Alumnae Brunch
 

If you're having it at a restaurant or country club, $18 isn't too much at ALL. If it's just going to be in the student center or someplace on campus, I would not ask for more than $10...

Be sure to ask the alums to bring their scrapbooks - these are always good to get things moving. Also depending on how far back your families go, write up the tree for each family and have tables for them so everyone can get to know their multi-bigs & littles.

I would agree with the restaurant comment. If it's really nice and really good catered food (rather than finger food type stuff) $18 might be ok.

Also, how far are you asking most of the alumnae to drive to get to the event? If they have to drive a couple of hours, they aren't going to be as excited about giving money.

BUT, they shouldn't have a problem giving you something.

The scrapbooks are a good idea. Our Alumnae Chapter has the benefit of having a former International Council member among our members so we got her to speak at one Founders Day event.

Do you have any members who do anything interesting/helpful for work? They could talk about it. Just talking about when they were in the house works too. I find that our collegians like to hear the stories (even the ones that aren't pc anymore).

We have a brunch for Founders Day. We held it at a banquet facility and it cost $22 to attend. we had over 200 turn out.

I'm not certain the best approach is to make this $18 voluntary. Please consider selling tickets so you can guarantee you'll get AT LEAST $18 a piece. There is always the option of collecting donations at the event or doing a raffle (we do this) or bake sale or so forth. But I would not plan an event for alums in which you cannot guarantee you will cover your expenses for those who turn out to eat. Our brunch required you to reserve your place at least two weeks prior to the event, so they knew exactly how many to prepare for.

so I'm clear, you are collecting the money with the RSVP, correct?

you could make a basket. Go to the shops having big xmas sales and get either one or two nice items you can afford, or buy a big basket from costplus or pier imports or the like and fill it with goodies like votive candles, body lotion, etc etc things you can find inexpensively from discount stores. You should charge about $5 for raffle tickets unless the item you are raffling isn't big.

I'm planning our 5 yr reunion and the advice I've been given is charge the alumnae. They have jobs, you are in college, it is not the job of the active chapter to feed the alumnae members. They are grown women. $20 won't hurt them, and if necessary, offer some assistance to recent grads. We are having our reunion, coupled w/formal, augh, and charging $50 for a couple and then an additional $15 for friday dinner, brunch on sat. Plus we are furnishing refreshments at the alumnae/active meeting. I was told that these get togethers, esp while the chapter is young, should be focused on communicating what the chatper is doing and telling alumnae face up how they can help. Unfortunatly, we need money to opperate and furnish our houses. I guess if you get the alumnae used to coming to help out, it will help ease the barrier, they know they can help, but they also need to have clear communcation.

they could send the money in the mail, or pay at the door.

Re: Alumnae Brunch
 

$18, how Jewish :D

I think its a great idea, as an alumna, I wouldnt mind paying a small donation for lunch with my sisters. Play down the cost, and dont "suggest" its a donation.. .flat out say that Brunch will cost $18, and play up being with your sisters. We know college students have no money.

Good raffle ideas are 50/50-- people like money. and it doesnt cost anything!

I don't know why it would be such a big deal having the alumnae pay. To expect the chapter to pay I feel is unreasonable - especially at our school, collegiate chapters don't have money to throw away.

My chapter had a 10th Anniversary brunch in 2002 and we charged the sisters $40 or $50 which covered the food at the restaurant, a picture frame, a group photo, and the costs of the mailings about the event. The chapter didn't lay out any money (we were refunded money we initiaially laid out for postage). While the chapter should keep the alumnae informed, it really is more of the responsibilty of alumnae to plan these types of events. While we don't have a formalized alumnae association our alumnae newsletter and reunions have always been coordinated by alumnae with the chapter having an alumnae chair to act as a liaison for the chapter.

It depends on the program. If you are inviting them to attend a function in which you are catering it and serving brunch, I'd expect to pay. If it is just a function at the house, meeting the new pledge class, participating in bid day functions with the chapter, no, I don't expect alumnae to pay.

I would strongly encourage you to make it crystal clear this is not free if you don't feel like paying. No such thing as a free lunch.

What is on the agenda for this event? Is it just food or is it a speaker or other event.

Have you thought about NOT catering it and making it more informal. Make spaghetti and salad and pie and charge less or nothing.

have to disagree - this is a bad idea. You could plan and pay for 200 RSVPs and then only 100 attend and you are stuck with the bill. It should be a Pay to Play - RSVP with a check, otherwise what little budget you have is blown away in an instant.

I think it is when you mention "suggest" that some of us are worried you might get stuck with a tab you don't want/can't afford. As long as the $18 lunch part is not optional (clearly specified on the rsvp), then no problem. Donations can be an additional line item on the registration form (in case they cannot attend).

Are alums so numerous that you could not call them personally to invite them? The personal touch may work wonders in both your attendence and fundraising departments.

Would suggest adding the following to pad your agenda:

Chapter song performed by the sisters
Ritual of some kind (if you have alumnae rituals, time to do one).
Ask your school's greek life advisor to speak for a few minutes about the greek scene at your school
Honor any alums who are 10-20-30 year members (if possible).

Buttonz,

That all sounds really great. Coming from the former alumnae chair for my chapter (I just went alum :( ), I think that what you have planned is really good. I do think that 4 speakers might be too much, unless their speeches are short. Then that could work. I would definitely try to have the alumnae send in $18 for the event. I mean, when compared to what I have read here, that is nothing. Plus like someone said, they get to spend time with their sisters, so why would it upset them to pay less than $20?
I was just curious about what all your alumnae chair has done with the alumnae. I am done with the chair, but when I turn things over to the new chairwoman, I think I might try to include some ideas for events. If you can't tell me your events, don't worry about it.

Elena

Oh, I didn't mean to suggest 4 speakers. I was using them as examples of speakers to contact in one doesn't work out.

As for favors, go buy some chocolate wafers (the kinds coated on both sides) and some frosting in tiny tubes (used for decorating cakes) and pipe your letters in frosting on the tops of the cookies (or use chocolate mints--like thin mints). This is really inexpensive!

You know, I didn't even think of this...but I like it. We can do that and wrap them in clear plasic and tye the lil bags with SDT ribbon. TY for the idea!

another option (requires more work) is to go to your local Michaels or other craft supply store (Hobby Lobby etc) and buy bulk chocolate in white and use blue and yellow food coloring and make your own candies using inexpensive molds. You can find ones shaped in many styles, or just plain. You can also find ribbon and cellophane bags there. We used white tulle (you could use blue or yellow or whatever color you like) and cut them into squares about 8 by 8 inches. This was cheaper than buying cellophane bags bec tulle is usually about 99 cents a YARD. Then you just put the item in the center and tie a string around it. We did this for Founders Day. I made over 500 individual soap anchors (I don't recommend making soap unless you want to spend over $$$)

I'd have to say DGMarie is you giving some really good ideas.

I think the Greek Advisor is a better idea for a speaker than the others (i.e., ask them first). alumane who aren't around much usually really like to hear about what's been going on at the school.

I would suggest two prices for the brunch. $18 is paid by <date> and some higher amount if paid after that date. You'll find that it will really help out if you get the money up front. And telling them that the price will be higher day of, will get a number of people to pay early.

I never asked, but how big is your SDT collegiate chapter?

BTW, some people have asked about making candies for give aways or treats for rush, so here is what I replied:

In Micheals and other craft stores, look by the cake decorating items. This is where you can find the chocolate in bulk bricks (like 2 pounds or so). It is sold especially for making custom items. You melt it in the microwave and pour it into the mold, which are also sold in that area. It is nearly impossible to find molds in shapes of anchors, but I did find them online, ordered them and used them for making soap in. Try these links for anchor molds (if you back out of the URLs you'll find there are 100's of different kinds of molds for any groups symbol):

http://www.candylandcrafts.com/imag...hor%20lolly.gif (anchor lollipop molds--can be used for chocolate)

http://www.candylandcrafts.com/imag...hor%20mints.gif (anchor mint molds--I used these for making soap)

http://www.sugarcraft.com/catalog/c...ds/anchors1.jpg (this has a big anchor)

Bulk chocolate is about $3 per pound and you use less than an ounce in some of these molds, more in others.

The DPhiE Alpha chapter invited to the MetroDPhiE Alumnae Association to a brunch a few weeks back. They didn't charge anything, but some of us brought cookies. It was in their suite in the dorm. They showed us a video that they made as well as their scrapbooks. It was nice to meet the active sisters from a different chapter.

Alumnae Brunch
 

Hello :)

I agree with a lot of the other posts. You should definitely RSVP and collect the funds prior to the actual brunch. This will give you a more exact count of how many people will be attending and you can plan your menu around this number. It will also ensure that all financial bases are covered so that you won't be left with the bill!

Suggestions:

1. If the brunch is some ways away... mail out invitations that include info about the brunch and the alumnae can return the invitation with RSVP and check in the amount of $18 or give them the option to send a donation even if they do not attend the brunch. **You don't have to spend tons of money on invitations you can make them yourselves- all you need is some nice paper, a computer, and some creativity. The only thing that will need to come out of pocket is postage and if you mail them in bulk you can get a discount** ANOTHER GREAT SUGGESTION MADE WAS **I would suggest two prices for the brunch. $18 is paid by <date> and some higher amount if paid after that date. You'll find that it will really help out if you get the money up front.**

2. The suggestion about the raffle was a good idea. You can sell the raffle tickets during the brunch. The idea about the gift basket was really cool. It would be nice to include the different items mentioned and decorate the basket in your sorority's colors. Depending on how much your chapter has in it's treasury a sorority afghan would make a really nice gift. ** There is a SDT afghan currently on sale at www.greekgear.com for $49.95 here's the link http://store.yahoo.com/inarush/sigmadeltatau1.html **

3. Don't stretch yourselves too thin. You may have a small group but I am sure that you ladies can and will make it successful. Utilize committees... a committee for decorations & favors, a committee to handle invitations & RSVP, a committee to handle the raffle & prize, a committee to work on the itinerary and get excellent speakers. As far as speakers try to find an alumnae of the sorority that is very "prominent" in your community. Perhaps a news reporter for your local news stations is a member of your sorority, or someone on the city council, or an alumnae that is very active in your community working with other service based organizations!!! They can talk about the SDT and how it impacted their lives and helped them to achieve their goals or they can simply talk about sisterhood and what it means to them or issues that women face on a daily basis and how unity amongst women is necessary.

4. Sharing scrapbooks is a really nice idea... and it is something that you ladies can build upon. At a few selected tables have disposable cameras and ask the alumnae to take random pictures during the brunch. At the end have them return the cameras and you ladies can make a scrapbook for the actual brunch event. You can show it at future brunches or other events. ALSO as a "thank you for coming gift" you ladies can scan some of the pictures onto a cd and mail them to alumnae or you can scan the pictures onto your chapter's website (if you have one). Send out a mass email letting the alumnae know that pictures are able to be viewed at your website and provide them with a link :)

I have a lot of ideas... and maybe my ideas are not within your budget and that is totally understandable. Does your national governing body offer grants to chapters for things such as retention/recruitment or service projects? Or do you have an alumnae or two that would be willing to work with your chapter in planning the brunch and that would also be willing to make donations toward the success of the brunch?

Feel free to PM me if I can offer any other suggestions or be of any assistance :)


~Secretluv~

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I don't know if I mentioned it. My chapter had a reunion luncheon in NYC at a restaurant. We were charged $60 each which we paid two weeks prior to the event. An alumna organized the reunion herself with proceeds going to Cystic Fibrosis. :)

Wow, must have been one heck of a Brunch!:eek:

Charity or not, how often can the Alum Group do this?:confused:

How many attended and did it scare off Sisters because of the price:confused:

Just curious.

Tom, the price scared off the younger alumnae unfortunately. It was expensive because we had a private room in a restaurant in New York City. About 30 people attended, most of whom I knew. I think that if it had been $20 or less, more alumnae would have attended. It was our first and only chapter reunion. I hope that we have another reunion sometime in the future.

Good luck! Maybe your brunch can correspond with your Founders' Day. That is always a cause for celebration. :)