Set Sail with a Purpose!

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Set Sail with a Purpose!Melissa PianaltoNational Alumni Association Board MemberSet Sail with a Purpose!Determine an ItineraryPrepare DocumentationPlan ExcursionsWhat is the Purpose of an Alumni Group?To promote and increase alumni participation, engagement, alumni/students interaction opportunities and membership

Is your group All Aboard?

Whats Your Itinerary?Clarify the purpose of your organizationPrioritize your resourcesAnalyze your environmentDeal with changes & transitionsSet out in a clear directionSet Goals

Who are we?

Where are we now?

Where do we want to go?

How will we get there?

How are we doing?

4Prepare Your Documentation(Developing a Plan)Who Should be Involved?Where are we Now?To plan for the future, understand the present.Analyze the External & Internal Environment

S.W.O.T.Those implementing the plan (management, staff, volunteers); affected by the plan (members, users); those who monitor its implementation; those who can contribute (community, funding sources)

Where are you now? Reach common understanding. Focus on 2 things:

Complete the SWOT: Workshop, consultation meetings, written submissions, questionnaire, steering group5Strengths

Threats

Opportunities

SWOT Analysis WorksheetWeaknesses

EXTERNAL EnvironmentINTERNAL EnvironmentWhat are you good at doing? What are you already doing well?What dont we do well?What isnt working?What events or trends are favorable to the organization?What events or trends are unfavorable?

Put this into practice take a few minutes to do a SWOT work as a group to get the process started

BRAINSTORM!6Secure Your DocumentationWhere are we Going?Use the S.W.O.T. to define needs, priorities, problems and opportunities.Create a 3 -5 year plan using each element of the S.W.O.T.Update every yearLimited in number of objectives (4-6)Clear in DirectionMeasurable

Those implementing the plan (management, staff, volunteers); affected by the plan (members, users); those who monitor its implementation; those who can contribute (community, funding sources)

Where are you now? Reach common understanding. Focus on 2 things:

Complete the SWOT: Workshop, consultation meetings, written submissions, questionnaire, steering group7Plan Your Excursions!Gauge your audience against the possibilities to plan the most effective eventsEvaluate previous eventsFocus groups, surveys, etc. Talk to the NON-attendeesGet Your Plan in PlaceCross-PlanFollow a Communication/Marketing PlanChapter activities: athletic watch parties, academic events, guest speakers from the University, scholarship fundraising, social networking, student recruitment, etc.

Cross Planning: schools, colleges, departments, student organizations. Focus on the end result where, how to promote and what are your desired results at what cost?

Communicating: How will you advertise events? On-line? Mail? Web? E-mail?

Measure your successes, evaluate successes and failures!

Strategic Planning Notes:Hold focus group, conduct print, phone and electronic surveysSet effective goals and objectives tied to an event with a budgetKnow your target audience for each eventConduct a SWOTArticulate tacticsImplement a communication planMarket online or mailMeasure your success by participation

Society Programming: (refer to handout on Ideas for Funding)

REACHRecruit and Engage prospective and current studentsEducate and transition alumni and friends into societies Alumni engagement for campus community, national and international activitiesCareer and professional developmental growthHelp foster networking opportunities

Grant Proposals

8Arriving in PortWhat will be done?Who is responsible?How will it happen?What resources are needed? Human, physical, financialWhat will success look like?

Dont Rely on your MemoryEvaluate your programs formallyKeep recordsReview when planning for future events

We take pictures of our trips so we can remember where weve been (and to show off to others!)

The little details escape us after such a short time. Dont rely on your memory. Written plans, Written evaluations and reviews are critical to improving successes and for future planning.

10Whats In Your Passport to Success?