From 1995-2000, the Alumni Association followed a strategic plan that resulted in significant expansion of alumni activities and fundraising for the University. Last year, the Association completed its third five-year plan for 2000-05. The result of a yearlong planning process involving countless hours of alumni volunteer and staff efforts, this new Long-Range Plan focuses on a future of continued strong alumni involvement and support for the University.


The new Long-Range Plan has for major obectives:

  • Advance the Alumni Association's relationship with key stakeholders to ensure that the Alumni Association is recognized and respected as an organization that holds a prominent role
  • in the life of the University.
  • Connect the distinct history and legacies of our alumni to
    enhance the tradition, unity and heritage of Binghamton University.
  • Enhance alumni pride in the value and excellence of their education.
  • Promote broader recognition of Binghamton University's
    national reputation.

What does the Binghamton Alumni Association do?

  • Sponsor special events for new and established alumni networks
  • Hold special events like Homecoming to enable alumni to reconnect with one another and with the University

  • Facilitate career opportunities like the Metro New York Career Fair by connecting alumni who are established in their fields with aspiring new graduates and with alumni seeking a career change

  • Invite alumni speakers to return to campus to connect with students

  • Keep alumni informed about what’s happening with the University and with each other via the Binghamton Alumni Journal , Alumni Connect, the Alumni Web pages , and special events mailings

  • Recognize the outstanding achievements of alumni through an annual awards program

"We have all witnessed the continued growth of Binghamton University and its national recognition as a center of excellence and accessibility in higher education," wrote Long-Range Planning Committee Chair Gerald Putman '76, '84, and Alumni Association Board President Marty Triano '76 in their letter introducing the Long-Range Plan. "As supporters of the University, we are proud of these successes and look forward to a bright future for our campus."

"The Alumni Association is an integral part of the University and its future," Putman and Triano continued. "The ideas, goals, vision and commitment of the alumni volunteers [who worked on the plan] are reflected throughout the new plan, focusing on a future of continued strong alumni involvement and support for the University."

As a practical working tool, the plan is invaluable. As Chuck Dickson, senior director of Alumni and Parent Relations, put it, "The Long-Range Plan is a live action working plan. It drives the day-to-day stuff."

"It helps us to prioritize," added Rose Bacmanski Frierman, associate director of Alumni and Parent Relations. "We're asked to do so many things. When the board is considering whether to take on a project, we ask, is it in the plan?"

"When presented to the leadership of the University for endorsement and buy-in, the plan was well received," said Dickson. "The feedback we got was that the plan is on target for the Alumni Association."

Many thanks to the entire Alumni Association Board of Directors, to Gerald E. Putman '76, '84, who chaired the Long-Range Planning committee, and to the following Long-Range Planning committee members for the many hours they spent on this project: Michelle Adams '94, Joseph M. Bress '66, Edward L. DeMattia '86, Hillary A. Fleming '92, Anthony S. Kendall '83, MBA '85, Lee Perlman '80, and Marty Triano '76, ex officio.

If you would like a copy of the Long-Range Plan, e-mail us your name and address and we’ll mail one out to you.

Subcommittees implement the Alumni Association's goals

The Binghamton University Alumni Association's Long-Range Plan contains 116 separate initiatives categorized under the headings of Relationships, Communication, Visibility and Philanthropy. Some of these build on programs already in place. For example, the following initiatives are under the Relationships heading:

"Connect students and alumni, nationally and internationally, in a structured manner to develop professional opportunities, job placement and internships; Establish new regional networks where appropriate and Increase opportunities for alumni recognition."

Other initiatives are entirely new. For example, the initiative to "Create strategies to communicate with alumni electronically" is the one that spurred the publication of this Alumni eNewsletter. Board members have formed subcommittees as workgroups to implement these initiatives. Subcommittees that were established before the implementation of the Long-Range Plan and that are ongoing include one that interfaces with the Career Development Center, one that interfaces with Admissions (connected with the Alumni Admissions Volunteer program, which was featured in the Spring '01 issue of the Binghamton Alumni Journal), and another that acts as liaison between the Athletic Department and the Alumni Association. Although the latter is not new, Chuck Dickson, senior director of Alumni and Parent Relations, points out that "Working with the Athletics Department presents more of an opportunity now than in the past because of the move to NCAA Division I and American East."

Advocacy and branding are two new subcommittees the board is in the process of forming around two of the new initiatives in the Long-Range Plan:

  • The initiative to "Develop a cogent advocacy plan, in conjunction with the vice president for external affairs and director of governmental relations, that advance the University and Alumni Association's missions and goals on the local, state and federal level" has led to the formation of an Advocacy subcommittee. "We've had discussions about how the board can help advocate for the University in Albany and, later, in Washington D.C.," explained Dickson. "In the past, alumni have written letters to legislators, always on an ad hoc basis regarding something specific. Now, the board wants to play an ongoing role in Albany."

  • The initiative to "Develop a brand for the Alumni Association to ensure recognition among diverse audiences" has led to the formation of the Branding subcommittee. To distinguish "brand" from logo, and to convey how concise a brand needs to be, Dickson cited the examples of Chevrolet's "bowtie" logo and "Tough as a rock" brand; and Nike's "swoosh" logo and "Just do it" brand.

Hillary A. Fleming '92, who's in marketing and branding at Playtex, heads the branding subcommittee. "She was enthusiastic about taking this on," said Dickson. "Our current brand, as you may know, says -. . . building tradition and pride," and features a logo of the Glenn G. Bartle library," wrote Fleming in a recent letter to board members." While it's true that we are currently laying groundwork for building tradition through the Homecoming 2001 event, this motto may not fully describe what we are as an organization.

"The goal of the branding committee is to come up with an appropriate, effective and memorable statement that describes what the Alumni Association means to alumni and to Binghamton," she continued. "This statement should be supported by a visual that is closely linked with the school."

Vision Statement

Binghamton University's Alumni Association represents a highly accomplished and diverse groups of individuals who play a prominent role in the life of the University and positively affect the campus culture.

The Alumni Association acts as the umbrella organization that represents all alumni groups during this dynamic period when the schools are becoming increasingly involved in alumni activities.

Through communications, the Alumni Association enables alumni to connect with one another.

The tradition of excellence and pride that is integral to Binghamton University's identity, both past and present, will be carried forward with the assistance and support of a strong Alumni Association.

 

 

REGIONAL ALUMNI NETWORKS: NEW YORK

 


REGIONAL ALUMNI NETWORKS: NATIONAL

Atlanta
Boston
Connecticut
Delaware Valley/Philadelphia
Denver
Los Angeles
Potomac/Washington,D.C.
Raleigh/Durham
San Francisco
Seattle
Twin Cities, MN

 

Special Interest Alumni Networks

Jewish Alumni of Binghamton-The Cultural Connection

EOP Alumni Organization

Founders' Club

Organization of Black & Hispanic Alumni

Organization of Gay, Lesbian & Bisexual Alumni

WHRW

University Athletic Club

Hinman Alumni Network

School of Education & Human Development

School of Management-Binghamton

School of Management-New York Metro

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