Reunion 2013 Planning Handbook

A lively Reunion holds something for everyone. Some alumni come to visit with classmates and friends, some come for the interesting conversations and intellectual stimulation that is a part of any Bates gathering, some return to reconnect with their past.

The success of any Reunion depends in large part on the energy and enthusiasm of its volunteer leaders. Many classmates will elect to work on planning the weekend, generating enthusiasm for the event and encouraging classmates to attend. Others, while also encouraging interest in the weekend, raise critical funds for the college through their efforts on behalf of a Reunion gift. Several members of your class will be involved in all aspects of the Reunion effort!

Your leadership role is vital to your class and to the college’s future. By planning a celebration that is full of fun, friends and fellowship, and by taking the time to ask your classmates to support Bates as part of your Reunion celebration, you send the message that Bates is an important priority. We are grateful for your time and energy during this very special year.

Please use this handbook as a guide for your work on your Reunion Committee. In addition, your staff liaisons from the Alumni and Parent Engagement and Annual Giving offices are available to answer your questions and assist you in any way possible. Good luck and have fun!

Table of Contents:

• What Makes a Successful Reunion
• Volunteer Planning Calendars
• Volunteer Roles and Responsibilities
• What It All Costs: Reunion Fees and College Subsidies
• Class Programs
• Housing and Hospitality Lounge
• Parade Attire and Souvenir
• Class Dinners
• Reunion Yearbook (25th and 50th Reunion Classes)
• Class Elections
• Camp Bates Children’s Program
• Reunion Fundraising
• Projected Attendance and Reunion Records

Please let us know if you would like a hard copy handbook mailed to you.

Questions? Please contact Amy Bureau at abureau@bates.edu or 207-755-5992 or
Curt Lyford ’04 at clyford@bates.edu or 207-755-5987.

What Makes a Successful Reunion

In addition to providing an enjoyable experience for all who attend, a successful class Reunion is marked by three key components: attendance, giving and participation.

1.  Strong attendance contributes to a more memorable Reunion, which, in turn, leads to higher levels of attendance at future Reunions. Reunion is a great time for alumni to reconnect with Bates friends, to forge relationships with classmates they may not have known and to rediscover their connection to the college itself. The entire Reunion Committee is responsible for generating enthusiasm for Reunion and inspiring classmates to return for the weekend. Personal contacts make a dramatic difference in attendance.

2.  Reunion giving is a crucial component of the college’s annual budget and helps Bates achieve its educational mission. During this year, you and your classmates will be asked to commemorate your Reunion by making a special gift to Bates. While most Reunion gifts will be a stretch gift to the Bates Fund, some may also include a gift or pledge to a capital project, an endowed fund, a life income gift or a bequest to the college. We hope that you will take up the challenge and help raise funds that are vital to the ongoing financial well-being of the college.

3.  Participation in the class gift is an important demonstration of alumni loyalty to Bates, and gifts of every size work together to make a difference in the life of the college. The importance of consistent giving to Bates, at any level, is best encouraged by classmates.

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Volunteer Planning Calendars

Reunion 2013: Volunteer Planning Calendar (excluding 25th and 50th Reunion classes)

Phase I – May to September

• Identification of committee leadership
• Committee building

Phase II – September to January

• Committees formalized
• Fall conference call – October
• Committee work and planning commences
• Fall solicitation letter
• Fall Reunion Newsletter mailed to all classmates
• Make your gift by December 31 (and encourage your classmates to do the same!)

Phase III – January to June

• New Year conference call – January
• Committee work and planning continues
• Spring solicitation letter
• Registration packets mailed and online registration opens! – March 1
• Spring Reunion Newsletter e-mailed to all classmates
• Spring conference call – March/April
• Class programs finalized – April 1
• Reunion Weekend! – June 7-9, 2013
• Post-Reunion follow-up communication (this extends into the summer and early fall)

Reunion 2013: Volunteer Planning Calendar (25th and 50th Reunion classes)

Phase I – January to April

• Identification of committee leadership
• Committee building
• Recruitment of RPW attendees

Phase II – May to September

• Late summer conference call to raise awareness for fall social gathering/event (optional)
• Committees formalized

Phase III – September to January

• Committee work and planning commences
• Fall social gathering/event (optional)
• Fall solicitation letter
• Fall Reunion Newsletter mailed to all classmates
• Class programs finalized
• Make your gift by December 31 (and encourage your classmates to do the same!)

Phase IV – January to June

• New Year conference call – January
• Committee work and planning continues
• Spring social gathering/event (optional)
• Spring solicitation letter
• Registration packets mailed and online registration opens! – March 1
• Spring Reunion Newsletter e-mailed to all classmates – April
• Class program(s) finalized – April 1
• Spring conference call – March/April
• Reunion Weekend! – June 7-9, 2013 (50th Reunion class arrives June 6)
• Post-Reunion follow-up communication (this extends into the summer and early fall)

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Volunteer Roles and Responsibilities

Involvement in the Reunion Committee offers a wide range of opportunities and projects. Volunteers may choose to participate as a member of their Reunion Gift Committee, Program Committee or, better yet, both! The entire Reunion Committee is expected to build attendance, contribute to and raise an impactful class gift and generate enthusiasm for Reunion Weekend.

Reunion Program Committee Member

Tasks, Duties and Responsibilities:

• Encourage classmates to return to campus for Reunion Weekend!
• Complete 10-15 attendance calls to classmates before Reunion and report results to Program Chair.
• Participate in Reunion Committee conference call meetings and email communications.
• Assist with the coordination of class program, parade attire, hospitality suite and the yearbook (if applicable).
• Make an annual gift to the Bates Fund by December 31.

Time Commitment:

• As much time as you are willing to dedicate, but we recommend a minimum of 3 hours per month.

Suggested Term:

• May 2012 – June 2013 (Reunion Weekend)

Reunion Gift Committee Member

Tasks, Duties and Responsibilities:

• Encourage classmates to return to campus for Reunion Weekend!
• Make 10-15 calls to classmates asking them to make a Reunion gift.
• Report results using the Bates Fund Volunteer Online Tool.
• Participate in Reunion Committee conference call meetings and email communications.
• Share Reunion news and educate classmates on the importance of giving to the Bates Fund.
• Make an annual gift to the Bates Fund by December 31.

Time Commitment:

• As much time as you are willing to dedicate, but we recommend a minimum of 3 hours per month.

Suggested Term:

• May 2012  – June 2013 (Reunion Weekend)

Reunion Program Committee Chair

Tasks, Duties and Responsibilities:

• Oversee and lead the Program Committee. It is the chair’s responsibility to organize and lead regular meetings (whether by conference call or email communications), ensure planning is on course and keep all committee members informed.
• Recruit Program Committee members. By recruiting a large number of people from different social groups within the class, the chair adds to the enthusiasm of the enterprise, increases the number of imaginative ideas, decreases the work any one person must do and generates the intangible qualities that distinguish a great Reunion.
• Coordinate the effort of committee members. It is up to the chair to decide whether or not the Reunion Committee should be organized into subcommittees.
• Act as the liaison between the Program Committee and the college. The chair is responsible for updating the staff programming liaison on their committee’s progress.
• Inspire classmates to return to campus for Reunion Weekend.
• Make an annual gift to the Bates Fund by December 31.

Time Commitment:

• 5-10 hours per month of Reunion planning, email communications, three committee conference calls and personal outreach. Please note that hours vary by month.

Suggested Term:

• May 2012 – July 2013 (post-Reunion communications)

Reunion Gift Committee Chair

Tasks, Duties and Responsibilities:

• Recruit and coordinate the efforts of Reunion Gift Committee members.
• Work closely with fundraising staff liaison to set class giving goals.
• Encourage committee members to join you in making a Reunion year stretch gift.
• Mobilize committee members to choose 10-15 solicitation assignments.
• Facilitate Reunion Committee conference call meetings and email communications.
• Share Reunion news and educate classmates on the importance of giving to the Bates Fund.
• Inspire classmates to return to campus for Reunion Weekend.
• Make an annual gift to the Bates Fund by December 31.

Time Commitment:

• 5-10 hours per month of Reunion planning, email communications, three committee conference calls and personal outreach. Please note that hours vary by month.

Suggested Term:

• May 2012 – July 2013 (post-Reunion communications)

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What It All Costs: Reunion Fees and College Subsidies

Like any major event, Reunion is an expensive undertaking. With less than two weeks between Commencement and Reunion, there is a great deal to do to prepare the campus for the arrival of over 1,100 of our friends. Grounds crew and custodians often work overtime during this period to make sure that the campus is in great shape for Reunion Weekend. An army of catering staff, student workers and vendors are also integral to the success of the weekend.

The college subsidizes a significant portion of all meals, housing, entertainment and services during the weekend. Thus, Reunion fees only cover a portion of the true cost of the weekend, and the college subsidizes over 50% of the cost for each attendee.

The fee to attend Reunion is made up of a general base fee, meals and housing. (The base fee is approximately $150, housing costs are approximately $30 per person per night and meals are roughly $7 per meal. These prices do vary across class years. Please contact your staff liaison for specific costs.) The base fee covers the operational costs referenced above, as well as your class’ parade attire, Saturday lunch and dinner. For simplicity and ease, we are offering an all-inclusive option which covers all Reunion meals, housing and activities (and affords a roughly 10% discount). However, for maximum flexibility, we also provide the option of buying all meals and housing a la carte.

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Class Programs

Bates sponsors many events and programs during Reunion Weekend; however, each class is encouraged to organize one or two class-sponsored programs that are open to all Reunion attendees. These can include topical discussions, panels, academic lectures, demonstrations or activities. Committees may also want to think about inviting faculty members — retired or still teaching — to lecture. Each classroom program will typically run 40 minutes, followed by a 10-minute question and answer session.

Your staff liaison will work with your class to figure out venue, equipment and timing for your program. Because this is a complicated process, we ask that you not request specific times for your programs unless participants are unavailable at certain hours. Unfortunately, we are not able to cover travel expenses or speaking fees for presenters (alumni or otherwise).

Sample Reunion Programs

Bates Today
Student Life Panel with current Bates students
Admission Update
Bates Athletics Panel

Continued Learning: Lectures and Presentations
Writing For Fun and Very Little Profit
Maple Sugaring in Vermont
Dermatology: Everyone’s Cover
Retirement Nest Egg Opportunities

Demonstrations
Cooking lessons
Fly-fishing demonstration

Fitness, Wellness and Outdoor Adventures
Thorncrag Bird Sanctuary walk
Tennis round robin
Bates-Morse Mountain Conservation Area hike
Dodge ball game

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Housing and Hospitality Lounge

Housing

Housing is available in the dormitories on a space-available basis. Dormitories are allocated to classes at the end of May based upon the number of confirmed Reunion reservations. Our more senior alumni are assigned to dormitories with elevators and nearby parking. We appreciate your understanding that the final decision is made based on each class’s needs and the number of classmates returning for Reunion.

As a reminder, dormitory life is relatively austere. Rooms are furnished simply with a bed, desk, chair and bookcase. Beds are made with sheets, a pillow and a single blanket. Towels are provided. Please help us remind your classmates to bring their own reading lamps, fans, alarm clocks, soap, additional blankets and whatever else they need to be comfortable for the weekend. (We can make special arrangements for those traveling from a distance.) While floors are co-ed, the bathrooms are single sex in all Reunion dormitories.

Classmates who prefer to stay in local hotels or motels are advised to make their own arrangements well in advance. A list of area accommodations is available from the college and will be linked to the Reunion website. We offer Reunion group rates at select local hotels.

Hospitality Lounge

Program Committee volunteers are responsible for creating a welcoming atmosphere and coordinating for food and drink in the lounge of your class dorm. When you arrive, you will be walking into sparsely furnished dormitory rooms and lounges. Classes that take the time to decorate their headquarters create a more welcoming and festive atmosphere for people to gather. In the past, classes have used streamers, balloons (the Office of Alumni and Parent Engagement has a helium tank), fresh flowers and displays of memorabilia to make their headquarters more welcoming. Your class’s student hosts will be available to help decorate.

Program Committee volunteers and chairs are encouraged to greet classmates as they arrive at the dorm. A familiar and friendly face is a very welcome sight to those who may not have returned to Bates in many years.

The college will provide bottled water, ice and coolers for the suites. BatesStars help supply ice to the class headquarters throughout the weekend. The dormitories are equipped with refrigerators. It is up to the volunteers and class members to bring all other food and drink for the hospitality suite.

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Parade Attire and Souvenir

The annual Alumni Parade offers a wonderful chance for classes to show their spirit. Program Committee volunteers determine a theme and costume for the parade. Volunteers must arrange for the ordering of parade attire and/or props, but the college will cover the expense (within reason). The college will also provide a banner for each class. The rest of the fun is up to the class itself!

Most classes opt to carry a series of placards and/or have a costume or “uniform” for each classmate.

Your staff programming liaison can help you select vendors for ordering parade attire or you may wish to work with someone in your area. Some ideas for parade costumes are baseball caps, straw hats, umbrellas, sunglasses, t-shirts, costume props or color themes. Prizes are awarded to the classes with the best outfits and the most spirited presentation.

Design work related to your Reunion theme can be done through a vendor or a talented classmate. To help support your design, the Office of Alumni and Parent Engagement can provide camera-ready artwork of the Bates wordmark or the bobcat. The PMS ink number for Bates garnet is #201.

If you order from an out-of-town supplier, the Office of Alumni and Parent Engagement can store your parade items until you arrive for Reunion. Please have items shipped to the Office of Alumni and Parent Engagement at least one week prior to Reunion. Each carton should be labeled clearly showing your class year and the fact that it is for Reunion (e.g. “Class of 1963 Reunion”). Unless otherwise instructed, we will have your cartons delivered to the dorm room of the Program Chair before his/her arrival.

In addition to parade attire, Bates will give gift coupons to the college bookstore as the Reunion 2013 souvenir.

Sample Reunion Themes

Fifty is Nifty!
Bates, the way life should be
Bates to the Future
Looking Back….Moving Forward
The Roaring Twentieth
Still in the Game!
The ’Cats are Back
Another Weekend in Paradise
Old School
55 and MORE Alive!
Don’t Rain on Our Parade

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Class Dinners

We are excited to announce an enhanced Saturday night class reception and dinner structure for Reunion 2013. In order to offer an improved dining experience, we will be combining several of the dinners into shared locations. We will still create designated spaces for each individual class; however, classes will be sharing a more upscale buffet station and bar. In addition to better service, this provides you with the opportunity for spontaneous, cross-class socializing. 25th and 50th Reunion classes will continue to have separate class dinners.

Bates Alcohol Policy

Bates wants to protect its alumni and itself while continuing to permit the kind of social activities one would expect at a Reunion. As part of an overall college policy, led by the Board of Trustees, no hard alcohol is served on campus. Beer and wine, as well as soft drinks, juices and sparkling waters, are served.

“Host liability” has become a major consideration in reviewing all of the alcohol service policies of the college. The possibility of liability by the college for injury or damage caused by an intoxicated person served on college premises is real. Under these circumstances, the college has determined that no alcoholic beverages may be served at functions on college property (including Reunion bars) except by persons trained and qualified to do so. On Friday and Saturday evenings, we will supply bartenders at the college-sponsored functions. The bottom line is that Bates must serve all alcohol during the weekend. BYOB events are no longer possible. Cash bars or fee-per-drink bars are unlawful without a license and cannot be permitted on college property.

The City of Lewiston strictly enforces its “open container” law. It prohibits the public consumption or conveyance of alcohol in open containers. In other words, please do not walk on the streets or sidewalks or appear off campus with an alcoholic beverage in your hand, and do not drive with any open containers in your vehicle.

Maine law requires that alcohol not be served to anyone under the age of 21. While this is no different from the law that was under effect when many of you were at Bates, the difference is that it is now being enforced, not only by criminal prosecution but also by civil litigation. The threat of civil liability for serving alcohol to a minor has been extremely effective in enforcing this law, and indeed there have been some lawsuits in the area.

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Reunion Yearbooks (25th and 50th Reunion Classes)

The Reunion Yearbook is a special feature for the 25th and 50th Reunion classes. The yearbook serves as a memento for your classmates and generates enthusiasm, which often translates into a decision to attend Reunion in June. Yearbooks can be created in hardcopy or electronic form. Preparing a yearbook is not difficult, but it does take time and attention to detail. It is important to consider what is realistic given the size and energy level of the Reunion Committee. The golden rules of a successful yearbook are: include as many classmates as possible, get their information listed correctly and circulate the book to the entire class in advance of Reunion!

Reunion Yearbook Committee

Class leaders choose a Yearbook Chair, who recruits a committee, if necessary (this is recommended for the more complex 50th Reunion book). The chair writes a letter to the class soliciting submissions. You can send a plain or pre-printed sheet that your classmates can fill out and return to you. It’s very important to establish clear format guidelines for the submissions before soliciting your classmates!

Once you have decided what to do and mailed your initial request to classmates for copy and photos, it is important to keep this project alive in the minds of your classmates. The committee or chair makes follow-up calls to the class to encourage submissions (remember: personal contact is the number one reason alumni come back to Reunion). Information about the yearbook project should be included in communications from the class throughout the winter and early spring.

Yearbook Content

It is up to your committee to decide how to fashion the book. Consider the following questions: What are the needs of your class and how will they best be served? What is realistic given the size and energy level of your committee? What do you want the book to look like?

In addition to class member submissions, some classes include essays about or photos of their years at Bates. Some include an introductory letter from the class president or yearbook editor. Other classes include tributes to those in the class who have died since graduation. Please secure permission before submitting any copyrighted material borrowed from newspapers, magazines, etc. Your programming liaison will work with you to collect fun information for your yearbook, such as headlines from the Bates Student when you were on campus, “Then and Now” comparisons of campus and historical highlights of the era when you were at Bates.

Printing and Mailing

The Office of Alumni and Parent Engagement will pay for the cost of printing and binding the 25th and 50th Reunion Yearbooks up to $10 per copy. Other classes wishing to publish a yearbook should include these costs in their Reunion fees.

Yearbooks will be mailed to everyone in your class (including spouses of deceased classmates) with a copy of your Reunion registration form to those who have not yet signed up for the weekend. The Office of Alumni and Parent Engagement will pay all mailing costs.

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Class Elections

The class officer election process (which previously was part of the Reunion process) has been moved to the year following Reunion. This change was made in order to minimize complexity in the weeks leading up to Reunion. Class officers will still serve five-year terms, beginning July 1 one year following Reunion and ending June 30 one year after the next Reunion. (Please contact your staff liaison with any questions or concerns regarding this change.)

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Camp Bates Children’s Program

Children (and grandchildren) are very welcome at Reunion! We offer programming for children between the ages of 4 and 13 years on Friday evening, Saturday morning and Saturday evening at Camp Bates. Camp Bates is a dynamic program with a wide variety of activities. In recent years, programming has included a dance workshop, mini golf, a show at the college’s planetarium, a walk in Thorncrag Bird Sanctuary, art projects, movies, relay races, swimming, inflatable jumpers and a magician. Camp Bates is planned by the Office of Alumni and Parent Engagement and is staffed by Bates students. There is a fee for each child enrolled. Below is a sample schedule.

Friday

7 – 8pm
Registration

8pm
Icebreakers/get-to-know-you games, ice cream, music, decorate t-shirts for the Alumni Parade

9:30 – 11pm
Fireworks followed by movies

Saturday

8am – noon
Registration

8 – 11am
Inflatable jump, art activity, snacks, face painting in preparation for the Alumni Parade

11am
Alumni Parade led by the Bates Bobcat!
Parents are encouraged to include their little ones in the parade.

11:30am – noon
Games, hang out with counselors, jump in inflatable jumpers

Noon – 3pm
Children join their families for picnic lunch

3 – 6pm
Free swim at Tarbell Pool, sports, relay races, arts and crafts

6 – 7pm
Pizza Dinner and Sea Dog Biscuits, balloons by magician

7pm – 12am
Magician and comedian performance, movies and popcorn

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Reunion Fundraising

The Reunion Class Gift

Reunions are a great way to reconnect with Bates and to one another, and Reunion gifts are an important part of the tradition. Each year, nearly 200 alumni from Reunion classes volunteer on behalf of their Reunion class gift. Throughout the year, these volunteers personally contact classmates and encourage them to make an impactful gift to Bates in honor of their Reunion.

Reunion provides an opportunity for alumni to show appreciation for their Bates experiences and help make those experiences available to current and future generations of Bates students. Many alumni reaffirm their loyalty to Bates by making “stretch” gifts, and classmates who have never given or give infrequently may be motivated to participate as part of Reunion. As a result, classes celebrating Reunion usually contribute a gift to the college that is many times greater than a non-Reunion year class gift.

What Counts as a Reunion Gift?

Any gift or multi-year pledge that classmates make between July 1, 2012 and June 30, 2013 to any Bates designation (e.g. Bates Fund, Friends of Bates Athletics, Endowed Scholarships, Named Scholarships, etc.) is counted in the Reunion class gift total. Some classmates may have made a  multi-year pledge since your last Reunion and the total amount of that pledge also counts toward the Reunion class gift total. While all gifts, regardless of where they are directed, are recognized in the class gift total, the need for budget-relieving Bates Fund gifts is greater now more than ever and Reunion Gift Committees are asked to make raising money for the Fund a priority.

50th Reunion: The 50th Reunion gift is essential to our fundraising program and will have far-reaching impact on the future success of the college. To commemorate this milestone, every member of the class is asked to make a “stretch gift” to the Bates Fund and to consider other special gifts in support of the academic or student life programs of the college. Because your classmates may need extra time to make arrangements for this special gift, we have recently expanded the timeframe for counting gifts to the 50th Reunion. For the Class of 1963, the accrual period reaches back to July 1, 2008, and extends through June 30, 2017. All gifts and pledges made during this time will count toward individual and class totals – including gifts and pledges to the Bates Fund, capital projects, endowed funds and special designations (such as Friends of Bates Athletics) as well as the face value of all documented bequest intentions, IRA designations, life income gifts, and other deferred gift arrangements and the fair market value of any real or personal property donated. Your Reunion staff liaisons and the Office of Gift Planning are available to help you and your classmates explore creative ways to structure your 50th Reunion gift to meet your family, financial and philanthropic goals.

The Case for Bates Fund Support

The majority of classmates will make their Reunion Gift to the Bates Fund. The Bates Fund helps to make up the more than $15,500 difference between the comprehensive fee and the actual cost of educating each Bates student. The fund provides more than 6% of Bates’ total operating budget, supporting everything from financial aid, to student research grants, to faculty salaries and curriculum development, to athletic team travel and dance performances.

Annual giving is crucial to maintaining Bates’ intellectual vitality, faculty excellence, diverse student population, residential life and campus facilities. Gifts to the Bates Fund provide essential support that can be spent immediately on the college’s most important priorities — financial aid, academic quality and the learning experience, student life and campus revitalization.

The Bates Fund and the Endowment

Think of the Bates Fund as a type of checking account, in contrast to the college’s endowment, which functions more as a type of savings account. Endowment funds are invested in perpetuity to ensure the college’s future strength; only some of the annual investment income is spent (slightly less than five percent annually). Because of this, $5.5 million in Bates Fund dollars provides the same spending power as $110 million in new endowment gifts!

While Bates stretches its resources through superb planning and careful spending, it continues to compete with colleges with large endowments and annual operating budgets. As Bates works to grow its endowment through fundraising and wise investment strategies, a robust Bates Fund helps Bates continue its mission and provide a high quality educational experience. A strong Bates Fund reduces Bates’ dependence on tuition fees and endowment spending (allowing endowment principal to grow more rapidly). It also funds current programs more adequately and consistently.

Volunteer Support

Bates has an extensive network of volunteers who are dedicated to the continued excellence of the college. Reunion volunteers reach out to their classmates to solicit for the class gift and build attendance for Reunion Weekend. There are multiple resources available to volunteers to make their work as easy as possible.

Volunteer Center – The Volunteer Center (bates.edu/volunteer) is a one-stop shop for Bates Fund volunteers. Not only will you find all of the information you need to make a successful solicitation, but FAQ’s, videos, sample emails and current class information are all available and continuously updated.

Online Tool – After your staff liaison grants access, Gift Committee members can sign into the Online Tool through the Garnet Gateway (bates.edu/garnet-gateway) to view all of the information they will need to reach out to solicit their classmates including contact information and giving history. It allows you to make notes of your contacts and supplies email templates that are customizable!

Staff – Please always feel free to email or call your staff liaison!

More Reasons to Support Bates Today

In addition to these very practical reasons for supporting Bates, there are other, more philosophical reasons for making Bates a top philanthropic priority. Among these:

• Bates is our responsibility. We are the stewards. There are just over 25,000 people in a world of six billion who can carry Bates forward. These are the alumni, parents, friends, faculty, staff, students and Trustees who understand the power of a Bates education. If those closest to the institution do not give generously, who will?
• Bates is among the nation’s highest-ranking colleges. Because of Bates’ high academic standards, long-standing commitment to egalitarianism and distinctive Maine location, it offers each student an experience that is unique among the nation’s colleges.
• Alumni support and involvements advances the college’s mission and vision. Whether you are spreading the word about Bates in your own community, fund raising for the Bates Fund, or planning for Reunion, you are an ambassador for the college and a piece of the living breathing community of Bates.

Some Key Bates Facts

• Enrollment. In 2011-12, the student body included 836 men and 933 women from 42 states and 68 foreign countries. Approximately 18.8% were U.S. students from underrepresented minority groups and international students. Bates aims to keep the size of the student body steady at this number.
• Tuition and cost of a Bates education. In 2011-12, the comprehensive fee was $53,300 per year. The actual cost of educating a Bates student is typically $15,500 higher than this fee.
• Financial Aid. Last year, 42% of Bates students received need-based college-administered scholarships and grants. The average grant was approximately $32,944.
• Operating Budget. In 2011-12, the budget was approximately $94 million.
• Endowment. The endowment as of June 30, 2011 stood at $231,451,110.

The Mount David Society
Launched in 2004, the Mount David Society (MDS) recognizes alumni and parents who make annual unrestricted gifts in excess of $1,855 to the Bates Fund. Membership in the society brings alumni and parents closer to the college, offering new and deeper opportunities for leadership and service. With a personal appreciation of the challenge and the opportunity of a Bates education, MDS members are key to strengthening the college’s growing role as a global leader in higher education.

As a member of the Mount David Society, donors receive exclusive benefits including:

• Invitations to distinctive regional events
• Lunch with the President and fellow MDS donors during the Mount David Summit, Bates’ annual celebration of student achievement
• Opportunities to meet and network with professional peers and MDS members who believe in Bates
• Access to Bates leaders and information on the state of the college

Because MDS gifts typically account for 72% of the overall Bates Fund every year, growing the number of MDS donors is critical to the future of Bates. In the coming years and in preparation for the next major comprehensive campaign, Bates needs to raise substantially more money for the Bates Fund to cover a growing operating budget and to be competitive with its peers. We need volunteers to make “peer-to-peer” solicitations to raise the sights of current and potential leadership donors in order to sustain the essentials of a Bates education and position Bates for future success.

Mount David Society Leadership Giving Levels

President’s Associates
$10,000 or more

Founder’s Associates
$1,855 – $9,999

BOLD (Bobcats of the Last Decade) Founder’s Associates
Members of the nine most recent classes making a gift of at least $100 multiplied by the number of years since graduation

Bates Fund Named Scholars Program
Through the Named Scholars Program, donors may name a current-use scholarship after themselves or a loved one with an annual gift of $5,000 or more to the Bates Fund. The college spends the gift fully during the academic year to provide much-needed scholarship assistance to a deserving student. Reunion Gift Committees may choose to raise funds for the Bates Fund and designate it to the Named Scholars Program to award an annual gift to a student who would be known as the Class of XXXX Scholar. Donors who establish named scholarships in the Bates Fund get to know their scholarship student(s). All donors receive an annual activity report which provides a profile(s) of the student recipient(s) of the scholarship, and most donors also receive correspondence from the scholarship recipient(s).

The Phillips Society
Gifts of future support to Bates are profoundly important to the college. Through the years, funds from realized bequests provide invaluable stability through unpredictable market cycles and extend the influence and values of loyal alumni across generations. The Phillips Society honors alumni, parents, and friends who have the vision and generosity to make Bates a part of their legacy by establishing life income gifts, such as charitable gift annuities and trusts, or by naming Bates as a beneficiary of their estate through will or living trust. Many of our alumni have discovered that partnering with Bates to establish a life-income gift allows them to make a larger gift to the college than they thought possible. In addition, many alumni appreciate the opportunity to exchange certain assets for a steady stream of income and substantial tax benefits. Life income gifts count toward Reunion giving totals – and many classes will want to work to increase their membership in the Phillips Society because a bequest is a gift everyone can make!

Ways to Give

Donors may take advantage of a variety of giving vehicles available at Bates. Using alternative giving methods often enables donors to make larger gifts than they might have thought possible.

• Credit Card. Donors may give securely online at bates.edu/give or call toll-free at 888-522-8371.
• Check. All checks should be made payable to “Bates College” and mailed to: The Bates Fund, Bates College, 2 Andrews Road, Lewiston, Maine 04240.
• Monthly Giving. The Monthly Giving program allows alumni to make a gift to Bates through monthly billing to their credit card or monthly deduction from a bank account. It’s convenient, and the money Bates saves on donor mailings can go where it really counts; into teaching, campus improvements and financial aid. To enroll in Monthly Giving call us toll-free at 888-522-8371 or email us at alumni@bates.edu.
• Appreciated Securities. Many donors have been able to make a larger gift than they imagined by giving appreciated securities. In most instances, a gift of stocks, bonds or mutual fund shares, if they have appreciated in value, is more advantageous than a gift of cash because the donor avoids paying capital gains taxes. For information on making a gift of securities, call the Office of College Advancement at 207-786-6332.
• Matching Gifts. Many corporations have established matching gift programs in which the company matches employees’ gifts to non-profit organizations. Some companies will even match a gift made by a retired employee or the spouse of an employee. Donors should consult with their employers’ human resources office for specific information on how to get a match for Bates.
• Life Income Gifts. Many donors find they can make a larger gift in honor of Reunion by establishing a life-income gift such as a charitable gift annuity or charitable trust. These gifts provide attractive income, substantial tax deductions, and a wonderful remainder gift to Bates. Contact Erin Martin, Director of Gift Planning, at emartin2@bates.edu or 207-786-8373, for more information.
• Bequests and Beneficiary Designations. The Office of Gift Planning has wonderful resources to help you make tax-smart estate plans for all who are important to you. Please consider naming Bates as a beneficiary of your will or living trust, or designate Bates as beneficiary of a retirement account, IRA, bank account, commercial annuity or life insurance policy. There are important estate-tax implications to be considered, and we can help. Please contact Erin Martin, Director of Gift Planning, at emartin2@bates.edu or 207-786-8373, for more information.
• Real Estate or Tangible Personal Property. Some of your classmates may have assets or property that are no longer of use and are expensive to maintain or insure. The Office of Gift Planning can help interested alumni understand how to use such assets to make an extraordinary gift to Bates and receive valuable tax deductions as a benefit. Please contact Erin Martin, Director of Gift Planning, at emartin2@bates.edu or 207-786-8373, for more information.

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Projected Attendance and Reunion Records

Click here for a pdf of Reunion 2013 Projected Attendance and Reunion Record Tables.