I am going to scratch a scab that has been sitting out here for a few weeks. For a young (freshly appointed, a year in the job) AD, this is a perfect opportunity to lay down a single - not a home run. This is a modest short-term project - over a summer, which has clearly piqued the interest of the athletic constituency. It goes to the core sport of the athletic program. We are taking a pass on feeding the beast.
I know I have ruffled some feathers for my earlier posts on our new AD in another thread, up to and including a reprimand from the Don for not posting a media reference in support of my case. I am still looking for such a reference, and I will not use a media reference which contains inaccurate information. Our freshly minted AD has yet to identify his opportunity. He has a year in now - time to start marking the turf.
LOL.
Got it. So the AD doesn't get any of the credit for securing the initial funding ($6MM?) that enabled us to build our first athletic upgrade of consequence in the past 20 years, yet he gets all of the BLAME for not promoting it effectively to secure the next wave?
Maybe he would've been better off not even raising the first batch in the first place.
Man, leadership jobs are a bitch.
PS I've been more critical than anyone about the need to do a better job promoting the MBB program as a whole.
Bromance is showing.
For the umpteenth time, the upgrade was announced years ago. In fact, the scope was scaled back in the current rendition - probably a wise decision for which the AD deserves at least some credit. This AD had NOTHING to do with raising $6MM. I could be wrong, so please show me the evidence that he raised $6MM. I will settle for half that amount. Since he was announced in May of 2018, where is the athletic campaign?
Yes, leadership jobs are a bitch - hence the big bucks (relative term). At the very least, you take advantage of the "gimmies" ("More or less a freebie that requires some sort of (minimal) effort to obtain. Often used in the context of athletics, but may have other applications.") Show the progress! Feed the animals!
1. I don't recall seeing a timeline with the Arrigoni Challenge, but I do know the match portion was for phase 2, which we're not even ready to start yet. So, it seems you guys are in a hurry. Why?
2. Isn't Iona's fiscal year wrapping up? Maybe some of the folks involved are a bit tied up, and soon will be able to switch focus?
3. Sorta related to the first point, but don't you guys think the most logical time to make a real push for this would be in Oct/Nov when Meet the Gaels and the actual games start, and all the fannies are coming out of the woodwork?
These are just a couple things that crossed my mind. Even if they had merit, I'm sure some of you would still shoot them down, but whatevs.
Also, while I am not suggesting you all kiss Iona's ass with every post you make, I am trying to coordinate something with them once the OOC is out, and pissing all over Matt G or the athletic office in general isn't exactly going to give them incentive to participate.
The greatest poster in the history of the MAAC as determined by THREE separate polls.
1. I don't recall seeing a timeline with the Arrigoni Challenge, but I do know the match portion was for phase 2, which we're not even ready to start yet. So, it seems you guys are in a hurry. Why?
2. Isn't Iona's fiscal year wrapping up? Maybe some of the folks involved are a bit tied up, and soon will be able to switch focus?
3. Sorta related to the first point, but don't you guys think the most logical time to make a real push for this would be in Oct/Nov when Meet the Gaels and the actual games start, and all the fannies are coming out of the woodwork?
These are just a couple things that crossed my mind. Even if they had merit, I'm sure some of you would still shoot them down, but whatevs.
Also, while I am not suggesting you all kiss Iona's ass with every post you make, I am trying to coordinate something with them once the OOC is out, and pissing all over Matt G or the athletic office in general isn't exactly going to give them incentive to participate.
Exactly. And when the 6 million is raised I'm sure you will all apologize. Right. You'll complain about how long it took. All of us genius fundraisers.
Guy, these are real issues, and airing them ultimately benefits the College. This is the time to publicize the Hynes renovations and the challenge. People are far more likely to get motivated by a steady flow of information on what is clearly good news. Most people like progress. To the extent that the College is reluctant to emphasize the Arrigioni challenge for fear of somehow hurting the larger Iona Forever campaign, I point out the following. First, the Iona Forever campaign has itself not been consistently publicized. We get sporadic and generalized updates on what should be treated as significant pieces of good news for the College; the reconstruction of Spellman and the business school are huge developments that the College has not leveraged as it should. It puzzles that the College isn’t promoting all of this relentlessly. There is a good story to tell, and it is not being told effectively. Second, what I can see there has been little to no effort to conduct a generalized appeal for Iona Forever or the Arrigioni challenge, beyond announcing the existence of each campaign, a very few updates here and there and the announcement of the initial gifts by LaPenta and Hynes and LaPenta’s subsequent match. Aside from that, the two or three public events over the years related to LaPenta and Hynes’ gifts, very little effort has been made to generate sustained and wide spread attention among the alums.
It could be that a conscious decision has been made to concentrate solely on people who might give larger gifts, but I think it’s a mistake to forgo a wider campaign, even one that is focused on communication of the tangible progress that is being made on the buildings.
As to the gym, yes the challenge is focused on phase 2. Put the showstopper is phase 1. Pictures of renovations to concession stands and coaches offices are not likely to grab the attention of people the way the phase 1 renovation of the gym will. You have to use what you have to generate excitement, and that is the gym renovation.
1. I don't recall seeing a timeline with the Arrigoni Challenge, but I do know the match portion was for phase 2, which we're not even ready to start yet. So, it seems you guys are in a hurry. Why?
2. Isn't Iona's fiscal year wrapping up? Maybe some of the folks involved are a bit tied up, and soon will be able to switch focus?
It absolutely is. In addition, it is also the time everyone is writing, or finishing up, their Annual Reports - as well as everyone filling out their annual Performance Review reports. while school might be "out", it is still a busy time on campus.
Last Edit: Jul 11, 2019 12:12:04 GMT -5 by tootie223
Guy, these are real issues, and airing them ultimately benefits the College. This is the time to publicize the Hynes renovations and the challenge. People are far more likely to get motivated by a steady flow of information on what is clearly good news. Most people like progress. To the extent that the College is reluctant to emphasize the Arrigioni challenge for fear of somehow hurting the larger Iona Forever campaign, I point out the following. First, the Iona Forever campaign has itself not been consistently publicized. We get sporadic and generalized updates on what should be treated as significant pieces of good news for the College; the reconstruction of Spellman and the business school are huge developments that the College has not leveraged as it should. It puzzles that the College isn’t promoting all of this relentlessly. There is a good story to tell, and it is not being told effectively. Second, what I can see there has been little to no effort to conduct a generalized appeal for Iona Forever or the Arrigioni challenge, beyond announcing the existence of each campaign, a very few updates here and there and the announcement of the initial gifts by LaPenta and Hynes and LaPenta’s subsequent match. Aside from that, the two or three public events over the years related to LaPenta and Hynes’ gifts, very little effort has been made to generate sustained and wide spread attention among the alums.
It could be that a conscious decision has been made to concentrate solely on people who might give larger gifts, but I think it’s a mistake to forgo a wider campaign, even one that is focused on communication of the tangible progress that is being made on the buildings.
As to the gym, yes the challenge is focused on phase 2. Put the showstopper is phase 1. Pictures of renovations to concession stands and coaches offices are not likely to grab the attention of people the way the phase 1 renovation of the gym will. You have to use what you have to generate excitement, and that is the gym renovation.
I don't think they are real issues.
Describe what you mean by a steady flow of information. There have been regular updates showing the changes to Hynes. Are you expecting weekly updates on the donations? Do other organizations do this? I've never ever heard of that.
"Promoting relentlessly" would turn me off. Considerably.
The showstopper is indeed phase 1, but showing a gym in the middle of construction doesn't tell me anything or excite me. That's why the real push won't happen until the gym is done. The money is needed for phase 2. When phase 1 is done, the push for phase 2 will ramp up. This isn't difficult.
The greatest poster in the history of the MAAC as determined by THREE separate polls.
Guy, these are real issues, and airing them ultimately benefits the College. This is the time to publicize the Hynes renovations and the challenge. People are far more likely to get motivated by a steady flow of information on what is clearly good news. Most people like progress. To the extent that the College is reluctant to emphasize the Arrigioni challenge for fear of somehow hurting the larger Iona Forever campaign, I point out the following. First, the Iona Forever campaign has itself not been consistently publicized. We get sporadic and generalized updates on what should be treated as significant pieces of good news for the College; the reconstruction of Spellman and the business school are huge developments that the College has not leveraged as it should. It puzzles that the College isn’t promoting all of this relentlessly. There is a good story to tell, and it is not being told effectively. Second, what I can see there has been little to no effort to conduct a generalized appeal for Iona Forever or the Arrigioni challenge, beyond announcing the existence of each campaign, a very few updates here and there and the announcement of the initial gifts by LaPenta and Hynes and LaPenta’s subsequent match. Aside from that, the two or three public events over the years related to LaPenta and Hynes’ gifts, very little effort has been made to generate sustained and wide spread attention among the alums.
It could be that a conscious decision has been made to concentrate solely on people who might give larger gifts, but I think it’s a mistake to forgo a wider campaign, even one that is focused on communication of the tangible progress that is being made on the buildings.
As to the gym, yes the challenge is focused on phase 2. Put the showstopper is phase 1. Pictures of renovations to concession stands and coaches offices are not likely to grab the attention of people the way the phase 1 renovation of the gym will. You have to use what you have to generate excitement, and that is the gym renovation.
I don't think they are real issues.
Describe what you mean by a steady flow of information. There have been regular updates showing the changes to Hynes. Are you expecting weekly updates on the donations? Do other organizations do this? I've never ever heard of that.
"Promoting relentlessly" would turn me off. Considerably.
The showstopper is indeed phase 1, but showing a gym in the middle of construction doesn't tell me anything or excite me. That's why the real push won't happen until the gym is done. The money is needed for phase 2. When phase 1 is done, the push for phase 2 will ramp up. This isn't difficult.
Guy we will have to agree to disagree on whether these are real issues. I think my view is pretty clear. One thing we do agree on; “this isn’t difficult.” In fact, that is my point. It isn’t difficult to effectively promote good news, if you make the effort to do it.
It might help to understand why I feel strongly about this, aside from my personal desire to support the College. I am on the board of a long term and well established charity in NYC. I have seen up close how an organization’s achievements, progress, etc, can effectively be leveraged to raise that organization’s public profile, to build support and excitement for the organization, and yes, to help raise money. It takes consistent and focused communication to do that (that is the “relentless” part). It doesn’t mean you ask for contributions once a week.
I have stated in great detail what I am urging the College to do, and would urge you or anyone else who is interested to read it again if they have interest in this. For the most part, I’ve said my piece here, and yes I have and will convey it again privately to the right people at Iona.
One final time though, I never said I expected weekly tallies of funds raised. Instead I expect the College to approach this like it is an opportunity to promote the campaigns effectively.
Got it. So the AD doesn't get any of the credit for securing the initial funding ($6MM?) that enabled us to build our first athletic upgrade of consequence in the past 20 years, yet he gets all of the BLAME for not promoting it effectively to secure the next wave?
Maybe he would've been better off not even raising the first batch in the first place.
Man, leadership jobs are a bitch.
PS I've been more critical than anyone about the need to do a better job promoting the MBB program as a whole.
Bromance is showing.
For the umpteenth time, the upgrade was announced years ago. In fact, the scope was scaled back in the current rendition - probably a wise decision for which the AD deserves at least some credit. This AD had NOTHING to do with raising $6MM. I could be wrong, so please show me the evidence that he raised $6MM. I will settle for half that amount. Since he was announced in May of 2018, where is the athletic campaign?
Yes, leadership jobs are a bitch - hence the big bucks (relative term). At the very least, you take advantage of the "gimmies" ("More or less a freebie that requires some sort of (minimal) effort to obtain. Often used in the context of athletics, but may have other applications.") Show the progress! Feed the animals!
Allen Fieldhouse PTSD is showing. :-)
Here are the facts and data points you asked for:
1. You’re correct that part (most) of the $6MM was committed prior to Matt G taking over as AD.
2. Matt G was responsible for sealing the deal AND securing additional funding to increase the amount to $6MM.
3. How do you know that the original commitment wouldn’t have been at risk if Matt G wasn’t in place as AD? Perhaps the donor trusted Matt G, perhaps Matt G instilled continuity and confidence that another new AD might not have been able to do.
Ask our rivals in Riverdale if they wouldn’t kill to have the outcomes under their AD that our AD has brought us in under a year.
For the umpteenth time, the upgrade was announced years ago. In fact, the scope was scaled back in the current rendition - probably a wise decision for which the AD deserves at least some credit. This AD had NOTHING to do with raising $6MM. I could be wrong, so please show me the evidence that he raised $6MM. I will settle for half that amount. Since he was announced in May of 2018, where is the athletic campaign?
Yes, leadership jobs are a bitch - hence the big bucks (relative term). At the very least, you take advantage of the "gimmies" ("More or less a freebie that requires some sort of (minimal) effort to obtain. Often used in the context of athletics, but may have other applications.") Show the progress! Feed the animals!
Allen Fieldhouse PTSD is showing. :-)
Here are the facts and data points you asked for:
1. You’re correct that part (most) of the $6MM was committed prior to Matt G taking over as AD.
2. Matt G was responsible for sealing the deal AND securing additional funding to increase the amount to $6MM.
3. How do you know that the original commitment wouldn’t have been at risk if Matt G wasn’t in place as AD? Perhaps the donor trusted Matt G, perhaps Matt G instilled continuity and confidence that another new AD might not have been able to do.
Ask our rivals in Riverdale if they wouldn’t kill to have the outcomes under their AD that our AD has brought us in under a year.
Points one and two contradict each other. Point 3 is speculation by you. PERHAPS you and "Facts" have a fluid relationship.
I agree with 83 that this is missed opportunity to engage the Iona community.