The Yarmouth Schools have provided a fine education for hundreds of students over the years, and many students developed friendships which have lasted a lifetime. Unless alumni chose to live in the area, however, their connections with each other, the schools, and the town often ended. With this in mind, and with the intent of facilitating connections between alumni, and of fostering the interest of alumni in the Yarmouth schools, the Yarmouth Alumni Association was born in 2004.
A small group of alumni who live locally were asked to form the first Board of Directors. The School Committee created the position of Alumni Coordinator to assist in organizing the Association. The first task facing the Board was the creation of By-Laws. They borrowed liberally from models of alumni organizations at other public and private secondary schools. After considering several drafts, the Board approved the By-Laws at its May 2006 meeting. Officers were elected and committees were created. The Association filed for Articles of Incorporation with the State of Maine as a nonprofit corporation, and for Exemption from Federal Income Tax under Section 501c (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Yarmouth Alumni Engagement Goals
PARTICIPATION
Increasing annual alumni event participation annually.
VOLUNTEERISM
Increasing the annual number of alumni volunteers giving back their time and talent to Yarmouth (alumni association, class agents, golf planning committee, event host committees, reunion planning, alum-to-alum career connections/LinkedIn, young alumni at college day on campus, communications/social media ambassador).
DONATIONS
Increasing the annual number of alumni donors.
CONNECTION
Establish a stronger platform for alumni to connect with each other for networking and support, as well identifying opportunities for alumni to share their impressions of Yarmouth today.
PREPARE
Begin to help students understand a path to becoming engaged, supportive alumni.
The Role of the Yarmouth Alumni Association Board
The purpose of the Yarmouth Alumni Association shall be to bring together graduates of Yarmouth High School, and individuals who have attended the Yarmouth schools, in order to promote alumni spirit and camaraderie through communications and reunions, to locate alumni, to preserve and perpetuate ongoing relationships between alumni and faculty, to stimulate their interest in the present school system, and to conduct programs which promote the welfare of the school system and the larger community. Specific expectations include:
- Attend and participate in the Yarmouth Alumni Association meetings (conference call)
- Make decisions and recommendations that are in the best interest of Yarmouth alumni
- Encourage fellow alumni to participate in fundraising efforts to ensure increasing participation annually
- Leverage personal networks, expertise, and resources to benefit YAA
- Attend alumni events as a key ambassador
- Help to recruit other members to serve on the Alumni Association Board, as needed