I’ve known great reporters and editors over the years who never let their sources read a story before it’s posted or published.

 Some reader feedback, with responses from your trusty interim editor in chief

What members are thinking and sharing about publications. 

Many people conjure up images of whiskey, bagpipes, and men in kilts when they think of Scotland. Kate Perkins had a different vision in mind in August 2014 when she accepted her post as the second secretary for Scottish Affairs at the British Embassy in Washington, D.C.

If you work in media relations at a college or university, that sentiment has likely been a takeaway from some interactions with faculty members and administrators.

What members are thinking and sharing

Ideas we love from institutions everywhere

In 2011, the Alumni/ae Council at St. Paul Academy and Summit School in Minnesota was nearly nonexistent. Other than holding monthly meetings and a lackluster fundraising phonathon, the council sponsored no programs or events; it did not follow its bylaws and had no reporting structure or processes for recruiting new members. Most of the 11 council members were suffering from volunteer fatigue, particularly the president. Few members attended meetings, which were unproductive. The council frequently discussed the need to recruit new members but never developed an action plan.

Grinnell College alumni love talking about their alma mater, but that enthusiasm hasn't always translated into high reunion attendance. Advancement staff members at the Iowa college saw a way to increase alumni engagement by creating more opportunities to help out at reunion, beginning with revamped training for its 50th reunion volunteers. With better structure and more-detailed tasks, the program led to an overall higher level of engagement.

Succession planning is as prevalent in the corporate world as balance sheets and annual reports. Corporate boards want to keep business churning after the sudden departure of key executives, so identifying and grooming potential replacements is common practice. The concept hasn't taken off in advancement, but given the department's critical roles in building external relationships and generating resources, the topic is gaining traction.