A student learns the rules from soup to nuts at the annual Etiquette Dinner (see story below).
Florida Minne-College
From M, winter 2008
The Southwest Florida Chapter of the UMAA will host a
spectacular day of learning on January 26, when renowned faculty
from five colleges on the Twin Cities campus come together in
Naples for the 2008 Florida Minne-College. The program begins with
a keynote address by internationally acclaimed neuroscientist Karen
Ashe of the University of Minnesota Medical School, who has made
breakthrough discoveries on Alzheimer's disease. Following her
address, participants can choose between concurrent lectures
featuring climatologist Mark Seeley of the College of Food,
Agriculture, and Natural Resource Sciences; Jane Davidson from the
Institute of Technology; Deborah Swackhamer from the School of
Public Health; and Kathleen Thomas from the College of Education
and Human Development. A reception featuring remarks by President
Robert Bruininks will conclude the day's events. The Florida
Minne-College will be held from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Naples
Hilton Hotel, 5111 Tamiami Trail North in Naples. For information
about registration and admission fees, call Chad Kono at
1-800-UM-ALUMS or 612-625-9183, or visit www.alumni.umn.edu/Minne-College.
2008 Legislative briefing--save the date!
Mark your calendar now for the UMAA's annual legislative briefing
and reception, the evening of January 23. Join other University
supporters and President Robert Bruininks in this energizing annual
event. You will get an insider's preview of the University of
Minnesota's 2008 capital bonding request and learn how to share
"your story" in a way that will help the leadership and citizens of
Minnesota realize how the University touches each and every one of
them. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. with a light dinner. Program
begins at 6 p.m. and concludes at 8 p.m. There is no charge, but an
RSVP is required at www.supportTheU.umn.edu
Be a part of the UMAA In August, membership in the
UMAA reached an all-time high of 64,000, including more than 13,000
life members. That's good news for the UMAA, but it's even better
news for the University. That's because the UMAA is dedicated to
supporting the University's goal of becoming one of the top three
public research universities in the world. Alumni, parents,
friends, and U of M students are all welcome to join the UMAA.
Members become part of a growing network of supporters who care
deeply about the U and its future. Alumni initiatives in support of
the U include the Mentor Connection, legislative advocacy efforts,
Distinguished Teaching Awards, student leadership awards,
scholarship efforts, and more. Members also enjoy great benefits,
including Minnesota magazine and exclusive access to University
Library databases. To learn more about how you can join the UMAA,
visit www.alumni.umn.edu. Or, drop by the UMAA office, located in
suite 200 of the McNamara Alumni Center, 200 Oak Street Southeast
in Minneapolis.
New benefit for members UMAA members are entitled
to a discounted registration fee on the Strategic Leadership
Insights Speaker Series, an engaging new forum for upper-management
professionals sponsored by the College of Continuing Education.
Each session features a nationally recognized business expert who
will address key workforce trends, followed by a moderated
discussion on how to address these important issues. For more
information, call 612-624-4000 or visit www.cce.umn.edu/insights.
A short course on social graces Any doubts about
whether or not students are genuinely hungry for knowledge were
dispelled in October when nearly 400 gathered at the McNamara
Alumni Center for the annual Etiquette Dinner, an evening of
instruction in social graces. Held since 2000, the Etiquette
Dinner, sponsored by the University of Minnesota Alumni
Association, the Campus Career Services Offices, and the Career
Development Network, aims to help students navigate networking
dinners and job interviews over meals by coaching them in the
nuances of etiquette. Darcy Matz, an etiquette expert and vice
president of Profile Resource Organization, guided students through
a four-course meal. Among the lessons: how to make small talk,
shake hands, and eat a cherry tomato; and whether or not to tell a
fellow diner about the spinach wedged in his or her teeth (the
answer is yes).