How to Start a Carolina Club

What It Takes
A few enthusiastic alumni willing to serve on a planning committee is all it takes to get a Carolina Club started. You can form a committee by your own personal contacts and responses to a "club interest" mailing the Alumni Association will mail out at your request. This mailing informs alumni in the area that you have contacted us regarding the organization of a club in your area and asks that they contact you if they are interested in participating in club activities. The responses generated from this mailing are often enough to get things up and running.

Carolina Club Goals
Each Carolina Club may choose to focus on one, some, or all of the goals listed below.

The sum total of goals focused on will vary on the number of active committee volunteers and interests, and the amount of participation among the alumni body in a club's area:

• To encourage alumni and friends of UNC to continue an interest in the University.
• To provide opportunities for social and business networking among alumni and friends of the University.
• To provide continuing education/enrichment experiences for alumni and friends of the University. (Including showcasing our faculty, administrators and athletic programs.)
• To inform alumni and friends of UNC about challenges and opportunities facing the University.
• To provide alumni and friends of UNC with an opportunity to offer ideas back to the University.
• To encourage alumni to become members of the General Alumni Association.
• To provide scholarships and other support to UNC students from the local area, and to encourage local admitted students to attend the University.
• To sponsor community service activities that reflect positively on the University.
• To influence legislators on issues of concern to the University when appropriate.
• Other? Do you have a goal, which is not listed here, that your club would like to set? Great, simply call the General Alumni Association to discuss.

Structuring a Local Carolina Club
Based upon the experience of our most successful clubs, we believe the most effective structure for a Carolina Club is a task specific committee structure in which each office is limited to a two-year term in order to broaden and diversify participation on the committee.

The following is a listing of the essential positions that the General Alumni Association recommends each club fill to ensure a successful club program. It is also important that club leaders be current members of the General Alumni Association. Realizing that some clubs are in areas where there are more alumni, the list continues with those positions the General Alumni Association believes are essential for a larger club program. You will find specific job descriptions in our Club Leaders Handbook.

Essential Positions:

• Chair
• Co-Chair or Chair Elect
• Treasurer

Highly Recommended Positions:

• Coordinator of Programs* or
• Individual Event Chairs

*There can be more than one, or specific event chairs. For example:

• Admissions Reception Coordinator
• Speaker Event Coordinator
• Annual BBQ Coordinator
• Coordinator of Communications
• Coordinator of Student Involvement

How the General Alumni Association Supports Clubs
Although the General Alumni Association does not provide direct financial support for clubs, the General Alumni Association does provide significant services and support for clubs including:

• Staff support. Staff members at the General Alumni Association assist club leaders with almost all aspects of planning and promoting club events. Staff members also work to organize new clubs and reactivate dormant clubs. 
• Conference for Club Leaders. Any person involved with a club's leadership or planning group is welcome to attend the annual workshop in Chapel Hill.
• Web Site. The General Alumni Association provides and maintains a Web site for each club. 
• E-mail Broadcasts and listservs. The General Alumni Association will send an e-mail to all alumni on behalf of the club once each month and provide an opt-in e-mail list for club use.  
• Event speakers. The General Alumni Association will help identify and make arrangements for speakers from the University to attend club events.
• Newsletter/Notice Production. The General Alumni Association will design and print club newsletters or event notices.
• Mail Services. The General Alumni Association will label and provide mailing services for club newsletters and notices. (These services do not include postage costs, for which clubs ARE responsible.)
• Alumni Lists. The General Alumni Association will provide club leaders with lists of local alumni.
• Event Paraphernalia. The General Alumni Association will provide name tags, and General Alumni Association and University information for events.
• Mailing List Management. The General Alumni Association can help keep track of alumni who attend club events or make local contributions allowing clubs to target "most interested" alumni when desired.
• Event and Event Promotion Suggestions. The General Alumni Association will provide club leaders with samples of newsletters and event notices from other clubs around the country.
• Tar Heel Merchandise. The General Alumni Association will provide a limited amount of merchandise/door prizes to clubs.
• Liability Insurance.

Ready to start a new Carolina Club?
Contact the GAA's coordinator of alumni clubs by e-mail or phone at (919) 962-6705 today.