West Point Alumni Leaders Conference 2016 Society Breakout Session Notes

Slides from the Leaders Conference are available online.


You will need to log into the site to access them.


Top 10 Takeaway Items:
1. Reviewing trademarking policies dos and dont's, Presidents are asked to sign the policy documents and return to avoid being in non-compliance.
2. Improving communication including the online calendar.
3. Young grad engagement
4. How to handle memberships
5. Adding individuals to distribution lists is possible. WPAOG Society Support just needs to be told so they can do it manually this includes parents.
6. Getting involved with Admissions activities.
7. 501c3 status and how to get it. More information is available here - https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/charitable-organizations/exemption-requirements-section-501-c-3-organizations.
8. Regional Advisor elections and how to utilize them. Society Support can put up voting sites for you if interested.
9. Working together with other groups within the Region. Work together with Parent Clubs, Societies, USMA, WPAOG, Service Academies, and the community.
10. Society self-assessments to review areas of strength and needing improvement. A copy of this is now available in the Society Leader Toolkit.

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Regional Breakout
 Regional Admissions Reps - 30 Mins
 Regional Advisor Elections - 10 Mins
 Regional Topic Discussions - 20 Mins
Discussion Starters for Regional Breakouts:
 Do you share your events with other Societies in the region?
 What does your Society struggle with?
 How does your Region engage and support alumni from different generations?
 How can your Regional Advisors help your Region?
 How can Societies in your Region help with Admissions activities?
 How do Societies in your Region help to promote USMA?
 What challenges does your Region face?
 Does your Society team up with other Societies, Parent Clubs, or Service Academies in the area?
 How can your Region help support Cadets – visiting and at the Academy?
 What WPAOG services do your Societies utilize?
 How can WPAOG help your Region?
Please provide your new Regional Advisor names to Society-support@wpaog.org by October 1. Contact Society-support@wpaog.org if you need to setup an online voting website.
Discussion Starters for Size Classification Breakouts:
 What challenges do Societies of your size face that other Societies don’t?
 How do you handle fundraising?
 What key positions do you think are critical to running your Society?
 What type of events does your Society conduct?
 Does your Society maintain their bylaws? There is a template in the Society Leader Toolkit.
 What type of community activities does your Society get involved with?
 Do you utilize the WPAOG services – mini-websites, online registrations, Society Leader Toolkit, email distribution lists, Society Administration portion of the website, surveys, etc.?
 Do you work with other groups – Societies, Parent Clubs, Service Academies for your events?
 How can WPAOG help Societies of your size?
 Do you have a succession plan in place? There is a template in the Society Leader Toolkit.
 How do you engage graduates from different generations?
 Is your Society a 501c3?
 Does your Society have a strategic plan? There is a template in the Society Leader Toolkit.

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Breakout Notes:
 Societies would like to know more about the cadets coming to their areas. Society Leaders should all visit the WPAOG online calendar and have the events in the Region pushed to them. WPAOG is already working to collected more information from the Academy.
 Regional Advisor selections are due to Society Support by October 1.
 Recruiting athletes dos and don’ts.
 Getting involved with Admissions.
 Utilize the services of WPAOG to ease Society Administration.
 Share information within the Region and with WPAOG.
 Contact Deb Dalton if anyone in your area is interested in starting a Parent Club.
 Anyone can added to Society email distributions (grads within the zip code radius are automatically added), they just need to request to be manually added by emailing Society-support@wpaog.org.
 Share information with Regional Advisors so they can prep for meetings and discussions with WPAOG.
 Request to make the DSA less complicated and comments that the DSA is very user friendly.
 Appealing to younger grads by offering field force, volunteer, and family friendly activities.
 Society membership – to charge dues or not to charge. How to get enough money to sustain operations with fundraising, raffles, events, etc.
 Applying for 501c3 status.
 Getting involved with the community especially high schools for recruiting.
 Completing bylaws – Societies are required to send copies to WPAOG as part of being setup.
 Completing a succession plan to ensure your Society can continue.
 Getting Academy Leaders for Founders Days at the smaller or more remote Societies.
 Offering a variety of activities – sporting events, picnics, wine tastings, field trips, brewery tours, spirit events, museums, charity activities, youth leadership conferences, widow/widower support, holiday events, active duty support, local awards.

West Point AOG Advisory Council Election - Western Region AOG Societies

Greetings from your Rockbound Highland Home.  We had the AOG leadership conference this past week, in conjunction with Field Force Training and “Reorgy Week / A-day”.  To say the least, it was a very fruitful week.  I had the privilege of assisting our senior Western Region Advisor, Matt DeHaven, in the regional break-out session.  He will put out info to y’all in the not too distant future concerning the goings-on of this week, and in particular, our session.

As the newest of the 3 regional society advisors, the upcoming AOG Western Region election has fallen to me.  Regional Advisors serve 3 year terms, and may be elected to consecutive terms.   One Regional Advisor slot is open for election each year.  Advisory Council Meetings typically are held quarterly back at West Point.  Travel costs fall to the individual.  Be advised that those serving on the Board of Directors and Advisory Council are in fact expected to donate not only their time while representing their region, but also monetarily to the AOG!

If anyone desires to run for this office, three things are required:

-          A statement of support (nomination) from their AOG Society, highlighting their support to West Point and their local Society;

-          A letter from the candidate confirming their willingness to serve on the Advisory Council; their involvement with USMA / AOG activities; and explaining what qualities they would bring to the AOG, representing the Western Region;

-          A “military bio” highlighting their military career and subsequent association with West Point and the AOG.

In order to facilitate the Western Region Advisor election, nominations and statements should be sent electronically to me at Riedler@yahoo.com NLT Sunday, 4 September.

I will be sending out election information the following week for voting by the Societies.  Note that there will be one vote per Society.   If multiple votes are received from a given Society, the vote of the senior-most person (Society President preferred) will be counted.  The 3 pieces of information highlighted above for each nominee will be sent to all of you for your consideration when voting.

Thanks again for all you have done for your country, and for that which you continue to do for West Point and your communities.

COL (Ret) Kevin Riedler

H-2 ‘81

Note - due to the large number of Society Leaders, I will send multiple copies of this email so that my email server will accommodate the number of addressees.

Kevin R. Riedler

riedler@yahoo.com

Seeking Chief Operating Officer - WPAOG

The West Point Association of Graduates, a 501(C) (3) non-profit organization with a $13M annual budget is seeking a Chief Operating Officer.  This position reports directly to the President and CEO. The Chief Operating Officer is the second in command and is responsible for managing all operational aspects of the WPAOG and assisting the CEO in the successful operation of the organization.

Through a respectful, constructive and energetic management style, the COO assists the CEO by overseeing day-to-day operations.  The COO provides the leadership, management and vision necessary to ensure that the WPAOG has the proper operational controls, administrative and reporting procedures, and people systems in place to ensure financial strength and operating efficiency. He/she will also be responsible for the day to day operations and complete integration of all staff functions of the WPAOG.  Other areas of responsibility include overseeing the gift funded construction and maintenance program, the maintenance of Herbert Hall Alumni Center, the scholarship preparatory program as well as the affinity program.   

In addition, the Chief Operating Officer will collaborate with the CEO to develop and implement plans for the operational infrastructure of systems, processes, and personnel designed to accommodate the strategic objectives of the organization.  The incumbent will assist the CEO in attracting, recruiting and retaining required members of the team and provide mentoring as a cornerstone to the management career development program of all employees. The Chief Operating Officer should expect to work closely with USMA and have the ability to provide recommendations for policy decisions for the organization.

Strong organizational skills and excellent oral and written communication skills are required.  An understanding of development, alumni support, communications, and marketing are important.  Having familiarity with the United States Military Academy and Army operations as well as experience in non-profit and volunteer organizations is a plus. Inspirational, positive, “hands on” leadership style preferred. He/she must have a respectful, constructive and energetic management style, guided by the objectives and policies set by the CEO. Some travel is necessary.

A West Point graduate with at least 10 years of leadership experience and a Master’s degree is preferred.  We offer excellent benefits and a pleasant working environment.  Salary commensurate with skills and experience.  Please submit cover letter, resume and letters of reference.  See Online application

AOG ASSISTANT DIRECTOR ANNUAL GIVING

DESCRIPTION

Assistant Director, Annual Giving and WPAOG Parent Relations The West Point Association of Graduates (WPAOG) is dedicated to furthering the ideals and promoting the welfare of the United States Military Academy (USMA), and to supporting and serving its graduates.  USMA is renowned as one of the world's preeminent leader development institutions.  The student body, or Corps of Cadets, numbers 4,400 and each year approximately 1,000 cadets graduate and are commissioned as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army. This position reports directly to the WPAOG’s Senior Director of Annual Giving. The WPAOG is seeking an Assistant Director for their Annual Giving Program to secure donations for the United States Military Academy.  As part of the Annual Giving Team, this individual is responsible for maximizing all segments of the Annual Giving Campaign - with specific responsibility for the Parents Fund Program and the Long Gray Line Program. As such, he/she is familiar with all USMA/WPAOG needs requiring private funding; manages Parents Fund volunteers and Parent Club leaders; coordinates the various direct mail campaigns of the Annual Giving Campaign to ensure an appropriate solicitation timeline; assists the Senior Director in designing a fundraising strategy and provides the support necessary to oversee and execute that strategy. The primary objective of the Annual Giving Program is to increase the number of donors who give annually to West Point by concentrating on renewing, upgrading and acquiring constituents.  This program will help enhance the major gift pipeline. The applicant is expected to: be knowledgeable of  fundraising fundamentals; retain a comprehensive knowledge of the academic, athletic, and activity programs of the United States Military Academy; manage a pool of approximately 50 parent and past parent constituents;  initiate, organize, and follow through with fundraising strategies and meet deadlines as required; have experience setting priorities and successfully managing multiple projects of varying complexity and urgency simultaneously; have excellent verbal and written communication skills; be available to attend local social functions in an official capacity and be available for domestic travel 25-30% of the time. In addition, the incumbent will serve as the Development Point of Contact (POC) for major projects or programs when assigned.  The POC is responsible for: developing both a fund-raising plan and a recognition plan; tracking prospective donors for this particular project/program; and ensuring that the project/program is being managed in a way that is in-line with the desires of USMA, the WPAOG and the donors. A Bachelor's Degree and prior fundraising experience is required.  Three plus years and demonstrated success in development or an equivalent combination of education and experience preferred. Knowledge of Raiser’s Edge preferred. We offer excellent benefits and a pleasant working environment.  Salary commensurate with skills and experience.  Please submit cover letter, resume and letters of reference.  West Point Association of Graduates is an Equal Opportunity Employer For access to posting: http://chc.tbe.taleo.net/chc03/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=WPAOG&cws=1&rid=101