Cuppa’s at 3pm off and racing for 2023
Our Cuppa Tea’s at 3 have kicked off again for the year. We started this initiative in late 2021 and have a goal to bring every cohort together again, using Zoom to host a ‘virtual afternoon tea’. We know it’s not the same as face to face – but it is a great opportunity for you re-connect with your cohort, and the Foundation more broadly. The only thing you need to attend is good internet – and one hour of your time. Vast geographic distances between you and your cohort are no longer a barrier!!
ARLF staff Philippa, Laura and I met with ARLP Course 3 a few weeks back. To witness the connection between participants and hear snippets and memories from a program attended over two decades ago, is always remarkable. And ARLP Course 27, a more recent cohort to graduate, gathered just last week with Matt at the helm.
So – we are continuing to work through the long list of cohorts. If we haven’t quite got to your cohort yet, and your super keen to connect, let us know and we’ll fast track you!
A list of upcoming events can be found in the events section of this newsletter.
Nambucca Valley alumni dinner
ARLF staff member Gemma Rostron had the honour of spending an evening with alumni from the 2022 Regenerate Nambucca Valley regional leadership programs in mid-February and loved hearing their inspirational stories.
Thanks to alumn Phil Nicholas and Heidi March, who organised the dinner and used it as an opportunity to connect their cohort with those from the Nambucca Valley Emerging Leaders Program. It was a fantastic chance to revitalise conversations and make new connections with the alumni network. Thanks too to Gemma for her beautiful photos that captured the magic of the evening.
Phil Nicholas is also working on a project with local Regenerate alumni, and a local youth group, to bring two massive puppets (both created on program) back to life to participate in a lantern parade as part of the Macksville Laneway Festival on March 11. Stay tuned for photos from the Festival next month. Doesn’t it sound amazing! And is such a beautiful way to re-connect alumni with purpose and fun.
Upcoming regional alumni events
We’ve got a few regional alumni events on the radar over the next few months. We invite local alumni along via email – but if you’re on the move and happen to be in town for one of the events be sure to let Laura know at laurac@rural-leaders.org.au We’d love to have you along.
And – while we are doing our best to work across this vast nation of ours and host as many regional events as we can, if you are keen to connect with your local alumni and can’t wait any longer, reach out and let us know. We can help rally people along to a central location – and will do our best to join you too.
And if you are involved in organising a conference or event, and keen to get news about it out through the broader ARLF network, please let me know. Always happy to help.
Written by Julia Strang, Manager, Alumni Engagement
