Rutgers Alumni Association (RAA) President’s Annual Report
Dear RAA Family,
As the president of RAA, I’m eager to share with you what RAA has been doing recently, our plans for the future, and what you as a member can expect from us. For it is the very nature of our organization is to connect and share and celebrate Rutgers, and all the good that it provides to current students, alumni, and the world.
I graduated Rutgers College in 1996 and have been participating in the RAA on and off for over 25 years. As Rutgers College and the School of Arts and Sciences have evolved so has the RAA and your ability to participate and reflect upon what Rutgers has to celebrate.
As a historian, I want first to offer a look at who we’ve been, where we are now, and some of the things we strive to be.
History
The RAA is the nation’s 4th oldest functioning alumni group with a historical founding in Queens College that as many of you know eventually changed its name to Rutgers College in 1825. With the dissipation of Rutgers College in 2007, the School of Arts and Sciences was formed to serve as the primary school on the New Brunswick campus.
Drawing on 191 years of leadership, tradition, and a love of the alma mater, the Rutgers Alumni Association recently forged a partnership with the New Brunswick School of Arts and Sciences while nurturing integral relationships with other organizations and groups at Rutgers University.
That’s a lot of alumni and a lot of “almost” alumni who are currently undergraduates to work with. It’s a pretty large family and we can all agree on one thing – Rutgers has changed our lives forever.
The Past Year…or So.
The RAA hasn’t been as busy this past calendar year as it has other years due to the pandemic, but it has taken advantage of this time to work internally and begin the process of bringing the association into a place that will sustain us for decades to come. Here’s what’s been going on behind the scenes:
Strategic Plan – The Long Range Planning Committee worked for months to develop a comprehensive strategic plan. The plan prescribed four unique areas for the association to improve upon in order to increase the scope and breadth of our organization. They include Connection, Engagement, Board (Governance), and Philanthropy. As the smaller work groups continue to meet and develop plans, the RAA board is poised to meet these challenges and make the necessary changes. These changes will bring a more accessible and transparent organization for ALL of its members.
Governance – Each year, the RAA solicits individuals who would like to participate in the various positions of leadership throughout the Rutgers Alumni Association through the Nominations Committee. Due to the pandemic and the nature of the interview process, the committee was able to solicit members and volunteers from across the globe. This year, the RAA Board of Directors has members who actively participate from as far away as New Zealand and Tennessee. A request for nominations goes out every winter for one or three year terms that run from July to June. Keep an eye out on recent RAA communications.
Change of Leadership – 2021 was also a year where we transitioned leadership at all levels of governance. It’s an honor for me to succeed Danielle Bechta, SAS’11, who served two years as president and has been a wonderful colleague and resource to me as I’ve taken the reins these last six months on July 1, 2021. Several new people began positions of leadership at the officer, committee chair, and board of directors levels.
Engaging Our Alumni and Current Students
Involvement Fair – The Undergraduate Committee was back on campus in September as it welcomed the thousands of new students that included the classes of 2024 and 2025! There were so many friendly, intimidated, and amazing faces and people to meet and introduce to their future alumni association.
“Late” Commencements – In October, I was able to meet and greet every single graduate that participated in the classes of 2020 and 2021 Rutgers School of Arts and Sciences celebrations. As each student’s name was read aloud, and they individually walked across the stage to be congratulated by a dean, I was struck by how proud they all were of their accomplishments and the figurative journey from student to alumni that the trip across the stage represented.
Homecoming – Our Homecoming Committee worked with the Rutgers University Alumni Association, the School of Arts and Sciences, and other partners to participate in a number of events throughout the weekend including hosting a tent for alumni and friends to relax and enjoy each other’s company.
Meet the RAA – Our Undergraduate Committee and all committee chairpersons have been involved in an annual event that introduces the opportunities that RAA has for volunteer engagement. A global pandemic won’t keep us down from asking for more of your time!
Bed Races – With the Undergraduate Committee, the Homecoming Committee participated in the annual university Bed Races on College Avenue. They welcomed and worked with the university to set up and sponsor a photo booth.
Community Service Committee – In spite of a pandemic, the Community Service Community traded in person events for food and coat collections for students on campus through a partnership with the Rutgers Food Pantry and a coat collection in a partnership with New Jersey Cares. It is estimated that the central New Jersey participants collected over 750 coats in a single month’s time. The committee is also actively planning their highly successful Rutgers in Your Backyard event for late Spring 2022 after a two-year hiatus.
Alumni Band & Glee Club – As two of the most engaged social groups within the RAA, the Alumni Band and Glee Club groups participate in a number of on and off campus events such as Rutgers University Football and Basketball Home games and other concerts.
Membership Events – The Membership Services Committee hosts social events throughout the year and this year may have been limited due to the pandemic, but it didn’t stop them from having a successful year. For example, the committee hosted a successful panel discussion of three alumni who work at the United Nations. They also hosted two virtual events that were put together very quickly and saw tremendous attendance – a remote watch party of the NCAA Selection Show for men’s basketball in March and an online tailgate with our friends at the Scarlet Spotlight podcast prior to the Gator Bowl appearance.
Loyal Sons and Loyal Daughters – The Loyal Sons and Loyal Daughters celebration is the marquee event for the Rutgers Alumni Association. Over 700 individuals have been honored over the university’s long existence for their service to Rutgers. The pandemic put the celebration on hold for two years, but the RAA has every intention of holding the event this year!
Grants and Gifts Committee – A vital part of the RAA is engaging with student organizations to help fund their events and encourage their journeys. The Grants and Gifts Committee never stopped working during the pandemic and continued to solicit and fund programs and events put on by the students themselves.
Connect With Us
We have a wide array of methods of connecting with us such as our magazine 1766, our website (rutgersalumni.org), Facebook (RAANewBrunswick), Twitter (@RAANewBrunswick), Instagram (@rutgersalumniassoc) and an email newsletter sent out to all RAA members. Our Communications Committee manages all of these resources and they all are a great source of news about alumni, on-campus happenings and the history of Rutgers.
Sign Off
The past year has been a challenge for many, including the Board of Directors, Committee chairs, officers, and volunteers, but our dedication and commitment to the future of the RAA and our tremendous partnership with the School of Arts and Science and its leadership under Executive Dean Peter March are propelling us forward into this new and unforeseen world of possibility.
If you find yourself in a position to volunteer your time and energy, I, on behalf of the entire RAA, welcome that wholeheartedly. Review the current committees and their descriptions in the list below. See if something fits. If not, email me and we can talk and then we can direct you someplace that will welcome your participation.
Yours in Rutgers Spirit,
Brian N. Tobin, RC’96
Appendix – List of Committees and Descriptions
The RAA is a volunteer organization and we have many ways that you can volunteer and contribute your time. Below is a list of committees that you might want to participate in.
The Grants and Gifts Committee solicits requests made to the RAA for grants or gifts from student groups.
The Undergraduate Committee encourages undergraduate students and recent graduates of the schools to participate in the RAA.
The Long-Range Planning Committee is responsible for defining and reviewing the RAA’s long-term objectives and goals and recommending means to implement them.
The Young Alumni Committee is responsible for the development of a strong engagement plan to articulate the concerns and special programming needs of alumni in the first seven (7) years after graduation. It will work with the Undergraduate Committee to identify support programs for prospective new alumni.
The Community Service Committee serves as the conduit through which Rutgers alumni, family and friends may volunteer their time and talent to meet the needs of the New Brunswick, Central New Jersey and New Jersey communities. Through its efforts, Rutgers School of Arts and Sciences’ and the Rutgers Alumni Association’s concern for its neighbors are transformed from word to deed.
The Alumni Family Day Committee plans, organizes, and executes programs and events for the benefit of Rutgers alumni and their families. It is through these important activities that the committee remains instrumental in bringing alumni back to campus, who eventually become engaged with RAA and alma mater.
The Member Services Committee is responsible for engaging membership in the RAA. It shall encourage and expand the active membership of the RAA. This goal shall be accomplished consistent with the mission and bylaws of the RAA. Ethnic and cultural diversity of the membership shall be fostered. It shall also originate and manage benefit programs and events for the interest and enjoyment of the RAA membership.
The Communications Committee provides news about the RAA’s activities and all things Rutgers: on-campus news, updates on alumni and historical dates in Rutgers history. We are always looking for volunteers to write articles for 1766, and to help spread the word about our organization via social media.
Appendix II – Fun Fact
At present, Rutgers is unique as the only university in the United States that is a colonial chartered college, a land-grant institution, and a state university.
