Here are a few success stories from across the country. Share with us your success story!
Volleyball League – Columbus, OH
For the end of the summer, the newly revamped Young Alumni in Columbus decided to join a volleyball league. The response from the local young alumni was immediate (enough for 2 complete teams), including multiple alums who had not participated in any events up to that point. Since the league ran for 9 weeks, meeting the same day every week, the team members were able to get to know each other and build camaraderie as the season progressed. A local alumna volunteered to make the teams shirts, and one team even progressed to the semi-finals. A weekend volleyball tournament occurred during the season, and players from both teams combined to place 2nd in that tournament (versus other alumni teams). The season was a great way to meet Notre Dame friends and family, build participation, and the club already has plans to join again for next summer.
Young Alumni Brewery Tour -- ND Club of Minnesota
Fellow Alumni, we have been to the Summit and it was. . . . tasty. On April 28, as Brady Quinn slipped in the draft, the young alumni of the Minnesota club sipped on the draft brewed at the Summit Brewery in St. Paul Minnesota . For $10, participants were bussed over to the brewery, given a tour and sampled some of Summit 's beers. The event was well attended, there was barley any room on the bus, friendships were fermented and when organizers were thanked, they responded "it was the yeast we could do". We have been to the Summit and it was . . . . good.
St. Patrick's Day Parade Party - ND Club of New Orleans
On Saturday, March 15 the club held a "Young (or not so young) Alumni St. Patrick's Day Parade Party." Planner Marie Therese Mansfield took an already existing event - the city's St. Patrick's Day parade - and united a group of alumni at a local bar along the parade route to tailgate and then watch the parade. This is a perfect example of an easy-to-plan event that piggybacks on something that's already happening around town. All participants were asked to wear ND gear (of course!), and it was a grand celebration.
Christmas Potluck - ND Club of South Central Wisconsin
Gary and Megan Zehrbach (both class of '98) of the South Central Wisconsin Club have started a new tradition: an annual Christmas potluck. This party - originally geared for YAs but now open to all alums due to the interest that has been generated - has been simple to throw together:
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Pick a date, place and time. In this instance, the SCW Club's potluck is scheduled for Sat., Dec. 14, 6-10 p.m. A Club member has volunteered her home to host the party so that no costs need be incurred to rent a venue.
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Send an e-mail to all members of the Club inviting them. A formal invitation can be sent in the mail as follow-up. Choose one person to take RSVPs.
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Compile a list of all appropriate pot-luck necessities and start assigning people so that all bases are covered (hors d'oeuvres, salads, entrées, desserts, beverages, etc.).
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If you wish to serve alcohol, consider asking each person coming to chip in a few dollars to make sure expenses are covered.
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As a nice touch, Gary and Megan, when on campus last month for a game, purchased ND paper plates, napkins and cups to be used at the potluck. Great job, guys!
New Year' Mass for Young Alums - ND Club of Jersey Shore
The Jersey Shore club offers Sunday mass in early January (when current students will be home), and we'll have YA and students be readers, musicians, etc. They make it as much like a "dorm mass" as we can...I think that all of us miss that cozy ND feeling sometimes!
Ash Wednesday Mass and Soup Dinner - ND Club of Milwaukee
This idea has been so successful that it can be planned and implemented any month of the year - especially during autumn. Jeff Dodd of the Milwaukee Club explains, "I was trying to think of how the YAs could incorporate more religious activities into our schedule. ND has so many religious events on campus, but it seems like the ND Clubs are strangely deficient in this area." Jeff decided to combine an Ash Wednesday mass with a social event that embraces the Catholic concept of fast and abstinence. The result? "A unique experience that is enticing to YAs as well as all Club members."
Jeff worked to get a local priest to celebrate Mass in the Dodd's own living room. Attendance has been in the 15-18 person range, "which is great on the one hand because my house can't handle much more!" Jeff says. Following the close-knit mass is a feast of Jeff's homemade soup and bread, which consistently get rave reviews from mass-goers.
This Mass/event is simple to plan and we believe the format can be utilized any time - or holy day -- during the year.
