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Events & Activities

Keys to Successful Alumni Chapter Events:

Offer a wide variety of activities and events
From social and networking activities to sports-related events to continuing education or student recruitment – try to provide something for everyone!

Plan the events as early as possible
Allow ample time to promote the event, arrange logistics, and create a memorable chapter activity.

Work with the IU Alumni Association to coordinate and promote the events
IUAA has resources available to help you organize great chapter events such as assistance with e-mail blasts or promotional mailings to get the word out about the activity; a network of IU contacts to help your chapter arrange a great IU related program; or simply many years of experience to call upon when arranging your next great IU alumni event or activity.

Involve other alumni in carrying out the activities
We all know it’s hard to accomplish everything on your own. That’s why it’s important to get other alumni chapter volunteers involved in developing and coordinating events.

How Many Events Should the Chapter Sponsor Each Year?

Although each chapter is unique, most chapters average at least 3-5 events per year. Chapters in large cities, where several thousand IU alumni reside, usually offer more – perhaps as many as one per month. The IU Alumni Association requires all chapters to sponsor at least one event or activity per year.

Variety is the Spice of Life!

With nearly 500,000 IU alumni worldwide, it’s impossible to create an alumni chapter activity that caters to everyone’s interests. However, each individual chapter should work to create a variety of annual events and activities that match some of the varied interests that exist among alumni in a particular chapter area. In doing so, you are providing different options for alumni chapter members to get involved!

Remember, your chapter area is unique so plan activities that play to the strengths of the chapter area or its members (i.e. if your chapter has a large concentration of recent graduates or young alumni, plan activities that cater to this audience; or if your chapter area encompasses a large metropolitan area, plan activities that take advantage of the city’s multiple attractions). Some chapters fall in areas where an IU campus is located. If this is the case, be sure your chapter partners with the campus and its alumni association to bring additional IU events to your area!

Generally, chapter events and activities can be broken down into the following general categories:

• Social & Networking
• Continuing Education
• Community Service
• Awards & Scholarships
• Student Recruiting
• Indiana Day

Social & Networking
Some of the most common alumni chapter events involve bringing together alumni to simply meet, socialize, and have fun! These events often take place around a variety of attractions or alumni interests such as sporting events, cultural gatherings, or outdoor recreation. Examples of social or networking events include:

• Hoosier Happy Hour
• Game Watch
• Big Red Warm Up
• Event Featuring IU Representative or Group
• Wine Tasting
• Group Outing to Sports Event
• Alumni Dinner Groups
• Group Outing to Concert or Theatre
• Intramural Sports Team
• Golf Outing
• Group Outdoor Adventures
• Big Ten Alumni Events
• Bus Trip to IU Athletic Event
• Boat Cruises
• Kickback to Kirkwood
• Group Outing to Museum or Gallery
• Pre and Post Concert Receptions
• Fun and Games (Euchre, Poker, Trivia)
• Movie Nights
• Events with Regional Campuses or IUPUI
• Family Events
• Little 500 Race-Watching Party

Continuing Education
A recent survey of IU alumni concluded that a significant number of IU graduates are interested in continuing education programs or life-long learning opportunities. If your chapter is interested in sponsoring an activity featuring a faculty speaker or life-long learning program, the IU Alumni Association can provide speaker and programming options for your chapter.

Some chapters feature IU faculty or alumni speakers during breakfast, lunch or dinner events. Others sponsor programs where the IU speaker is broadcast live, via a PolyCom web-based feed, to the chapter area. Additionally, some chapters co-sponsor faculty speakers in conjunction with local service clubs such as Rotary or Kiwanis, or through various IU schools or departments such as the Kelley School of Business. Programs that feature timely or current issues often field the largest turnouts.

Remember, there are a variety of ways chapters can bring continuing education programs to different chapter areas. Contact your chapter staff liaison for more information. For details about IU’s highly acclaimed week-long learning vacation, visit Mini University.

Community Service
For more information visit the community service website

Awards & Scholarships
Many chapters annually sponsor student scholarship and alumni award programs. Both programs are an excellent way for chapters to honor students and alumni form their local areas. Visit the following websites for more information about alumni chapter scholarship programs or alumni chapter recognition awards.

Student Recruiting
Visit the student recruiting website.

Indiana Day
Every alumni chapter is asked to sponsor an Indiana Day activity each year. Typically, this event is the chapter’s largest or signature event of the year. Although Indiana Day events take a variety of forms, most feature a program or speaker from IU (i.e. IU President, IUAA President, IU musical group, coach, or faculty member). In some cases, the chapter’s Indiana Day coincides with scholarship presentations, local alumni awards, or election of chapter officers and board members. Indiana Day events provide an excellent opportunity to promote chapter activities, volunteer opportunities, and IUAA membership. Please note that the IU Alumni Association will fund postage, printing, and possibly some program expenses associated with the Indiana Day event and promotional mailing. This complimentary Indiana Day mailing is a perfect opportunity to encourage IUAA membership, promote future chapter events, or solicit new volunteers or support. Below are some examples of recent Indiana Day events.

Tampa Bay
Central
Palm Beach
San Franscisco
Southwest Florida
Washington D.C.
West Central Indiana

Hoosier Happy Hour

Many alumni chapters host regularly scheduled happy hour events for alumni throughout the year. These are generally an easy activity to organize, and a simple way for the chapter to get alumni together to meet and socialize on a regular basis. Some chapters host monthly happy hours while others only host 2-3 during the year. Some chapters utilize the same bar or restaurant each time, while others rotate to a new location each month. Some chapters provide door prizes (IU merchandise or give-aways) at their happy hours as another incentive to attend.

 

Game Watch

Not surprisingly, one of the most popular events sponsored by chapters each year involves IU Men’s Basketball. Many alumni chapters host regular game watch parties throughout the IU Men's Basketball season. Chapters find a restaurant or bar where the games are regularly broadcast, or rent a venue (i.e. hotel banquet room or clubhouse) where the game can be viewed via satellite or regular cable TV. Alumni can order from the menu of the restaurant, or the chapter may host a meal before the game as part of the game watch. Many chapters sponsor raffle or door prize drawings during the events, decorate the venue with cream and crimson, or play IU trivia at each timeout. Occasionally, chapters will host a game watch and also have a guest speaker before the game and at halftime (i.e. former IU player or representative from the university).

 

Big Red Warm Up

The IU Alumni Association and IU Varsity Club host Big Red Warm Up pre-game parties before many IU Athletics games, NCAA Tournament games, or bowl games. Generally, the sports where Big Red Warm Ups occur are: Men's and Women's Basketball, Men's Soccer, Football, and occasionally Baseball. When IU hosts the events, they often will ask the local chapter in the area to participate in the activity. These events are generally very well attended and great fun for local alumni. Often the IU Marching Hundred or Pep Band will perform along with the IU Cheerleaders, and IU representatives are usually on-hand to participate in the program. Some chapters may have an opportunity to purchase game tickets, and can promote that to alumni as part of the overall Big Red Warm Up activity.

 

Event Featuring an IU Representative or Group

Hosting an event featuring an IU representative is one of the most traditional programs offered by alumni chapters every year. These events can take many forms, but usually they involve some type of evening reception, dinner, or even a lunch followed by a program facilitated by an IU representative or group. Some of the IU representatives to speak with chapters in recent years include: IU President, IUAA President, top-level IU administrators, faculty, IU Athletics representatives and coaches, and musical groups such as the Singing Hoosiers, Straight No Chaser, Ladies First, Broadway Cabaret, or Soul Revue. Also, some chapters have hosted events with an IU alumna/us as the featured speaker.

 

Wine Tasting

Alumni chapters will often sponsor a group wine tasting event at a local winery. These are a fun activity for alumni to meet one-another, and learn something new about wine and wine making. These events are particularly successful during warmer months or at wineries with outdoor settings and possibly live music.

 

Group Outing to Sports Events

Many alumni chapters sponsor group outings to various sporting events featuring local teams like a Major League or minor league baseball team, NBA franchise, MLS soccer team, or hockey team. Usually, the chapter will either purchase a group of tickets and then resell them to chapter members, or arrange a group of tickets, and simply promote a phone number or website where alumni can go to purchase the seats. Both approaches work well, and the chapter is able to sit as a group during the game. Some chapters have expanded this activity by also sponsoring a pre-game picnic or gathering as a part of the overall group outing. Many of today’s stadiums offer areas where alumni groups can gather for pre-game events.

 

Alumni Dinner Groups

Some alumni chapters sponsor monthly dinner groups as a way to get alumni together on a regular basis. Generally, these activities consist of a small group of alumni getting together each month to have dinner at a local restaurant. Each month, the chapter sponsors a dinner group at a different location. These activities work particularly well in large metropolitan areas where restuarnts are plentiful. Some chapters incorporate their regularly scheduled chapter business meeting (or board meeting) into their monthly dinner group. This is a great way to informally recruit new volunteers leaders for the chapter.

 

Intramural Sports Teams

As students, many alumni participated in various sports related activities. Many alumni chapters continue this trend by sponsoring teams in local intramural leagues. It's a great way for alumni to meet one another and take on the competition wearing cream and crimson!

 

Group Outdoor Adventures

Some alumni chapters sponsor group activities involving outdoor adventures such as hiking, rafting, cycling, or running. These activities are a fun way to meet other alumni, and enjoy the great outdoors! Several chapters sponsor monthly hiking groups where alumni have an opportunity to hit the trails together. Usually, these hikes occur on the weekends and at a different state forest or mountain range. Some outdoor parks and recreational areas offer group activities that chapters can utilize.

 

Boat Cruises

For alumni chapters near a body of water, annual IU alumni chapter boat cruises can be great fun! Most chapters sponsor their outings on a boat that can accommodate a large number of alumni, and is equipped with an area for food and beverage service. Again, if the chapter is fortunate enough to be located near a large body of water, boat cruises can be a big hit with alumni chapter members!

Kickback to Kirkwood

Several alumni chapters have developed events utilizing the theme, "Kickback to Kirkwood." Obviously, this theme references some of the local IU watering holes along Kirkwood Avenue in Bloomington. The events follow a fairly simple plan – the chapter volunteers identify a local bar or restaurant in their area, and in turn, they transform it into one of the Kirkwood Avenue based bars like Nick's, Kilro's, Upstairs Pub, or Irish Lion. The staff at the IU Alumni Association assist the chapters in obtaining memorabilia (t-shirts, menus, glassware, coasters, napkins, tablecloths, etc.) from each Bloomington bar so that the chapter can recreate a Nick's or Kilroy's like atmosphere in a bar or restaurant elsewhere. If the chapter can find a suitable location, this is a fun activity for alumni of all ages!

 

Group Outing to Museum or Gallery

Some alumni chapters sponsor group outings to various museums or galleries for special exhibits or events. This activity is a great way for alumni to enjoy a cultural or educational activity together. Usually, the chapter will work with the museum or gallery to arrange a guided tour of a new exhibit so that the IU group receives special treatment or guidance. The chapter may also sponsor a reception at the museum or gallery in conjunction with the group outing. Often, alumni chapters visit museums or galleries when an exhibit has some kind of Indiana University connection. Given the outstanding reputation of the fine arts programs at IU, it is not uncommon for chapters to have an opportunity to attend an exhibition featuring IU alumni.

Family Events

Alumni chapters should always consider hosting events that the entire family can attend. It's a great way for the chapter to provide an additional benefit of membership to alumni with children. Previous family chapter events have included, alumni nights at a local children's museum or municipal zoo. Usually, the chapter will host a private room where IU alumni families can gather together for a brief meal before viewing the museum or zoo. Some will host these events during the winter holidays especially if the venue has special holiday exhibits. Also, some chapters host pre-concert events prior to a live stage performance of children's show (i.e. Blue Clues, Clifford the Big Red Dog, Disney on Ice, etc.). The events provide a chance for IU alumni families to meet one another prior to seeing the show together. Again, chapters should consider hosting some events that cater to the entire family or especially children of alumni.