Help Needed in Making International Alumni Connections

Attention, world travelers: Organizers of a major upcoming event for international alumni need your help in spreading the word to the thousands of alumni who live abroad.

The UW–Madison International Convocation is slated for May 2-7, 1999, and will be an important part of UW–Madison’s 150th anniversary celebrations. Faculty and staff who travel abroad can play an important role in letting international alumni know about this event through personal connections during their travels.

Wayne McGown, director of University Research Park and a conference organizer, said the university has alumni in more than 160 countries, but keeping an updated list of mailing addresses has been almost impossible. They have addresses for approximately 700 international alums – a small fraction of the total.

Convocation organizers have prepared a brochure about the event, and are encouraging faculty and staff to bring copies along on overseas trips for meetings, lectures, sabbaticals or visits to other universities. More than 5,000 brochures have been printed.

To receive brochures and ideas about how to reach alumni, contact Mary Woodward, convocation coordinator, at 262-3152 or email Mary.Woodward@mail.admin.wisc.edu. She will send copies of the brochure by campus mail before your trip.

The week-long convocation, which will be the largest gathering ever of international alumni on campus, is intended to help UW–Madison refine its global perspective for the new century. Events will be held in the mornings at the Monona Terrace Convention Center; afternoon and evening events will be on campus.

Workshops featuring prominent speakers will be held throughout the week. Plans call for campus tours, and visits to Wisconsin businesses, industrial plants and schools. Visitors will also meet with colleagues from their fields and currently enrolled students from their home countries.