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August 21, 2015
Dear Alumnae and Friends,
As President of the AADC, I would like to thank you for your support during this challenging time in our organization's nearly century-old history, to update you on the mediation process among Rutgers University, the Rutgers University Foundation and the AADC, and to ask for your assistance.
As background, on April 20th, Rutgers Legal Counsel informed the AADC that it was dissolving the 2005 Memorandum of Agreement that defined AADC's role as the primary fundraiser for Douglass Residential College. Rutgers also immediately cut off the AADC's access to critical co-owned information about our donors, alumnae and friends. In effect, the University moved to eradicate the AADC in its current form. This was done with no notice and immediately after a meeting that had been scheduled earlier by the Rutgers Legal Counsel to discuss certain outstanding issues between the University and the AADC. Instead, the University presented the AADC with a directive that would virtually eliminate the AADC's ability to raise and steward donations and advocate for Douglass in the same way it has historically. More specifically, Rutgers' proposal was that AADC could not perform fundraising for Douglass Residential College and could not employ staff to support ongoing programs and operations.
In May, the AADC and the University agreed to enter into a formal mediation process to address these issues. After selecting a mutually-agreed upon mediator, mediation began in July. A condition of the mediation process is that neither party can disclose the confidential nature of these discussions. However, I can assure you that our Mediation Team, supported by our exceptional AADC staff and our outstanding Legal and PR teams, is working diligently to find a way towards a mutually acceptable resolution to ensure that the AADC remains vital and relevant. I thank them and salute the dedication and commitment of Douglass women, donors and friends who have written countless letters, donated funds, offered their time and expertise, reached out to classmates and fought hard to preserve the AADC and our role in supporting the College and her alumnae.
I feel it is important to bring to your attention recent developments from the Dean's office and the Rutgers University Foundation. First, the AADC has complied with the Foundation's request that we NOT solicit funds for Douglass. We ceased calls for Douglass Annual Fund support in April. However, alumnae have recently reported receiving calls asking them to contribute to the "Douglass Annual Fund" and referencing previous donations by the alumna. This appeal is NOT FROM THE AADC but is being made by the Rutgers University Foundation. It is important for you to understand that the Douglass Annual Fund is something for which the AADC always raised money and the present initiative by Rutgers will likely confuse donors. The AADC will begin solicitations in early September, so any calls you receive between now and then are not for the traditional Douglass Annual Fund. If you do receive a call, make sure to ask whether the caller is working for the AADC.
Second, this action is consistent with the removal of the AADC and its nearly 100 year history from the DRC website, which now references only the Rutgers University Alumni Association in the alumni section. This website change took place immediately following the April 20th ultimatum from Rutgers. The history of the AADC has been eradicated, all while we are still negotiating with Rutgers and the Dean on the future of our organization.
Third, you should also be aware that as of June 19, Rutgers terminated phone and internet service to our AADC building. We were able to contract with other providers, but were forced to do so only because of Rutgers' termination of services. Our lawyers had requested that service continue until the conclusion of mediation, but the request was rejected by Rutgers.
As you can imagine, the past few months have been challenging and have strained the resources of the AADC. Your support of the Douglass Annual Fund, set up and run by the AADC, will be all the more important this year. Each year the AADC asks all alumnae to make an annual gift for our current initiatives and help us to remain a self-funded organization. In addition, a priority during this critical time is to request contributions to the AADC, which will help us continue our work, help resolve the current issues and support alumnae initiatives. Like all contributions, gifts to the AADC are tax deductible as the AADC is a 501(c)3 organization. Please visit www.douglassalumnae.org and click on the link "Make A Gift" to donate to this very important endeavor. You may also mail a gift to: AADC, 181 Ryders Lane, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, or reach us by phone at our new number at 732-246-1600 for assistance.
Another vehicle to help the AADC in a small way if you shop online is through Amazon, which will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to the charity of your choice. To benefit the AADC, please go to smile.amazon.com online and enter "The Associate Alumnae of Douglas College" (note only one "s") as your designation.
We have included some links in this letter to online information. One of the ways we are saving money during this difficult time is by reducing mailing expenses. You may visit www.douglassalumnae.org and click "Contact Us" to provide your email address so that we can communicate with you electronically about the AADC's activities. By providing us with your email address, you would begin receiving communications about the AADC electronically going forward, unless you choose to opt out. In addition, to also help defray costs during this time, current Class Notes will be posted online to our website. A printed copy of Class Notes will be mailed to you at your request by contacting the AADC at 732-246-1600.
Thank you again for the tremendous support you have shown the AADC during this time. As we fight to save the AADC, we ask that you consider contacting the Board of Governors, President Robert Barchi and Nevin Kessler, President of the Rutgers University Foundation. Please see their individual contact information at the bottom of my letter. Let them know that you would like Rutgers to work with us constructively to preserve the AADC's current mission of serving Douglass, her students and her alumnae for many years to come.
Sincerely,
Jeanne M. Fox '75 President, AADC Board of Directors
Contact information for Rutgers officials:
President Robert Barchi
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
83 Somerset Street, Old Queens
New Brunswick, NJ 08901-1281
Phone: 848-932-7454
Fax: 732-932-8060
Greg Brown, Chair
Rutgers Board of Governors (BOG)
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
7 College Avenue, Winants Hall, Room 112
New Brunswick, NJ 08901-1260
Send your letter to the BOG Secretary and ask for
distribution to all BOG members:
Rutgers Board of Governors
Office of the Secretary
7 College Avenue, Winants Hall, Room 112
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Telephone: 848-932-7434
Fax: 732-932-1245
Nevin Kessler, President, Rutgers University Foundation
Executive Vice President, Development and Alumni Relations
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
7 College Avenue, Winants Hall
New Brunswick, NJ 08901-1261
Phone: 848-932-7890
Fax: 732-932-6757
Email: nkessler@winants.rutgers.edu
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