Background

The Alumni Council was founded in 1946 and is the governing body of the Andover-Abbot Alumni Association.  The Council seeks to promote beneficial relations, especially by serving as a liaison between alumni and the Academy and by strengthening connections among alumni. As outlined in its recent Strategic Plan, the Council’s vision is:

To enrich the lives of our alumni by inspiring them to live the values of the Academy and to be a catalyst for lifetime engagement.

The Council includes approximately 140 members serving four-year terms. Members of the Alumni Council actively engage with each other, with fellow alumni, with the Office of Alumni Engagement and with members of the Board of Trustees to foster and sustain a close relationship and understanding between Phillips Academy and its alumni body in the areas of alumni affairs and communications, admissions, and financial aid and fundraising. Each year 30-35 new members are appointed to replace those who complete their service. The new members are approved by the Executive Committee of the Council, acting upon a slate submitted by its Nominating Committee.

Upon agreeing to serve, each new member is asked to join one of the Council’s standing committees.  Each committee is led by co-chairs who sit on the Executive Committee.  The committees are:

• Alumni Admission Representatives Committee
• Alumni Communications Committee
• Annual Giving Board
• Athletics Committee
• Class Secretaries Committee
• Equity and Inclusion Committee
• Non Sibi Committee
• Regional Volunteers Committee

As well, the Governance Committee, the Nominating Committee, and one or more ad hoc committees are appointed by the President.

The expectation of membership includes being present at the two meetings of the Council each year.  The fall meeting usually occurs in late September or early October; the spring meeting is usually in late April or early May.  Weekend meetings typically run from Thursday evening through Saturday afternoon.  The presence of all members is critical to the success of the Council.  The Executive Committee has one additional meeting in early February.

On these occasions Council members are reconnected with Andover and updated on essential issues.  In addition, there is a full working schedule of committee and plenary sessions to accomplish the vision and goals of the Council.

Council members are also expected to help organize and participate in Non Sibi projects and other alumni events in their regions and contribute to the Andover Fund on a yearly basis, as individual circumstances allow.