Internship Provides Way to Be More Responsive to You

By: Ryne Shadday

When approached early last year about doing an internship with the GLBT Alumni Association and the GLBT Student Support Service Office, I was a bit skeptical about it being meaningful to both the organization(s) and me. It seemed as if I would not have much to do or that I would would have been doing things that were redundant on the part of the Alumni Association. But given the brave support of one kind and generous alum, I spent a little over a year doing what I love doing best, serving you.

I began my student board position in September 2007. Little did I know, with what then vice president Nancy Kalina told me would just be a small board position with minimal requirements, would become such an engaging and remarkable experience. From being the lowly intern who gets all the jobs and tasks no one else wants to meeting some of the great people who make up this remarkable institution we like to call I.U., I was able to see the good, the bad and the outright ugly parts of Alumni Relations. From meeting President McRobbie (whether he remembers me, I don't know... but at least Laura Burns McRobbie knows me by name!), this years commencement speaker Hon. Michael Kirby, to brushing elbows with former Presidents of IU, the IU Alumni Association and beyond during Cream and Crimson Weekend and Mini U. The list could continue on forever with all the memories that I'm honored to have.

But the work that has been done through this internship has been the most important. Finding programs that best fit the need of our loyal alumni and providing them effectively has definitely proven to be the most beneficial and rewarding of them all and I hope that I have served you all well. Here is a list of programs or initiatives that I helped to lead while at my position... if you haven't had a chance to come to these events, consider doing so, I promise you will not regret:

Reinstated Happy Hours AND promoted expanding them to other cities with IU Alum

Happy Hours now occur in Bloomington every second Thursday of the month and in Indianapolis every third Thursday of the month, except on rare occasions where we're busy and can't have one... this would be one of those months! We've also had a Happy Hour in Chicago and social events in Los Angeles! Keep up on the E-news to find out when and where our next one is!

The Reaching OUT E-newsletter

I know very well that I'm not old enough to say this... but wow, we've came far! An E-newsletter was an idea of mine that I didn't think would work. But it has! We have about half of our membership on our listserv and a monthly E-newsletter was a no brainer to me. What better way to inform and update our membership then by sending online messages?! I hope this has served you well, as I've been the one typing them monthly with the steady, editing hand of my trusted friend and boss, Rachael Crouch working out my many typos.

Web site changes

Our Web site seriously needed help when I landed this gig. Throw in a catchy home page with a revamped look, some content that will keep people visiting month after month (Member Spotlight anyone?), links that work and go to things people want to see and bam, there we are. By the way, if you're on our site, look for the GIVE NOW buttons and help fund our scholarships. Also, if you want to be featured as an OUTSTANDING member in our Member Spotlight, read up on those at http://alumni.indiana.edu/glbtaa/profiles.shtml and e-mail glbtaa@indiana.edu. We have some absolutely amazing members, this just features proudly what work they have accomplished and things they have done for this great university. Oh yes, check out the blog too... here is where you will find posts that can't really go up on our Web site.

In more online news, we have marched into the great Facebook and Twitter market and now have a Facebook page and a place for our tweets! Send us a wall post on Facebook and we might post or tweet and we might tweet you back!(http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1166670009&ref=nf#/group.php?gid=8746112146&ref=ts) (twitter.com/iuglbtaa)

T-shirts and other goodies

The GLBTAA has been in existence for 12 years, we didn't have a brand to be proud of. With a little push from me, we were able to get our first branded T-shirts and water bottles out mid last summer. With a little help from our trusted design team upstairs at the Alumni Association, we became a little more creative and introduced a new brand featured at our GLBTAA Homecoming that you will see on our Web site, mailings and now our T-shirts and other goodies that will come your way.

PS... T-shirts are $10+S&H, the model of the shirt will be on our Web site soon and you can e-mail glbtaa@indiana.edu to reserve yours. Also, water bottles should be up and at 'em if enough interest is shown to have them back.

And Much More

Being responsive to you... That has been the most important item of all of these. What do you like best? What do you want to see us do? Do you feel like we serve you in the best manner? What is the thing that makes you check with us often?

I hope, more than anything, that the things I have done during my time here have served you well. I can go on about the tiny things that I have done, but the items above are the things I am proud of most. I couldn't have done any of it without the wonderful supporting board of directors I have had the pleasure serving with over the last 2 years. I couldn't have done it without a need to have these things be done. In August, Solomon Hursey will take my place as the second person to have this internship, and I'm sure he will do a great job. It has been, hands down, right along with working for my dad in his construction company, the most beneficial learning experience I have EVER had. When I am able to in the coming years, I will do my part to do as the benefactor of this internship did for me, and make sure that those after will have a chance to help in this great adventure of ours. Thanks for letting me have a small part in it, I will still be around, hopefully in September as a regular board member. Keep up the good fight, and Happy PRIDE!