The readers of this blog are well aware of the passion Bridget and I have for the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
As 1996 graduates of the university, we’ve stayed involved with the institution via the UNO Hockey program (never missed a home game in the program’s 20-plus year history) and the UNO Alumni Association.
Part of the reason we support the university is because Bridget and I (who started dating as students at Omaha’s Westside High School) both earned Regents Scholarships from UNO — which paid for five years of tuition at the school.
I can’t appropriately express in words how important those scholarships were to our future. Being able to graduate debt-free with our undergraduate degrees allowed us to start our own marketing communications business (Image Building Communications) in 1996.
I recall Bridget sitting in a hallway at UNO’s Arts and Sciences Hall (talking on a giant cellphone that looked like something used to call in mortar fire) negotiating our first office lease.
Like many of the NU system alums currently residing in Nebraska (who graduated from UNO, UNL, UNK, and UNMC), we are able to live the life we want to live because of the educational opportunities afforded to us by the university.
On Wednesday, Aug. 22, Bridget and I were invited to attend the “Alumni Association Advocacy Summit” at the Nebraska Champions Club in Lincoln, NE.
I was excited to have the opportunity to visit the Nebraska Alumni Association’s beautiful venue. I’ve walked by the Champions Club when we’ve attended Husker Football games, but have never had the opportunity to see the interior (the facility sits on the west side of Stadium Drive, across the street from Memorial Stadium).
Attendees had the opportunity to hear from university officials who work on advocacy efforts, engagement initiatives, and lobbying efforts at state and federal level. The alumni association directors from were also on hand to talk about outreach and education efforts.
I’d like to thank our friend and former “Public Relations Case Studies” classmate Lee Denker — UNO Alumni Association Executive Director — for inviting us to attend this event:
Denker and Elizabeth Kraemer (who is in charge of programming for the UNO Alumni Association) have really made us feel like a part of the university.
The event featured a “working dinner” (the spread at the buffet was delicious) and those in attendance were able to interact and offer suggestions for potential strategies the university might employ in activating alums to act on the university’s behalf.
This was the first time Bridget and I had ever been approached about this topic. In my opinion, it is prudent for the NU system to forge relationships with alums who might help them build and implement more compelling “advocacy campaigns” in the future.
In today’s media climate it is incredibly important for businesses and organizations to expand their sphere by engaging with "influencers" who can talk directly to potential clientele, members, and advocates.
It was also nice to have the chance to chat with Heath Mello at the event. Heath joined the University of Nebraska in 2017 as Associate Vice President and Director of State Relations:
Bridget and I first met Heath back in 2008. He lives in our neighborhood, represented our district in the Nebraska Unicameral, and has been a member of our neighborhood association.
During our conversation, I got the sense a long-term goal is to build a connected web of alumni across the state who are more engaged with the university system.
Business-guru Seth Godin brilliantly illustrated this concept in his 2008 book “Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us.”
It all starts with a vision.
Education needs to be the cornerstone of a society that hopes to achieve, accomplish, and advance.
If you have an opportunity to give back to an institution of learning that helped you along the way, I would strongly encourage you to do so.
If you’d like to learn more about becoming an advocate for the university system, visit University of Nebraska Advocates website.
Related blog post: Maverick Landing: The Latest Addition to UNO's Reimagined Front Door
Related blog post: Maverick Landing: The Latest Addition to UNO's Reimagined Front Door
Thanks for your advocacy for the university!
ReplyDeleteThank you!! :-)
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