Universities have traditionally been an essential and core component for alumni related communications, news, and activities but recent social and technological changes have meant that a growing level of alumni activity may be occurring independently and "off the radar" of the formal alumni relations programme. This presentation will introduce the concept of 'communities of practice' as a useful framework for better understanding the internal dynamics of an alumni network, and will offer possible strategies for both realigning alumni relations practices and engaging with "lost" alumni. The presentation was delivered at the annual conference for Flemish and Dutch Alumni Officers and University Fundraisers (NAFF - Nederland Alumnirelaties, Fondsbeheer en Fondsenwerving) held on May 15th and 16th, 2009 at the University of Leiden in the Netherlands.

1. naam where have our alumni gone? exploring the new boundaries of alumni relations Joe Laufer, MSc BA HR Management Programme

5. The Alumni Network Triangle Resources Information Capacity Legitimacy University Alumni Audience

6. The Alumni Network Triangles University Alumni audience owners Resources Information Capacity Legitimacy

7. Network Theory Perspective tie bridge node actor

11. The CoP Framework: foundations domain community practice (Wenger, 2002)

12. The CoP Framework: dimensions domain community practice (Wenger, 2002) Participation Reification Designed Emergent Local Global Identification Negotiability

13. The CoP Framework: participation domain community practice Participation Reification Designed Emergent Identification Negotiability Local Global (Wenger, 2002) Engagement Imagination Alignment

14. The CoP Framework: elements Events Connectivity Leadership Membership Projects Artifacts (Wenger, 2002)

19. Thank you! Joe Laufer [email_address]