Laura Bock refers to herself as the “practical one” among the three recent OU Dance Marathon chairmen.
While she is equally as passionate as her peers about Children’s Miracle Network, the event's beneficiary, she recognizes the need for improved sponsorship and recruitment strategies, Bock said.
Campus Activities Council general council members selected the sophomore chemistry major as OU Dance Marathon 2011 chairwoman this past April, according to Campus Activities Council documents.
Following advice from her predecessors, she invested countless hours evaluating the focuses of previous chairmen, and deciding which goals she will emphasize, Bock said.
“Last year, I was really impacted by every child’s story and the struggles that they go through,” Bock said, “I think we need to raise more money for them.”
The newly initiated chairwoman will focus on the financial angle of the event, making it a more efficient fundraiser than it has been in the past, Bock said.
“There are several changes I have in mind that will amp-up the recruitment, as well as increase our potential profits from the event,” Bock said.
Having served on the sponsorship committee during her freshman year, and as director of programming last year, she witnessed first-hand the leadership of her forerunners and was inspired by their efforts, Bock said.
The Rule of Thirds
“It is a tradition that every chairman has a focused angle, and I think it allows our event to grow each year and expand upon previous years,” Bock said.
During the past two years, the 2009 chairman, Klint Neal, and his successor, Danielle Bourgeois, the 2010 chairwoman, were the leaders constructing the areas of focus, according to Campus Activities Council archives.
Quy Nguyen, assistant director of OU Student Life, had his first experience advising OU Dance Marathon with Neal, Nguyen said.
“For Klint, the focus was on making the event more fun,” Nguyen said, “[he] decided to shorten the time, so that it is less of a commitment for participants and coordinators can focus more on programming.”
Before Neal’s involvement as chairman, the event lasted from four in the afternoon to around seven the next morning, in comparison to the current preferred eight-hour event, Nguyen said.
Assistant director of OU Recreational Services Garry Armstrong hosts the OU Dance Marathon event at the Huston Huffman facility and has seen the event transform, Armstrong said.
“The inflatable games, mini games, sporting activities and DJ are in close proximity to aid in the fun and excitement for participating miracle children and students,” Armstrong said.
When Bourgeois became chairwoman, she decided to aim her focus on the miracle children, signing every e-mail and letter with “For the Kids”, Nguyen said.
During her term, she employed an Adopt-a-Family program and invited families involved with Children’s Miracle Network to speak at committee meetings, Nguyen said.
Jennifer Linck, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Sponsor Coordinator and liaison between Children’s Miracle Network and OU Dance Marathon, also advised the previous chairmen, Linck said.
“[Neal and Bourgeois] have laid an amazing foundation for the future of OU Dance Marathon,” Linck said, “and I feel like each year we will continue to have a more successful event.”
As the third in this line-up of visionary chairmen, Bock will draw inspiration from her predecessors' areas of focus, Bock said.
Dancing for Endorsement
Among focusing on fundraising and recruitment for the event, Bock has pledged to make attempts to increase the involvement of OU administration, Bock said.
“We are going to try to build the event into something that is worthy of [OU administration’s] attention,” Bock said.
The lack of visible endorsement from university officials for OU Dance Marathon was discussed at the last 2010 committee meeting on February 17, and again at a transition team meeting composed of former committee members on March 8, according to minutes from the meetings.
“I think the push should be for more student support than administrative,” Nguyen said, “university officials support the event, whether implicitly or explicitly.”
President Boren declined requests to attend the past two OU Dance Marathon events, according to letters from his office.
At the beginning of each semester, a list of events, dates and times is sent to the offices of university officials, including President Boren, informing them that their presence is requested, Nguyen said.
Linck says that in order to progress to the next level, OU Dance Marathon needs further support from OU administration.
“We would love to have President Boren and other OU [administration] involved,” said Linck, “especially because the money we raise goes to the Children’s Hospital at OU Medical Center and stays in the state of Oklahoma.”
Along with OU Dance Marathon, there are other substantial student-led philanthropy initiatives that require the attention of OU administration, including Big Event and Relay for Life, Nguyen said.
The Inclusive Leader
Bock perceives her responsibilities as OU Dance Marathon 2011 chairwoman as extending beyond coordinating the event, organizing meetings and fundraising.
“One of my big goals is to empower everyone on [my committee] and make them feel as much a part of the event as I do,” Bock said.
*I was a member of the OU Dance Marathon 2010 executive committee.
