Gamma Gamma's doing pretty well. We started recruitment last week, and we've had about 12 different girls come down in the two nights. We have more open bids this week, too. So far, one girl has signed, but we still have more bids to extend!

In case you haven't heard, the Alumnae Day picnic is on April 27th! Hope to see everyone there!

any alums in Birmingham, AL?
 

Hi,
Just wanted to let you all know that the NPC (National Panhellenic Conference) is considering restarting an alum panhel in Birmingham, Alabama later this year. I've offered to help "spread the word" so if there are any alumnae out there who are interested or would like more info please let me know (PM me or email me at agdbirmingham@hotmail.com ) and I'd be happy to pass along your info to NPC. Or you can contact them through their website - www.npcwomen.org . They're going to start looking for alumnae contacts and representatives from each sorority so if you know of anyone in the area, please let me know. Thanks!

PS. I'm currently the coordinator for Alpha Gam's "younger" alum group. If there are any alums in the area that are active in their alum group that would be interested in sharing ideas/info with each other, let me know.

I miss DE....
 

Hey sisters,

I'm lonely....it's been 2 months since I've seen a sister....and it'll be another 2 before I will. I am going to a sorority/fraternity conference in Montreal next week, but I doubt any phi sigs will be there....

I was really hoping to go back for inish, but i couldn't work it out....so instead i spent lots of money i don't really have to send the chapter gifts....just plastic tumblers and balloons for every sister...but we rarely ever get greek paraphernalia back home so to them it's a big deal.
So last night i talked to the archon, my best friend, and she got the shipment...she was really excited :D . she was just going to give the stuff out at the next meeting, but i told her i thought it'd be nicer at inish, esp the balloons....

sometimes i think i do stuff just to get attention, but i really do care about the chapter and want to welcome the new memebrs even though i won't be there....this will be the biggest initiation in at least 7 years, maybe even longer.

anyways, i'm just depressed :( that i've now become the alum all the actives talk about but the NM never know....maybe some day i'll meet em, just like i did eventually meet some of those famed alum from when i was active....

ok, i'm done ranting for now :p
thanks for being my virtual chapter sisters!

LITP

How do you keep alum. interested?
 

In my chapter we have a problem keeping our alum involved with things. We do send out a semesterly newsletter letting them know what's up with the chapter. And we also invite them to things such as Homecoming Weekend, and a Luncheon we hold the day after our Sapphire Ball. No matter what we do or how much we literally stock them, they never really seem interested in coming back to visit. We as a chapter understand that they have lives outside of the sorority now, but our Alumnae showing even at the Sapphire Ball is usually pitiful. We care about them and want to reach them on a level where we can pull them back in for ideas, support, or just to get to know who are past sisters were. As this years social chair, I am trying to pull them back into our pyramid in hopes that my current and past sisters will be able to connect. Any ideas of how you keep your alum interested in chapter affairs would be GREATLY appreciated by myself and my chapter.

Thanks,
Katie

As an active member, I constantly asked the same question to our chapter. And now as an alum, I understand why they never really came around. In my opinion, it is weird to come back to a chapter with no voice, considering you were one of the people who previously helped lead the chapter. It might be different with other chapters, but our alum must be voted into meetings and invited to activities. If the active sisters do not want us there, they have the right to ask us to leave. About a month ago, 5 of us alum all went to a meeting. The active sisters voted on each of us entering the meeting, and only 4 were voted in. Needless to say, the alum sister who wasn't invited into the meeting is pissed, and has no intention to come back. Sorry for the dragging on of this explaination.....
Another thing that is hard on alum sisters is their schedules. I always thought that I would attend every meeting and event as an alum, but once I began working in the "real world" I realized it just wasn't possible. There really isn't too much an active sister can do to help this, other than be supportive and continue to invite alum to the activities.
Here are a few things our alum chair does: send out a monthly newsletter informing alum of new events and old events that have occurred. I really enjoy reading them each month, even with my busy schedule. Second, send out thank you cards to alum who have attended any function. Sounds stupid, but it really shows the alum that you care about them even though they aren't active anymore.
I hope this helps. If you have any questions or whatever, feel free to contact me :)

Alum participation sucks around Windsor too. We can barely keep enough women interested to keep the alum chapter going...

I think the biggest thing is they want to see sisters they know...it's great to see how the chapter is doing, but they want to see how their sisters are doing.....

do you include an alum profile in your newsletter? maybe focus on one alum sister and what she's doing, and her sisters may become interested...

i have no other suggestions really since we haven't found what works yet either....our biggest turnout was at our 20th last year, and still that was not a great turnout....maybe 40 from over 200 sisters

P.S. when I say "her sisters" I mean the ones who were active with her since I know we are ALL sisters :D

Our alum participation is waning as well. It's only until this year that 4 recent alums acutally took interest in what was happening in chapter. I always refer to them as our 'active alum'. They was a small group at rush and I got so upset that I wanted to cry.

I am contantly trying to figure out what to do about our alumnae. So, I emailed CO for a list and I'm going to designate an alumnae day to sit and write a note, card, etc to every single one of them. They will just have to deal with hearing from us every week.

But please, don't forget about the ones who DO show up! Let them know that you appreciate them.

Congrats to me!!!
 

Hi all. I just wanted to share the wonderful news that I am in the process of becoming the Gamma Pi Risk Management Advisor! I am so excited to become active again (even though I have only been alumni since May 2002!) If there are any alum sisters on here that serve as that position, I would appreciate any suggestions you have!

Everyone have a safe and wonderful hoilday!:D

LITP,
Jadey

Awww... way to go! I'm so happy you've taken the step to contribute even more to Phi Sig! Congrats!

Jadey,
Congratulations!!! Its great to see sisters following our motto of "Once a Phi Sigma Sigma, Always a Phi Sigma Sigma" after they go Alum. I hope more and more Alum will start to become involved like you are,
Carolyn

Alumni Newsletter
 

Hi everyone... I am in charge of alumni this year and I want to write and new and revamped newletter with a new format, since the old one is rather tired..anyways i was wondering what other chapters do for theirs and what ideas you could give me... Thanks!!!
LITP
PhiSigBrando

Our alumni newsletter contains information about recent events (engagements, marriages, births) of both actives and alumni from the chapter. The upcoming meetings and events are also listed. Sometimes there will be a feature about the chapter itself and what has been going on (recruitment, fundraising, philanthropy, etc.) I might have forgotten a few things. If I remember anything later, I will post again!

Good luck!

Do you have access to MS Publisher - I do our newsletter on that one so I can email the newsletter if you have it.

We kind of combine ours as an Alumnae/Chapter newsletter and I think in some ways that may help alum feel a little more connected to the newer sisters they haven't met.

Help...
 

Hi everyone. My name is Christy. This is the first time that I have posted here. I joined Phi Sigma Sigma at the University of Virginia's College at Wise (a branch of UVA). About a semester & a half after I joined, I had to move. Since then, I have tried contacting my sisters by mail & no one has responded. I don't know of any reason that they should be mad or upset with me. I don't know what to do. They are my sisters & I love them all very much. I hate that I had to leave them, but sometimes things like that happen...& it's not like I just up & left without telling them. I always thought that the quote was "Once a Phi Sigma Sigma, always a Phi Sigma Sigma" Anyways, if anyone has any comforting suggestions please let me know what you think. I look forward to hearing from you girls. Also, I am in Roanoke now so if anyone around here wants to hang out some time that would be great. I always love meeting other Phi Sigs! LITP, *Christy*

Hey Christy,

First off welcome to Greekchat - don't forget to post your info in the roll call thread at the top of this forum.

Now to answer your question - don't think that the sisters are mad at you, sometimes I think it's just hard for the chapters to keep in contact with their alum. Even with individual sisters that are good friends - when one goes Alum sometimes it just seems like life gets in the way and stops the active from contacting the alum, even with the Alum contacting you first. I know that my Sapphire Sister has emailed me a couple of times and I haven't responded - somewhere in the back of my mind I think that she knows I love her and that I have school, sorority work, etc and that I'll email her back tomorrow. The only problem is that tomorrow nevers comes it seems like.


Maybe you can write them a letter and send it snail mail - maybe a good luck on recruitment or missing all of you. In the letter ask them when the next alum event is and just show up for it. Or if you can just surprise them with a visit.

In the meantime, see if there is an Alum Chapter near you and get involved with them. Or even an active chapter near where you are, they might need some help and would love for you to offer it.

I wish I could offer more advice and comfort,
Carolyn