Class Secretary Guidelines

List of 9 items.

• Alumni Website And Alumni E-newsletter

  E-Newsletter

  Class Secretaries are encouraged to take full advantage of the alumni website and the resources it provides. The Alumni Office would prefer that class notes were submitted electronically. This can be done by having your constituents email their notes to you through the Class Secretaries page on the site.  The Alumni E-Newsletter, as well as the web site, may be used to list events and news that will expire by the time the Bulletin comes out. 

• Assisting With Updating Alumni Contact Information

  As a key correspondent to many alumni, you can help play a vital role in keeping our alumni records up-to-date. Please forward to the Alumni Office address changes, job changes, family changes etc. to Robin Boswell at rboswell@stalbansschool.org or at (202) 537-5593.

• Connecting With Your Classmates

  There is no single right way to get in touch with your classmates. Class Secretaries have traditionally used a number of means in order to get news from their classmates. Methods including phone calls, emails, social media and/or post cards have been employed to contact classmates. We have found that email and social media are increasingly popular methods because of their efficiency and availability.
  
  

  We do know that no matter what method one chooses, persistence is the most important aspect to good news gathering. A good column can be a catalyst for more classmates to provide information about themselves. Regardless of your method, please ask your classmates to submit photographs or digital media!

• Deadlines

  • Class Notes for the spring Bulletin are due by Friday, March 1, 2024.
  • Class Notes for the winter Bulletin are due by Friday, October 4, 2024.

  You will receive reminders in advance of your deadlines. Please realize that these deadlines are firm and there is little flexibility. If your submission is late, it is not likely to make it into the Bulletin.

• Position Description

  The work that you do as a Class Secretary is significant for the School. Alumni consider the Bulletin a key source of information about the School, and the Class Notes section as their best source of news about one another. You are a critical link in maintaining the strong sense of community that exists among St. Albans Alumni and in establishing links with classmates who have lost contact with the School.
  
  As a Class Secretary, you are asked to:
  

  • Gather news from your classmates and report it accurately
  • Write two columns per year
  • Submit columns in a timely fashion
  • Attempt to make personal contact with, and publish at least one news item about, every member of your class.

• Some Notes On Class Notes

  • They are forum in which classmates can share news of their personal and professional lives.  They can range from accolades received to personal accomplishments, births, deaths, or any other tidbits that fellow alumni would be interested in reading.
  • It is our policy not to print rumors or hearsay.  If at all possible, try to follow up on secondhand reports by speaking directly to your classmates.
  • Energetic and thoughtful columns are great to read, but we must caution against extended diatribes arguing a particular position.  Please be mindful that you are reporting news and not writing a letter to the editor.
  • Humor is welcome within your Class Notes!  However, we just ask that you be mindful of your audience; it is not only your classmates that will read your column, but also parents and grandparents. Please refrain from inside jokes or language that could insult others.  

• Submitting Photographs

  We welcome color and black-and-white photos.  Each photo should include an alumnus.

  • When sending photos, please include as detailed a caption as possible (names, date, location, and anything else you may feel is pertinent).
  • Please note: We prefer digital photos for the Bulletin.  Please send jpegs and other digital formats to rboswell@stalbansschool.org with their captions.
  • Note on returning photos-we’ll send them back to the featured alum, or, if in doubt, to the appropriate secretary.

• Submitting Your Column

  Feel free to submit your column in the manner that works best for you.

  • The most efficient way for us to receive your column is as an e-mail attachment, which may be sent to rboswell@stalbansschool.org.
  • If you prefer traditional mail, you can send your submissions to Robin Boswell (Class Notes Coordinator), St. Albans School, Mount Saint Alban, Washington, DC 20016-5095.

  
  

   

• Writing Your Column

  • Please type your columns on a computer (a Microsoft Word file (.doc) is preferred)
  • Make sure classmates’ names are spelled correctly
  • Be mindful of the time lag.  Your notes will appear a couple of months after you submit them.  For example, notes submitted in the spring should refer to spring events like reunions and graduation in the past tense because the notes will be viewed after these events have taken place.