3 Ideas To Make Quality Connections With Your Alumni Base

Creating meaningful connections with your alumni base is the lifeblood of any athletic program...from high school to college. No matter the level, you have alumni and they more than likely have very fond memories of their time with your organization. The key is engaging them in meaningful contact and conversation and not always being worried about what's in their wallet.

Come together: We all have natural gathering points that we should focus on. For high schools and universities, Homecoming is a great time to focus on...have an alumni game and a reception for your sport's alums and encourage them to bring their families. Everyone loves to catch up...why not have them catch up at your event? For club directors, the beginning of club season could be a gold mine for bringing former players back into the fold. Have them speak at your parent's meetings, if they can't be there...maybe their parents can be. I can't imagine you have any parents in your system that aren't more worried about their child's experience than her playing time...your parent alums can speak on that subject.

Strategic scheduling: How about scheduling games near your biggest alumni base of support? If you're a northern team, but have a big influx of folks from the west coast, why not schedule a weekend out there and notify your alums & parents out west? Find your most boisterous and well-connected alum and put them in charge of rounding other alumni up and having some sort of gathering where they can catch up with their classmates and also meet the new team members and coaching staff. They will appreciate being able to see the team in action and you will get a real connection with supportive alumni.

Connecting for the financially strapped: I'm sure you know what I'm about to say, but I'll say it anyway. Email your alums with electronic newsletters and link them to your team's webpage. Create a Facebook fan page so that your alumni can "like" your team...or a Twitter account so that they can follow you. Maybe you could pick a home game to honor your alums, bring them out and have them announced, then have some sort of meet & greet thing afterward.

I started off this article saying that your alumni need to believe that you want to be in contact with them even if they don't donate a penny. That being said, all of the work you put in to create good will should pay off with a more financially involved and supportive alumni base. Most folks are still giving to churches and charities because they have a reason why...we've got to give our alums a reason to give and show them that their support is both needed and appreciated.

What is your club or college doing to connect with its alums? I'd love to hear what folks are doing!

Dawn Redd is the Head Volleyball Coach at Beloit College. Come visit Coach Dawn's community of coaching nerds and team leaders over at her blog, http://www.coachdawnwrites.com, where she teaches how to become an excellent coach, motivate individuals, and build successful teams.

Private School Dominance of Universities Set to Continue

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg is already showing concerns over the disproportionate numbers of students from relatively affluent backgrounds gaining university places. He recently voiced his ambition to promote greater social mobility in terms of education.

This year, a record 379,411 applicants gained entry to a university or college, while approximately 170,000 are expected to miss out on a place due to the unprecedented levels of competition being faced by school leavers.

Whilst many believed the introduction of the A* grade to be a beneficial means of identifying the brightest pupils, others see it as a further strategy for the continued dominance of private school students, who tend to achieve a higher percentage of the A* standard.

Many blame the universities for utilising the relatively new grading system as the sole means of determining the "best" pupils, foregoing the personal interviews aimed at the recognition of well-rounded and motivated individuals. By adhering to such convenient criteria, universities are being accused of encouraging the conveyor belt from private school to university.

In the latest examinations, private school students, who made up approximately 14% of all entries, accounted for 30% of the total number of A* grades awarded. By comparison, 30% of students from comprehensive or state schools also achieved the A*, but accounted for 43% of the exam entries.

The "social apartheid", a term used by Nick Clegg, has been a long standing issue within education, with private schools tending to dominate the top grade spectrum, and the subsequent allocation of university places.

This is not only the case in England, but in Scotland as well. This dividing element of private vs state is equally as notable north of the border, with private schools in Perth, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, and Stirling contributing to the disproportionate educational landscape in Scotland.

However, there are a significantly reduced number of universities utilising the A* grade in their admission process, with Cambridge and Oxford amongst those ignoring the grade as an invaluable marker of superior academic ability. It is thought that only 13 universities have referred to the A* standard this year in their allocation of places.

For many students looking to secure a university place, the adoption or dismissal of the A* could make or break any hopes of further education, for this year at least.

Harvey McEwan writes to make insurance (especially car insurance!) a happier place

Six Reasons to Go to College

Are you a current high school student thinking about going to college? A working professional ready to explore other options and expand your knowledge? No matter who you are, or what stage in life you are at, there is something waiting for you at a 2 or 4-year university. Deciding to attend college is one of the biggest and best decisions an individual can make in their life. There are so many exciting and rewarding opportunities for you to take advantage of - everything from gaining valuable knowledge to establishing a strong network of contacts. Listed below are six top-notch reasons you should go to college today!

Knowledge. Knowledge is power. How far will you get without it? By investing in a college degree, you'll obtain knowledge and skills useful for getting a great job, building a solid career, and interpreting life on a different scale. For example, let's say you enroll at X University and major in English - you'll learn more than just technical and business writing. In your other core classes (aside from your major) you're exposed to philosophy (logic and brainstorming), sociology (understanding human behavior), psychology (how people think), and communication (speech improvement and people skills). All of these courses help build your development on a professional and personal level. In all, your college education gives you a leg up on the job market and provides you with extra skills to add to your "professional toolkit."

Money. Sure, it looks like nothing more than just a piece of paper, but that college degree will garner you more money than your non-degree holding peers. (In fact, people with college degrees earn an estimated 1.3 million more than people without). Isn't that a good enough reason to go to college? Also, if you're interested in the sciences, mathematics, and engineering fields you can expect to see starting salaries in the $50,000s. (However, this does depend on location, relevant experience, and other additional factors... but hey, it's a start!)

Networking. Clubs. Fraternities. Seminars. Conferences. All of these organizations or events offer an opportunity for you to rub shoulders with other peers, professionals or professors (the three most important P's) who can give you insight into job prospects, internships, assistantships or share any information which may be useful to maximize your collegiate experience and get a head start on building a career.

Experience. For college alumni, it's a badge of honor to say you spent your freshmen year with your best buddies collecting spare change to go eat out at the latest Thai restaurant or reminisce about the "good 'ol days." As most college graduates will tell you, college is more than just a place to get an education, it's a place to get experience and embrace life's ups and downs. It's all about learning and living, and college is the best place to do it.

Friendship/Relationships. What would life be like without friends? One could not even imagine. In college, you'll have quite a few people to choose from. It's the perfect place to spread your wings and find your BFF. If you're shy, or quiet don't worry - you can always join a club or develop a relationship with your roommate (if he or she isn't too weird..). College is the perfect place to develop long-lasting and life-long friends. Friends for life.

Job/Internships. One of the many benefits of going to college is being able to nab an internship. Colleges do a fantastic job of supplying students with career services like job/internship placement, and alumni mentors to help guide them in the process. Any student of any major has a fair chance of getting some much needed experience to pad the resume before treading into the "real world." If you're lucky, that internship may land you a full-time job. Sounds pretty good to me.

Janelle Howell
Organizational Development/Leadership Graduate Student

Tips on Becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant

Working in the medical field is quite fulfilling and allows you to help people who are less fortunate. There are so many different professions in this field but lately, becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) has become in demand. You can obtain a CNA license and certification which will allow you to practice and start your career within the medical profession. Furthermore, the most exciting part is that, you can do online CNA classes to enhance your knowledge about this field.

So why choose to do online classes in becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant? Simple, it is more convenient, less demanding of your time and more friendly to your budget! Imagine not having to pay for gas or be stuck in traffic in order to go to school everyday. All the classes and exams are done online and you are provided with contact information to speak or get in touch with an instructor in case you need help or clarifications. You may also be provided with videos or interactive online programs for procedures that cannot be easily explained in theory. Also, some of these schools may schedule you to do hands on training in your local clinic or hospital so you don't miss out on anything in becoming a competent Certified Nursing Assistant. All these at your own convenience and time of course!

One thing that you might want to consider before anything else is your own traits and personality. Becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant can be very fulfilling in as much as it is challenging, both physically and emotionally. You will need to learn skills such as washing the patients, feeding them, checking their vital signs, etc. These are skills that need a lot of patience to learn, but if you're a person who is full of compassion and willing to help others, then this profession is indeed fit for you.

There are important things that you need to check before enrolling in an online course. Make sure that the school is duly accredited, certified by the state and is not just another scam. You may want to inquire with your friends who have taken a similar online class. You may also ask other nurses or simply contact the National League for Nursing Accredited Commission (NLNA). Do a little research before committing to a school, in this case, you can avoid losing your money and wasting your time.

After you have passed the CNA examinations, you may still do further studies online. In which case, you have all the opportunity to progress in your professional development. You may also want to find out about schools that offer free CNA classes which is perfect for your budget while you get your accreditation. Becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant is an exciting career. Once you are ready, you could take on jobs in your local hospital, in private clinics or even in nursing homes. So, what are you waiting for? Gear up, start your career as a CNA, and put smiles on people's faces.

David has been writing articles for nearly 2 years. Come visit his latest website over at www.certifiednursesassistantcenter.com which helps people find the best certified nurses assistant training and information they are looking for when wanting to further their career in the health industry.

What to Pack When Leaving For College

When I first left for college, I had an entire minivan packed to the brim with stuff that I didn't even know I had. It was to the point where the only people who could actually fit into the minivan were my father and I. My younger brother and my mother were forced to catch a flight a couple of days later in order to meet up with me at my new home away from home. Looking back, if I had to do it all over again, a) I would've probably stayed closer to home and b) I definitely wouldn't have packed quite as much stuff.

It is common for most people who have either never been away from home before or who are going away to college to bring a ton of stuff because they don't want to be caught away from home without things that they feel they'll need in order to survive. For me, the main staples of that train of thinking included a good, sturdy brush and my running shoes. The rest was hit or miss. Realize that when you are packing to go away to college for the first time that you don't need to, nor should you try to bring a ton of stuff. There are plenty of college advisers and people who will be on hand to receive you when you get to college and who will be more than happy to loan you something that is already available for free or who will sort of 'hold your hand' until you become more acclimated to living on your own.

One of the main things that you will want to take care of prior to doing any sort of packing is contacting your roommate (if applicable) to find out what he or she is or is not bringing with them to the dorm room. After you've determined what it is each of you is bringing, it is then up to either one of you to decide who is allowed to use certain items. For example, when I first went away to college, my roommate didn't have a computer and asked if she would be able to use mine. My computer was brand new, and I had files on there that I wished to keep private. I politely told her that I preferred it if she would use one of the computers in the computer lab at our dorm room instead. I was glad that I resolved this before I arrived because I later found out that she had broken someone else's computer by trying to download some illegal software.

When packing, remember to pack as lightly but as practically as possible. If you know that you're planning on going home whenever the next break is, use that as an opportunity to swap out stuff.

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