REVITALIZING YOURREGIONAL PROGRAMMING

Moderator: Kristyn M. Dyer, College of the Holy CrossDianne E. Harrison, College of the Holy CrossTory Leeman, Boston CollegeTory Leeman, Boston CollegeJessica Viner, Fairfield University

SCHOOLS AT A GLANCE

Fairfield University

•41 000 alumni

Holy Cross

•Over 30 000 alumni

Boston College

•157 000 alumni•41,000 alumni

•8 active Chapters

•Over 30,000 alumni

•30 active Clubs

•157,000 alumni

•56 active Chapters

•Events per year: 57 in FY10

•Staff members devoted

•Events per year: 104 in FY10, 115 in FY09

•Staff members

•Events per year: 280 in FY10, 217 in FY09

•Staff members •Staff members devoted to Chapters: 3 professional staff (1 90% of job; 2 40% of job)

•Staff members devoted to Clubs: 1 professional staff (40% of job) and 1 assistant

•Staff members devoted to Chapters: 4 professional staff, 1 program assistant & 2

(30% of job) work studies

FAIRFIELD UNIVERSITY

FAIRFIELD UNIVERSITYHISTORY OF THE REGIONAL CLUB PROGRAM

Started with local Connecticut clubs reflecting early alumni population.

60’s & 70’s: Clubs formed in NY, NJ, and MA as Fairfield attracts more students from NE regionmore students from NE region.

80’s & 90’s: Increase of regional clubs outside of the NE (Chicago, Atlanta, San Francisco)., )

Late 90’s and early 00’s: Club activity drops off due to a lack of volunteer leadership succession. Young alumni groups formed

d i i l tand organize social events.

Today: 8 regional chapters in areas with our largest alumni populations. A focus on a formal leadership structure and populations. A focus on a formal leadership structure and expansion into regional locations outside NE.

FAIRFIELD UNIVERSITYINSTITUTION’S GOALS FOR THE PROGRAM

Create meaningful opportunities for alumni to g ppreconnect with Fairfield University and one another.

Expand chapters into areas where there is a large concentrations of alumni and in areas of t t i i t f th U i itstrategic importance for the University.

FAIRFIELD UNIVERSITYINSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT

3 Alumni Relations staff members oversee the regional chapter program with assigned chapter territories.

Staff support to volunteers includes: Chapter HandbookOngoing leadership trainingOngoing leadership trainingMonthly conference callsRegular staff visits to meet with team and recruit new volunteers

Programming funded by the University and the Alumni Association.

FAIRFIELD UNIVERSITYCURRENT STATE OF THE PROGRAM

Chapter structure:President

Admissions ChairCareer Development ChairLifelong Learning ChairService & Spirituality Chair

Programming goal: To organize at least 1 event in Programming goal: To organize at least 1 event in each programming category per year.

Communication:Communication:University – Invitations/e-blasts, online registration, website promotionsChapter volunteers – Phone calls and additional Chapter volunteers – Phone calls and additional email promotion

FAIRFIELD UNIVERSITYCHALLENGES

Having volunteers take on an increasing amount g gof responsibility

Capturing volunteer enthusiasm while balancing Capturing volunteer enthusiasm while balancing with capacity and budgetary realities

Keeping volunteers engagedKeeping volunteers engaged

COLLEGE OF THE HOLY CROSS

COLLEGE OF THE HOLY CROSSHISTORY OF THE REGIONAL CLUB PROGRAM

Began as a product of the Holy Cross Alumni g p yAssociation

The Holy Cross Club of Connecticut was the first The Holy Cross Club of Connecticut was the first regional club, founded in 1869. The HC Club of Worcester followed two years later in 1871.

Growth continued until the 1980s, with the system in tact now

In 2008, the Regional Club system was given an overhaul and paired down from 45 to 30 clubs

COLLEGE OF THE HOLY CROSSINSTITUTION’S GOALS FOR THE PROGRAM

Provide a chance for our alumni to meet, network ,and build relationships with alumni from their area

Give our alumni a chance to reconnect with Alma Mater

Create opportunities for alumni to “give back” through volunteerism

COLLEGE OF THE HOLY CROSSINSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT

1 professional staff member and 1 assistant, who p ,spend about 40% of their time focused on Regional Clubs

Websites available for clubs through the College’s Online Community

The College handles all mailings/e-mails and membership lists for the Clubs

Support also comes from volunteers on the Holy Cross Alumni Association’s Regional Clubs Committee

COLLEGE OF THE HOLY CROSSCURRENT STATE OF THE PROGRAM

31 active clubs17 clubs (56%) held 2 or more events in FY109 clubs (30%) held 1 event in FY104 l b h ld 0 t i FY10 d t l k f l t 4 clubs held 0 events in FY10 due to lack of volunteer leadership

Looking to diversify programming for high Looking to diversify programming for high activity level clubs

Al hi f l t i th Cl b Always searching for new volunteers in the Club areas

COLLEGE OF THE HOLY CROSSCURRENT STATE OF THE PROGRAM

COLLEGE OF THE HOLY CROSSCHALLENGES

Retaining and recruiting volunteer leadership for g g pthe Clubs

Young Alumni’s involvementYoung Alumni s involvement

Monetary and staff support of the Clubs

BOSTON COLLEGE

BOSTON COLLEGEHISTORY OF THE REGIONAL CLUB PROGRAM

Transitioning Clubs to Chapters in 2003g p

Setting expectations and goals for both alumni and Boston Collegeand Boston College.

What we have learned

Evolving a national program

BOSTON COLLEGEINSTITUTION’S GOALS FOR THE PROGRAM

Support the Light the Work campaignpp g p g

Support the initiatives of our internal colleaguesAcademicsAcademicsAdmissionsAdministrationAthleticsMission and Ministry

Support our alumni community

BOSTON COLLEGEINSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT

Full time staff

Work study assistance

University Budget

Online ServicesOnline ServicesOnline communityOnline event system with payment options

Expectations to develop relationship with all university colleagues and departments

BOSTON COLLEGECURRENT STATE OF THE PROGRAM

Volunteer leadershipp74 Leaders46 Committee members

Diversifying Events

Diversifying communication vehicleDiversifying communication vehicle

Maintaining excellence in difficult economic titimes

Looking to the future

BOSTON COLLEGECHALLENGES

Social networking sites, finding the next g , gFacebook

BudgetsBudgets

Leadership training and succession

OPEN DISCUSSION