The Campaign to Save Ball Hall

You may know that once every month, Doug Lippincott, executive director of communications, hosts a radio show on WFLR called Keuka College Today.

For this month’s show, which aired on Thursday, Doug is joined by Fran Crovetti, associate vice president of development, and LaMont Schiers, director of facilities, who talk about the Ball Hall renovation and The Campaign to Save Ball Hall.

Here’s a copy of the show that the folks over at WFLR were kind enough to share with us:

Part I:

Part II:

Part III:

Last Friday, LeChase Construction gave the occupants of Ball Hall—staff and students alike—t-shirts that say, “We survived the Ball Hall renovation of 2006-2007” on the back. Several of us staff wore the shirts for the first time today (Fridays are designated “Keuka apparel days”). But I saw some students donning theirs earlier in the week. I have to say, it’s pretty neat that years from now I can tell future generations of Keukonians that I was here during the Ball Hall renovation of ’06-’07. I’ll join other staff, faculty, and students who can say, “I was there when Eleanor Roosevelt visited the campus in 1938” or “when Martin Luther King Jr. delivered the baccalaureate address and received an honorary doctor of letters degree in 1963.” I’m sure there are more significant events that alumni have witnessed/lived through. Please share.

-Tanya

Christine Steinkamp, a junior Organizational Communications and Marketing double major, is going to be sharing her Field Period experience with the world through her blog, The Three Rs and R News. As you may have guessed, she’ll be doing her Field Period at R News.

Feel free to pop on over to read about her experiences, or drop her some comments with words of encouragement/advice.

In other Keuka news, our 99th Commencement is going to be this Sunday. They’re calling for scattered thunder showers, but let’s keep our fingers crossed that they’re wrong.

– Pete

The Ball Hall memories video has been posted to the memories page. So please, click on over, spend a few minutes watching (you may even see some of your classmates in it or … even photos of you), and then share your own memories with us.

Concord, Massachusetts was home to the final Ball Hall rally on March 18. Many of our alumni were unable to attend the various rallies across the country, and we’ve also fielded a few questions here & there from people wondering what was being presented at said rallies.

That being said, we’ve created a virtual rally for those of you who were unable to attend or for those of you who simply want to relive the experience.

So, without further ado, I present to you our virtual rally welcome video.

Continue reading ‘Virtual Rally’

The railing coming from the main entrance up to the new lobby is being installed today.

Cool.

My husband came to visit me at work (and join me for lunch) one day last week. It was the first time he had been inside Ball Hall in a LONG time. After a call from him on his cell phone wondering how to get in (the front entrance still has plywood over the former glass doors and, last I noticed, there was a rather deep-looking trench where the concrete landing used to be), and deciding after some explanation that it would just be easier if I met him out in the parking lot, he made his way in. He thought our ground floor offices were nice (he’d never visited the basement in its former state, so the appreciation I have for the transformation just wasn’t there), but what most impressed him was the first floor, where my office used to be. What surprised me was the immense sense of pride I felt while showing him around… like I was showing off a brand new/remodeled home. “This is our new lobby,” I said, pointing out the design in the hardwood floor/carpet combination and making note of the matching molding. I also took him to the old alumni lounge, which can seat a whole mess of people now with all of its couches and chairs. There are still signs of the former beauty, though. The wainscot that lined the hall remains, painted a pleasant beige color (replacing a rather sick-looking gold). And, the old doors to the office suites were salvaged and re-painted. Overall, the look is much brighter and fresher.

-Tanya

Just in case you missed the press conference on Friday with Jim Boeheim, head men’s basketball coach at Syracuse University, here’s a quick video clip of Boeheim talking about coming to Keuka to give the 9th Annual Carl and Fanny Fribolin Lecture.

In September 2006, the Kresge Foundation made a $600,000 challenge grant to the College in support of the campaign. Since many of our alumni and supporters have asked questions about the Kresge challenge and what it means for Keuka, we’ve compiled this list of FAQs for you to reference.

What is the Kresge Foundation?
The Kresge Foundation, based in Troy, Mich., is an independent, private foundation created in 1924 by the personal gifts of Sebastian S. Kresge (he of the 5 and 10-cent stores). Its core grant-making program focuses on opportunities to strengthen leadership and giving through challenge grants for capital projects. The foundation awards $132 million a year in grants. For more: www.kresge.org.

What is the Kresge Challenge?
While most challenge grants are based on colleges or organizations matching funds, the Kresge challenge is all about increasing participation.

In other words, we need to raise funds and friends. We have to raise $9.4 million to receive the Kresge Foundation’s $600,000. However, we also need to broaden and deepen our giving base—particularly alumni—to receive the Kresge funds, complete the Ball Hall renovation, and take advantage of future opportunities to strengthen the College.

How can I help meet the challenge?
The best way you can help us meet the Kresge Challenge is to make a gift or pledge to The Campaign to Save Ball Hall. You can send your full gift now, or make a pledge that is payable over three years.

Does the size of the gift matter?
Every gift, large and small, matters. Remember, we want to increase participation. But there’s three things to keep in my mind as you contemplate your gift:

• It’s vital that those who support the campaign also maintain their usual support of the Keuka Fund, which funds many day-to-day operations of the College and makes scholarships available to deserving students.
• While it’s important to add new folks to our giving rolls, it also has a positive impact on the campaign when our regular supporters make a larger, “stretch gift” beyond his or her usual giving level.
• A gift of $1,500 or more will ensure that your name will be inscribed on the Wall of Donors in the lobby of the new-look Ball Hall.

How close is the College to reaching the $10 million goal?
At press time, we needed to raise $510,199 to meet the Kresge Challenge and receive the $600,000 that will put us over the top.

When does the campaign conclude?
The Campaign to Save Ball Hall and the Kresge Challenge both end Jan. 31, 2008.

For your viewing pleasure, here’s a shot of the new alumni lounge, also known as the admissions waiting room/that place with the coffee pot and cool couches.

Admissions and Marketing — myself included — are officially located on the first floor of Ball Hall as of today, along with Financial Aid, Alumni & Family Relations, the Office of Development, and the Executive Vice President’s office; I’ll be posting a photo gallery of the new offices later this week.