Saturday 18 August 2018

How To Boost Alumni Relations For Your School

By Michael Johnson


Old boys and girls take a lot of pride in their former schools. This is why alumni relations officers work to maintain a vibrant relationship between the former students and their former school. This relationship is mutually beneficial since students benefit the school while the school enhances career and personal progress of students involved. However, it takes a lot of work to keep such relationships working. Here are tips that will keep the association active.

See value in every former student regardless of his or her position in society. Naturally, students will respond to invitations based on their career progress and economic status. However, you must see each of these students as valuable. Address all with dignity and respect. Do not appear to be interested in those who have succeeded at the expense of those who are struggling. You have no idea where they will be in future.

Plan regular activities where they are invited to participate. A routine is preferred because it makes it easier for them to plan. One activity should be specifically for the alumni while another takes place in school. Be modest with your activities to allow them to participate without failing to attend to work or social responsibilities at personal level.

Work with individual years instead of gathering them together. There is greater warmth and interaction when people of the same year are involved compared to bringing all former students together. The memories they shared bring them closer together and are happy to interact. When they come from different years, their interaction is trained because they feel like strangers.

Handle their concerns as well. Most organizations focus on pulling resources in aid of the school. However, former students have social and career lives that need the involvement of the school. It could involve issuing of a recommendation letter, release of certificates, recommendation for positions and addressing of social welfare. When such issues are addressed, the relationship feels mutually beneficial.

Embrace modern media to mobilize and keep in touch with the former students. Traditional phone numbers could have belonged to parents and elder siblings. New media platforms make it easier to get these old boys and girls whenever you organize an event. In fact, they keep in touch and will spread the word to those who you cannot reach. Modern media, like social media, is also fast to communicate. You end up talking to them in a manner that they understand. Further, you will spend less to keep in touch.

Involve the former students in planning your activities. They come with ideas and resources that make the events enjoyable. They no longer want to feel like students who have to be told everything. They are excellent in mobilizing their peers to join your activity because they want to meet again. Their mobilization skills and network will make it easy for you to achieve your desired goals.

Cast your net wide when looking for old boys and girls of your school. People disperse to all corners of the world after school. Do not just focus on your town or even country when mobilizing them. This will be restrictive and deny others a chance to participate in your planned activities.




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