alumni futures

Events: March in France & England, May in New Zealand & Australia

London at dusk from my Flickr stream

As I've done before, I'm heading to Paris later this month to teach part of a training workshop for the European Association for International Education (EAIE). Details are here:

Alumni Relations from A to Z (Paris)

The program is a comprehensive introduction to international alumni relations, and my portion focuses on deploying social media and other technologies effectively.

Then I'll take the train to London in time for the CASE Europe Alumni Relations Masterclass on March 25:

Alumni Relations Masterclass (London)

There are a few spots still open in this one-day workshop, but registration will be capped, and it's close to full now – so act quickly to join in.

Once again I'll discuss social technologies, with an emphasis on "recording and reporting" social media outcomes. The other instructors for both these events are first-rate – I've worked with all but one or two of them before.

A full, up to date listing of workshops, conferences, training sessions and presentations I'm delivering is always available on the Upcoming Events page here on Alumni Futures.

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NOTE: Closer to home for many readers, the Chicago Social Media Round Table Early Bird registration expires tomorrow.

Register here:

Chicago Social Media Round Table – April 6 2011

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May 2011 – Alumni Futures New Zealand & Australia Sneak Preview:

In early May I'll be heading to New Zealand and Australia for ADAPE Australasia to teach four workshops in three cities: Auckland (3 May), Sydney (5 & 6 May), and Perth (10 May). I'll provide details after I return from Singapore in two weeks, but here's the latest Face2Face Bulletin from ADAPE, providing information about my events and several others:

Download ADAPE's Member Bulletin February 2011 [2.5MB PDF] 

I'm looking forward to all the new connections I'll make in Singapore next week, Paris and London late this month, and New Zealand and Australia in May.

Alumni Futures Turns Four Years Old

Today marks the 4th anniversary of my first article on Alumni Futures. As on past birthdays of Alumni Futures, I'm stopping to check and (happily) reaffirm the goals I originally set for the site, when it was just a blog:

• To generate discussion about new ideas and directions for the advancement professions;
• To help education professionals learn from information exchanged here;
• To encourage readers to add their own ideas and visions for advancement.

Here's the annual peek at some numbers:

• There have been more than 174,000 page views in four years; 58,000 in the last year.
• About 1,800 individuals subscribe, and receive new materials from Alumni Futures every week. 400 of them signed on in the last year.
• I've published an average of 1.3 articles per week over four years. 
• Best of all, Alumni Futures readers have contributed almost 600 comments to date, and as I always say, that's what makes the site work as a community for exchanging ideas.

Also in the last year, I added the Alumni Futures Jobs Page:

http://jobs.alumnifutures.com

You can reach a highly targeted professional audience of advancement professionals with your job posting, which stays at the top of the list for 60 days. I also tweet new jobs to 1,177 followers of @alumnifutures on Twitter, and publish the job posting to the News Feed of the 415 folks who "like" Alumni Futures on Facebook. 

One other service I introduced this past year (in addition to newly published original white papers), is the Twitter list of Alumni Associations, which includes the Twitter streams of 191 alumni organizations of various types as of February 2011. 

Alumni Futures, the Business:
Everything above is about the web site. The last 11 months, for me, are about Alumni Futures as a full time business. I've enjoyed that time as an independent freelance consultant, speaker, trainer and author. 2011 is already packed with speaking and teaching engagements, but there's always room for a little more. 

Finally, I owe thanks to my expert advisory group, and most of all, thanks to all the clients, subscribers, fans, readers and followers of Alumni Futures. I look forward to whatever else comes to Alumni Futures in 2011 and beyond.

Related articles

• 2010: Alumni Futures Turns Three (alumnifutures.com)
• Upcoming Alumni Futures Events (alumnifutures.com)
• Availability for Speaking, Training & Consulting (alumnifutures.com)

Social Media Round Tables in Chicago and Boston

Boston Round Table Update:

[29 January: Now FOUR spaces left in Boston]
I had previously announced that the Alumni Futures Social Media Round Table is coming to Boston on February 15. Register online today and grab one of the last few spaces.

 

Chicago Round Table Now Open for Registration!:
Meanwhile, the Social Media Round Table is also coming to Chicago, April 6, 2011:

Click here for full details, and to register

The Social Media Round Table is a half-day seminar-style discussion for up to 15 from educational non-profit organizations. Among other things, we'll cover:

• social media planning and programming 
• how to keep up with new tools and tactics
• how (and whether) to measure ROI
• which results to report to which colleagues, and
• how to communicate internally why social technology matters

Program Includes:

• The Five Big Challenges of Social Media
• Recording & Reporting: ROI & Social Media Results
• Community Management & Your Online Reputation

Click here for full details, and to register

The Chicago Social Media Round Table takes place at 

Loyola University Chicago on the Magnificent Mile
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
8:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. 

Chicago Round Table Registration & Cost:

• Just $199 per person Early Bird rate. $229 after March 2 
  
  • Registration fee includes Round Table presentations and guided discussion, Social Media Resource Packet, and continental breakfast, plus a bonus recorded webinar: 4 Myths & 4 Realities About Social Media in Education.

Registration is on a first-come basis and is limited to 15 participants. 14 spaces remain as of January 27.

Click for details & registration info

 

More Round Tables Coming:
Watch for details of upcoming events in New York City (for independent schools), Minneapolis/St. Paul, and Los Angeles. If you want to host a Round Table at your institution (and send a staff member for free), please let me know.

Questions? Email [email protected]

"Andy has exceptional knowledge, a lively and engaging presentation style, and forward thinking on what to expect in social media in years to come."
- Workshop Participant, 2010

The event organizer is Andy Shaindlin of Alumni Futures. We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Loyola University Chicago Alumni Association in co-sponsoring this event. 

Photo of the Chicago Water Tower on the Magnificent Mile by Mike Warot via Creative Commons. Click image to view full size.

 

Related pages

• Information page for Social Media Round Table - Chicago (alumnifutures.com)
• Registration & Info for the Round Table - Boston (alumnifutures.com)
• Upcoming events and programs featuring Alumni Futures (alumnifutures.com)
• 2011 Predictions: Now Social Media Marketing Gets Tough (blogs.forrester.com)

 

 

Boston: Social Media Round Table, February 15

The Alumni Futures Social Media Round Table is coming to Boston! 

"In 10 years of attending conferences and workshops, the Alumni Futures experience stands alone. Awesome insight!"
   -Workshop Participant, 2010 

Click here for full details, and to register

Just 6 spaces remain as of January 13.

Here are a few highlights of the event:

The Social Media Round Table is a half-day seminar-style discussion for up to 15 professionals from schools, colleges and universities, or from other educational non-profit organizations. Fundraisers, communications professionals, and alumni officers are all welcome, along with professionals in student affairs, athletics, academic departments, career services, financial aid and admissions.

You'll Learn:

• ways to approach social media planning and programming 
• which trends & sources to follow to keep up with new tools and tactics
• how (and whether) to measure the ROI of your social media efforts
• how to communicate to your boss (and your boss's boss) why social technology matters
    

Program:

Coffee & pastries available (included)

Presentation: The Five Big Challenges of Social Media

Guided Discussion: Return on Investment: How Will You Know if You're Succeeding? 

Guided Discussion: Community Management & Your Online Reputation

Wrap Up Discussion

Click here for full details, and to register

Location, Date and Time:

The Round Table takes place at Emerson College in Boston's Back Bay, on Tuesday, February 15, 2011 from 8:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. Exact address, building, and room information will be emailed to registered participants.

 

Registration & Cost:

• Just $229 per person
   
  
  • Registration fee includes Round Table presentations and guided discussion, Social Media Resource Packet, and continental breakfast, plus a bonus webinar: 4 Myths & 4 Realities About Social Media in Education.

Registration is on a first-come basis and is limited to 15 participants. 11 spaces remain as of January 6.

Click for details & registration info

Questions? Email [email protected]
  

"Andy has exceptional knowledge, a lively and engaging presentation style,
and forward thinking on what to expect in social media in years to come."
- Workshop Participant, 2010

 

The event organizer is Andy Shaindlin of Alumni Futures. We gratefully acknowledge the support of Emerson's Office of Communications & Marketing in co-sponsoring this event. 

Wintry-looking photo of Boston Common (actually an infrared photo taken in the fall) by Werner Kunz via Creative Commons. Click image to view full size.

Related pages

• Information page for Social Media Round Table - Boston (alumnifutures.com)
• 2011 Predictions: Now Social Media Marketing Gets Tough (blogs.forrester.com)

Minary 2010: Alumni Education, Engagement, and Travel

The 2010 Minary Conference on Alumni Education, Engagement and Travel takes place November 1–4 in Southern California, its first new location since the late 1980s.

Another change is a tweak to the name: Minary has always been the "conference on Alumni Education." Now it's Alumni Education, Engagement & Travel, to better reflect the needs and interests of attendees. 

Program
Speakers include Reed College's Mike Teskey on crisis communication, Brett Thompson of Stanford discussing trends in alumni travel, and C. Thomas Faulders II of the University of Virginia, with a keynote on What Engagement Professionals Can Learn from the Corporate World. The full agenda is online and there are numerous small breakout discussions, plus roundtables. And of course, plenty of time built in for enjoying the facilities and location, which is a very beautiful area.

Meanwhile, I am pleased to be included on the conference agenda, speaking in three installments. I will give a talk on "the three dimensions of alumni relationships," lead an informal fireside chat about future trends in alumni engagement, and will close with a detailed discussion of several "social network use cases" from the matrix that I blogged in July.  

Location
Minary's previous venue in northern California was far removed from the distractions of big city hotels and traditional conference centers. But for some, Stanford Sierra Camp was hard to get to (almost two hours' drive from Reno, and more than two hours from Sacramento). 

So to shake things up a bit, this year's planning committee has moved the program to UCLA's beautiful Lake Arrowhead Conference Center. The facility is quiet and removed from distractions, but quite accessible from Los Angeles.

Lake Arrowhead is a two hour drive from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), and Ontario Airport (ONT) is just an hour away. And having the greater L.A. area relatively nearby should allow alumni officers to set up events or alumni visits as part of the same trip, making it easier to budget and more effective overall.

Registration is available online:

Minary Conference Registration site

You can also visit the general Conference site for additional information: Minary info site.

History
The name "Minary" comes from the meeting's original location, Dartmouth College's Minary Center in New Hampshire. Colleague Andrew Gossen reported recently that the original Minary facility is shutting down after 40 years.

I hope to see you at the new Minary Conference on November 1!

 

Panorama of Lake Arrowhead winter scene by John Colby, via Creative Commons. There won't be snow there on November 1...it should be mild Southern California fall weather.

Questions from Europe: Educational Marketing, Authenticity and Web 2.0

Two weeks ago, a small group in a big room in France had a compact conversation about several expansive topics. 

The Web 2.0 workshop I co-chaired for the European Association for International Education included 27 individuals from organizations across 14 countries. Their roles ranged from advancement to public relations, but emphasized student recruitment. Sweden and the Netherlands were the most prominently represented, with one-third of the participants between them.

Participants absorbed a number of case studies, showing how various institutions have used Web 2.0 tools to engage wide-ranging audiences (with equally wide-ranging degrees of success – a couple of them being outright failures). Along the way, we discussed the trials and tribulations of relying on user-generated content, trying to obtain institutional support, and receiving uncertain returns on investment. 

A few key ideas cropped up, and I share them here for consideration or comment.

Despite the talk about "user-generated content," many of the cases and examples discussed involved universities talking about themselves on user-dominated platforms. There's a difference between a university's communication officer using Facebook to share information about the institution, and alumni or students using Facebook to share their opinions about the place. 

Some questions arise: 

• Will university managers eventually adapt to the collaborative, networked aspects of the Internet? 
   
• Will they eventually stop relying on one-way content, using social platforms to broadcast magazine articles and press releases? 

The research side of the academy relies heavily on network effects to share and publish information. Scholarly journal citations are proxies for connections in a network – they connect authors whose work depends on mutual relevance. Furthermore, they publish publicly and as widely as possible so as to benefit everyone. But many of the international student recruiters at EAIE are publishing information primarily (or solely) to benefit their own institution.

When will institutional leaders fully support and invest in distributed communication (like the content on social platforms), instead of assuming it's something "young people do"? Probably not until the people currently in lower- and mid-level management positions rise to the top ranks of institutional leadership themselves. They're the ones who best recognize, through first-hand experience, the outcomes that widespread use of social technologies is generating.

A final thought occurred to me as the group dispersed and our workshop discussion faded from the hall.

Which of these two alternate futures is more likely?: 

Scenario 1: At some point soon, mere marketing will cease to attract any attention at all. Ads that rely entirely on manufactured images and broadcast "stories" will be invisible to an audience increasingly accustomed to so-called authentic voices and content. This will make the recruiter's or fundraiser's job one of brokering true stories that reflect users' experiences, instead of manufacturing fantasies designed to appeal to people's desires.

Or...

Scenario 2: Marketers become so adept at manipulating content that users will be left wondering what is authentic and what is hype, which stories, profiles or brands are the real thing, and which ones are made up to fill a niche created by the demand for the services or programs they are in the business of providing.

Are you facing these dilemmas already? 

How are you approaching them? 

Are you succeeding? 

How do you know?

Leave a comment...

 

Photo of EAIE reception in Nantes, France by Andy Shaindlin

Overseas Workshops and Presentations: France

As I mentioned in July, I'm heading to France this week to co-present a workshop for the European Association for International Education...

 
EAIE Workshop in Nantes, 15-16 September:

I will co-present with Illuminate Consulting Group's Dr. Daniel Guhr at EAIE's annual meeting. I've been lucky enough to deliver workshops and training at EAIE programs in Norway, Hungary, Spain and France, and am grateful to be invited back. 

This year, Dan has developed an ambitious workshop called How to Strategically Deploy Web 2.0 Platforms, Tools and Communities. 

ICG research interns have compiled a number of detailed and diverse case studies that will form the basis for part of the workshop. In a few weeks I'll let Alumni Futures readers know how to purchase copies of the reports, which I have been editing for ICG.

 

AFF Breakfast Program in Paris, 21 September:

Next week, on Tuesday, 21 September in Paris, I will deliver a breakfast talk sponsored by the Association Française des Fundraisers (AFF). The topic is Alumni Community Management. I will discuss how to use social networks and the web (including blogs, Twitter, Facebook and other online platforms) to listen to alumni and build a dialog with them. You can still sign up online.

The presentation will be in English, although I can stumble along in French as well, if needed. I am very grateful to Céline Morel for helping to make this event happen.
 

Note: I'll be away from the blog for a couple of weeks, but will return at the end of September. Until then, in the spirit of social media, enjoy this series of alumni-related messages from a Twitter user last winter:

 

 

 

Alumni Futures in France: September Events

As I head off to Singapore today, I'm already looking ahead to September, when I will travel to France for two teaching opportunities:

EAIE Workshop in Nantes, 15-16 September
I will co-present with Illuminate Consulting Group's Dr. Daniel Guhr at the annual meeting of the European Association for International Education (EAIE). This year, Dan has developed a workshop called How to Strategically Deploy Web 2.0 Platforms, Tools and Communities.

The workshop takes place over two half-day sessions, and is limited to 30 participants. It's not an introductory program – it is aimed at an intermediate level audience that is familiar with the tools currently used to deploy communities online.

The workshop takes place 15 and 16 September in Nantes.

AFF Breakfast Program in Paris, 21 September
On Tuesday, 21 September in Paris, I will deliver a breakfast talk sponsored by the Association Française des Fundraisers (AFF). The topic is Alumni Community Management. I will discuss how to use social networks and the web (including blogs, Twitter, Facebook and other online platforms) to listen to alumni and build a dialog with them.

The presentation will be in English, although I plan to answer questions and discuss related topics informally in French as well. 

Here is a brief description of the program in French, with a link to the event page:

Petit-déjeuner fundraising: Alumni Community Management

Comment utiliser les réseaux sociaux et le web (blogs, Twitter, Facebook, sites internet) pour écouter ses alumni, et construire une relation avec eux. Une introduction au "community management" au service des relations avec vos alumni et de votre fundraising.

 

 

Social Media Master Class: Singapore

On 29 July I will be teaching a workshop (what CASE calls a "Master Class") in Singapore. The National University of Singapore (NUS) is hosting the event at the Shaw Foundation Alumni House (pictured here). It's a half-day overview of social media and alumni communications for colleges, universities and schools. 

The full program (or programme) web site is here:

Social Media & Educational Advancement

Below is the agenda at a glance, to give you an idea of what I'll cover. This session is great for people who know that social tools are an increasingly important part of constituent relations, but who don't feel they have an adequate understanding of these fast-changing trends. Note that this is a non-technical roadmap to these trends, so you don't need computer or internet expertise to benefit.

 

Social Media & Educational Advancement Programme

Overview
What is social media and where did it come from? What is the meaning of "Web 2.0" and why are there so many social networking sites and tools? Our discussion will cover: the rise of social networking sites; terminology; how social media affects alumni and student behavior; and why social media is important to educational advancement.

Global Case Studies
A cross-border look at how some institutions are using the most common tools: microblogging, social networks, business networks and more. The discussion will include risks and opportunities; how these tools can promote better alumni coordination, student recruiting, and fundraising.

Putting Social Technology to Work: Interactive Exercise
In small groups, participants will quickly brainstorm and design a solution to an assigned challenge.

The Road Ahead: Trends in Online Communication
Where is the social media world going next, and can we lead, or must we follow? I'll highlight the growing importance of mobile communication and of location-based services.

We'll finish the afternoon with an open-ended Question and Answer discussion.

If you're reading Alumni Futures in Asia and can be in Singapore on 29 July, click here to register for this event.

Social Media Round Table: New York City

The Alumni Futures Social Media Round Table is coming to New York City, Thursday, July 22, 2010.

What is it? Who is it for?
The Social Media Round Table is a day-long discussion (a kind of mini-conference), open to no more than 15 professionals from schools, colleges and universities, or from other organizations whose work relates to education. Fundraisers, communications professionals, and alumni officers are all welcome, but other disciplines are welcome too: student affairs, athletics, career services, admissions and more – anyone who needs to get up to speed quickly on the promise of social technologies in education and related sectors.

Up to three spots are available for representatives from the private sector – consultants, vendors or others whose work connects them to education or non-profits.

The Round Table is designed for individuals with low to moderate exposure to social media, not for complete beginners or for experienced "power users." You will get the most from the Round Table if you: 

- have basic familiarity with Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn and
- are interested in mid-level strategy and tactics for engaging constituents with social technology. 

Key Features
- Mixes presentations, guided discussions, and free-wheeling idea-sharing
- Incorporates participants' topics and questions to guarantee relevance
- Touches on key themes in social media and online community
- Connects participants to a network of fellow professionals who share their interests
- Is moderated and hosted by Andy Shaindlin (of Alumni Futures) and Elizabeth Allen (of Adaptivate)
 

Preliminary Program (exact timing & topics subject to change)

8:30 to 9:00 am - Registration
Continental breakfast (included)

9:00 am to 10:00 am - Presentation
Debunking the Myths of Social Media 
(presented by Andy Shaindlin and Liz Allen, following self-introductions)

10:00 am to 10:45 am - Group Discussion
ROI: How Will You Know If You're Succeeding?

10:45 to 11:00 am - Break

11:00 am to Noon – Group Discussion
Community Management (and Your Online Reputation)

Noon to 1:00 pm - Lunch
Deli-style lunch on site (included)

1:00 pm to 3:00 pm - Discussion
Participants' Hot Topics 
(submitted in advance)

3:00 pm to 3:30 pm - Wrap up and closing thoughts 

We guarantee thought-provoking new ideas for you to take away, and a fun day of valuable professional network-building as well.
 

Location
The Alumni Futures Social Media Round Table takes place in mid-town Manhattan, New York City, on Thursday, July 22, 2010 from 8:30 a.m. until approximately 3:30 p.m. 

Your registration fee includes Round Table discussion and feedback, Social Media Resource Packet, and continental breakfast plus deli-style lunch on site.

Registration & Fees

• $229 for non-profit participants
• $299 for commercial attendees (limit 3 attendees in this category)

Click here to register

Registered participants will receive additional details about the Round Table, including the opportunity to submit individual topics of interest to attendees, which can be included in the day's program.

• Registration is on a first-come basis. Only 15 spaces available.

Questions?

Send an email to [email protected].

See you there!