Presents marketing guru Guy Kawasaki's seven rules for revolutionaries, and examples of alumni relations innovators who are implementing change with cutting-edge programs, services, and business practices. Rules include: "jump curves" (look for new paths); "break down barriers" (challenge roadblocks of ignorance and inertia);…

Lifelong learning in the United States is no longer a trend but a way of life. Alumni relations should take advantage of this interest by increasing graduates' chances to learn with alumni continuing education. Six steps to success based on Penn State's experience are provided. (MLW)

A 10-step approach to detailed planning, organization, and promotion of class reunions is presented. Steps include plan adequate lead time, centralize leadership, develop an overall plan, outline promotional efforts, develop a budget, develop a checklist for the event, structure the reunion weekend, and coordinate the weekend. (MLW)

Provides advice for small alumni offices on how to sponsor an alumni travel program, focusing on booking a travel agent, deciding where to go, using faculty as tour guides or lecturers, making time for alumni office staff to go along, remembering special touches, visiting local alumni, avoiding overt fund raising, and being prepared for problems.…

Professional event planners give advice on producing pleasing alumni special events. Planning elements include creating a theme, picking the place, finding talented people to help, thinking carefully about seating options, setting the mood, having clear objectives, drafting a detailed script, and managing last-minute changes. (MSE)

Properly designed and properly evaluated, entrepreneurial activities can have many kinds of positive financial and non-financial results for an alumni program. A service or product line that alumni can not get from any other source can benefit the budget and both internal and external goodwill. (MSE)

College alumni directors are finding that alumni want more than parties at their reunions and are overcoming attendance slumps with creative, substantive programing. Ideas include faculty seminars on topics of current interest, sometimes integrated with professional continuing education, alumni panel discussions, involving the family, involving…

A survey of schools, colleges, and universities about how they make their award ceremonies memorable is discussed. The best prizes, the best award categories, and the best awards ceremonies are described. (MLW)

The long-range planning strategy used at the University of the Redlands to boost alumni program productivity and increase the program budget is outlined. The effort consisted of a series of planning weekends and a number of subtle strategies to justify added resources. (MSE)

College reunion success depends on careful planning, including (1) starting early; (2) documenting all planning efforts; (3) motivating, including, and communicating with volunteers; (4) using formal and informal meeting time effectively; (5) providing a program highlighting events planned; (6) freeing staff to be volunteer-reliant; and (7)…

Five worst enemies to alumni offices' long-range plans are identified: failure to dovetail office plans with institutional plans, turnover in personnel, not enough staff or money to meet goals, failure to review plans regularly, and structuring plans with too little latitude to shift priorities as needed. (MLW)

Basic principles of designing a reunion gift program include beginning small, researching class prospects, gathering volunteers, determining the financial goal, communicating needs and intentions, organizing volunteers, advertising well, and making the donation at the reunion a major event. More ambitious plans can be tied into the program later.…

Alumni administrators are in a unique position to link alumni to products, services, and opportunities they wouldn't otherwise know about. On most campuses, valuable educational and cultural opportunities exist. Ways an alumni administrator can act as a broker between the institution and its alumni are described. (MLW) PUBTYPE-141

When nontraditional students become alumni, building loyalty takes creativity. For an urban campus and its alumni, it is important to clearly identify-and then offer programs to-specific constituencies within the alumni. The experiences of New York University are described. (MLW)

The editor of Boston University's alumni magazine who orchestrated its redesign and extended its appeal to Boston's general public is interviewed about the strategies used and the response of both the university and the city community. (MSE)