Reed College Alumni Association Past Presidents’ Working Group 9/26/2008
Present: Rachel Hall Luft ’95 (current president) Pat Pruyne ‘83 Richard Cuthbert ‘73 Michael Redden ‘76 David Perry ‘73 Holly Gudmundson Leighton ‘78 Leslie Vickers Jones ‘83 Gwen Lewis ‘65 Tony Fisher ‘80
First discussion: use of technology in communication to alumni
• Look perhaps for the next few small things rather than the next big thing • Rachel described a topic-based online forum that the Outreach committee is looking into • Blog off Reedi-E news? • Consensus: technology possibly more critical for younger generation (late ‘90s-‘00s) • Targeted communication more important than wider scope • Rachel read part of a letter to Colin Diver from two young alums, criticizing Reed’s lack of online information tools. In this, the alumni described a website, using Amherst’s Portal and Newsreader as an example, that would be essential a ‘one-stop’ site to search all information about Reed and sign up for relevant updates to the information of interest. (She made copies for the group.) • Use of technology to enhance Career Services interaction with alumni
Discussion morphed to alumni participation – Reunions seems to be the benchmark for participation. Group also wondered if there has been an evaluation of Alumni & Parent Relations’ programs and services.
Second discussion: Career Services’ role with alumni
• Three hours too long • 6:00 p.m. too early for some metropolitan areas • Logistics? • Purpose? • Discussion centered around proposed topic – doesn’t seem to ‘grab’ o Alumni more interested in state of the college • Message: Every alumnus/a has the potential to be an ‘ambassador’ for Reed o If you don’t feel like that, then re-engage and help us understand why • “Where is the Reed mission?” • Oral history project missing from the equation • Informative vs. entertaining • Faculty panel needs to be carefully chosen • Feeling good about Reed, that it’s a better place o Challenges – historical and current o Opportunities o Vitality • Engage chapter in planning o Result should be stronger local chapter
Program schedule revamp
• Welcome from local chapter • Welcome from Colin • State of the College • Challenges form the past (comprehensive but quick) • Colin’s talk from 9/26 luncheon • Reaction • Mingle or small groups o Group facilitators well-prepped in advance
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Reed College Alumni Association
Past Presidents’ Working Group
9/26/2008
Present:
Rachel Hall Luft ’95 (current president)
Pat Pruyne ‘83
Richard Cuthbert ‘73
Michael Redden ‘76
David Perry ‘73
Holly Gudmundson Leighton ‘78
Leslie Vickers Jones ‘83
Gwen Lewis ‘65
Tony Fisher ‘80
First discussion: use of technology in communication to alumni
• Look perhaps for the next few small things rather than the next big thing
• Rachel described a topic-based online forum that the Outreach committee is looking into
• Blog off Reedi-E news?
• Consensus: technology possibly more critical for younger generation (late ‘90s-‘00s)
• Targeted communication more important than wider scope
• Rachel read part of a letter to Colin Diver from two young alums, criticizing Reed’s lack of online information tools. In this, the alumni described a website, using Amherst’s Portal and Newsreader as an example, that would be essential a ‘one-stop’ site to search all information about Reed and sign up for relevant updates to the information of interest. (She made copies for the group.)
• Use of technology to enhance Career Services interaction with alumni
Discussion morphed to alumni participation – Reunions seems to be the benchmark for participation. Group also wondered if there has been an evaluation of Alumni & Parent Relations’ programs and services.
Second discussion: Career Services’ role with alumni
• Could alumni have a mentoring role that isn’t necessarily related to a specific career (e.g., resumé and wardrobe coaching, connecting alumni with one’s own network)?
• Re-examine what Career Services does
• Do we need to re-define ‘success’ in the Career Services arena?
• “Sister class” concept
o Pair recent class with one 10 or 20 years out
• Create positive connection between students and recent alumni
Third discussion: Proposed Spring Program
• Three hours too long
• 6:00 p.m. too early for some metropolitan areas
• Logistics?
• Purpose?
• Discussion centered around proposed topic – doesn’t seem to ‘grab’
o Alumni more interested in state of the college
• Message: Every alumnus/a has the potential to be an ‘ambassador’ for Reed
o If you don’t feel like that, then re-engage and help us understand why
• “Where is the Reed mission?”
• Oral history project missing from the equation
• Informative vs. entertaining
• Faculty panel needs to be carefully chosen
• Feeling good about Reed, that it’s a better place
o Challenges – historical and current
o Opportunities
o Vitality
• Engage chapter in planning
o Result should be stronger local chapter
Program schedule revamp
• Welcome from local chapter
• Welcome from Colin
• State of the College
• Challenges form the past (comprehensive but quick)
• Colin’s talk from 9/26 luncheon
• Reaction
• Mingle or small groups
o Group facilitators well-prepped in advance
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