This presentation provides an overview of affinity groups, the steps necessary to develop such groups, and successes of established groups.

1. 2015 ACI Conference

2. Introductions
 Joe Volin
o Assistant Director of Alumni Relations

3. What are Affinity Groups?
 Group of alumni that share a common connection
with the university
o Major
o College-based
o Athletic
o Organization
o Social

4. Why Affinity Groups?
 Increased alumni involvement and contributions
 Greater student-alumni interaction
 Greater alumni-alumni interaction
 Increased job placements
 Increased graduate and undergraduate applications
 Alumni as volunteer resources
 Enhanced data collection

5. Types of Affinity Groups
 Formal
o Executive Committee
o Charter/By-laws
 Informal
o Volunteer-driven working group
o Department-driven (branded programming)

6. Affinity Groups at Lewis
 Nursing Alumni Network (LU-NAN) – formal
 Aviation Alumni Organization (LU-AAO) – formal
 Black Student Union Alumni (LU-BSUA) – formal
 Athletics – formal
 History Connections – informal
 Golden Flyers – informal

7. Recognition Requirements
 Buy-in/support from partner department, organization, or group
 Base of 300 alumni that may be contacted regarding involvement.
 Leadership committee consisting of 10 alumni, including one staff
member from Alumni Relations.
 Develop a mission, objectives, and bylaws (charter)
 One member serves a one-year term on LUAA BoD
 Annual report presented each year
 Hold one annual meeting with members.
 Approval of charter and structure from LUAA BoD
 All organizations must be compatible with and supportive of Lewis
University, liberal arts, and our Catholic and Lasallian heritage.
 Alumni groups must be financially self-sustaining.

8. Development Process
1. Identification of strong affinity
2. Meeting with faculty/staff
3. Identification of foundations committee
4. Initial meeting with volunteers
5. Survey to alumni population
6. Charter Development
7. Leadership slate development
8. Launch event
9. Ongoing programming/communication
10. Annual meeting
11. Maintaining the group

9. Development Timeline
Timeline
January – Conversation with Athletic Director
February – Presentation to Athletic Coaches
March/April – Identification and Qualification of Foundations Committee
April/May – Survey Distribution
May/June – Foundations Committee Charter Discussion
June – Formal Introduction of group at the Golf Outing
October – Formal Recognition at LUAA Board meeting
October – Athletic Affinity Group Launch (Annual Meeting)

10. Maintaining Affinity Groups
 Monthly/Semi-monthly conference calls
 Communications (ongoing)
 Annual meeting
 ….Repeat

11. Where are we now?
 LUNAN – Year 3
 History Connections – Year 3
 LUAAO – Year 2
 LUBSUA – Year 2
 Golden Flyers – Years 1
 Athletics – in development

12. Successes –
Giving and Engagement
Giving July 2013 July 2014 Change
All Alumni 1.35 1.377 .027
LU-NAN .96 1.1 .14
LU-AAO .83 .86 .03
LU-BSUA 1.11 2.28 1.17
Golden Flyers 5.95 6.03 .08
Engagement July 2013 July 2014 Change
All Alumni 9.81 11.02 1.21
LU-NAN 8.9 9.94 1.04
LU-AAO 8.56 10.95 2.36
LU-BSUA 10.37 13.2 2.83
Golden Flyers 14.85 20.34 5.49

13. Successes –
Events and Volunteerism
Event Attendance FY13 FY14 FY15 (To Date)
LU-NAN 42 35 36
LU-AAO 40 43 46
LU-BSU 8 28 23
Golden Flyers 48 43 50
Volunteerism Volunteer Active Affinity
LU-NAN 15 44
LU-AAO 30 54
LU-BSUA 10 49
Golden Flyers 10 14

14. Challenges
 Lack of support from department
 Volunteer burnout
 Faculty ambition
 Outsider’s view

15. Sample Proposal
Athletic Alumni Affinity Group
Proposal
January 2015
Purpose
Structure
Goals
Possible goals include:
Justification
Timeline

16. Sample Charter
ARTICLE I:
NAME
ARTICLE II:
MEMBERS
2. LU-AAO shall be authorized, but shall not be required, to collect dues from members. The Executive Committee is authorized to decide
whether to charge dues, and is authorized to make decisions regarding the timing and amount of dues obligations for members, and is
required to notify members of same in a timely fashion.
ARTICLE III:
MISSION AND OBJECTIVES
ARTICLE IV:
ORGANIZATION
1. LU-AAO shall operate as a Chapter of the Lewis University Alumni Association (LUAA), so long as the LUAA allows LU-AAO to do so.
D. The President of LU-AAO (or nominee of the Executive Committee) shall attend meetings of, and serve on the Board of Directors of LUAA,
so long as LUAA shall allow. Service on the Board of Directors of LUAA shall be subject to the policies and procedures of LUAA. The
President shall chair each meeting of the Executive Committee and be responsible for ensuring the execution of the resolutions and policies of
the Executive Committee. The President is also an ex-officio member of all Standing Committees.
5. At an Annual Meeting, the voting members of LU-AAO may amend this Charter by a two-thirds majority of the votes cast. The annual
meeting shall be held in the spring (March/April) unless otherwise determined by the Executive Committee for the purpose of maximizing
participation.

17. Sample Goals
Professional Development Committee
 Strengthen career conference to provide opportunities to alumni to learn more about different
areas in aviation.
 Work with faculty to educate students on different areas in aviation.
 Implement two webinars over the course of the year.
Networking Committee
 Develop a social media presence for LU-AAO.
 Host an event in the Spring 2015 for aviation alumni and graduating students to emphasize
networking and mentoring.
 Develop a newsletter to be distributed to all aviation alumni.
 Develop a communication plan to build awareness with current students.

18. Questions??

19. Contact Information
 Joe Volin
o volinjo@lewisu.edu
o (815) 836-5472