March 28, 2005 Meeting
The following are the minutes of the first meeting:

Date: March 28, 2005
Those present: Approximately 50-80 MHS alumni (oldest alum from class of 1943).

MHS Alumni president, Dave Fiser, started the general meeting by discussing how the organization began.  He discussed the various committees of the association and the chairpersons for each committee.  He gave the floor to Jim Morrison who discussed that we are legally an association.  With limited criteria, we are not in conflict or competition with other MHS groups like the Booster Club or the USD 383 Foundation.  Jim advised that each class is able to send extra funds collected at reunions to the foundation to be used for scholarships.  The funds would be set up by class year. Also, if anyone would like to donate beyond the membership dues amount, the foundation will have a fund set up to support the MHS Alumni Assoc.

Dave then took the floor back and discussed the committees in more detail (description taken from Dave’s detail sheet on the committee table):
Communications/Public Relations Committee (Chair – Cam Feltner):
Will make the contact with local media outlets to assist with the promotion of the alumni association and class reunion information.  The group will help with the production of an alumni newsletter with feature stories and articles of interest.
Membership Committee (Chair – Marie Deleen)
Responsible for monitoring an annual &/or lifetime alumni membership.  They will also keep the class contact information current.
Awards & Recognition/Wall of Fame Committee (Chair – Mike Marsh)
To explore and recommend ways to recognize MHS alums for their contributions to various academic and extra curricular activities.  (Possibly have the association nominate alumni for their accomplishments on a yearly basis.)  Have the Wall of Fame display well-established graduates.
Special Events Committee (Co-Chairs – Corita Otts & Dean Taylor)
Responsible for organizing an annual alumni association meeting in addition to keeping an alumni awareness in community events.  The group showed interest in entering a float representing the alumni association and current MHS in the June 4th "150 years of Manhattan" celebration.  Dave Fiser suggested an idea of an alumni "Back to School" night.
MHS Museum & Archive Committee (Chair - Don Pady)
Will help establish a MHS museum and historical archive to display collected information about alumni members, class achievements and faculty relations.  Don Pady took the floor and suggested possible items that would provide a look into the past – old yearbooks, copies of "The Mentor", old letter sweater, old or new things that are something of significance.  This would include physical items as well as a database of alumni.
Website/Information Systems Committee (Chair – John King)
Will create and maintain a Manhattan High Alumni Association website.  They will link with individual class websites and the current district website – www.usd383.org.

MHS Principal, Terry McCarty, took the floor to let us know how much he wants alumni to get involved with MHS and that we should feel free to visit the school. Alumni are always welcome!

Dave opened the floor for a question and answer session:

Q:  Is the Community Building available?
A:  Yes, it is maintained and rented out by the Manhattan Parks and Recreation Department.

Q:  Is this open to all graduates of MHS?
A:  Yes, just have to pay the $10 membership dues.

Q:  When is the next meeting date?
A:  Don’t know yet. We are hoping to plan a fall event.  Other suggestions: Sock hop at the Community House, an Alumni Back to School night, &/or doing something at Homecoming.

Q:  How many classes are having reunions this summer?
A:  Six that we know of – 1943, 1955, 1965, 1970, 1985, and 1990.  Cam mentioned that she has contact persons for most classes as far back as 1936.

Q:  Do we do anything with classmates.com?
A:  Not yet.

Q:  Are class presidents suppose to plan reunions?
A:  Not always the case.  It usually ends up being local MHS graduates of that class who care about getting together.

Other ideas:  It was suggested to have interaction with current seniors by mentoring them on career choices.  Also, to make the Wall of Fame more public so we can show off the success of our alumni.  Another suggestion was to give every graduating MHS senior one free year of being a member of the alumni association.