1. Developing your alumni network and designing your event
AU Alumni Workshop
Developing your alumni network and designing your event

2. Introductions
My background
Who’s in the room?

3. Learning outcomes Why Alumni events are beneficial for the club
How and when to get in contact with Alumni
Key considerations for a successful event
Things to achieve before Workshop 2

4. Workshop layout 10m - Why Alumni events are beneficial for the club
20m - How and when to get in contact with Alumni
15m - Break
20m - Key considerations for a successful event
10m - Things to achieve before Workshop 2
15m - Questions at the end

5. The benefits of Alumni events
Who is it for?
What is the purpose?

6. The benefits of alumni events
Who are Alumni events for?
The Club
Current members
The Alumni

7. The benefits of alumni events
What is the purpose of alumni events?
Culture and cohesion
Tradition
Financial benefit
Social event
Networking
Reminiscing & Re-connecting

8. The benefits of alumni events
Current students can benefit too
Financial benefit = Alumni Fund  Large donations
A tradition doesn’t happen in a year.
Think about the event from the perspective of the alumni…

9. Reminiscing & Re-Connecting
Profile of an ‘average’ alumni:
Do they work? If so when..
How old are they? What range..
Location?

10. Reminiscing & Re-Connecting
Profile of an ‘average’ alumni
Works 9-5
Aged from 21 to… 80?
Doesn’t live in Loughborough
Busy lifestyle
‘Best years in the past’ ?
Hasn’t seen members of your club since they left Loughborough

11. How to get in contact with Alumni
What do you need to consider when contacting Alumni?
What channels of communication can you use?

12. How to get in contact with Alumni
Key considerations
Formal vs Informal
Working hours
Frequent vs Infrequent
Technology capabilities
Open vs Closed channels
1 central club contact
Age

13. How to get in contact with Alumni
The most effective channels of communication
Facebook Groups
Facebook Pages
LinkedIn
University’s Alumni Office – Targeted s and newsletters

14. When to get in contact with Alumni
The short answer… Now!
A look back at the profile of an alumni…

15. Alumni profile… Profile of an ‘average’ alumni Works 9-5
Aged from 21 to… 80?
Doesn’t live in Loughborough
Busy lifestyle
‘Best years in the past’ ?
Hasn’t seen members of your club since they left Loughborough

16. When to get in contact with Alumni
The short answer… Now!
A look back at the profile of an alumni…
When is the best time to post on Facebook?

18. When to get in contact with Alumni
4 key time points
Pre-event; Planning stage
Post-event; Feedback stage
End of the academic year
Graduation week
It is also dependent on what mediums you use

19. Summary so far… The benefits Making contact 3 key parties involved
Multiple methods available
Vary based on the party
Depends on the event
It wont happen in a year
Depends on the alumni
The earlier the better
4 key time points in the year

20. Break! 10 - 15 minutes break Come and ask questions Get a drink
Get a bite to eat
Power nap?

21. Key considerations for success
What do you want to get out of it?
What do you want the alumni to get out of it?
How are you going to make this successful?

22. Key considerations for success
Work with your alumni, not just for them.
Decide on your target audience
Don’t do too much
Use your current members – they’re your biggest resource!

23. Key considerations for success
Manage your expectations
Start early, and plan ahead
Look at what else is going on, can you coordinate?
Record everything you do – make it easier for next year

24. Things to achieve before Workshop 2
What do you need to do between now and Term 2?
Write down a plan, and take into consideration everything we’ve discussed so far?

25. Things to achieve before Workshop 2
So… what’s the plan?

26. Things to achieve before Workshop 2
1. Decide what kind of activity/event you want to organise
Make it simple
Some ideas:
Sport fixture
Social evening
Sit down meal

27. Things to achieve before Workshop 2
2. Make contact with your alumni
Decide on the mediums
Plan the content and times – MMC plan
Ask them what they want

28. Things to achieve before Workshop 2
3. Begin outlining your event, thinking about resources and times

29. Workshop 2 Early in Term 2 after exams Topics
Event planning and delivery
Considerations after your event

30. Last slide!
Any questions?