Comments on 6/6 meeting from telephone participant Surekha Vajjhala '96 '99

Thank you for sharing the minutes.  I have a much clearer understanding of what transpired at the meeting now.  I didn't catch all the points via telephone.

I have three points I'd like to share in response to the notes.

Logistics: I think we should take a modular approach to forming the board and steering committee and pace ourselves in filling positions, whatever they are determined to be.  I propose that we select a board of alumni leaders now (this summer) in the form of a steering committee but that we consider some options for the rest. The steering committee does not need individuals who represent individual teams, but definitely needs individuals who are committed to DAPER.  There was some discussion of ambassadors from all the teams.  I think we should ask each team, PE group and recreational sport, at the close of their season or period of activity, to nominate a graduating senior to serve a two year term on FoDAPER.  In the first year, we could choose half of the varsity teams and organizations to elect ambassadors; in the second year, the rest.  In this manner, we would avoid massive turnover and have an opportunity to see what works.  The steering and committee and board should spend the summer determining how many groups need representation and dividing that group into two brackets, one to be chosen this year and one the next.  Fall 2003 sports would be the first to elect representatives.

By inviting graduating seniors (as opposed to having coaches select alumni partners), we accomplish four important things: (1) We maintain continuity to the active team membership; (2) the ambassadors have legitimacy in that they were selected by their peers; (3) we have a better understanding of DAPER needs, firsthand from recent students; and (4) we recruit an active leadership base for the steering committee.  Mentors on the board could look to younger alumni for replacement or for appointment to the steering committee.  I have often been disappointed to see clubs, over time, rely on the same base of alumni for all the heavy lifting!  It would be great to incorporate, at the outset of the formation of this committee, a course of action to continually get new blood into the ranks.

The second point has to do with mission.  I do believe in metrics, and a clearly defined mission is critical.  I do believe our mission is critically tied to fundraising.  I learned from the Young Alumni Committee that it's powerful to tell people what their $35 or $100 or $500 contribution supports.  So it would be fantastic if the recent graduates (the "ambassadors") had a wish list.  I think it would help with campaigning, and if there were a manner by which the steering committee could recommend appropriations, I think this option is an important one to consider.  For example, maybe the field hockey team needs new goal cages or the men's lacrosse team needs new uniforms.

Finally, with respect to providing support to new Friends groups for specific teams, I recall that the Alumni Association has or had a guide to starting new clubs.  I think the Friends of Crew folks would make a strong contribution to this kind of document.  It would be great to have a guide for other Friends teams, but not expect to provide a service to sustain them.  Perhaps we should develop a guide for a workshop at ALC this year (or next year) and specifically target alumni leaders who have expressed interest in launching a Friends group.  Those sessions were excellent when I attended them (in 1997!)

These are my thoughts in advance of the next meeting.  Without better teleconference equipment, meetings work best if either everyone is calling in or if everyone is there in person.  I promise not to call in from the airport next time!