Capital Area Iowa Club2010 Survey of Attitudes

Survey Conducted October 2010

Survey Results

How People Found the CAIC

Personal connections matter – 40% found the Club through personal contacts

Internet searches and UIAA mailings are key points of entry

Strong brand presence with UI officials and faculty often make people aware of the CAIC

Illustrative CommentsI'm not entirely certain, but I believe a fellow alum steered me to your club and then I found you on the web.looked it up on the iowa alumni page, it's hard to find though by just searching the webInternet search when we moved here from Iowa.On the Iowa campus at the end of my senior year I spoke with some people at the national alumni association and when I told them I was moving to DC, they raved about what a great, active club we have out here.Told by a UI faculty member who knew I was moving to DCIn the back of the alumni magazineIowa football game watch.Sally MasonWhen I was moving out to DC, I heard about the game watches from a friend, and learned more about the club at the first game watch I attended.

Mailing from University

20%

A relative, friend or col-

league40%

Independent web search

16%

Facebook4%

Other20%

Learning About the Club

Club Webpage (http://www.iowalum.com/dciowa)

IOWA Hotline (703.237.IOWA)

Weekly Email Notices

Quarterly Newsletter

Facebook Page

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Use of Communications Tools

1

2

3

4

5

Respondents rated tools on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being Not Used at All and 5 being Used Regularly

Not Used Used Regu-larly

Communicating with the CAIC

Email remains the most effective & most used outreach tool But, many still value traditional newsletters Wide spread of views on other on-line information sources –

webpage and Facebook

Club Webpage (http://

www.iowalum.com/dciowa)

IOWA Hotline (703.237.IOWA)

Weekly Email Notices

Quarterly Newsletter

Facebook Page

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Effectiveness of Commu-nication Tools

12345

Least Most

Respondents ranked the CAIC's communication tools on a scale of 1 to 5 with 1 being least effective and 5 being most effective

DC Alumni Want the CAIC to Do A Lot!

Follow Hawkeye Athletics

Stay Informed About UI Happenings

Meet DC-Area Alumni/Stay Connected with Friends

Mentor UI Students

Work with UI alumni on Charitable/Community Service Projects

DC Alumni Want the CAIC to Help Them ...Yes No

DC Alumni are open to different activities and programs

They expect the CAIC to be useful tool in staying informed about the University of Iowa and Hawkeye athletics

Activities of Interest

Hawkeye Game Watches

Happy Hours

Receptions for UI officials/faculty/students

Tours of DC-area attractions

Trips to area sporting events (non-Iowa)

Trips to area sporting events (Iowa)

Attending theatrical productions

Helping at college fairs / Mentoring UI students

Participating in charitable events

Club sporting teams / sporting activities

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Level of Interest in CAIC Events

Not Interested Somewhat Interested Very Interested

Game Watches and Iowa sporting events rank consistently highest Diverse interests reflected by the low number of ‘not interested’ for most

activities

Interest is High, Participation Isn’t Necessarily

Hawkeye Game Watches

Happy Hours

Receptions for UI officials/faculty/students

Tours of DC-area attractions

Trips to area sporting events (non-Iowa)

Trips to area sporting events (Iowa)

Attending theatrical productions

Helping at college fairs / Mentoring UI students

Participating in charitable events

Club sporting teams / sporting activities

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Participation in CAIC Activities

Yes No

Growing Demand for Career/Networking Activities

Access to networking oppor-tunities

Ability to recruit current students/alumni for

employment

Ability to recruit current students/alumni for

employment

Access of career services available from UI

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Career Services

1 2 3 4

Not Useful Very Useful

Not surprisingly, interest in resources/activities that help “find jobs” are in greater demand than those “helping others find jobs”

Comment data later in the survey shows strong interest in structured career networking programming Existing set of happy hours

and social activities do not meet this need

Nature of this desired programming is not well defined

Social Activities

Book Club

Writing activities

Crafting activities

Winetastings

Sampling of area restaurants

Activities for children

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

1 2 3 4 5

Not Interested Very Inter-ested

Social Activities Generally, less overall support

for any single activity Support for kids, crafting look to

be age-dependent, based on the individual responses

Writing and Book Club efforts are known to be niche undertakings, but appeal to noticeable segments of the alumni base (as seen by the 20% Very Interested rating for the Book Club)

Restaurant tours & Winetasting score highest Past restaurant tour efforts

failed, but this data suggests a revival might be considered

Winestastings have been on the agenda for some time

Sporting Events/Teams

Flag football

Golf outing

Bowling

Volleyball

Softball

0% 10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Sporting Events/Teams

12345

Not Interested Very Interested

Very segmented responses Those who already participate

value these activities highly Those that don’t are generally

ambivalent or unsupportive 20-30% “Interested” in starting

Softball, Volleyball outings Issue here is whether to pursue

“single” event or field a team for league competition

Different logistical demands and volunteer needs/commitments

Club currently sponsors a Golf Outing and Flag Football Team Has hosted Bowling outings in the

past; data suggests more regular offering would be supported

Community Charitable Efforts

Volunteer at Soup/Food Kitchens

Fundraising Walks/Runs

Food/Clothing/Toy Drives

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Community Charitable Activities

1 2 3 4 5

Not Interested Very Interested

Strong support for Club programming with more than 50% “Interested” in all

Club maintains annual food/clothing/toy drives through game watch structure

Others are occasionally scheduled As volunteer leader interest

is available Responses suggest more

focus would be supported

Open Responses/Suggestions for Activities & Programs

Open Suggestions for Programs/Activities from Survey Respondents

I think we should continue to volunteer with the Honor Flights. It's a great thing.

More kid friendly events, we're all growing up, having families, we can't tailgate forever... unfortunately

Same activities with less emphasis on partying and drinking.

Museums, children's activities,

holiday parties

Club soccer team! A lot of Iowa folks already in other leagues - definitely think there would be interest.picnic, Club-sponsored trip back to IA, under 40 (or young alumni) events, lectures, Big 10 or other networking events with other groups, welcome events for new members or new residents, hiking,

Trying new restaurants in the area.This survey indicates a patent misprioritization of activity -- sports. Instead, where were the myriad of questions about how the club has utterly failed in professional activities, mentoring other alumni, aclamation to DC and professional networking activities?

Structured meet and greets, almost like blind speed dating for professionals.

It would be fun and convenient if we did game watches in DC and not in VA. I lot of younger alumni (around 50-100 people) meet at Public Bar in DC for football games.

I can't think of any that the Club has not already offered.

Some more low-cost activities would be nice.The above are all good, but we have already established our giving priorities otherwise, and volunteer for soup kitchen type events at our church. This is not to discourage you - in fact, we feel those are laudable activities.Parents Weekend in DC - FUN! This could be in conjunction with a Nats baseball game, wine tasting tour, or other local area event. Could work with a local college to watch an Iowa football game in their auditorium as well.

True networking events to help with career advancement in conjuction with outside groups if necessary

Events with other Big 10 schools

Business networking activitiesSomething for people to meet each other. The game watches don't really facilitate mingling, and the other activities can be a little intimidating for people without much of an Iowa network.

We used to host Iowa student groups (music, theater, authors, athletes, etc.) when they were in the area. Doesn't seem like we have done much of that in recent years.

An event focused on introducing members to each other, especially new and those who (like me) have been on the margin. Not a happy hour - more structured.

Club softball, as mentioned above, would be great. I heard we already have a flag football club, so softball would be very fun for many Iowa alums in DC.

Black tie dinner with dancing at fancy hotel or restaurant.

Why Don’t More People Participate?

Timing of events

Value (cost as compared to benefit)

Don't know anyone

Cost of activities

Type or subject matter

Family commitments

Job commitments

Other volunteer commitments

Location of events

0% 20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Barriers to DC Alumni Participation in Club

ActivitiesYes No

People are busy Timing of events, job, family

and other volunteer commitments most cited reasons for not attending Club activities

Finding consistent with national surveys of alumni engagement

Location is a factor for game watches Comments support opening a

DC & MD location Events offered judged to

offer good value and affordability

Is the Club Doing a Good Job?

Comments I've really enjoyed making new friends through the CAIC. Through attending non-gamewatch

events, I've also developed a greater appreciation of the monuments/landmarks in the surrounding are.

We moved here two years ago and finding the I Club helped us meet people and gather together with fellow Hawkeye fans. I love the game watches at the sports pub. Lots of fun.

This survey indicates a patent misprioritization of activity – sports … You are only catering to the young crowd who never grew up from college.

The events I have attended have been great and I appreciate how inclusive the Club has been.

Keep up the good work! Some people came across as moody or to party-happy. It's great that the Iowa Club is so active here in the DC area. I haven't been as involved … partially due to the overall feeling of inconvenience … so many

events require a car to get there … I think sometimes people who live in the burbs forget that not everyone has a car, particularly those who live in the District.

I have a great impression of the Club, but don't really feel that I am part of it. On the outside looking in.

Not Satisfied Very Satisfied1 2 11 30 47

1% 2% 12% 33% 52%

Who Took This Survey?

77% were dues-paying members of the CAIC

Spread of Ages 54% graduated from college more than

10 years ago; 45% graduated within the last 10 years

Spread Across the DC Metro Region 53% live in Virginia; 32% in DC; 12% in

Maryland 63% were members of the University

of Iowa Alumni Association (UIAA)

Commentary

Summary Assessment

Overall, the Club gets strong marks High levels of satisfaction Strong interest in events/activities

Concerns About the Mix and Location of Events

Concerns About the Mix of Events

The Club averages 1-2 non-game watch events per month

Strive to provide diverse calendar Tours Social events UI Receptions Tickets for sporting events and

theatrical performances College fairs Intern Buddy Honor Flights

Ability to provide more events is limited by Volunteer time to identify and

coordinate Expanded focus on certain kinds

of events/activities warranted Career networking Cultural & Educational Activities

Need to Balance Active Calendar with Potential ‘Iowa Club Fatigue’ Challenge is to attract new

participants so the same group of active members isn’t overtaxed

“… the club has utterly failed in professional activities, mentoring other alumni, acclamation to DC and professional networking activities … You are only catering to the young crowd who never grew up from college.”

Concerns About the Location of Events

Events Hosted Across Region, but DC is the focus In 2009

▪ 10 Events in DC▪ 4 Events in MD▪ 5 Events in VA

In 2010▪ 18 Events in DC▪ 7 Events in MD▪ 4 Events in VA

Game Watches not included in those totals▪ Game Watch sites in VA and DC

Club Members Are Spread Across the Region 60% live in VA 23% live in DC 15% live in MD

More Attention to Regional Diversity is Required MD traditionally underserved Solving that problem requires

volunteer leaders who live in MD

Location Complaints Are Probably Event Diversity Complaints

“More activities that are in the city or metro accessible.”

If you have any questions, please contact Jeff Kueter at president@capitalareaiowaclub.com