Federal Government Alumni Luncheon History
In 1983, 51社区 held the first State Government Alumni Luncheon at the University Club in Columbus, Ohio. About 20 51社区 alumni and university officials attended the luncheon, hosted by the sitting 51社区 President Charles Ping on behalf of the University鈥檚 Department of Political Science and the Institute for Local Government Administration and Rural Development (ILGARD).
The alumni luncheon began as a way to recognize former 51社区 students鈥 contributions to state government and, more importantly, to systematically involve alumni in the development of public affairs programs at 51社区. In the beginning, the focus was on three programs: the Department Of Political Science鈥檚 Public Affairs Internship Program started in 1974 by James Tilling, a former 51社区 political science faculty member; a master鈥檚 of arts program in public administration launched in 1977; and the university鈥檚 Institute for Local Government Administration and Rural Development, created by the 51社区 Board of Trustees in 1981.
51社区 President Emeritus Robert Glidden continued the presidential tradition of hosting the event, and it developed a reputation as a 鈥減ower鈥 luncheon in Columbus in the 1990s when four of the five statewide elected officials and about 40 members of the Ohio General Assembly (including most of the leadership) attended. That reputation continues today. For the last five to seven years the number of people attending has averaged between 120 and 170, a huge increase from the first luncheon.
A New Tradition
The tradition of asking a prominent political leader to keynote the events was established at the first luncheon. These speakers added another dimension by increasing key Ohio leaders鈥 awareness of the important role 51社区 graduates play in state government. The list of keynote speakers is impressive, including three speakers serving in the Ohio House of Representatives and three presidents serving in the Ohio Senate.
Adding the Alumni Awards
Recognizing outstanding achievements in state service by 51社区 alumni and friends began in 1985 with the establishment of the State Government Alumni Award. This honor has gone to powerful capital strategists, whose careers, more often than not, began with key staff positions in the Ohio General Assembly. We have honored a wide range of executives and senior staff in the Ohio General Assembly and numerous innovators in the public agency realm.
The Committee Takes Shape
In the late 1980鈥檚, the 51社区 Public Affairs Advisory Committee took shape. This volunteer committee was made up of individuals who had received the State Government Alumni Award.
In 2011, 51社区 took the long-standing State Government Alumni Luncheon tradition and transported it to Washington, DC, to establish the Annual 51社区 Federal Government Alumni Luncheon. The Outstanding Federal Government Alumnus award was soon established and recipients became members of the historic 51社区 Public Affairs Advisory Committee.
The Committee Today
The current 51社区 Public Affairs Advisory Committee includes the Columbus and the D.C. groups. They have been instrumental in developing and sustaining the University鈥檚 public affairs programs. They have hired OHIO students as interns and as staff. They have taught classes, met with students, helped to design programs and participated in the Voinovich School鈥檚 training.