OSWEGO -- Two publications of the Oswego Alumni
Association at SUNY Oswego were recognized as part of the Accolades
Program at the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education's
District II conference recently. Oswego alumni magazine won a silver
award, and Oswego Parents newsletter received a bronze award.
"It's always a good feeling when your work is recognized
by your peers, and CASE is the premier institution for advancement
professionals," said Betsy Oberst, executive director of the Oswego
Alumni Association.
"The magazine is our prime way of communicating with
over 50,000 alumni and the newsletter with over 5,000 parents," Oberst
said. "We put a lot of effort into making those communications as
effective as possible."
The alumni magazine was recognized in the category
for one- to three-color magazines with a budget of over $20,000, for
the fall 2002 and spring and summer 2003 issues. SUNY Buffalo's
Physician magazine won the gold in that category.
Oswego Parents was honored in the category for one-
to three-color newsletters with a budget of less than $5,000.
"The judging panel felt that you met the goals of
your publication and that writing and content were excellent," the
judges' feedback noted. "The judges particularly liked the use of short
text and felt the writing in each story grabbed the reader
immediately." Taking gold in that category was the Pickering College
Joy of Effort newsletter.
Michele Reed, director of alumni and development
communications, is the editor and principal writer for both
publications, and Jim Russell is the staff photographer. The magazine
is designed by Colleen Kiefer of Kiefer Creative, and she also designed
the original template for the newsletter.
Contributing writers included college staffers Julie
Harrison Blissert, Lyle Fulton, Linda Loomis, Tim Nekritz and Lisa
Potter; student interns Janel Armstrong (who graduated in December),
Kyle Konkoski (who graduated last May), seniors Maureen Flynn and
Kimberly Trela, and junior Emily King; and alumna Patricia Rycraft
O'Toole. Joseph LeFevre, professor of chemistry, shot the cover
photograph on the spring 2003 issue.
CASE is an international professional organization
for advancement professionals at all levels who work in alumni
relations, communications and development. District II has the largest
CASE membership, including more than 660 institutions and 4,800
individual members.
In December, the magazine was recognized by the
Oswego County Press Club in two categories: Best Article: Government
for "Homeland Security 101" in the spring 2003 issue, and Best
Editorial, for that issue's "From the Editor's Pen."