2024 Club and Society Leadership Symposium

Educational Sessions: 3–5 p.m.

New Volunteer Orientation – Presentation with Small Group Work and Q&A: Mount Leadership Suite

This session will focus on the requirements and resources to be an active alumni club or society.  The presentation is for new officers and board members or those needing a refresher for success 

Presenters: Craig Little ’84 and Tatyana Brown ’18, OSUAA

Campus Bus Tours – Campus Bus: Longaberger Alumni House 

Tour around campus via bus or for a 1-hour walking tour

Presenter: SAC student representative

Opening and Welcome: 8:30–8:45 a.m.

Kickoff to Symposium from Molly Ranz Calhoun ’86 – Presentation: Fawcett Center Conference Theatre

Welcome remarks from Molly Calhoun, highlights of the impact from our clubs and societies in FY24 and a chance to meet the team, will be a part of our opening welcome

Presenters: Molly Ranz Calhoun ’86 and Craig Little ’84

Keynote: 8:45–9:45 a.m.

Advice From America: Life Advice and Photos of 1,000 Strangers From 48 States – Presentation with Q&A: Fawcett Center Conference Theatre

After experiencing a quarter-life crisis at 24, he asked himself one giant question: “If I knew I had one year left to live, what would I do?” 

His answer was to spend his final year figuring out the purpose of life by asking 1,000 strangers about what they know now that they wished they had known earlier, then photographing them to create an enormous body of work. He accomplished this by living in his Toyota Camry for 84 days and driving 15,298 miles to all of the lower 48 US states. His major conclusion from the journey and strangers is that we have much more in common with one another than the things that tear us apart.

Presenter: Imran Nuri ’20

Break and Vendor Visits: 9:45–10 a.m.

The Club
Visit our 18 vendors and grab a snack while connecting with your fellow Buckeye Volunteer Leaders!

Presenters: Various Vendors

Regional and Society Breakouts: 10–11:30 a.m.

Various Locations

These breakouts will be a chance to connect and network with alumni groups from your area or based on constituency. You will get a chance to meet with other leaders, get updates from the alumni association, engage in an exercise to focus on our purpose, and conclude with open discussion. 

Presenters:

• Julie Haley ’07 and Craig Little ’84 – Societies: Clinton Room
• Patti Connors and Leslie Smith ’79 – Ohio Clubs: Alumni Lounge
• Craig Rowley – Southeast Clubs: Franklin/Hamilton Room
• Tatyana Brown ’18 and Maggie Sweeney ’09 – International, Northeast, Midwest and Western US Clubs: Hancock Room

Lunch and Table Talk Discussions: 11:45 a.m.–12:45 p.m.

Fawcett Center Ballroom

A set of questions will be found on each table to help with networking during lunch. This is a great opportunity to hear what your fellow volunteers are doing with their communities and to share best practices.

Educational Session One: 1–2 p.m.

Alumni Scholarship Update – Presentation with Q&A: Clinton Room

Come meet and learn from our colleagues in Undergraduate Student Financial Aid about cost to attend, types of funds, ScholarshipUniverse and compliance. We will also touch on the addition of in-person and virtual interviews returning as an option to telephone or no interview process. 

Presenters: 

• Leslie Smith ’79, OSUAA and Nick Casper ’95
• Bethany Brooks ’19 and Marky Fletcher, Student Financial Aid

Career Resources to Elevate Your Club or Society – Presentation with Q&A: Monroe Room 

One of our greatest resources at the Alumni Association can be found in the Alumni Career Management Office, which manages a great networking platform called Alumnifire. During the session you will get a complete demonstration on how you can build a networking group for your club or society that would be available to alumni and current students. Learn more about upcoming webinars lead by our alumni coaches that you could offer to your members. (Category 1 credit could be achieved with 25 or more in attendance.)

Presenter: Marilyn Rice, OSUAA

Finance 101: Budgeting, audit, fraud, and taxes – Presentation with Q&A: Franklin/Hamilton Room

Are you managing cyber and fraud risk in your club or society? Data breaches have become an unfortunate reality. In 2024, billions of records have been compromised, creating increased opportunities for cyber criminals to attempt financial fraud and other malicious activities. Join Huntington's Amber Buening (Security Outreach Director) for an interactive session to understand the cybersecurity and fraud threat landscape and how to incorporate security best practices in your club or society.

Presenter: Amber Buening ’07, Huntington Bank

The Power of Moments and Facilitating Positive Experiences – Presentation with a small group activity and Q&A: Highland

This session will share insights on how we can each help to facilitate positive and memorable experiences for alumni, board members, donors and volunteers. We will explore how understanding key moments and milestones in someone’s journey can shape a person’s experience and how we can be thoughtful and intentional about infusing kindness, gratitude and “surprise and delight” into experiences.

Presenter: Jay Delaney ’18, Ohio State Advancement

Microaggressions and Me – Presentation with Small Group and Q&A: Alumni Lounge 

When learning about microaggressions, many of us wonder how we can intervene when we experience or witness one. This workshop offers participants an opportunity to reflect on the ways all of us can perpetuate microaggressions and will explore how to move forward once we’ve been made aware of the microaggressions we perpetuate. Participants will build skills such as crafting meaningful apologies, learning to understand and say what we really mean, and strategies for holding ourselves accountable.

Presenter: Sophia Antoun ’11, Ohio State

Using Data to Engage! – Presentation with Q&A: Hancock

Join us to learn more about how the data OSUAA shares with you can be used to shape your group’s offerings and opportunities. Dive into information about your constituency and how it can help you pick locations, speakers and event types that best suit your future attendees.

Presenters: Callie Gramann ’13 and Maggie Sweeney ’09, OSUAA

Educational Session Two: 2:20–3:20 p.m.

NIL and Its Impact on Clubs and Societies – Presentation with Q&A: Clinton Room

Logan will review NIL guidelines and policies as they pertain to alumni clubs and societies. These talking points will have an impact on how these groups can interact with student-athletes.

Presenter: Logan Hittle ’19, Ohio State Athletics Department

Fundraising 101 – Presentation with Q&A: Monroe Room

Asking for money can always be a challenge, but we all know the impact we can make by raising money for scholarships. This session will review the different types of fundraising tools to help you succeed with your fundraising goals.

Presenters: Jacob Wood ’16, Casandra Uhl, and Kyle Sebastian ’10, OSUAA

Buckeye Alumni Recruitment Update – Presentation with Q&A: Franklin/Hamilton Room

Join Undergraduate Admissions for an abbreviated Buckeye Alumni Recruitment (BAR) training and to learn about the class of 2028! In addition to highlights about the most recent incoming class, participants will hear key enrollment and admissions updates, along with insight into the university’s priorities and goals. Buckeyes will leave prepared to recruit future students from their area and feel empowered to support recruitment efforts! 

Presenters: Brittany Savko ’11 and Karim Todd ’02, Ohio State Admissions

Creative Engagement Strategies: Focusing on Non-Traditional Offerings – Presentation with Q&A: Highland 

The Ohio State University Alumni Association often explores innovative engagement opportunities beyond traditional events. Discover the engagements that our team is doing in this space and how you can leverage these opportunities to elevate your own Scarlet/Gray status. This session includes ample time for questions, peer insights and learning best practices. We look forward to seeing you there!

Presenters: Matt Lynch and Amy Gallagher, OSUAA

Creating a Welcoming Environment for Your Alumni Group – Presentation with Small Group and Q&A: Alumni Lounge

As our Buckeye Nation continues to grow and evolve, it’s more important than ever to create inclusive communities that value everyone's unique perspectives and contributions. Club and Society Leaders play a pivotal role in the creation of our inclusive and welcoming communities. In this session, explore the best practices for building a community of belonging.

Presenters: Dr. Tina Pierce ’01, ’04, ’09 and Kioshana Burrell, OSUAA

Board Governance Lifecycle – Presentation with Q&A: Hancock

This session will address recruiting techniques to find new volunteers, the onboarding of new volunteers, setting board expectations, succession planning and term limits, effective meetings and creating a strategic plan. Best practices will be shared from other alumni groups and there will be time for Q&A.

Presenters: Craig Little ’84 and Maggie Sweeney ’09, OSUAA

Break and Vendor Visits: 3:20–3:45 p.m.

The Club
Visit our 18 vendors and grab a snack while connecting with your fellow Buckeye Volunteer Leaders!

Presenters: Various Vendors

Roundtable Discussions: 3:45–4:45 p.m.

The roundtables are a chance for you to get more information and best practices from each other.  The facilitator will present some content for the first 10-15 minutes and then open to all to ask questions and share best practices.

Open Discussion for Large Groups – Conversation: Clinton Room

This roundtable is intended for those volunteers who represent our larger clubs and societies. Time will be spent talking about the topics that pertain to the successes and challenges each face. We encourage you to share your best practices to learn from each other and collect contact information to build a strong network.

Presenter: Maggie Sweeney ’09, OSUAA

Event Planning 101 – Presentation and Conversation: Monroe Room

This roundtable will consist of a short presentation, followed by an open discussion as it relates to helpful tips on planning a great event. The new Clubs and Societies Calendar Planning Template will be reviewed Club & Society Calendar Planning Template

Presenters: Julie Haley ’07 and Craig Rowley, OSUAA

Marketing/Social Media Best Practices – Presentation and Conversation: Franklin/Hamilton Room

Representatives from the Alumni Advancement Marketing and Communications team will share tips on maximizing your club and society’s digital presence.  Attendees will learn how to leverage their social media networks, get the most out of emails and see some best practices from their peers.

Presenters: Aaron Green ’12 and Becca Young ’21 and ’22, Ohio State Advancement Marketing and Communications

Pelotonia and You – Conversation: Highland   

For 16 years, Pelotonia has brought together people from all over the country to do their part in ending cancer.  At this roundtable, you will participate in a conversation about how your club or society can be more involved with the 2025 ride next August with Team Buckeye. Volunteers who have ridden in past rides will be encouraged to share their experience. The roundtable will conclude with Q&A.

Presenters: Ciana Krymskiy, OSUAA and Karl Koon ’80, Wexner Medical Center Pelotonia 

Open Discussion for Small Alumni Groups – Presentation with Small Group and Q&A: Alumni Lounge

This roundtable is intended for those volunteers who represent our smaller clubs and societies. Time will be spent talking about the topics that pertain to the successes and challenges each face. We encourage you to share your best practices to learn from each other and collect contact information to build a strong network.

Presenter: Patti Connors, OSUAA

Membership Best Practices – Presentation with Q&A: Hancock

For many clubs and societies, having a robust membership is the key to financial resources. This roundtable will have sample membership campaigns, best practices from other groups and donation-based membership. The rest of the time will be spent with Q&A.

Presenter: Craig Little ’84, OSUAA

Awards Ceremony and Wrap Up: 5–5:30 p.m.

Fawcett Center Conference Theatre 

Presentation of awards to include 2024 Club and Society of the Year, Outstanding Programs and Pay it Forward for individual excellence. The wrap up will conclude with Carmen Ohio.

Networking Reception: 5:30–7 p.m.

Fawcett Center Ballroom