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DAR Staff Retreat
General information
When: 8:45 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 13
Where: Dewey Gottwald Center, 2301 West Leigh Street, Richmond Virginia
Attire: Business casual with comfortable shoes. VCU spirit wear and work-appropriate jeans are permitted.
Parking: Complimentary parking is available in the Leigh Street Lot located at the corner of West Leigh Street and DMV Drive.
Format: In-person
Questions? Special accommodations? Contact Julia Ayscue, director of talent management, at joayscue@vcu.edu.
Agenda
8:45 a.m. Arrival and continental breakfast
9:15 a.m. Opening remarks
9:30 -11 a.m. Group activity
11:00 a.m. Break
11:15 - 12:15 p.m. Morning Breakouts
12:15 p.m. Lunch
1-1:45 p.m. Plenary Session
1:45 p.m. Break
2:00-3:15 p.m. Afternoon Breakouts
3:15 p.m. Break
3:30 p.m. Closing remarks
Morning Breakout offerings
| Facilitators |
Description |
|---|---|
|
Mary Riddick, senior director of development, College of Humanities and Sciences
|
Discover how to effectively deploy coaching skills and techniques to enhance collaboration with internal and external partners. Learn how to align with organizational goals, meet personal performance metrics and advance your career. |
| Facilitator |
Description |
|---|---|
| Elizabeth Bass (M.S.W.’03),
associate vice president, Alumni Relations |
Learn practical tips and strategies for effectively involving donors and alumni in DAR’s engagement programs. Learn skills that enhance your ability to connect donors and alumni with meaningful opportunities and drive impactful engagement. |
| Facilitators | Description |
|---|---|
|
Kelly Gotschalk (B.F.A.’90, M.A.’97), senior director of development, VCU Libraries Greg Prince, senior director of development Ann Deppman, assistant vice president, Planned Giving Lauren Leavy(Cert.'19), director, DAR Signature Events |
Explore the unique challenges and opportunities that arise when working with older donors. As demographics in the U.S. and Virginia continue to shift, development professionals must understand and adapt. |
| Facilitator | Description |
|---|---|
| VCU RecWell | Enjoy the fresh air while getting to know your DAR colleagues in a relaxed and engaging way. This outdoor breakout session is designed to foster meaningful connections through fun and low-pressure icebreaker activities. Whether you're meeting colleagues for the first time or want to deepen your rapport with your colleagues, this session will offer playful and interactive ways to build relationships. |
| Facilitator |
Description |
|---|---|
| Josh Leidy, director, LGBTQ+ initiatives, Inclusive Engagement and Philanthropy
|
Delve into the history of gender pronouns and explore why asking and using them correctly in our work is essential. Discuss the significance of pronouns beyond the gender binary and their impact on creating an inclusive environment. |
Afternoon breakout offerings
| Facilitators |
Description |
|---|---|
|
Lynn Meyer, senior director, stewardship, donor engagement, Medical Philanthropy and Alumni Relations
|
Designed for front-line fundraisers, this session will explore recommended practices for successful stewardship outreach. Participants will explore examples of effective stewardship partnerships across various departments, highlighting how collaboration can enhance donor engagement and support. |
| Facilitators |
Description |
|---|---|
|
King Goldman, building operations and talent resource coordinator, Talent Management
|
Stretch your legs, spark some creativity, and explore the Science Museum in a unique way. Join colleagues on an exciting scavenger hunt that will challenge your teamwork, problem-solving skills, and knowledge of DAR’s core values. Collaborate with your team to discover how these values can be embodied in everyday decisions, enhancing your ability to lead with purpose and connection. Strengthen relationships, enjoy some friendly competition, and reflect on what makes our organization thrive. Priority for this session will be awarded to those who have not participated during a previous retreat. |
| Facilitators |
Description |
|---|---|
|
James Wasilewski, excutive director of leadership annual giving, Univeristy Development
|
Learn how to communicate ideas, goals or value propositions clearly and compellingly. Explore and use your spontaneity, adaptability and storytelling skills to ensure your pitch captures attention and leaves a lasting impact. This session will equip you with the tools to think on your feet and share with confidence. |
| Facilitators |
Description |
|---|---|
|
VCU da Vinci Center for Innovation
|
Ever wonder how Tesla, Amazon and Netflix became so innovative? Join the da Vinci Center for a dynamic workshop that answers the million-dollar question: How do you come up with innovative ideas? Brainstorm everything from the outrageous to the brilliant. Pinpoint the ideas that truly shine specific to the work you do. Plus, you'll gain insights on testing them and gathering feedback. |
| Facilitators |
Description |
|---|---|
|
Rachel Brandell-Mayers, executive director of Prospect Development Pam Lowe, senior director of development, School of Nursing Andrew Hartley, senior director of development, Health and Wellness Misa Lobato, director, Prospect Development, Medical Philanthropy |
Delve into the intricacies of portfolio management at VCU with us. Participants will gain an understanding of VCU's guiding prospect management philosophy and how it shapes portfolio strategies. Learn to assess your current portfolio, identify areas for prioritization, and optimize it through strategic moves. The session will also explore techniques for discovering and developing new opportunities to ensure sustained growth. Discover the importance of data-driven decision-making in portfolio management and learn how to utilize data to inform strategies effectively. |