Union Board

Union Board is the primary campus programming organization at Wittenberg. Events feature comedians, musicians, illusionists, and more.

I was a member of Union Board for 4 years and held several leadership positions

Student Center Chairperson -

Programmed recreational activities in the student union, including novelty acts, roving artists and movies.

Vice President -  

Supported the President and Executive Board in their respective duties and served as Treasurer and revised the organization constitution.

President -  

Full responsibility for allocation of budgeted funds totaling $142,000 annually, supervised all Union Board sponsored events in 2002, including comedians, musicians, and lecturers, coordinated all activities for WittFest (outdoor music festival).  I organized set-up, schedule of bands, novelty acts, food vendors, and merchandise vendors, managed all hospitality for outside entertainers.

Events that I planned include, WittFest, hypnotists, film series, speakers, concerts, and recreation acts.  The following pictures illustrates that type of programming I was a part of.

WittFest (Outdoor Festival and Concert):

Merchandise and Food Vendors:

Local artists and Wittenberg students were invited to set up booths to sell their merchandise.  As a part of the agreement with the university, the vendors that were affiliated with the university had to return a certain percentage of their proceeds. 

Novelty and Inflatable Acts:

Considering WittFest is a program aiming to bring Wittenberg students and Springfield community members together, every year Union Board strives to program for both audiences.  During the hours of 11am-3pm inflatable toys, such as Bungee Run and Obstacle Courses, and novelty acts, such as a caricature artist and henna tattoos, are contracted to be a part of the event.

Performers:

WittFest runs from 11:00 am to 11:00 pm with musical and dance performers throughout the day.  There are student groups and professional groups invited to participate.  The student groups consist of a men's and women's accapella group, dance troupes, and Fraternity and Sorority step shows.  The bands that perform later in the evening are usually contracted at the National Association for Campus Activities (NACA) National Conference every year.  Union Board has an annual budget approximating $140,000, so utilizing the block booking system at NACA helps the budgeting process.  As Vice President and President of Union Board, I was responsible for the majority of the contract negotiating for the performers.  I made the initial contact at the conference and when I returned to Wittenberg I followed up to negotiate the honoraria.  Being in charge of WittFest was one of the most rewarding experiences of my college experience.  It was a wonderful opportunity to reach the vast majority of the student body, in addition the surrounding community.

Hypnotist

One of the most successful programs I planned for Union Board was bringing Jim Wand.  He is a very well known hypnotist and he has been to Wittenberg for several consecutive years.  He brought some of the largest crowds of the entire year's calendar of events.  Every year approximately 400 - 500 students would come to his show.

Movie in the Hollow (Film Series)

One of the unique qualities to Wittenberg is the "Hollow".  The Hollow is in the center of campus where, when it is warm, students come out and study, play Frisbee Golf, and to see movies.  Every spring semester Union Board brings the Drive in Movie or what we like to call it, "Move in the Hollow".