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Message from the President

Spring 2008

I'd like to devote this letter to a topic very near and dear to my heart: the RAND Alumni Association (RAA) Board of Directors. I've served as a member of the board for more than ten years, and I'm in my sixth year as the RAA president. I've loved every minute of it, and I look forward to many more years of involvement.

In the early fall, we will hold elections for the next board. That board will begin its service on January 1, 2009, with each member serving a three-year term. While board members must be elected by the membership at large, any RAA member wishing to run for a seat on the board can self-nominate. I ask that you give serious consideration to seeking a seat on the board. Within a few months, you'll receive a letter asking you to do so.

I'm very proud of what the RAA has accomplished over the past few years, not the least of which was the successful conclusion in early 2007 of the conference room naming campaign. Conference room 4212 now bears the RAND Alumni Association name; and a photo of Milt Weiner, founder and president emeritus of the RAA, is prominently displayed there. We all owe Milt a great debt of gratitude for his tireless efforts on behalf of the RAA. And I know that he would say that he couldn't have done it without the assistance of the RAA board and members of the association. So, when the letter asking you to run for a board seat arrives, please say yes. Help shape the RAA's direction during the coming years.

I'm going to close by highlighting something about which I'm also very proud. In November 2007, I sent a letter asking you to consider making a contribution to the RAA, every penny of which is used to fund RANDinitiated research (RIR). You came through again, with contributions totaling twice the average that we experienced before the conference room campaign. In the letter, I noted that RAND's president and CEO, Jim Thomson, asked the RAA to select one RIR project for official sponsorship by the RAA. From among 53 worthy projects that were under consideration, the RAA Board of Directors selected “Potential United States International Actions to Advance Shared Long-Term Interests in Energy and the Environment,” led by Mike Toman in the Washington Office. This was by no means an easy choice as all of the candidates had merit. So, in closing this letter, I want to underscore how proud I am of your financial support to RAND, and I'm also proud that the RAA has been given the opportunity to fund a worthy RIR project.

Thanks for all your support.

Download the Spring 2008 RAND Alumni Bulletin (Password required)

Herb Shukiar