Dear Minarians (present and future!)-

There are many reasons to attend the Minary Conference aside from its stunning location on Fallen Leaf Lake at the Stanford Sierra Camp. Networking with fellow professionals within the peace and quiet of this conference center leaves you with the impression of having attended a retreat, where you have the unique opportunity to share long-term goals about alumni education, while also becoming equipped with ideas and strategies to address the issues that arise out of our daily operations and programs. Whether you are an alumni educator through travel, alumni college, reunion and/or conference planning, on-line community networking, regional event planning, or volunteer management, Minary is the best place for you to find the support and answers you need to plan for success.

This year’s program committee is focused on creating an agenda that appeals to the broadest group of alumni educators, representing institutions both large and small, public and private. My best learning experiences at Minary have come from sessions with colleagues whose programs look nothing like my own, but whose challenges do. The content of our sessions will draw on a wide range of issues that are relevant to our work serving diverse goals and constituencies.

I invite you to join us this fall for a time of learning and networking in a setting ideally suited for creative and reflective thought about our work as alumni educators. If you are a new attendee, please read comments made about the conference by past attendees. I think you will be delighted by the mentorship and camaraderie shown by returning members, who will in turn continue to be enriched by the invaluable learning experience that is Minary.

With warm regards,

Laura Gobbi
Chair, 2008 Minary Conference on Alumni Education
Director of Alumnae Relations
Mills College