If I could improve one thing in DPhiE...
 

If you could improve, strengthen or positively impact one thing in DPhiE, what would it be???? No whining allowed here.....

Iris

We're huge in the Northeast so I think D Phi E should expand or recolonize in the South, Midwest, and West especially at schools with really strong greeklife. :)

If I could improve one thing, it would be participation. I would want every DPhiE--young and old-- to do something to improve our sisterhood daily/weekly/ monthly/ annually. For some, that would be to give time. For others, that might include giving other resources ($). :) And for others that could just be reaching out to other sisters to keep the bonds solid. We could make such a difference in our organization if everyone just did something.

That's probably very pollyanna of me-- but it's the easiest--and the hardest-- answer I could think of!

...ooooooooooh, Heather17.......I really like your answer!!! I think that would make a HUGE difference!!!!!You sound like someone I know!

;)

I was just going to say something simple like seeing more alums getting involved and offering their support, but I like your answer much better!

Iris

Being a west coaster and Canadian, I would love to see new chapters open in the Pacific NW and Canada.

Being new to the west coast as well, I would love to have a chapter in the Pacific NW, and the west coast in general, especially at schools with large greek systems. :)

If I could improve one thing in DPhiE, it would be to have more alumnae support in the form of alumnae associations around the country and in Canada. Our alumnae associations are few and far between, and having more of them would help everyone stay involved!! :) As someone who helped found one, I guess I'm a little biased! Iris, you sound familiar to me!

HA I know all of your secret identities, but I digress.
I too would like to see some expansion, particularly at some larger schools. I think part of the reason that we don't have a huge reputation is because we are a. mostly northeastern and b. we open at these tiny little schools (which is great but I'd like more equal representation). I think a lot more NPC organizations are more selective/careful at where they go and that's how they have built the reputation.

And if I could have a second wish :D I'd really like some alumnae associations. I think the key to this is working with the collegiates that are about to go alumnae, and I think that the expectations of membership guide is not showing it, especially if the chapter is presenting it, rather than an advisor.

Just my 2 cents. Please don't hate me :D

Ladies,

You are all awesome and I thank you for participating in this thread!

Everyone seems to be pointing toward expansion or alum involvement. I have a strong feeling that if we had MORE alum involvement, we would be able to have MORE expansion, especially to regions in North America (for you Canadian gals!) where we don't have many chapters.

It seems to take a lot to get a chapter going or to re-start one. If alums would be more willing help by volunteering, by attending conferences to get up on what DPhiE is doing today, to be advisors who support the mission and to support with $$$ (even minimally---alum dues are $10, that's not too hard!), I think our HQs and Council would try to move beyond the northeast into open territory and even on to larger schools.

That's just my feeling on this.

Any more thoughts???

Iris

I am currently getting information on starting an alumnae assocation - I want to start one for the Seattle metro area. If anyone has advice on starting one , that would be great. I recently emailed the VP of Alumnae but haven't heard back yet.

I definitely think that we need to get our names out... a lot of people have never even heard of us, especially where I am living now in the Pacific NW. People that have always lived here thought that I was part of a local organization.

And I definitely agree that we should have chapters at the large schools... I think the only chapters left are Florida, Georgia, NYU, Cornell? (Someone correct me if I missed some).

Don't forget U of Michigan, U of Maryland, Miami.....

... and as far as the big Canadian schools go, UBC is one of them :)

Pitt too and well, I think that is all of us.

We're like one of three NPC sororities NOT represented on Penn State's campus.

some more thoughts...
 

I noticed something a few years ago. There is a huge concentration of sisters and alumnae in the Northeast particularly the New York area. Why are conventions held so far away such as in Florida? It isn't really an option for many of us to take nearly a week off and travel so far at a great expense. I considered going in 2000 and this year, but it wasn't a feasible option for me or many alumnae I know.

I know that many other sororities have Young Alumnae or Junior Circle Associations which serve as a bridge from college active sister to alumna. I think that this could help strengthen alumnae relations. Quite frankly, my primary involvement with the sorority after college was through my chapter sisters and the occasional Triad or other literature from International Headquarters. I have had a renewed interest in D Phi E due in large part to the internet. It is a great way to keep up to date (when they update the website) and reconnect with my sisters. I really respect that so many DPhiEs on GC volunteer their time, but again that's not really an option for me or many alumnae that I know. If you want more volunteers, you have to continue the momentum that was established as undergrads. Young or Junior AA can serve this purpose.

Cream-- WHAT? Volunteering is not an option for you or most alumnae??? There is something for EVERYONE in the new volunteer structure. There are positions that take a few hours a day, a few hours a week or a few hours a year. You don't have to go to Convention if you are a volunteer. And on occasion, Convention costs are subsidized for volunteers (not always).

I too have always wondered why we have Conventions so far away from our base. The answers I have received are: our collegians don't want to just have a Convention in their city-- they want to go somewhere fun AND it is extremely expensive to have a Convention in the NE compared with other parts of the country. When they pick Convention sites, it is based on bids and where we can get the best deals. But I will also say that it looks like (from my inside sources) the next Convention after San Antonio may return to the NE if we can find an inexpensive site.

That's my 26 cents!

Oh and we do have some young alumnae groups-- but we have to rely on our motivated and excited alumnae to start them!!!

To be a bit of devil's advocate, if you want something you have to be willing to go and get it if it's important to you. Cream, I'd encourage you to start that young alumnae group in your area. Heather17 is right...volunteering is so diversified, and you can do something that takes 10 minutes a day or 2 hours a day or 2 hours a year. It's up to YOU what you can do :)

Does anyone know where I can find a list of inactive chapters? I looked on dphie.org, but didn't see it there.

I think I remember seeing the list in the Triad, but I am not receiving it, even though I updated my addres :confused:

Thanks!

Here is a link for a list of all active and inactive chapters from my chapter's website. It ends with Gamma Alpha chapter. It is the most acurate list that I have ever seen.

http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark...8/chapters.htm

Actually, volunteering really isn't an option for me or too many alumnae I know. I have been out of college for about ten years and free time to volunteer is a luxury that I do not have. My time and that of my friends is consumed with career and family responsibilities that new alumnae usually do not have. After college, priorities shift.

As for a NE convention, there was a beautiful one in NJ to celebrate our 75th Anniversary in 1992. It was less expensive because there was no plane fare for many if not most attendees.

I'm now too old for a young alumnae association. I'm referring to when I was first out of college ten years ago. I know my friend in another sorority was invited to join her sorority's Junior or Young (I can't remember which) AA after college. I thought that would be a good way to remain involved. Unfortunately, there wasn't that option in the early 1990's. I'm glad to learn that that has changed.

I'm surprised that my little post received so many responses. I respect your volunteerism. My point, which I think might have been overlooked, is a good way to strengthen AAs is to have a Young AA for recent alumnae in order to maintain the momentum that they had as undergrads. If there are strong Young (and old ;)) Alumnae Associations in every major city, that's step in the right direction in 'improving one thing in D Phi E' in my opinion.

I just reread your post Heather. I didn't catch that phrase "the new volunteer structure." My experience is based on the old structure, I guess. It seemed that most of the volunteer positions (when I was looking into it) would be as time consuming as a part time job. That really was impossible for me. If that has changed, that is definitely a good thing.

HMMM maybe I can be a volunteer, too. A position with little to no travelling and a couple of hours of my time a week would suit me.

Cream.......
 

...been following your posts for a long time....good to see you changing your mind.....

DPhiE has over 170 women volunteering to serve our organization right now. There are plenty of open positions, and I am sure you could be able to find one that suits you and your time schedule!!!!

Think about what you'd like to do.......work with collegians, work with alums to help them reconnect, help collect and preserve our history, serve on a convention team..........there are lots of positions!!!

To see what might be available and to just get a feel for what is out there, contact Shirley Barta, the Director of Volunteer Services at mabarta@essex1.com.

Iris
:)

Iris
 

...I'm not sure if I'm changing my mind. I'll look into it though. Thanks. :)

...BTW, who are you????? I'm very curious.

Cream,
 

...PM'd you the answer....

Iris

Cream--

We'll keep working on you to volunteer, so don't expect us to give up ;) Iris and I are both persistent!!!

I know that you can be very convincing. I'm going to further investigate volunteer options later this week. :)

....................Hooray!!!!!!!!!!

Iris

Expansion to the West Coast, more alumnae support, and training actives to be better alums

I totally second that... the South Florida Alumnae Association is focusing its efforts this year on just that. We have scheduled meetings with the four active chapters in the area in order to help them formulate an effective strategy to increase the number of active alumnae produced from each chapter. We are focusing on the importance of gearing programming for juniors/seniors who might have lost interest, mentorships between seniors & alumnae in order to form connections beyond the collegiate chapter, as well as programming for alumnae in order to keep them motivated & appreciated. The SFAA's goal this year is not only to increase its membership [obviously] but to also instill the "Sisters Always" mentality. We hope to convey the vital importance of ALUMNAE to the south florida chapters- how the livelihood of our beloved organization lies in the alumnae we produce today... the only way our organization will continue to strive & grow in the future is through alumnae support.

*sorry for rambling

YITS
carolina