Do you go to college alumni events in your city?

[anna7602]

Both my undergrad and grad universities have alumni chapters in Paris. The events they put on aren't that exciting (mostly speakers I have zero interest in) and are kind of pricey, but I'm debating going just to meet more people here. I tend to think they're probably better for "business" networking when I'm really just into "friendly" type networking. I guess you never know.

So, do you go/have you gone in your own city if there's something like this?

[travelingturtle]

They don't have anything where I am, but we know several alumni personally and I've wanted to set something up. I think it's a nice way to meet people.

[dorothyinAus]

I went to the first State-Supported College for Women in the US. And while W-Girls are all over the world, there is not a branch of the Alumnae Association where I live now. When I lived in NOLA, I went to every alumnae (even though the university started admitting men in 1982, the name of the Alumnae Association was not changed to the male/inclusive gendered noun). I wasn't active in the Alumnae Association, but I did support it as much as possible.

[bugabean]

My grad university requires one to pay to be in the alumni association (actually… it's the only requirement… you don't even have to be an alumnus) and I refuse to do that out of principle. My undergrad university only has local (MN) events.

[anna7602]

May 24, 2012 7:08:27 GMT -5 bugabean said:

My grad university requires one to pay to be in the alumni association (actually… it's the only requirement… you don't even have to be an alumnus) and I refuse to do that out of principle. My undergrad university only has local (MN) events.

Both my undergrad & grad require me to pay in NYC to be a member, but here, I just have to buy a ticket to the event. I guess there aren't as many of us.

When I first moved to NYC, I was able to take advantage of the "young alumni" rate and just go to drinks-type events at the alumni club bar. There's no permanent institution like that here in Paris.

[bugabean]

I get a quarterly magazine form my undergrad AS, which is nice, and they sent me a free 'future alumni' shirt when I had a baby.

[mrsukyankee]

I have, but only the social ones. Some of them are too business oriented.

[Wanderista]

I have gone a few times, there is an active chapter in DC. I got to meet the UK ambassador to the US that way, which was fun, but generally I have not found the group to be that helpful. I've joined other networking groups as well that I have enjoyed to varying degrees. There is one that I've really participated a lot in and it has chapters in a few major European cities. If I do move somewhere else, I may look into my alumni association, that other group and any others I can find.

I maintain a large, loose network of contacts from school via Facebook so I don't need to run into them at reunions (the ones whom I'd be most likely to talk with can always talk with me now anyway). I am also generally active in different organizations and relevant social events throughout this city. If I move somewhere else, I may look into it though.