Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism - Alumni

J-School Alumni

Letter From the President

October, 2004

Since we started the board of the Alumni Committee in 2002, I can honestly say that we've accomplished more than I ever expected from a ragtag group of volunteers. We've helped put on a marathon alumni weekend and organized a professional-quality continuing-education seminar every year for the last three years; we've held parties and events around the country where alums can socialize and ruminate over the issues of the day; we've brought alums back to the school to share their career experiences and build connections with current students; we've interviewed hundreds of prospective students, as well as awarded an annual scholarship to an especially deserving incoming student; we've worked with the J-School to keep alums apprised of school happenings (before they happen!) and alumni goings-on through E-News and the (new and improved) alumni database; and last but not least, we've raised money for the school during an increasingly dire state budget situation.

And equally important, we've instituted governance procedures to ensure that the board's leadership rotates every two years and that we're regularly rejuvenating the board's membership and representation of all alums. As a result of that process, I was elected president of the board for the next two years. Thanks to Connie Hale's hard work as the first president, I'm inheriting a quite productive board.

I have no plans to rest on our laurels, however. Over the coming year, you'll be hearing more about an expanded set of parties and events specifically for alums, not only held at the J-School, but also in cities around the country where we have a major alumni presence (if you'd like to be a social chair in your city, talk to Elliot Zaret, MJ '96, at elliot@zaret.org). We're already planning another blow-out Alumni Weekend (save the date: April 1-3, 2005). We're working to improve North Gate News (now's the time to file those stories to Judy Green, MJ '70, at jgreen@sacbee.com). We're bringing alums back to talk about their careers and mentor students (talk to Tom Johnson, MJ '84, to help at tjohnson@sonoma-county.org). We're roping in more of you to help in other ways (talk to Connie Hale, MJ '90, if you'd like to volunteer but need help plugging into the right subcommittee, at chale@well.com). And we're developing more and better resources and services for alums that will help you be better journalists, and for the nonjournalists out there, just better (please send me your ideas at mickeyb@speakeasy.net).

We've got a great school, so I encourage you to get in touch, to help out, and to stay involved. Take a look at all the events on tap and drop by. Sign up for E-News to get the latest updates. Check out your fellow alums on the new and improved Alumni Database. And give me a holler at mickeyb@speakeasy.net if you want to talk more.

Best,
Mickey Butts, MJ '94

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