Hello to all of you readers out there! You may have noticed there haven't been as many Alumni Links lately. The reason is that we have switched to a new bi-monthly format. We are hoping that this will provide us with more high quality articles for you, our readers.

This past summer I had the opportunity to be a group leader for YFU's Italy Summer Language and Culture program. It was amazing to go back and be an exchange student again after 15 years. I'd forgotten just how tough it is to learn another language and adapt to another culture. I'd also forgotten how quickly strong bonds develop between students and their families as well as between the students themselves.

That bond was something I took for granted for many years. Then, in 1991 I lost my host mother in a car accident and my relationship with YFU was forever changed. In the alumni community, I found people who understood my grief and helped me work through it. Since that time, I have come to realize and appreciate the bond with other alumni; it is a very precious thing.

The members of the NAC and volunteers throughout the country also share and respect that bond. Part of the NAC mission is "connecting alumni to each other and to YFU." To further that goal, we have put many different projects into place. Please take the time to check out our website and find out about all of the opportunities to join this very special group of people - YFU alumni.

This issue focuses on the efforts of alumni who are working to bring more people into the YFU community. This summer's Alumni Coordinator training and the 2000 AO Lead Inquiry Teams were very successful and there are now more ways than ever to stay connected to YFU. I hope you enjoy the articles and feel free to send one of your own for our next issue!

Julia Martin
Alumni Link Editor
Holland 85/86, Italy 2000

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Front Row - (L to R) Adrienne Fortin (Dallas-Fort Worth), Patrick Tanaka (LA), Melissa Williams (Trainer), Melissa Baucum (NYC), Carrie Powell (Ohio), Jessica Strahl (Boston). Middle Row - Andrea Coronado (Minneapolis), Mark McClurg (Midland, TX), Jeremey Weeks (MI), Jennifer Tidwell (NYC). Top Row - Tamar Cruse (Seattle), Tangi Padfield (Denver), Lisa Chinnery (Trainer), Chris Jackson (Houston), Mark Hubbard (Outreach Coordinator, Region 30), Laurie Sutch (Trainer)

YFU Alumni Coordinator Conference

Alumni Coordinators from around the country met in Florida August 4-6 for their first annual training conference. In addition to the seventeen Alumni Coordinators, three NAC trainers and two YFU-USA staff members were on hand.

The conference was very successful and the participants were very active in the process. Each attendee took a turn leading an icebreaker as well as a Homecoming session to gain practice facilitating.

We started on Friday afternoon with a welcome, an introduction to the weekend and each other, and then got right into the main question for Friday: What does it mean to be an Alumni Coordinator? Most of Saturday morning was spent discussing, planning and coordinating events. We discussed basic facilitation skills and what a Homecoming/Re-Entry is all about. Sunday morning was spent actually conducting practice Homecoming sessions and then providing feedback on each person's facilitation.

The time spent actually conducting Homecoming sessions was the highlight. What we found was that most people had NOT been to a Homecoming, and actually wanted more time to complete the sessions for their own journey, not just to practice their facilitation skills.

Overall feedback from the event was fantastic, and we hope to have even more Alumni Coordinators to participate in next year's conference.

Lisa Chinnery, Laurie Sutch, Melissa Williams
Conference Coordinators