Dear C Club Member:

I hope you and your loved ones had a healthy and satisfying summer.

The C Club Membership Committee was busy this summer, analyzing all the data gathered from our C Club membership survey that was distributed last May. More than 300 surveys were completed and returned. The committee appreciates the thought and time respondents put into their responses, and we especially appreciate your observations, suggestions, and constructive criticism. The committee read and considered every comment on every survey!

We mailed two different surveys: one to current and former alumni members of the C Club and a second to the parents of student athletes in the classes of 2007-10.

From the 200 plus alumni who responded to the survey we learned that more than half were only vaguely aware, if at all, of a number of the activities the C Club sponsors in support of Colby’s athletic program. Many responding this way were members of the most recent graduating classes. Asked what kinds of activities would be of interest to them, many alumni indicated a desire for more C Club-sponsored events around the country, including game-day receptions, C Club social events in major cities, getaway weekend events centered around a game, C Club-sponsored team reunions, and C Club-sponsored events to benefit worthwhile causes. In addition, alumni identified a need for more timely and better communication of upcoming events and C Club news, and there was strong support for making our quarterly newsletter available by e-mail.

More than 100 Colby parents responded to the survey. From them we learned that more than half had not heard of the C Club and more than three quarters were not aware membership was open to parents. We learned that the current C Club activities that were of most interest to parents were the programs we sponsor to honor student athletes. Parents also were interested in receiving news about Colby teams, players, and coaches, and many expressed an interest in participating in C Club-sponsored game-day receptions.

The Membership Committee recognized a real need to improve general awareness of the C Club, and we plan to upgrade our communication strategy for all constituencies.

In the immediate future, our C Club membership campaign for 2007-08 will focus on improving communication, particularly with our younger alumni who participated in varsity athletics. We’ll publicize our longtime practice of offering a free, one-year C Club membership to all graduating varsity athletes and urge them to stay in touch with their teammates and coaches and to help the C Club support Colby athletics. We’ll also send a letter to parents of first-year student athletes introducing them to the C Club, and we’ve made plans to do the same with our senior student athletes as they approach graduation.   

Our long-range plans include increasing the number of C Club-sponsored events off campus, including game-day receptions for Colby supporters. More timely communication about C Club events also will be a goal. And we will work with Colby to make our quarterly newsletter available by e-mail at the earliest possible date.

As we implement our plans for making the C Club a more appealing membership opportunity, I’ll share news of our progress with you in future newsletters.

In the meantime, thank you for your continued support of Colby athletics and for your C Club membership application or renewal for 2007-08.

Sincerely,

Alex Wilson ’73
President, Colby C Club