Rep Resources

List of 6 items.

• Class Rep Responsiblities

  Class Representatives (Class Reps) head the individual alumni engagement efforts of each Vermont Academy class. Class Reps create and maintain the class community – to sustain relationships and support one another, encourage classmates who have drifted away to rediscover VA, share positive news from Vermont Academy and promote support of VA. There is no substitute for active Class Reps when it comes to the School maintaining personal connections within its alumni network.

  The key to successful classmate engagement is the personal touch each Class Rep brings to their job, as well as the consistent thanking and stewarding of class donors as gifts are made. The most effective volunteers are those who express an enthusiasm for Vermont Academy, support the school via their own philanthropy, enjoy encouraging classmates to stay connected and give back to the School, and are committed to establishing and enhancing relationships between alumni and VA. They serve as front-line ambassadors by managing relationships with classmates via periodic emails, notes, social media outreach, and phone calls.

   

  Class Reps work closely with the Class Representative Chair and the Office of Institutional Advancement to help meet alumni engagement goals and objectives established by the Vermont Academy Alumni Council.

   

  Key Duties:

  • Be engaged with classmates.
  • Be familiar with VA’s Vision, Purpose, Mission, and Core Beliefs 
  • Actively promote VA alumni events, reunions, news, and annual giving goals (dollars and participation).
  • Keep up to date on news and developments from campus by reading emails and mailings and by regularly communicating with the Office of Institutional Advancement.
  • Share with classmates the various resources offered to alumni including the VA Alumni Facebook Page, the official VA Facebook page, the LinkedIn group, and the various alumni events organized by Alumni Council.
  • Demonstrate personal support to annual giving by contributing early in each annual fund year.
  • Educate classmates about the impact annual giving and annual participation have on the School’s ability to identify the potential and value of every student and prepare them to thrive in college and life.
  • Notify the Director of Annual Giving when a classmate verbally commits to a donation or pledge.
  • Thank classmates after they’ve made a donation, via email, phone or mailed note.
  • Participate in alumni and volunteer meetings and trainings, support giving day campaigns, and make follow-up contact to classmates, particularly during key times (Nov-Dec, May-June).
  • Actively seek to update classmates’ contact and biographical information and notify the Office of Institutional Advancement of any necessary changes for classmates.
  • Regularly request class notes from classmates for the magazine and on-line publications.

   

  Class Reps are expected to have basic proficiencies in technologies that are relevant to their duties (e.g., spreadsheets, email, and social media).

   

  Terms of Service:  5-year terms that may be renewed by VA on a case-by-case basis.

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• Timeline of Activities

  Below is an outline of what we ask Vermont Academy class reps to help with for communications with your class.  There may be other times during the year when a class rep is encouraged to reach out to classmates to stay engaged in the class, promote alumni events, and collect class notes.

  Proposed Timeline of Activities
  
  

  September:  Email Classmates/Fall Events/Class Notes

  • Use the start of the school year to connect with classmates, ask for updated contact information and class notes.
  • Share information about the opening of school.
  • Re-familiarize yourself with the resources available to you, including the web site and portal.

  October:  Make a Gift to Vermont Academy

  • When you receive your solicitation, please be a leader by making your own gift.

  November:  First Annual Giving Solicitation Follow Up           

  • Send postcards, emails or letters encouraging classmates to give to Vermont Academy. Or work with Tonia to accomplish this.

  December:  End of Calendar Year Annual Giving Follow Up

  • Remind classmates that the end of the year is a good time to give for tax reasons.

  February:  Email Classmates/Spring Events/Class Notes

  • Use this time to connect with classmates, ask for updated contact information and class notes. Share upcoming alumni events and other important information

  April:  One Day for VA Preparation

  • Promote One Day for VA with classmates on social media, email, and phone. Participation is the most important part of this event.  A gift of any size matters.

  May:  One Day for VA

  • Make a gift for One Day for VA. Thank your classmates who also gave.

  June:  Annual Giving Fiscal Year End Follow Up/Last Push

  • Send emails to remind classmates to give before the end of the fiscal year. Templates will be sent to you.

  Read More

• FAQs

  How do I know if I am doing an outstanding job as a Vemont Academy Class Representative?
  
  

  Truly, your initiative, leadership and commitment will determine your success, but there are several other ways to determine if you are being successful as a class rep:  
  
  

  1) Make your commitment (gift/pledge) early.  As a Class Rep, you are setting the pace for the rest of your classmates and it makes you job asking for gifts easier if you can say, “Join me in supporting Vermont Academy.”  
  
  2) Make contact early and often with your classmates.  Take advantage of any opportunity to connect and try to personalize your contact if possible.
  
  3) Focus on participation rather than gift size.  Last year participation in giving by alumni was 14%.  Moving this higher is valued by Vermont Academy.
  
  4) Work as a team.  The Vermont Academy staff is here to assist you and answer any questions so feel free to reach out. 

  
  When I connect with a classmate who is doing something incredible, how I share that with VA?
  
  You can share your friends and classmates news with Vermont Academy by emailing it to Liz Olmsted, Associate Director of Advancement Operations and Stewardship or Tonia Fleming, Director of Annual Giving and we will update the information in our database as well as share it in our class notes.  Alternative, there is a link on our web site, which will allow you to submit information as well.  Extraordinary alumni are often profiled in the monthly alumni newsletter.
  
  If someone asks me about a VA event, who can I call or where can I find more information on this?
  
  Pauline O’Brien is Vermont Academy’s events coordinator and she is always happy to speak with our alumni.  Feel free to also check the “Events” link on our website.
  
  Who and what are my resources for this role?
  
  In addition to the resources found on this page, you can always reach out to Tonia Fleming, Director of Annual Giving.  There is no question too small!  Another resource is Sean Bersell (Alumni Council Class Representative Chair), who has many years of experience as class rep leader.
  
  How do I find out more about VA to share with classmates?  Is VA on social media?
  
  Vermont Academy has an active social media presence, including sites on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.  Flickr is another one that is fun to visit to see photos of life on campus.  In addition, there is a Vermont Academy Alumni page on Facebook.  
  
  Where do I find updating information on donors and dollars?
  TBD
  
  Where do I find specific information about my own class?
  Class lists are updated quarterly by the Advancement staff and can be found on the Class Rep portal.  Please email Tonia Fleming at tfleming@vermontacademy.org or call 802-869-6298 for detailed instructions on accessing this resource.
  
  What are ways to make a gift?
  Vermont Academy is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, Tax ID # 03-0179600
  You can make a gift on-line with a credit or debit card by clicking here.  Please consider a recurring gift, which is the most convenient and budget friendly way to support Vermont Academy.
  For instructions on how to make gift of stock or securities, please contact Tonia Fleming at tfleming@vermontacademy.org or 802-869-6298.
  
  If you would like to send a gift by mail, please send to:
  Vermont Academy 
  Advancement Office
  PO Box 500 
  Saxtons River, VT 05154
  
  Checks should be made payable to Vermont Academy.
  
  If you would like to make a gift over the phone, please call the Advancement Office at 802-869-6298.
  
  With an employer matching gift, you may be able to double, or even triple your gift to Vermont Academy.

• 2020 Facts that Matter

  Total Enrolled: 192
  
  Boarding Students: 148
  Day Students: 44
  
  # of Countries: 19 countries
  International Students: 49
  
   
  Boarding Tuition: $64,200
  Day Tuition: $33,650

• Current Giving

  Current giving will be updated monthly on the first of the month.  

• Fellow Class Reps

  A listing, with emails, of your fellow Vermont Academy Class Representatives can be found here.