From: Involvement Center
Date: April 16, 2019
Subject: The Loop | Backyard Bash Registration, Volunteer Opportunity, and more!


Backyard Bash Registration Open!

With summer peaking its head in today, and fall coming shortly, it’s time to open registration for Backyard Bash! We’re looking forward to a bright and sunshine filled evening to help with recruiting for all orgs! Backyard Bash will be held on September 3rd, 2019 from 5-7PM. Register prior to August 23rd, 2019 to ensure your org’s table. Register here.

Volunteer Opportunity!

In search of volunteers to assist with the 41st Annual Early Childhood Education Conference on Friday, April 26th and Saturday, April 27th. Volunteers can sign up for more than one session. A short 15-minute training is held multiple times during the week prior to the event.
Volunteer shifts available:
Friday, April 26th
1:10-2:35PM 2 Volunteers
2:40-4:05PM 7 Volunteers

Saturday, April 27th
10:20-11:50AM 5 Volunteers
1:10-2:35PM 12 Volunteers
2:40-4:05PM 8 Volunteers

Please contact Allison Feller for more information

Save the Date: Leadership Summit!

The Leadership Summit it going to be happening before you know it! Monday evening, September 23rd will be a night of learning different ways to help your organization grow! Be on the lookout for more information from the Involvement Center over the summer and at the beginning of the fall semester.

Officer Transition Resources

Officer transitions are happening for many orgs as this school year ends. Please make sure to update your CONNECT page with your new officers. If you have an org locker, please make sure to have officers updated. This can be done here. Finally, please make sure to update who has access to your organization’s email account. If you’re unsure of how to do this, follow these instructions.
For more resources, look here. If you need more information, please contact the Involvement Center.

Summer Availability in the MSC

Are you staying in Menomonie over summer break and looking for ways to make money?
Contact Heidi Germain for more information about opportunities over the summer.

Matt Gunderson

Matthew Gunderson | Psychology | Senior
Vice President | People’s Organization of Network Gaming

What led you to become an officer for your org? Leadership has always been a passion for me, as well as gaming which is what the org is all about. Over the past few years, the organization has been in a decline, so I saw the importance of needing a change in both leadership and a reinvention of the vision of the org. I think the fact that Stout holds the 2nd largest free LAN event in the country is great, and I wanted to help expand on our ability to hold large, successful events.

What have you learned about leadership in your experience as an org officer? One thing I learned quickly is that large, flashy changes are not only unrealistic, but they are also risky. Change is a slow, and sometimes painful process, and most change comes from small tweaks over time and are rarely the result of a single, splashy event. Over the course of the school year I've come to realize this and have made better short-term decisions because of it.

How have you personally benefitted from your experience as an org leader? One of the biggest benefits from my time as an org leader was during our event remodel with MSC staff. We spent hours planning out how a new refreshed look to our LAN events might bring back some energy, but it was no easy task. Planning and executing this change gave me valuable experience in project management and working with various teams to reach the ultimate goal, which was achieved in time for our November 2018 "Father LAN".

Do you have any tips or advice for future org officers? The best advice I can give is to just speak your mind and be the driving force for change. We like to conform and be complacent because it keeps us in our comfort zone. But I think sometimes we need to step out of our comfort zone and take some risks if we want to create the best experience possible for our members.

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