Regional Club Programs

Regional Program Team : What do we do? • We act as regional ambassadors for Cornell’s Mission, which is: to discover, preserve, and disseminate knowledge; produce creative work; and promote a culture of broad inquiry throughout and beyond the Cornell community. Cornell also aims, through public service, to enhance the lives and livelihoods of our students, the people of New York, and others around the world. • We connect alumni back to Cornell and to each other so they can reap the benefits of their education throughout their lifetimes. • We provide clubs with contact information for the alumni in your region, a common structure under which to operate, leadership training opportunities, and tools to get the work done.

RAQs (Recently asked questions): • What’s the rollout schedule for CornellConnect? • Are we eliminating club dues? • How is the annual announcement process changing? • Will the book awards program continue? • What’s happening with the Cornell Alumni Federation Faculty Speaker Series? • There’s still going to be a Zinck’s night, right? • Where’s the annual planning packet and the 2009 club guide? • Who is our staff contact?

What’s the schedule for Cornell Connect? Background • CornellConnect is a new web-based collection of communications and networking tools. The biggest benefit for clubs is an online events management tool that gives you much more autonomy. You can post your own events, collect credit card payments online, and send your own HTML emails using the most up-to-date contact information we have for alums in your region. • Read more about the other features and benefits of the tool here: cornellconnect.cornell.edu • We’re doing a soft-launch with a few staff-driven events in the fall and will start rolling it out to the masses shortly thereafter, assuming the initial experiences are positive. Next Steps • We’ll be starting to train you, our alumni volunteer leaders, this fall. • If you don’t have a designated web master and a designated event planner who can take the training, we can help you find someone in the region to join your board and take on this task.

Are we eliminating club dues? Background • An average of 5.2% of alumni pay club dues; that means 94.8 don’t. For many reasons it makes sense for the university to eliminate club dues. A full presentation on the how, what, why is in progress. • Here’s the short version: alumni feel we’re nickel and diming them and they feel their diploma – not a $30/year fee - grants them lifelong membership to the Cornell family. From the “what’s best for Cornell” standpoint, we’d rather invest the necessary funding into clubs and ask volunteers to spend their collective intelligence engaging alumni and furthering the Cornell brand in their communities, not on the administrivia of fee collection.

Are we eliminating club dues (cont)? Status • We’re taking a few volunteer clubs as “early adopters” of this dues-free model, to consult with us as we work out the mechanics and processes. Once we work out the kinks we will roll this out to all clubs. • Several of our college alumni associations and peer institutions have gone dues-free and report overwhelming success. • We’ve recently moved to a much, much more streamlined expense reimbursement and approval system, so staff finally have the right behind- the-scenes tools to do this right. Next steps If you are interested in participating in the pilot and acting as our consultants: • Suspend membership recruitment efforts, but keep planning events and activities the same as you always do; the only thing that will change is who funds activities above and beyond break-even. • Contact Jennifer Cunningham at jennifer.cunningham@cornell.edu or 607.254.6196 to discuss; it’s much too complicated to include all the details in this one presentation!

How is the annual announcement process changing? Background • Long before email, Alumni Affairs established the policy that once a year we would mail a printed membership appeal and list of the year’s events to all mail-able alumni in a club region. Status • Simply put, electronic invitations and announcements are vastly more effective. The Cornell Entrepreneur Network , our most popular staff- driven program, consistently has through-the-roof attendance numbers and hasn’t sent a paper mailing in 18 months. • Snail mailing the traditional printed annual announcement costs (inc. staff time) almost as much we collect. It also takes an enormous amount of administrative time and counters the sustainability initiatives that David Skorton has laid out for Cornell.

How is the annual announcement process changing (cont.)? Status (cont.) • As many of our peer institutions have already done, we are moving towards a more effective, financially viable and earth-friendly model whereby we’ll only send printed mailings to alumni who do not have a valid email address (currently about 60% of alumni have a valid email on file with us; we estimate 90% of alumni have one, but have not provided it to us). • We’re also going to use a self-service system for printed materials this year. You’ll type your information into a web-based form, we’ll plug it into a template, clean up the formatting, and send it via bulk mail through Cornell Print Services. Next Steps • In the next couple weeks you’ll receive the information for the web-based form. • On every print piece you should add an appeal for alumni to send us their correct email address so in several years almost all of our communication will be electronic and it will reach everyone. Additionally, every print piece should include a link to your club website so alumni know where to go to get current board contact information, up-to-date event information, etc.

Will the book awards program continue? Background • The idea behind the book awards program, to increase awareness of Cornell in select high schools, is very sound; it’s the method that needs some updating. Status • Given the ease of buying books in bulk online, our staff no longer plays a substantive role in supporting the book awards program. Possible Next Steps?! • In lieu of projects like this, we would like to spend our time working with you to solve your region's biggest challenges while promoting Cornell's mission and brand. Examples from our peer institutions’ regional clubs include mentoring K-12 students, aggressively encouraging alumni to hire Cornellian interns/graduates, working with regional officials to stop the brain drain, etc. • If you’re interested in this concept, or are already doing it (NE Ohio!) and could share your stories to help us formulate a position and process, please email cornellregionalleaders@googlegroups.com

What’s happening with the Cornell Alumni Federation Faculty Speaker Series? Background You’re aware that we put this program on hiatus so we could re-assess the processes. In May we announced a new name to represent the new direction: Cornell on the Road: Any person, any study…any place. Status •A new full-time position was created and Kelly Speiser began in May. She comes to us with ready-made relationships with several dozen faculty members and she has already produced a few events. •We’ll produce 30 to 50 in-person Cornell on the Road (COR) events/year, with a dozen or so webinars/live video events so alumni world-wide can participate. •Primarily we’ll produce events in cities where faculty are already traveling to take advantage of their pre-paid travel arrangements and precious time resources. •Not every club will get a faculty speaker every year; instead we will work with you to produce different types of draws, such as a Cornell Entrepreneur Network event featuring “rock star” alumni in your region. •A dedicated webpage and brand is launching in the next couple weeks. •The program is fully funded by the University. •Club leaders are being asked to participate by helping to find venues, introduce and host speakers at events, and work with Kelly on special events.

What’s happening with the Cornell Alumni Federation Faculty Speaker Series (cont)? Next Steps • Expect to get invitations to several faculty-led webinars and live videos, no matter where you live • Expect to see more staff-driven events featuring students and alumni as speakers. • Listen to hear faculty interviewed on your local media (we’re working with University Communications on this) • Expect to hear from Kelly Speiser when a faculty member is coming to your region. • Sign up to follow COR on Twitter: www.twitter.com/cuontheroad

There’s still going to be a Zinck’s Night, right?! Status Yes, of course! Thousands of alumni in 90 cities participate in this fun networking event that brings Cornellians world-wide together. We are making a few improvements in how we communicate with the Zinck’s Night coordinators, we’re adding a Facebook and a Flickr component, we’re making online registration available, and we’re updating the trivia questions, among other little things. Next Steps •Save the date - October 15th - plan your event, and let us know.

Where’s the annual planning packet? • You’ll see it in August via email it and an online posting. We’ve had lots of moving parts this year, so it’s taking a bit longer to write it! • We’ll be adding a basic planning sheet that will be important for those clubs going dues-free. Questions simply include: what types and how many events are you planning

Who is our staff contact? See the following slides for bios and specific cities that each team member will cover. Here’s how it breaks down: • The Midwest, Southeast, and Mid-Atlantic • Sonja Watkins Kelly/Donna Carl • Metro New York • Jessica Raha/Charlotte Davis/Associate Director TBD • The West, including Texas • Sarah Burton/Administrative assistant TBD • International (except Toronto) • Amy Jacobson/Charlotte Davis

Who is our staff contact (cont)? • New York State (minus Metro New York) • Mindy Hillenbrand/Administrative assistant TBD • The Northeast • Calicia Mullings/Donna Carl • Cornell on the Road • Kelly Speiser/Francine Darling

Team Senior Director Jennifer Cunningham Northeast NY State Associate Director Assistant Director Donna Carl Calicia Mullings Mindy Hillenbrand Administrative Administrative Assistant Assistant Mid-America, The West VACANT Southeast, Mid- Associate Director Atlantic Sarah Burton Sonja Watkins Kelly Senior Associate Director Cornell on the Road Assistant Director Francine Darling New York City Kelly Speiser Administrative Jessica Raha Assistant Charlotte Davis Senior Associate Director Cornell Connect Administrative Project Manager Assistant Metro New York Kim Barrett VACANT Associate Director International Associate Director Amy Jacobson

Sonja Watkins Kelly Senior Associate Director Experience Regions • Alumni Affairs Regional Team: December • Washington DC 1999 to present • Chicago • Alumni Affairs Reunion Team: August 1996 to December 1999 • Florida (Gold Coast, East FL & Miami) • Public Relations and Archives: 6 years with • Colorado the Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art in • Maryland Ridgefield, CT • Reunion Committee Co-Chair for Springfield • Atlanta College class of 1990 and College Fair • Central Carolina Northeastern Ohio representative for Springfield College Michigan • Emergency technician: 5 years with the • Sarasota-Manatee Animal Emergency Hospital in Danbury, CT • Cornell Hockey Association Board of Directors: 8 years; including 2 years as Sonja.Watkins.Kelly@cornell.edu President and 6 as the editor of Faceoff • Springfield College ’90; Editor for the Alden Note: Sonja’s on maternity leave July 13 - Street Review, photographer and features writer for the student newspaper and October; please direct all inquiries to yearbook, Spring Week Committee Donna.Carl@cornell.edu and she’ll member, Senior Week Committee member funnel them to the right person!

Sarah Burton Associate Director Experience • Alumni Affairs Regional Team: July 2009 to present Regions • Northern California • Reunion Campaign Officer, Cornell Annual Fund: January 2008 – July • Los Angeles 2009 • Western Washington (Seattle) • Interim Associate Director, Cornell Law • San Diego School Annual Fund: May 2006 – • Oregon January 2008 • Texas • Office of the Councils, Cornell: June • Orange County 2005 – May 2006 • West Virginia University ’04: Kappa Kappa Gamma; Gamma Beta Phi Sarah.Burton@cornell.edu

Mindy Hillenbrand Assistant Director Experience Regions • Alumni Affairs Regional Team: March • Ithaca 2007 to present • Albany • Class and Reunion Programs, Office • Rochester of the Councils: December 2005- • Central New York Buffalo March 2007 • Mid-Hudson • SUNY Oswego: B.A. Public Relations, Office of Admissions Representative • Toronto • Rochester Children’s Book Festival volunteer Mindy.Hillenbrand@cornell.edu

Donna Carl Administrative Assistant Experience Regions • Worked for Cornell • Pittsburgh • Lancaster, PA • Charleston University Alumni • Central Florida • Alabama • Minnesota Affairs since 1988 • Wisconsin • Tennessee • Enjoy reading, yard • Southwestern Ohio • Savannah & Hilton Head work and walks with • the Suncoast • Jacksonville, FL my dog • St. Louis • Club of Mid-America • Charlotte • Mid-South • West Michigan • Piedmont-Triad • Central Ohio • Louisville • Central Indiana • Utah • Central Virginia • New Orleans • Southwest Florida Donna.Carl@cornell.edu • Blue Ridge • Oklahoma Mountains • The Emerald Coast • Middle Tennessee • Vermont • All Other States/Regions not represented by an official Club/Association

Calicia Mullings Associate Director Experience • Alumni Affairs Regional Team: November 2008 to present • PCCW: Alumnae Engagement committee • university representative Tufts University: 3 years in Regional Programming, Regions planned and coordinated the 2007 Regional • Boston Leaders Symposium, liaison to the Regional Programs Committee and Tufts Black Alumni • Cape Cod Association. • Other Professional Experience: Admissions (3 • Coastal years), Career Services (2 years), and Grant • Connecticut Writing – local State grants (3 years) • CASE: Winner of Gold Medal in Alumni Relations • New Hampshire programming (Regional Programs – Tufts World Day) 2007 • The Berkshires • CASE: Presenter at District 1 conference 02/2008 • Cornell Volunteer: Class of 1998 Treasurer, CAAAN interviewer for 3 years • Cornell ’98: Arts & Sciences, Africana Studies and Calicia.Mullings@cornell.edu Research major, Student Assembly minority at- large representative, involved with various campus groups and lived in Balch for 3 years. • Community involvement: I serve on various committees at Thacher Montessori School, the METCO program and I am very involved with the Caribbean community in Boston

Jessica Raha Senior Associate Director Experience Regions • Alumni Affairs and Development: • New York City – all 5 boroughs August 2006 to present • Long Island • Currently enrolled in ILR’s Master of Professional Studies (MPS) program in • Philadelphia NYC • Westchester • Non-profit industry for seven years • Northern New Jersey • Cornell ’99, Captain of Varsity Track • Fairfield County and Field, Varsity Cross Country, Quill • Princeton and Dagger • Note: all but NYC will go to new • 2009 Inductee to Cornell’s Athletic Hall Associate Director, TBH soon of Fame Jessica.Raha@cornell.edu

Amy Jacobson Associate Director Experience Regions • Alumni Affairs Regional Team, International Programs: May 2009 to • Belgium present • China • Cornell Major Gifts Program, Major • France Gifts Associate: May 2007 – June • Germany 2009 • Great Britain (London) • Cornell University Graduate School, MA ‘07, Department of Government, • Hong Kong Comparative Politics and International • India Law: August 2003 – May 2007 • Japan • University of California, Irvine ‘03: • Saudi Arabia Political Science and History; Phi Beta • Singapore Kappa; Delta Gamma Fraternity • South Korea • Taiwan Amy.Jacobson@cornell.edu

Charlotte Davis Program Assistant Experience Regions • Alumni Affairs and Development: • Monmouth/Ocean Counties • Rockland County November 2008 to present • Mexico • Graduated from ILR in May 2008; • Thailand wrote thesis on journalism and the Iraq • Australia csd28@cornell.edu War • Brazil • Long term goals include getting • Philippines degrees in law and anthropology • Israel • Switzerland • Outside of work, I volunteer as a • Greece paralegal for a non-profit law firm, as a • Turkey docent for the Mount Vernon Hotel • Malaysia Museum, and as a assistant for a non- • Italy profit holistic health center for women • Spain • Argentina with breast cancer. • Netherlands • Favorite class at Cornell: Theories of • Peru Equality • Sweden • Sri Lanka • What I miss on campus: 4th floor, • Guatemala Mann Library • Puerto Rico

Kelly Speiser Assistant Director, Cornell on the Road Experience Cornell Alumni Affairs and Development: since January 2008 • Joined Regional Alumni Affairs/Cornell On the Road in May 2009 • Helped develop an employee giving program, From Within: Faculty and Staff Giving to Cornell • Supported Cornell Entrepreneur Network and Cornell Silicon Valley Nonprofit fundraising and volunteer management: over 10 years spent working with small organizations, including an INGO working with women and children in Nepal, a modern dance company, and a human service agency working with incarcerated people and their families. Experience includes developing donor databases, running annual campaigns, managing fundraising and recognition events, running volunteer programs, capacity-building, and working with nonprofit boards of directors and special committees Volunteer experience: member of various nonprofit boards, including the Durland Alternatives Library; volunteered in NYS prisons for 3+ years; serve on Cornell staff volunteer organizations including the University Kelly.Speiser@cornell.edu Assembly, Communicators@Cornell, communications committee of the Employee Assembly, fundraising committee of Cornell Prison Education Program • Cornell University graduate education: 5 years in a PhD program in History of Architecture & Urban Development (College of Architecture, Art & Planning); TA for courses including Intro to History of Architecture, African Architecture, and Intro to History of Modern Art • Wesleyan University Class of ’91, Art History/German Studies major

Francine Darling Administrative Assistant, Cornell on the Road Experience • Alumni Affairs Regional Team: since September 2002 • Book Awards Administrator: Since December 2002 Education: • Ithaca College: B.S. Music Education (piano) Francine.Darling@cornell.edu • Entrepreneur: 12 years - jewelry design 20 years - accompanist and performing pianist

Jennifer Cunningham Experience Senior Director • Alumni Affairs Regional Team: October 2008 to now • Cornell Entrepreneur Network Director: 14 months • Entrepreneur: 8 years (copywriting, career advising/resume writing businesses) • Chamber of Commerce leader: 4 years • Advertising Agency Executive: 7 years • Cornell Volunteer: CAAAN chair 5 years, Portland, OR club board 1 year • Cornell ’92: Kappa Delta, Intramural sports, Agricultural Economics major, Public Relations Student Society of America board, Extern and Jennifer.Cunningham@cornell.edu Intern w/Cornellian-led businesses

Regional Club Programs

by jennifer cunningham

Accessibility

Categories

Upload Details

Usage Rights

2 Embeds 3

Statistics

Regional Club Programs Presentation Transcript

http://www.slideshare.net	2
http://dentistabologna.org	1