50th Reunion Volunteer Handbook
Dear Class of 1972 50th Reunion Committee, First and foremost, THANK YOU for volunteering to help with your 50th Reunion. This is an exciting time for you and your classmates, and we are honored to have an opportunity to partner with you to ensure a meaningful experience for all. Whether this is your first year as a volunteer, or you are a seasoned pro, your involvement is integral to your reunion’s success. We are grateful for your dedication and service. This handbook is a guide to help your class successfully plan, organize, and fundraise for your reunion. We hope you will find its contents useful in the months ahead. If you have a question, need, or idea, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at any time. Once again, we thank you for your leadership and service and look forward to working with you! Gratefully, Mallory McKenzie
Director of Alumni and Parent Engagement mallorymckenzie@westminster.net 404-609-6253
Katie Long Laney ’03 Associate Director of Leadership Giving katielaney@westminster.net 404-609-6230
Regina Wood
Advancement Associate, Alumni Engagement reginawood@westminster.net 404-609-6393
Reunion Committee Structure A reunion year is a time to reconnect with each other and Westminster. The goal is to have every classmate contacted by a member of the Reunion Committee for the purposes of encouraging attendance at Reunion Weekend, participation in the Reunion Book, and support of the Class Gift effort. You play an integral part in achieving these goals.
All members of the Reunion Committee should: •
Make every effort to attend your class reunion (Friday and Saturday events).
•
Participate in reunion committee meetings via phone, zoom, or in person.
•
Make a meaningful reunion gift.
•
Submit your bio for the Reunion Book.
•
Encourage your classmates’ participation in Reunion Weekend activities, the Reunion Book, and Class Gift efforts.
Confidentiality Disclaimer: Contact and giving records are confidential. Volunteers granted access to this information can only use it to conduct business on behalf of Westminster. Please sign the Volunteer Non-disclosure and Confidentiality Agreement when accessing the online portal.
Engagement Co-Chairs
Gift Co-Chairs
Engagement Committee
Gift Committee
Book Co-Chairs
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Committee Responsibilities All committee members should contact their classmates individually throughout the year regarding participation in the reunion events, Reunion Book, and class gift.
Committee Responsibilities • Update classmate contact information and provide to Westminster staff. • Have regular contacts with a group of assigned classmates. • Work in collaboration with Engagement Committee and Westminster staff to provide information for Reunion Weekend invitation. • Serve as class contact for general questions regarding all reunion efforts. • Optional: Establish and maintain a class presence on Facebook or another preferred social media outlet.
Engagement Committee • Work in collaboration with Westminster staff to coordinate Friday campus hosted events. • Determine event plans for the Saturday luncheon(s) and evening class party. • Work with Westminster staff to confirm logistics of the Saturday event(s) including venue, music, decorations, registration/nametag table, clean-up and set-up, etc. • Distribute event communications to encourage attendance at events (including social media, emails, phone calls, etc.) • Work in collaboration with OIA to draft the Reunion Book Letter and Questionnaire. • Contact classmates to secure Reunion Book Questionnaire submissions. • Work with production company to review proofs. • All book submissions are sent to Regina Wood with Westminster.
Class Gift Committee • Collaborate with Westminster staff to determine monetary and participation goals. • Work with Westminster staff to ensure the Class Gift aligns with the current needs of the School. • Identify leadership donors and work with Westminster staff to determine appropriate solicitation strategy. • Review and customize class fundraising letters. • Correspond with assigned classmates via phone, e-mail, and/or letter to personally ask for a meaningful gift in honor of the upcoming reunion. • Personally thank classmates for their gifts via phone, email and/or handwritten note.
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General Communications & Reunion Planning Timeline JULY 2021
Class email with request for contact information
AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021
Save-the-Date postcard and email, Reunion Committee Kickoff Zoom Meeting
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2021
Reunion Book Letter and Questionnaire, Individual Subcommittee Meetings for the Engagement and Gift Committees
DECEMBER 2021
End of calendar year solicitation and personal outreach from the Gift Committee, Class webpage goes live
JANUARY 2022
Invitation information due, Reunion Book submissions due
FEBRUARY 2022
Solicitation letter, Final Book edits due
MARCH 2022
Reunion invitations and corresponding email, Reunion Book goes to print
APRIL 2022
Reunion Book is mailed, Reunion Weekend reminder email, Reunion Weekend Event Celebrations April 29-30
MAY 2022
Reunion weekend follow-up email, Final solicitation letter
JULY 2022
Reunion wrap up letter
Stay Informed: Visit Westminster’s website www.westminster.net for the latest news and events! You can also follow us on social media for school updates, student announcements and more: Facebook: The Westminster Schools | Twitter: @WestminsterATL | Instagram: @thewestminsterschools
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50th Reunion Class Gift During a 50th Reunion year, the class has the unique opportunity to make an incredible impact and leave a legacy at Westminster with the Class Gift. All gifts from every classmate make up the 50th Reunion Class Gift. The Reunion Committee works in partnership with the Office for Institutional Advancement (OIA) to determine how the class can support Westminster’s most critical needs with their gift. The gift is publicized in reunion communications and stewardship reports. Following the reunion, OIA sends a report to all members of the class summarizing the effort, providing an update on the gift’s impact.
Class of 1972 50th Reunion Class Gift total includes:
Outright Gifts of Cash, Check, or by Credit Card
All cash and pledges received between July 1, 2021, and June 30, 2022. Pledges cannot exceed five (5) years and the first installment is due by June 30, 2022. This includes gifts to the class reunion priority, annual gifts to The Westminster Fund, and/or other gifts to the School.
Members of the class may complete the Class Reunion Gift Pledge Form to make a pledge or outright gift.
The value of new planned gifts established between July 1, 2021, and June 30, 2022. Ways To Give A pledge form specific for the 50th Reunion Class Gift will be created and distributed once the fundraising priority is identified. All classmates are asked to maintain their support of the annual fund while considering an investment in the identified class gift priority. Multi-year commitments to all funds at Westminster are included in the 50th Reunion Class Gift totals. Pledges A donor may commit to donating an overall amount to be paid over a period of time, not to exceed five years. The payment schedule and/or frequency is determined at the time the pledge is made. Traditionally a pledge is paid on a monthly or annual basis, but Westminster staff is happy to work with each donor on their preferred fulfillment schedule. Pledges can be made by using the Class of 1972 Reunion Gift Pledge form or online.
Checks should be made payable to The Westminster Schools and sent to: Office for Institutional Advancement The Westminster Schools 1424 West Paces Ferry Road NW Atlanta, Georgia 30327 To make a credit card gift securely online, visit www. westminster.net/50thgift. American Express, Discover, MasterCard, and Visa are accepted. Individuals can also set up a recurring monthly gift online or with the class pledge form. Gifts of Stock and Other Appreciated Securities A gift of appreciated securities that you have held for more than one year is frequently the most tax-wise way to give securities. For detailed information about transferring securities to Westminster, please visit www.westminster.net/support-westminster/ ways-to-give.
Matching Gifts Many companies offer programs that match donations made by their employees, directors, employee’s spouses, or retirees. Please visit www.matchinggifts. com/westminster/ to see a list of matching gift companies. Gifts can be doubled or even tripled through some matching companies. In most cases, the donor sends Westminster matching gift paperwork provided by the company or initiates the match through the company website. Planned Gift Bequests and other testamentary gifts by generous alumni and friends have been a significant source of financial support for Westminster throughout its history. The continuation and expansion of this tradition of legacy while celebrating your 50th Reunion and beyond will contribute to the future financial strength and continued academic excellence at Westminster. A gift to Westminster through your estate plan qualifies you as a member of the Cornerstone Society, created to honor and recognize donors whose foresight and generosity ensures that the quality of the Westminster experience will continue for generations to come.
While unrestricted gifts allow Westminster to allocate funds to areas of greatest need at the time of realization, you may designate your bequest for a particular purpose, such as investing in the class priority. In most cases, a donor cannot establish a new fund with a planned gift alone, but OIA will work with donors on an individual case by case basis. Westminster recommends that a donor work with their personal financial planners to determine the most appropriate planned giving vehicle. To document your planned gift with Westminster, please contact Katie Laney. For more information, please visit: westminster.planmygift.org. IRA Charitable Distribution Beginning at age 70 ½ years old, you can give up to $100,000 per year from your IRA to Westminster with no tax penalty. This is commonly referred to as an IRA charitable rollover. Starting at age 72, a charitable rollover can count for all or a portion of your IRA’s annual required minimum distribution.
Historical 50th Reunion Class Gifts Class Year
School Year (Fundraising Year)
Gifts to The Westminster Fund
Other Gifts
Total Giving
Fund/ Project
% Participation (any gift to the school)
1956
2005-06
$23,301
$485,835
$508,836
Alice & William Pressly Class of 1956 Professorship
50% Girls 47% Boys
1957
2006-07
$111,950
$55,870
$167,820
-
63% Girls 50% Boys
1958
2007-08
$20,280
$305,796
$326,076
Class of 1958 Scholarship Fund
35%
1959
2008-09
$6,775
$252,074
$258,849
Class of 1959 Scholarship Fund
50%
1960
2009-10
$26,261
$208,114
$234,375
Class of 1960 Scholarship Fund
36%
1961
2010-11
$18,875
$281,018
$299,893
Class of 1961 Scholarship Fund
51%
1962
2011-12
$16,411
-
$16,411
-
46%
1963
2012-13
$30,979
$1,245,992
$1,276,971
Class of 1963 Endowed Fund for Financial Aid
50%
71%
1964
2013-14
$13,935
$267,957
$281,892
Spirit of 1964 Scholarship Fund (for Off-Campus and Global Programs)
1965
2014-15
$21,573
$190,533
$212,106
Class of 1965 Scholarship Fund
53%
64%
1966
2015-16
$24,175
$346,766
$370,941
Class of 1966 Memorial Scholarship Fund and Presidents’ Home Fire Pit
1967
2016-17
$109,901
$268,696* $27,500**
$406,097
Class of 1967 Memorial Scholarship Fund
68%
1968
2017-18
$27,412
$163,565
$190,977
Class of 1968 Memorial Scholarship Fund
37%
1969
2018-19
$53,050
$178,640* $76,600**
$308,290
Class of 1969 Memorial Scholarship Fund
55%
$274,400
Joseph “Scoot” Dimon Fund for Student Experiences
27%
$325,798
Spirit of 1971 Scholarship Fund
31%
1970
2019-20
$68,500
$165,350* $40,550**
1971
2020-21
$35,900
$107,223* $182,675**
*Class Priority **Other Gift totals as of June 30, 2020; however, due to COVID-19, the 1970 class deadline was extended to December 31, 2020.
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WESTMINSTER westminster.net 1424 WEST PACES FERRY ROAD, NW • ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30327 • 404-355-8673