Best Practices: Public Relations and Promotion

• Ideas for Making This Happen
• How We Can Help
• How Other Clubs Have Made This Happen

Ideas for Making This Happen

• Establish and maintain a club Web site with the following elements:
  • Board/leadership contact information
  • Club mission
  • Current event information
  • Participants/email directory
  • Archived event information
  • Club calendar
  • Information about membership with link to umalumni.com.
• Use MAC to obtain mailing and email addresses for area members
• Contact members one to two times a month via any means available
• Update information in MAC as necessary or pass information to the Alumni Records Office for updating
• Participate in TrueBlue
• Use AAUM-sponsored supplemental mailings
• Contact newcomers on a monthly basis, including personalized initial contact with members who are new to the area, club Web site address, local contact with email and phone number, next event information, etc.
• Maintain regular contact with your club's regional outreach coordinator
• Past event reports to your regional outreach coordinator
• Submit an annual report within the designated time deadline
• Notify AAUM staff of changes in leadership positions
• Read and respond to e-TrueBlue: Club Leaders action items as requested

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How We Can Help

• Set up an email group for your club
• Produce a supplemental postcard or tri-fold flier mailing for your club
• Assist with the design of a club logo
• Provide technical support for use of club Web site and club events calendar
• Provide technical support for use of MAC
• Assist with the development of an email survey of members in your club's area
• Have your club's event spotlighted in e-TrueBlue
• Advise you in how best to utilize your club's column in TrueBlue
• Provide your club with trinkets to giveaway at club events

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How Other Clubs Have Made This Happen

The U of M Club of Gaylord has a "U of M Club of Gaylord" logo as part of the service club sign at the entrance to the city.

The U of M Club of Delaware downloads members' email addresses from MAC to send out a monthly electronic newsletter or e-zine. It includes information about upcoming club events, University and Association news, and profiles of members.

The U of M Club of Manistee announces club events in the local newspaper and in public service announcements on the local radio station. Most events are followed up with a report of the event and a picture in the newspaper.

The U of M clubs of Northern New Jersey and Philadelphia have spearheaded campaigns in their respective states to have a University of Michigan state license plate. The U of M Club of Northern New Jersey sent a mailing to all alumni and students in the state and the U of M Club of Philadelphia sent an email to all alumni in the state of Pennsylvania. Both clubs also used TrueBlue and their Web sites to advertise the license plates.

The U of M Club of Washington, DC has developed a friendly, informative response to email inquiries it receives. Instead of just providing contact information or a link to its Web site, this email from the club president details upcoming activities and welcomes people to DC and to the club.

The U of M Club of Calhoun County used its AAUM-sponsored supplemental mailing to survey its members about what they would like to see the club do and to what extent they would be involved.

The U of M Club of Denver created magnets with its club logo and contact information, along with its slogan "Your Ann Arbor Oasis in Colorado."

The U of M Club of Los Angeles and the U of M Club of Charlotte have created business cards that board members can carry in their wallets and hand out to prospective members that they encounter. The U of M Club of New York uses football schedules as business cards by placing a sticker with the club's Web site address on the bottom of each.

The U of M Club of New York uses extra copies of TrueBlue as a promotional tool by placing them on the windshield of cars with U-M stickers. Similarly, the board members of the U of M Club of Dallas carry business cards with them and put them on windshields of U-M cars they encounter.

The U of M Club of Downriver is one of many clubs that has a club photo album as part of its Web site. Members enjoy being able to see themselves on the Web and prospective members like to see pictures of their fellow alumni having fun! Other clubs, including the U of M Club of Golden Gate, have a club scrapbook/photo album that they carry to club events so that new members can thumb through and see all the activities the club does.

Several clubs summarize past events on their Web sites. This gives potential members the opportunity to read about the club's recent activities and shows the level of activity and diversity of programming that the club sustains, even if the club's immediate upcoming calendar of events is a bit sparse.

Many clubs are using email addresses in MAC to contact members on a regular basis and inform them about upcoming events and club activities. Additionally, the U of M Club of Greater Boston's weekly email includes job postings in the area and information about members who are looking for a roommate or for someone with whom to road trip to Ann Arbor.

The U of M Club of Golden Gate's Web site includes a survey where people checking out the site can fill in information about themselves, their interests and what they would like to be involved with in the club. The site also includes a job posting board and a roommate posting board. There is also a link to the neighboring U of M Club of Silicon Valley's Web site.

The U of M Club of Michiana gained publicity from its participation in a local PBS station fund drive. In exchange for volunteering, the club is allowed to hang a U of M Club of Michiana banner, which can be seen by everyone watching TV! During breaks, hosts ask volunteers questions about the club and its activities.

The U of M Club of Northville is one of many clubs that utilizes the club events calendar on OmniUpdate to promote events. This is a great promotions tool because not only does it appear on the club's Web site, it appears on the Alumni Association's Web site, too.