I graduated in May from a 5 year old chapter. During my four years we hardly knew the chapter founders, even though they were so recently graduated. As a chapter we recognized that we really were going to need their support to function toward our 10-25-50 year anniversaries. We were also experiencing a little bit of lag from some of our new members, they just were not really getting 'it'. We took the chance with our 5 year coming up to really try to turn our alumnae involvment around. We made 5 year a HUGE deal. I was the CAL and was voted to hold the position for a year (we did semester terms) to keep consistancy with the planning.

To plan we really brought in the alumnae wishes for the weekend, which was held on our chapter founding date. They wanted an initation, we compromised with rededication (it was too hard the the nm schedule to initate that weekend) and it was beautiful.

Leading up to the event, my committee and I did a ton of research and talking with national to get an idea about the different forms of alumnae groups and finally settled on one that would allow our alumnae from all over the world to be members while supporting our chapter.

Essentially during our 'state of the chapter' meeting we told them that we wanted a group, and gave them the paper work. We expressed the need to have them involved in our chapter and lives. We outlined some of what we thought would really help the chapter, such as bi-annual visits, coordination of gifts, scholarships, etc. They signed the petition to national that day, we got a group president and then we left them to it to begin the whole process. Before we left though, we set the date for our 10 year while we had 25 alumnae sitting there.

We went to a very intense liberal arts school, where very few do not get burned out before graduation. Most needed time away, and then they were unsure of how to really become involved again. We're still doing bylaws a year later, but it will be an organization set up to allow lots of chapter interaction, or not depending on your own wishes. We have our first alumnae retreat in Ocean City, MD this summer and are pretty excited. Donations were made and we redid the living room of the chapter house. Eventually the group will be tightly tied to the chapter and we hope to keep our young alumnae around when they graduate while still letting them breathe.

Sorry this was so long, that is what we did and where we are at. We still have some official processes to go through, but we are functioning and currently have two alumnae on staff and two more who will be applying. It's helped moral and drama in the chapter, our nm now see the alumnae every semester and the homecoming gathering gets bigger every year. I'm excited even though we still have tons to do!!!

Remember, The First Step is just like Recruiting all over again.

The dumbest question is the one You dont ask. Can/Will You help us?

You will always have the 10 % who do and the 90 % who dont.

Example:

I have a Brother who didnt do anything for the Chapter, while His Wife was a Volunteer for ASA (Regional) and He did a lot of work for The Local ASA Chapter and Their House in constructin.

Got Him back in two years ago and He Received Outstanding Alum This last year.:cool:

Ask, it cannot hurt.:D

Everyone one of us remember what it was like back in the good old days. Damn, wish I was back there again!:cool:

Little E - I think it's really cool how ya'll got your alums involved!

I think it's also important for the collegians to realize their alums are there for them and appreciate the time, effort and resources the alums pull together for the chapter.

hahahaha we're still working on the appreciation part for the non-material. They are coming along though and it could just be the alumnae view of being under-appreciated. :)

Our sorority has a "5 year rule". You can not be an advisor of any kind to any chapter unless you have been a graduate for a min. of 5 years. This is disappointing as chapters need advisors and only younger ones are volunteering and being told no, they can't be an advisor. This has been frustrating for many people in different chapters (of my sorority) that i know. Right now i'm in a great position to volunteer but i am considered too young, but by next year, when i "qualify" i won't be living in an area where volunteering is possible.
I think having someone volunteer is better than having no one volunteer and the chapter hanging in the balance.
oh and a recent survey by the sorority revealed most volunteers are between the ages of 25-29.

I agree with taking alums up on their offer to volunteer. Right out of college, I wanted to sit on the advisory board for a chapter - it was the only chapter close by - and I was basically told they had enough people already. It took encouragement from other people to get me to get involved when the opportunity to help another chapter out came up.

I also agree that even people from what could be considered dysfunctional chapters should not be overlooked. My chapter closed and I am still an active alum and get a lot of positive feedback from people who are higher up in the national organization. People who come from a struggling chapter might be able to bring a good, different perspective to a group.

One additional thing I think could be done is to let collegians know that alum volunteers are in this for their love of the organization and that nationals should encourage collegians to view their alum volunteers in a positive light. I think some people might get turned off to volunteering if they get a "we don't need you, what do you know, you're not in college anymore" attitude from the collegians.

One thing that Kappa Sig has done, which is nice, is increase the number of ways one can volunteer. If you have a great deal of time (and money for that matter for travel), you can see about being an AA or try to serve on one of the commissions (legal, ritual, etc.). If you don't have quite as much time, you can do what I did and be an Assistant Alumnus Advisor. In that case you're mainly responsible for one officer, and it's much less of a time commitment. The fraternity as a whole has really made it easier to volunteer on different levels, depending on what you can commit.

I'd say overall, a big key is understanding - understanding that other alumni usually have a lot of other priorities (job, family, etc.), and understanding that any time they can give is a bonus. Luckily the alumnus advisor I worked under was extremely understanding about things and we worked really well together, but I've seen in Kappa Sig and other organizations where new volunteers can be burnt out fairly quickly.

As was said earlier - it has to start with the chapter realizing that membership is for life, not just your collegiate years. Of course that is very hard to do when you only have one or two alumnae acting as advisors or just helping in general.

My group also has a rule - I believe that it is three years. This is understandable because the urge to go out with your sisters may be too much to resist - especially if you are in a new area. But, that being said, it doesn't mean you can't help out. When I first started advising I was considered "too young" to be an advisor, but I cam around and helped anyway. I wasn't concerned about having an official title and the women actually were a little more open because I wasn't that "Nationals Lady" or "The Advisor".

So, just because you can't officially be an advisor, doesn't mean you can't help out a chapter. Be there for alumnae brunch (even if it isn't your chapter - hey your alumnae too), founder's day, serve punch or whatever is needed during recruitment. And expect to probably be unappreciated in the beginning - especially with chapter's that aren't used to having help or a lot of alumnae around. It's not that they don't appreciate you, it's that they don't realize that they should tell you so. Many will probably think you are getting paid - I alway had to laugh at that one!

Also, don't be afraid to join an alumnae association. A lot of the women I worked with didn't want to because they were for "old" alumnae. Like someone else said before, it's recruitment all over again. You'd think it was easier this time around - but, no.

I think GC is a great way for all of us to get fresh ideas and to figure out better was to not only help our collegiate chapters but also to help our alumnae become better life long members.

(BUMP)******

:)

THIS is so important! When I first pledged, I had no idea that alumnae groups even existed! The really sad part is that my chapter had almost seven alumnae groups in VERY close proximity to our chapter, but they never DID anything with our chapter. After serving my first semester as a Rush Chair, we knew we needed more involvement and invited our alumnae for a 'preview night'. We recruited volunteers to help not only financially, but also physically.

I guess it can't be reiterated enough: let people know there are opportunities. Very few people will seek them out on their own!

I agree with navane - when someone volunteers, take them up on it! I've been volunteering to help with the local collegiate chapter since the night I was initiated as an alum almost a year ago. I've emailed one of the advisors on several occasions and I'm always told they want my help and will get the information to me but then months go by and I don't hear anything. Any ideas on how I can get this moving?

Call the chapter house and talk to the President or and Exec member. If there isn't a chapter house find out from your HQ how to contact the chapter. At this time of year HQ's also have recruitment information for those that want to write recs etc. If you can't get with any of the collegiates or alumnae in the area - your HQ should be able to tell you when workweek/recruitment week is and how to contact the Membership VP.

I you want to help, don't let not getting info stop you. Just find another place to get it. :)

Re: Alumnae Volunteering - Comments Please
 

Now going into my second year as Advisory Board Chair, probably the biggest thing that has helped me recruit new Advisors is being flexible.

So many people are hesitant to volunteer because they think it will take up all their free time. It Doesn't Have To. When I had a recruitment meeting for Advisors last spring, I completely laid out what I expected of them as advisors right away. I expect them to attend at least one AB meeting in person per year; I expect them to attend at least one chapter meeting per year; I expect them to contact their officer at leat once a month via phone or email to see if there is anything she needs assistance with. That's really not a lot of time commitments -- perhaps 2-3 hours per month. It's completely up to the advisor if she wants to volunteer to chaperone a social event or assist with recruitment. And I think because I don't ask a lot, they are usually willing to help out with those events.

I spend upwards of 2-3 hours at the chapter per week (it's been about 10-15 during the summer while we're redecorating), but that is my decision.

We also use email extensively as a means of communication. I email the advisors probably once a month with updates and meeting times. Notes from the minutes are also distributed via email.

The PDC, RDC and Regional AB/H for the fraternity were a great resource in helping me recruit more women to the AB.

Let's reverse it...
 

What if you have a volunteer who WANTS to volunteer, but for some reason or another the chapter doesn't like her? For example, if she's had a bad attitude, tries to run things, acts like she's still in college and tries to go out and party all the time, or is just plain rude?

While it's nice that she wants to give her time, in the long run, it's not really helping the chapter. What do you do?

You hope that other alumnae will put their foot down....

Been there, done that.

And I will say that I completely agree with not letting new grads advise chapters (especially their own). They are too close to the girls currently in the house and will have a difficult time exercising their authority successfully.

I think those women should be encouraged to get invovled in their local alumnae chapters to see a different side of their organization.

Besides, young alums have a LOT going on as they transition into the job world and everything that goes along with that. The LAST thing you need is an alumna who is gung ho to volunteer and then 6 months down the road realizes that life after college is much more involved than she thought it would be.