University of Memphis Alumni Association and Alumni and Constituent Relations

Membership Initiatives
The University of Memphis Alumni Association represents more than 140,000 living alumni world-wide. The Association’s mission is to engage alumni, former students and friends in three challenges: advocating the ideals of the University, advancing its welfare and fostering life-long relationships with the institution. The Alumni Association takes pride in the continued growth of alumni participation and giving. Participation has increased at every level and stands at an institutional high with increased alumni, friend and donor engagement.

FAM – Future Alumni of Memphis
The FAM, or Future Alumni of Memphis, was launched as an opportunity to involve students in the Alumni Association. Organized to create the culture of giving to the University through a lifetime of involvement, FAM was met with an overwhelmingly enthusiastic response with more than 1,500 members since its birth in February 2010. FAM is the largest and fastest growing paid organization on campus. Set as a feeder organization for the Alumni Association, signature events for FAM include the fall costume cruise and the spring Blue & Gray Ball. Future projects will include fund raising for the University, a mentoring component and Alumni Breakfast Series.

UMAR – University of Memphis Association of Retirees
The University of Memphis Association of Retirees joined forces with the Alumni Association this past year, with the relationship proving mutually advantageous. Through this collaboration, membership with UMAR has increased while the wide range of activities coordinated by UMAR has increased the Association’s program offerings.

Associate Members
In May 2009, the National Executive Board of Directors created the Associate Membership, which are complimentary one-year memberships given to graduates in the hope that they will use their Association benefits effectively and continue their membership and relationship with the Association. This program is scheduled to be reviewed in three years for effectiveness and its success is tracked through renewals.

Frosh Camp Alumni
The University of Memphis Frosh Camp Counselor Alumni has aligned with the Alumni Association to better serve their constituents and advance their goals. The Frosh Camp Alumni group is open to any past counselors and any past Frosh Camp participants. The group is highly motivated and is currently exploring fundraising projects that support Frosh Camp. The Association is excited about the possibilities that this group of past student leaders brings to the Association.

Membership By The Numbers
A strong membership program is crucial to the long-term growth and success of the Alumni Association. The chief components of the program bring focus to alumni engagement, Association recognition and value in membership. A major emphasis and investment has been made to build membership at the University through expanded alumni staff and an extensive restructure of the entire program that began in 2003.

Member Engagement
Since 2003, the Alumni Association has celebrated national growth from 13 clubs and chapters to more than 70 clubs, chapters and areas of participation. Annually, the Association hosts more than 250 events, and its clubs, chapters and areas of participation host more than 225 meetings.

The Guild of 1912
The Association is focusing on preserving resources and encouraging our alumni and friends to make gifts to the University and the Alumni Association. Not only will these efforts help with the budget, such gifts will also advance the University rankings in the U.S. News and World Report. This next year, the Guild of 1912 is being created. Many other Universities call this program “sustaining membership” whereby funds go directly to the operating fund of the Association.

Membership Goals
Alumni Association membership has increased from 1,117 to 10,313. The Association surpassed its goal of reaching 10,000 members by 2012 two years ahead of time and is striving to achieve a new goal of 12,000 members by 2012.

ALUMNI AND CONSTITUENT RELATIONS

Programs and Recognition

Involved Programming
The Association funds numerous scholarships, recognizes and rewards outstanding faculty, assists in recruiting top students to the U of M, sponsors events for home and away athletic events, underwrites Homecoming and reunions and brings the University to its members through events at dozens of alumni clubs and chapters across the nation. It all adds up to keeping alumni involved with the U of M and making the University a stronger institution.

By involving the Association in activities whereby other University departments are involved, those relationships advance the Association. This year’s involvement included:

• The opening of the Law School downtown was the largest black-tie event at the University and also the largest that the Alumni Association has directed.

• The Young Alumni Committee assisted in hosting the inaugural activities for the opening of the University Center.

• The Association continues its partnership with the Athletic Department to bring our fans, friends and families fun events.

ALUMNI AND CONSTITUENT RELATIONS

Marketing Initiatives
Recognized by a more formal structure designed to support alumni and friends of the University, the Association has taken vital steps to implement procedures and policies in step with “best practices” in the field. A dynamic and robust marketing plan is an essential part of any successful Alumni Association. This includes:

• Re-design of Membership Matters

• Re-design of the monthly e-mail

• Social media creation

• Established the online community myMemphis

CENTENNIAL CAMPAIGN Alumni Association TIGERS AROUND TOWN
An important element of our work this year is the continuation of preparation for a major initiative for the Centennial Campaign – the Association’s Tigers Around Town. We are currently directed toward the completion of the prototype arriving in August and will culminate with the University’s 2012 Centennial Celebration on 9/10/11 at 12 noon for the kickoff event showcasing the Tigers on Campus.

A timeline was developed, and we continue to make progress toward our goals. The plans include alumni, campus and community involvement beginning with the creation of the original statue image by a U of Memphis student. We will continue to track our progress.

TRUE BLUE IN 2012
As the Association sets goals in the current economic climate, we confront market uncertainties that have unfortunately been a consideration for the past few years. Our overall efforts will again be directed toward membership advancement, building the operational budget of the Association and heightened Association visibility with the approaching Centennial in 2012.