Caltech alumni, also know as Techers, are a special people. Regardless of when they graduated or what degree they earned, Techers share a unique bond with one another across generations. Tables for Techers (www.alumni.caltech.edu/tables-for-techers), hosted by the Caltech Alumni Relations (CAR), is an annual event held over a weekend. Launched on June 22 and 23, 2023, the event was designed to bring together the Caltech community at small, local gatherings around the globe for fellowship, fun, and food. In 2024, the event will take place on July 20 and 21. To bring Tables for Techers to life, dinner hosts are recruited through CAR's digitial platforms (emails, social media, etc.) to organize dinners at their home, in restaurants, in parks, or at food trucks. To make Tables for Techers an effective event, guests are invited to find a table near them. Guest communication was also done through emails, social media, etc. To align hosts with guests, an internal matching system was managed by our incredible events team, and final seats were shared with all confirmed parties. For any host dinners with low attendance, communication was cast to alumni in a dedicated area near the host home to encourage sign-ups. The process worked! This event brought together hosts and guests, turning strangers into friends.
From the Judges
Caltech demonstrated a remarkable and innovative approach to using volunteer time and attention. Engaging volunteers can often be challenging, but their unique method resulted in a wonderful turnout.
