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2024 Alumni Board Retreat

Sharing Our Impact

RETREAT HOTEL

GEORGIA TECH HOTEL
& CONFERENCE CENTER

800 Spring St NW,
Atlanta, GA 30332

 

 

RETREAT FAQs

 

 

RETREAT GOALS

1.

 

Networking and Relationship Building

Create opportunities for board members and CCSF staff to build stronger relationships with each other, fostering a collaborative environment.

2.

Recognize and Appreciate Unique Thinking Preferences

Foster an environment of collaboration by acknowledging, valuing, decoding and applying the cognitive diversity of each board member, promoting a culture of mutual respect and support.

3.

Enhance Accountability and Transparency Through Updated Processes and Procedures

Adopt an updated board mission and purpose and implement clear processes for decision-making, progress reporting, and communication to promote responsibility and enhance accountability and transparency in board operations, fostering trust among board members and with the wider alumni community.

4.

Educate Members on the Selection Process

Provide a comprehensive overview of the selection process for board members and committee roles moving forward, ensuring transparency and clarity in governance.

 

5.

Refine Committee Charters and Establish Annual Objectives

Review and finalize the charters for each committee to accurately reflect their roles and responsibilities, while simultaneously developing clear, measurable objectives and associated KPIs for the upcoming year to track progress and success.

 

 

 

RETREAT AGENDA

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24

 

Welcome to Atlanta!

Most of you should arrive by 6 pm. Check-in at the hotel is at 4 pm. 

Be prepared to possibly have to wait and work in the lobby if you arrive earlier than 4 pm.

Make time to interview the AB member you are paired with sometime between your arrival and when you go to bed to prepare for the icebreaker Friday morning. See instructions in pre-read | Board Materials, Appendix 1

 

7:00 PM             Meet at Hotel Bar in main lobby 

Wine will be provided at dinner compliments of CCSF. Any alcoholic drinks outside of dinner will be at your own expense. 

 

7:30 PM             Dinner at GT Hotel & Conference Center

In a private room in dining area - ask for the Coke Scholars dinner.

If you miss dinner because of your flight, you will be reimbursed for food up to $25 pp. If you are at the hotel before 9 pm, please eat the food provided.

 

9-10 PM             Post-Dinner Socializing at GT Hotel Bar (Optional) 

 

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25

 

7-8 AM               Breakfast buffet in the GT dining area

Look for CCSF signs for designated seating areas.

Come down and eat at your leisure but we are leaving the hotel promptly at 8:15 am. Any coffee/food outside of this time/place will not be reimbursed by CCSF.

 

8 AM                  Meet in Hotel Lobby to Uber together to Coca-Cola Headquarters

Location: The Coca-Cola Company

Room: USA Building, Second Floor, Room "CONTOUR"

 

8:15 AM             Arrive at The Coca-Cola Company

 

8:30 AM            Welcome and Introduction

Welcome from Jane Hale Hopkins, Ben Nicol, & Courtney Lynn

 

8:40 AM            Icebreaker

AB and Staff will be assigned a partner ahead of time. This is the time you will introduce your partner to everyone (1 minute for each person).

 

9:20 AM            HBDI Assessment

Discussion and activity led by Stacy Sollenberger

Appendix 2: Overview

 

11:00 AM           BREAK

 

11:20 AM           CCSF Strategic Plan Update

Ericia - CCSF Strategic Plan: Where we are now and where we’re going (5 minutes)

Jamie - Impact Alignment (10 minutes)

LaQuanda - Financial Sustainability (5 minutes)

Kyle - Advancement & Bottlers (10 minutes)

Appendix 3: Strategic Plan Highlights

 

12-1 PM             Lunch

Get lunch from the buffet and take to USA 10 in the Overlook

*Advancement Committee - go with Kyle to USA 10

*Branding Committee - go with Lauren to USA 10

*Engagement Committee - go with Jamie to USA 10

 

1:00 PM             Visit Coke Store (optional)

 

1:15 PM             CCSF Strategic Plan Update (Continued)

Lauren - Strengthened Brand (10 minutes) 

Carolyn - Alumni Engagement (15-20 minutes)

 

1:45 PM             AB Mission and Purpose

Led by Ben Nicol

                                           

2:30 PM             Guided Discussion: 2025 and 2026 Service Summits

Led by Will Schultz and Courtney Lynn

Appendix 7: History of Service Trips

 

3:15 PM             BREAK

 

3:30 PM             Committee Work 

Introduction by Ben Nicol

Advancement: Laalitya, Liz, Jordan, Nina, Pamit, Che, Mike W., Jane, Ericia, & LaQuanda (Ben & Kyle lead)

Branding: Mike D., Ali, Victor, Gitika, & Jayla (Courtney & Lauren lead)

Engagement: Justin, Jack, Samuel, Kari, Anita, & Jamie (Will & Carolyn lead)

Appendixes 9 & 10: Committee Trackers
Appendix 11: Emeritus List for Pipeline

           

5:00 PM            Travel Back to Hotel

Prepare for dinner

 

6:00 PM            Meet in hotel lobby to Uber together to Angela Harrell’s home

Ride in groups of 4-5

 

6:30 PM             Dinner and Board Bonding at Angela's

Team dinner contest led by Chef Danielle of Cookonnect

 

9:30 PM             Ride Ubers Back to Hotel

 

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26

           

7-8:30 AM          Breakfast buffet in the GT dining area

Come down and eat at your leisure but we are leaving the hotel promptly at 8:30 am.

*Wear your new shirts from CCSF today for a group photo!*

 

8:30 AM             Meet in Hotel Lobby to Uber together to Coca-Cola Headquarters

Check out and bring your suitcases

Location: The Coca-Cola Company

Room: USA Building, Second Floor, Room "CONTOUR"

 

8:45 AM             Arrive at The Coca-Cola Company

 

9:00 AM             Ben Recaps Yesterday & Sets The Stage For Today

 

9:10 AM             Inspiration by Che

 

9:30 AM             Processes and Procedures

Led by Ben Nicol, Courtney Lynn, & Carolyn Norton

        • Using Sharepoint for our shared space moving forward
        • Smart Goals template
        • Setting regular meetings for committees and attending
        • Accountability and Transparency: Meeting Notes/ Recordings of meetings

 

10:15 AM            BREAK

 

10:30 AM           Committee Work       

 

12:00 PM           Lunch + Game

 

1:00 PM             Group Photo

 

1:15 PM              2025 Outreach Plan

Led by Carolyn Norton

Appendix 8: Engaging Less Active Alums

 

1:30 PM             High-Level Share Out of Committee Work/Plans for 2025

 

2:45 PM             BREAK

 

3:00 PM             Closing Business

Agenda

 

3:30 PM             Closing Reflections

Ben Nicol, Courtney Lynn, & Jane Hopkins

 

4:00 PM             Uber to Airport

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24

 

Welcome to Atlanta!

Most of you should arrive by 6 pm. Check-in at the hotel is at 4 pm. 

Be prepared to possibly have to wait and work in the lobby if you arrive earlier than 4 pm.

Make time to interview the AB member you are paired with sometime between your arrival and when you go to bed to prepare for the icebreaker Friday morning. See instructions in pre-read | Board Materials, Appendix 1

 

7:00 PM      

Meet at Hotel Bar in main lobby 

Wine will be provided at dinner compliments of CCSF. Any alcoholic drinks outside of dinner will be at your own expense. 

 

7:30 PM

Dinner at GT Hotel & Conference Center

In a private room in dining area - ask for the Coke Scholars dinner.

If you miss dinner because of your flight, you will be reimbursed for food up to $25 pp. If you are at the hotel before 9 pm, please eat the food provided.

 

9-10 PM

Post-Dinner Socializing at GT Hotel Bar (Optional) 

 

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25

 

7-8 AM

Breakfast buffet in the GT dining area

Look for CCSF signs for designated seating areas.

Come down and eat at your leisure but we are leaving the hotel promptly at 8:15 am. Any coffee/food outside of this time/place will not be reimbursed by CCSF.

 

8 AM

Meet in Hotel Lobby to Uber together to Coca-Cola Headquarters

Location: The Coca-Cola Company

Room: USA Building, Second Floor, Room "CONTOUR"

 

8:15 AM

Arrive at The Coca-Cola Company

 

8:30 AM

Welcome and Introduction

Welcome from Jane Hale Hopkins, Ben Nicol, & Courtney Lynn

 

8:40 AM

Icebreaker

AB and Staff will be assigned a partner ahead of time. This is the time you will introduce your partner to everyone (1 minute for each person).

 

9:20 AM

HBDI Assessment

Discussion and activity led by Stacy Sollenberger

Appendix 2: Overview

 

11:00 AM

BREAK

 

11:20 AM

CCSF Strategic Plan Update

Ericia - CCSF Strategic Plan: Where we are now and where we’re going (5 minutes)

Jamie - Impact Alignment (10 minutes)

LaQuanda - Financial Sustainability (5 minutes)

Kyle - Advancement & Bottlers (10 minutes)

Appendix 3: Strategic Plan Highlights

 

12-1 PM

Lunch

Get lunch from the buffet and take to USA 10 in the Overlook

*Advancement Committee - go with Kyle to USA 10

*Branding Committee - go with Lauren to USA 10

*Engagement Committee - go with Jamie to USA 10

 

1:00 PM

Visit Coke Store (optional)

 

1:15 PM

CCSF Strategic Plan Update (Continued)

Lauren - Strengthened Brand (10 minutes) 

Carolyn - Alumni Engagement (15-20 minutes)

 

1:45 PM

AB Mission and Purpose

Led by Ben Nicol

 

2:30 PM

Guided Discussion: 2025 and 2026 Service Summits

Led by Will Schultz and Courtney Lynn

Appendixes 7: History of Service Trips

                                           

3:15 PM

BREAK

 

3:30 PM

Committee Work 

Introduction by Ben Nicol

Advancement: Laalitya, Liz, Jordan, Nina, Pamit, Che, Mike W., Jane, Ericia, & LaQuanda (Ben & Kyle lead)

Branding: Mike D., Ali, Victor, Gitika, & Jayla (Courtney & Lauren lead)

Engagement: Justin, Jack, Samuel, Kari, Anita, & Jamie (Will & Carolyn lead)

Appendixes 9 & 10: Committee Trackers
Appendix 11: Emeritus List for Pipeline

           

5:00 PM

Travel Back to Hotel

Prepare for dinner

 

6:00 PM

Meet in hotel lobby to Uber together to Angela Harrell’s home

Ride in groups of 4-5

 

6:30 PM

Dinner and Board Bonding at Angela's

Team dinner contest led by Chef Danielle of Cookonnect

 

9:30 PM

Ride Ubers Back to Hotel

 

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26

           

7-8:30 AM

Breakfast buffet in the GT dining area

Come down and eat at your leisure but we are leaving the hotel promptly at 8:30 am.

*Wear your new shirts from CCSF today for a group photo!*

 

8:30 AM

Meet in Hotel Lobby to Uber together to Coca-Cola Headquarters

Check out and bring your suitcases

Location: The Coca-Cola Company

Room: USA Building, Second Floor, Room "CONTOUR"

 

8:45 AM

Arrive at The Coca-Cola Company

 

9:00 AM

Ben Recaps Yesterday & Sets The Stage For Today

 

9:10 AM

Inspiration by Che

 

9:30 AM

Processes and Procedures

Led by Ben Nicol, Courtney Lynn, & Carolyn Norton

  • Using Sharepoint for our shared space moving forward
  • Smart Goals template
  • Setting regular meetings for committees and attending
  • Accountability and Transparency: Meeting Notes/ Recordings of meetings

 

10:15 AM

BREAK

 

10:30 AM

Committee Work    

 

12:00 PM

Lunch + Game

 

1:00 PM

Group Photo

 

1:15 PM

2025 Outreach Plan

Led by Carolyn Norton

Appendix 8: Engaging Less Active Alums

 

1:30 PM

High-Level Share Out of Committee Work/Plans for 2025

 

2:45 PM

BREAK

 

3:00 PM

Closing Business

Agenda

 

3:30 PM

Closing Reflections

Ben Nicol, Courtney Lynn, & Jane Hopkins

 

4:00 PM

Uber to Airport