Neither is a text message the day of Initiation. But I guess that is better than not being invited at all. :rolleyes:

What I was thinking about doing was sending out a SHORT monthly newsletter via email, stating what we are doing and the calendar events for the next month that we would welcome alumnae at [e.g. if the newsletter is for September, the events are for October]. It would also include a few paragraphs on what we're doing, maybe feature some of our new members each month so they can kind of get to know them, and stuff like that. Good idea or bad?

I like that idea! I think alumni want to hear updates from the chapter just to hear what's going on, not only when the chapter wants to ask them for help. So, communicating with those alums about chapter activities, and inviting them to participate as guests could help some of those alums reconnect to the chapter.

There's nothing wrong with trying it out and see what kind of response you get!

Don't forget about connecting with alumnae through inCircle! Start a group for your chapter and post your messages there too.

PsychTau

Yes, that's what I thought, but I didn't want the alumnae to be annoyed ;)

I'm glad you think it's a good idea!

If people get annoyed because you are keeping them in the loop, you have a different kind of problem...I hope that doesn't happen.

I think it is a fantastic idea! :) I would go a step further and recognize any alum who show up during the month in the following news letter. It may help increase alum involvement.

My husband's fraternity sends him a quarterly newsletter. It is now around 8 pages long. I can tell you that it is both welcome and read. They talk about new members, chapter successes and challenges. They also have alum write about their memories.

Great idea about recognizing alumnae! Thanks for all the help, everyone. This is all great stuff!

This is so true what OTW said.

Alums need time to make plans with a family and or jobs to take time off to attend.

There usually an officer that is Alum relations and events should be set out for the semester and it is the chapter job to let Alums know so they can make plans on attending.

There are also so many things that Alums will be able to come back for:

Homecoming
Founders Day
Initiation
Recruitment.

Make your plans accordingly, let them know, or not have Alums show up.

To add a couple of things:

Have an interesting Alum as a key note speaker.

Recognize an Alum who has done a lot of work for the chapter.

I know I was given an award as the outstanding Alum of the century and it is where I can see it daily as it is one of the proudest things I have ever received.

The alum chapter I just joined purchases graduation stoles for the seniors (has them made outside of ZTA) but I hear next semester they're going to have approx 15 seniors graduating so there's talk of the seniors paying half and the alumnae paying half (about $40 a piece to have them made, vs $50 on the ZTA website). My collegiate chapter never did stoles, but we had a little party where we decorated our caps with paint and a few recent grads would come over to help and hang out with us while we crafted. Come May, the alum chapter will be having elections and I'm not sure where I'll fall - alum EC and/or advisor role. I think I'd love to be involved with the collegiates again since I've only been out of college for 4 years :)