Organizing the Dean’s Office for Development 67 capital campaign provided an opportunity to renew the board. Active advisory board members of appropriate means were invited to join the campaign committee, which carried the expectation of a major gift. Active members of the advi- sory board who lacked major financial means have eagerly accepted other roles. I wrote a friendly letter to each inactive member, suggesting various forms of engagement, but also offering a face-saving “way out,” since the formal advisory board was to be suspended for the duration of the capital campaign. A few were clearly grateful for the opportunity to resign gracefully; they remain friends of the college and part of our extended network. The campaign committee’s time is a precious resource. Multiple meetings will be needed in the early stages of a major campaign; each should have a clear objective and purpose. The committee can preview campaign materials and help the dean and development officer refine their messaging; they can help one another conceptualize and develop special projects; they can learn more about the college. At an early point in the campaign, particularly if some committee members are still contemplating their leadership gifts, an extended session with the campus’s planned giving officer may be enlightening. Even alumni who work in the financial sector may not be aware of all the intricacies of charitable gift annuities. Committee members find such information useful for themselves and it also becomes part of their repertory in conversations with others. Bringing the committee to campus offers the opportunity to meet faculty and students engaged in particular projects: for example, a summer archaeology institute, or a digital humanities initiative, or a science camp for pre-college students. Such encounters fire the imagi- nation, make the alumni proud of their institution, provide them with concrete details to describe to others, and renew their enthusiasm and commitment. If the campus is not in an urban center, it may be practical to hold at least some of the meetings in a city with a major transportation hub.