Page 83 - EdViewptsSpring2017

Step 2: Produce a Mission protocols, and insurance. The bylaws
Statement will take some time to form, and it is While alumni associations
wise to have an alumni lawyer assist
Once approximately 10 passionate in this process pro bono. have been around for
alumni from different graduating years private schools and
are assembled, the first task at hand is Step 4: Becoming an colleges for a long time,
to create a mission statement. Sample Association
mission statements can be acquired this is a new concept for
online from private schools or colleges Forming an association may take up public schools.
to generate ideas. However, the mission to two years. Meetings should be held
of your alumni association must be on a monthly basis so that work on the
concise and specific to your school. mission statement and bylaws can be successful vote, the other board mem-
Additionally, up to five strategic accomplished between meetings. This bers and trustees will be voted upon
the same way. After the voting, the
pace also helps prevent burnout and
priorities that outline the goals of the gives the committee an opportunity to administrator who has been organizing
association should be created and network and bring more excited alumni this endeavor will most likely have a
tie back to the mission statement. into the fold. non-voting role on the board.
For example, these goals can be
to strengthen communication and When the founding members have all Alumni Association
promote connections between alumni agreed that the bylaws are complete,
and your school, facilitate an active submit the bylaws to the government With the alumni association es-
and dynamic alumni network, and and apply for 501(c)(3) status. This part tablished, it is up to the board and
encourage participation in alumni is crucial for future donors who wish trustees to begin creating an alumni
relations programs. to be able to write off their charitable database. Be sure to also use social
Next, creating a name for your asso- contribution. Although the association media to spread the word about your
newly formed association. There is
can continue to meet, it is not official
ciation may be easy enough by insert- until the government grants the 501(c) available software or companies that
ing your school name before alumni (3) status. This process may take up to will collect or provide alumni names
association, however having this name six months. for a fee, but until the association has
translate to an appropriate acronym been able to acquire some money to
or finding the right domain name for In the meantime, the administrator cover these expenses, the best ap-
your website may be challenging. The leading this association should be proach is to create a website that will
trick is to find one that has not already speaking with the alumni to determine allow alumni to register their names,
been taken, is easily remembered, who will be the best president, vice graduation years, and sports or activi-
and makes sense to alumni. president, treasurer, and secretary. ties they were involved in.
The people determined to lead the
Step 3: Establish Bylaws association moving forward may not The easiest way to generate some
Once the mission statement is set, necessarily be the ones who worked income is to create alumni merchan-
dise for sale. Larger endeavors like
for the past two years creating the
the bylaws, which will outline the rules mission statement and bylaws. engraved bricks, dinners, golf outings,
that govern the association, must be or capital campaigns take a little more
established and agreed upon. Again, Once the board officers and trustees, time to organize but will allow for
example bylaws can be found online. alumni with voting rights, are agreed larger donations.
The bylaws will contain approximately upon and the 501(c)(3) status is Graduates have an emotional tie to
obtained, the association will be able
15 articles that cover rules to run to officially operate. The first order of their school and want to give back to
the association. These articles will business is for the administrator to a place that has given them a strong
include defining membership in the nominate the board president, have foundation for their own success. So
association, dues, voting procedures, the motion seconded, and then voted start your alumni association today.
board officer positions and responsi- upon by the future trustees. After a
bilities, special committees, financial

About the Author

Dr. Tom Gorman, principal of Ridgewood High School, has worked in public education as a social studies
teacher and administrator for 20 years. He earned a B.A. from Muhlenberg College, an M.A. from Montclair
State University, and an Ed.D. from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. His wife, Maggie, is a
teacher at Ramsey High School. Together they have three children: Sean, Hagan, and Shea.

Educational Viewpoints -81- Spring 2017