Rice University || Association of Rice Alumni

Dear Prospective Member:

ARUBA is a membership-based organization. The name "ARUBA" is an acronym for the Association of Rice University Black Alumni and the name calls to mind a beautiful island known for the graciousness and kindness of its people. Our goal in ARUBA is to foster a network of Black Rice alumni dedicated to promoting a lively exchange of alternative ideas and a vigorous participation of blacks and other minorities affiliated with Rice University and the greater universe beyond the hedges.

Many of you may have felt isolated during your stay at Rice and may even feel that after you left Rice that no one is paying attention to your input. Others may have joyfully sailed through the University and are still quite influential and participatory. We need all of you within the entire spectrum of experiences while at Rice.

This is an opportunity for you to participate in an organization that wants to hear your ideas and tap your skills and energy for developing innovative strategies and making critical decisions at this crucial turning point in our history. We can succeed only when all of us pull together and we are asking for your help.

We don’t expect to start running full speed initially, but, we must start somewhere and the time to start is now. This website has been created to broadcast the organization’s mission. The organization is dedicated to nurturing inclusiveness of a diverse group of Rice Alumni and provides a forum for dialogue on the issues in the black community and the larger community in which they exist. Participating in alumni activities is a selfless way to give back to the community and campus, and you have a chance to reconnect with fellow alumni. Join us and be a part of the excitement and tradition ARUBA is creating.

Thank you and we look forward to your active participation!

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I am pleased to announce that ARUBA will host a Homecoming & Reunion 2007 event on Saturday evening, November 3, in the Grand Hall of the Rice Memorial Center. I hope you will mark your calendar and join us for Blacks in Blue: Celebrating 40 Years of Excellence at Rice. The gathering will be a great way to reconnect with Rice friends, both old and new, and learn about new developments on campus.

I am also writing to recruit additional volunteers to assist in planning this event. You do not need to live in Houston in order to be involved, so please read below for more information about our volunteer needs and find your niche! If you would like to join our planning team, please contact Planning Committee Chair Antoinette Green '82.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Regards,

Monique Forward '95
President, ARUBA

ARUBA Reunion Planning Committees

If you have questions or are interested in serving on one of the following planning committees, please contact any of the committee chairs listed below.

Communications Committee – Chair, Monique Forward '95
	Work with the alumni office to communicate in a timely manner to publicize the event to ARUBA members.
	Set up a phone tree to contact approximately 1100 Texas black alumni and 158 black faculty/staff.
	Work with the alumni office to coordinate email and print communications.
	Solicit input from alums to create an official history of black students, faculty, and staff at Rice.
	Reach out to the Rice Black Student Association, Black Graduate Student Association, Black Business Student Association, and National Society of Black Engineers organizations to encourage attendance at the Saturday night reunion celebration.

Event Logistics Committee – Chair, Vicky Harrison '81
	Work with alumni office staff to coordinate details of the event (e.g., venue, theme, caterer, decorations, etc.).
	Select a DJ with broad/varied selections to provide music that will entice all class decades to get on the dance floor.
	Select a photographer to take candid shots and possibly setup a digital "green screen" picture area to take photos on various Rice backgrounds.

Finance Committee – Chair, Antoinette Green '82
	Work with alumni office staff to develop an event budget, monitor spending, and set ticket prices.
	Solicit underwriting support, if needed.
	Review and recommend door prizes.
	Outline lodging options for attendees traveling to Houston.

Honors Activity Committee – Chair, Alicia Burns-Wright '08
	Produce a concise event program (introductions, honoree biographies, award presentation, etc.).
	Serve as point contact to the two honorees.
	Review and recommend award/gift options for honorees.

Host Committee – Chair, Charlene Sadberry '05
	Solicit alumni and faculty to serve as event hosts. Select several hosts from each decade.
	Coordinate host participation at the event (e.g., greeting attendees, etc.).

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