
Called of Order:
M. Cole called the meeting to order at 10:13 a.m.
Minutes:
The minutes were approved with a motion by H. Kaplan and seconded by R. Spivack.
Treasurer's Report:
The Treasurer’s report was approved with a motion by M. Marrone-Moriarty and seconded by T. Landry.
Dr. Lewis reported that the Pennsylvania Ear Institute opened on the Elkins Park Campus. This Audiology clinic shares space with an ophthalmologic office. The PEI has state-of-the-art equipment for both hearing and balance testing. The next step will be an Audiology clinic in TEI. The Audiology program currently has 12 residential students.
Optometry admissions applications have increased 20% nationally compared to last year. PCO’s have increased by 30%.
Gene Wayne, the executive director of The Eye Institute, resigned in December. Dr. Susan Oleszewski is filling the role of executive director through June 30. The College will have a national search for a permanent director this spring.
The Expanding the Vision Capital Campaign for the Hafter Student Center is going well. The goal is being raised from $2 million to $2.5 million. Already $1.9 million has been donated through the campaign and the alumni at large still have not been solicited. We have one alumnus who will match every dollar any other alumnus donates to the campaign, up to $750,000. The College broke ground on the Center in December. The project will take approximately 15 months to complete.
T. Landry reported that Dr. Paul Freeman ’74 has been named Alumnus of the Year. He thanked the Awards Committee for their service.
M. Marrone-Moriarty presented the slate of officers and directors for 2005-2006. There are two director slots open.
R. Rosenberg gave an overview of the 2005 Reunion schedule and reminded the Board that PCO will have alumni receptions at SECO and at the AOA meeting in the coming months.
E. Mueller read the Student Relations Committee Report for Dr. Karen Wrigley, chair. The Alumni Association sponsored a reception during orientation on August 26, 2004 for members of the Class of 2008. Two members of the Alumni Association attended.
R. Cole read a report submitted by Robert M. DiSogra, AuD ’03. The School of Audiology has granted 352 Doctor of Audiology degrees since 2000 with another 180 due to graduate in May 2005. PCO currently has 993 audiologists in the distance learning program. All are expected to graduate by 2007.
An appeal letter was sent last fall to Audiology alumni to raise support for a scholarship fund. That letter generated sixteen donations totaling $3,675. Another scholarship appeal letter is planned this spring.
The new business discussed was organizing an event to raise funds for the Alumni Association. Other then investment income, The Association has no source of income. Two possible events were discussed. First, R. Cole proposed a continuing education event outside of the Philadelphia area. T. Lewis recommended Pittsburgh and Baltimore as two ideal areas for such a program, starting with Pittsburgh. R. Lappen suggested that the event be held on a Sunday afternoon with a reception afterward. R. Lappen motioned that a continuing education program be investigated further with the intention of proceeding, seconded by M. Marrone-Moriarty.
The second suggested event from R. Cole was a silent auction. The Board decided after discussion that a simple silent auction could be organized to take place at OptoEast in Fall 2005. T. Landry motioned for approval of the auction; H. Kaplan seconded the motion.
Adjournment:
Dr. Cole adjourned the meeting at 11:13 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Robert A. Rosenberg, OD, ’61
Secretary