From the Abbot

Dear Fellow Friar,

I hope this letter finds you well, wherever you may be. As the Friar Society continues to thrive in its 97thyear, there is much to reflect on and much to look forward to. Within this edition of The Friar Forum, you will find articles recognizing the 2008 Friar Centennial Teaching Fellowship recipient, Dr. G. Howard Miller, as well as the eight new initiates inducted this past spring. Other Friar news includes the society’s recent involvement in the Lee Bagan Endowment, the fall 2008 Actives, and more importantly, details regarding the Friar Reunion Weekend set for November 8-9.

I would like to take this opportunity to address the fiscal state of the organization. Those of you who attended the Friar reunion this past spring may have received a letter from the Almoner that outlined the enforcement of membership dues for active friars ($25/semester) and the need for financial support to meet the operational demands of the organization. I would like to reemphasize that particular letter while additionally addressing the society’s overall financial state. Although I recognize that many of you have continued to selflessly contribute to the organization, further alumni support is requested to keep the society sustainable.

Currently, the operational costs of the organization (e.g. reunion weekend events—cocktail and Driskill breakfast, awards, selection materials) average between $3,500-$5,000 a semester. These expenses are supported by the C. A. Schutze endowment, in addition to the Breakfast fee and membership dues. However, the payout rate (approx. 5%) of the Schutze endowment is estimated between $3,000-$4,000/year, clearly not enough to cover a single semester’s worth of expenses. Unfortunately, this situation forces active Friars to personally cover the expenses, only to be reimbursed at a later unknown time when operational funds are available. Therefore, our goal for the coming semester is to increase the size of the Schutze endowment so that its payout-rate sufficiently covers operational costs. Of course, this goal relies on your continued, generous financial support. Any monetary contribution you are able to provide is most appreciated and will indeed help the Society through this dire situation. Information on how to contribute to the Schutze endowment or the Friar Society overall can be found in this newsletter.

Again, I send my deepest thanks and appreciation to all of you who have consistently supported the society in various ways. Together, we canfurther the success of our organizations, its members, and The University of Texas. I look forward to seeing you all on November 8 and 9!

Pax Vobiscum,

Nicole E. Trinh

Abbot, Fall 2008

The full Friar Forum may be downloaded here.