CUPPA Alumni Association Board Meeting
Nov. 14, 2011, 6:00 p.m., CUPPA Hall, Room 110, 412 South Peoria Street, Chicago, IL
MINUTES

In Attendance: Helene Berlin, Laura Carroll, Michael McDermott, Rebecca McFadden, Conrad Pomykala, Moira O’Donovan Warnement
Dean Mike Pagano, Jodi White Jones

 

  • President’s Welcome: Rebecca McFadden
  • Dean’s Welcome and Report: Michael Pagano
    • Student numbers are up
    • Two new UPP faculty
    • University still figuring out what to do with money owed by the state
      • Owed about $300 million across U of I system
    • Current searches for directors of CUED and Great Cities Institute
    • Institute for Political and Civic Engagement moving to CUPPA from south campus
      • Bringing back Urban Forum in the spring
    • Building work- $4 mil. façade, $1.5 mil window replacement, eventual foyer update
  • Approval of Minutes
    • Approved
  • Committee Reports
    • Professional Development (Adam Rogers via written report)
      • Metra Center presentation and tour- went very well
      • Interest in moving away from panels and toward ‘immersion programs’
      • Looking for idea for spring events
    • Special Events (Peter Czubak)
      • Morton Arboretum fell through
        • No tours in October- no advance tickets
      • Holiday Party at Jak’s- Dec. 5
        • Discussion of having it as a joint event with APA of Metro Chicago or other groups (e.g., WP+D)
        • Lee and Jennifer- party should just be for alumni, but we could encourage people to bring a guest
        • Decision to keep venue at Jak’s
        • Promote event better within our network- encourage alumni to reach out to former classmates
        • Time change- 6-10pm to accommodate students more
      • Call for nominations for Marek Award
        • Venue and date also TBD
        • Nominations needed by next board meeting- 2/6/12
        • Date determined by awardee and host
    • Student Alumni Connections- Michael McDermott
      • Mentor program
        • Meet and greet 10/21- 30+ people
        • Setting goals for student and mentors
        • Upcoming events planned with groups around Chicago
        • Survey going out to mentors and students to get feedback on program
        • 33 students signed up but only 21 mentors- but allowed for better pairing
      • Career prep day in late February
        • Planning starts in early 2012
  • Project Brainstorming (These are the ideas with the most votes; see CUPPA Alumni Board- brainstorming ideas- Updated for full list of ideas)
    • Professional Development
      • Professional Development
        • Professional Networking
      • Special Events
        • Stockyards Tour
        • ‘Forgotten Chicago’ walking tour
        • APA 2013 (Chicago) conference event
        • G8/NATO Summit events
      • Board
        • Chicago Cares/group volunteer activity
        • CUPPA Weekly Updates- featuring alumni
          • Reconnect with alumni who are not currently involved with the board
          • ‘Alum of the Week’ spotlight
        • Career track networking events
  • Financial Report- Laura Carroll
    • UIAA- increasing amount to CUPPA per member
    • Expenses
      • Kickoff BBQ
      • Alumni mentor meet and greet
      • Holiday Party
      • Diploma covers
      • Alumni Five event ad
    • Income
      • Metra event
      • $1200 from University (quarterly)
  • UIAA Update
    • Tuesday 4/17/12- Student Research Forum
      • Presentation of projects from across disciplines
      • Conrad looking for alumni judges
  • New Business
    • Next meeting 2/6/12- changing to lunch meeting, 1130am-1pm
  • Adjournment

CUPPA Alumni Board Brainstorming Session Ideas- Nov. 14, 2011

  • Professional Development/Student-Alumni Connections
    • professional networking events
    • Networking happy hour
    • Panel events:
      • jobs in federal government
      • jobs in the non-profit sector
    • Career track networking events
    • Advice for new grads from alumni
    • Career prep- marketing your skills
  • Special Events
    • sports event- professional or UIC
    • Markham Yard tour
    • MLK-related tour
    • Bronzeville Cooking tour
    • Calumet energy tour
    • "Chicago Works" series
    • Lakefront history tour
    • Stockyards tour
    • "Forgotten Chicago" tour(s)
    • Meeting with McCaffrey- US Steel site developer
    • Walking architecture tour
    • Frank Lloyd Wright studio and home tour
    • Bridge tour
    • Boat tour (as fundraiser)
    • Chicago Center for Green Technology tour
    • Tour of first LEED certified single family home
    • G8/NATO summit event(s)
    • 2013 APA national conference event(s)
  • Board Development
    • Chicago Cares/group volunteer activity
    • Volunteer for pledge drive with Chicago Public Radio
    • Brown bag lunch- social event
    • Update the wesite
    • Better use of the wiki site
    • Online alumni database
    • CUPPA Weekly newsletter- alumni feature/spotlight
    • Other venues for board meetings (e.g., Metra French Market)
    • Board training
    • Board members discuss their jobs/organizations at board meetings
    • Stronger presence at the university