Development and External Relations Update

The Development and External Relations office UPDATE is a monthly summary of activities in the section and is published for your general information. If you have questions, please contact Jim Goit or call at (902) 893-7950

• AgriTECH Park
  • Atlantic Centre for Agricultural Innovation (ACAI)planning continues; schematic design phase was completed in December and next phase is completion of design and construction drawings; completed an application to AAFC’s Agri-Flexibility program for operational funding for ACAI over the next three years;
  • Attended a meet and greet session coordinated by Research and Graduate Studies;
  • Working with Tracey Crowell, NSAC governance transition team coordinator, to prepare office space in Annapolis building;
  • Investigating the use and demonstration of a grass pellet boiler as a primary heat source for Scotia Pool and eventually new building.
• External Relations
  • Jim attended receptions for a number of organizations this month as part of his external role in maintaining relations.
  • NovaKnowledge Reception
  • CIBC reception
  • Colchester Hospital Dinner
  • BioNova reception
  • Ministers reception
  • Jim attended long time department employee Ray Foote’s funeral
  • Staff attended the AgraPoint get together
  • Jim and Laurie met with CBCL on plans for the new Agri Innovation centre.  It is coming together nicely.
  • Together with Research and Graduate Studies, the Development Team sponsored a number of holiday 'essentials' baskets for the women at Transition House.
• Marketing
  • Provided communications support to Corinna Taylor, grad student attending COP-15 including blogging tips;
  • Briefed Tracy Crowell on brand strategy for institution;
  • Began project management of awareness material for Sustainability Committee including a 2010 calendar, light switchplate stickers and signs above multi-function devices;
  • Began social media promotion plan;
  • Consulted with Registry on Academic Calendar cover design;
  • Worked with marketing agency to complete fulfillment of this year's contracted services;
  • Worked with inter-university committee to launch an inter-university promotions campaign for Nova Scotia's universities that targets Ottawa and Toronto-area parents;
• Communications and Alumni
  • Development Staff had a training day as well as composed a holiday greeting card that was posted on the YouTube site. It got a lot of attention and accolades.
  • Jim and Jenna met with switchboard committee to discuss restructuring NSAC's switcboard menu
• 71 Found/changed alumni records this month
• Development and Fund Raising
  • Jim and Alisha spent time on planning for the winter fund raising campaign
  • They had a meeting with CIBC
  • Met with TD Meloche Monnex
  • Called RBC and FCC
  • Visited with Carol Versteeg and Dick Huggard on prospect lists
  • Provided a list to Laurie Hennigar
  • Alisha and Jim worked on material for  the campaign

• Website
  • iTunesU configuration continues. We're having an issue with the way Apple now has the client host the files. Unfortunately they haven't updated their manuals so we're a little in the dark.
  • Xerox is designing some new backgrounds for the digital signage which will be branded.
  • Domains have been renewed for the OACC.
  • Mike met the new OACC Website Coordinator, Joanna MacKenzie, and looks forward to helping her maintain the OACC site.
  • Macromedia Contribute licenses have been ordered. This should allow much easier editing by various people/editors across campus. The license is quite a bit cheaper than Dreamweaver.
  • TV installs continue and have been moved up the priority list and should hopefully be completed in January.