Mizzou Flagship Council begins

The grass-roots organization formed to protect and promote the flagship status of the Columbia campus of the University of Missouri has created a new marketing and informational tool. Members of the year-old Mizzou Flagship Council will present “The Mizzou Story,” a video available in versions one, 10 and 20 minutes long, to groups throughout the state to raise public awareness about the university.

Diane Drainer, whom the Mizzou Flagship Council hired as executive director in May 2006 to organize marketing and lobbying efforts, said her primary role is to serve as an advocate for Mizzou.

“I felt that the Mizzou Flagship Council was important, but after only one or two months working here, I now know that it’s important,” she said.
The goals of the Mizzou Flagship Council are threefold: to promote Mizzou to the public and elected officials; to generate contributions for political candidates who strengthen Mizzou; and to lend advice to Mizzou administrators.

Largely credited as the driving force behind getting the Mizzou Flagship Council off the ground, Columbia real estate executive Richard Mendenhall is modest about his role.

“No one person ever makes an organization successful. I just happened to become the first chair of the Flagship Council, and I believe all the people who work with the council do so because they strongly believe in Mizzou and its value to the state of Missouri,” Mendenhall said.

According to both Drainer and council member David Shorr, an attorney, presentations Mendenhall made throughout the state were the impetus for the video.

“Richard may be the most enthusiastic alum that exists. You get a lump in your throat when you hear him speak about the university,” Shorr said.
Drainer concurred. “Richard Mendenhall is an exceptional speaker, and his presentation blows you away,” she said.

Mendenhall is featured in the video, along with Chancellor Brady Deaton, award-winning faculty members, students and prestigious alumni. Cindy Brinkley, president and CEO of AT&T, appears on the video as Mizzou alumna. Brinkley said she looks for résumés from Mizzou graduates when hiring and advises viewers that “we live in a knowledge-based society.”

The video was just released to Drainer in late November, and her first order of business is to get copies to all board members. After that, the video will have a variety of uses.

“The intent is to use the video for service clubs, alumni meetings, legislators and TV advertisements,” Mendenhall said.

“The Mizzou Story” was funded by Al McQuinn, who was inspired to donate $200,000 after hearing Mendenhall’s presentation on protecting the assets of Mizzou. Varying versions of the video will be used by the university for promotion and fund-raising.

Shorr said that the university has very little money in its budget to promote Mizzou to anyone other than potential students.

“Most people don’t understand that the university’s ability to tout itself to non-students is very limited. We wanted them to have something to use,” he said. Shorr is adamant about protecting the local, regional and statewide economic benefits that Mizzou generates.

Drainer, who holds two economics degrees from Mizzou, said that mu pays out $9 million in payroll every week. Three experienced lobbyists have been hired through the Mizzou Flagship Council to work with legislators in Jefferson City to protect Mizzou’s assets. Drainer is quick to point out, however, that the council is non-partisan. “We’re not about Democrats or Republicans; we’re about Mizzou,” she said.

Drainer also points to Mizzou’s “first facts” as proof of its prestige and of its value to the community and the state. “We are first in journalism, top in getting research funds in the last 10 years,” she said. “We have the highest passing rate on the Missouri Bar Exam and rank seventh in the entire nation for graduating the most CEOs of major corporations.”
Discussions about the need for forming a citizen group like the Mizzou Flagship Council began about three years ago, when there was talk of the medical school moving to Kansas City.

“Can you imagine Columbia without the University Hospital and Med School?” Shorr asked. “Can you imagine how insignificant this community would become without the educational capability we now have? It’s really a simple discussion; we must not dilute that limited asset.”

The three Mizzou Flagship Council lobbyists, as well as council members, will work with the revolving door of novice office holders to educate them about Mizzou, its national prominence and its economic impact on the state.
Mizzou Flagship Council members said they believe the release of the video will enhance their efforts to recruit members and funds.