New Class Officer Training

Using Mini-reunions to Sustain Class Enthusiasm

September 10, 2011 Juli Towell ‘55Danielle Germain ‘93

What is a Mini-reunion?

A mini-reunion happens any time a group of class members or affinity groups get together

Mini-reunions are easy to plan

• They can be anywhere in the world or even in South Hadley

• They can last any length time - a few hours to a week

• They can be just for fun, focused around learning something new or organized to volunteer on a service project

Mini-reunions serve multiple purposes

• Reconnect classmates in between reunions• Maintain connections with the College• Are lots of fun for the individuals involved• Re-introduce class members who have lost contact

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Financing a Mini-reunion

• Are not an expense to be paid from the Class Treasury though the treasury can help fund upfront costs

• Must be revenue-neutral meaning theyare planned to cover all expenses

• Each attendee pays own expenses

Mini-reunions can be built around any activity

great or small…

Back to Class

Come back to South Hadley and sample today’s courses & faculty during the school year. Stay overnight at Willits and spend two or three days on campus.

An Afternoon on the Green

One class in the 90s did a low-cost but truly enjoyable Saturday afternoon picnic on the Green. They ordered box lunches from Atkins and hired some students to entertain the children while the classmates visited.

Local meet-ups work too. One class organized a get together in Washington, DC, meeting up at the weekly Food Truck gathering.

Take in an afternoon concert

Another class hosted a trip to Tanglewood to hear the Boston Symphony

Destination Minis

Classes have worked with Elder Hostel’s Road Scholar program to plan travel programs.

•Elder Hostel is a world-wide non-profit organization who work to inspire adults to learn, discover and travel.

•They have a wide range of programs and a range of activity levels so they are conducive for a variety of ages.

www.roadscholar.org

Other ideas?

Questions?