By Jaime Kautsky

When GIA announced plans to expand its 27-chapter Alumni Association this summer, Institute personnel eagerly waited to hear a response from its graduates. Years of research, strategy and analysis of graduate feedback went into the decisions, and they were excited and curious to hear how alumni would respond.

They didn't have to wait long to hear from graduates like Steve Nelson, a diamond cutter and jewelry designer based in Wheaton, Illinois.

"I think it's a great decision – that's certainly going to draw more numbers. Any time you have a larger group, you have a more vibrant group, more active participation, and a larger bank of ideas for improving things and keeping people involved," said Nelson.

Coralyn Whitney, of Coralyn W. Whitney Designs in Kirkland, Washington, agreed.

"I think it's great that the Alumni Association will now be available to all graduates. It provides us all with the opportunity to participate in more GIA events, with the added bonus of being listed in the alumni directory."

In fact, so many graduates responded to the developments, which include no-dues membership and a new continuing education and recognition program, that participation has already increased more than 50 percent – several months before the changes are implemented in April 2007.

"We've had an overwhelmingly positive response from our alumni," said Rose McKenna, G.G., GIA's manager of Alumni Relations. "So far, about 2,000 graduates have expressed their desire to become more involved with Alumni activities."

Linda Ellis Harmeling, vice president of Institute Advancement for GIA, stressed that changes were made after several years of research and benchmarking.

"We spent a great deal of time taking inventory of the unique needs of our alumni," Ellis Harmeling said. "We interviewed everyone from chapter leaders to alumni relations professionals at universities and trade organizations.

"We spoke with leaders from various non-resident schools – which cultivate a very different sense of loyalty, pride and belonging."

Ellis Harmeling said that information helped a team of staff from the Institute's Advancement and Education departments work with the Alumni Executive Council – Starla Turner, Gail Brett Levine, Robert Trapp, Richard Drucker and Jon Phillips – to develop changes that would stimulate growth and raise the bar for chapter involvement and continuing education.

"This is such a positive, dynamic time in the history of our Alumni Association," Ellis Harmeling said. "GIA is emphasizing outreach and open dialogue with our constituents worldwide, so the need to stay connected with and attentive to our alumni is more important than ever."