Update from the WLS Alumni Ad Hoc Committee

Dear Brothers in Christ,

In an electronic survey conducted in the spring of 2006, Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary sought input from our WELS ministerium to gauge their interest in the forming of a WLS alumni society/association. In that survey, 71% of the 682 WELS pastors who responded indicated that they either strongly agreed (21%) or agreed (50%) with the forming of such a society/association. Not only was the large number of responses in and of itself indicative of strong interest, the percentage of positive responses was very encouraging.

An ad hoc committee was formed to flesh out details of how a Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary alumni society/association should be organized and what purposes it should serve. The committee meets monthly by teleconference after one face-to-face meeting at the 2006 WLS Symposium. This committee is in the process of laying the groundwork necessary for the first meeting of the WLS Alumni, which is planned in conjunction with the 2007 WLS Symposium, September 17 and 18. The committee chose the name WLS Alumni, established the membership as all those listed in the WELS Yearbook as active and retired pastors, and suggested the general purposes as these:

• Provide financial assistance to those in pastoral training at WLS; and
• Facilitate regional contacts with students preparing for the ministry; and
• Assist in sponsoring continuing education throughout the districts for pastors; and
• Support continuing education (including sabbaticals) for WLS professors; and
• Support special projects needed for WLS campus; and
• Continually strive to involve the worldwide membership in the activities and purposes of the WLS Alumni.

WLS has established an office of mission advancement, and the WLS Alumni executive committee will be able to work closely with this office that will coordinate publicity, record keeping, and donations. The executive committee will consist of the president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer. The ad hoc committee has prepared a slate of nominees for election to the first executive committee of the WLS Alumni. The election will take place by internet polling before the season of Lent begins.

The members of the ad hoc committee are:
Professor Daniel Balge – serving at MLC; graduated WLS in 1985
Pastor Fidel Dazen – serving in Eastfork and Canyon Day, AZ; graduated 2005
Pastor David Ernest – serving in Garden Grove, CA; graduated 2003; Recording Secretary
Pastor Bill Gabb – serving in Plano, TX; graduated 1967
Pastor Dan Malchow – living in Waukesha, WI; graduated 1953
Pastor Richard Starr –serving in Bay City, MI; graduated 1978; Committee Chairman
Pastor Earle Treptow – serving in Denver, CO; graduated 1993
Pastor Carl Ziemer – serving as Synod Administrator for Special Ministries; graduated 1973
Professor Rich Gurgel – serving at WLS; graduated 1986; WLS liaison for the committee
Mr. Kevin Keller – serving at WLS as Director of Mission Advancement; advisory

Serving our Savior with you,
Pastor Richard D. Starr, chairman
WLS Alumni ad hoc committee