The inspiration for this book comes from realizing the potential for alumni communities to be a meaningful part of life for so many of us while also providing support to our educational institutions. Being an “alum” of my educational institutions has been an important part of my life. It has provided community and friendship, travel opportunities, professional development, leadership experience, and fun.

When I was in the financial industry, I started a networking group and joined my alumni association for business reasons. That was an important first step in understanding the power of connections. When I was raising my children, I increased my volunteering – joining and observing new and different communities from the PTA to sports groups to local charities.

When I volunteered as an alum of my university, my efforts and connectedness rose to a whole new level. I was immersed in small groups and in the broader network. I had the opportunity to travel with an amazing group of volunteers to work with institutions around the world. Then I ended up working in alumni relations and realized that it is all about connection and forming sustainable communities based on shared interests. It has been a powerful experience – life-changing and inspiring. With this book, I want to share what I have learned with the wider alumni professional and volunteer community so that others can benefit and give back at the same time.

The format of the book is based on the concept that each institution is unique and each group of alumni will want to do their own thing. Yet there are concepts and best practices that can be valuable in creating a sustainable community. My goal in sharing thoughts on so many aspects of alumni organizing and managing is that others will adapt and adopt the ideas to their unique constituency.