November 24, 2015 SUBJECT: Chairman s Annual Report Fellow Members of the Long Gray Line, As 2015 draws to its conclusion, I am pleased to report that our West Point Association of Graduates capabilities and contributions to West Point and its alumni have continued to grow, that our Association is financially strong, and that it is being superbly managed by the full-time staff and leadership. Every day, the passion and commitment of the Long Gray Line impresses me. Collectively and individually, we selflessly contribute our time, talent, and treasure. Clearly, our efforts are helping to keep West Point strong and nationally recognized as a top-ranked institution. In myriad ways we are enhancing the education, training, and inspiration of the Corps of Cadets. Likewise, through our Association of Graduates, we are able to remain connected to each other and to our alma mater. In this Annual Report, I will highlight several of our Association s notable accomplishments. Each reflects the teamwork, the expertise, and the generosity of our volunteer leaders, individual graduates, and professional staff, as well as our teammates at the U.S. Military Academy. The For Us All Campaign. The response of graduates and many others to our Association s second-ever comprehensive fundraising campaign has been truly remarkable. At the end of this year, we will conclude our seven-year campaign (launched on January 1, 2009 in the midst of a major recession). In 2014, we raised $46.4 million, our highest amount ever. While the books will not close until year s end, I can report that we have broken through the tape on our $350 million goal and are finishing strong as we sprint through the $400 million mark. Much of the funds we have raised will be held in endowments for cadet programs, activities, and other opportunities. For decades to come, our cadets will have the means to expand their horizons, literally and figuratively, to pursue their interests, and to achieve their full potential in academic, military, physical, or character-oriented endeavors. I would also like you to know that, in 2015, our Association was one of only fifteen institutions out of 571 to win the Sustained Excellence in Fundraising Award from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). We also beat out all other service academies with our graduate participation rate. Foley, Enners, Nathe Lacrosse Complex. WPAOG continues to manage all gift-funded construction, providing in-kind gifts of completed buildings to USMA. As part of the For Us All Campaign, WPAOG raised the funds for the Foley, Enners, Nathe, Lacrosse Complex. In August, ground was broken on a multi-story facility at the northeast corner of Michie Stadium that will be the home of the Army West Point men s and women s lacrosse programs.
Soccer Stadium. Also on the horizon is construction on the Army West Point Men s and Women s Soccer Stadium. Preparations are being made to begin in the spring of 2016, when a new press box, restrooms and storage room facilities, and bleachers will be the core components of this gift-funded, transformative project. West Point Visitors Center. I am delighted to report that groundbreaking will take place during the first half of 2016! This new gift-funded facility will become the major gateway to West Point. It will give our alma mater a visitors center worthy of our Academy. The building s orientation and architecture will educate prospective candidates, family members, and the public about West Point the Landmark, as well as West Point s mission to educate, train, and inspire the Corps of Cadets. West Point Cemetery Columbarium. Accepted by USMA in 2015, this gift-funded multi-section, semi-circular structure has been beautifully integrated into the central sections of the cemetery. The columbarium adds nearly 6000 niches to the cemetery s capacity. Herbert Hall. Two major renovation and repair projects were completed in 2015. A bumpout of our building s mechanical room was done as part of the installation of an updated HVAC system. Simultaneously, a refurbishment of the information technology infrastructure was completed. We also replaced worn-out furnishings and equipment and redesigned the second and third-floor work areas. This two-phased gift-funded project, the first major capital improvements to the Alumni Center in twenty years, has increased office and conference room capacity. Also, the renovations included upgrades to the network infrastructure to accommodate the new furniture layout and ensure that we will have the capacity to support the implementation of our new Constituent Relationship Management system (a project we began in 2015). Gift-funded Building and Monument Maintenance. In 2015 WPAOG established a program to provide maintenance for infrastructure that was previously donated to USMA, using endowment funds and restricted gifts. WPAOG Awards. In ceremonies at West Point, our Association honored the following great Americans: Major Christopher Dean 02 received the 10 th annual Nininger Award for Valor at Arms. Lieutenant General (Retired) Max Noah 53, Mr. Rod Vitty 55, Lieutenant General (Retired) John Moellering 59, Mr. Bill Murdy 64, Mr. Jodie Glore 69, and Lieutenant General (Retired) Tom Metz 71 received the Distinguished Graduate Award. Humanitarian and actor Gary Sinise received the Sylvanus Thayer Award. The Thayer Award ceremonies took place on a crisp, bright fall afternoon and were attended by more than four hundred enthusiastic guests and the Corps of Cadets. WPAOG Scholarships. Thirty-eight young Americans received gift-funded West Point Preparatory Scholarships. One gift-funded Fallen Graduates Memorial Scholarship was issued. WPAOG Publications. In addition to the annual issue of TAPS and the four issues of West Point magazine, now in its fifth year, the Register of Graduates and Former Cadets went to press, the first Register edition since 2010. This year we achieved our goal of including all parents of cadets as recipients of complimentary copies of West Point magazine, a four-year goal phased in starting with the Class of 2016. Our combined print audience is about 225,000 readers per year.
WPAOG Social Media and Email Communication. WPAOG sends more than 300 targeted emails per year to over 2.5 million recipients, enabling graduates to stay connected to the Academy, WPAOG events, Classmates and Societies. In 2015, twenty-five First Call e-newsletters were sent to the Long Gray Line, and twelve issues of the Parent Review newsletter were emailed to all cadet parents. WPAOG s social media audience is significant and rapidly growing. We currently maintain a presence on Facebook (36K Likes; +181% in 2014-15), LinkedIn (17.4K; +19% in 2014-15); Twitter (8.2K followers; +46% in 2014-15), Vimeo, YouTube, Flicker, Instagram, and Pinterest. Our combined social media audience is currently over 75,000 followers. West Point Association of Graduates Alumni Leaders Conference, sponsored by the Class of 1967. This year s strong turn-out included representatives from forty-four classes and eighty-nine West Point Societies. Sixty-three Distinguished Society Awards were presented at the conference. Career Services. WPAOG has renewed its commitment to assist our graduates in their professional transitions. This renewed emphasis reflects our appreciation for the ongoing changes in the U.S. Army, as well as our strategic initiative to add value to membership in our Association. An update of the technical infrastructure supporting career and networking services began in the second half of 2015. Also, in the fourth quarter, WPAOG announced a position opening for a director of career services. The Service Academy Career Conference hosted 280 employer teams, 61 graduate school representatives, and 613 USMA graduates at the four SACCs (Washington, DC; San Diego, CA; San Antonio, TX; and Savannah, GA). Alumni Events Supported. WPAOG provided operations and logistics support to nine class reunions and an affinity group reunion 6,252 graduates and guests. Twelve affinity group reunions were supported through online registration support this year. In addition, 169 events or activities have been supported with online registration services. West Point Diversity Leadership Conference. WPAOG and USMA co-hosted 117 graduates and guests at the annual Diversity Leadership Conference. Guest speakers included Paul Richardson, Chief Diversity Officer, The Walt Disney Company, and Senior Vice President of Human Resources, ESPN, and Kumea Shorter-Gooden, Ph.D., Chief Diversity Officer and Associate Vice President, University of Maryland, College Park. Information Technology. Data security is a top-tier priority for us. Throughout 2015, the Information Technology staff, assisted by our Information Technology Committee, implemented measures and worked with supporting contractors, consultants, and data security vendors to identify and remediate potential weaknesses in our information systems. We remain vigilant, however. The operating environment and its threats are continuously changing. Annually we have an independent security firm perform penetration tests on our systems and websites. Additionally, we have another security technology partner run automated scans on our systems to identify new vulnerabilities. These measures allow us to maintain a proactive approach to monitoring and improving our security posture. Selected Activities with Cadet Classes. In 2015, the Class Ring Memorial Program received 34 West Point class rings. The annual ring melt ceremony in Warwick, Rhode Island, was attended by officers in the Class of 2016, as well as WPAOG leadership, USCC leadership,
family members of the donating graduates, and other graduates in the New England region. Five of our alumni classes 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, and 1969 participated in 50-Year Class Affiliation activities. Supporting the USMA Athletics Re-branding. The Gift Shop began the transition of many of its products to reflect the new Army West Point athletic marks, while continuing to stock many items that bear USMA institutional marks such as the Academy crest. WPAOG actively supported the April launch of the new Army West Point Athletics identity via video, social media, and photographic communications. We worked closely with several departments of the Academy (ODIA, USMA Marketing and Licensing, PAO) to ensure coordinated messaging. WPAOG fielded graduates questions and feedback regarding the rebrand for the Academy, and used the cover story of the summer issue of West Point magazine to feature cadet athletes wearing the new intercollegiate athletic uniforms and to further explain the changes. Financial Status. In 2014 we reported contribution revenue of $40.6 million. WPAOG granted $24.8 million to the U.S. Military Academy. During the year, our net assets increased by $19.3 million, primarily due to an increase in investments, a result of contributions and favorable market return. On December 31, 2014, our investments had a value of $295 million. In 2015, our external auditors issued an unmodified opinion for 2014. Currently, WPAOG is managing and reporting on more than 200 endowments for USMA, in addition to class administrative and gift accounts. The financial strength stemming from the success of the For Us All Campaign and from our investments must not cloud the fact that the needs identified by the Superintendent still surpass our ability to satisfy all, and that we will continue to depend on the sustained generosity of the Long Gray Line going forward. Notable Personnel Transitions. We welcomed Elizabeth Barrett as our Vice President for Communications and Marketing and Richard Huh 94 as our Vice President for Alumni Support. Rich succeeded Jim Johnston 73, now in the front office as our Association s Secretary. Director-level hails included our welcoming of Charli Garg, Corporate and Foundation Giving; Cathy Kilner 90, Class Support; and Laura Dauer, Finance. The A Club, an element of WPAOG since September 2014, is now directed by Garrett Munro, who succeeded Brian White. Next month, Chris Frawley 84 will succeed Nancy Calhelha as Director of Planned Giving. Nancy, a talented advancement executive and revered colleague, will retire after nineteen years of service. She previously directed our Corporate and Foundation Giving department. We will greatly miss Nancy, but are fortunate to be able to promote Chris into this important role. In closing this section I would like to shine a bright light on our own Linda Giacoio, executive assistant to our President and manager of the West Point Preparatory Scholarship Program. At the end of the year, Linda will retire, completing forty-three years of service to the Long Gray Line! Linda has been one of the primary representatives of our Association to the graduate world and many others. Just as important, she has been a leader within the staff. Well done, Linda, and thank you! Strategic Plan for 2016 through 2019. At year s end, our President and CEO, Bob McClure 76, will publish a strategic plan for the post-campaign years, which will culminate in our Association s celebration of our 150 th Anniversary in 2019. The plan s theme is to Make manifest and powerful The Grip of the Long Gray Line. The three strategic goals are to Maintain the Momentum in our support of the United States Military Academy, to Enhance the Grip of the Long
Gray Line by adding value to membership in our Association, and to Invest in WPAOG s Capabilities to provide for sustained excellence in the decades ahead. Governance. I would like you to know that your Board of Directors and Advisory Council are talented, dedicated, and fully engaged. At the end of the year, one of our stalwart directors, Colonel (Retired) Frank Janoski 74 will be concluding his service on the Board. Frank has served as an Association trustee or director since 1992. I, personally and professionally, will miss him greatly. He has been a passionate supporter of West Point and a consummate professional, whose contributions to governance have been immense. Earlier this month, I chaired our second Advisory Council meeting of the year, which was very well attended. The importance of the Advisory Council cannot be overstated, as they help ensure that the concerns and views of the Long Gray Line are an intimate part of the governance of our Association. During the meeting we had insightful discussions about aspects of our Association s operations matters such as the Register of Graduates and Former Cadets and the possibility of expanding Herbert Hall. Also, we were briefed by Superintendent Lieutenant General Bob Caslen 75, Commandant of Cadets Brigadier General J.T. Thomson 86, and Army West Point Women s Lacrosse Coach Kristen Waagbo. I mention these briefings in part to point out that your Association is well supported by the leadership of the United States Military Academy, who repeatedly underscore the essential nature of the Long Gray Line s many roles in supporting the West Point mission. In concluding this annual state of the Association report, I would be remiss if I did not mention that President and Chief Executive Officer Colonel (Retired) Robert L. McClure 76 will be retiring mid-year in 2016. Building on the work of presidents who preceded him, Bob has transformed many aspects of our Association. He has enhanced the professionalism of our staff, guided us through our highly successful fundraising campaign, established a multifunctional communications group, presided over innovative measures to support West Point, directed modernization of our information technology operations, implemented expansions of our services to alumni leaders, and represented the Long Gray Line s interests at West Point and around the world. Future graduates will look back on Bob s tenure as president and chief executive officer as a time of progress in many areas, and the charting of our path forward. We are all very grateful for Bob s service. Thank you, in fact, to the entire Long Gray Line. Bottom line: your West Point Association of Graduates is in great shape, and we will continue to get better as we Serve West Point and the Long Gray Line. Larry R. Jordan 68 Chairman of the Board