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Rather than a mass customer base, advertising on these blogs gives lobbyists unbridled access to an extremely valuable audience: Britains political elite

‘Rather than a mass customer base, advertising on these blogs gives lobbyists unbridled access to an extremely valuable audience: Britain’s political elite’

Want to be happier? Check out this blog!

Gretchen Rubin — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 04:46:24 -0400

Yale College (Silliman) '89 /Yale Law School '94

Fellow Yale alums�-- I'm working on a book, THE HAPPINESS PROJECT, about the year I spent test-driving the wisdom of the ages and the current scientific studies about how to be happier -- I report on what works and what doesn't.

Come check out�my daily blog, www.happiness-project.com, where I post about my adventures as�I try to be happier. It would make me very HAPPY to have a lot of Yalies visiting!

�Gretchen Rubin, grubin@gretchenrubin.com

A Diverse Family at the YAAMNY 2008 Strategic Planning Retreat

Alberto Molina — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 10:09:25 -0400

Over 50 people showed up this Friday night and Saturday to discuss what YAAMNY could and should be. 32 of us were current board members, advisers, former YAAMNY leaders and alums new to YAAMNY. The additional attendees were spouses, kids and AYA Staff.

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YAAMNY AYA Assembly Presentation

Alberto Molina — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 07:27:45 -0400

Editor's Note November 2008

Alberto Molina — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 07:09:00 -0400

Have you noticed the changing leaves are especially radiant this fall? Perhaps the leaves are hanging on a little longer and the reds and ambers have just enough life in the leaves to glow. Or perhaps they are resonating with the political moment, CHANGE. Rebublican, Democrat or undecided all seem intent on the thought. So perhaps the leaves are singing that message too.

Spring Fling is sold out, and the very next day, Amanda Taffy has been working hard on a Best Buddies benefit at Plumm. The Events calendar is full of excuses to get together.

Your participation is THE KEY to this and many many thanks are due to the 50 Alums and friends who took a couple days out last week to work on the strategic planning retreat for YAAMNY.

In addition to the several key initiatives coming out of that retreat I'd like to specifically highlight Doreen Oliver's new leadership of the Arts and Entertainment group and Amanda Taffy's continuing work in the Public Service group - details below. If you would like to work on other important events, such as professional development events and talks, please get in touch with us!

Last but not least please have a look at Jaradoa Theatre's new production: The Small of Her Back which opens tomorrow and ...

The Great Inclusion - Politicians, Doers and Bureaucrats

Alberto Molina — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 10:15:34 -0400

Do-ocracy

Nicole Possin '94 attended a reception last March 31 where we were discussing some of the ideas of what YAAMNY should be and she stood up and described YAAMNY as a potential "Do-ocracy."� An institution, I gathered, dedicated to enabling other people to "DO" and organize around whatever came to mind.

Her example was Burning Man New York, an offshoot of the famous Burning Man new day hippie style creative arts party desert love fest that comes together every year.

The Do-ocracy theme made sense to me.� I'm a fan of desert love festing generally, I am by nature a doer and most importantly I've seen this very website filled to brimming with the amazing doings of Yalies for several years.

Retreats, Plans and Strategies

Which admiration for "Doing" makes me instinctively skeptical of the Politicians and Bureaucrats that often come together to run institutions and end up defending old and tired structures to the exclusion of the very doers who want to participate and could refresh those institutions.

I certainly do not want to be a calcified old president atop a guilt old club catering to tired old members reminiscing of long gone old spring days.� But the truth is no one ever sets out to be calcified and irrelevant.�

I've found time and again, that individuals make great parties and events.� And can even do so for extended periods.� But it is Politicians and Bureaucrats that make organizations that outlast individuals.

The beauty of great political savvy in my mind is the politics of inclusion.� If we start with the premise that our community is smart and worthy then the goal of managing the group is always improved by the participation of the group and ...

YAAMNY 2008 Strategic Planning Retreat Reflections by Nicole Rose

Nicole Rose — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 15:41:54 -0400

This weekend I am having the experience of coming together with diverse members of the Yale Alumni community of New York in a discussion that is encouraging the expansion of ideas through an all day strategic planning session directed at developing a scope of vision and objectives for YAAMNY. The group is comprised of about 30 Yale Alumni leaders under the direction of Mark Dollhopf '77 (Executive Director-AYA) and Jenny Chavira '89 (Director for Major Cities-AYA). The retreat started last night with a wonderful cocktail hour and dinner at the Tarrytown House and Estate, during which all of the retreat members had a chance to get to know each other, share what the Yale experience meant to each of us and communicate our vision of involvement with YAAMNY and New York's Shared Interest Groups (SIGs). Some of the questions/thoughts that have been coming up during today's discussion are: How is New York a better place because there are leaders here? How is the Yale leadership made manifest in New York? How are we able to simultaneously define ourselves is individuals within the Yale family (Shared Interest Groups & YAMMNY), AND make a difference in the world at large? How do we continue the Yale value of 'life long learning and service' through the alumni association? How do we leverage the talents of our Yale community to achieve our collective goals? Mark Dollhopf, Executive Director of the AYA, presented the concepts of powerful experiences promote serial reciprocity, and that the combination of 1) Vision and 2) Leadership were integral and crucial components to the sucess of a non-profit structure. He explained that the relationship between the AYA and the different alumni associations and SIGs has changed, that the AYA is here to support the different groups the way that a professional ...

Organizing YAAMNY Stretegic Planning Retreat

Alberto Molina — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 11:13:29 -0400

It's an exciting time for YAAMNY as we develop the Agenda for our Strategic Planning retreat this weekend.

I spent this morning working with Jenny on formulating the goal and deliverables for the weekend.� It's incredibly interesting to work on figuring out how to adapt our currently completely virtual organization at yaamny.net into a sustainable volunteer organization that is capable of its own programs.

Here's the agenda we're working on.

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Metrics For Success

Alberto Molina — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 17:49:31 -0400

AYA LEADERSHIP FORUM
January 24 26, 2008
Session Notes

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Module 3: Good to Great and Metrics for Success

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What is your hedgehog? How do we measure success in Yale Clubs?

% dues participation

% event participation

Level of buzz

Finding positive deviants & acknowledging them

Representing Yales diversity (backgrounds, degrees & schools)

Tracking (events & finances)

How many lives are touched

Alumni in the region
Students oCommunity members
$ raised
ASC-related outreach
how many schools
New programs (# and type)
Sustainable success of programs and retention of new participants (do they keep coming back?)
# of volunteers (active & effective) Yale Clubs place in the community is it seen as a resource Active partnerships with other alumni or community groups Clear expectations for board members & volunteers Effect on community

Volunteer Motivation and Management

Alberto Molina — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 17:31:51 -0400

AYA LEADERSHIP FORUM
January 24 26, 2008
Session Notes

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Module 3: Volunteer Motivation and Management

Why do people volunteer?

Self-interest Caring Shared values Makes them feel good Outlet/opportunity to contribute Honor your Yale experience & those expanded horizons Pride Community of shared interests Appearances Peer pressure Obligation Networking Tangible outcome/results Unique access Novelty FUN POWER Prestige Group process Personal development Resume Recognition

AYA Leadership Forum Notes

Alberto Molina — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 01:05:51 -0400

AYA LEADERSHIP FORUM

January 24 26, 2008

Session Notes

�

�Module 3: Volunteer Motivation and Management

Why do people volunteer?

�Connections

Self-interest

Caring

Understanding of mission

Shared values

Makes them feel good

Outlet/opportunity to contribute

Honor your Yale experience & those expanded horizons

Pride

Community of shared interests

Appearances

Peer pressure

Obligation

Networking

Tangible outcome/results

Unique access

Novelty

Party Lessons from The Club of Southern California

Alberto Molina — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 01:34:50 -0400

The Y.C. of SoCal just threw a party at the Rainbow Lounge in Hollywood. It was the first time we brought dry ice into a night club. Here's why we're never going to do that again:

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