The Secret of Your Success - WRHU looks at this as a great learning opportunity for the students, who have gone through the WRHU radio operations training program offered to 40 students out of more than 800 applicants each year, to cover a large-scale live event. The team of 10 staff and students we have selected to cover the event will achieve success and get the attention of their listeners by enjoying the coverage and the experience that is the Special Olympics.
Event - The student and community volunteer staff of WRHU Radio Hofstra University broadcasted from the Special Olympics New York Summer Games Opening Ceremonies on Thursday evening and the competition on Friday morning. The games are hosted by Hofstra University for the third year in a row. WRHU student trainees were given the opportunity to work with experienced staff and volunteers to cover the event. John Mullen, operations director, and Fran Jensen, community volunteer liaison, coordinated and supervised the coverage. Results of some competitions will be included in "Newsline" Friday afternoon at 4:30 p.m.
Challenges - Weather! (The Opening Ceremonies were moved indoors on 30-minutes notice.) Equipment was moved at the last minute, but before the downpour. The plan for how the move would work, the coverage, space available in the Arena and our electrical needs were worked out in advance. Power to get a signal back to the main station on the south side of campus was confirmed. We also needed a clear line of sight to the podium, and a microphone, to get the program to our listeners, while being close to the backstage area for interviews.
Techniques - To allow our audience to be aware of the event, we did a series of announcements in the weeks leading up to the games. We were able to promote volunteerism and awareness to our listeners by advertising the SONY's Web address. The Hofstra student volunteers participated in planning meetings, where we developed the contingency plans and discussed opportunities for coverage and how to be at the right place at the right time.
Student Participation - This year we have more students and community members interested in volunteering. The trainees were eager to get out into the field and apply what they have learned in our training program. An event like Special Olympics gives students an extraordinary opportunity to go to the competitions, formulate questions, and then find people with interesting stories to interview.
Coming Up - Visit the Special Olympics New York and WRHU Web sites for information about these and other upcoming events. For more information about WRHU Radio Hofstra University, contact Operations Manager John Mullen at x3-5106. Visit the WRHU Web site at www.wrhu.org.

THE SECRET OF YOUR SUCCESS - Since 1990, when the group held its first meeting at Hofstra, we have worked on each year's event in the same way with a new planner. The chairperson and his or her committee come for an inspection of the campus and all of the facilities they will use. We also draw up a plan of the use of space and needed services. We meet several times as a group to iron everything out and get updates as plans change. Many attendees return every year and become comfortable with our staff and students. The central meeting area, the Hofstra Arena, is an ideal location for exhibits, social activity, business, worship and planning.
EVENT - The gathering is actually a conference of many smaller organizations. Most of the groups hold formal meetings during the larger conference, and the general sessions in the Arena combine representatives of each group with designated representatives of individual churches. A daily newsletter keeps everyone informed of outcomes and activities. Housing for approximately 1,500 visitors - and dining for all of the visitors - is provided by the Hofstra Dining and Conference Services offices.
CHALLENGE - Usually we have requests for changes to the housing reservations. Sometimes there are cancellations or new requests, and sometimes people we have not heard from will arrive! We are prepared for all of these, by preparing and holding rooms and linens, and by working with our student staff and the group's registration committee at the site of the on-campus registration.
TECHNIQUES - The Arena works well as a showcase for all of the groups and vendors on the upper level of the building, while the main event is in progress on the lower level. Attendees can visit vendors, vendors can 'attend' the meeting while hosting booths, vendors can interact with each other - and there is constant interaction - which is what this conference is all about. The Arena is cool, and the sound is very good for a large number of people throughout the facility.
STUDENT PARTICIPATION - Fifty-five Hofstra students are chosen to staff the Hofstra Conference Services operation for the summer. They play an important role for the Methodist conference by providing hospitality, information about Hofstra and the campus facilities, and making the guests comfortable while they are away from home for three days. At meal time, they let guests know where seating is available and how to get food and beverages. The experience and training offered by the Conference Services staff provide valuable experience.
COMING UP- For a complete list of conferences and events for the Summer 2005 season, contact the Hospitality Desk in the Student Center, Room 112, at x3-6925. To know more about the Conference Services, click here.

THE SECRET OF YOUR SUCCESS - Creating a 'buzz' for the event was a big part of this successful event! A 'save the date' reminder went out six months beforehand, and a newsletter and e-mail network were established, which allowed members (aka sisters) to find each other and communicate in the months before it happened. The e-mail went out three times and included e-mail addresses and information that had been shared via e-mail with the coordinator. We built the momentum and got alumni members excited about the event and reunited with old friends.
EVENT - The Alumni Brunch took place at the Hofstra University Club on Sunday, April 10th, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. With the assistance of Gwendolyn Wade, assistant director of alumni relations, and Denise Harris, assistant director of student activities and advisor to the Hofstra chapter, 70 of the 258 alumni members were invited and attended the event. We were thrilled that 10 of the 46 founding members attended and worked with our current Hofstra Chapter leadership team to come up with great ideas to make the day memorable. A raffle of donated nostalgia items, picture boards and photo albums were displayed in the room, and decorations included the official flower (Iris) of Delta Phi Epsilon. Specially personalized nametags with caligraphy and photos were given to each guest. Nametags were a much appreciated momento of the event.
CHALLENGE - To locate members who had lost contact with Hofstra or the sisters, we used the E-news. We gave them a reason, the event itself, to get back in contact with each other. Back at Hofstra we began in January to talk at our regular weekly meetings about our goals (i.e., raffle, nametags, decorations, archives) and designated people for each of them. Each person reported on their progress and the group kept on track to be prepared for the event.
TECHNIQUES - To ensure that alumnae would have plenty of time to fit the event into their busy lives, Bonnie made sure the date and time were sent out as soon as the location was reserved. On display at the luncheon were yearbooks, awards earned over the years by the sorority, banners and scrapbooks. There was time set aside to talk and meet everyone in the room. The program began about an hour after lunch was served. Raffle tickets were sold by current sorority sisters, giving undergraduates and alumnae the opportunity to mix and mingle. The prizes were donated by most of the more active members of the alumnae chapter.
STUDENT PARTICIPATION - Our event and the planning process allowed members to interact with our alumnae, giving everyone a new and wonderful connection to the sorority - past, present and future. Alumnae are excellent resources, especially for job opportunities.
COMING UP - Visit the Web site for the national Delta Phi Epsilon organization, or contact Denise Harris, advisor and assistant director of student activities, for more information at x3-6914.

THE SECRET OF YOUR SUCCESS - The amount of cooperation that it takes for us to make this experience the best it can possibly be for the athletes is the key. The families that have stayed and maintained their commitment to the program are the essential component, as well as the gratitude of the wonderful children that we serve. We have an international connection as well, in addition to the fact that what we do is important.
EVENT - The Physically Challenged Irish and American Youth Team program began in 1988 when six physically-challenged children were invited to America to participate in the New York State Games for the Physically Challenged. Today 25 different athletes are invited each year to participate in the Empire State Games, hosted at Hofstra, and a two-week experience in The Big Apple. The same number of athletes from New York is invited to attend the games in Ireland in July.
CHALLENGE - To have the volunteer support that we need is a challenge. There is one chaperone per athlete, and we are fortunate to have experience of past years to guide newer volunteers. We cook, drive vans, host families, and have made arrangements for medical care to be made available by specialists in New York. We also have raised enough money for two college scholarships every year. One family's involvement goes back 17 years to the original visit.
TECHNIQUES - The events in and around New York City are sponsored by different organizations, including restaurants, insurance companies, the New York Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Hofstra facilities play a role in the housing and feeding that is needed between the many events that are scheduled. The Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick of Long Island, which raises funds each year for the following year's trip, has an open membership dinner every year at Hofstra, where the two groups get to meet each other and socialize. The coach of the team is the coordinator of all of the athletes' activities, and is familiar with the special needs of each athlete as well.
STUDENT PARTICIPATION - Volunteer support and attendance at the games is always appreciated by the athletes. For more information, visit the Web site for the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.
COMING UP - The 2006 Empire State Winter Games will take place in Lake Placid, New York, February 24-26, 2006. For more information about the Irish team, visit the Web site at www.pcirishteam.org.