September 2009
Minnesota Daily Alumni Association Newsletter
September 2009
From the Board
Michelle Fure, President
Happy September! Welcome to the inaugural issue of the Minnesota Daily Alumni Association Newsletter. We’ll be putting together a short update each month (at least during the regular school year) to keep you informed on what’s happening with Daily alumni and our activities to support staff at the Minnesota Daily. Have a question or interest? Let us know — send an email to me or Board Secretary Courtney Lewis Opdahl. We’re anxious to hear from you!
Upcoming Events
Mark your calendars for the homecoming football weekend, Oct. 9-10. The Gophers will take on the Purdue Boilermakers at the new TCF Bank Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 10. Plans for a social gathering on Friday, Oct. 9 are developing — if you’ll be in town and you’re interested in connecting for a few hours, contact us. We’ll post additional details on our Facebook page, as well.
Be a Mentor to a Daily Staffer
By Anthony Maggio, Daily Alumni Board
Remember your first semester at the Minnesota Daily? For most, this first foray into “real” journalism was a whirlwind of excitement, confusion and sleep deprivation. Although the employees of the Daily eventually find their way, questions still go unasked and some wisdom simply can’t be passed down because it remains an organization comprised solely of students.
This is where former Daily employees can give back to the organization that provided invaluable experience for those fortunate enough to be part of the fraternity. By mentoring a student at the Minnesota Daily, you can pass along the knowledge you’ve gained as a professional while reconnecting with campus. You may also provide a Daily employee with a valuable conduit to the job market – a vital resource considering the current evolution of journalism and our overall economic climate.
Becoming a mentor is easy – just contact the Minnesota Daily Alumni Association and let the group know in what areas of the Daily you would be most comfortable serving as a mentor. Based on your interests and profession, you will be partnered with a student who also signed up for the program. The Alumni Association facilitates your first meeting, and from there the relationship is dictated by you and your mentee.
If after one semester either party would like to move on, no problem. The Alumni Association will set up students with a new mentor, and the mentee with a new student. If mentor/mentee combo is a solid match, the relationship can continue for as long as both parties are interested. Ambitious mentors can even be partnered with multiple students!
If you have ever had a mentor, you know how rewarding of an experience it can be. Being a mentor yourself can be even more rewarding, as just a few hours of your time can greatly impact a student’s professional and personal life. Please consider becoming a mentor. Feel free to contact me at magg0006@umn.edu or Daily president Ashley Williams at awilliams@mndaily.com for more information or to sign up.
Connect with Alumni
As another academic year begins at the University, we’re interested in hearing from you about how you’d like to connect with other Daily alumni this year.
We are working to rebuild our database of contact information — please take a minute to send us your e-mail and contact information so we know how best to reach you. Also, take a few minutes to tell us what you’ve been doing since you left the Daily and what is your fondest Daily memory.
We’ve compiling biographies of Daily alumni — visit the alumni Website and click on “Meet Daily Alumni” to see more.
Other ways to connect — join our groups on Linked in or Facebook. If you’d like to set up a regional alumni group, such as a group for alumni in New York or California or some other locale, let us know.
