Recruitment
Clearly, it is important to consider the right person for the right job. In order to do that, you should know what makes a good class officer. When recruiting volunteers, you need to find qualified people whose skills fit the position. Be honest and up front about the time commitment. Consider nominees who have the time to give priority to being a class officer. It is also very important that you make them aware of the financial commitment of being a volunteer. Officers are expected to pay class dues and to make a gift at their individual level of comfort. They are also expected to attend Reunion, the Cornell Alumni Leadership Conference (CALC), and other events and trainings. In addition, volunteers should vote in the Alumni Trustee Election.
Identify Class Leadership
Your class leadership should be a diverse, committed, and energized group of volunteers. It is very important to find classmates who provide new perspectives and skills, diversity, and bring connections to affinities to your class leadership team.
- Begin by compiling a list of previous and current class officers that includes their contact information. Your class staff contact can provide you with this report.
- Contact past and present class officers, informing them of the nominations process. Former and current leaders may indicate an interest in running for the same role or take on a new one. Council members may consider taking on an officer role. The committee members will need to review incumbents in terms of capabilities, experience, performance and preference.
To identify additional potential officers, evaluate the last five years. Ask your class staff contact to provide you with these reports for you to review.
- Review the Pre-Reunion survey (sent out in the fall of 4th year of class cycle) responses for those that expressed an interest in being involved with the class.
- Review the affinity report for group leaders who are engaged in other activities.
- Review the class flat list seeking to add diversity.
- Consistent dues payers and donors are also good candidates.
- Communicate with the Cornell Alumni Affairs, Regional Programs, and the Cornell Annual Giving Programs staff to ask for suggestions on other potential leadership candidates.
- Review the CU Volunteer resource website for online nominations. Your class staff contact can pull a report of all those who self-nominated or were nominated for an officer role.
Communications
It is a good idea to send communications seeking new volunteers to your entire class. Your class staff contact can coordinate sending a recruitment mailing or email to your classmates. Dedicate a section of your class web page to class nominations and include the link to the CUVolunteer website for details about the officer position descriptions and the ability to self-nominate. Include nomination recruitment in your class column, Reunion mailings, and on all of your social media websites.
Finalize the Slate
The committee must make potential officers aware of their recommendations via phone, email, or other correspondence. Let them know that their interest is appreciated and/or that they have been selected for a particular position(s).
The nominations chair(s) or committee members share with the potential candidate the responsibilities involved in being a class officer, being as realistic as possible in describing the responsibilities and time commitment. Volunteers need to understand that if they commit to the role for a 5-year term, they are responsible for demonstrating a willingness to learn the job and must take initiative, meet deadlines, and be a good Cornell ambassador by promoting Cornell’s priorities.
In turn, the volunteer can expect class conference calls and meeting time, transference of information from the past class officer in that role, and training materials such as webinars, tip sheets, resources and tools.
A final list of nominees should be ready to share with your class and your class staff contact by the winter of your Year 5. The Cornell Alumni Leadership Conference is a perfect time to share the results of your recruitment efforts with your class officers. By April, you should have your final slate of officers to be printed and posted in your Reunion class headquarters or included in the welcome packets (if class opts to offer them). The slate should be announced during Reunion at a class event. Refer to your class constitution for details on your class-specific approval process for your slate.