You’re also seeing a lot more convergence this year than ever before: Previously we tried to find sessions to cover several different topics individually, but that ignores the larger reality that our work tends to span many disciplines. Alumni relations is connected to fundraising, which is connected to marketing which is connected to communication … and everything is seemingly connected to the web. That’s why you’ll see suggested tracks for each session related to various job areas … but these are only vague guidelines. The only thing we can guarantee you is that we have amazing speakers up and down the schedule.

Don’t forget that Chancellor Nancy Zimpher is among our very special guests, as she’ll discuss The Power of SUNY on Thursday morning. Anyone who has seen the Chancellor speak before knows that in itself is special, and this is an opportunity for us all to learn about the direction of SUNY.

As for the direction of SUNYCUAD, that’s onward and upward. We hope you can join us this week in Buffalo in our next step forward!

Deadline is less than a month away for this prestigious competition open to all SUNY entities for categories including (but not limited to) alumni programs, community relations, fundraising pieces, magazines, news writing and Web sites. Entries are due March 10. We’ll present the awards at our annual SUNYCUAD Educational Conference, June 9 to 11 in Buffalo.

 For more information, including categories and how to enter, visit http://www.sunycuad.org/annual_awards_for_excellence. And good luck!

Wow!

If we were excited just to read the proposals, imagine how amazing the presentations will be! We’re working on assembling a varied program appealing to our wide array of members, but the pieces look very promising. We also hope to have more information soon on other changes that will make our strong conference even better this year.

In the meantime, here’s our advice: Put June 9 to 11 on your calendar and plan to join us in Buffalo. We want you to share our wow!

That’s where SUNYCUAD is happy to help with our fall daylong seminar Development Strategies for Difficult Times featuring William P. McGoldrick. The event will run 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 18, at Onondaga Community College in Syracuse.

This renowned consultant and speaker has worked with top colleges on three continents as a partner in Washburn and McGoldrick and has 37 years of experience in educational advancement. McGoldrick was vice president and director of development of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute during two campaigns that raised more than $260 million. He also has held management positions at SUNY Oswego, the College of William and Mary and Harrisburg Area Community College.

We’ve kept the cost low — even lower if you beat the Oct. 21 early-bird discount — and we hope you find it far exceeds even that in value. When raising funds for your college become this critical, tools and suggestions for doing it better becomes a tremendous investment. Sign up today!

If the answer to all of the above is “yes,” you may want to consider speaking at SUNYCUAD 2010 in Buffalo. We’re looking for a few great presenters, especially those who can provide sessions tying into our major theme of integration – whether of functions, strategies or resources. Other subthemes worth considering are branding, social networking/digital strategies and budget stress/ROI/assessment.

The organizing committee is particularly encouraging case studies — showing these ideas in action — and interdisciplinary sessions that appeal to a range of professionals (attendees come from such areas as alumni relations, development, marketing, public relations and Web development). 

If this sounds interesting, check out our Call for Proposals page. If you’re selected, you’ll receive complimentary conference registration, travel and (generally) a night’s free accommodations. Deadline is Nov. 6, so start thinking about it soon. We hope to hear from you!

Whatever it may be, colleges should all wish themselves a Happy New Year at this, one of the most exciting times on the calendar. And as eager freshman appear on campuses looking to learn and grow and make friends, we should be doing the same. That’s why SUNYCUAD exists: to further professional development, to keep you in touch with trends, to help you make great contacts (and, yes, friends).

So with this new year upon us, make some resolutions. What will you do to better yourself? To make your institution a better place? To connect with others? Think about it, and know that SUNYCUAD is here to help.

Watch this space for information on a new, exciting format to our annual conference, which will come to Buffalo next summer. It’s never too soon to start planning … or to start communicating.