Augustana College Alumni Association Board meeting Oct. 4, 2019

Present: Kelly Noack, Angie Sharp, Jake Glimco, Hannah Sundwall, Jane Baker, Marlisa Barrett, Elizabeth Choporis, Loryann Eis, Brent Ericson, Zak George, Rich Jensen, Sam Latham, Sarah Lickus, Julie Dreixler, Darien Marion-Burton, Destany Metcalf, Kyle Nelson, Michael Nelson, Karen Roloff, Lori Spencer, Greg Stopka, Michael Ricaurte

The meeting was called to order by Angie Sharp at 9:21 a.m. in the Art Museum in Centennial Hall. Returning board members introduced themselves and new board members shared a story about their experiences at Augustana; we reaffirmed standards of service.

Kelly Noack provided the following Alumni Board goals and updates:

We will hold a call with new alumni board members to reiterate goals of alumni board
Met with Kent Barnds and President Bahls to set a direction for the Board
The goals of the Board need to be aligned with the direction of the college

The following four pieces directly align with the work of the alumni board:
- Philanthropy: how valuable every gift to the college is as well as donor participation
- Career development: CORE is working hard to make sure placement rates are high and that students feel connected to alumni
- Diversity and inclusion: students feel they don’t want to go to an alumni event because of the alumni that attend, the Board needs to take opportunities and continue connections
  - Skybar event was successful and was the most diverse group at an alumni event
- Affinity: do events for seniors and first year students to engage and connect alumni and current students
  - What are the hopes and goals of the committee?
  - Is there a better way to connect alumni with graduating students and to know where the Augie alumni are in the area you may be located?

What are ways to engage alumni in ways that can be identified?

Can we engage in smaller communities?
What existing events can the college tie into?

The executive board provided the following strategic plan for the 2019-2020:

Strategic Direction #1

PURPOSE: To ensure that Augustana Alumni have distinguished career and graduate successes. (AC2020/1)

PLAN: The Career Development Committee will work with CORE and College departments to identify strategies to support and opportunities to develop and connect Augustana students with career development networking, internships, and graduate studies. In addition, the Committee on Nominations and Awards will develop an award to recognize organizations, businesses, and/or individuals who demonstrate significant support for Augustana students through career development and internship opportunities.

Primary Objectives:

Work directly with CORE and College departments to identify internship and career opportunities, guest speakers, and other support to best meet the needs of current Augustana students.

Work with CORE to establish an Alumni/Student Mentoring Program by helping explore what Alumni are looking for and engaging a diverse population of Alumni.

Completed Objectives:

Create an Alumni Association Award to recognize organizations, businesses, and/or individuals who demonstrate significant support for Augustana students through career development and internship opportunities.

Measurable Goals:

The Career Development Committee will explore the idea of establishing an Alumni/Student Mentoring Program throughout the rest of 2019 and the beginning of 2020.

Completed Goals:

The Alumni Association Board of Directors will add an award to its Award Program to recognize organizations, businesses, and/or individuals who demonstrates significant support for Augustana students’ career development and internship opportunities. The Viking Vocation Award will be presented annually at the Alumni Awards Brunch, starting in Fall 2020.

Strategic Direction #2

PURPOSE: To provide experiences for all Augustana College students to welcome them into a transformative and holistic learning experience as they begin their Augustana experience and continue to provide experiences as students transition to their roles as Augustana alumni. (AC2020/2)

PLAN: The Affinity Building Committee and the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee will work with the Office of Student Life and Leadership, the GOLD Council, the GIVE Council, and the Office of Alumni Relations to sponsor an event to welcome all Augustana students as they begin their Augustana experience and sponsor an event to welcome all into the Alumni Association of Augustana College.

Primary Objectives:

Refine an event for all incoming Augustana students by creating an experiential event that fits appropriately into the first month of the school year and gives the biggest impact.
To further engage our Alumni, a new event/activity will be developed, open to all Alumni.

Completed Objectives:

Plan an event for all incoming Augustana students that welcomes them into the Augustana experience, introduces them to the “Augustana A” campaign, and establishes the foundation for future Augustana Alumni events.

Plan an event for all seniors that welcomes them into the Alumni Association of Augustana College.

Measurable Goals:

All incoming Augustana students will receive an official welcoming gift or have the opportunity to attend an event sponsored by the Alumni Association of Augustana College during their first year on campus, starting in Fall 2020.

The Alumni Board will work with the Office of Alumni Relations and the GOLD Council to create a new affinity building activity/event.

The Alumni Association Board of Directors will organize both general and targeted activities based on recommendations from the Affinity Building Committee and feedback from alumni.

Completed Goals:

All Augustana graduates will receive a gift at graduation (a stole) to welcome them into the Alumni Association of Augustana College.

The Alumni Association Board of Directors will sponsor an activity/event (Senior Send-Off) to celebrate all seniors and welcome them into the Alumni Association.

The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee will work with the Office of Alumni Relations and the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to create an event (Summer 2019 Event in Chicago) that connects minority alumni.

Strategic Direction #3

PURPOSE: To assist Augustana College with the strategic goal to make a high value education affordable for an academically qualified student body. (AC2020/3)

PLAN: All Alumni Association board members will actively assist with the Office of Advancement including philanthropic contributions, direct outreach, solicitation, and engagement.

Primary Objectives:

All Alumni Association board members will serve on the Alumni Association's Philanthropy Committee.

All Alumni Association board members will support the College through annual contributions.

All Alumni Association board members will support the Office of Advancement’s solicitations of contributions from Augustana alumni.

Identify alumni willing to sponsor alumni events.

Measurable Goals:

100% of the Alumni Association Board of Directors contributed to Augustana annually.

Members of Alumni Association Board of Directors will help solicit donations from at least two new donors or encourage two donors to make recurring donations.

Training will be provided to all new Alumni Board Members every year by the Office of Advancement in order to successful engage with Alumni for fundraising purposes.

Completed Goals:

Members of Alumni Association Board of Directors will help solicit donations from at least two new donors or encourage two donors to make recurring donations (First Challenge Completed in 2018-2019).

Strategic Direction #4

PURPOSE: To ensure that the Alumni Association of Augustana College is welcoming to all and representative of the diverse and inclusive Augustana community. (AC2020/4)

PLAN: The Awards and Nominations Committee, assisted by the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee will recruit diverse applicants for membership on the Alumni Association Board of Directors. In addition, the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee will develop an award to recognize individuals and/or organizations who work to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion at Augustana College and/or through their contributions to society.

Primary Objectives:

Work directly with the Advancement Office, Admissions, CORE, Augustana faculty, and the Office of Student Life and Leadership to identify and recruit a diverse pool of applicants for the Alumni Association Board of Directors and candidates for the Alumni Association Awards.

Give the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee the tools they need to increase contact with minority alumni.

Completed Objectives:

Create an Alumni Association award to recognize individuals and/or organizations who work to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion at Augustana College and/or through their contributions to society.

Measurable Goals:

The Alumni Association Board of Directors and the Awards and Nominations Committee will draft a letter or email to the Advancement Office, Admissions, CORE, Augustana faculty, and the Office of Student Life and Leadership to help identify alumni as potential Board members and award recipients.

The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee will help the Office of Alumni Relations and the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion coordinate the 50th Anniversary of the Black Symposium at Augustana College in 2020.

Completed Goals:

The Alumni Association Board of Directors will add an award to its Awards Program to recognize individuals and/or organizations who work to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion at Augustana College and/or through their contributions to society. The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award will be presented annually at the Alumni Awards Brunch, starting in Fall 2018.

The board meeting proceedings recessed at 10:15 a.m. for committee meetings and reconvened at 1:05 p.m.

Michael “Phil” Ricaurte provided the following report for the Philanthropy Committee:

The Alumni Association Board of Directors sponsors stoles of gratitude for $15

We will continue this in the years to come and make a Board tradition
There was a disconnect if the donation for the stoles counted toward A Day of Giving to get the socks
The Board will make a concerted effort to try and cover as much as we can ourselves
Karen covered the cost of a stole each student who graduated with a communications degree
There should be a better way to distribute the stoles to the students
- Provided stole to seniors when they checked in to get their caps and gowns the weekend of graduation
  - The Affinity group recommends moving the meeting in conjunction with Senior toast
    - Board members will be in front of Centennial Hall when students arrive
    - Make it clear to students that they will only receive one stole

Augustana Now Campaign is still in effect
A Day of Giving is April 23rd

There are events in locations where there are significant amounts of alumni
- Goal is for each Alumni Board member to attend an event and bring at least two additional guests to the event

We can track donations on Give Campus

Can be aware of who is giving
Form to acknowledge that you were able to get additional folks to donate

Each alumni board member gave more than they did last year

Caroline Swiderski (Assistant Director of Annual Giving) gave an update on giving for Augustana:

Each person can become an advocate on Give Campus
Sign in, link to Facebook, and a link will pop up

Get a unique link to text or email to people to get additional gifts
Can track how many people gave specifically through your links
Can create a “personal plea” video

We would like to create a general donation unique link to share throughout the year
Can we have a card reader that automatically goes to give campus at Augie?
Going to create a campaign specific to the alumni board

Kyle Ekberg and Caroline Swiderski gave an update on the Gold Council, Give Council and Tribe of Vikings:

GOLD: Graduates of the Last Decade

Augie wanted to create a volunteer organization consisting of only graduates of the last decade to find better ways to connect with younger alumni
Found that young alumni have a hard time transitioning into the real world and could use this group to make that transition easier
Young alumni do not attend may events
The first meeting of the group is October 5
- Will hold a GOLD block party for alumni that have graduated in the last decade that are at Homecoming
There are 25 members in the group
- Will not put a cap on the group but will try to stay around 30/35 people

Give Council: Generosity, Involvement, Volunteerism, and Engagement

This group is specifically for students on campus to engage them in giving back
- That does not always mean giving money, but also means time
It is a group of 20-30 students
Specifically for students on campus
This group has taken place of student alumni board

Tribe of Vikings

This group has been around since 1927 to raise money for sports on campus
The idea of this group was to upgrade to become a booster group
170 new household members and is an all year event

The minutes of Spring, 2019 Alumni Board Meeting were approved without objection.

Spring Minutes

Julie Dreixler provided the following report for Career Development:

Working on a Mentor Program with CORE

Did not care for the term “mentor”
- Prefer Viking Connection instead
  - Makes the program broader without it feeling like they have to be in a mentor program
Helping CORE team create a profile template
- Committee is going to be guinea pigs
Talk about how the best way to match students and alumni
Committee could use LinkedIn as the tool to connect students and alumni
Take the conversation off-line and hopefully have an initial draft by January
Committee will have a conference call on November 1
Greg will create a template profile

Darien Marion-Burton (substituting for Tom Collins) provided the following report for the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee:

Recapped event from summer at SkyBar

Would like to do again but make earlier to get current students of age to participate
What is the best way to market and target diverse alumni?
Send out a recap survey?
- Darien work with Kelly to get that out to people

Would like to build affinity groups that focus on what populations students need help with
50th anniversary of black symposium

Original event was in February
Would like to do the event sometime in March, April or May (during the school year)
In conjunction with black history month?
Invite:
- the founding members of BSU
- Dr. Monica Smith
- Barack Obama
- Local speakers/entrepreneurs
Marketing – could also promote to QCA

Need to identify alumni that identify as diverse
Work with Dr. Monica Smith who is working on a mentorship program
Five point strategic plan for office of diversity, equity and inclusion

Bring national fraternity or sorority to campus – divine nine groups
- Missing out on networking opportunity for students

Will have a call at the end of month

Elizabeth Choporis provided the following report for the Affinity Committee:
First year event

Room for improvement
Social for transfer students
Event on Sunday for first year students with young alumni
- Students were tired and did not seem engaged
Look at other institutions for ideas
- Not tied to welcome weekend
- Later in semester? Later in spring?
Kelly is going to talk to Kai – what might have been done in the past
Kelly talk to give students about input and thoughts
- Good way to get students involved

Senior stoles

Move to last lecture and senior toast – on Thursday
Like to target ‘19 grads to see if they would sponsor
Opportunity for students to “pay it forward”?
Have young alumni board speaker

Alumni board banner made

Have presence to draw attention

Next steps: welcome event, banner

Sarah Lickus provided the following report for the Nominations and Awards Committee:

Meet award recipients this afternoon with brunch tomorrow morning
Discussion about student board member process

Andrea work on GIVE council
Encompass student alumni board committee
8 members
Start in spring – will come to meetings and be part of alumni board
Focus on A Day of Giving
Build out quad fest day of events
Cannot change bylaw – will consider changing via email or amending at spring meeting

Brainstorm better way to present candidates

Set aside more time to look over
Start earlier on Friday or Thursday night

The Viking Vocation Award has been added to the by-laws

The committee removed the appropriate changes in the By-Laws (Article VI, Section 2, Paragraph C, Sentence 1) to delete the language regarding the Outstanding Service Award and adding new Viking Vocation Award (added in Spring 2019). The motion passed without objection.

Sarah Lickus continued her report for the Nominations and Awards Committee:

Should the nominating process and procedure be submitted to everyone and not just the nominations and awards committee?

This would avoid unpreparedness
Keep the group to a timeline
Review, comment and speak your peace prior to meeting

In advance of the committee deliberation, the board can make comments on award nominees to the committee chair if necessary
How is that person going to serve the board?

If there is a concern that could be detrimental to the organization, it should be shared prior to deliberations

Everyone gets the information, if there are comments, a call can be set up with Sarah to discuss privately

Save the Date: Spring Board Meeting – April 30

Karen Roloff recommended the following By-Law amendment proposal:

Article VI, Section 2, Paragraph A: The committee shall recommend to the Board, for approval, nominees for membership on the board in addition onto those persons nominated by alumni.
Suggesting that the Board cannot have a process that is contrary to bylaws when nominating a new member to the Board

Darien Marion-Burton called a point of order:

Board membership includes administrators (stated in Article III), the Board Constitution is set up to include administrators as part of the process.

Angie Sharp recommended we keep the By-Laws as-is, and has ensured that correct people are aware of the timeline and process and have been assure that it will not happen again.

Bylaws are okay as is, but needs to stick to timeline

The meeting adjourned at 3:41 p.m.

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Augustana College Alumni Association Board meeting Oct. 4, 2019

Augustana Magazine