NDSA
Mission
- NDSA shall be organized and integrated within the Association's
alumni club and class network to support and fulfill
the Association's mission, goals and program objectives,
by serving senior alumni and friends (age 55 and
older).
- NDSA shall, by the authority and endorsement of the Association's
Board of Directors, foster a renewed commitment
from senior members of the Notre Dame family to
the Gospel teachings, which are rooted in Christian
responsibility and action.
- NDSA shall support, and in turn be supported by, the
Association to enhance opportunities for senior
members of the Notre Dame family to engage in alumni-based
programming and activities that foster friendships,
camaraderie, and service to each other and within
the surrounding communities.
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Background
Rev. Louis Putz, CSC arrived in South Bend
in 1923, a fourteen year old German lad wearing
a tag on his clothes that read "Deliver me to South
Bend, Indiana." Young Louie, who could speak no
English, was here to study to be a priest.
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He
is remembered as one who had a great vision. In the
1930's he became an advocate of liturgical renewal
and lay activism. Years before Vatican II, Father
Louie envisioned a church in which lay men and women
of all ages and different talents would serve along
side the clergy as they work for the coming of God's
kingdom. He was years ahead of his time in his belief
that a church must include the laity. Those of us
who had the privilege of knowing Father Putz often
heard him say: "You, the laity, are the Church."
In
his later years, Father Putz turned his attention
to what he called "Ministries of Third Agers." He
saw life as a chain with three links: the age of learning,
the age of earning, and the age of returning. This
third age is the point in life when there is time
to give back one's knowledge, talents, and experience
to be of service to others. Today, NDSA is
just one result of Father Louie Putz's dedication
and vision. |
The
Association has found that as alumni enter into the senior
age bracket, for a variety of reasons, many tend to become
less active in traditional alumni programs. NDSA assists
alumni clubs and class leaders in developing events, activities,
and programs of special interest to seniors, but open to
all alumni and friends.
Goals & Objectives
- Engage
senior alumni and friends in meaningful community service
through club sponsored and class sponsored activities.
- Enhance
opportunities for senior alumni and friends to reunite
with long lost colleagues.
- Promote senior volunteer service that creates an awareness
of the primary role our Christian faith plays in our lives.
- Provide avenues for senior alumni and friends to effect
positive change within their communities.
- Enable senior alumni and friends to utilize their talents,
skills and education to enhance the lives of others.
- Encourage senior alumni and friends to engage in the six Cs
of Alumni Association program development:
- Camaraderie
- Community
Service
- Continuing
Education
- Catholic/Christian
spirituality
- Current
student support
- Communication
- Respond
to the growing population of senior alumni and friends
to assure adequate representation within the Alumni Association
and active participation in future alumni programming.
- Continue to develop programs that remain responsive to
the changing needs of the senior population.
Programs
The NDSA Board
of Directors has developed detailed plans and guidelines
for suggested programs for ND Clubs and/or Classes.
- Catholic Community Professional Assistance Program
- Cancer Awareness and Education
- Hospital
Support Program
- God,
Country, Notre Dame
In
addition, numerous clubs have begun activities, projects
and programs which have appealed to senior alumni. Some
examples:
- Regular
breakfast meetings
- Providing
architectural services to a local library
- Mentoring
grade school and high school students
- Regularly
working at food banks
- Preparing
meals for the homeless and underprivileged
- International
group travel
- Providing
consulting services to the Archdiocese
- Providing
a life skills course for recovering addict
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Getting
Involved
Senior
alumni can easily get involved with NDSA via several different
routes
- Contact your Class Secretary and volunteer to join or
organize class-sponsored activities and class-supported
senior service projects
- Contact
a club officer and inquire about the club NDSA organization
and programs. Some clubs may need volunteers to become
Senior Alumni Coordinators
- Contact
the person at the Alumni Office responsible for liaison
with NDSA.
Marc Burdell '87
Senior Director, Academic & Professional Programs
Notre Dame Alumni Association
100 Eck Visitors Center
Notre Dame, IN 46556
(574) 631-8467
marc.d.burdell.1@nd.edu
http://www.ndsenioralumni.org
Organization
A Board
of Directors is responsible for overseeing and managing
NDSA activities. The NDSA Board consists of a Chairman,
a Vice Chairman, an Immediate Past Chairman and Directors
representing each of eighteen geographical regions. The
Regional Directors work with the clubs in their regions
to promote and implement NDSA programs.
All
alumni clubs and (age appropriate) classes are encouraged
to appoint a Senior Alumni Coordinator who is responsible
for planning, implementing and coordinating programs which
engage senior alumni constituents. The Coordinators regularly
communicate with members of the NDSA Board of Directors.
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Notre
Dame Alumni Association
Board of Directors
Emeritus
Officers
Alumni
Association Staff
NDAA
Advisors to Senior Alumni Board
List
of Senior Alumni Board of Regional Directors
Senior
Alumni Regional Directors' Responsibilities |
