Getting alums involved
 

I think this is a universal problem, so I'd be interested in hearing from Alpha Phis, as well as members of other sororities and fraternities: Have you been successful in getting local alums involved with your chapter? If so, how? What strategies have you found that have worked? I'd appreciate your input.

Geneen

I think we need to start a Space Coast alumni chapter. The nearest one is in Orlando/Winter Park, which really isn't that far, but we have so many alumni that stay in the area that there probably is a need for one.

Or maybe they just help out the chapter a whole lot, so they don't feel the need to go to an alumni chapter. :confused:

Were working on that currently here in west Oklahoma. One of the reasons I think is when you leave college to start your career you get busy with that, family, life in general so some things get put on the back burner.

I would suggest calling the local alumni and setting up some form of sisterhood social or something. Be sure to invite them to fall recruitment. That's where we have a huge alum support. The room is just filled with our local alum, and it's so awesome to how so excited they are to be there seeing and meeting the potential new girls.

I always get teary eyed whenever we have a lot of alums around because they start talking about their collegiate days and memories. I'm a sap, I know.

I'll speak from the veiwpoint of an alum.

Part of the reason I'm at this board is because I want to continue to be involved in A Phi. Though I graduated 5 years ago, I still want to help out the college scene.

However, I'm now living in a different state from where I was initiated. I don't know where any houses are around here.
If a local chapter contacted me, I would go over and assist in a second.

The problem is: I don't know where they are, and they don't know that I'm sitting here ready to help out.

Aphi:TA, if lauradav hasn't grabbed you already with a PM, go to the Alpha Phi web site, use the form there to make sure that EO has your current contact info, then go fill out the VOLUNTEER INTEREST form! The Human Resources Coordinator for the Southwest will either call you or e-mail you quickly--or both! :D

I was in the same boat as you a few years ago, having moved from my collegiate chapter in Wisconsin to Kansas, then California. I did exactly what I said above, and here I am going on to my second Chapter Advisory position! Alpha Phi loooovvveeeessss volunteers!

Aphi:TA, I responded to your post in the Alpha Phi Rollcall Thread and never heard back from you. I have plenty of opportunities and just need to know where you are and what you want to do. Please PM me or send me an email and we can hook you up!

LD

PS: Volunteer Interest Surveys take quite a while for the office to process and we don't have an HRC right now.

it can be hard
 

I think alums are afraid to volunteer for a chapter that "isn't theirs" and so sometimes its difficult for chapters to recruit. Also some colleges tend to be in geographic isolated areas, again making it hard to get advisors other than people on the "five year plan"

I think chapters need to remember that they need to rush advisors! Invite them to meetings, outline your advisor needs, and BE NICE to them. Don't forget to send them to triainings too. These are all things that keep people willing to give thier time.

In terms of alums I think its important to be open to a new chapter. No chapter likes to hear "in my chapter..." Also set realistic limits. Can you devote 2 hours a week? One chapter meeting a month? What time do you have to give. Not everyone needs to be the CA but chapters need everything from scholarship advisors to philamthropy advisors, marketing people, help making a newletter whatever skills you have you can contribute!

In my chapter I am the Director of Alumnae Relations. I am the first person in my chapter to hold this position (my chapter is growing yay!). Last December I wrote up a Newsletter and sent it out to San Antonio Alums and St. Mary's A-Phi Alums. We had some of them come for formal recruitment so that was a great site to see. This past April I planned an Alumnae Tea. I sent out invitations and coordinated everything. We had about 30 Alumnae attending which i thought was pretty darn good considering this is the first time my chapter has done anything like that. My VP and I are discussing other possible events we can host this coming fall so i'm excited about that. It was wonderful to see many alumnae interested in our chapter even if they didnt go to my school. I love A-Phi!

Re: it can be hard
 

...you are so right on the money about that! But it absolutely works both ways! A collegiate chapter can become an island unto itself without knowing it. When I started advising, the collegiates weren't too sure about me at first because I wasn't from their chapter and so I just didn't know that things were just so different at their chapter! (lauradav, is that you I hear laughing in the background???).

Coming in from the outside gave me the opportunity to show them that they weren't so different after all, and that there is often more than one solution or "way of doing something" if you know what I mean.

Speaking as a collegiate, I love our alum from the Bay Area. I still talk to most of our sisters who have graduated within the past few years, and let them know when we have events for them to come, and most of them do join us if they have the time. As for our advisors, I could not love them anymore than I already do. They are always ready to help, even if it is getting up early to meet me for coffee to discuss Panhell RUSH ;) . I just love our alum so much. It's even fun to go to their events that they plan, i.e making Easter baskets, you never know who you'll run into and make a friend! Oh, and it's not just the alum from our chapter, it's fun to meet alum here that are from other chapters because they have the BEST stories to tell. Sometimes we maybe a little hesitant to talk or understand what they are saying, but after a few times of seeing them, it's like they are from your cahpter.

;) Back at ya!

You and your sisters will always be near and dear to my heart--ESPECIALLY when I wear the beautiful pin you gave me! You have no idea, I look at it every day and smile. I'm such a geek!

(Oh, don't let Maharet read that, she'll be grabbing for the kleenex....)

I absolutely LOVE our alumni!!! Usually twice a year we do Alumni Tea, where the alums come down to Cedar and we do this big program and luncheon. But I think we should even do more than that!

I have so much respect for our alumni and even though I don't know too many of them very well yet, I know that they will always be there if I need anything. I love being an alpha phi! Isn't it amazing the bond that we can all instantly have! And I know for sure that when I go alum I want to keep alpha phi near to my heart!

Way to go, Alums!!! You all are my heros!