Alumni Insider | January 25, 2010
Alumni Insider Launches!
Welcome to the Alumni Insider! We realize that a lot of general updates are sent out by the College and wanted to provide our alumni with the "inside scoop" on what's happening at our alma mater. We can't promise that we'll never duplicate a story you've seen elsewhere, but we'll try our best to keep the content fresh and timely. The format is designed to be quick and to-the-point, so you can choose to simply read the email-or click on the hyperlink for more information. This publication is for you, so please tell us what you think! Email your feedback to the Alumni Office at bergalum@muhlenberg.edu or call us at 800-464-2374.
Reunion 2010
Most of you have read about the much-needed Seeger's Union expansion project. Highlights of the expansion include a full Student Life suite with offices and conference spaces for the Student Government Association, as well as a Media Center to house publications such as the Ciarla, the Weekly and the Advocate. The new dining room and enhanced food preparation areas will provide a more congenial dining atmosphere and a diversity of cuisine including kosher, vegetarian, international and organic. This project will also convert the existing Garden Room into a much-needed event and performance venue, expand the bookstore and complete the campus' West Quadrangle (bordered on its other three sides by Brown and Taylor Halls and the new science building).
Construction is scheduled for completion by fall 2010, and in order to complete the project before the students return, Seeger's Union will be closed right after Commencement in 2010. With the kitchen and Seeger's dining spaces unavailable in the summer, the College has decided to combine Reunion with Homecoming in the fall.
Why are we so excited about this change?
The campus will be "alive" with students and faculty. We've heard from many of you that a drawback to summer reunions is the "ghost town" feel of the campus with no students and faculty-not the way we remember it from our student days. Now the campus will be abuzz, with all members of the Muhlenberg family together for one big celebration!- Alumni can interact with students and faculty in the classroom and the field. Join students in community service projects and go back to the classroom with Muhlenberg faculty. Were you in a singing group during college? Get ready to join the alumni choir!
- Fall is a beautiful time on our campus. Mid to late September is a lovely time to be on campus in terms of temperature and the beginning of fall colors.
- We're getting the best of both worlds. Enjoy the camaraderie of Reunion class celebrations and the excitement and spirit of the Homecoming football game. It promises to be the biggest and best 'Berg celebration ever!
So why is 2011 changing as well? We're putting so much planning into this new model, we'd like to try it for a minimum of two years-if it's the success we think it will be, it might become a more permanent change.
A few important things to remember about the new Reunion model:
For Reunion Classes ending in 0 and 5—your Reunion gifts will be counted until June 30, 2010. Gifts made before or on that date will count toward your class's overall total and participation goal and will be celebrated during the fall Reunion. For Reunion Classes ending in 1 and 6, your Reunion gifts will be counted from July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011. (Note: Multiyear commitments made prior to June 30 will also count toward Reunion class totals.)
Alumni Achievement Award nominations are due March 5, 2010. Although the Alumni Achievement Award ceremony will be held during Reunion in September, your nominations need to be in by March. Know an alumnus who deserves nomination? Find out how to nominate them here.
All alumni are invited because it's a Homecoming/Reunion Celebration. However, Reunion classes will still have their class dinners, class photo and other class-specific events.
Any questions or comments about the new model? Please contact Alumni Relations at bergalum@muhlenberg.edu or call us at 800-464-2374.
Reality MC 2010
Muhlenberg's Senior Year Experience program focuses on helping our seniors make the transition from the "'Berg Bubble" to the outside world. During the weekend of January 15-17, more than 70 seniors participated in a program called "Reality MC," which included sessions about managing your finances, maintaining a professional online image, cooking healthy meals and much more. On Saturday evening, the seniors traveled by bus to the Allentown Art Museum for a special networking reception with alumni. Several members of the Alumni Board attended, and many different class years and fields were represented. Students who effectively presented their "elevator speech" (30 seconds about themselves) to alumni guests received a raffle ticket from alumni, and Career Services Committee Chair Todd Rothman '97 drew two names for $100 "transition scholarships" sponsored by the Career Services Committee of the Alumni Board and the Alumni Relations office. Alumna Sheryl Guss '81 saw the benefits of attending first hand and encourages you to get involved as well. Contact Alumni Relations or The Senior Year Experience to express your interest!
New Webinar Series
Alumni Relations and the Career Center are meeting monthly to collaborate on the best ways to serve current students and alumni. One of the first planned initiatives is a series of webinars that will feature alumni as presenters and/or participants. Some of these will be appropriate for current students as well, such as the first session on effective use of Linked In. Is there a topic you'd like to see addressed, or do you have experience in a particular area that could be useful to alumni and/or students? Contact us at bergalum@muhlenberg.edu.
Point of Pride
Each month in the Insider, we'll feature a "point of pride" about our alma mater. Do you know something about Muhlenberg or one of our alumni that's worth bragging about? Let us know! Email bergalum@muhlenberg.edu or call 800-464-2374.
