Vice Admiral John R. Ryan, USN (Ret.)
President
State University of New York Maritime College
6 Pennyfield Avenue
Throggs Neck, New York 10465-4198

Dear VADM Ryan:

As I am sure you are aware, the situation between the Alumni Association and SUNY has become emotionally charged; so much so in fact, that I assume there are those on both sides of the issue who wish they could retract statements made or letters written. In this respect, although the Alumni Association neither owns or otherwise controls the DomeNet, we are happy to see that our official Alumni posting policy and our pleas to the chapter presidents to let cool heads prevail has apparently had a dramatic impact on this forum. Also, on behalf of those members who have posted to DomeNet anything that may have been personally offensive to you, we apologize. We are proud to have you as president of our alma mater and appreciate the progress you have made during your tenure thus far. Of course, we cannot control the actions or comments of all of our members, as we cannot condone some of the comments that have been made and hope you accept our efforts in this respect as sincere.

Issues tend to become emotionally charged because individuals either care too much and/or they simply do not have all of the facts. The Alumni Association has made every effort to get all the facts out to the membership and, for that matter, to SUNY and the College as well. Your letter of February 12, 2004 has elicited a number of questions from the membership of the Alumni Association which the Board of Directors felt should be answered and clarified.

To begin with, the leadership of the Alumni Association did not lobby the membership to sever its ties with the College. The Officers and Directors of the Alumni Association did not have authority to enter into the agreement SUNY proposed without a vote of the membership. Additionally, outside legal counsel was consulted and opined on this matter, and such opinion was distributed to the membership as part of the voting package.

All information regarding this matter was made available to the membership so an informed decision could be made by each voting member. SUNY's Guidelines, legal opinions relating thereto and our analysis of both the Guidelines and the legal opinions received, along with all relevant correspondence were posted on the Alumni website (and still are) for each member to consider. Much of this information was also mailed to the membership with the ballots. The Board of Directors did inform the membership that in the Board's opinion, and based on the analysis of all available information and legal advice, voting to maintain an independent Alumni Association was in the best interest of the Alumni Association and the College.

The membership voted 96% to 4% to remain independent of the SUNY requirement to become a supporting organization and all which that would entail. The vote was for maintaining the Alumni Association's independence and not for severing its relationship with the College. The relationship was, in fact, severed by university counsel Edwards' letter (attached) of January 30, 2004, in which Edwards, among other things, ordered the Alumni Association off the campus. This letter was viewed by many within the Association as heavy handed, autocratic and certainly not the least bit collegial, a style which the University employs with all other constituents. Nevertheless, we dismissed the harsh tone of the letter as legal and nothing more.

The day we received this letter was, of course, my first day as president of the Alumni Association, and the first day for several of the officers and board members as well. A number of us who had just been elected were hoping we would have the opportunity to meet with you and see how we could work together and resolve this issue, but at that time, I guess circumstances overtook all of us.

As for the Resolution of the SUNY Board of Trustees, the framework that the Foundation for the Maritime College at Fort Schuyler, Inc. and alumni associations across the country have embraced and doing what the entire California State System did, does not resolve the question that at the center of this issue there appears to be a difference of opinion between the Association and SUNY as to the role of the Alumni Association. SUNY apparently believes that the Alumni Association's sole purpose is for fundraising and support of the college. The Alumni Association, on the other hand, has always been a fraternal organization serving its members and the college, and raising funds for cadet scholarships. This is what our constitution provides.

Under the SUNY Guidelines, our ability to "select our own Board Members, draft our own by-laws and participate with the College in development plans" would only be permitted as long as such was acceptable to SUNY and the College. However, if deemed unacceptable, the Alumni Association could be given 45 days notice of termination and upon such termination, its assets would inure to the College. We also recognize that there is provision in the proposed SUNY agreement for the Alumni Association to terminate the agreement as well. Although this gives the appearance of equity, it is a "catch 22" because for the Alumni Association to terminate the agreement would only result in its dissolution and the aforementioned transfer of assets to the College.

As for access to the Alumni Association mailing list, we are not aware of any instance in which you were denied access to it in regard to the matter of independence. All that was required for you to have such access was for the College to pay the cost of the mailing and allow the Association to place a rebuttal in the same envelope. This arrangement was confirmed in writing by e-mail between the former Alumni Association President and the College's Director of Development. You are more than welcome to a copy of this e-mail if you like. Further, the same opportunity was offered after the vote was tabulated and was also refused.

To the best of our knowledge, the Alumni Association has never represented or otherwise acted as an agent of the College for fundraising or anything else for that matter. Also, the Association has used its Association name for so many years now that there is substantial legal opinion that it may continue to do so, although it may choose not to for other reasons. In the eyes of University Counsel Edwards, we may no longer be officially affiliated with the College, but we are still Alumni with all legal rights thereto.

Over the years, the Alumni Association has raised money for cadet scholarships and other forms of support for the college. That is our legal right. We are not required to offer scholarships through the College and can do so, independently, if necessary. On page two of your letter, in italics, we are told that we have no authorization to raise funds on behalf of the College.

In the very next sentence, we are told that money from our One Hundredth Anniversary Dinner Dance has not been promised to the College. We did offer the Fort Schuyler Foundation, on behalf of the College, all fund raising opportunities at our One Hundred Year Anniversary Dinner Dance. In view of SUNY's current position as stated in University Counsel's letter there can be no College fundraising at our events, be it the One Hundredth Anniversary Dinner Dance or elsewhere.

Further, it is suggested that the One Hundredth Anniversary Dinner Dance is being held in conflict with the Admiral's Scholarship Dinner. As you are aware, our One Hundredth Anniversary Dinner Dance was originally scheduled for November 8, 2003. However, both the Sailing Coach and the Sailing Foundation Director, requested at our July 30, 2003 Board meeting, that we postpone the event to accommodate the College which had been selected to host the North American Sloop Championships, a very prestigious event, and the first time Maritime or a school of its size had been selected to do so. They were also planning to have a dinner reception on the night of November 8, 2003 to serve as a waterfront fund raising event. Both the Sailing Coach and the Sailing Foundation Director asked us for full alumni cooperation to accomplish these objectives. We accommodated the College by moving our One Hundredth Anniversary Dinner Dance to March 20, 2004. Why March 20, 2004? Scheduling a Black Tie dinner dance in January or February runs the risk that weather will upset the event, and March 20, 2004 also coincided very nicely with the Connecticut Maritime Association's annual trade show, an event which many alumni travel into the New York area specifically for, and which is being held on March 24, 2004.

All of this was explained to you at the Foundation Board of Trustees meeting on September 18, 2003. In fact, you even commented that the sailing event was not high on your priority list. The Alumni Association, however, was lead to believe otherwise after our Alumni Director was invited to and attended two planning meetings on campus for the sailing event, which were chaired by Dr. Cline.

On the subject of Alumni expenses, no Alumni Officer or Board member receives any compensation. Routine administrative expenses are normally paid by the individual Officer/Director. There are no entertainment expenses to speak of, only travel expenses incidental to Albany visits and we usually pay our own expenses for all alumni events. As for the 2001/2002 reported revenue of $567,603. This amount consisted mostly of the Save Our School ("SOS") fund.

By way of background, the Alumni Association held the SOS fund raising dinner at the NYAC on January 28, 2001. Two prominent alumni pledged to match, dollar for dollar, all funds collected at the event. In total, over $400,000, including the $200,000 in matching funds, were raised that evening. This money was spent successfully over the next two years to increase enrollment and save the Regiment, the Training Ship and the Licensing Program. The College would not exist today in its current form if it were not for that effort. A summary of these expenses was published in the March 2002 Mariner, is attached hereto, and has been posted on the Alumni website. These efforts occurred before your arrival, but were surely known to College officials who are still at the College in senior management positions.

In closing, I want to convey to you that all alumni want us to find ways to work together harmoniously. I also hope that this is the last "point" - "counter-point" we will engage in. Explaining why we have not yet succeeded in resolving the current situation or trying to cast blame on either party is counter productive and ultimately will not satisfy our membership and supporters.

Best regards,

Francis X. Gallo, '64
President