From the President...
Michael Kraus shares his vision for the Greater Naples Illini Club for the upcoming year.
Greater Naples Illini Club President’s Letter 2014-15
Greetings and welcome University of Illinois alums to another exciting year of the Greater Naples Illini Club (GNIC). As we get ready for another season, I would like to share the GNIC’s plans for the 2014-2015 year and discuss a few topics.
During the upcoming season, your Board has planned several events which we hope you will enjoy.
· November 22: Illini Football Watch Party held in conjunction with the Naples Penn State Alumni Club.
· January 16: Annual Welcome Back Party held at La Playa Beach Club in conjunction with the UIAA.
· February: Wine tasting social event and an Illini Basketball Watch Party.
· March: Boston Red Sox spring training game at JetBlue Park and March Madness Illini Watch Party.
Details on all of this season’s events can be found on the enclosed flyer and at greaternaples.illiniclub.org
GNIC Scholarship recipient, Vanessa Grisko, from Marco Island, continues to enjoy her time in Champaign-Urbana and sends her thanks to the Club for its continued support of her education. Vanessa, currently in her junior year, is pursuing a double major in Environmental Science and Communications and holds a 3.74 GPA. She is a member of Gamma Phi Beta sorority, Student Alumni Ambassadors and Younglife Champaign. Vanessa will soon be traveling abroad to Chiang Mai, Thailand for the Spring 2015 semester to study Sustainable Development. To read more about Vanessa and to make an online donation to the scholarship fund, please go the scholarship tab on the GNIC website at greaternaples.illiniclub.org.
As many of you may know, Dick Hammer, past GNIC President, recently passed away after a battle with cancer. Dick was a tremendous supporter of the GNIC and the University of Illinois and will be truly missed.
I would like to recognize and thank Kent Conwell, immediate past President of the GNIC (2012-14) for his dedication to and hard work on behalf of GNIC. Kent continues to serve on the Board and is a great ambassador and member of the Club.
Please return your 2015 Dues Statement and Welcome Back Party RSVP as soon as possible. Thank you for your continued support and interest in GNIC by joining us in some or all of the planned events. If you have any questions, suggestions, or would like to get more involved in the GNIC, please call or email me. Sincerely,
Michael Kraus
GNIC President, 2014-15
239.272.4329