KTSnake,

You and I graduated the same year and I've gotten some great info. starting back years before on GC from you.

Best Wishes!

Boodleboy322

Oh yes, We have had the same thing happen many times.

New Grads/Alums feel closer to The Actives and try to harbor them from the big bad alums.

One after finally 4 years finds out He is an Alum and Not An Active.

Being Active and Alum are two different things. But, that is not to say as an Alum, You are still not active in The Chapter.

Remember, We are Alums and have been there and done it and trying to pass along information that will help keep the Atives out of pit falls that We all did.

LXA requires an Alum Advisory Board and an ADVISOR or insurance rates go up.

While most Chapters feel they can and will run on their own, who do they call when in need?

I have been doing this 40 years now and amazing how much S--t Chapters get in and dont know what to do!!!!!!!

Dont try to run dailey things but try to advise when you see something that is wrong or be a mediator.

That is all, damn is snowing like hell in KC!:mad:

I might not live in the same city anymore but I can still help out by the use of a computer by updating the alumni with information.

I try to stay close to the chapter the best way that I can.

I can understand that chapter's frustration with their recent, younger alumni/ae. My chapter has been going through some very similar things with our recent, young alumnae. While we love them and respect them, they need to realize that they are alumnae and really have no say in the day-to-day dealings of the chapter. They also need to not get butt-hurt about it. I love my chapter and have been pretty heavily involved from the get-go but I don't want to be the 'sketch alum' as someone posted, so I'm starting to distance myself slowly now (about a yr to a yr and a half before graduation) so that I don't get that shock of no involvement when I go alum.

I guess people who are still in school at the same university might be more involved with their groups. I graduated with my UG degree in 2003, but am at the same school for grad studies. I refuse to go to mixers or anything like that (hehe although the girls always ask me to come) but I do like to help out a lot with recruitment and fundraisers or anything like that. I agree with the person who said it depends how involved a person is as an active. I was very involved (except during my last semester when I had lots of clinicals), so of course I still try and help out sometimes. I actually have become friends with some new actives that I am glad I have gotten a chance to know.

Thank you sir.

Just noticed that phenomenon myself. Happened at our last initiation when I was getting to know the new guys. My initiation date is now officially older than most of the new guys birthdays.

So, yeah....now I'm old...too afraid to look in the mirror to confirm though...

Guess I best log off and take my afternoon nap now...:p

If your chapter has lasted through these years, you've done a great job as an alumnus.

Congrats :D

It'll be an amazing thing to see when that happens... Probably 16-17 years from now.

I graduated in May 2004, but I'm a full-time graduate student at the same university. Although our national bylaws allow for graduate students to remain "active", our school's Greek Life Director won't allow it. So, I'm kinda a mix between alumni (I don't pay dues) and an active (I've attended all the meetings, philanthropies, socials, etc). Instead of dues, I tend to give my chapter donations and help pay for leadership events and other stuff. Luckily for me, most of the current brothers were initiated while I was invovled, so they all know me and enjoy my company. They're attempting to give me an Advisor title, but that hasn't been made official yet. Given all that, I think I will attempt to remain as involved as possible with my chapter and fraternity for as long as I am able. I know quite a few "Fraternal 50's" in our area and I would love to one day say that I've been in Beta for 50 years.

Young alumnae events
 

In the small city where I live, all the young alumnae from my sorority always joined the advisory team for our local collegiate chapter because the active members in the local alumnae chapter are all older. When I took over as chair of the advisory team, I assumed this was normal, but now the advisory team is full and I still wanted young alumnae to be involved, so we've started a young alumnae group. Basically we are a special interest group within the larger alumnae chapter--we get together once a month for happy hour, etc. It is helping reach out to young alumnae who have never been involved and hopefully encouraging them to also give the alumnae chapter events a chance--even if they might be the youngest women there!

As a chapter adviser, I have to say that I think it is pretty sad when I see recent alumnae show up for the collegiate chapter meetings/events/etc. Being an adviser is okay if you understand that you aren't a collegian anymore, but I think it is pretty sad if you come and act (get drunk and hit on college guys) when you aren't a college student anymore.

As more time goes by, I am better about not worrying what is going on with the chapter as far as drama goes. I just want to know all about the good things that they are doing or planning.

I do think it is a good thing to stay connected to your chapter because it is a part of you. You just don't need to show up at every event or try to tell the current chapter what they should do except when it concern the alumni involvement ;).

i would question this. your university shouldn't be able to dictate who can and can't be a member. That is set by Beta, which is a private organization. If you are at a private school, it may be a different story. But at a public, i'm pretty sure they can't override Beta policy in the area of membership.

I graduated last year, but am currently doing a fellowship program at my college this year. Although I have made it a point to allow the active members to make chapter their own and to do what needs to be done, I still hang out with them and attend ceremonies. I think it's important for them to realize and see that as soon as you graduate, your committment isn't over. I am a Delta for life. I also think it's important for me to not step in a lot because they need to step up and let chapter grow in new ways and I don't want to hinder that.
SO yes, I think it's good for you to hang out with them, but don't over kill it. An occasional night out on the town or a birthday party or ceremoney is cool.

I am a recent alumna but to be honest, I need some time away from it all. As much as I love my sorority, I need a break b/c I have sooo many other things on my plate such as my wedding later this year, entering grad school in the fall, & we just bought a new house. I won't be as active as I had originally planned but that's o.k. When we move into our new house either after the wedding or after the house is finished being built, I'll perhaps look into being an advisor for the chapter where our new home is at but the future Mr. BDE is not too thrilled about that. He thinks Greek Life is a college thing. :rolleyes: I have to explain it better to him b/c he just doesn't get it & he never has.

*bump*

Any thoughts on how to get young alums who aren't active interested in participating in alumnae activities?

We've learned that our University's sporting events are a good way to get people involved... and of course celebrating major holidays or special days.

Peer pressure. Get one from a 'clique' to get involved, and then encourage her to bring her friends. Also every chapter has that woman that people just can't say no to. Put her on the task and have her bring the more possible ones in. Eventually, it will become easier.

Think of it as re-recruitment. Get them interested.

While there is an age difference, when We get together at certain functions, the Age thing disapears as We all have things in common.

An Alum has what is known as Pierce Stock, a Yearly outing @ the 4 th of July and All are invited from the oldest, Me, to the newest. It includes Girl Friends, Fiances, Wives, and Kids.:D

Besides eating and imbibing, there are Horse Shoes, Fishing at the pond, Badmiton, Croquet, and later fire works.

Our Alum Golf Tourney is always a big hit. Also includes Family with Kids at after gathering. It is also noted that any Active can play and many do.

We do a Monthly Alum Meeting at a different Pub and any and all are welcome. Granted, some Young Alums think they would feel out of place until they get there and see what a god time it is jsut being with Brothers and BSing. More show up each time!:)

For Soroitys, how about a Wine Tasting, Gourmet diner, everyone brings something fancy.

A trip to a local museum, Historical Site in Your area, some place fancy that everyone would like to go to but dont. Girls night out at a local Bistro a night at the Ball Game. Minor League Team if you have one, is cheaper!

What do they like, BBQ, Mexican, Steak or what ever?

Got to start somewhere, just try anything!

My entire exec board is young, and what we do is plan events that we want to go to. When we stopped trying to get all different age groups involved, we finally were able to get more alums to come to our events. And from that we've been able to fill a lot more positions on our exec board and for collegiate advisors with all the new sisters coming.

I was involved for over a year as an advisor (assistant alumni advisor), but as things got more hectic in my life I ended up stopping after a year. It was a good experience and I'd be up for doing it again when I have the time.

That said, I've been available for help if any of the undergrads need it, and at some point I'd like to donate.

Ditto That.

The Problem is those that dont ever come back or are part of the Chapter.:(

Trying to Micro Run The Chapter as a New Alum is not the way.

Advise given is only advise. If they do not learn to lead and teach those that follow how else will the learn?

Tom,

You are very wise. I started advising a sorority chapter less than a year after I graduated and now I understand why our nationals suggest you wait three years after graduation before advising. This chapter has benefitted from the time and attention I've given them through advising, but now it is time for me to step back and encourage them to seek more of the answers themselves and changing my habits is hard. If I can't give over more control to them, I know I'll need to find someone who can.

Unfortunately in the small city where I live, advising is the only alumnae activity that appeals to younger alumnae. Having learned from my experience, I am unwilling to put them on the advisory team, so I have formed a young alumnae group that meets for happy hour or an activity every month. It has only gone on for a year and enabled me to meet a few new young alumnae who might otherwise have not gotten involved, but it is the same handful of young women who show up every month--and most of them won't even show up to the larger alumnae chapter events. I wish I could make them appreciate the older women the way that I do, but I think I will need to be satisfied with keeping them involved in the sorority just through the occasional email or happy hour.

Sorry for the rambling,
Angie

Angie, Please Ramble on!!!!!:)


We had an Alum that took 5 Years to figure out He was not an Active.

He was a Real Pain in the ass. Great, take up the Active Stand point and piss and moan about Alums. Finally I told Him, Hey you are an Alum, start acting like it. He has and is a Great Alum!:cool:

Never say Never, It is Alums that do so much and get little reconition for what the feel and do!

If We as Alums didnt, where would We as Chapters and Nationals Be?;)

thanks for all this information
 

Thanks for everyones postings. It's good to see that everyone has expiranced the same things as me. I graduated in Fall 2003 and I really miss just hanging out with my sisters and having preplanned events to go to. I am at graduate school at the same school that I went to as an underground. I am tight with a couple people and they invite me to stuff. Some how one of them talked me into going to a fraternity event her boyfriend's fraternity was having, so she didnot have to go alone. I know alot of their alums because I dated one of the brothers for 2 years but I still felt really old. Sometimes I go to bars with the actives I am friends with but I try not go to sorority events unless I am invited verbally by the alum chair or an officer or written. I remember that alumnae can be a problem so I try not to be that person. I would also never go to a social or date func. etc. since it is against the rules.
but some of this can be a pain because there are alot of guys in my graduate program that are still active in their fraternities, and they'll ask about why our sorority is different. But actually don' t understand going to those events just because I feel to old to be there.
we are trying to start an alumnae group in town but it is difficult.