I believe I took these minutes for my own purposes (to share with people on
the lsmsa email list).  I was not in any official capacity at the time.
Maybe there is an official version taken by the then secretary floating
around? -- Andre' DeHon LSMSA '86 

[notes from meeting circa 5/92 
  (LSMSAAA business meeting at Alumni weekend 1992)] 


Ebarb was the center of attention at the Alumni Business Meeting this
year. 


   He adressed the issue of how alumni and parents can get involved
in helping LSMSA.  He admitted that while they have been wanting
help, they have been vague or nebulous about how we can be of help.
He says he's still not sure, but believes we do need to organize
ourselves now so that we can help in specific ways as they are
identified.  Initially, he sees a need for local alumni chapters
(something we've only been trying to get for the last 4 years...).  
Recruiting and LSMSA image are places he where he believes we can be
helpful in the near future.  Eventually he'd like to see help with
fund-raising and grants, but feels that is beyond us now.  As for
lobbying, he feels we should start out with subtle lobbying now --
perhaps becomming less subtle later.  
  He points out that it would be beneficial for everyone who is in 
LA to introduce themselves to the legislators from their area and let
the legislators knows they are from LSMSA.  He believes that many of
the legislators still don't know what the Louisiana School -- and
those that do, do not realize that people from their district are
affected by the Lousisana School.
   He went on to point out that the Lt. Gov. (who apparently ran on
an education platform) did not know what the Louisiana School was as
recently as three weeks ago!
   Outside of LA, we are getting some recognition.  Three foriegn
countries have indicated that they wish to build schools in their
country patterned after LSMSA (Isreal, Puerto Rico, Bulgaria).

   LSMSA is experiencing much more attrition now than it had in he
past.  For instance, this year's graduating class only had 156
students.  Alumni questioned why this was so.  Ebarb countered that
the admissions process and criteria remains basically the same as it
always has been.  Cindy Allen theorized that much of they effect may
be economic.  Many people are leaving (or never applying) because they
feel their scholarship opportunities are better at their normal
(non-competitive) schools where they are easily in the top few
students rather than at LSMSA where they are ranked relative to the
best and brightest.  Alumni challenged this as sounding ludicrous,
pointing to the better opportunities people had from LSMSA.  Cindy
Allen countered claiming that, in state, at least, many students
might have fared better (scholarship-wise), had they stayed and
graduated at the top of their old high-schools.  As a case in point,
she pointed out that most of the 49 students LSMSA was sending to 
LSU this year went without scholarship.
   To complicate this picture, Ebarb mentioned House Bill 901 which is
currently up for discussion in the legislature.  This bill would
guarantee scholarships for the top 5% of EVERY school in LA (and
LSMSA would not be considered a special case).  He pointed out that
LA may not be able to actually afford such an arrangement and that
the amount of these scholarships might not be large.  Nonetheless, if
this passes, it would serve to further force students to choose
between staying at their normal schools where the scholarship was
guaranteed and going to LSMSA where they would most likely not get
(that kind) of scholarship.

   This seems to present a real problem.  There is no good reason students
should be at a disadvantage for attending LSMSA.  Apparantely we (LSMSA)
haven't gained the reputation we need.  Surely LSU should realize
that anyone from LSMSA (even number 199 in the class) is on par with
the top few percentages of other schools in LA.  


   Nichole Candell will be making an effort to organize a BR chapter
of the alumni association.  She has already contacted 20-25 people
who are interested in helping make this happen -- some who were even
willing to donate money.

   Nichole has also volunteered to put together the alumni address
list we have all been waiting on for the last 5 years.

   Stacey Hawkins brought up the issue of getting an alumni
representative or member of the board of directors, as well as, the
issue of getting a student representative on the board of directors.  
Everyone was in favor of this idea and Ebarb agreed to look into the
issue further.


   Other issues discussed included: 
     possibilities of college credit for LSMSA courses
     alumni literary magazine