Alumni Leaders Conference
October 14, 2011
Maximize Your Bandwidth to
Engage Alumni and Fulfill Your Mission
Presenters:
Michael Christiaens CC’00, RBS’05, President-elect
Mari Boggiano RBS’04, President
Alumni Organization:
Rutgers Business School Alumni Association (RBSAA)
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Alumni Leaders Conference
October 14, 2011
History
• 1948: Founded as a business fraternity
– To promote the welfare of the school, foster the interests and friendship of
the members, and advance the cause of higher education
• 2004: Name changed to Rutgers Business School Alumni
Association (RBSAA)
• 2007: New mission
– Connecting alumni to extend the value of our Rutgers Business education
• 2010 / Post-RUAA: New structure, new leadership, different rules
of engagement
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Alumni Leaders Conference
October 14, 2011
RBSAA: Our goals and challenges
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Five RBSAA 2009-2011 Strategic Plan objectives
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2.
3.
4.
5.
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Build partnerships
Increase awareness of RBSAA presence, mission, and services
Make an impact on our constituents
Increase alumni participation
Set and manage to short- and long-term financial goals
Challenges
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Mesh RBS alumni interests with our mission
Increase alumni participation in RBSAA events
Decrease workload and optimize limited Boardmember and volunteer
bandwidth toward event planning
Grow # of volunteers
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Alumni Leaders Conference
October 14, 2011
Case studies
1.
NJPAC reception during
Newark Homecoming Weekend
(April 2011)
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2.
RBSAA Annual Meeting: NB
Reunion Weekend (May 2011)
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Piggybacked onto RUAA event
Used creative concept “String
Trio Negotiaion” to appeal to
RBS alumni
Leveraged opportunity to launch
RBSAA Career Resources
Survey
Hosted “open” annual board
meeting
•
•
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•
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Guest speaker from MDE Group
on financial investments
Boardmember election
First annual Volunteer rewards
and recognition
Wine and cheese reception for
RBS alumni
Manned table at parade
RBSAA Annual Meeting /
Guest Speaker /
Volunteer Awards /
Reception
NJPAC reception:
String trio negotiation
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Alumni Leaders Conference
October 14, 2011
NJPAC reception: String trio negotiation
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Opportunity
– Partnership with RUAA on NJPAC event during Newark Alumni Weekend
festivities 4/16/11
Approach
– Teamwork / Collaboration / Negotiation exemplified by string trio
Meet the Musicians: A Reception and Concert with the New Jersey
Symphony Orchestra / A Salute to the Music of John Williams
•
Planning and Promotion
– Committee: Bill Downey and Michael Christiaens (RBSAA) and Bonnie
Kenselaar (Alumni Relations)
– NJ Symphony had existing program they could adapt and promotion began
– Promoted event in RBSAA and RUAA websites (including LinkedIn, Facebook),
calendars, email, and mailings
– Planned to maximize event and outreach by launching our
Career Resources Survey at the event
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Alumni Leaders Conference
October 14, 2011
NJPAC reception: Results
•
~ 80 alumni attended reception
– Cross-school and cross-campus
•
2 student leaders recognized and welcomed as
RBSAA guests
– Expressed interest in volunteering for RBSAA
post-graduation
– Relationship built with Dean’s Advisory Council
•
Career Resources Survey launched
– 805 total participants by time of survey close
•
Event photo and mention in Rutgers Magazine
•
Receiving REAL Award 10/11 for creative
programming excellence
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Alumni Leaders Conference
October 14, 2011
RBSAA Annual Meeting: NB Reunion Weekend
• Opportunity
– Piggyback on large, well-publicized alumni event
• Approach
– Move our annual “open” meeting to the Reunion Weekend
– Engage alumni and volunteers via Guest Speaker, Awards, and Reception
• Planning and Promotion
– Booked Red Lion Café at Student Center to facilitate large meeting and
reception
– Arranged guest speaker from our financial advisor
– Promoted via aforementioned means
– Coordinated first annual Volunteer Recognition event
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Alumni Leaders Conference
October 14, 2011
RBSAA Annual Meeting: Results
• Results
– Attracted ~15 participants in addition to the Board
– Guest speaker was well received; reinforced our partnership with MDE
– 15 Volunteers and 2 organizations/partners recognized and rewarded
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Alumni Leaders Conference
October 14, 2011
Lessons Learned & Tips
•
Create an annual plan and academic year event calendar
– Provide as much lead time for planning and promotion as possible
•
Seek co-promotions or co-sponsored events as much as possible
– Piggyback onto 4 prime RUAA alumni events, eg, Homecomings and Reunions
•
Try to maximize your event to achieve multiple objectives (eg, Career
Resources Survey)
•
Implement a multi-pronged promotional campaign
– RUAA resources
– Electronic resources and websites, including professional sites like LinkedIn
– If budget allows, don’t forget about snail mail!
•
Take photos for future promotional efforts
– In slide decks, in brochures, online 9
Alumni Leaders Conference
October 14, 2011
Summary
• You can maximize your bandwidth through
partnerships and piggybacking on RUAA events
• We at RBSAA continue to seek new partnerships
– Let us know if you’d like to work with us!
• Facilitate achievement of your mission by gathering
feedback from constituents through multiple ways
– And offering an incentive for feedback works
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Alumni Leaders Conference
October 14, 2011
Thank you! Any questions?
Email: [email protected]
rbsaa.org
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Backup
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Other accomplishments
• Career Resources survey using reward as benefit (iPad)
• Speaking event
• Facilitating board participation
– Skype / NK facility AV and conf. call capability
– Rotating and expanding meeting location
• Engaging administration and Dean’s office
• Partnerships
– RU Club of NYC Happy Hours
– Lerner Center for Pharma Studies co-sponsorship of seminars
– EMBA Homecoming
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Basketball and Hockey events
Launch of own organization website and Facebook site
Enhancement of LinkedIn site
Ensuring content submitted to monthly RBS Alumni Newsletters
Sponsorship of Pharma Club mixers
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