Tangible Tools and Tips for Creating a Successful Community

Tangible Tools and Tips for
Creating a Successful Community Service Alumni Program
Katie Marquis, Assistant Director of Alumni Relations, Virginia Tech; Amanda Leech, Assistant Director of Alumni Relations, James
Madison University, and Paula Polglase, Assistant Director of Alumni Relations, Communications and Marketing
Tweet @jmualumni and #VT4L
Overview
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Icebreaker!
What is the Big Event
Decentralized Model- Tech
Centralized Model- JMU
Challenges
Other Opportunities
Icebreaker- Think, Pair, Share!
● What has been the most meaningful service opportunity that
you’ve been a part of?
○ What about it made it meaningful?
What is the Big Event?
First Chapter at VT to participate
● Charlotte VTAA Chapter
● Charlotte Family Housing
● March 31, 2012
Decentralized Model - Virginia Tech
● Student partnership
● Chapter participation
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Marketing
Incentive
Community service requirement
● Alumni Association sponsorship
Email from Student Leaders
Big Event Webpage, Alumni Section
Results
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2015 - 21 chapters participated
2014 - 16 chapters participated
2013 - 10 chapters participated
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2012 - Charlotte Chapter (the first to participate, initiated by a recent alum who had served on the Big
Event committee as student)
Featured in Chapter newsletter and Virginia Tech Magazine
Virginia Tech By the Numbers
Virginia Tech By the Numbers
Year
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
Volunteers
Projects
8,050
7,806
6,855
6,852
6,731
6,145
5,745
3,565
3,529
2,100
1,650
1,450
900
475
1,043
878
840
990
950
908
745
453
356
250
200
179
130
60
Virginia Tech by the Numbers
Examples of the Action
Examples of the Action
Centralized Model- JMU
Our role:
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Event Pages
Marketing Emails
Social Media
T-Shirts
Chapter’s Role:
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Find service opportunity
Day-of coordination
Timeline
January
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Work with student
group to confirm
date
Communicate date
with Chapter
leaders
Work with newer
chapters to locate
service opportunity
February
Event request forms
are due!
(Ask for EVERYTHING!)
● Begin working on
registration pages
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April
March
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Early March- First
email out to all areas
where a Big Event is
taking place
Mid-March- Add any
new locations
T-Shirt Cut-Off
Secure Photography
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Final emails
Mail T-Shirts
Make sure chapters
know their role
during the day
Promote
#JMUBigEvent
Post-Event wrap up
with social media
Marketing pre-event
Marketing pre-event
Marketing during/post-event
Results!
2013- 13 Chapters/Locations - 142 Participants
2014- 20 Chapters/Locations - 300 Participants
2015- 23 Chapters/Locations - 341 Participants!
Highlights!
Challenges
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Difficult to nail down 1 day service opportunities that will take a large # of people
Getting chapters to plan within the timeline needed
Apprehending good photos and results from the Chapters
Happens on a Saturday- requires staff resources that day
Other Community Service Opportunities
● Designated Chapter Chair for Community Service
● Staff doing community service & promoting
● Requirement to be recognized as an Outstanding Chapter
● Other opportunities throughout the year
● What do other schools do?
Questions?