Driven by a shared desire to stay connected, Caltech alumni are creating their own meetups that are casual, local, and shaped by their own interests. To help sustain these events, the Caltech Alumni Association (CAA) launched a new initiative to support volunteer hosts.
Established last year, Caltech Together oversees event registration and promotion to help lighten the administrative load for organizers. The program is modeled after Tables for Techers, a casual and community-driven celebration in which alumni open their homes to share a meal with other graduates and current students. CAA works behind the scenes to manage reservations and match guests with alumni hosts.
“Volunteers play a critical role in keeping alumni connections strong all year long,” says Karen Ravago-Ballaret, assistant director of alumni programs and engagement for Caltech Alumni. “Through Caltech Together, organizers get an extra boost that helps alumni communities thrive and grow.”
In the San Diego area, alumni pair monthly hikes and near-weekly lunches with one-off experiences including a tour of a fusion research reactor, a guest lecture, and a science and engineering outreach event with local high school students. Techers in San Diego also remain engaged with their alma mater. Alumni participated in Tables for Techers, a startup community group, and a CAA-organized Caltech gathering at the American Chemical Society conference in San Diego last year. Matthias Blume (BS ’87) first connected with San Diego alumni 20 years ago when he organized the tour of General Atomics’ DIII-D fusion facility. Since the launch of the official San Diego club more than a year ago, Blume says it helped him build meaningful, close-knit friendships. “When you’re with Caltech alumni, you don’t have to be anything other than who you are,” he says.
“When you’re with Caltech alumni, you don’t have to be anything other than who you are.”
Matthias Blume (BS ’87)
Convenience works best for alumni who live and work in the South Bay, a collection of beach-area communities that is home to major aerospace, automotive, and healthcare companies. Once a month, South Bay alumni enjoy a weekday lunch together to network, learn the latest news about their alma mater, and discuss science and technology, says Rhonda MacDonald (BS ’74), who is one of the group’s leaders and a former CAA president. For the last 23 years, the luncheons have been a tradition, and temporarily switched to a virtual format during the pandemic, MacDonald adds. Recognizing that not everyone can take a mid-day break from work, the group is also planning more evening and weekend gatherings. Recent outings include a tour of Hadrian Manufacturing’s facility in Torrance that was open to both Caltech and MIT alumni, as well as a show featuring engineer-turned-comedian Don McMillan. MacDonald says that Caltech Together “will help attract new members to local alumni groups.”
Alumni communities outside of major hubs like Los Angeles, Boston, and New York City face a different set of circumstances when planning outings. With greater distances between them, gatherings require more travel and personal time from alumni. Amy Kelly (BS ’02) from the Philadelphia region knew that if she wanted to engage with fellow alumni, she could not do it alone. With support from Caltech Together, Kelly invited alumni and their families for hayrides and cider donuts at a nearby farm last fall. “As a single mom, ensuring there are family-friendly events is crucial for participation,” Kelly says.
When Susan Chen (MS ’00) attended one of her first Washington, D.C., alumni outings—a visit to the water lilies and blooming lotuses at Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens—she knew this community was different. The biology graduate liked how alumni were more interested in learning and decided to become more involved. She says the group takes advantage of the capital’s cultural and intellectual institutions, including tours of the National Academy of Sciences building and the National Gallery of Art, and pairs them with low-key parties, such as game nights, potlucks, and stargazing at an alum’s private observatory. Both create space for conversation, discovery, and organic career networking. “Caltech connections have been very helpful in my career,” says Chen, who found a job in the Food and Drug Administration through an alumnus. “What is great about this community is that there is a genuine interest in helping each other.”