WWW.MARSHALL.EDU/FOUNDATION Society of Yeager Scholars Visit NetJets The Society of Yeager Scholars visited Columbus, Ohio, on September 11 for a tour of NetJets, a Berkshire Hathaway Company. Prior to the tour, lunch was arranged by Grant Rice, a former Yeager Scholar. Seven other Yeager Society alumni from the Columbus and Cincinnati, Ohio, areas were also in attendance and interacted with current students. Bill Noe, Marshall alum and chief operating officer of NetJets (a company that offers fractional ownership and rental of private planes) provided a tour of the entire facility, including a tour of one of their private jets. Three students were chosen to “fly a plane” around Las Vegas and Rio de Janeiro in NetJet’s new Training Flight Simulator. In addition, the students toured the logistics area, where flight schedules are coordinated. Noe explained how the students could use their majors, varying from science to math to business, and apply them to work at NetJets. After the tour, everyone met in the NetJets conference room, where a two hour question-and-answer session was held. Noe said he was humbled to be in a room with such high academic achievers, and the students felt honored to be in his presence. Noe discussed the importance of values and his management strategy, management by walking around (MBWA). He explained the importance of empowering his employees and providing them with support and assistance to succeed. Megan Haffner, a member of the Dr. Daniel P. Babb Class of 2019, said, “I found certain concepts especially poignant. ‘The hard things are easy, and the soft things are hard.’ This statement gave me valuable insight into effective leadership. The management skills and strategies I learned at NetJets are applicable in every industry and position level.” Noe credits his success within the organization to helping the organization succeed with clients. He made a lasting impression on the sixteen scholars who attended. “Listening to Mr. Noe speak on his respect, trust and loyalty of employees is something rarely emphasized and even more rarely demonstrated on such a large scale,” noted Brooke Estep, a member of the Jim and Verna Gibson Class of 2018. The students returned to Marshall with corporate insight and NetJets souvenirs. A Word on Planned Giving and Special Tax-Free IRA Gifts For those aged 70½ or older, it is once again possible to make tax-favored charitable gifts from traditional and Roth IRA accounts. On December 18, President Obama signed legislation that retroactively extends the charitable IRA rollover for 2015 and makes this provision permanent for future years. A total of up to $100,000 can be transferred directly from traditional or Roth IRAs to one or more qualified charities, such as the Marshall University Foundation, Inc., free from federal income tax each year. There may also be state income tax savings. Amounts given in this way count toward required IRA minimum withdrawal amounts for the year of the gift. To make such gifts, it is important not to withdraw funds prior to a gift, but have the gift amount distributed directly from an IRA to one or more qualified charities. For those with check-writing privileges on their accounts, this may be the most efficient way to make gifts directly from an IRA. Check with your IRA administrator, your tax advisor or the Marshall University Foundation for more information. If you wish to know more about creative ways to support Marshall University through gift planning, please call on us at 304-696-3388, or check out the Planned Giving resources at www.marshall.edu/foundation under Planned Giving.