The Partridge Society and 1819 Circle

Partridge Society Board of Directors 2007–2008

  • Mark D. Thompson ‘79, President
  • James C. Abare ‘57
  • Mark T. Callahan ‘70
  • David E. Elkowitz ‘89
  • Danial F. Faizullabhoy ‘84
  • Don C. Fawcett, Jr. ‘63
  • Randolph F. Franklin ‘80
  • A. Ralph Kristeller ‘50
  • Christopher R. Kristian ‘83
  • Rudolph L. Laine ‘66
  • Oatsie T. March ‘49
  • Anthony A. Nickas ‘82
  • John E. Okonski ‘55
  • John D. Ridill ‘67
  • Christopher Steingrube ‘99
  • William Thomas, Jr. ‘67
  • Roderic Vitty
  • Michael Yesalonia ‘82


Norwich University Staff Liaisons

  • Rick Van Arnam ’84, Assistant Vice President, Institutional Advancement
  • Priscilla Gilbert, Director of Planned Giving
  • Chrissie M. Eastman ’90, Donor Relations Officer

For more information on the Partridge Society, please contact Chrissie M. Eastman at 802.485.2307 or email ceastman@norwich.edu.

More information on Partridge Society membership

The Partridge Society Board Member Guidelines

Scope

The mission and purpose of the Partridge Society is to provide the financial resources necessary to secure the future of Norwich University. Members of the board are responsible for working with the appropriate Norwich office(s) to identify, cultivate, solicit, recognize and steward donors to the University. Board members will be expected to be among the University’s strongest fundraisers and stewards.

Terms and service

Board members are appointed for an initial three-year term and may be re-appointed for an additional term. Each member will serve on at least one Board committee, and will participate in committee work as agreed upon with the committee chair.

Expectations

All Board members will be Partridge Society members in good standing. Board members are expected to attend all Board meetings in person or via conference call, and to attend at least one meeting on campus per year. It is expected that Board members will participate as fully as possible in the work of the Board.

Board members will be actively involved in recruiting new members of the Society, promoting the Society and its mission, and attending and participating in Society and University-sponsored functions across the country. In addition, Board members will provide fundraising support to the University, in consultation with the Office of Institutional Advancement.

Board members will be comfortable with the concept of philanthropy, with financially supporting the University according to their means, and with the mission and goals of Norwich University. As active participants in the fundraising process, Board members will support the Society’s goals on an annual basis through a variety of events and activities, including signing letters encouraging or recognizing membership, hosting fundraising or recognition events, telephoning lapsed and new members, initiate or join with a major gift officer on a donor visit, host a dinner to support the University, participate in a class reunion fundraising effort, attend fundraising or donor recognition events, and identify potential new members.

The Partridge Society Board Committee Structure

Board Development

Purpose: To establish, review and maintain Partridge board member and liaison job descriptions, by-laws, operating procedures and planning documents. To periodically review the Society’s communication tools, including the Record, University Web site, Annual Report and other publications and newsletters and to make recommendations for increasing exposure and expanding the Society’s reach.

Budget

Purpose: To work with the Board Liaison and/or VP for Institutional Advancement staff to establish an annual operating budget for Partridge Society activities and expenses, including but not limited to, the annual luncheon, pins and recognition items, brochures and publications.

Executive Committee

Purpose: Consists of committee chairs; reviews and approves board meeting agendas at least six weeks prior to the respective meeting; can act on behalf of the full board in an emergency; will prepare reports as needed for Trustee Committee review.

Membership and Events Committee

Purpose: To recognize donor contributions at a variety of membership levels and for annual, lifetime and planned gifts. To assist in the planning, preparation and implementation of membership recognition during the annual Partridge Society and All Class Luncheon; to work with the Office of Institutional Advancement to take advantage of membership recognition opportunities at Norwich University events.

Nominating Committee

Purpose: To implement a structure and process for Board nominations; to identify and qualify new members, to facilitate the nomination process for new members and to develop and implement new member orientation.

The Partridge Society Operating Guidelines

I. Name, Purpose and Mission

The mission and purpose of the Partridge Society is to provide financial resources necessary to secure the future of Norwich University. Members of the board are responsible for working with the Office of Institutional Advancement to identify, cultivate, solicit, recognize and steward donors to the University. Board members will be expected to be among the University’s strongest fundraisers and stewards. The Board will develop and maintain an annual plan of work, which will include activities and events, as well as measurable goals.

The Partridge Society was founded in 1974, with a purpose of recognizing donors to the University. In FY 1998 the Partridge Society had 566 members; in FY 2004 the Partridge Society had 912 members (255 lifetime members, 173 1819 Circle members and 484 annual members).

II. Membership

Membership in the Society is conferred to donors based on annual, cumulative and planned gifts. Gifts of $1,000 and more are recognized with annual membership, lifetime membership levels recognize gifts of $20,000 and more, and the planned giving society, the 1819 Circle, acknowledges donors of future gifts to the University.

All members will receive a pin indicating their level of membership, and the names of all members will be published annually in the Norwich University Annual Report. Lifetime members will also be recognized by name and membership level on a special plaque at the University.

III. Board, Officers, Committees, Meetings, Staff and Archives

Board of Directors and Meetings. The Board of Directors will consist of 12 or more members, all of whom will be members in good standing of the Partridge Society. Board members will perform their duties as outlined in the Board member job description.

The Board of Directors will have a Nominating Committee, who will be responsible for the recruitment of new board members, new member orientation, and the maintenance of the board member’s list and terms of office. The Nominating Committee will forward recommendations for potential new members to the Board President, who will bring the names of the candidates to the full board for a vote of acceptance. Following the vote, the Board President will forward the names to the Vice President of Institutional Advancement for review, who will then forward the candidate recommendations to the President of Norwich University. The President of Norwich University will appoint board members for a three-year term. Board members are appointed for an initial three-year term and may be re-appointed for an additional term.

The Board of Directors will perform the duties prescribed in these guidelines and by the parliamentary authority adopted by the University, and will carry out its activities in accordance with the volunteer board guidelines established by the University in 2001 and revised in 2004. Eight members of the Board will constitute a quorum. All retiring board members will be appropriately recognized for their service at the conclusion of their term.

The Board will meet at least two times a year, with one spring and one fall meeting. Board meetings are open to all members. The Board of Directors will provide a twice yearly one page (or less) report on the activities of the Society to the Norwich University Trustees, to coincide with reporting requirements for the Board of Trustee’s regular meetings.

President

The Board of Directors will include a President, who will be appointed by the President of Norwich University on the recommendation of the Vice President for Institutional Advancement and the Society’s Nominating Committee. The President will serve a two-year term, and will be eligible for re-election for up to two terms. The President will appoint the chairs of the committees authorized by the Board of Directors on recommendation of the Board Development committee. In addition, the President will serve as the Board liaison to the Norwich University Board of Trustees Development Committee, or any other Trustee or board committee on request.

Committees

The Board will include a number of committees, the composition of which will be determined by the Board Development Committee and ratified by the Board’s Executive Committee. The Executive Committee who will consist of the Chairs of each of the Board’s standing committees, will set the board meeting agenda prior to all full board meetings, and may act on behalf of the Board in an emergency. Each committee will prepare an annual plan of work (including activities and events) to be ratified by the Board at or before its Spring Meeting. Committees will meet on an as needed basis throughout the year, and will provide a committee report which will include progress on goals to the President prior to each board meeting.

Staff

The Board will be supported by the Norwich University Office of Institutional Advancement, and a senior member of the staff will serve as the Board’s liaison with the University. The liaison will provide services to the Board as outlined in the liaison job description which will be reviewed and evaluated on an annual basis (at or before the Board’s spring meeting) by the Board of Directors and the Vice President for Institutional Advancement.

Archives

These Operating Guidelines for the Board of Directors of the Partridge Society can be amended by a majority vote of the Board of Directors. All amendments will be dated, noted, and recorded as footnotes in the document, and all previous documents relating to Board governance and the administration of the Partridge Society will be kept and maintained by the Office of Institutional Advancement and/or the Norwich University Archives.