Pomona College Alumni Association Board Meeting Minutes
October 7, 2022 – 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Hybrid Meeting
Board Members present: Soren Austenfeld ‘15, Michael Bright ’10, Andrew Brown ’77, Alisa Fishbach, Robi Ganguly ’00, Paula Gonzalez ’95, Jason Howie ’03, Carol Kruse ’84, Megan Kaes Long ’08 (via zoom), Linda Luisi ’81 (via zoom), Amy VanBuren Rhodes ’07, Josh Rodriguez ’13, Veronica Roman ’95, Alfredo Romero ’91, Julie Siebel ’84, Dominic Yoong ’88, Nina Zhou ’19
Board Members absent: Aldair Arriola Gomez ‘17, Marcel Green ‘90, Jeff Levere ‘12, Victoria Paterno ‘75 P’07, Lew Phelps ‘65, Andrea Venezia ’91
Representatives Present: Lisa Beckett, Vera Burger ‘23, Kerry Martin, Kristen Romero, Kerry Martin, Dena Negrete, Lucy Takahashi
Representatives Absent: Paola Franco ‘17
Staff present: Pritina Irvin, Mariam Khwajazada
Greetings & Call-to-Order: President Alfredo Romero ’91 called the meeting to order at 10:00 am and welcomed all those in attendance to the meeting.
President’s Report: Alfredo Romero ’91 gave an overview of the previous day’s Trustee Meeting and updated the board on current and future college happenings. Alfredo also discussed and reflected on the agreed-upon group and conversational norms which have been adopted by the Alumni Board.
Alumni & Parents Survey Initial Results Discussion Alfredo Romero ’91: Alfredo Romero ’91 provided an overview of key takeaways from the Alumni Attitudinal Survey results (previously presented to the Alumni Board). In the context of the results, the group discussed the following questions:
- How can we disrupt distance as a barrier to engagement?
- The younger alumni are responding differently, what can we do?
- What can we do you for the group that is interested in more programming around mentoring?
- Parents have a high interest in being treated like alumni? What are our options?
Key discussion points:
- Board needs to focus on younger alumni and the particular ways of communicating with that constituency
- All the Board’s programs and services with a generational approach in mind. What lens are people looking at things through?
- The perception of the value of an institution becomes more positive as alumni get older
- The strength of loyalty of alumni to Pomona is “off the charts”. We just have to figure out how to communicate to all segments.
- Should we engage with parents in the same way we do alumni? The focus of the Board needs to be on Alumni as those are the life-long relationship the Board is here to support.
- There is a need to “brand” the Alumni Board to the College and Alumni communities. Have the Board become seen as “the resource for you if you need something from Alumni”.
- Positivity around this being a multi-year survey.
10:55 am STRETCH BREAK
Committee Reports:
Development Committee: Dominic Yoong ’88 updated the board on the committee’s breakout meeting, which had taken place the previous day, and shared the main goals the Development Committee has identified for the rest of this year:
- 100 percent board-giving participation by end of the calendar year, December 2022
- Continued Stewardship activities in support of the Annual Giving team and outreach to Alumni donors
- Advocacy for the upcoming Comprehensive Campaign
- Strategic thinking around targeted communications around giving to different alumni constituencies.
- Creating understanding, agency, and awareness for Young Alumni regarding the College’s Endowment.
Dominic then provided all Board members in attendance with packets of thank-you notes cards to complete for recent donors. Once completed the AB returned the note card to Annual Giving/ Lucy Takahashi.
Finally, the committee expressed interest in the exploration of a new app that pings folks when their credit card is expired and makes giving more accessible and simpler for younger alumni and current students.
Engagement Committee: Carol Kruse ‘84 presented in Andrea Venezia ‘91’s absence, sharing the results of the committee’s previous day’s breakout meeting discussions, and the top committee goals that were identified for the rest of this year:
- Support the bridging/transitioning from students to alumni. “Train” students about how to be an engaged alum. Create a rubric/communications suite of what being a great alum is/means. Start this as First-Years; do not wait until just Senior Year.
- Ongoing work with CDO to support alumni/student connections: utilize alumni weekend, and year-round programming + develop additional ideas about creating large and small-scale (personal) connection opportunities between alumni and current students (future alumni)
- Actively support the promotion and use of Sagehen Connect. Utilize Alumni Weekend to encourage signs ups/“mentoring training”. Become super-users of the platform (training at next AB meeting).
- Lead the full Board to actively engage and support at Alumni Weekend: eg: serving as pourers at the Wine Tasting event, welcome and intro sessions and panels and AB attendance/representation at all key Alumni Weekend events.
- Find ways to “super-serve” the “COVID alumni” (classes of ’20-’22). Particular outreach and communications (mailing?) from the Engagement Committee/Board to these alumni with messaging: “We know that COVID had an impact on your experience but you will always be a Sagehen and the alumni community is strong and here for you”. Possibility: Engagement Committee to actively promote/invite the Young Alumni to Alumni Weekend. “Return to the Coop” is a segment of Alumni Weekend that is not linked to Reunion classes. The college invites and outreaches to encourage alumni 1-10 years out to attend the weekend (food truck event etc). What can Engagement Committee do to encourage them to attend? What else could be done year-round with this segment?
Regional Chapters Committee: Julie Siebel ‘84 shared with the board the 3 goals the committee has identified as the next steps in their work:
- Supporting more build-out of robust volunteer leadership teams in each region, based on the Chapter structure that’s been developed
- Support onboarding of 2 new regional chapters this year (D.C. and Hawaii), and drive activity to and from Sagehen Connect with those new groups and the other 6 existing chapters.
- Invest in the engagement/affinity partnerships through partnerships and support of efforts of the Engagement Committee and CDO
Representative Reports:
Career Development Office: Kerry Martin announced that Natasha Metzinger joined the CDO as the new Associate Director, Employer Relations & Experiential Programs. Kerry also expressed the awesome energy between students and alumni, and shared and updated on CDO happenings:
- Pomona seeing an increase in job postings, as more companies are doing on-campus recruiting.
- Successful Fall break interview session with Highpoint and upcoming January Smart Start program, with 12-15 students.
- CDO is looking to partner with ACE on training and walking students through Sagehen Connect.
Advancement Communications: Kristen Romero reminded the Alumni Board to download the Sagehen Connect app on smartphones. She also distributed and shared an overview of the “Facts & Figures” handout that is being given out to leadership volunteers this year. The volunteer resource provides all relevant data points and information that volunteers might need when engaging with fellow alumni.
Annual Giving: Lucy Takahashi shared the giving theme of “Pass the Torch” for the ’22-’23 year with the Board, and gave an overview of what’s ahead for the AG team:
- Trustee challenge at the end of the calendar year
- KSPC Crowdfunding challenge
- Partnering with the Humanities Studio and Oldenborg
- Athletics 4/6 Day
- 4/7 day, focused on Sustainability
Faculty: Professor Lisa Beckett shared with the board some details about the orientation and soft talks that will be held at the new CARW, and new for-credit classes which will begin next week (10/14). Lisa expressed her eagerness to strengthen relationships with alumni, students and faculty.
ASPC: Vera Burger ’23 shared updates about “hot topics” for students currently:
- Concerns regarding dorms not having A/C during the recent heatwave and the Emergency Heat Response
- Issues around fossil fuel divestments for the College’s investments
- Other sustainability initiatives
- The senior class president plans weekly events to strengthen student connectedness
Vera also shared that students still have questions regarding Pomona’s endowment, and expressed opportunity to better communicate the impact of giving.
Reflection on Group Norms: Alfredo Romero ’91 reflected on Group Norms and asked for feedback from board members.
Alfredo adjourned the meeting at 1:00 pm.
Next Alumni Board Meeting:
Saturday, December 3, 2022, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm (virtual)