December 2008

Holiday greetings from the director

Dear UNCG Alumni,

If your days are like mine right now, the minutes and hours pass far too quickly. I don't know what it is about the period between Thanksgiving and Christmas that propels us to be so frantically busy, but we all are, and I suppose we have to accept the fact that hectic schedules go hand-in-hand with the holiday season.

But even with the inevitable stresses that come with the season, somehow the important things in our lives rise to the surface — finding moments in the early morning to spend with my pets, 30 minutes in the evening to read a good book before sleep takes over, anticipating my nephew's homecoming from college for the holidays. These precious moments alleviate the stress and help me focus on what really matters — being thankful for the many blessings I enjoy in life.

And one of the greatest blessings I enjoy is the privilege of serving this exceptional university. UNCG represents many values, but the value that continuously stands out is its call to service. On Saturday, Dec. 6, our Student Alumni Ambassadors sponsored the “Branches of Love” where various student groups gathered in the Virginia Dare Room of the Alumni House to decorate 30 trees that were later distributed to families in the Greensboro area without the resources this year to purchase a tree for their homes. I was in awe as our students entered the Alumni House organized and ready to decorate trees they had carefully designed. I was overwhelmed by the generosity displayed — from the multitude of ornaments donated by our Alumni Association board members and staff to the students who invested hours making their own themed ornaments. The gifts of time, funding, and, most importantly, the Spartan spirit of service abounded.

All of the staff from the UNCG Alumni Relations Office — Cindy Dew '05, '07 MA, Bridgette Dix '06, Linda Dunston-Stacey '85, Melissa Potter, Mary Swantek and I — wish you a peaceful and joyful holiday season. Thank you for allowing us the privilege of serving you.

Linda Carter
Assistant Vice Chancellor for Alumni Relations and Executive Director of the Alumni Association
linda_carter@uncg.edu