Since 2000 I have served as restoration fund treasurer, personally acknowledging each individual contribution made to FEBT and packaging and mailing out all prints that were distributed in response to that portion of the fund-raising campaign. I have volunteered at the information tent for fund-raising purposes on many occasions. I also spearheaded the solicitation of additional donations from non-member donors via the mailing of fund raising appeal letters to this group.

For over 10 years I have supported the membership office by mailing the reminder postcards regarding membership renewals and the letters that are sent to those who don’t renew after getting the second reminder. During this same period I have annually hosted the open house in Robertsdale on the Sunday morning of reunion weekend.

I have financially underwritten the costs of all postage for acknowledgement letters to our donors and reminder postcards to all members.

I have spent over thirty years as an instructor/assistant professor/associate professor of Mathematics/Engineering/Computer Science at various colleges and universities gaining much experience working in the nonprofit sector. Over half of those years have involved significant administrative work as an Associate Dean or Department chair. My educational background (Ph.D. in Operations Research) has well-prepared me for the daily organizational challenges of the academic world and these are similar in many ways to those that face the FEBT.

I have also over the last 8 years played a key role in an NSF funded grant to support K-20 learning in mathematics and science. This effort is further supported by the US Department of Education. Through this role I have had a lot of experience with the intricacies of the grant funding process on both the application and implementation levels. Currently I am involved in writing grants requesting additional funding for these programs.

I would particularly like to help the FEBT further explore grant opportunities appropriate to our mission. I believe that our demonstrated ability to raise funds and complete major endeavors well positions us to receive serious consideration for external support for our work.

I would also like to see the organization apply the teamwork that has been so effective in our restoration efforts directed toward some of our other essential work on the business side of our operations.

I am not interested in any of these positions so long as I am Restoration Fund Treasurer which is already a seven day a week commitment.

I have attended over 75% of the Board of Directors meetings over the past ten years so I do not anticipate a problem so long as the board works around individual schedules in setting their meeting dates as FEBT work session weekends do not always match up well with my obligations to my job on the weekend.

My interest in FEBT extends from my family background –generations of employees of the Illinois Central Railroad on one side and support of significant historic preservation and restoration efforts on the other.

For ten years I have responded to all donorswho sent money to the Restoration Fund Treasurer and I have developed a strong network of non-members who regularly contributefunds forour restoration work. After attending Board Meetings over the past five years Iunderstand the work done by the Board to support our activities.

I would like to help FEBT explore appropriate grant opportunities. Our demonstrated ability to raise funds and complete major endeavors positions us to receive serious consideration for external support for our work. I would also like to see the teamwork that has been so effective in our restoration efforts applied to the business side of our operations.