Welcome to Chapter News! Every month, alumni chapter leaders receive this e-newsletter with information regarding IU, the Alumni Association, and best practices for alumni chapters.

Announcing ChaptersOnline!
Check-out ChaptersOnline, a new request center that allows alumni chapter volunteers to easily request a variety of communication types.  If your chapter needs to send a blast e-mail, make an update to your chapter's website, or send us copy for a chapter postal mailing, simply visit ChaptersOnline and submit your requests.  Be sure to bookmark this site for future reference.  To access the system, click on ChaptersOnline.  You will be asked to authenticate your IU alumni information the first time you access the system. You can authenticate your information by visiting the IU Alumni Online Directory.  Once you have a user name and password from the Alumni Directory, enter them in the appropriate boxes and login. It's that simple!

For each type of request, there is a corresponding tab that you click on to make your request. 
1. Print Center is the option to select for newsletters, flyers, or other mailings. 
2. Web Center is for use in updating your chapter web site.
3. E-mail Center is for sending e-newsletters or announcements to your chapter.     

Again, we are pleased to offer this new system to alumni chapter volunteers and feel it will help all of us effectively manage IU alumni chapter communications!  We look forward to your future use of the system, and hope you will share feedback with us as you begin utilizing it.

One of the goals of the IU Alumni Association is to involve all our alumni chapters in a scholarship program. The Claude Rich Scholarship fund is an easy way for your chapter to become involved in helping raise scholarship funds for Indiana University students. Claude Rich had a distinguished career at Indiana University spanning more than 60 years. He was assistant alumni secretary from 1929-43, alumni secretary from 1948-68, and director of alumni relations from 1970-76. On Feb. 13, the association, along with the IU Foundation and IU Varsity Club, will be hosting the 18th annual Claude Rich Scholarship Open in Naples, Florida to raise money for scholarships. We invite your chapter to support the scholarship fund by becoming a patron of the golf tournament. The cost to become a patron is a $300 donation. Each chapter that participates will receive from the association either an autographed football, soccer ball, or basketball. Your chapter could use the autographed ball as a raffle item at one of your events to assist in recouping all or some of the $300 donation. In addition, your chapter will be listed in the banquet program as a patron. Fill out a Patron Form, or for more information, visit the web.

Did You Forget?  Chapter Financial Reports Due
Just a reminder, chapter financial reports were due on November 30. It is the responsibility of each chapter treasurer to submit financial reports twice each year to the IUAA. These reports detail how chapter funds are being used, and are required of all chapters. Please remember, chapters who fail to submit financial reports on-time risk losing their status as an active IUAA chapter and subsequent dues allocations. This report covers activities taking place between May 1 and October 31. Mid-year report forms and instructions were sent to all chapter treasurers in October. A copy of the reporting form is available on the web. For more information, visit the Guidelines for Chapter Treasurers or contact Mark Skirvin at Mskirvinindiana.edu or 800-824-3044.

Don't Forget! Chapter Annual Reports Due January 31, 2006!
Annual reports provide IUAA with vital information on a chapter's activity during the past year. From a listing of chapter board members, communications and community service, programming and membership, and service to IU, each of these key areas are included in the chapter year-end Annual Report. Chapter awards are given during Cream & Crimson Weekend and are based on the activities listed in a chapter's Annual Report. Please note that chapters who fail to submit annual reports lose their status as an active IUAA chapter and subsequent dues allocations. To submit your chapters Annual Report by January 31, 2006, please complete the Report Form or contact your chapter director.

March Madness is Coming!?
The Road to Indianapolis is in full swing for our IU Hoosiers! Although we don't know where IU will be heading in this year's NCAA tournament, we do know that most of the games will be happening in an area close to an IU alumni chapter. If this is the case, the local chapter will be asked to assist IUAA in hosting a pre-game party before the games. For a complete listing of where our Hoosiers may be playing in March, please refer to the
web site.

Chapter Scholarships
As scholarship applications are being filled out by potential and returning students to all IU campuses, it is important for chapter volunteers to remember the importance of these programs. Chapter scholarships are a great way for chapters to support local students attending IU, and bring the brightest students to all of our campuses. Applications should be reviewed by chapter volunteers and recipients determined between March 1 and May 1. Once a recipient(s) has been chosen, please contact Mark Skirvin at Mskirvinindiana.edu or (812) 855-4958 to submit the following scholarship recipient form.

Visit IUAlumniCareers.com Today!
Register now at IUAlumniCareers.com to post your resumé, search for jobs posted by employers, or search for an IU alumni mentor for career advice. Only IUAA members may access this great new service, so be sure to join/renew your membership online today   or call (800) 824-3044. IU alumni mentors and employers are also invited to register to be mentors or post job openings.