Clubs & SIGs Insider

July | 2025

Greetings

July marks a season of leadership transitions across many Clubs and SIGs, as well as within the HAA Board of Directors, which plays a vital role in supporting our global alumni network.

With deep appreciation, we thank Shahm Al-Wir AB ’98, who concluded his term in June as Vice President for Clubs and SIGs on the HAA Board Executive Committee. His leadership, dedication, and service to the HAA, the Clubs and SIGs network, and to the broader Harvard community have made a lasting impact.

Stepping into the role is Tara Abrahams AB ’99, MBA ’04, whom we warmly welcome as the new Vice President. Over the next three years, we look forward to partnering with her in support of Club and SIG leaders and alumni engagement.

New HAA Directors have also been appointed for several Club and SIG cohorts. Club and SIG presidents receiving a new Director were notified via email in June. HAA Directors are here to support your organization’s growth and to foster communication and collaboration across your cohort. Details on Club and SIG cohorts and their respective HAA Appointed Directors are available on Officers Lounge.

Please join us in welcoming the incoming HAA Directors and in expressing our sincere gratitude to the outgoing Directors for their outstanding service. The list of outgoing Directors can be found in the Spotlight section of this newsletter.

Warm regards,

Important Dates

August 18 – Action Needed
Registration deadline: Welcome to Your City

August 29
Harvard’s Global Day of Service

September 30
Welcome to Your City

October 22 & 23 – Registration to open in late-July!
Alumni Leadership Conference (ALC) – held on campus  

News & Updates

City Bound: Participate in Welcome to Your City

Welcome to Your City (WTYC) provides University-wide recent graduates (up to 10 years out) an opportunity to connect with their local Harvard alumni community. Eligible Clubs (2,000+ alumni) interested in hosting a WTYC event, and SIGs interested in partnering, must sign up by August 18. Invitations to participate will be sent to eligible Clubs and SIGs next week.

Learn More

Stay informed! Notify us of new Club and SIG leadership

Has your Club or SIG recently welcomed new leadership? Be sure to complete the Volunteer Leadership Form (VLF) to update us on any changes to your Board. This will ensure new volunteers stay informed about HAA-supported programs and receive important communications from the HAA Clubs and SIGs team.

Notify us of Leadership Changes

Bylaws Check: Review and Refresh Your Bylaws for Success

Summer is a great time for Clubs and SIGs to review and refresh their bylaws. Use the sample bylaws template as a guide to ensure your organization stays strong, protected, and well-organized!

Sample Bylaws

From Campus to Community: Harvard's Global Day of Service

Global Day of Service, Save the Date! August 29, 2025

The Center for Public Service and Engaged Scholarship (CPSES) invites alumni to participate in Harvard’s Global Day of Service on August 29. Held both on campus and remotely, this event welcomes the Class of 2029 to a vibrant culture that promotes civic engagement across the greater Harvard community.

Clubs & SIGs Spotlight

Club and SIG Directors gathered on campus at the Spring HAA Board Meeting in June. Our deepest gratitude to the outgoing Directors for their outstanding service and commitment to the HAA network: Shahm Al-Wir AB ’98, Tara Abrahams AB ’99, MBA ’04, Willa Berghuis Baynard AB ’88, Julie Bertolus AB ’02, Laura Birkman MPA ’12, Maryellen Gleason ALB ’84, Susan Kendall AB ’81, MPA ’99, Jim Richardson AB ’72, Jihan Rizk Khattar LLM ’07, Yuko Thomas AB ’92, and Will Wright AB ’03.

Harvard Alumni for Education and the Harvard Club of Victoria recently co-hosted a character-building hike to explore ways to strengthen character and ethical values in our communities. Participants received guiding questions to spark reflection during the walk. The event concluded with a group lunch to share insights.

The Harvard Women in Defense, Diplomacy, and Development (W3D) San Francisco Chapter recently partnered with the Stanford Women’s Impact Network for a lively social mixer, sparking meaningful conversations and fostering new connections.

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