I’m not sure what it is about this juncture of the year. Even though we are almost eight months in, it feels more like the middle. Perhaps it’s the short but welcomed hard stop that comes with the holiday closure that creates a transition of sorts. Regardless, I find myself reflecting on both our accomplishments and challenges to date, but also the opportunities ahead. On the former, the 28 volumes of ALTogether Now thus far contain a trove of accomplishment, discovery, and new initiatives. Congratulations to everyone for your participation, creativity, and willingness to embrace change. On the latter, I often reflect on the files I might have approached differently and think how I might apply this hindsight to the opportunities that await in the New Year.
More so than any other time, however, I greatly enjoy the sense of comradery that comes with this time of year as we get to interact in slightly different ways. So, while you are busy winding down, find an opportunity to share an accomplishment or challenge with a colleague as I am sure you’ll get some great feedback and support.
And what better way to find an opportunity to interact with your colleagues than by participating in the final week of the 16 Days of Cheer! With the food drive coming to a successful conclusion, we have one more community initiative that we would like to bring to your attention: the Sock, Mitten, and Hat Drive. Starting today, please consider donating of the above items (new only please) and bring them to the second floor kitchen in Old Meds all this week. These essential items will go a long way in providing a bit of comfort to individuals and families in need during the winter season.
Just in case you haven’t seen it yet, here is the lineup for the final week of the 16 Days of Cheer.
Day 16: Sock, Mitten, and Hat Drive
Day 17: Selfless Act Day (Pay it forward, do something nice, etc.)
Day 18: Ugly Sweater Day (Bring it!)
Day 19: Traditional Old Meds/Summerhill Treat Day
Day 20: Hot Chocolate and Marshmallow Day (Old Meds and Summerhill kitchens)
Please be sure to visit QUIRC for the results of the Door Decorating Contest.
As this is the last official newsletter of 2019, and on behalf of the ALT, I would like to extend my sincere wishes to everyone for a safe, fun, and restful holiday with friends, family and loved ones. See you in 2020.
A Day of Giving
This year, the Annual Giving team segmented the Giving Tuesday appeal differently by incorporating faculty segmentation and introducing a faculty/staff ask. They also utilized social media to promote the appeal and thank donors. As a result, the number of donors climbed from 58 to 91 and revenue more than doubled over last year! Congratulations.
Collaboration Success
Students taking final exams for the first time are better supported thanks to an initiative led by the Queen’s Student Alumni Association (QSAA).
The First-Year Support Letter Project saw alumni provide words of encouragement to first-year students about to encounter final exams at Queen’s.
Volunteers delivered 131 different letters of support to 4,800 first-year students in residence in Kingston and at the Bader International Study Centre at Herstmonceux Castle. Letters were also available for students that do not live in residence to pick up before the fall-term examination period.
In the letters, alumni candidly shared their experiences to help students feel confident they could make it through the stressful exam season.
Communications, Marketing, Events, and Donor Relations worked with the QSAA and Alumni Relations to transform handwritten notes into graphics that were shared on social media. Posts asked alumni to share their advice for first-year students. So far, the posts are generating positive engagement as alumni continue to contribute.
Last week, CBC’s Ottawa Morning picked up the story from social media and invited QSAA President Becca Dann to share her experience as a first-year student and talk about the importance of the project from the student perspective. Listen to the interview (at the 15-minute mark).
A Bit of Housekeeping
Just a quick reminder to review the following memo to refresh yourselves on the Holiday Schedule and Calendar Year-End Cut-Off Dates.
An Hour with Jon and Paul
Jon and Paul’s session last week was very informative. For those that could not attend due to other demands, the lads smartly prepared a few takeaway documents that cover some of the key content. You can access information on the Remote Desktop Application setup and 25 time-saving tips for MS Teams.
Jobs with Advancement
We need your recruitment help. Know great talent that would be a good addition to our team? If so, please promote the vacancy below with your networks and let’s find some amazing new team members.
Applications (including a cover letter and résumé) must be submitted through CareerQ. For additional information on these postings, please reach out to either Katelyn, Carla, or the hiring manager for the position you are interested in.
Available Position:
| POSITION | UNIT AND DEPARTMENT | CLOSING DATE | GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Assistant, Alumni Services |
Alumni Services, Department of Alumni Relations & Annual Giving | Sunday, Jan. 5, 2020 | 5 |
Fun Fact
“Jingle Bells” was written for Thanksgiving, not Christmas. The song was written in 1857 by James Lord Pierpont and published under the title “One Horse Open Sleigh”. It was supposed to be played in the composer’s Sunday school class during Thanksgiving as a way to commemorate the famed Medford sleigh races. “Jingle Bells” was also the first song to be broadcast from space."