A PUBLICATION OF THE YFU-USA ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

The Regional Facilitator is a liaison between the NAC, the Regional Offices and local alumni groups. The objectives of this position are:

• To increase the flow of communication between the NAC, the Regional Offices, volunteers and alumni;
• To increase the numbers of alumni involved in various volunteer opportunities;
• To serve as a resource to the regions, particularly in the areas of alumni involvement and development.

So what kind of things would a Facilitator in your region be doing? Many conduct presentations about alumni at Regional Workshops and/or Field Manager Meetings. Others assist their regions in the selecting and training of local Alumni Coordinators. Facilitators also mentor new Alumni Coordinators and provide Alumni Association materials. In some cases they will even assist new Alumni Coordinators with planning their first few events. Read on for some real life examples and success stories of our Regional Facilitators.

In Michigan, things have really taken off in the last nine months. As the Michigan NAC Regional Facilitator, I've helped the alumni coordinator plan events, made sure information was posted on the alumni website and have been available to answer questions. At our regional conference I gave a presentation to Michigan volunteers about the Alumni Association, the NAC, and the Michigan alumni group.

In addition, we have a new Alumni Coordinator, named Jeremy Weeks, who has been a huge asset. Jeremy has been busy organizing lots of activities, such as going to a Halloween haunted house, game center and spending a day in downtown Ann Arbor to do some Christmas shopping. So far, most of our alumni events have been attended by a core group of alumni from Southeast Michigan, but we're hoping to attract alumni from other geographic areas in the future.

Our future plans include a possible ski weekend in late February or early March and starting alumni groups at the University of Michigan and Michigan State. We are also in the process of creating a database of alumni addresses (for mailings about events) in addition to our email group. Check our website for the most up to date information.

Michigan volunteers are very excited with what's going on with alumni, and want to involve alumni in field activities. If you're interested in getting involved check out the website or contact Jeremy.

Laurie Sutch
Michigan Regional Facilitator

(Newsletter Continued) 

As a result of the establishment of the NAC Regional Facilitator position, staff and volunteers in the Southeast Region are more informed and enthusiastic about working with alumni to grow their fields. Alumni now have more options for involvement and are well received, increasing the number of active alumni volunteers in the fields.

In the metro Washington DC area, alumni have a ready-made network of friends, act as a resource to the regional office, and are actively promoting YFU in the surrounding communities by participating in projects, such as the AIDS Walk, DC Cares Servathon, and Civitan. An email listserv provides local alumni with the latest YFU news, learning, volunteer and career opportunities, notice of social and cultural events, and serves as an information-sharing vehicle. The metro DC area also provides post-program orientations, which allows alumni to share and process their exchange experience and learn about ways to contribute to YFU.

Active alumni groups are also developing in Florida and Richmond and will serve as resources to their local YFU communities. There is also an alumni group developing in Atlanta where they have a great website that connects the local YFU community to each other.

If you live in the Southeast Region and are ready for a new, exciting and meaningful volunteer opportunity, contact Michele Peters, to learn about how you can get involved in forming an alumni network in your area.

Michele Peters
Southeast Regional Facilitator