Stop Alumni abuse and waste now! SAAWN

[James]

So you want an alumni program . . . Ok after you read this post pull out your word processor and draft the following:

A letter dated in October inviting alums back for homecoming and a special event you plan in conjunction with it.

A letter dated late fall inviting them to your semi-formal/formal.

A letter dated in the spring for your other formal-semi formal.

A letter inviting them to initiation.

A letter inviting them to whatever 13th annual something you hold.

A newsletter that informs about you but also targets alumni . . . have an alumni classified/updates section where they can write in to you and post updates, hello's etc. Make sure that at least 2 go out a semester. (one is better than none though)

Alum spotlight section . . .? It boggles the mind.

STOP always begging for money. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

Do something sneaky and actually plan Alumni reunion day . . . people get nostalgic about reunions, especially around founder's day . . . or homecoming!

Ok a bit more in depth . . . Get a bloody web site! And put a secured section on it where you can post events, a discussion board, update addresses etc . . . and have it password protected . . or not if you don't have the cgi script.

Mention the web site, the alumni section, newsletter, and All upcoming events as far in the future as possible in all letters and newsletters. This way every letter is an advertisement about all upcoming events . . . it creates a stronger hold on the mind the more you hear about things.

Also begin every letter with sentences summarizing and thanking people for ALL the events that just went by. Even if few or none showed up.

For example . . .

To: Alumni

From: AC chapter of ABC

Re: Semi-formal and upcoming events.

I wanted to thank everyone that came out to the Haunted Trail this holloween we had a great time.

Also your participation in homecoming was a lot of help. Although will someone please tell John smith '77 not to fall off the float again?

Just wanted to invite you to the semi formal coming up December 12th . . . details follow.

Also keep these dates in mind:

Feb 5 founders day/Reunion day

March 6-12 Greek Week will we take the cup again?

April 7th formal . . .

Sincerely, blah.

What I find is that people complicate things when it comes to writing programs. Just systematically include alumni into larger chapter events. Keep them over-informed. Tell them you miss them. Guilt is good. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

Instead of asking for blatant donations all the time, tax them a little. If you are having reunion day and expenses are 5 dollars a person charge 7 . . .

After you do this for a year make it part of your undergrad program to pay ten dollars a year to the chapter after you graduate. that way they expect it, and cite the cots of newsletters etc.

Waiting the first year or half a year will give your program credibility and then you can voluntarily ask alumni to contribute ten dollars a year. Have a table set up at events http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif And give them a pen or something . . .freebies never hurt.

Seriously, take an hour or two and just draft letters and the format for a newsletter based on last years' activites. That way you'll have them on file (disk and notebook).

I would be interested to see how many people would actually start this. I am myself right now. Please say something here or email me privately if you do, or want to discuss more ideas.

However, if you are unwilling to sit down for a couple hours and game something out then you probably don't want to have an alumni program in a meaningful way.

Oh, and don't get frustrated if attendance is bad at first . . . Focus a lot on recent grads also . . . they still know and like you. If you can stop losing them in the beginning it will help.



[This message has been edited by James (edited February 26, 2001).]

[DeltAlum]

James,

Brilliant.

[OTW]

Thank you, James for providing your ideas. I hope that a lot of people will be able to strengthen collegian-alumni relations this way.

I am fortunate that my collegiate chapter has fabulous alumnae support. In fact, they have been a 5 five star chapter 5 years in a row!!! They absolutely love being included in our events (Rose Ball, fundraisers, etc.). At our last initiation last semester, one of our alumna actually cried because she hasn't seen an initiation for 17 years. Being a military wife she wasn't able to be a part of an alumnae chapter until she moved to Honolulu. The alums are also the ones who hydrate and feed us after a long day of washing cars. And they're also the ones helping 10 girls fundraise to go to Convention this year.

Because of moments like that, the alums mean so much to me, and I wish the best of luck to all of you.

[sigmagrrl]

I must also applaud your post! You should send that to your fraternity's national magazine!! May I borrow a few ideas??

[DeltAlum]

Undergrads...

Write those letters now. Avoid the rush later. Not pun intended.

DeltAlum

[Tom Earp]

What many of you do not realze, that without Alum/ Supprt chapters fail! How would you like a chapter that does't tell you Sh__! Then they complain that they have NO cooperation from the the Alumni? Well DA keep the the Alums informed. I got back in with both feet when We almost lost our charter! I still kept in touch. All I heard was the Alums don't come around, well why should we if you do not keep us informed! It is not tne alums fault if you F Upped. We all have lives to live. Remember, it is always a 2 way street! Do not cry little children! I hate to hear that they are just kids. Well Hell I was just a kid when I started the damn thing. 35 yr. later we are still going!!

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Tom Earp LX Z#1
Pittsburg State U. (Kansas)

[James]

Thank you for the positive feedback! You'll turn my head with such flattery http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif.

I believe that the basics of what I mentioned above provides the framework of an alumni program.

Now the trick would be if we could maybe brainstorm with eachother and add depth and breadth to that framework.

For example, creating (assuming you haven't already) an alumni mentoring program where an active/alum pair grouping is established.

This might work especially well with current officers/chairs and past officers/chairs (now alum). Why always reinvent the wheel, learn what they already know.

You could ask for volunteers generically through your letters and more specifically in letters from current officers directly to alum ones.

The relationship could be based primarily on emails, computer chat, and phone calls. Where you agree to converse a minumum of once a week at a set time.

As a side benefit I bet you guys become friends and they have a renewed interest in the chapter. And they are more likely to motivate other alum they know to help out. They will be involved without smothering you.

Important Fact: The greatest motivator for Alumni are other Alumni.

Side idea: Have an alum as a co-chair for the committee and ask them to establish an alumni committee (if only on paper) to help you out.

And have her/him sign off on your letters.

You can expand the program a bit if you like and have alum mentors to pledges/new members.

The mentoring thing may work out especially well because:

Past officers had a lot of ownership in the chapter.

Sometimes as people get older they have silly ideas like the chapter is to childish for them or inappropriate to be around. This gives them a mature relationship.

Another note: If you don't make a special effort to contact your chapter founders (the living ones) or perhaps the oldest surviving members you should be spanked http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

You owe them everything, and starting a chapter is such a labor of love.

Let me relate a story (stop reading here if you are bored).

There was a chapter of my fraternity started many years ago in Canada. The founding president went on to become a very important supreme court judge, but did he forget his chapter? No.

In every composite since the first one there are bright young faces . . . and his, slowly aging over the decades as he went back every year and helped nurture his chapter.

His face slowly aging in that composite every year of every decade until his death a couple years ago.

I believe that level of love and dedication probably exists in a number of our alumni, we just need to give them a meaningful way to express it.

This story was especially touching for me because I was the founding president of my chapter (colony and chapter).

So bring on the ideas http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif.

[dzrose93]

Awesome ideas! I'm on the Alumnae Advisory Board for the DZ chapter at the University of Georgia. Our National Headquarters just made the Alumnae Relations chair an executive board position in an attempt to get more alums involved with collegiate affairs. I'm sending a copy of your note to the girl in charge of Alumnae Relations at UGA -- she's been asking for ideas and this will give her PLENTY to start working on! THANKS!!!

Carrie

[matthewg]

Here is one more James,

(by the way - good ideas, it is funny how that resembles current European fraternity structures)

Well, have a local alumni and possibly even chapter member as an alumni officer! He can also oversee things at the house and is often NOT overheard when there is a need for money for repairs in the house that are to expensive for the actives to pay.

cheers,
Matt

[Miami1839]

I love these ideas. Especially yours DeltAlum. James, that was a touching story. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif As I've said on another thread I'm about to get involved with the Beta Theta Pi DC Alumni Association. These ideas are a great help. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

Kevin

[This message has been edited by Miami1839 (edited March 07, 2001).]

[SilverTurtle]

James,these are some incredibly awesome ideas! I would like to share them with our collegiate chapters, if you don't mind. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif



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SilverTurtle@greekchat.com

Phi Beta Fraternity (http://www.phibeta.com)
Phi chapter (http://homepages.go.com/~phibetaphichapter/index.html)

[equeen]

James,

As a Chapter Founder and Alumnae Sister, I certainly appreciate what you're saying - not to mention they're just great ideas, period! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif

------------------

@-->---
Pure as Silver, and True Blue!
Alpha Sigma Kappa - Women in Technical Studies (http://www.alpha-sigma-kappa.org)

[Kapsig1]

I am a Kappa Sigma alumnus who is very involved in both my chapter's alumni assoc/house corp and also on a national level. I can tell you THE single most effective suggestion to improve alumni relations with the undergrad chapter:

Recruit 3 or 4 ALUMNI to direct, plan and implement the alumni relations program! Alumni want to hear about the chapter, sure, but they want to hear MORE about the guys they went to school with. Solid, consistent newsletters to alumni (3 or more per year) with 80% alumni/ 20% undergrad news is a must. Initiate a "Hall of Honor" to recognize those alums that have excelled in the community, business, fraternity, life, etc. When recognized and honored as the living, breathing example of what it means to be a "XYZ", these guys will (usually) become your biggest fans.....and CONTIBUTORS!

[MooseGirl]

I don't want to make excuses, but i guess the reason we fell out of contact with alum is that their contact info changes and they don't tell us or national...they just disappear. Fortunately an alum chapter has reactivated here and, as an alum now, I am working on tracking everyone down. We sent out an alum newsletter...I've received several returned, but at least now I know what addresses are wrong. And because I'm so nice, I'll share this info with the active chapter so they can start work on their own newsletters.


------------------
Delta Epsilon -
Phi Sigma Sigma

[Tom Earp]

MooseGirl, I can totally relate! My Chapter sat on their hands and so did the Alums!
I had an incident at our Founders Day Dinner 3 years ago and got really incensend!
Got back in with 100 % of my self and was designated as the official locator! I guessed my voice would carry weight!
I contacted International and asked for the disc of my chapter and started there.
I already knew local Brothers and contacted them or their parents if that was all I had. I started out with 10 E-M and have built to @ 190. Because of the phone cards I sell in my store,I was able to contact Brothers all over the country and got updates from them. I used search engines looking for names. i found names and called them. A lot were wrong but I hit a Gem of one. Found the parents of # 8 and called him. It is a long hard struggle but at the last Founders Day which we used a hook as the 35 th Anniversay of the Founding of the local, we had 80 +.
I am now pointing to the Homecoming and then next Founders Day again to get even more back!
The Alums are the life blood of any chapter as they are the ones who will work with and go the extra mile! Not all of course!! We are looking to build a new house and we do not want to put the chapter in over their heads so we started a Building Drive!
It would behoove the chapters to stay in contact as there are some hard driving Alums such as my self who get others and who get others ETC. ETC> ETC!
I keep pushing the actives to keep the Alums informed of what is happening!
I dont know how many times I got E-M from Alums who say keep the info coming as like to see what is happening even though they cannot be there!

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Tom Earp LX Z#1
Pittsburg State U. (Kansas)

[AOX81]

I remember reading this post a long time ago and I remember it having a lot of good ideas. I'm an Alum and I'm helping the active members get their stuff organized so the communication between ALL members will be improved.

Your ideas are wonderful James.

[AXPAlum]

I agree, it's just that many people don't want to or just don't have the time or effort to sit down and do this type of work. It takes a lot of dedication and energy to get your alumni to attend. Not mention the $$ factor. Good ideas, yes, but now the trouble is finding a small group that can take on the task and go through with it without being half-assed.

AXPAlum

[DWAlphaGam]

I'm really glad that you ressurected this thread, AOX81! Thank you! I recently became alumnae relations advisor for my chapter, which has had virtually next to no contact with alumnae for the past few years. We have made great strides in the past 2 years, finally producing a newsletter, setting up a website and a Yahoo group, and having alumnae day again, but our contact is still very limited. I will be passing this thread along to the alumnae relations coordinator to see what we can come up with as far as using some of these ideas for our chapter. Thank you, James, for your ideas, and if anyone else has any other ideas, please pass them along! :)

[UMgirl]

I 'd also like to say thank to James for starting this.
I would just like to say that also...when you invite alumni down to help out with stuff...LET US HELP! And if we give you advice, its not that we dont think you dont know what you're doing or talking about, its just that we 've known the campus longer then you and have been through what your going through. Its never hurt anyone to ask for help :)

[AOX81]

Originally posted by DWAlphaGam
I'm really glad that you ressurected this thread, AOX81! Thank you!

Your welcome :)

[Tom Earp]

UMGirl, a very good point!

In our better days, we sent out a news letter 2 times a year!

It high lighted what the Chapter was doing and at least something about 2 Alums! It gave a list of events of per semester, Births, weddings, who got Initiated, recruted, and a state of the Fraternity Message from the High Alpha, President!

Alums do want to help where they can as 98 % remember what the good old days are even though they be only Graduated for one or two years!

Everyone loves to see their name in print.

No one was more suprised that me when I was presented the Alumni of The Decade Award at Founders Day!

One of the few times I was Speachless!

Remember one thing Tho, it can only be put in if they are notified!

Also with the cost of printing and mailing it can be a drain on the Budget. Cyber sends can only reach so many. If you do not have the address, well they do not get the message!

That is why getting e-m is so important and you can only get that by working your tail off! Well of couse if they remmeber to send you a change of address!:)

[LXAAlum]

One thing about invites - don't send a homecoming activity invitation to alums just two weeks before the event - give a minimum of 3 MONTHS lead time for alums to get the calendar squared away - life in the "real" world (work, spouse, kids) gets full-up quickly. The more lead time, the greater the probability of attending.

[UMgirl]

Originally posted by LXAAlum
One thing about invites - don't send a homecoming activity invitation to alums just two weeks before the event - give a minimum of 3 MONTHS lead time for alums to get the calendar squared away - life in the "real" world (work, spouse, kids) gets full-up quickly. The more lead time, the greater the probability of attending.

Thank You!

[sweetie adpi]

hiya... i'd found this post a while ago but hadn't posted... i wanna take the opportunity to thank james and those who posted more ideas and resurrected the thread... one of our chapter goals is improvement in alumni relations, and you all have some great ideas going on here, so... thanks!!!

[Tom Earp]

We had a Leadership or mentoring meet with our actives and discussed the points that needed to be laid out for them!

1 Set an agenda
2 list the agenda and let me know as I am the one who sends out e-m Messages. A lot off hard work but have over 200 now!
3 Put together a Lambda Gram, our newsletter!
4 List dates of events so that the Brothers will be aware of them early enough to make plans to come back!


Alums have familys, and while they still have the feeling, it may be hard with out early notice they cannot come!

I know ours are all over the country and have to set up plans to be there!

Try 2 main times of the year! First Semester, Homecoming. Second Semester Founders Day! This way, maybe they can come back for at least one!

If they can come for at least one, you have won the battle, you get them there! If they have a good time, heck it is like glue, they will stick!

But of course, they need to know what is going on!

After 4 years, I am finally getting Brothers to send me changes and getting leads and e-m list to put in our data bank so we can let them know!

Sad but true, I have @ 200 out of 600!


They really want to hear from you!!!!!!!! They will do more if you do!

Remember, they had the love for the Fraternity/Soroity to spend time with you. It is hard to turn that love off!:) I rember every member of the local I started and am pissed because I am missing 3 out of 20!

I am still looking!

[pinkyphimu]

Originally posted by LXAAlum
One thing about invites - don't send a homecoming activity invitation to alums just two weeks before the event - give a minimum of 3 MONTHS lead time for alums to get the calendar squared away - life in the "real" world (work, spouse, kids) gets full-up quickly. The more lead time, the greater the probability of attending.

Wow...three weeks...that is a lot in my chapter. I once received an invite to initiation 3 days before it was scheduled! I live 6 hrs away from the chapter, so I had no chance of ever making it. And it was scheduled for a Wednesday at 10 PM, even the local alums couldn't make it!


I really appreciate all of the suggestions that everyone has made. I wish the girls from my chapter were reading this! When I was collegiate president, I added the position of corresponding secretary (our chapter was pretty small so we had one secretary doing recording and corresponding prior to this). I graduated 5 years ago, and each year since I have received less and less mail. As a matter of fact, I don't think I have seen a newsletter in over a year! And we have a chapter association, too. I have gotten one newsletter in 2 years. It is definately hard to contribute to the chapter's wish list when I haven't heard a thing from them!!

[KillarneyRose]

Great idea James, I can't believe I didn't see it the "first time around"!

Unfortunately, when I was in college we looked at the involved alumnae as people who basically had no life. What a shame! I'm sure there would have been so many sisters who would have loved to be included in things but weren't.

[EagleChick19]

BUMP!!!

[AlphaSigLana]

I was just elected VP of Alum and heritage of my chapter. i am so excited. I have gotten great ideas from this forum. The VP before me did a great job getting alum involved so i hope I continue to do the same!

[Tom Earp]

Hey Sweety, thanks for moving this up in the threads a bit! Congratualstions!!!!!

If need any help, Just a moment away!:D

Ya Da Best!!!!!!!:)

[AlphaSigLana]

does anyone know what NOT to do with Alum?? I am trying to come up with creative ideas, but I also don't want to do something that may be too hard for them to participate in(due to their schedules etc)

[LeslieAGD]

Originally posted by AlphaSigLana
does anyone know what NOT to do with Alum??

Don't call/e-mail/bug alums when you only want money or want them to fix your mistakes. As a recent alum, the latter seems to be the only time I ever hear from my chapter. :rolleyes:

[angelic1]

This is a real good thread.. I have gotten a couple of good ideas from it...

Until this semester we really didnt have much contact btw our alumni and our chapter. We have great advisors (alum) that help us out and are very dedicated, but that was about it. SO.. my main goal was to improve this.. I got selected as the IG chair of alumni relations...

this semester I have...

set up a listserv-- i have emailed them a bunch about upcoming activities to invite them to them.. also so they are aware of whats going on

set up an alumni section to our website-- they can put announcements here

held an alumni brunch before a football game

created a newsletter

an updated a lot of files.. granted this is not a lot but has taken up a lot of my time.. since we had only a list of names without really update email or addresses..


though i have gotten such good feedback from them. Everytime I send out an email to them, I get at least 15 back saying how great this is and how excited they are.. I hope that if we keep up this our alumni will start coming back more and more to things.. my goal is to have at least 30% come back to our 25th anniversary formal (still a few years away)...

[UofIL AXO]

Bump!

[Tom Earp]

As I have said many times, it takes a lot of hard work! But guess what, it will be well worth it when you see the Alums coming together!

I am starting an e-m drive to get Alums back for Founders Day in Feb! Yep that damn early!

I did this 2 years ago and we had 80 +.. Well, I want more this time! I will get it as I am a bull dog in doing things!

Dont give up the fight! In the words of Brother Rambo, the 10-90 %. 10 % do the work and 90 % dont do anything!

Use the KISS principle, keep it simple stupid!

[AOX81]

This is such a good thread that I thought it needed to be bumped up...again! :)

[ajuhdg]

I'm so glad y'all bumped this up! I'm an overseas alumna with lots of time on her hands, so I've been in close contact with my chapter! We've got a new collegiate advisor and she's making a lot of changes!

I hope you don't mind, James, but I cut and pasted your email to a word document so I could email it to her! The only true activity that I remember as a collegian is asking them to come to our rush preview show. (We'd present materials for each day of rush, outfits, skits etc.) But, not much more...except the money thing....of course!

However, my school is in the final stages of completion for the Greek Park. All the sororities will have a house, and rush will now be conducted from them. I hope that interest will grow, considering total is usually only about 60. This information couldn't have come at a better time for me! THANK YOU!

Adrienne

DELTA GAMMA

[James]

Thats great. Just keep in touch with her. Follow-up is crucial.



Originally posted by ajuhdg
I'm so glad y'all bumped this up! I'm an overseas alumna with lots of time on her hands, so I've been in close contact with my chapter! We've got a new collegiate advisor and she's making a lot of changes!

I hope you don't mind, James, but I cut and pasted your email to a word document so I could email it to her! The only true activity that I remember as a collegian is asking them to come to our rush preview show. (We'd present materials for each day of rush, outfits, skits etc.) But, not much more...except the money thing....of course!

However, my school is in the final stages of completion for the Greek Park. All the sororities will have a house, and rush will now be conducted from them. I hope that interest will grow, considering total is usually only about 60. This information couldn't have come at a better time for me! THANK YOU!

Adrienne

DELTA GAMMA

[Tom Earp]

James, thanks for getting this back up!:cool:

Any updates from previous posters??:confused:

All of the above still need to be carried on to get Alum growth.

This Wed. 14 KC area Alums are going to the T-Bones BaseBall game just to have fun and BS. If there are Alums in your area, just fun get togethers are great. Bonding is a way for Alums to get together and even talk about the Chapter and what is happening!:)

[cougarchic]

I think all these ideas are great James!

I'm the New Member Educator for my sorority and one of the things that we do with our alumnae is have "Alum Chums". An Alum Chum is paired up with a new member at the beginning of the pledge semester. Throughout the pledge semester they have lunch together, the new member corresponds with them through letters and phone calls, we invite them to bid day and initiation, and the alum usually gives them a gift at initiation, and they're invited to any other chapter event we feel is necessary. It is just a way for us to establish a relationship with our alumnae and new members and showing them from the start that membership does not end after 4 years.

[Tom Earp]

We as alums do a leader ship meeting twice a year to work with the Chapter!

We are trying to get them to have New Assoc, Members to write email to an Alum of their Choice so we as Alums can give them advice. Work with them or be big Bros away from the Chapter!:)

[PsiU_EN]

i wish i read this thread earlier it really could have saved me some headaches.

[James]

I think it got burried by the alumnae initation threads.

[33girl]

Originally posted by owlie33
Use a little common courtesy for crimeny's sake. If you are having an alumna even -- here's a novel idea -- make sure the active members are there, not hung-over and not in their pjs straight out of bed.


Unless the alums are coming in from the bar of course. ;)

Seriously - if you are having problems with the way the collegians are treating you or feel they are being disrespectful, SPEAK UP and criticize constructively. The lack of mail could be due to lack of funds, and the unpreparedness for an alum event could be due to a lack of chapter communication that needs to be addressed.

But the collegians won't know anything is wrong unless they're told that no, just because this is the way it's always been doesn't mean that's the way it will always be. We had crappy alum relations when I was a collegian - my senior class changed that by coming back not just to have fun but also offering help and criticism when needed. It's a two way street. It changed the way actives felt about alums, and I am as close with some sisters I met as an alum as I am sisters I actually was in school with.

[Tom Earp]

Owlie you are not the only one in a row boat with out oars!:(

This is where the Alum Chair should be one of the most important Offices of any Chapter, but is relgated to a minor position!:mad: Everyone want so Be Pres or Social Chair!

I have worked for many years now trying to get email addresses updated and then some change them and I am not notified! They get pissed when there is no information coming, and ask why????

Then, when the Active Chapter wants me to send out Alum and Active Information, I have had Alums tell Brothers I just ignor Toms Emails. Why arent I getting any updates!:eek:

It is a long and hard trip to get many Active Chapters to realize, that the Alums want to know what is going on With Their Active Chapter and will be more than willing to work for them because of the Love.

Side bar: I was down at the Chapter several years ago and there was a situation and I asked 3 of the main actives to see me. I asked them about a situation and was told it was none of my business, they were the Chapter Actives. They Ran it!

I looked at each one and said if it wasnt for me, We would not be having this discussion now!

The new ones now better than the old ones:rolleyes:

I can do it my way! Oops, hey Alums We have a Problem! Well, by then, it is to late! I can speak from a vast number of years experience and still fight it today!:( Oh, I am not the only Alum from My Chapter or many others from different Greek Orgaizations.

Just hang in and keep plugging along!:)

Do you have a Chapter House?

Do you do things for Homecoming and Founders Day?

Do you have a listing of Alums that You and some others keep in touch with?

Maybe do an Alum thing back at college just for Alums! Oh let the Chapter know you are doing it and for Alums only! Howl and knashing of teeth by the Active Chapter for being left out?

Sorry this was so long, but I just get pissed about Avtives who feel they can do better than those who were before them and can do it better!:rolleyes:

[James]

You need to build a procedure into the chapter. Its not enough to have an alumnae chair, they have to have a specific job that is ongoing.

There are some ways to cheat. If the chapter has a web site make sure they have a secured part of it and put the minutes online.

Or create a listserv and put all the alums emails into it and put the minutes of chapter meetings on it. It also encourages alumn to talk amongst themselves.

If all events are on there, then alum are about upodates a s possible, and i assume that you are welcome to stop by normal chapter events?

This once a year or once a semester Alumni Day is stupid. You should have that and also invite alumni to your normal chapter functioning including formals and semi formals.

Formals and semi formals can also be a sense of revenue beucause you can over charge the alum that attend.

But you need to set upa chapter process, and honestly, there should be a National process or procedure to cover all this.

Originally posted by 33girl
Unless the alums are coming in from the bar of course. ;)

Seriously - if you are having problems with the way the collegians are treating you or feel they are being disrespectful, SPEAK UP and criticize constructively. The lack of mail could be due to lack of funds, and the unpreparedness for an alum event could be due to a lack of chapter communication that needs to be addressed.

But the collegians won't know anything is wrong unless they're told that no, just because this is the way it's always been doesn't mean that's the way it will always be. We had crappy alum relations when I was a collegian - my senior class changed that by coming back not just to have fun but also offering help and criticism when needed. It's a two way street. It changed the way actives felt about alums, and I am as close with some sisters I met as an alum as I am sisters I actually was in school with.

[33girl]

Originally posted by James
This once a year or once a semester Alumni Day is stupid. You should have that and also invite alumni to your normal chapter functioning including formals and semi formals.


I totally agree - we never had alums at formal when I was in school, but once we started going I think it helped relations btwn alums & collegians tremendously. When the only time you see alums is at annual functions, you don't connect with them any more than you do with the yearly antihazing speaker or any other annual program you have.

The point is to make the alums feel that even if they are not always WITH the chapter, they are still PART of the chapter. I don't mean running it, and that does become a problem, but - one of our regional directors (I heart you Deb :D) has encouraged us to not use collegian or alum, to just say SISTER. After all, that is what we are. When we don't differentiate between the two we are really enforcing the idea of lifetime commitment.

[Measi]

Reading through some of the more recent responses (since this is a long time thread), I thought I'd give some insight in what's happened with my own chapter.

I'm currently the "old" alumni who is willing to help the chapter out-- I graduated in 1997. At the recent degree ritual to welcome our newest class into the active chapter, I was the oldest at 29, despite the fact that I personally know about a half-dozen other alumni older than me who live in the area. My chapter had a literal shut down the year after I graduated because of a bunch of different issues (both internal and external). Since the chapter was reinstated-- all the pre-shutdown alumni have drifted off... many have no desire to be a part of the chapter in any form. Many are too far away.

I was not one of those people and have tried for the past five years to get back in touch with them and get involved-- this year, with our chapter's 20th anniversary, I FINALLY was able to make headway. And things have happened fast.

In the course of literally two months, I've worked with chapter members to do the following:

1) Get an updated list of all alumni... get a bi-semester newsletter out, and start rebuilding contact with alums

2) Begin developing a website that's both readable and informative. I explained to the chapter that the website isn't as much for the actives as it is for alumni and potential new members as they look through their options in college life. Since Tau Beta Sigma is a specialized sorority for band musicians, we need information out there to create interest as well as keep alumni informed-- with dates in advance-- of important events.

3) Created an alumni liason position to help support the alumni and historian positions for next year-- and hopefully make it a permanent chapter "alumni active" position.

4) Spurned the idea of rekindling a ceremony our chapter had called the "Kin Sister" where each MC received an alumni big sister-- allowing alumni with dead family lines to have a reconnection to the active chapter. Since only ONE family line in our chapter now exists back to the founders, this need for connection has a more poignant stress to it.

The astonishing thing that I've found since jumping in here is that the chapter always wanted the help... but often times really don't know where to look or know how to contact alumni (who can be intimidating by the simple sense of being older). I have to admit that it does feel a bit awkward being ten years older than many of the actives (the chapter doubled to 18 members this year with an MC class of 9), but it's more frightening to me that these active members don't have the memories of the older alumni helping them out-- the oldest "regulars" who come to degrees and other events are two or three years out of college.

It just takes one or two alumni who are willing to help out and get the ball rolling!

~ Mel.

[XOMichelle]

Wow! I'm a recent alum, and my chapter has so much to do, I hardly think it is their sole job to keep alumni realtions up. I'd rather they focus on being a better chapter! I don't need them to plan reuinions for me (although a tailgate during homecoming would be nice!). If I want a reunion, I can go to my alumi association and plan it myself.
Personally, my chapter spent too much money this year trying to get in contact with their alumni. When the advisors helped plan an alumni brunch at the reuinion, they spent hundreds of dollars more than they had budgeted, and didn't seem to care that it wasn't thier money. Also, the chapter did two mailings to hundreds of alumna, when one annual mailing would be sufficeint. It really kills me to see them not have enough money to buy food on retreats, but have the advisors go hog-wild on a brunch that didn't bring in enough donations to cover the cost.

[Rudey]

Originally posted by XOMichelle
Wow! I'm a recent alum, and my chapter has so much to do, I hardly think it is their sole job to keep alumni realtions up. I'd rather they focus on being a better chapter! I don't need them to plan reuinions for me (although a tailgate during homecoming would be nice!). If I want a reunion, I can go to my alumi association and plan it myself.
Personally, my chapter spent too much money this year trying to get in contact with their alumni. When the advisors helped plan an alumni brunch at the reuinion, they spent hundreds of dollars more than they had budgeted, and didn't seem to care that it wasn't thier money. Also, the chapter did two mailings to hundreds of alumna, when one annual mailing would be sufficeint. It really kills me to see them not have enough money to buy food on retreats, but have the advisors go hog-wild on a brunch that didn't bring in enough donations to cover the cost.

I asked Firehouse about this at some point on GC. He summed it up very well by saying it's their job to concentrate on being the best chapter and the alumni's job to get organized on their end.

-Rudey

[hendrixski]

Hey
My chapter has a small alumni network (150, we're a relatively new house) and after having read this and many responces I'm glad to see we're on the right track. We have about 10 alums show up on average to events such as our formal dance and retreat.

cool beans. thanks

[Tom Earp]

What Rudey said is true to a point but a very good one!

Alums are the "Old Ones" no matter per se when they graduated.

But the factor of trying to meld, weld and work together is the main and hardest factor.

Alums are there to assist and abet the Local Chapter. Many times We as Alums are more over bearing than is neccessary but all in all, We are trying to do for the Chapter.

I was talking to a Brother from a different chapter last night and damn are they having problems. Not with the Active Chapter so much as having an Alum Assoc. and now a House Corporation trying to tell the Actives How To Do Things. They dont own a house, so the Housing Corp. for a better word is a moot point until:

1. they buy land.

2. They build or rent a house.

The fine line is when we and the Active Chapter find that find line of working together. But The Alums or those working hard and the Actives who change Officerships yearly can get a happy medium. Can anyone tell me where that is?:(

[Measi]

Originally posted by 33girl
I totally agree - we never had alums at formal when I was in school, but once we started going I think it helped relations btwn alums & collegians tremendously. When the only time you see alums is at annual functions, you don't connect with them any more than you do with the yearly antihazing speaker or any other annual program you have.

The point is to make the alums feel that even if they are not always WITH the chapter, they are still PART of the chapter. I don't mean running it, and that does become a problem, but - one of our regional directors (I heart you Deb :D) has encouraged us to not use collegian or alum, to just say SISTER. After all, that is what we are. When we don't differentiate between the two we are really enforcing the idea of lifetime commitment.

Ditto--

While it's important to get contacts out to alumni for the big events of each year, it's just as important to give alumni a heads up to the chapter meetings or weekly hangouts so that they can come and spend time with the chapter in a more casual atmosphere-- because really, that's where you get to know people and stay connected.

I live about 25 miles from my undergraduate chapter, and since none of the active sisters have cars (it's honestly a pain in the neck to have one in Boston), my casual time with them has been to invite them out to dinner. Since they don't have cars and want to see other parts of Massachusetts, I pick them up, we hang out and chat wherever, and then I bring them back to campus. We don't even necessarily talk chapter stuff-- but get to know each other as people. It cuts down that intimidation that I'm an alumni and therefore on some weird level that they're not.

~ mel.

[Tom Earp]

We try to have two major functions for Alums to come back a year.

Homecoming and Founders Day. They are each in a different Semester. We also have House Corp. meeting to coincide as that is when most Alums do come back when they can.

So, the main point is, that The Active Chapter let the Alums know what the dates are and what the plans are, dinner where, time of events and where, and getting reservations for Motel rooms so most Alums can stay at the same place.

What I have done over the years is try to get as many emails so that when the information comes to me, I can get it sent out.

Mailings are expensive unless you can use the Schools bulk mailing system. But the problem is, if it is not placed at the earlies date and you keep on them, the news letters may get lost in a cubby hole.

We use to have two mailings a year for Active Chapter letter, but it has lost steam because of membership and money. The Alums have sent out Newsletters, but each of us kicked in money and did mailing parties, drink some bear, BS, Fold, stuff, lick and stamp! Thank god for the beer!:D

[BlondeGurl]

*bump*

I found this post to be one of the best place to go to get ideas on invovling your Alum!! I bumped it to get some fresh ideas! :D

[Measi]

Originally posted by AlphaSigLana
does anyone know what NOT to do with Alum?? I am trying to come up with creative ideas, but I also don't want to do something that may be too hard for them to participate in(due to their schedules etc)

Speaking as an alum... make sure you introduce yourself to the alumni at events. Say hello. Make them feel welcome. The alumni have made arrangements to come to an event that isn't front and center in their lives anymore. Appreciate them with a simple thank you.

One of the more heartbreaking things that I never understood as an undergrad (and now DO as an alum) is how lonely alums feel at rituals and other events. Older alumni don't know people-- please help them!

[adpiucf]

For Collegians who have taken on the office of Alumnae Chair!

Congratulations! Your first duty is to get a copy of your budget from the Treasurer. And next, unplug your computer and pick your telephone. Then call (yes, that's right! CALL) the president of the alum association! Something along the lines of:

Hi, this is MY NAME. I'm the new Alum Relations Chair for CHAPTER of GLO and I wanted to introduce myself and set up a meeting with you sometime in the next couple of weeks to plan some events with the chapter and alum for next school year. When would be a convenient time and where shall we meet? I'd also love to know what is a good way to keep in touch with the alum and provide chapter updates. Thanks!

* If you have to leave a voicemail and the president doesn't call you back, call back.

Your next duty: meeting with the alum president.
By this time, the alum are crafting their calendar for next year. Social activities abound. Take a look and piggy back onto these to avoid overprogramming. Include the social chair of your chapter in this planning so you can build these sisterhood socials into the actual chapter social calendar.

When you work WITH the alum association, rather than springing an event on the alum with 24 hours notice, you get a better turnout. The alum will also help promote your event to the other alum through their emails, phone communications and newsletter.

Plan on at least one social event in the fall and get the dates for recruitment and initiation from the other chapter officers so the alum can participate, as you know you will want alumnae at those important events! Also, get dates for membership education and enrichment workshops, retreats, new member ed, etc... all are great to invite alum to -- they can share in the events and offer a unique perspective, assistance and really feel a part of the chapter.

Chances are, you have taken office in the winter/spring semester. You have lots of time to prepare your graduating seniors spring send-off tea, or to work with alum to come to your chapter house to give alum ritual. This is typically a standing event. Talk to your outgoing alum relations chair about what worked the prior year and what didn't. Work WITH the alum association to promote and plan the event. When you plan together, everyone wins. Get the alum to help you promote to other alum.

Give your alum president all relevant chapter dates. For example, why not plan a service project or charity event together?

Above all, check in with the alum president 1/4ly. The alum send out a newsletter to their members, so why not email or mail her a blurb of what's new at your chapter. The alum will stay informed and you don't put a penny toward postage.

Need replacement equipment for ritual or the house? Put together a brochure explaining your cause and how alum can assist, and have the alum assoc mail it out with the next alum mailing.

Lastly, always show appreciation in the form of handwritten thank yous and verbal appreciation to alum volunteers and event attendees! Rely on your advisers and past officers for guidance, and have fun! It also makes your office go more smoothly when you build a committee of other sisters to assist you with your events and planning. You could be grooming your replacement for when your office ends!

[Tom Earp]

While adpiucf post is very great, it is long.

Basically, treat them with respect and dignity.

Remember, they were there before you were and if not for them, you may have not be there now.

Alums are there to help for The Love of the Sorority and The Chapter. they have been through all of the Newbie, Ritual, Officerships, Sisterhood, and Love.

They are not strangers, they are Sisters, older maybe but still Sisters. Act proffesional and give them a little thank you!:)

A little thank you is all that is asked.

[WesternAlumn]

Thanks, adpiucf. I will be forwarding your message to our chapter's alum chair. I hope that they will get better turnout at events.

[James]

ttt

[James]

bump

[nittanyalum]

Thanks for bumping this thread. Has anyone had any experience getting alumnae re-involved in a chapter that's been shut down or reorganized? Is there a way to avoid/get over their feeling that "their" chapter doesn't exist anymore and get them re-engaged?

[honeychile]

Thanks for bumping this thread. Has anyone had any experience getting alumnae re-involved in a chapter that's been shut down or reorganized? Is there a way to avoid/get over their feeling that "their" chapter doesn't exist anymore and get them re-engaged?

Yes. Get a printout from your HQ of all of the alumnae in your area (ours does it by zipcode, so you may want to figure that out first), and throw a "Recolonization Party".

Remind them that their vows were not to XZ chapter of ABC, but to ABC! Also, they are going to living a lot in "we used to do it this way". Have the chapter listen to this phrase politely, and later discuss whether or not it would work now. It's one of the hardest parts for both an alumna and a collegiate, to bridge that "way to do it"! Neither way is inheritently wrong or right, but one way will work better for the current chapter.

You may have to court them at first - let the chapter hold a tea or a tailgate party for them - something fun. Once they remember the fun aspects, the ones who are true to their sorority will come around.

Just one thing to remember: in this day & age, most women have to pick one or two activities over and above work and family. You must make being an active alumna attractive enough to be one of those two activities!

Good luck!

[33girl]

Thanks for bumping this thread. Has anyone had any experience getting alumnae re-involved in a chapter that's been shut down or reorganized? Is there a way to avoid/get over their feeling that "their" chapter doesn't exist anymore and get them re-engaged?

I'm guessing you're talking about the alums of that chapter in particular, rather than just area alumnae?

It depends on how the closing or recolonization was handled to begin with. If it was handled respectfully and with concern for the women who became alum, your chore shouldn't be too difficult. If it wasn't handled that way...well, you have work on your hands. And if it's too soon (i.e. if the recolonization was immediate) - it's going to take a while for the wounds to heal no matter how nicely everything went down.

With respect honey - it's all well and good to say you joined a larger sorority - but the plain truth is were it not for THAT chapter, you would not have come to that larger sorority. Chapter loyalties are not going to go away in NPC until we radically change the way we recruit members.

All parties involved - the alumnae, the actives and the national officers who work with the chapter - need to be on the same page for what they want the chapter to be and agree to work together and KEEP THE COMMUNICATION LINES OPEN so that a recolonization/closing never need be necessary again. There are chapters out there that have recolonized multiple times. It's hard to get the alums to buy into supporting "their" chapter if they're afraid they're going to get their hearts broken by seeing it close again.

If the chapter recolonized after a long dormancy, every effort should be made to find "big sisters" or "alum chums" from the chapter alumnae. They obviously won't serve the same purpose as a normal big sister would, but they help give the "old" and "new" sisters a sense of continuity. At some schools family lines are very important, so this shouldn't be discounted. You'll know whether or not that's a big deal at your school.

Look in the old scrapbooks and see if there were any old traditions that fell by the wayside when the chapter started to struggle. If there are, see if they can be brought up to date to be something the current chapter would enjoy and can share with alumnae.

Good luck!! :)