Mary L Kish, 8/15/2008 · 0 comments
Winning an award as Most Improved phoner, Spring 2008
Patricia Langenau, CMD ’11, loves her campus job as a phoner with the Ithaca Fund Phonathon. Last year, she helped raise $410,000 from 8,000 parents and alumni, and at the year-end Phonathon celebration, she won an award as Most Improved, and her team won an award as well.
Phonathon is about more than just fundraising though. Langenau, from Hyde Park, NY, loves it because, “It is challenging and an amazing opportunity. I get paid to have conversations with such a diverse group of people—all with different perspectives on the college experience. Alumni share their insights and they don’t edit them either! They tell you exactly what was useful and what was frustrating. I found this beneficial in deciding about whether I want to participate in the Los Angeles and London programs. On the other hand, parents tell you what it is like to see their kids go to college.”
She credits Phonathon with opening doors for herself and other phoners. “ Many students have been offered internships which have led to jobs. For freshmen, it is a great way to get acquainted with IC. I like the fact that we also are supporting the education of current and future IC students.”
Langenau loves the networking. “I spoke with a Park School alum for about 40 minutes one day. He’s very passionate about Darfur, and is using his TVR skills to educate people on Darfur’s tragic situation. It was such an intense conversation! Even though we come from different majors, he connected me with one of his friends who is enthusiastic about crisis communication—an area that I became passionate about after taking CMD’s Systems Thinking and Design course. This proved to me that IC truly has alumni who are more than willing to help students reach their goals. Many alums are very excited to hear from current students and want to help.”
While she was drawn to Phonathon to practice her communication skills, Langenau also admits it is attractive because, “it is one of the highest paid jobs on campus.” Phoners are required to work 2 days a week in 3 hour shifts, and can work more shifts if they desire. Responsibilities include: learning the Phonathon computer program; attending training sessions; being punctual and reliable with a positive attitude; becoming familiar with IC events in order to discuss them knowledgeably; and, learning and using effective communication skills to find common ground with multiple audiences.
“Phonathon really merges with my major,” says Langenau. “In CMD we practice interpersonal skills daily through group projects, presentations, and class discussions. We learn to analyze audiences to communicate effectively. Often when phoning, I will get someone who is not excited to talk and I have to use my skills to bring them into the conversation. Also CMD projects require us to stay calm under pressure while still communicating effectively, and Phonathon requires this ability as well.”
On campus, Langenau also participates in ICTV and is a member of the student chapter of the International Association for Business Communicators. She hopes for a career in either event management or crisis communication.
“No matter what job I end up in,” says Langenau, “Phonathon has taught me that even in today’s environment of high tech communication media, connecting on a personal, human level is still the most effective way to build strong relationships. I am confident that I am developing the verbal communication skills to work with people towards a common goal.”
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