By the numbers–what I’ve done in the last year
Posted October 6, 2008 by Connie Dudgeon::
At our recent September B&CA board meeting, we mentioned that it would be nice for me to do a blog on the TigerBCA page, and to let board members know more about what I do when I’m not with you.
Here is some information I compiled this spring when I was doing my performance evaluation. I think it may be helpful for you to know.
In 2007-2008, I worked with 51 local organizations. I’m sure the College worked with many more, but through the Community Relations office, I personally worked with 51.
There are 5 organizations that comprise our longterm strategic partnerships, so these are of the greatest importance when allocating my money and time. This is also good for you to know.
These are:
- The Downtown Partnership
- The Economic Development Corporation
- The Greater Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce
- Leadership Pikes Peak
- The Pikes Peak Library District
In addition, I worked on projects with, hosted events on our campus for, made a donation to, or otherwise supported the initiatives of these other 46 organizations last year:
American Cancer Society, AIA of Southern Colorado, Alzheimers Association, Citizens Project, City of Colorado Springs Office of Cultural Affairs Parks and Recreation, The Colorado 30 Group, the Colorado Springs Business Journal, the Colorado Springs Independent, Colorado Springs Dance Theater, Colorado Springs Diversity Forum, Colorado Springs Office of International Affairs, Colorado Technical University, Community Shares of Colorado, El Paso County Martin Luther King Celebration Committtee, El Pomar Foundation, Evergreen Cemetery Benevolent Society, Fort Carson Sustainability Conference, The Gazette Foundation, Greccio Housing, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Colorado Springs, the Historic Preservation Alliance, JUNTAS Contra El Cancer del Seno (Latina Breast Health Outreach at Penrose Hospital), Kennedy Center Imagination Celebration, Lutheran Family Services, Manitou Art Theatre, McAllister House Museum, the Muscular Dystrophy Association, the NAACP Colorado Springs branch, the Navy League of the U.S., the Old North End Neighborhood Association, Omega Psi Phi national fraternity, Peak Vista Community Health Centers, Pikes Peak Community College, Pikes Peak United Way, Pikes Peak Workforce Center, Poetry West and the Poet Laureate of the Pikes Peak Region, Rocky Mountain Community Land Trust, Ronald McDonald House, Southern Colorado AIDS Project, Smokebrush Art Gallery, The Space Foundation, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, TESSA, the UCCS Kraemer Family Library, the USO, Waddell & Reed Financial Partners, and the Y-Me National Breast Cancer Hotline Outreach.
As you probably know, I am responsible for promoting CC events to the general public (as I always send you the announcements and hope you forward them to your own considerable number of contacts!) In addition to the numerous events I’ve promoted, I have personally planned and hosted several public events on campus.
In Fall of 2006 I hosted 9 events. In Spring of 2007 I hosted 14, in Summer 2007 I hosted 3 more, and in Fall of 2007 I hosted another 9 events. As any of you who plan events know, that can be pretty time-consuming, but it’s important!
On campus, I’ve served on 4 search committees so far (which is a fun and illuminating–if arduous–process. It’s a great way to get to know folks from other departments better.)
I also serve on two standing committees on campus and am the recording secretary for KRCC’s Community Advisory Board (which our own Matt Mayberry serves on. Go Matt!)
In addition to off-campus organizations and official CC events and programs, I’ve also worked to foster some great ideas that CC students have put forward. Whenever I can, and the resultant programs are open to the general public, I sponsor or mentor CC student programs. Sometimes this is more work than doing an event myself, but it’s also more worthwhile.
In 2007-2008, these student initiatives included: Food Chained, Energizing Colorado Springs, The New Urbanists, Step it Up for Climate Change Action, and the CC Fashion Show. Since ”evaluation time” I’ve also worked with the Native American Student Union, the CC Film Society, Kappa Alpha Theta (for Kicks for CASA), and the CC Student Garden.
Out in the community, I serve on a couple of boards, much like all of you volunteer for Colorado College as B&CA board members. These include: the Colorado Springs International Affairs Advisory Council, The All Pikes Peak Reads Steering Committee, the Leadership Pikes Peak Alumni Advisory Board, the Womens Educational Society Board of Managers, and the Economic Vitality Group of the EDC. For the last two years I was the Race Volunteer Chair for the Komen Race for the Cure (but I just retired my pink ribbon! I will still volunteer, but not on the exec committee. These women are amazing–like the Energizer Bunny! I can’t keep up that pace any more–but what a great cause.)
That’s about it. I may have omitted something, but I think this gives you a general picture of what I do as CC’s Community Relations Manager. It is probably one of the more interesting jobs in town, and I do consider myself quite lucky to represent such a great institution in such a great community. As you can see, I get to work with a lot of wonderful and inspiring people, on and off campus.
best to all,
Connie
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Connie – there is no doubt that what you do has powerful effects in the community. Community relations work is hard to quantify or report on outcomes. It’s perhaps only noticed when it is NOT happening. To that end, you must be congratulated, as I know that CC’s reputation is doing nothing but soaring in this community, a huge change from just 5 short years ago. And I know it is because your presence is in so many different places. You show the community that CC cares. . . it always has cared, but the community will never believe it unless they see CC’s face. thanks for being that Face of CC for us!