I know for my chapter the Alumnae are pretty involved. We have several advisors that are alumnae of this chapter. Every year we also hold an Alumnae Weekend (which just happens to coincide with Homecoming to get more people) so that everyone can come back and meet the new sisters. Also, we have a lot of local alumnae that come back and visit.

It really depends on how active the sister was during her college years and, as I have seen, it also depends on how much the sister is reached out to by others.

d

As a former president of our Alum Club, the most-effective alumni programs I've witnessed are alumni-driven. What this means is that there is an elected alumni board who plan alumni events, work with the chapter, etc. Alumni respond best to their peers. They like information from the undergraduates, but they will be most interested in those they know. An undergraduate alumni relations chair should play a supporting role to a primarily alumni driven effort. This ensures sustainability over the long term. In addition, your alum board must make efforts to incorporate new alumni in otherwise it runs the risk of domination by a single era of alumni.

Admittedly, I am not involved in our alum chapter nor do I frequently visit my collegiate chapter. It's not even a matter of not having time. It goes back to the whole 2-way street thing. Our alums don't put in that much of effort to keep in touch with each other and they don't do that many events with the collegiate chapter. The collegiate chapter hardly ever has alum events and, when they do, there's a very poor showing of collegiate members at these events. It's not uncommon for my chapter's alums to "disappear".

There needs to be more effort on both parts. Perhaps the collegiate members sending the chapter alums newsletters, birthday cards, holiday cards, etc. The alums need to arrange more fun events with the collegiate members. The socials the collegiates and alums have had at my chapter are where the alums come to the old chapter house, having some lunch, and sit around. Not too much fun. With all the theme parks being 30 minutes away from the UCF campus, I often wonder why we haven't had an event where the collegiates and alums all go together to Disney, Pleasure Island, Planet Hollywood, or Universal Studios.

I think part of the reason why our young alum don't get as involved is because they're like me in that they're trying to get their careers started on the right path....trying to get their foot in the door at their company. I'll pull 50+ hours a week of busting my butt so that I can make a name for myself. I know many of my pledge class sisters and the pledge classes that are only a year or two ahead are the same way. With trying to better ourselves within our career, we don't have the time to put into the alum organization. Sad. And, the older alum tend to have families to take care of. That usually leaves the much older alum to take care of the organization. Since our chapter is so new (1971), we don't have older alum. Our older alum are from other chapters.

I finally reconnected with some actives at my chapter. I periodically kept sending the chapter house letters asking them when stuff was and getting no response. No phone calls, no letters, no emails. For about 4 years....

I don't know how to quote from more than one post....earlier in the thread someone said s/he would meet people who say, "I *was* in a GLO." When someone says that to me, I respond, "Oh? Did something happen?" I say it with a smile, and usually the person acknowledges that it should be present tense.

As for Tanya's statement -- it does behoove a collegiate chapter to stay in touch with their alumnae. The collegians may not fully appreciate that, though -- Tanya, did you only contact them? I think writing also to the Chapter Advisor would get results.

More importantly, remember that when you join a national (international) GLO you're becoming part of an organization a lot larger than the college chapter. Wherever you move you ought to find the alumnae group. Even if you are starting a career, a marriage, a family and don't have time to be a participating member, make the connection! The social fee is not prohibitive. You will be able to help a sister or be helped by a sister who's not only not from your chapter but not from your generation.

Some years ago Alpha Gam used the slogan "the beginning that never ends." That is true for all of us in NPC!

AGDAlum

P.S. Let this thread be a lesson for all the collegians, too -- welcome alumnae, no matter what chapter and what age!

When you as alumni and advisers feel you have done everything in your power to assist a chapter, then it's time to get your National/International Headquarters involved. Let them know what's going on, too. We had a situation like this recently where we advisers were tearing our hair out because it seemed the actives were not listening to anything we said and we watched the chapter go further and further downhill. Then we got our HQ involved. It might be a crude "scare" tactic, but those girls will take notice if higher-ups get involved. Ultimately the goal is to help them be their best so the fraternity can be its best.

It's true, it's very difficult to strike a balance of what you feel will benefit you the most (career, marriage, etc...) in your life and your GLO. You don't have to be Super Greek on the local Alum board, acting as adviser and on the local Panhel, I think even just paying your National Alum dues (which are usually very minimal) can go a long way. Maybe once a year--during recruitment, during the Holidays--drop a quick letter or card to your chapter (or any chapther of your GLO that's nearby), just to let them know you still care.

It's hard to keep hope when you keep giving and get no response, but don't give up. And don't foucs solely on your chapter, if you're closer to a different chapter, contact them. Contact other alums in the area--even if they're from different chapters or different GLO's. Get together and brainstorm about better ways of keeping in touch.

And it's okay to not be as involved right away after you graduate. We have a "rule" that an alum must be out of school 2 years before she can be a chapter adviser or chaperone a social event. I think it's good for two reasons: You get that time away from your chapter to diminish the burn out effect, and the girls you were potentially closest to have pretty much left the house, so it makes it easier to be impartial and do what you have to do as an adviser (which includes doing things that may sometimes may be seen as unfavorable or unfair to the chapter members).

Re: 2-way street
 

right. I and another member have been giving Our Alumni updated information on what's going on with our Chapter. Right now, Our Chapter's Alumni Association has been reactived, so it's pretty cool.

I tried to get involved with the Junior Circle where I was. I went to one meeting and they said they'd let me know when the next one was because a changeover was about to happen. I didn't hear from them again. Tried contacting them later and got reconnected and as active as life would allow me. But I've really wanted to be involved as alumnae in my chapter which was about 1 hour away (a doable drive).

I did contact the Chapter Advisor. I'm told that the Advisor that was listed has not called anyone back, from the chapter, from the alums, from international HQ (but I'm getting a 3rd hand story here so I try to take it with a grain of salt). They got a new Chapter Advisor right before I managed to reconnect.