The NAC also hosts Monthly Alumni Chats on a wide range of topics. (See note on May chat at right)

Recently, the NAC established a fund in honor of the late Diana Follebout, a long-time YFU staff member, volunteer, host mother, friend and mentor. The fund will support alumni development and training efforts in the US. To contribute, please contact Len Doran (doran@yfu.org) in the International Center in Washington, D.C. NAC members have also been busy submitting grant proposals to various committees, including the Betinho Prize, Einstein Bros., the Dr. Scholl Foundation and the ICDF. These grants would support alumni development initiatives.

The NAC also recently undertook two large service-oriented projects on behalf of the US American Overseas (AO) Program. The first project involved preparing a comprehensive report on the state of the AO Program for the YFU-USA Board of Trustees. The initial report was well-received and a follow-up report that included recommendations for the future was submitted to the board in early May.

The second project is an on-going one &endash; the establishment of Lead Inquiry Teams. The teams are composed of groups of regional volunteers and alumni who follow-up on AO inquiries in conjunction with regional office staff. Together, the volunteers, alumni and staff hope to convert more interested students into actual YFU applicants and students who go on a YFU exchange program. To date, there are 66 Lead Inquiry Team members across the country, who have contacted literally hundreds of students.

The group continues to work with the different constituencies within YFU to accomplish our collective goals. The NAC has members on the National Volunteer Leadership Council, the Diversity Outreach Team and the 50th Anniversary Celebration Committee, and has had members attend the American Overseas and Regional Directors Conferences to share ideas and facilitate communication. In addition, several of the regions within the US have designated Regional Facilitators, who work with the regional staff, volunteers and alumni to open communication amongst the groups and work together to integrate alumni into YFU.

For more information on the YFU-USA Alumni Association or the National Alumni Council, please look around the rest of our website or contact the NAC Chair, Jeanne Pierce (jeanp@gateway.net).

The NAC would like to thank and acknowledge Ben Squire, Vicki Daly-Redholtz, David Barber and Brad Lauman for their many contributions to the National Alumni Council. Their involvement with the NAC will not end here, but will merely take on a different form. Each of these valuable members will be missed.

Ben, Vicki and David were founding members of the NAC and some of the first advocates of alumni development within YFU. Each of them played an important role in the creation of the YFU-USA Alumni Association and the NAC. Because of their dedication, drive and passion, a vague ideal was turned into an amazing accomplishment. In the words of one NAC member:

Thank you!

More Thank Yous! Many thanks to Many thanks to Jan and Randy Burwell, the NAC's gracious hosts in Argyle, Texas. The members of the NAC are forever grateful for your hospitality and "Southern charm." The NAC would also like to thank Sally Grooms Cowal and Len Doran for taking the time out of their hectic schedules to spend a day meeting with the NAC. We look forward to working with you in the future!

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