乐播传媒

Start the Spark: Don’t see your city? Lead the way. Contact us to learn more about 乐播传媒 and Beyond to become a founding regional ambassador, and we鈥檒l help you host an event.

Still have questions? Please contact us at alumni@bates.edu.

* View the Guide in a downloadable PDF

PURPOSE

乐播传媒 Alumni should feel connected to 乐播传媒 and to one another wherever they are. Regional Networks are planning committees of alumni volunteers who work together with the 乐播传媒 Office of Alumni Engagement to foster the local 乐播传媒 community in regions throughout the U.S. 

乐播传媒 Alumni Regional Networks support dynamic programming for 乐播传媒 alumni, parents, students, and friends across the country. Networks offer a variety of events throughout the year to help participants meet, connect, and learn from one another on a personal and professional level.

In providing enhanced personal and professional connections, as well as opportunities for lifelong learning, regional networks allow for increased alumni volunteerism and support of the college.

EXPECTATIONS OF REGIONAL NETWORKS & REGIONAL VOLUNTEERS

Membership

All members of the 乐播传媒 community are welcome to join. Regional Network Committee members are self-selecting and take on different organizational roles. Members are expected to take on the responsibilities as outlined in the Regional Volunteer Responsibilities section of this guide.

Committee Leadership

Each 乐播传媒 Regional Network will have a Committee Chair for a recommended term of 3 years. The Chair should be prepared to organize and schedule network meetings, prepare meeting agendas, and act as the main liaison with 乐播传媒 Office of Alumni Engagement staff. It is highly recommended to appoint a co-chair to share responsibility.

Regional Volunteer Responsibilities

• Attend Regional Network meetings
• Volunteer as 鈥淓vent Lead鈥� for regional events, as your personal schedule allows
  • Event Leads shape programming, liaise with the 乐播传媒 staff to assist with logistical decisions such as venue selection, and act as a point of contact with speakers, venues, etc.
• Volunteer as 鈥淓vent Promoter鈥�: share events on social media, and via personal email and outreach
• Volunteer for 鈥淒ay-of鈥� event roles (e.g., greeting speakers/guests, handing out name tags, etc)
• Attend Regional Events throughout the year
• Encourage members of your personal and professional networks, particularly those who are fellow 乐播传媒 alumni, to attend events
• Promote events on social media, and via personal email and outreach
• Recruit 乐播传媒 contacts to join the Regional Network

MEETING LOGISTICS & SCHEDULE

Pre-planning and idea generation are important responsibilities for the Regional Networks. Groups should aim to meet frequently in order to share ideas and to stay abreast of college-sponsored activities within the region.

Frequency: Recommend meeting 3-4 times per year, with additional conference calls and meetings as needed in order to plan events and programs.

Location: For in-person meetings, members will take turns hosting at member offices, or, a public location as determined by the committee. Conference calls will be conducted via Zoom meeting.

Agenda: An agenda will be circulated prior to the meeting. Meeting minutes will be taken by a member of the volunteer committee and circulated within one week of the meeting.

REGIONAL EVENT GUIDELINES 

乐播传媒 Networks should take into consideration the following guiding principles when planning regional programming.

Event 鈥淟evels鈥�

There are three “levels” of regional alumni events: 

1. Level 1 – 乐播传媒 sponsors and organizes the event, provides staff, and Alumni Engagement staff will promote the event via email and social media channels.
2. Level  2 – 乐播传媒 provides some of the event budgets but may not be able to provide event staffing. Alumni Engagement staff will promote the event via email and social media channels.
3. Level 3 – 乐播传媒 does not provide a budget or staff attendance but will provide other resources such as contact lists for invitees, RSVP pages, and promotion of the event via email and social media channels.

Following Level 2 & Level 3 events, regional volunteers should send attendee lists and photos to their staff liaison. 乐播传媒 staff will share photos on 乐播传媒 alumni social media channels.

Event Planning 

• 1-2 volunteers will act as 鈥�Event Leads鈥� for each event. Event Leads will liaise with the 乐播传媒 staff to shape programming, coordinate logistical decisions such as venue selection, and act as a point of contact with speakers, venues, etc.
• Larger events will have a 鈥�Host Committee鈥� of selected alumni from a broad range of constituencies to help with outreach to potential attendees. The primary responsibility of Host Committee members is to contact 乐播传媒 alumni and encourage them to attend the event.

Best Practices

1. Start publicizing the event at least six weeks before; this will give you time to finalize logistics and enough time to promote the event.
   1. Charging For Events 鈥� It is no longer fiscally possible or responsible for the college to completely underwrite the costs for alumni events. As we consider charging alumni for events, here are some things to think about: Is there an alum or parent who is willing to underwrite some of the event costs as a donation to the college, allowing for reduced fees for guests?
   2. Data indicates that guests take their responsibility to follow through on attending an event more seriously if they have paid to attend. It is a good strategy to use to avoid attrition. 
   3. The more value an activity offers for money, the less likely will the cost be seen as a deterrent.
2. Do not pay out of pocket for anything or sign contracts on behalf of the college. Request an invoice and contract in writing and put 乐播传媒 Alumni Staff in contact with service providers for payments
3. Things to consider when choosing a date:
   1. Day of the week
   2. National, Regional, and Religious Holidays
   3. 乐播传媒 College Calendar of Events
   4. Local school calendar (vacations and holidays)
4. Things to consider when choosing a location:
   1. Is it easy to travel to (especially by public transportation)? Is there parking?
   2. Are the entrance & bathrooms wheelchair accessible?
   3. Is the location an inclusive space?
   4. Is there a dress code? Include this information via invitation and promotions.
   5. Does the menu accommodate vegetarian/vegan/ gluten-free, etc. diets?
5. Once an event/program is completed, work with 乐播传媒 College staff on options for post-event surveys so that you can get feedback from attendees.

RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO REGIONAL NETWORKS

The Office of Alumni Engagement is committed to serving regional groups and the volunteers who make regional activities possible. Staff liaisons are available to provide information, assistance, and guidance including:

• Coordinating Regional Network meetings.
• Providing confidential lists of 乐播传媒 community members and contact information.
• Creating and managing online registrations for events.
• Designing digital content to promote events.
• Producing nametags and attendee lists for events.
• Designing, editing, and coordinating regional event emails and post-event surveys.

Regional Events: /alumni/all-events/

GETTING STARTED

1. Have an idea of what type of event/program you would like to host.
2. Reach out to the 乐播传媒 Staff contact assigned to your region (see below).
3. Learn from the success of other regions! 

Sample of Annual Regional Programming 鈥� D.C. Network

The D.C. Network is an established regional network and a great example of building community. There are typically 3-4 events in D.C. each year 鈥� the target audience knows what to expect.

• Fall: Welcome to the City (focus on young alums)
• Late Fall/early Spring: Panel discussion (with visitors from campus or local alumni)
• Spring: Trivia Night
• Summer: National Game
• Summer/Fall: Outdoor Hike

REGIONAL BATES STAFF CONTACTS 

Stephanie Dumont, Associate Director of Alumni Engagement, sdumont@bates.edu
Bay Area 乐播传媒 Network
Boston Business Network
D.C. 乐播传媒 Network
Los Angeles 乐播传媒 Network 
NYC 乐播传媒 Network

Justin Fortier, Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement, jfortier@bates.edu
Chicago 乐播传媒 Network
Denver 乐播传媒 Network
Hartford 乐播传媒 Network
Portland (Maine) 乐播传媒 Network
Seattle 乐播传媒 Network

If you would like to start an Alumni Network in your region, contact Stephanie Dumont at sdumont@bates.edu.