The Cookie Jar Project

The Cookie Jar Project--which was created in 2011 to bring Plan II alumni together in small groups in various cities around the US--is the brainchild of Lalana Pundisto ‘04, who was kind enough not only to provide us with the idea, but also with the cookie jar itself, a vintage cermaic owl.

The Cookie Jar is symbolic, both of what the Program has done for its alumni, as well as how alumni can support current Plan II students. Here’s how it works.

First, for a Plan II alumni (or two) In major cities around the country to volunteer to be a ‘chapter leaders’. The chapter leaders' job will be to organize a reunion/party in their city.  The gathering will be centered around the idea of alumni coming together to sample, literally from the Cookie Jar, but metaphorically from their shared experiences in Plan II.

The chapter leader will be responsible for finding the place to meet (it could be in a home, a business or even a restaurant), arranging for the catering, and, most important, raising the funds, a) to pay for the gathering and b) to contribute to the Plan II Study Abroad fund for current Plan II students.  Our Alumni Liaison will help the chapter leader organize the gathering by sending out email invites to local alums and promoting the event on Facebook and LinkedIn.

While the event should be fun and informal, it should also have a fund-raising agenda.  Chapter leaders can compete to see who raises the most money and we'll publicize their progress in the Alumni Newsletter.  

Then, the chapter leader will pack up the cookie jar (with cookies) and send it on to the next city, where we will start over and promote the next gathering.

Who wants to volunteer to be the first chapter leader to hold a reunion? Write Phillip at planiialumni@austin.utexas.edu today!