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Quote:

Originally Posted by emb021 (Post 1732313)

Sorry, but I think those are some very limiting views of AAs.

AFAIK, there is nothing about a 'duty' of a chapter AA to give back or support a chapter, tho you would hope they would.

Nor should there be an expectation of geographic AA to help the Fraternity as their primary purpose.

The purpose of ANY AA is to bring our alumni together in a group and keep them involved in our principles. While certainly you would like AAs to help out chapters (either their own or locals), it should be a requirement or the like. While certainly you would like to see AAs as a resource for finding alumni volunteers, sponsors, chapter advisors, etc, its a mistake to assume everyone involved wants to do that. And you may very well scare off potential AA members with that kind of view.

As AAs can have separate activities and work from Chapters (and Sections/regions), its understandable that they would want to be able to recognize their members for their outstanding work TO and WITH the AA. Hence the reason I originally proposed the award. Unless that alumni is doing something specifically with a chapter (working as a sponsor, advisor, etc), they really aren't eligable for a Chapter-DSK. Unless that alumni is doing work as an alumni volunteer at the section/regional level, they really aren't eligbale per say for a section/regional-DSK.

I said that this has been my experience with AA's, and how they function around here for the most part. You can call it limiting if you want, but obviously YMMV here, so it is what it is. I'm not going to go into more detail because that's not what this thread is about.

Our alumni aren't all that interested in joining AA's and honestly I haven't seen much of a concerted effort from the national fraternity to make active steps to change this. I'm not inclined to change my mind until I see some real effort and guidance come from above to effect real change. I know change can come from the grassroots, but I'm seeing less interest there than I am from above. Again, YMMV, but I'm not really wanting to turn this thread into this subject.

Quote:

Originally Posted by arvid1978 (Post 1732328)

Our alumni aren't all that interested in joining AA's and honestly I haven't seen much of a concerted effort from the national fraternity to make active steps to change this. I'm not inclined to change my mind until I see some real effort and guidance come from above to effect real change. I know change can come from the grassroots, but I'm seeing less interest there than I am from above.

Having working to establish and try to keep existing an AA, I don't disagree with what you're saying here.

There are problems with getting AA going. Quite frankly, I don't see much effort from the national fraternity on fixing that. Personally, I blame some (some mind you) of this on our active chapters, who too often put into the minds of their members that "APO" is 'their chapter', so they never think about the fact they are part of a national organization and should consider being involved with that national organization in someway after college (whether its in a AA, an alumni volunteer of some kind, etc).

Quote:

Originally Posted by emb021 (Post 1732334)

I wish I could respond to this without reprisal LOL

Quote:

Originally Posted by Senusret I (Post 1732342)

I wish I could respond to this without reprisal LOL

Just get the Mu Alpha Alumni Association to get its members to show up for an Alpha Zeta Sigma night (or whatever letters UDC gets) and you'll have succeeded. :D :rolleyes:

Wonder how many of the members of the MAAA know what their closest active APO chapter is.

Randy

Firstly, thank you for posting this. It's a lot easier to bone up and discuss this when it's in easy-to-read terms.

I completely agree about the Alumni Associations. I'm the president of one we've just started State-Wide in New Jersey, and it can be a real struggle sometimes. There are alumni here that want to stay involved on a larger scale, but don't want to be staff - so the most natural thing is to be involved in the association. On the other hand, it's often an uphill battle getting people involved even on a once-a-month basis.

That being said, I really like the idea of the Alumni Association DSK. I think it's a small step that the fraternity is taking to include more alumni and try to make that a bigger part of fraternity life.

I also really like the Service Themes, even if they are a bit corny. But I'm biased as an ecology person and this is already a big part of my life.