December 2004

Young Alumni Chapter Events - Much More Than Just Happy Hour

Mention “young alumni” and many alums – whether they’re under or over 30 – often conjure up images of happy hour. While an evening with college friends at one of the local watering holes is often a fun night, the Young Alumni Chapter found, after surveying the nearly 4,000 young alumni who live and work in the D.C. area, that most young AU alums want more from their alma mater.

Ask and ye shall receive.

In response to many requests, YAC has spent many hours on strategically developing and delivering educational, informational, and unique experiences for young alums this past year. This fall alone YAC hosted:

• more than 20 alumni at a sushi-making demonstration, lesson, and tasting at the Sake Club in Cleveland Park;
• more than 25 young alums trying their hand at pottery painting (just in time for holiday gift-giving) at “All Fired Up!,” also in Cleveland Park; and
• more than 40 alums raised close to $800 for the chapter AND had a blast catching up at the Angry Inch in Adams Morgan while competing for a bunch of great silent auction items at the third annual Snowflake Shindig & Silent Auction last week.

Items up for auction included dinner for two at Filomena’s restaurant in Georgetown, lift tickets to Whitetail Ski Resort, a gift certificate to The Grooming Lounge, AU basketball Patriot League tickets, and more. The top item went for more than $100 - a private dinner with the chef at Tallula in Arlington. All proceeds will benefit future YAC programs.

And at last month’s pottery painting event, YAC members asked for – and received – donations of red and white wine from Farfelu Vineyards to get the creative juices flowing and a cheese platter from Ron Vogel, CAS/BS ’72, owner of favorite AU hangout Booeymonger.

"The Young Alumni Chapter is always thinking about programs that will benefit recent grads and be of interest to the younger alums in the area," says YAC President Ashley Philips, SOC/BA 2002, SOC/MA 2003. "We've done a good job in recent years expanding our programming to reach out to lots of new people. That's the best part of YAC: No matter what the event is, there are always old friends to see and new friends to make. Some of my closest friends I've met, not while we were in school, but at young alumni events, like the alumni softball team."

When YAC leaders met recently to discuss the next round of events, some of the ideas tossed around included a beer tasting, a roundtable discussion on graduate school, a tax seminar, volunteer opportunities with local soup kitchens, and of course, the annual expedition to the Virginia Gold Cup (steeplechase event) in May 2005.

Want to make sure you know about the next YAC event, have an idea for a future event, or just want a little more info on the group? Contact Laura Swanstrom Reece, CAS/MA ’02, assistant director, Alumni Programs, at 202-885-5921 or lauras@american.edu.

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