Chapter Background Information

The Callaway County Chapter of the Mizzou Alumni Association was founded on October 3, 1995, when a small group of interested alumni, led by Don Fischer and Mary Ann Beahon, held an organizational meeting and submitted a Bylaws Request to the MU Alumni Association office in Columbia. At that time there were a total of 863 MU graduates residing in Callaway County, of whom 128 were dues paying members of the Mizzou Alumni Association. A new member drive was held on December 5, 1995. Proposed bylaws and a board roster were submitted to the Rules Committee and the Alumni Office on February 16, 1996. University of Missouri - Columbia Chancellor Dr. Charles Kiesler presented a certificate of charter to the newly formed Callaway County Chapter of the Mizzou Alumni Association during a special dinner meeting on May 14, 1996.

Chapter Status and Recognition

Representatives of the Callaway County Chapter
celebrate attaining Capstone Chapter status. Holding
the sign are (left to right) Marty Kehoe, Bob Pauley and
Don Woodson.

Honor Chapter Program:
At the time of chartering, the newly formed Callaway County Chapter had already accumulated enough points to earn Honor Chapter status for the 1995-96 year. The Chapter achieved and maintained Honor Chapter status each succeeding year (1996-97, 1997-98, 1998-99, and 1999-2000).

Columns Recognition Program:
A new chapter recognition program that replaced the Honor Program was introduced at Leaders' Weekend in September, 2000. Based on activities rather than points, the Columns Chapter Recognition Program was developed to reflect the values set forth in the Mizzou Alumni Association's Long Range Plan. The Columns Program reflects the Association's values, provides specific support for required activities, and substantially increases the Alumni Scholarship Program. Discovery, Diversity, Pride, Respect, Responsibility, and Tradition are the Guideposts from which six Foundation activities were developed.

• DISCOVERY (Advancing Service)
• DIVERSITY (Strength Through Variety)
• PRIDE (Experience the Mizzou Feeling)
• RESPECT (Honoring Every Role)
• RESPONSIBILITY (To Be a Wise Steward)
• TRADITION (Celebrate the Past in the Present)
  

The Columns Program recognizes three levels of chapter achievement: the Foundation Chapter, the Columns Chapter, and the Capstone Chapter:

Foundation Chapters will complete the annual requirements (the six Foundation activities), and will have a $500 scholarship available for a student selected by the chapter.

Columns Chapters will complete the six annual requirements plus four additional activities of their choice, and will have a $1,000 scholarship available for a student selected by the chapter.

Capstone Chapters will complete the six annual requirements plus two additional activities of their choice in each of the six Guideposts (for a total of eighteen activities), and will have a $4,000 scholarship available for a student selected by the chapter ($1,000/yr., renewable for up to four years).

Callaway County Chapter - Current Status and Future Goal:
The Columns Recognition Program retroactively began in July 2000, at the start of the Association's new year. After studying the requirements and tiers of the program, the Callaway County Chapter Board unanimously decided to strive for Capstone Chapter status. The Chapter was the first in the entire nation to achieve Capstone Chapter status, followed by another eight chapters in 2000-01. Consequently, the Chapter had a $4,000 scholarship ($1,000/yr., renewable for up to four years) available to award in 2002 and in each succeeding year since the Columns Recognition Program has been in effect.

The Chapter Board continues to strive to achieve Capstone Chapter status each year.