Alumni Band “Idea Toolkits”

Ideas for Your Organization

Recruiting – Organizing Reunions – Unusually Fundraising Ideas – Uniforms – Trips – Alumni Pep Bands – Getting Good Press – Royalties – Pregame vs Halftime Performances – Instruments – Planning for those Major Anniversaries – Giving Back – Working With Development – Risk Management – Meaningful Newsletters – Social Media –

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Starting An Alumni Band?

Where do we begin? Contributor: Linda Butts Organization: Redcoat Band Alumni Association (UGA) Email: TBD Here are some Major categories for consideration. Where are you in the process?

Recruiting

Recruiting – ”Celebrating The Graduates” Contributor: Robin Oegerle Organization: Florida Gator Band Alumni Association (GBAA) Email: TBD How do you keep the young alumni connected to the University Band after the graduate? How do you interest them in coming to Alumni Band weekend? Here are some things to think about.

Organizing Reunions

Events The Night Before – The Good, Bad and the Ugly Contributor: Stan Yantis Organization: University of Washington Husky Alumni Band Email: If you plan an event the night before a reunion, think about space, banquet, liability and hotel rooms. Here are some things to think about.

Everyone Loves a Momento – “What are ideas for your group?” Contributor: Daniel Miller Organization: West Virginia Alumni Band Email: Simple momentous are reminders of the fun you had at the reunion. Here are ideas and sources that we have used.

Milestones to a Successful Reunion – ”When should I start each year?” Contributor: Ellen Rini Black Organization: Redcoat Band Alumni Association (UGA) Email: Early planning and building a team of volunteers will help keep your sanity and make your reunion something that everyone will look forward to for the entire year. Download a sample Milestone chart of activities

What’s Our Organizational Mission? Contributor: Michelle Taunton Organization: Florida Gator Alumni Band Email: Our Mission? Organizing a party? Planning an event? Giving Back? Raising money? Thoughts for the long term from the Gator Alumni Band.

Unusual Fundraising Ideas

Brick Campaigns – To commemorate a special milestone event or enhance a special area on campus. Contributor: Leigh Tompros Organization: Redcoat Band Alumni Association (UGA) Email: Setting expectations, timing and deadlines can affect the success of a campaign. Here are some things to consider when planning a campaign.

Capital Campaigns – There are major needs in every band program. How can you raise awareness for those needs? Contributor: Robin Oegerle Organization: Florida Gator Alumni Band Email: There are many ways to raise money for capital campaigns. Here are some ideas to rally the various organization around a priority need. Checklist about one successful campaign at UF.

Organizing a Pep Band

Keeping a Pep Band Viable – Allow your Band alumni to contribute their precious time, fill a need in the community and give back to their beloved band organization. Contributor: Mark Perry Organization: Redcoat Band Alumni Association (UGA) Email: There are requests for school spirit music all year round. How can you best raise money and not burn out the alumni that are giving their time? Download some proven best practices for a successful alumni Pep Band?

Alumni Band Trips

Why Promote Alumni Band Trips? Results? Pitfalls? Contributor: Geof Sloan Organization: Longhorn Alumni Band Email: Why go through the major effort for the group? Pros and cons? What to avoid? Thoughts from the Longhorn Alumni Band

Royalties and Intellectual Properties

Royalties as a Fundraiser – Band Trademarks are a valuable entity. What are the issues to understand? Contributor: Linda Butts Organization: Redcoat Band Alumni Association (UGA) Email: Protecting and using band trademarks can be a revenue source if handled properly. There are legal processes that need to be followed. Download a discussion of the issues.

Getting Good Press

Create a Calendar / Plan for Positive Press – There are opportunities surrounding the season that allow for positive exposure for your group. Contributor: Lee Butts Organization: Redcoat Band Alumni Association (UGA) Email: Planning ahead will allow you to take advantage of press deadlines and anniversaries. Here are some examples of milestones that offered great press.

Planning for Those Major Alumni Band Anniversaries

Major Anniversaries Offer a Wonderful Opportunities – Assure a large return of alumni. Contributor: Betty Myers Organization: University of Tennessee Alumni Band Email: Leveraging our rich traditions and history, a very special 150 Year Celebration of the Pride of the Southland Band returned the largest University of Tennessee Alumni Band in history and taking the field with Grammy Award-winning artist Lee Greenwood for an unrivaled halftime performance. View some of the press and photos we used to promote the successful event.

Bringing Back Record Numbers – Anniversaries offer an opportunity to share traditions. Contributor: (Allan Seely to make introductions) Organization: Michigan State Alumni Band Anniversary reunion – What a tremendous turnout of alumni to help celebrate the 150th anniversary of the MSU Bands! 892 individuals attended the festivities, with 844 marching At the game. View what went into our planning.

Uniforms – What’s the Plan?

Uniforms – What’s the Plan? Contributor: Tom Waldrop Organization: Clemson University Tiger Alumni Band Email: We wanted to move to a more consistent look. What does it take? View what we found were some issues.

Uniform Care and Feeding Contributor: (Geof Sloan to offer lead) Email: Organization: Longhorn Alumni Band Taking care of uniforms is a task of love. See what it takes.