starting an alum. assocation!
 

So I want to start an alum. association....this is primarily for my collegiate chapter (we have an active regional association already). We have many active alums, but they are not organized into any particular group, so our goal (3 VERY dedicated brand new alums) is to do that. We have all the information about starting a group from Nationals.

The first step will be to set goals, per a previous PenguinTrax post (thanks!), and set-up a six-month plan in which to set realistic goals but aim high.

- we have a chapter list of over 1300 alums to weed through (not including a list that we need to request from Nationals), so we have some where to start off

- we are going to set out 2 newsletters per year (just to start)

- we are going to establish an alum email list

- we are going to coordinate 2 major events per year
(however, any events that we personally will be involved in will be turned into alum. events- like Race for the Cure, ACS's Annual Walk, etc.- we are aiming for 4 of these)


The second step is to plan 2 activities a year (we have 2 academic semesters per school year), and set up an alum. weekend for Homecoming and probably Founder's Day in the Spring.

Some ideas from previous posts include:
-formal dinner dance
-active/alumnae tea or brunch
-Founder's Day Luncheon
-Philanthropy Day

The third step is to solicit advice from GCers.

The three of us are doing the bulk of the work. I love my chapter to death, but we have never done anything really spectacular for our alums, so it is not realistic for me to expect my chapter to magically change next year.

1. Am I missing something?

2. What were some pitfalls? Is there anything you did and regretted (too costly, not time efficient, etc)?

3. For married alums, are these activities not family friendly (I am only 21, so it is hard to put myself in a mom's shoes) enough? Should we plan more family oriented activities? We have such an age range.....from like 90 year olds to me (I think I am the youngest at 21).


Threads that are awesome:

for all-around information:
http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/sh...threadid=23975

for newsletters (thanks AOX81!):
http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/sh...threadid=18055

for all my undergrads. (thanks James!):
http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/sh...&threadid=2519


THANKS everyone! All the threads pertaining to AAs have been immensely useful.

Sunnygirl :)

edited because I can't properly insert hyperlinks.....how sad....

"Seven Easy Steps to Become an Alumnae Group"
http://www.deltagamma.org/forms/7steps.pdf or
http://www.deltagamma.org/forms/7steps.doc

We surveyed our membership this year and one thing that many married members said is that they didn't want "couple" events (we have a separate mom-n-me group). The main comment was that they enjoyed "girls only" time without feeling like they needed to bring their husbands along.

Get a email address book set up so you can put out any info: newsletters, notices of events of Active / Alum Happenings.

Need a central individual or keeper of the address book for all changes to be sent to.

Right now, we hold a monthly "Gathering" very informal. Our main topic is the building of a new house.

I was not at the last one, and guess it got very heated. Well, things dont change much when you get a group of Old Actives,:) , who are now Alums!

I would make is informal normaly and maybe twice a year or so, do it once a year. But, remember, depending on distance from the Chapter, you have Founders Day and Home Coming.

We get a lot of Alums to come back for those!!

One Alum has His" Peirce Stock" @ the 4 th of July. Family event where all are welcome, BBQ and everyone brings side dish, I bring Gourmet Chips, Bachelor,:D !

Good Luck as one hell of a job, I know I was the one who started mine! LOVE IT!:)

Good luck! I do want to caution you that your goals sound awfully ambitious. Better to scale them back and successfully hold all the events you are aiming for than to plan to many and watch some of them fail.

thanks for the advice!
 

Fuzziealum, I totally hear you. Usually I don't see my goals fail but the successes are generally at the expense of my mental health. :) It is good to hear from those who are experienced with this to take it slow. So I will definitely reevaluate my plans or at least give myself more time to accomplish these goals.

Tom, how many members will come to your monthly meetings? How large an alumni association are you in charge of? The reason I ask is because the undertaking of trying to build a new house is huge, so I wonder, how long did it take your AA to get to that level? That is awesome that you are trying to build a new house, so I can totally see how that would require a huge commitment on the part of your AA.

THANKS for the advice!!

Sunnygirl :)

SunnyG, I am not the Pres. of the Alum. Assoc. I just Started it!

Brother Rambo was the first to leave the Bar! Ergo, he became the 1 st Pres.:D

It is a loosly held group of Brothers in the KC Area for the Present!

Now you must understand, it is made up of Alums in the KC area where we have the highest concentration. I have tried to get it expanded to an overall but some feel that they are being left out!

i suggested that where there is a Core of Alums to start their own Alum Group but to try to channel everthing through a central point. Something I have not gotten done as of yet!

We are also involved in socializing at these functions. But, as per usual we turn to the state of the Chapter. New House being first. Many of the Alum Group are also members of the House Corp. Board, and the Mentoring Group to work with the Actives twice a year.

Brother Jono Hren, BN 41(FIT) on the other hand is working to solidify Thier Chapters Alums all over. Two different approches at the moment, but the same final end point!

Start of a little at a time and expand as you grow and get more members affiliated!

Hell, it is just like rushing New Associate (Pledges) all over again!:D Ripleys beleive it or not!!;)