FLEX Alumni Coordinator Training Conference - a Eurasian Team is Born

In her concluding remarks at the FLEX Alumni Coordinator (AC) Training Conference, Mary Shea, Eurasia FLEX Alumni Program Manager, noted that the 18 ACs at this year's gathering showed outstanding potential to lead and develop FLEX alumni organizations throughout Eurasia, and are on the path to success. Having led this conference for ten years, Mary saw what all of the trainers, U.S. Embassy representatives, and other American Councils staff members observed - that the 2010-2011 FLEX Alumni Coordinator team is a force to be reckoned with.

American Councils hires a part-time Alumni Coordinator for 19 program hubs in ten countries across Eurasia to coordinate alumni activities, write monthly reports, update the FLEX alumni database, and provide support for all FLEX alumni initiatives and programs. Since the hubs are located in major cities, one important goal for the AC is to find ways to include more alumni from remote regions. During the AC Training Conference, held on September 24-26 at a training center on the outskirts of Moscow, the new ACs were prepared to achieve the tasks of the position, and were apprised of recent program developments and innovations, including American Councils' recent selection to serve as the Eurasia regional partner for Global Youth Service Day 2011.

The ACs had the rare opportunity to interact with two senior staff members from American Councils' Washington, D.C. headquarters throughout the course of the weekend, along with an assortment of other professional trainers, among them FLEX and Edmund S. Muskie Graduate Fellowship Program alumni and representatives of the U.S Embassy in Moscow. American Councils Vice President Lisa Choate, who has been working with the organization for over 20 years and on the FLEX Program since its inception 17 years ago, talked to the ACs about the history of American Councils and its mission. Additionally, she listened to the ACs' concerns about the development of alumni communities and ways to improve on the organization's programs, including a request to place U.S. students studying Russian in Siberia. Nathan Truitt, manager of American Councils' Philanthropic Development department, spoke to alumni about the recently launched Generation FLEX fundraising project. Specifically, Nathan let the ACs know about the opportunity to post project proposals on the American Councils website to seek support from contacts and friends from across the globe and the fundraising pilot project that will take place in Russia, asking FLEX alumni to donate to a FLEX Alumni endowment fund.

Additionally, the ACs participated in trainings to help them gain a clearer understanding of their job responsibilities and their task of leading and supporting alumni in organizing events and communicating with the over 20,000 FLEX alumni across Eurasia. Denis Pimenov '00, editor-in-chief of the Federal Business Magazine "IN," held a presentation on effective PR and working with the media. Principal of Board Solutions Anastasia Ekkert '95, together with fellow Edmund S. Muskie Graduate Fellowship Program alumna Olga Kuleshova, taught the ACs various ways to motivate alumni and gave them an overview of the structure of the Muskie Club in Moscow. Yelena Zubareva '03, a former Moscow FLEX AC and currently an International Projects and Programs Specialist for the National Youth Council of Russia, led a whirlwind project management exercise in which the ACs took a first-hand look into the challenges they will face when organizing a large-scale event with limited resources. To cap off the weekend, Olga Tomilina '06, FLEX AC for Moscow in 2007-2008, gave a riveting presentation on effective communication with alumni, catching the attention and interest of both trainers and coordinators alike. Finally, American Councils staff members Emily Danyluk, Hub director for the Urals and Siberia Regions and Hub Director for Central and Southern Russia Denise Mishiwiec, held presentations for the ACs to help them develop their fundraising skills and professional office habits.

Interspersed with teambuilding trainings, cultural exchanges, and announcements about upcoming opportunities with the FLEX Alumni Program and other partner organizations, the FLEX ACs enjoyed a weekend training that will push them into their new positions with the support they need for a successful year.