For the past few weeks, I’ve been working on an extra-curricular event for the local chapter of my Alumni Association. The leadership wanted to organize an event to re-energize the chapter and decided that a Happy Hour Meet and Greet would be ideal. It is difficult to create events that appeal to everyone, but you must start somewhere. An opportunity to share appetizers and a cocktail or two with fellow alums seemed like a good way to begin Summer, and to reignite the chapter. Organizing cocktail parties is right in my wheelhouse, so I was compelled to volunteer. For those of you who have followed my posts, this isn’t a surprise.
Organizing an event in Atlanta is no easy task. The Atlanta metro area is comprised of 6 million people living in 30 counties. Our 6,000 alumni are spread over a huge geographical area. Traffic is a big consideration, especially during rush hour. The ability to use public transportation reduces a lot of risk and anxiety which should enhance the value of the event. For those familiar with Uber or Lyft, Midtown is a target-rich environment. Our group chose Thursday, June 27 as a good day for our Meet and Greet. As it falls between Memorial Day and Independence Day we won’t be competing with any holidays. Thursday is usually a good day as it is close to the weekend, without the obvious family conflicts. We selected a central location in Midtown convenient to MARTA. So, I did my part. Now it’s up to the communications folks to bring the alums.
I didn’t become active in the alumni association until 2003, after living in Atlanta for seven years. Prior to 2003, my corporate career had me moving every three years and I had little time to think about alumni activities. Also, I had family obligations to consider. Besides, the alumni association couldn’t find me until I put down permanent roots. So, I attended a few events and made some new friends, including a fraternity brother I hadn’t seen since college. Eventually, that led to a seat on the National Alumni Board which lasted four years.
People become active in their alumni association for different reasons, but they all begin with a common bond; they shared an experience earning a degree. Each member joins an alumni chapter when the time is right, and they have a compelling reason. An alumni affiliation is especially relevant if you are new to a city, working to establish yourself. At the most fundamental level, it’s about making friends. As with any other interest group, there is a generational element in play. For more mature alumni, it may be about giving back to the community by sharing their experience (mentoring) or financial resources. My reason for becoming active was multi-faceted.
I have spoken before about the value of participating in one’s alumni association for career development. I continue to be surprised, however, that people are slow to make that connection. It may be a fundamental misunderstanding about networking. Most people think of networking to find a job and to further their career. However, networking is a vehicle to achieve an objective by meeting people who can help you. It is also an opportunity for you to help others. It’s is a two-way street. It isn’t exclusively for building one’s career. People join interest groups for a variety of reasons that are not career oriented. There are groups to satisfy every interest imaginable. Members of each group are busy looking for people who can help them, or whom they can help. If you want to be a better fisherman, you will hang out with other fishermen to improve your skills. The point is, every group begins with a common interest to attract members.
Many view participation in their alumni association as one-dimensional. They think it’s all about drinking beer and watching football games. I admit, there is nothing like a great athletic program to generate attendance for game-watch parties. But that is just one dimension of the alumni experience. The reality is that people participate in their alumni association for different reasons, sometimes with multiple goals in play.
I am looking forward to our Meet and Greet. I hope to catch up with old friends and to make some new friends. Who knows, I may make a great business connection. It’s happened before.
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I’m reading Strategic Connections, an interesting book about networking recommended by a friend. So far, I have found it to be insightful. This past week I came across the author’s list of the 10 biggest mistakes members make. It was amusing and to the point, but sadly truthful. I thought those insights needed to be repeated. However, I’d take a different tact and make the point more positively.