Getting More Alumni Involved
 

Okay I just became an Alumni this past May after graduating from the University of Rio Grande. One thing that always bugged me is the support we get from the Alumni of my sorority which is btw Lambda Omicron Psi. I wish the support was greater, I mean the alumni I do know from before I graduated are great, but I always wished I could meet more of the sisters. Any tips on getting more alumni involved to show support for my fellow sisters that are still active and on campus?

If a lot of alums are lving in the area, try to have an after-work get together at a place once a month. Just a few hours, so that way people do not have really give up a lot of time.

I have been an alum for many years now and I can tell you the things that bug me and why I'm not more supportive:

~Getting invites to homecoming festivities the week of. "Please come to the brunch that are having in your honor". Ok, well if you really wanted me there, you'd give me at least three weeks notice.

~Only getting contacted when they want money. We have zero newsletters from the chapter. We get one annual letter in August telling us a few accomplishments, then a two paragraph plea for money. I don't doubt they need it. I would be much happier to give it if I felt they cultivated me as an asset vs eyeing me as a cash cow.

~Feeling alienated when I do visit the chapter. I live far, far away from the house. I was back to visit a few years ago and the girls made polite chit chat, then went back to their groups. I felt not exactly unwanted, but sort of like people could care less whether or not I was there.

It seems as if actives don't realize the demands that we alum have on us. I don't expect them to, but I do think it's not unrealistic to schedule activities ahead of time. This year, I got my invite to homecoming on the day of:rolleyes: Perhaps they figure I live too far away, so why bother?

I have joined my area's alumnae association, but am having rocky success with that. I think it's important to note that most women want to have relationships with each other, regardless of their stage in life. However, always scheduling meetings in a singles bar doesn't respect those of us that are married.

Why don't you try hosting a tea in your home? More personal than a restaurant or bar setting? Or meet in the public place first, and follow up with a home setting.

Just some ideas.

As much as I hate to a say this! Welcome to the real world of Alum!

Hell, I have been working at this for 37 years! There are many more on here also!

Make your Alum Group important to (Chapter) if you may!!

I am in constant Contact with a Brother who is Pres of the Alum of his Chapter and he gets just as frustrated as You and I do!:(

I was there last year as guest speaker, I am in Ks, His Chapter is in Fl!. He lives in NY! He is not the only one! One of our brothers from Ca picked me up at the airport for this neat weekend! I am also working with Alums, different Chapters around the country.

You damn bet it is a lot of head bangng by you, they will get mad, but, Who Do They Turn To when the Shit hits the fan? (Some one who Cares!:)

Hope is what you never get burnt out on!:)

I would once again like to stress that it is important to tell your alumni about things in advance. I don't care if you have a midterm, Alumnae Chair, nobody is going to come back if you only tell them two days beforehand.

I had to call my chapter to find out when the Homecoming parade was, and today I just got an email to an event that is on Sunday night. Apparently they think I can get off work with two days' notice.

GeekyPenguin, I could not have said it any better!

I have for many years have tried to ingrain in them, do not send and email or letter a week in advance:(

The Chapters must set up a calendar for each Sem/Quarter, and let the Alums now far enough in advance so They Can Make Plans.!:)

Ah but we as Alums know this, but getting the Active Chapter to do it is a horse of a different colo!:(

some notice
 

Okay I agree with everyone when they say the organization needs to let you know more than a week in advance of when stuff is going on. So in defense of my girls who are down at school....They are not too bad at getting stuff out in time to let people know whats going on. In fact I just got an email Friday, which had a other alumni's email addresses on it that they know, telling us about our new girls who just got in, WAY TO GO KAYLA THAT'S MY LIL LIL SIS!!!!! and telling us about homecoming which is next month! So some of my fellow sisters that are also alumni have no excuess of not knowing. I know the girls send out regular mail to, to alumni that they dont have email addresses too cause I have helped on getting those together and we always sent them out when I was active a month a head of time.
Now how do you explain that one when it comes to not a lot of support. Then again I still think I should get off my soap box and just deal with the fact that the support isn't that great even though I know one of the frats on campus has WONDERFUL support. That would be my Archon boys that I am a lil sis of.

I think the most important thing actives can do for alums is send out newsletters and send out invites to events.
The way I found out about the dates the alums were needed for recruitment was through a "chain letter". One of the actives told an alum who was nice enough to send it to a bunch of other alums. By the time I got the email and actually read it, it was too late and I already had plans.
An invitation to the event would have been nice.
Newsletters are also great. I would love to hear directly from the chapter about their new pledge or other things they've done. Instead, I've found out through my lil and grandlittle.

Don't alienate your alums!!!!!

I went back to help out with rush the fall after I graduated, and the then-chapter president was extremely rude to me. I had absolutely nothing to do with my chapter, or AEPhi at all, for a long time after that (other than to keep my address up-to-date).

As an alum, I've seen my chapter do everything from nothing at all (the norm), to sending out an email or two, to sending out a newsletter listing a few accomplishments and begging for money, to sending out 2 or 3 mailings over the course of a semester. It all depends on the alumnae relations chair - some are better than others.

And I'll second the idea of letting alums know about activities far enough in advance that they can attend.