By Ellen K. Pranno

Former UNM Foundation Board chairs Dick Morris, Jerry Geist, Maralyn Budke and Jack Rust (standing L to R) and Wayne Davenport and Maxine Friedman (seated).

Spring is a time for celebrating new beginnings, particularly when they involve talented people accomplishing wonderful things. This spring, we are commemorating the beginning of the UNM Foundation Board of Directors -- 20 years ago. The University will celebrate past and current members of the board with a reception on the evening of April 27. This article pays tribute to each of them for their excellent service and interest in the University.

Our board members truly have been in step with UNM's current theme: Great People Doing Great Things. In fact, the 151 individuals who have served on the Foundation board have been instrumental in making a prophecy come true. Bob Lalicker, UNM director of development emeritus, recently noted, "One of the last things I said in my proposal for a foundation was 'Some benefits would be realized immediately, but the major impact would be felt 10 to 20 years in the future.' It came to pass."

The Board's Beginnings
"The UNM Foundation was incorporated in 1979," says Lalicker. "Our first step was to draw up a list of 24 highly-respected business and community leaders from around the state." Invited in groups of eight to attend one of three luncheons at Albuquerque's Petroleum Club, they were briefed on the University's plans for a foundation, and each was invited to become a member of the board. "Amazingly, we had 100 percent acceptance," says Lalicker.

Thus, the first board was formed in spring 1980. The external members (those not employed by the University) were Ann Anderson, Samuel Andrade, Alan Antweil, C.L. (Lee) Brown, Elizabeth Crain (McDermott), Jack Daniels, Jim Doolittle, Aubrey Dunn, Maxine Friedman, Gene Gallegos, Hickum Galles, Jerry Geist, H. Jack Graham, Charles High, H.B. Horn, S.Y. (Tony) Jackson, Charles Lanier, George Maloof, Cyrene Mapel, Jack Rust, Randolph Seligman, Albert Simms III and C.E. Woodcock. Members who represented the University on the first board included William Davis, president; John Perovich, vice president for business and finance, and Bob Lalicker, director of development.

"The real pros we had on board, many involved deeply with banking and investments, provided us with investment opportunities for the endowment where we could get the best return on our money," says Lalicker.

Jack Rust was the first chair of the board. "I was happy to do it. I think a lot of the University, and it [the Foundation] was something we should have done 75 years ago," he says. Jack Daniels and C.E. Woodcock agreed to be the board's first vice president and treasurer, respectively. Other board chairs have been Jerry Geist, Maxine Friedman, Maralyn Budke, Wayne Davenport, Dick Morris and Ann Rhoades.

"The driver of this whole thing was Bob Lalicker," says Rust. "He did a heck of a job. I have a saying that we were laying the foundation for the Foundation. We went to meetings and seminars on how to start a foundation, but I didnąt learn anything new. Lalicker and Bob Desiderio [dean of the School of Law] had researched it and thought it out and they had outlined a good plan. They made my job easier."

Who Board Members Are
"We had some really good board members, very influential people. We had a good time, too, I think," says Friedman. And she ought to know, as she shares with Dick Morris the distinction of having the longest running time on the board: 14 years each.

In recruiting new board members, Friedman says, "We looked for people who would be able to help us raise money, who were knowledgeable in their own communities, who were able to give themselves, and who were representative of the entire community, state and nation. At first, we didnąt have any out-of-state people."

According to Lalicker, the original external directors were from seven different New Mexico communities. Since then, the UNM Foundation Board has had representatives from twice as many cities in the state: Alamogordo, Belen, Carlsbad, Clovis, Farmington, Gallup, Grants, Hobbs, Las Cruces, Raton, Roswell, Ruidoso and Santa Fe. In addition, while in office, Board members have resided in six other states besides New Mexico‹ California, Georgia, Illinois, New York, Texas and Virginia.

The Board's bylaws indicate that its size is to be at least 12, but no more than 45, voting directors. The term of office is for four years and no more than two successive terms. "By cycling people through there, UNM gets more people involved in the Foundation and therefore, more supporters," says Rust.

The Board also changes as various individuals cycle through UNM administrative positions. Since the UNM Foundation Board of Directors was established, six UNM presidents have served on the board: William Davis, John Perovich, Tom Farer, Gerald May, Richard Peck and William Gordon.

Customarily, the individuals who have held the UNM vice president of business and finance positions have served as board treasurer. Those members have included John Perovich, Carroll Lee, David McKinney and Julie Weaks.

Those who have had the role of director of development for UNM also serve as president of the board. They are Robert Lalicker, S.Y. (Tony) Jackson, Peter Hunter, Joseph Skehen, Dennis Eloe, Carolyn Tinker (interim), Karen Stone and D.F. "Duffy" Swan.

Some University employees who sit on the board are ex-officio, or non-voting, members. Beginning in 1991, each University provost has served in that capacity. Those representatives have been Paul Risser, Chris Garcia, Mary Sue Coleman, William Gordon and now, Brian Foster. The newest non-voting addition to the board is the University's vice president for institutional advancement, Judy Jones.

Since 1985, the Alumni Association has had ex-officio representation on the board as well. In 1985 and 1986, two directors of alumni relations represented the association: Ed Waller and Steve Merrick. Then in 1987, it was established that the presidents of the Alumni Association would serve. Since then, those representatives have included Brian Burnett, Judy Zanotti, Robert Matteucci, Gloria Mallory, Steve Malnar, Alex Beach, Chris Schueler, Marty Wilson, Michelle Polk, Sandy Seligman, George Friberg, Laura Heuter Bass and Maria Raby-Mondragon. Incidentally, 83 of the past and current board members have been Lobo graduates.

Some have made the board a family affair. Two couples have served on the board -- Charles and Arlene High and Bruce and Sandy Seligman. However, only the Seligmans have the honor of having the most family members on the board, as Bruce's uncle, Dr. Randolph Seligman, also has served UNM in this capacity.

Of course, we want to remember six former board members who are deceased: Alan Antweil, Jim Doolittle, George Maloof, Cyrene Mapel, George Mertz and Arturo Ortega. Three members of the board also have served on the UNM Board of Regents: Gene Gallegos, Henry Jaramillo, Jr. and Arturo Ortega.

The Board's Responsibilities
"But just what does the board do?" our donors may wonder. The answer is best summarized in this excerpt from the board's bylaws:

It is anticipated that in fulfillment of its responsibility the Board of Directors will assist the Foundation in obtaining financial support, through gifts, for the eventual benefit of the University. The Boardąs responsibilities shall include identifying and cultivating sources of gifts among alumni and friends, displaying leadership by giving personal support for the Foundation, enrolling volunteer workers, soliciting gifts when appropriate, managing the assets of the Foundation and allocating unrestricted assets of the Foundation.

To meet these responsibilities, board members serve on a variety of committees: Executive, Audit and Finance, Development, Gift Acceptance, Investment and Nominating.

UNM Foundation board members certainly have been very generous, fulfilling the expectation that they be leaders in giving to UNM. Total board giving since the board's inception, including both personal and corporate gifts, has been in excess of $5 million. Having the board members set a philanthropic example for other business people is critical to the Foundation. "One of the main reasons we established a board of lay people," says Lalicker, "was because a lot of donors, particularly affluent ones, preferred to make gifts to an organization arranged by peers rather than by a quasi-political body like the University. Private donors would rather give to one of their own."

In terms of raising funds, "the Popejoy Society, established in 1982, was the first organized effort, trying to get 100 members to give $10,000," said Rust. "We did attain that goal." Since the early '90s, the requirement for individuals has been a $20,000 gift. To date, 50 past and current board members hold Popejoy Society membership. "We made quite a few friends," says Friedman of the Popejoy Society effort. "We'd find people with interest in UNM and they worked to be a part of it."

The board has conducted two capital campaigns in its history -- the 1985 $5 million campaign and the Centennial Campaign from 1989 to 1994 for $100 million. Bob Stamm chaired both campaigns.

"For the first one," says Friedman, "we hired Martin Grinzebach, a firm from Chicago, to help manage the campaign. It was very successful, and we extended it to $6 million." The campaign aimed to raise $3,840,000 for endowed faculty chairs, professorships, lectureships and fellowships; $300,000 for the Vargas project to preserve cultural heritage; $150,000 for library resources; $300,000 for student financial assistance; $265,000 for faculty development and enrichment and $180,000 for instructional equipment. The campaign's theme was "You make all the difference!"

Friedman notes that Senators Pete Domenici and Jeff Bingaman were honorary co-chairs for the 1989-94 Centennial Campaign -- "Shaping Our Future, Now." The original goal was $65 million over five years, including $36 million for faculty development, student scholarships, program enhancement and campus expansion, and $29 million for current program support. The campaign was expanded to $100 million with $101 million actually raised.

"I'm feeling very proud of the Foundation and what has happened since forming it," says Rust. "I'm very happy to see what it is doing for the University." And the University is happy and grateful for the efforts of all of the Foundation board members. Here's to you!

UNM Foundation Inc.
Two Woodward Center
700 Lomas Boulevard NE
Albuquerque, NM 87131

505-277-4503
1-800-UNM-FUND
Fax: 505-277-4435