What kind of events does your alum group hold?

[Sistermadly]

Hi all,

I've been asked to think of some potential social (and maybe philanthropic) events for the alum chapter I'm joining, so I thought I'd ask here for some suggestions.

I came up with a "Ladies Garden Party" (inspired by Oprah's "Hat" party), but I'm not sure it would go over well here since I live in a very informal West Coast city. I also thought of a night out at a sporting event, but I could really use some other suggestions.

Thanks!

[nyrdrms]

I only know of a few things that the local alumnae group does...I'm still a collegiate...but as far as philanthropic events, they do community service through Adopt-a-Spot and they invite our collegiate chapter to join them.

[SmartBlondeGPhB]

I strongly feel that the first thing you need to know is what the MEMBERS of the chapter want to do. A chapter with an average age of 50 is going to be interested in different things than a chapter whose average age is 30.

Our Alumnae Chapter is much younger than most (probably because the founders were/are younger), and by young I mean most are anywhere from just graduated to 35. I just sent out a survey to our email distribution (some are actual members of our chapter and others just attend an event now and then) to see what they would like to do. A lot of the answers are mom-n-me things (if they have kids), pottery stuff, we do the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, we have monthly happy hours to give people a more casual (less intimidating) manner to meet us, we tried a book club, we folded clothing and other things like that for an organization that works with foster children. A few of us did a baseball game but that's going to take a lot of coordination to get the money and buy the tickets, we are going to the new glass museum in Tacoma in March, we've had a Pampered Chef party to raise money. And we've considered other things.

I can think of at least one of our alumnae chapters (dallas) that has an older age group and they do other things.

If you'd like to see the survey for sample question, or would like any other info let me know (a PM might be the easiest). I don't want to give you more than you want.

You could also go to www.gammaphibeta.org and look at the list of our alumnae chapters. A number of them have websites (linked to our site) and they list their activities.

Let me know if I can help any other way.

Melanie

[kateshort]

I'm not currently a member of my local alumnae association-- I'm in grad school about an hour and a half away from many events, so I'm waiting until September to re-up! -grin-

Anyway, these were some of the events that they had each month for the past year and a half:

Christmas Cookie Exchange (duh!)
The Cuban Experience (sister described trip)
Origami Art plus Dress for Success (donating old suits)
Potluck Dinner plus Pop Tab Collection
Pool Party
ADPi Great America Day
Pre-Mother's Day meal at RMHC
Local Chapter Founder's Day
Handling Your Finances
Bonsai Cultivation plus Flower Sale Fundraiser
Margaritaville Party
Initiation Robe Sewing Party
Attendance at RMHC Benefit
Speaker from Hospital on Meditation
Cookie Exchange and Game Night
Tea for New Initiates at Another Local Chapter
Soap Making
Poinsettia Sale Fundraiser
Pottery Painting Party

[One that I didn't list was a party/meeting where a professional chef cooked tasty menu items right in front of us, passed around samples, and provided copies of the recipies. Like some events, there was an extra $10 cost to bring the guy, but it was worth it!]

Charity stuff could involve you hooking up with any local organization that needs assistance, from singing carols at a nursing home to assisting at a women's shelter or donating items to a food pantry or veterans' org. And of course anything that benefits the RMHC is cool, too.

Social: DATE PARTY! Woohoo! Okay, maybe not. -grin-

[Tom Earp]

While we as guys do a little different,

Cigar tasting and steak dinner with a video on making cigars, ( Ladies Do Smoke Cigars ) these days, a golf outing just for fun with a BBQ afterwards.

You can try these, but what about a wine tasting with hors de vours.

I used to give wine tastings and they went great. I can fill you in a little more if interested in this.

Good Luck!!!!!!!

[Sistermadly]

Originally posted by SmartBlondeGPhB
I strongly feel that the first thing you need to know is what the MEMBERS of the chapter want to do. A chapter with an average age of 50 is going to be interested in different things than a chapter whose average age is 30.

Melanie, you've been a tremendous help! Our group is pretty young; as a matter of fact, at 34, I think I'm one of the oldest members -- if not the oldest -- in the chapter. While a few traditional events might be fun (I'm thinking garden party/teas and that sort of thing), I definitely need suggestions that would appeal to a younger group of people.

Thanks for the suggestion about finding out what the members are interested in. I'm going to design an online survey that the members can complete, and that'll give me a good idea of what things people are interested in. It's hard to be "the new girl" and know exactly what people are into.

Thanks again!

[Sistermadly]

Originally posted by kateshort

Social: DATE PARTY! Woohoo! Okay, maybe not. -grin-

Heh. Most of the women in my chapter have significant others, but maybe a double date party would work.

Thanks for the excellent suggestions, Kate! I'll definitely float them by the other members.

Tom - I think there's a wine tasting party in the works for later this spring, but I don't have a copy of the calendar in front of me, so I'm not sure. Cigar tasting definitely wouldn't go over with our group, since almost all of us are non-smokers. I was thinking of doing a BBQ at the beginning of the new school year, something that we could do with the collegians as well as something that we could bring friends and family too.. seems like we're on the same wavelength!

[fire1977]

One of the alumnae groups in my area went to Sephora for makeovers and they seemed to really like it.

Another one writes congrats letters to the graduating seniors of the surrounding chapters which I think is an awesome idea!!

[SmartBlondeGPhB]

And to think I forgot the most popular two events.........

Wine Tasting/Tour and Beer Tasting/Tour

We have 2 wineries and a brewery right by weach other and they've had great turn outs. We usually try them as our "back to the year" event in September.

And don't worry about being the "new kid". I have trouble figuring out what people want to do and I've been doing this for almost 4 years!

At least if you do a survey, no one can complain that you didn't ask them. And if they don't fill it out (and still choose to complain) well....(nonsisterly response).

I'm at the older end of the age group of our chapter and I'm only 33.

[SmartBlondeGPhB]

And to think I forgot the most popular two events.........

Wine Tasting/Tour and Beer Tasting/Tour

We have 2 wineries and a brewery right by each other and they've had great turn outs. We usually try them as our "back to the year" event in September.

And don't worry about being the "new kid". I have trouble figuring out what people want to do and I've been doing this for almost 4 years!

At least if you do a survey, no one can complain that you didn't ask them. And if they don't fill it out (and still choose to complain) well....(nonsisterly response).

I'm at the older end of the age group of our chapter and I'm only 33.

[SmartBlondeGPhB]

One word of caution (and some of you are probably going to hate what I'm going to say) not all alumnae want to assist collegians. There are alumnae who want the social aspects only and don't see why they need to help the college chapter (even if it's their own). I'm not just guessing on this one either, I have experienced it in my own alumnae chapter. Some women LOVE to help the collegians but some don't want to help becuae "it's not my chapter".

Try to give a little bit for everyone.

These are some really good ideas though and I'm going to pass them along to our Exec Board (since my term is almost up)....

I really like the idea of an event with another alumnae chapter....

[GPhiBLtColonel]

...our annual Xmas party is REALLY popular -- we do an ornament/decoration exchange and a potluck and give a cute little award for the alum with the most festive Xmas sweater/outfit on

we are doing our 2nd "crop till you drop" scrapbooking party next week -- we do a potluck (yes our group LOVES food!) and then we scrapbook our alum chapter scrapbook for 3-4 hours -- we did this right before our Convention this past summer and the scrapbook turned out so well it won Honorable mention!

We had a BLAST at our Family Pool Party and potluck BBQ -- one of the members has a great pool and yard and the kids and hubbies and boyfriends all came -- it is now an annual tradition that is just so much fun!

And Houstonchica's dear hubby is doing a wine tasting party for us -- with alums bringing their hubbies/boyfriends -- in March that will for sure be fun!

oh yeah, we did a joint Founders day luncheon with our Atlanta Alumnae chapter

and each summer we have a Summer Salad luncheon for all the collegian Gamma Phis who live in our area -- that was very well attended and enjoyable...

[pinkyphimu]

we also have a younger group (22-35ish). we have a "ladies night out" once per month and a regular chapter event. the ladies nights are usually at a bar for drinks and appetizers. these are usually held on week nights. our main events are held on the weekends.

here are some of our ladies nights ideas:
-bars
-movies
-going to a baseball or hockey game

some of our main events:
-trips to the museaum of fine arts
-a psychic party (lol, but our psychic didn't show up)
-one of the hotels in the area hosts a "chocolate brunch." basically, you pay one fee to eat all kinds of unique scrumptious chocolate things. it is really bad for you, but it tastes soooo good.
-a holiday party which we usually do as pot luck and we have a philanthropy theme. last year, we collected women's and children's pjs for a local women's shelter.
-shop till you drop...in nov., we meet at this huge mall and get a head start on the xmas shopping!

some of our philanthropy events:
-yard sale for our national philanthropy
- volunteering to answer phones for the local public tv station's fundraiser

[AOIIalum]

Cele, your holiday ornament potluck sounds like a lot of fun. You may see that idea being used by some AOII alums next holiday season I also love the scrapbook idea and kateshort's Dress for Success suit donation philanthropy!

Here's what we have on our calendar so far for our alum chapter reorganization:

Make It Bake It Sew It Grow It auction
Collegiate Chapter 10th anniversary events
Finals Kit fundraiser (proceeds to benefit our 2 closest collegiate chapters)
Paint Your Own Pottery night

A few of us have met for coffee just on our own, so we may start a monthly "Coffee Break" for those alumnae who are home during the daytime and would be interested. I know we have a lot of younger alumnae interested, so maybe a monthly "ladies night out" like pinkyphimu's alum chapter does would be a good plan. We've also discussed going to a local restaurant that does a nice Tea Luncheon early this year.

There's a huge age range in our area so my goal is to provide a lot of options to meet up with sisters that appeal to differing ages. I think the survey idea is great, I'd love to see a copy of what you sent out Melanie.

I love GC, what a great place to brainstorm ideas!
Fraternally,
Christin

[AOX81]

Our Alumnae group just started back in October. We are having our first event this Saturday!! We are all going out to dinner at a very nice restaurant followed by evening of dancing at a new bar in town. As of right right now we have 25 Alumnae that will be attending!