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Do you know who you are?
If you haven't done a self-study in awhile, now is the time to do
so. Your club's roster can provide a wealth of demographic information,
helping you decide where you should focus your energies. Periodically
survey your membership as well as compare your constituency with
other local alumni associations and neighboring Yale Clubs. Track
attendance and create opportunities for feedback. Consider having
open planning meetings. Click here to see sample surveys.
Reinventing the wheel
It's far too easy to burn yourself out thinking of new ideas all
the time. Tag onto existing events such as local art and theater
festivals, museum exhibitions and public lectures. Build in an educational
component to the event such as a private tour or talk. Make a habit
of checking community and university calendars. Periodically ask
your board and constituency for ideas, and learn what organizations
they may be a part of…i.e. World Affairs Council.
Yale Club of New York City - New York Cares
Spring Clean-Up Day
Yale Club of New Haven - New Haven International Festival of Arts
and Ideas
Yale Club of London - Henley Royal Regatta
How did you get that venue?!
Restaurants, bars, hotels and private clubs are fine places to hold
events, but there are many other venue options out there. Try to
find venues that are unusual and often overlooked. What's new and
interesting? What's old but unknown? Where are people dying to get
into? Is there a Yale connection? Hidden treasurers are all around
you.
You don't have to use expensive venues either.
Don't overlook local businesses with interesting auditoriums and
reception spaces, area schools and universities, libraries, non-profit
organizations, parks, houses of worship, community and cultural
centers, art studios and galleries, laboratories, historic homes
and sites, etc. One Yale club held an event on a decommissioned
battleship and another at a historic cemetery. Look into after-hours
opportunities too.
Talented is as talented does
While Yale University speakers are excellent, don't overlook local
Yale talent. Review your club roster, especially the career/industry
information, for speakers and event ideas. Talk with neighboring
Yale clubs about their constituencies-perhaps an alumnus would be
willing to travel to your club and give a presentation. Consider
inviting local alumni professors and graduate students to discuss
their current research.
Yale Club of Southern California - Yale in Hollywood
Entertainment Panel
In your own backyard
Volunteer work is not only rewarding but also a wonderful way to
bring alumni together. Many Yale Clubs participate in community
service projects: literacy programs, Adopt-A-School, Habitat-for-Humanity,
blood drives, soup kitchens, conservation projects (cleaning a local
park), etc. Make it interesting by challenging other alumni associations
to compete for the greater number of volunteers or volunteer hours.
Yale Club of Houston - Adoption and fundraising
for Youth Engaged in Service
(YES) College Preparatory School
Yale Club of Dallas - Volunteer competition with Harvard Club
of Dallas at City
Park Elementary School
San Antonio Yale/Havard blood drive
Yale Club of Southern California Habitat for Humanity Day
The Big Event
For Clubs with larger memberships, a large, formal event is an exciting
way to bring alumni together. Though labor intensive, a dinner dance,
live or silent auction, all day seminar or scholarship fundraising
extravaganza, can be a huge success, attracting alumni from across
the generations. We recommend holding events such as these every
few years to keep attendance high and volunteers from burning out.
Cleveland Yale Ball (held every 5 years)
Yale California Alumni Gala
Annual Harvard-Yale-Princeton Ball in Rochester, NY
Yale Alumni Association of Westchester Annual Scholarship Banquet
Yale Club of Singapore - Distinguished University Alumni League
Charity Ball
Yale Club of New Haven Charity Ball (proceeds benefiting Dwight Hall)
Life of the mind
You can't go wrong with continuing education. Successful activities
include book clubs (esp. with alumni and Yale faculty authors),
discussion groups, panels, faculty forums (informal mini classes
with readings and final lecture with instructor), and speakers (Yale
as well as local). Contact local bookstores for book tour schedules.
Consider an informal "Masters Tea" on a Sunday or a dessert
discussion group. Other ideas include potlucks or breakfasts with
book groups or local speakers as well as lecture series ("Hot
coffee, hot topics" or "Lunch with a View").
Yale Alumni Association of the Northwest (Minnesota)
Alumnae Discussion
Group with Radcliffe Alumnae
Yale Club of Orange County Book Club
Yale Club of Oregan monthly speaker luncheons
Yale Club of Philadelphia discussion groups
Yale Club of San Francisco CAFÉ, featuring prominent local
speakers
Yale Club of Southern California literary salon
Colorado Yale Association Faculty Forum
A little culture never hurt anyone
There are bound to be wonderful Yale connections with your local
arts community-board members, directors, curators, actors, artists
and gallery owners, writers, musicians, etc.-alumni who can help
you organize a splendid event around a performance or exhibition.
Ideas include a program of readings from Yale authors, film series,
tours of local artists' studios or an evening of music showcasing
local talent whether professional or amateur.
Yale Singers of Maine
Yale Club of Philadelphia Theater Night, featuring local alumni
director
Yale Club of Washington, D.C. Singing Jamboree
Yale Club of San Francisco tour of alumni studios and galleries
Yale Club of San Diego - Yale Alums on Stage - premiere of two
plays written by alumni
The Great Outdoors
Consider a hike or snow shoeing/skiing trip, nature walk with a
botanist or geologist, hilltop lecture on local environmental issues,
stargazing out in the open or at a local observatory, and conservation
projects such as maintenance work at a local state park.
Colorado Yale Association annual hut-to-hut ski
trip
Yale Club of San Franciso - Eli Hiking Group
Yale Club of Southern Arizona (Tucson) - overnight trip to Mt.
Graham
International Observatory
Bulldog. Bulldog. Bow. Wow. Wow.
Though the Yale-Harvard Game telecast is always a draw, consider
outings at local sports games, especially if there is a Yale connection
to the team, perhaps someone who can give a behind-the-scenes tour.
Some clubs have also organized "Ivy Challenges," informal
athletic events such as races, mini-regattas, and golf and tennis
tournaments.
Yale Club of Washington, D.C. Ivy Tennis Party
Yale Club of Tampa Day at the Races
Yale Club of New Haven Raven's Baseball Night
Boy, those Yale students seem to get younger
every year…
Alumni love interacting with current students and performance groups
and visiting athletic teams are a great way to bring the two together.
Make an effort to keep in touch with current students. (Remember,
today's student is tomorrow's club volunteer.) Consider sponsoring
an AYA Community Service Summer Fellowship and encourage alumni
to sponsor Externships. And don't forget Yale parents!
Yale Club of Houston Current Student Panel (summer)
Yale Club of Phoenix evening with Yale Exit Players (student comedy
troupe)
The Young and the Restless
If you have young alumni, you need to organize events specifically
for them (defined usually as 10 years out and younger). Ideas range
from social events and athletic/outdoor activities to networking
and mentoring opportunities. Consider reviving some Yale student
traditions such as "Feb Club". Be sure your Young Alumni
Coordinator is a member of your board.
Yale Club of Southern California Young Alumni
Happy Hour
Fun for the whole family
Busy families, especially young families, are too often the lost
demographic. Bring them back into the fold with family centered
activities. Some clubs have even developed a self-sustaining "mini
club" for Yalies with children, providing activities which
specifically appeal to Yale parents: educational outings (children's
theater, science museum), speakers on trends in medicine, education,
technology as well as chilhood development issues. Also, consider
providing babysitting at your largest functions such as an annual
dinner or offering dinner as a separate option after your speaker
so parents can leave early to be with their children.
Yale Club of Houston's Lil Elis Club
Colorado Yale Association Annual Mountain Family Outing and Barbeque
Yale Club of Boston Children's Museum Outing
Yale Club of New York City - NY Public Library children's performance
event
Yale Club of Philadelphia Movie Night
Let's make a deal
Networking events are always popular, especially with recent graduates.
Some clubs have had great success organizing networking luncheons,
receptions, forums, panels and/or seminars with topics ranging from
current business and technology trends to the film and theater industries.
Yale Club of Orange County Business Roundtable
Lunches
Yale Club of Southern California monthly networking luncheon
Ivy Plus
Many Yale Clubs/Associations, especially small clubs, periodically
organize joint activities with other alumni associations, ensuring
a full calendar and strong turnout for events. Some Yale clubs rotate
responsibility with other alumni associations for annual speakers.
Meet with other alumni association club leaders periodically to
share ideas and discuss possible opportunities such as networking,
volunteer and fundraising "challenges," athletic competitions,
singing groups, etc.
Yale Club of Chicago - Ivy League/Seven Sisters
Volunteer Day
Yale club of Silicon Valley - Ivy League Bowling Tournament
Yale Club of the Suncoast (Sarasota, FL) - Annual Harvard-Yale-Princeton
Speaker Luncheon
Yale Club of the Treasure Coast (Vero Beach, FL) - Annual Harvard-Yale-Princeton
Dinner Dance
Yale Club of Austin - Ivy League Holiday Dinner and Party
Yale Club of San Francisco - All-Ivy/Seven Sisters Dance Party
with dance
lessons (latin dance steps) at local hot spot
Yale Club of New York - Annual All-Ivy Safety Dance - 80's retro
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