Innovative Founders Day Luncheon Ideas?
 

This year, my alumnae chapter is charged with hosting the annual Founders Day luncheon coming up next November. I need help with incorporating some new ideas to help jazz things up a little.

We're expecting about 300 sisters in attendance and the program usually goes like this:

Welcome/remarks
Luncheon
Reports from the two collegiate chapters
Guest speaker
Presentation of service awards
Founders Day ritual


The problem is....these events kind of get boring after a while, you know? To make it worse, many of our alumnae wear "multiple hats" as volunteers and often end up attending more than one Founders Day lunch (for other chapters, the region, etc). There are only so many luncheons one can do in a month. :(

Can anyone suggest any innovative ideas for how we can keep Founders Day meaningful, but make it more fun or engaging for the guests in attendance?

- Fall fashion show? (collegians and alumnae with donated clothes from local stores)
- Vendors?
- Workshops?
- Some other food format?
- Slide show of collegiate chapter and alumnae chapter activities?
- Show video of clips from members young and old sharing about how GPhiB has impacted their lives?
- A companion activity? (should be something senior sisters can do too)

Any and all ideas are appreciated! Thank you! :)

.....Kelly :)

If it's always been a certain way and still attracts 300 people, then I wouldn't toy with it too much.

The collegians could give their "reports" as slide shows with music, if that's allowed -- I'm thinking most people would rather see what's happening than hear a report.

I like the vendor idea, too -- I'm sure with as many licensed Greek vendors as there are, you could easily get a few in your area to come set up tables.

Good luck!

No "Happy Hour"? Get everyone liquored up and that should help jazz things up a little. ;)

I want to join TSteven's fraternity.

Something we've done in my Phi Sig chapter is to choose a song that personifies the person receiving the award or goes along with the award. Then, when the person comes up to get the award, play the song.

Have you thought of having it themed? Of course, if there's ritual it probably requires badge attire, so that would limit your possible themes, but could still be fun.

I'm not sure where this being held, but I'm assuming the ritual is private. In my SAI chapter, before we do our founder's day ritual we watch a video on the history and making of the ritual that we can get from HQ. Now, of course, only member's can view it, but it's always made performing the ritual that much more special.

A word of advice....be careful about changing things, especially if you have a large number of older alumnae. This is a lesson I have learned the hard way with working with alumnae chapters that have older members. They do things a set way and they don't want to see them changed!

Thanks everyone for the responses so far!

To be honest, the event doesn't actually attract 300 people on it's own accord. 220 of the 300 in attendance are collegians and they attend because it's mandatory. :( Of the alumnae who are left, about 50% go because they feel obligated.

Yes, and that's the challenge I face. Things can never change because the older members don't like change. That's a shame. How does one ever break the cycle? Hrm...food for thought.

Thank you both for the sound advice!

Both good ideas. Maybe I can find an interesting or "theme-like" location for the event!

.....Kelly :)

Yes, I am a life loyal although we call it Lifetime Links. I started out an active collegian and charter member, traveled as a consultant, became chair of a committee, Chaired two consecutive conventions, served on NPC delegation and our Executive Council and currently serve as Director of Expansion for the past 9 years.

I have chaired our Founder's Day event for the past 2 years. We are in a different situation as you in that we do not have a college chapter near our city. Therefore, our event has a very different feel, structure, and attedance structure than yours would. Bear that in mind with the suggestion below.

What we did two years ago was to encourage alumnae to bring a favorite photo or item from their days as an active. We set up a few display tables and it was a great way to learn about Theta during different decades and at different chapters all across the country. We had twelve 50 year Thetas attend that year (including 3 who were 70+ year Thetas) and the items that they brought gave us goosebumps. People brought photos, books, jewelry, blankets, hand-made items, etc., etc., etc. This was widely successful. A special unintended effect was that it created wonderful mingling among the alumnae which allowed many of the younger members to converse with the older members.

Not sure if you could arrange the room where 300 people could parade past a few tables. But if you could logistically make it work, it is a really wonderful sight!

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