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Help decide who will represent UNH alumni on two important boards by voting in the annual election.

Two candidates are vying for an alumni trustee seat on the University System of New Hampshire board: Peter Lamb '76 and Timothy Riley a '76. A slate of five candidates is running for the UNH Alumni Board of Directors: Judith E. Blake '77, Thomas M. Closson '90, J. Michael Hickey '73, Martha Foley Jackson '76, '95G and Katherine E. Kokko '01.

Incumbent Peter Lamb '76 of Newmarket, N.H., vice president of philanthropic services at the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, is running for re-election. At UNH, he earned a bachelora's degree in community development. Lamb has served on UNH committees, including the Agricultural Experiment Station; campus aesthetics; scholarship; and the sustainability program. He is a member of the USNH executive, financial affairs, external relations and UNH presidential search committees, and is chair of the investment committee. Lamb has served as a UNH mediator and is a past chair of the Pettee Medal committee. He received a 1999 Profile of Service Award and a commendation from the UNH Marine Program. He is a member of a number of service and professional organizations.

"Every meeting I attend and every decision I make as a UNH alumni trustee," says Lamb, "I am reminded that we are stewards of one of the great cornerstones of our societya--a public education. Our flagship universitya's mission reaches far beyond the state and region. Yet, our principles of teaching, research and service give each and every student the opportunity to excel and find their place in today's global world. This access and opportunity takes tremendous discipline over long-time horizons. The role of trustee is in careful balance with talented faculty and staff, and we are clear to set policy and strategic direction, to provide necessary resources and budget oversight, to advocate for continued public support, and to make informed choices for educational programs and services for students and for the people of the state."

Timothy Riley '76 of Bedford, N.H., is a certified financial planner and a senior partner at The Harbor Group. He earned a bachelora's degree in leisure management from UNH. He also earned a master's from the College for Financial Planning.

Riley served as a member-at-large on the alumni board of directors from 2000-2006. He was named to Money Magazine's list of Americaa's Outstanding Financial Planners in 1987 and was on the Who's Who in Finance Industry from 1989-1990. He belongs to many service and professional organizations.

"As a parent of one child that attended UNH and another that is currently a sophomore," says Riley, "I can truly appreciate how special our university system is, but I believe it has many challenges facing it. Our challenge is to continue the fine work started in educating the legislature as to the extraordinary value that their dollars provide. The return on that investment through an educated and productive citizenry is well worth the current investment and deserving of much more. For the past 26 years, I have helped families plan for their children's college education as they try to afford what is no longer a luxury or optional item. I am excited and energized by the prospect of being able to use my education, experience and work ethic to be a strong advocate and thoughtful steward for higher education in New Hampshire."

Full biographies of all the candidates are online at www.alumni.unh.edu/Voting. To encourage electronic voting, alumni who vote on Wildcat World will be entered in a drawing for a framed poster of a mural of Durham in the 1820s painted by the late John Hatch, professor emeritus of art.

Alumni may request a paper ballot by calling (603) 862-2040 or (800) 891-1195; e-mailing alumni@unh.edu or writing to "2007 Election," Elliott Alumni Center, 9 Edgewood Rd., Durham, N.H. 03824. Voting will run through April 6; election results will be announced at the annual meeting in June.

When alumni from the classes of 1985 and 1986 decided they wanted to host a reunion, they knew just where to start.

Calling on about 30 volunteers--people who had been leaders at UNH in student government, athletics, fraternities, sororities and various clubs--they got out their address books.

Then they began making phone calls and sending e-mails, each personally inviting 50 of their friends and acquaintances. "This way it's a familiar voice," says John Davis '85, reunion committee chairman. "No one wants to go to a reunion if they're not going to know anyone. People want to see people they know."

Davis, former student body president, and class secretary Julie Colligan Spak '85--with the help of nearly 30 others, most notably James Wieczorek '85, Kevin Cuff '86, Peter Madden '85, Chris Kfoury '85 and Stephanie Creane King '85--are credited with spearheading an effort that has earned the classes of '85 and '86 a place in the UNH record books.

Not only have these two classes organized three successful reunions--at their 5th, 10th and 20th anniversaries--they have been the first class since 1967 to set up a $25,000 endowment fund for a permanent scholarship. Davis says the endowment seemed to be the next logical step for the classes who wanted to leave a legacy with the university.

By raising $25,000, the two classes now can offer at least a $1,000 scholarship annually to a student leader in need of financial aid. It also offers alumni of these classes an opportunity to donate directly to a fund named in their honor. "It took some cajoling to get the money together but we did it. We're pretty proud of that," Davis says. A generous capstone donation came from Tim Collins '85, who made the gift that put the classes over the top for the $25,000.

For the former student leaders, it also seemed logical to earmark money for future student leaders. "We want to recognize that it's very important for students to be involved in clubs and activities. If they can't afford to do that, it's a crying shame," says Davis, whose day job is senior director of development for the University of Massachusetts.

In addition to fellow volunteers, Davis credits Maggie Morrison '83, UNH assistant director of alumni programs, and Morgan Dudley, director of the UNH Foundationa's Annual Fund. The two are resources for classes or groups interested in organizing reunions or setting up endowments. "The impetus really has to come from the class or group," Morrison says. "They really are the fire. I am a resource who helps guide it."

Morrison says alumni groups, with her help, have organized reunions for classes, clubs and even a dormitory, Smith Hall. Next in line is a reunion of the entire '70s decade, underway for Homecoming 2007, she says. A web site has been created at www.alumni.unh.edu/seventies with an e-mail address 70sdecade.reunion@unh.edu for 70s alums who want to reconnect. Martha Byam '75 and Martha Foley Jackson '76, '96G are the reunion co-chairs.

Davis, for one, says he wouldna't hesitate to encourage others to think about planning reunions or setting up endowments. "Your entire career is based on the quality of education you got at UNH," Davis says. "So you kind of owe UNH a little bit of something back."