Fellow Florida Blue Keys,

I am honored to update all of you on the progress Florida Blue Key has already made in 2013. First and foremost, the 90th Gator Growl will officially be held in Ben Hill Griffin stadium on November 9th, 2013. Additionally, our executive board successfully held a Homecoming and Gator Growl retreat with our alumni steering committee to ensure the continued long term success of Growl and Homecoming. Furthering our goal of making Growl financially sustainable, we are excited to announce that Florida Blue Key has entered into an agreement with the International Management Group to create and build relationships with corporate sponsors for Homecoming and Gator Growl.

The O’Connell Society continues to grow, and active members are pledging to join before they graduate helping to ensure the long term success of Florida Blue Key. Currently, our Alumni Affairs director is working on reaching out to alumni in the Washington D.C. area to establish a new alumni chapter.

This semester we began a Mentorship Program bringing together active members and alumni to enhance networking and continue promoting leadership and service within our organization.  With this program we will provide new members with insights on how to further contribute to campus and beyond.  If you have not seen the Mentorship Sign up Form in the Keynotes and would like to participate as a mentor to an active chapter member please contact the office or email me at dsomerstein@fbk.org.

Florida Blue Key remains an active and thriving leadership honorary dedicated to serving the University of Florida, the Gainesville community, and the state of Florida. In the following weeks, we will be sending you further information about these new opportunities and I encourage all alumni to get involved! I look forward to seeing you this fall at one of our annual kickoff parties, Homecoming events, and at the “largest student-run pep rally in the world” for what will surely be a gathering of Florida’s past, present and future leaders.

Thank you and Go Gators!

In all kinds of weather,

Dana Somerstein

President, Spring 2013