Capital Alumni Network
The Capital Alumni Network (CAN) was founded in 1997 as an association of alumni chapters and clubs serving the Greater Metropolitan Washington, DC area. CAN is a networking organization that coordinates events, runs interalumni sports leagues, and provides a clearinghouse for information of interest to leaders of member clubs.
By December 2000, over 60 alumni groups had joined CAN. Today, CAN counts over 220 alumni chapters and clubs as members. Monthly meetings are held at the George Mason University campus in Arlington, Virginia for representatives to share IDeaS and to collaborate on events.
CAN sponsors a number of coed sports leagues and tournaments each year, including:
- Softball (Spring/Summer),
- Soccer (Spring/Summer),
- Golf (Tournaments vary)
- Flag Football (Fall/Winter),
- Basketball (Winter), and
- Volleyball (Winter).
The outdoor sports leagues usually play their games on the grounds of the Ellipse on the National Mall.
In addition to its sports leagues and its regular meetings of local alumni board officers, CAN also organizes a March Madness basketball viewing party and participates in University Row at the Virginia Gold Cup.
CAN is affiliated with and assists a number of groups relating to education, including Hands on DC, the Hoop Dreams Scholarship Fund, and the Capital Alumni Toastmasters.
Although similar in purpose, CAN has no relationship with the Inter-University Capital Alumni Network (ICAN), which was founded in 2002 and is based in Ottawa, Canada.