Planning a Regional GatheringAlumni are invited to host events in their own community. This is a great opportunity to meet fellow Goddard-ites and network in your own area. Goddard graduates are everywhere, the Alumni Office can help identify who they are. Here is how a regional event is usually organized:
The Place: Find a suitable place to meet. It could be your own home, or local restaurant. a library meeting room, or any community space.
The Date: Pick a date and plan on a two-hour event. If you want to meet over food, then it might make sense to pick a restaurant where a group can sit together. Otherwise, having coffee and some snacks is fine. The point is to have a place where folks can gather and talk in one group.
The Process: Call the Alumni Office (1-866-614-ALUM) and they will set the wheels in motion. First they will identify all the Goddard alums within a drivable range. Then they will help you draft an invitation, and mail it out to you. They will take RSVP's and whenever possible, they will attend the event.
Outreach: Make calls yourself, as much as you can. There is no substitute for having a conversation with another alum, directly, one on one. It makes a huge difference in whether or not people actually attend. Assume everyone is shy!
The Event: Go to the event and have fun. The Alumni Office can send you materials to hand out and will supply things like name tags and follow-up forms. Having done a number of these events, we can pretty much guarantee that you will have a great time and come away with some new friends who have a lot in common with you. |