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Photo Reunion Name Badges

2009-04-20T15:33:00Z

Here are some sample photo reunion name badges from our partner <href>Integrated ID.

Several schools including Union and Manhatten have noted that their pricing is very reasonable and will likely use their service. They have alumni who frequently request adding their old yearbook photos to their reunion badges and are tired of the effort of producing badges in-house.

To get your old yearbook photos on your reunion name badges, call 800-729-3722 and ask for Pat in their reunion group. She’s very helpful.

Please let her know you were recommended by You Have Not Changed One Bit!

Draft letter to build initial sample game for group

2009-03-26T13:47:00Z

Hi __,

On June 1, 2009, we will be launching a new icebreaker game for your 25th reunion. The game is about matching Then and Now photographs to see if everyone can still recognize their classmates. It is called, “You Have Not Changed One Bit!”

You can see examples of the matching games at:
http://youhavenotchangedonebit.com/public_games

To get it started, we’d like to provide a sample matching game with a dozen classmates, including you. We have scanned the old yearbook photos.

If you would like to help…

1) Please sign up and create your password. You’ll receive an e-mail confirmation of your sign up. Click the link in the email and it will take you back to the site to login with your email address and password.

2) Once you login, it will take you to a screen where you join our group:
Group Name which is: Anywhere College ‘84
Group Passcode which is: 2009AC84

3) Select the photos tab and select the “Claim my Then Photo” button. Search and find your thumbnail photo, then click on it to claim it. Next, click the photos tab again and find your name. Select “Add now photo” and upload a current picture of yourself from your computer. You can also add whatever subgroups (football players, band members, redheads, underwater basket weaving majors, lawyers, etc.) you’d like to your record. Each subgroup will create a matching game.

4) Once we have a few photos, we’ll create a sample game to try.
Note: You are the first members of our class to use the site, so please let us know if something doesn’t work. If we can’t fix it, we’ll get hold of the people who created the website.

Cheers,
__

Draft letter to reunion class

2009-03-26T13:41:00Z

Several groups have asked how to introduce YHNC1B to a reunion class. Here’s a sample letter from one alumni office.

Dear Anywhere Class of 84,

Hey, guess what? Think you can still recognize your classmates after 25 years?

We now have a face matching game for the Class of ‘84.

We’ve uploaded your old yearbook photos. You can claim yours, add a current photo, and then play the matching games. To get started, go to:
http://www.YouHaveNotChangedOneBit.com

1) Sign up and create your password. You’ll receive an e-mail confirmation of your sign up. Click the link in the email and it will take you back to the site to login with your email address and password.

2) Once you login, it will take you to a screen where you join our group:
Group Name which is: Anywhere College ‘84
Group Passcode which is: 123AC84

3) Then you can choose a game to play. Good luck!
There will be more games as more classmates add current photos.

4) Once you’ve played a game, claim your Then photo from the photo gallery, then add your Now photo and whatever subgroups (band members, redheads, ultimate frisbee players, underwater basketweaving majors, lawyers, etc.) you’d like to your record. Each subgroup creates a matching game.

Please spread the word if you like it, or let us know if something doesn’t work. If we can’t fix it, we’ll get hold of the people who created the website.

Cheers,

How to demo YHNC1B to reunion teams

2009-03-23T16:55:00Z

For a gathering of reunion teams, we suggest the following for a 5 minute presentation.

1) Ask the reunion teams, “What is the biggest fear in coming back for a reunion?”

One likely answer will be “Not recognizing someone.”

2) Mention that several schools including Williams College, Manhatten, Providence College, and Connecticut College are using a new icebreaker game called “You Have Not Changed One Bit”.

Then with a computer with an Internet connection projecting YHNC1B on a large screen, show the Anywhere High School demonstration game from our public games on our landing page. http://www.youhavenotchangedonebit.com/public_games/32

Let the alumni try and match a few photos.

3) Ask if their classmates would like to have digitized photos from their old yearbooks. Let the alumni know that you already have scanned “Then” photos or will arrange for our partner to scan them at $0.49/photo. Let them know that set-up time is about two hours for the reunion team.

4) Let the alumni know that costs vary depending on the # of photos uploaded. The cost for using our site is about 0.04 cents per alumnae/i per month. Only the reunion team is charged, not the individual users.

5) We suggest the alumnae/i office sponsor a competition among the reunion teams to see who can get the highest percentage of alumni to contribute their “Now” photos. A possible prize could be that everyone in their class gets reunion badges with their Then photos on them from our partner http://www.integratedid.com/Reunion_Badges.html

6) Pass around a sign-up sheet for teams who would like more information. Forward their contact information (email addresses and phone #s) to us, and we’ll follow up by offering remote demos.

Also consider having someone from the Office of Alumni Giving make a request to the reunion teams to participate. They’ve been big proponents at other schools.

If you have additional good ideas on how to demo YHNC1B, please let us know.

Driving Attendance

2009-03-09T23:21:00Z

A memorable quote from a recent reunion volunteer meeting, “Shared memories drive attendance.”

Reunion joke

2009-03-06T22:27:00Z

A man and his wife were sitting at a table at the man’s high school reunion. The wife was staring at a very drunken woman sitting alone at a nearby table.

“Do you know her” the wife asked?

“Yes” he responded. “She’s my old girlfriend from high school”

“She started drinking heavily immediately after we broke up many years ago, and hasn’t stopped since”.

“OMG” exclaimed the wife! Who would think a woman could celebrate that long.

Reunion name badges and reunion name tags with old yearbook photos

2009-02-10T17:59:00Z

We’d like to get a discussion going on tips and ideas for easily creating reunion badges.

Several colleges and universities have asked www.YouHaveNotChangedOneBit.com (YHNC1B) to come up with a partner so they can outsource the production of reunion badges and reunion name tags. In particular, they don’t have the in-house capability to attach the personalized Then photo and their alumnae/i would really like that.

We asked around and evaluated several reunion badge and name tag firms.

We’ve identified a partner who produces high-quality, full-color reunion badges and reunion name tags including the person’s name, school logo, and personalized old yearbook photo at a very reasonable price. You can use them whether you use YHNC1B or not.

For more information, ask for Pat Cosmo at 800-729-3722 at www.IntegratedId.com and let her know that Erik at “You Have Not Changed One Bit” recommended you.

If you have tips for creating your own reunion badges, please share them. We’ll offer a 20% discount on YHNC1B for 2009 to the first 3 schools to post good ideas.

Also, we are seeking feedback on how much schools spend when producing reunion badges and name tags in-house. We’ve heard stories that the cost of buying plastic can make the cost of producing in-house comparable to outsourcing.

Motivating Reunion Teams

2009-02-10T17:09:00Z

With the economic recession, colleges and universities are struggling to motivate their reunion teams. In part, there’s a sense of malaise. In part, the reunion team members are too busy keeping their current jobs and other commitments.

Our suggestion: With unemployment running at an actual rate of 14% and getting worse, reach out to unemployed alumnae/i, asking them to help with the upcoming reunions. They have the time to help and are motivated to network.

2009 reunions will lead to large alumnae/i donations

2008-12-18T20:59:00Z

Scratching your head at the subject line? Won’t reunion attendance be down in 2009 as people can’t afford to travel? and as schools think about cutting back on reunion expenses? and as the economy continues to decline?

It is exactly in such times, that reunions matter most.

People need to commiserate, network, and share ideas on how to recover. The bonds and friendships formed during tough times are sustaining. More than ever, colleges and universities can lead in this process, increasing their engagement with their alumnae/i.

...if they aren’t too timid. The easy path is to hunker down, reduce expenses, and follow along with many other schools. Yes, some cutbacks are necessary. However, cutting the reunion budget is shortsighted.

The multi-million dollar school endowments were built by the alumnae/i. Now is the time the alumnae/i need the most help from the school. ...and investing in those alumnae/i in the downturn will be remembered and rewarded when the economy recovers.

Compare two approaches…

Dear Anywhere College Alumnae/i,

In light of the recent economic downturn and losses to our endowment, we are cutting this year’s reunion budget by 25% so it will only be one day and there will be cafeteria cheese pizza instead of the usual gourmet food. Please print your own reunion badges before you arrive and BYOB. We hope you’ll still contribute generously in the future.

Dear Anywhere College Alumnae/i,

We know times are tough for you in light of the recent economic downturn and we’d like to help. Our school was built on your generosity in the past and we’d like to help you to network and share ideas on how to recover. Our faculty speakers will be discussing the economy, new markets, and the latest trends. Our students will be presenting and coaching you on the latest Internet networking technologies. Our career counseling office is eager to help. We’ve increased our reunion budget by 25% and are hoping for the biggest reunion gathering in recent history.

Which school will do better in the long-term? Your thoughts?

...and how can schools help their alumnae/i in non-reunion classes?

—Erik Sebesta www.YouHaveNotChangedOneBit.com

p.s. Best wishes for a happy and healthy new year. May 2009 be much better than 2008.

How to increase alumnae and alumni giving

2008-12-11T19:46:00Z

Part of our business case is that www.YouHaveNotChangedOneBit.com helps with alumni and alumnae giving. Several schools have asked, “Well, how do you substantiate that?”

Here’s the best answer we can provide.

A study done at Middlebury “observed the financial giving of alumni at a small, private liberal arts college covering a 23 year period of consistent (longitudinal) and occasional donors. Key determinants of alumni giving for both consistent and occasional donors are as follows: volunteering for the college, major in a social science division, language school attendance, residence in states with alumni chapters, and employment within the financial sector. Additionally, alumni with relatives who have attended the college, and alumni who have played a varsity sport during college, are two groups very likely to donate. Our study suggests that Alumni Offices may benefit from rating donors’ giving potential (and subsequently focusing on these individuals), extensively publicizing reunions, and by targeting those who volunteered during their college years. Among occasional donors, Alumni Offices may want to target males, fraternity/sorority members, and alumni who are close to retirement.”

The full study by Phanindra V. Wunnava and Michael A. Lauzebin for $31.50 is at: How to Increase Alumni Giving.

With YouHaveNotChangedOneBit.com, our icebreaker games help increase attendance at reunions. For Alumnae/i who cannot attend, YHNC1B provides a way for them to still laugh and comment on the photos, and reconnect. YHNC1B helps Alumnae/i offices to regain long-lost information about school affinity groups including sports teams, majors, and fraternity/sorority affiliations as our matching games are formed for those subsets.

A Boston MBA school also did a similar study to the one at Middlebury and as a result provides bonuses to its alumni relations office for each additional percentage point of reunion attendance above the norm. Attendance at reunions directly correlates with alumni giving.

A Boston women’s school notes a consistent spike in alumnae giving after reunion weekend.

Do you have more to add? Please include your experiences below.

Schools with friendly alumni office staff

2008-11-25T17:06:00Z

If the quality of a school can be determined by the friendliness of its alumni office staff, the following schools are great.

In no particular order…

Williams
Lebanon Valley
Geneva
Bowdoin
Smith
Merrimack
Hamilton
Manhatten
Concordia College
Haverford
Franklin Pierce
Austin College
Tufts
Wellesley
Kings College
Barnard
Colgate
St. Olaf
Skidmore
Emerson
LeMoyne
Waynesburg
Providence
Elmira
WPI
Catholic
Juniata
Gettysburg
Middlebury
Holy Cross
Pine Manor
Wesleyan
Trinity (CT)
Ithaca
Nyack
Messiah
St. John Fisher
Union
John Carroll
Augsburg
Mount Vernon Nazarene and more…

Happy Thanksgiving to all.

Cheers,

—Erik

Easy setup

2008-11-25T16:53:00Z

So how do we set up your site?

We’ve worked hard to make it easy.

1) Our partner digitizes old yearbook/facebook photos and will upload them directly to our website and send you copies as well. Williams College will be using this service.

2) If you have your own scanned “Then” photos, we provide a way to bulk-upload them to our site. Providence College, WPI, and Manhatten will be taking this approach.

3) From there, schools invite their alumni to contribute a “Now” photo. Classmates can invite other classmates so if you are missing some emails, YHNC1B helps complete your email contact list.

4) Costs are low. $25/month to use our site for up to 1000 photos and if needed, $0.49 per yearbook or facebook photo scan with a minimum of 3 photos per page. You have the scanned photos for future use.

5) Attendance at alumni events is directly correlated with alumni giving. Plus, YHNC1B allows alumni who cannot attend to still see each other, laugh at the photos, and reconnect.

Questions welcome. We have a full setup document available on request and can help walk you through setting up your first group.

Regards,

—Erik Sebesta www.YouHaveNotChangedOneBit.com 617-577-7131

Entrepreneurship and Phone Sales

2008-10-28T18:36:00Z

I’ve never liked talking on the phone and always disliked receiving calls from sales people. My mother taught me to respond, “This is an invasion of privacy.” and to hang-up.

Fortunately, we are offering a service which fulfills a need, adds value, and makes people laugh. That helps.

We’ve received great responses from most Alumni offices.

“Your matching games are addictive. I played for an hour.”

“Oh, that’s all it costs. I thought it would be much more.”

“I can’t wait to share this with the rest of our alumni office team.”

“We’ve had recent budget cuts, but we’d still like to try your game for a few classes.”

Thank goodness that alumni office staff are friendly people. It helps with my innate fear of rejection.

Hopefully we’ll be able to hire a salesperson at some point, but for the early launch of a start-up, it helps to understand your customers by engaging with them directly.

—Erik

Williams vs. Amherst

2008-10-28T17:58:00Z

Spent October sending emails to Directors of Alumni Relations at New England and New York liberal arts schools, then following up with phone calls a week later. Am still getting very positive responses to our website.

Had high hopes for Amherst, since Williams and Amherst, despite being rival schools, tend to share innovative ideas. That said, my call with the reunion coordinator at Amherst went like this…

ME: Last week, I sent an email about a new game for reunions called www.YouHaveNotChangedOneBit.com. Did you have a chance to check out our website:

Amherst: Yes, but we only do things generated by our own students. They have so many good ideas that we don’t need to do anything from anyplace else.

ME: [Staggering, but still hoping to make a sale] I guess I should have gone to Amherst. I’m a Williams alumni.

Amherst: You are only realizing that now?

me:—> After a few more attempts to get Amherst to reconsider, I politely exited the conversation.

I refrained from informing her that unlike Williams, Amherst didn’t have a computer science department back in 1987..

I’d never thought of Amherst as snobby and insular before and have several good friends from there. I wonder what they’ll think of this conversation. Perhaps it was just one person with too much school pride.

Fortunately, all the other NESCAC schools have been much nicer. So far 3-5 will launch in January, 2009.

—Erik ‘91 Go Ephs! I’ll increase my alumni donation this year for sparing me from going to Amherst.

Friendly Alumni Reunion Office Staff

2008-10-13T23:23:00Z

Began the marketing campaign to small college alumni relations offices. Getting a great response so far. Lots of enthusiasm. It is really nice to be in a business where the contact information for the people you need to reach is easily accessible online AND the people themselves are outgoing and friendly. Hadn’t considered that when we started this venture, but it makes sales much more fun.

We’ve reached agreements with 3 NESCAC schools and have a calls scheduled with 2 more. Also, one of the seven sister’s schools has expressed enthusiastic interest.

Am getting this blog registered on Technorati so have to post this

Technorati Profile

Cheers,

—Erik