From the ISUAA President

 FROM THE PRESIDENT

Dear Members,

I don’t know about you, but I love maps, globes, clocks, and calendars! In my office, you’ll find one huge map, one globe, seven timepieces, and four calendars (not counting the calendars and clocks on my computer and phone).

Roger Underwood** (῾80 agricultural business) gave me the map shown in the above photo some years ago. I had complimented him on his map during a visit to his barn early in my career with the ISU Alumni Association (ISUAA). Then, out of the blue he delivered one to my office. (Thanks, again, Roger and Connie** (῾84 political science and international studies)!) This wonderful topography map was instrumental to helping me better understand the diverse beauty and differences of the Iowa landscape. I also came to appreciate the diverse beauty and differences that exist in the wonderful people of Iowa. This map remains a special treasure to me. I feel the same appreciation for strategic plans and partnerships. They, too, provide us a path for where we’re going and how to get there – together. Just as I used my Underwood map to plan many of my early treks across Iowa, the strategic plans of ISU and ISUAA have been key to collaborating and charting our organizational futures. Both organizations are currently in the process of drafting their next plans. The university is building their strategic plan around a strategic process that will enable the university to be nimbler and more strategic about how it approaches its goals. Such planning will help the university and the association move forward together. Like many other businesses, this, also, is one of the key learnings of our prolonged COVID experience. The times we live in require us to be nimbler! They also require us to think and act more strategically. The pandemic also gave us insights into areas where we could be more collaborative. A key area where collaboration is crucial is communicating with Iowa State’s constituents. As current readers and most other Iowa Staters know, VISIONS, since its inception in 1988, has been exclusively a member benefit to paid ISUAA members. Today, it still ranks as our top member benefit, followed second by the ISU Wall Calendar. Keeping this in mind, your alumni association’s board and staff are working with President Wintersteen and the ISU Foundation to reimagine VISIONS magazine as a flagship publication to collectively serve the aspirations of the association and university. President Wintersteen has a bold vision for Iowa State’s future. How we can better partner with her to advance that vision is an opportunity worth exploring. Yes, there are financial, staffing, and constituent-related matters to resolve regarding expanding the readership of this paid-member benefit. We will continue to update you as conversations progress about the concept of a flagship publication. Association membership, no question, will remain central to making such an idea work. Over the years, you have told us of your commitment to helping the association accomplish the following three things: 1) provide non-biased coverage related to the successes, issues facing, and opportunities available to help advance your alma mater; 2) provide a way to communicate directly with the association, university and fellow alumni and friends; and 3) provide a coffee table piece to showcase pride in and loyalty to Iowa State while making stories visible in your homes, businesses, and communities. We’ve worked hard over the years to keep these things in mind as we produce each issue. Yes, you haven’t always agreed with us, and you’ve let us know when we got it right and when we went off base. That’s a real partnership! As we work to map out this new collaboration, we continue to do so in partnership with you. The following two things will guide me: 1) facilitating the lifetime connection of Cyclones everywhere to Iowa State University and to each other, and 2) engaging diverse partners to help showcase how Cyclones everywhere and Iowa State University are making communities, Iowa, and the world a better place. Stay tuned as we develop our next strategic plan and navigate the conversations regarding this collaborative communications opportunity.

Yours for Iowa State,

Your alumni association’s board and staff are working with President Wintersteen and the

ISU Foundation to reimagine VISIONS magazine as a flagship publication to collectively serve the aspirations of the association and university. Jeff Johnson** (PhD '14 education) Talbot Endowed President and CEO