Dear Alumni, Colleagues and Friends,

Yesterday President McCormick sent out a letter to all alumni announcing his plan to restructure alumni relations at Rutgers University.  Please be aware that your Cook C.A.E.S. Alumni Association (CAA) continues to exist and your Executive Board plans on perpetuating our alumni association into the future within the new expanded structure.  A committee of alumni has been selected to thoroughly analyze this new structure and its effects on the CCA as well as develop best practice protocols for the CAA to continue to serve Cook and CAES graduate as well as the new SEBS students as they graduate and join our ranks.  I, on behalf of the Cook Alumni Association, want to extend a sincere thanks to all our members, loyal alumni and friends.  We hope you will let us know what you think.   

The 2007-2008 CAA Executive Board prepared a written statement that was both read at the New Brunswick public forum and delivered to President McCormick regarding the Task Force on Alumni Relations Report.  With the Presidents recent announcement we are prepared to work with Rutgers Department of Alumni Relations and the President’s implementation committee to effectuate the best possible result for our organization and our graduates.  Concurrently we are looking forward to increased support and respect from the university.  We are committed to honoring the traditions of our college and campus while holding established and innovative programs -social, networking and academic- that our alumni enjoy and have come to expect from the CAA.  Please remember that we welcome your input on how to achieve these goals.

While the administrative planning and implementing of the President’s plan for alumni relations is occurring we continue to plan for April Ag Field Day and July reunion weekend events.  Your reunion planning committee needs you to help plan the first reunion weekend under the new structure. If you haven't yet found a way to get involved, now is a great opportunity to come on board and show us your talents.  I look forward to hearing from you.

Until we meet again

Bethany Rocque-Romaine, CC ‘83

President, Cook CAES Alumni Association