Volunteer Officer Roles

President
Must be an enthusiastic supporter of the College who will provide the initiative, imagination, and organizational skills to make the association work. The president motivates other officers to maintain an active level of involvement and also communicates regularly with the staff of the OAPP. The president should also be prepared to respond to frequent inquiries from alumni. Some associations function well with co-presidents.

Vice President
Often succeeds as president and presides at meetings in the absence of the president. Usually takes on responsibility for one event a year.

Secretary
Submits the quarterly column that appears in the Association Update preceding the class notes in Amherst magazine. This is an opportunity to showcase your association, thank hosts, and report on successful activities. A well-written, interesting account of an event can help boost attendance at future meetings.

Treasurer
Handles and records all receipts (dues, fees, etc.) and disbursements, approves and pays bills, and prepares an annual financial report; is often the person in charge of collecting responses and checks for events. The treasurer also arranges to staff a table where guests check in and pay. A good treasurer is essential for a financially sound association.

Young Alumni Coordinator
Some associations sponsor events (such as Happy Hours or networking events) for young alumni. Graduates of the past five to ten years are usually considered “young” alumni.

Executive Committee
Volunteers without specified roles are considered members of the Executive Committee. These individuals are typically active in the association, may be former or future association officers, are willing to be solicited for advice and assist at events, and are likely to attend planning meetings.

Officer Meetings
In order to have a cohesive and visible association, regular meetings of the association leadership and Executive Committee are necessary. While e-mail and phone are obviously the primary means of contact, an association will benefit from in-person meetings to set programming goals, discuss issues, and delegate tasks. If association officers wish, the OAPP staff can also be involved via conference call to answer questions and discuss proposed programs and College visitors. Planning meetings are also useful for developing a calendar of events and mailing schedule for the season or year.