Opening Meeting - August 24, 2007

From: Public Affairs

Dear JMU Faculty and Staff Members:

It is not every year that we celebrate our institution's Centennial Anniversary. In recognition of the extraordinary year before us, I thought it appropriate to bring JMU faculty and staff members together in unison for the opening meeting. The meeting will be held on Friday, August 24th at 9:00 a.m. on the Quad and in lieu of the previously scheduled (August 17th) staff address. Refreshments will be served prior to the gathering beginning at 8:15 a.m. Please come early to reconnect and socialize with your colleagues.

As we gather together, I ask you to reflect on our evolution from the State Normal and Industrial School for Women at Harrisonburg in 1908 into the university that we all know and serve today. Dr. Sidney Bland, Professor in the History Department, will share remarks on our rich history. Then I will share with you a vision for how together I believe we can position James Madison University to reach unprecedented levels of achievement in serving our students and our nation in the next Madison Century.

The new 800-car Warsaw Avenue Parking Deck located directly across Main Street from the Quad is now open and will be available for your use for this event. Shuttles will also be available from 8:00-9:00 a.m. and will pick up at the bus stops in front of CISAT, Memorial Hall and Zane Showker Hall. The shuttles will then make return trips between 10:00-11:00 a.m. following the ceremony to these locations with the CISAT bus making an additional stop at the Festival Conference and Student Center.

Should we encounter bad weather, our rain location will be in the Convocation Center. If it is necessary to move to the Convocation Center, it will be announced on the JMU website.

I hope you will join us as we commence the new academic year in which we will celebrate our 100th anniversary.

Sincerely,



Linwood H. Rose
President