Alumni Directory
 

OK who has an alumni directory printed?

I just updated my listing and then I got a whole sales pitch by some Southerner on why I needed both the CD and the book - none of which I really needed. After 10 minutes of "lady I will call in later to order the directory" she finally got the hint and let me go.

Do people use these directories? Are they actually something you would want to have or is it something like Who's who?

-Rudey

I have our latest in the book format. I've used it to look people up when we've been trying to locate the original owners of badges that turn up on ebay.

The rest of the time I've only used it as a "I wonder if so and so is listed" type of thing.

We have one but I couldn't afford it. :( I would definitely use it because I like knowing who's who:D

ZTA just had their newest directory come out a few months ago. It's a great networking tool since the directory groups the alums by city, state, job title, etc. We also had the directory on CD. I never invested in a copy since it was a lot more than I could afford at the time. Also, the problem with these directories is that they're usually printed every 5 years (if even...) and many people (especially new graduates) tend to move fairly often for a job. I would say that a year after publication, the directory is already outdated with a good 40% of the alums no longer living at the address where they are listed. Plus, people change job fields and titles often so that becomes invalid as well.
I would love to see an online database that has the alums grouped the way ZTA grouped their alums. This way, it can be updated much more frequently allowing members to keep in better contact with one another.

These are the main uses for the people I know who have one.

One of my sister's gave me a directory that is a couple years old. It looks like it is a very useful tool for reaching out to alums in the area. There are a ton. Unfortunately I haven't had the time to do this but would love to form a committee in our AA to try doing this in the future. It's good because the directory lists email addresses.

I got it because I wanted it in my bookcase. Occasionally, I'll look people up in it. Or just look at people's badge numbers and marvel how low mine is :D

I have the 1999 edition of our directory. I didn't buy it this time--it was just too expensive!
And, I also didn't really appreciate the sales pitch. I know they say that part of the money goes to our fraternity, but I wonder how much?
Considering that I am able to get whatever info I need anyways, I'd rather just make a donation to our foundation and KNOW the money is going to them (also it's tax-deductible that way).

alum lists/directories
 

Not necessarily a good deal, but depends on why you want one...
I don't give a hoot about two thousand Tekes in Denver and am
not about to call 'em or mail 'em ($$$$)
About a third of the addresses are no longer valid
Many of them have either moved or died
Virtually impossible to update, regardless of categorization.
Phone hawkers, like the solicitors, tell us how great our chapter
is doing...even though it has been closed thirty years....
Naw, I bought a couple. They repose now in historical society
repositories.
When you got a quarter million initiates, it seems to diminish with
time...the closeness.

I have one from 1998. it's a little bit expensive but worth it.

Two years ago Alpha Gam, and my university, and my high school all had Harris publish member directories. I was feeling thrifty (or poor) at the time and said no to all of them.

Nann

I basically look at them as a who's who... however if the CD comes with a database that allows you to propogate a list of all alumni in your area it can be a great asset to the chapter for active-alumni relations and/or fundraising.

I could only see getting the book for the chapter, and tossing it in the chapter room as a information tool. Local chapter alumni lists are vastly more valueable on many levels, though keeping them up to date can be a pain (did it for 3 years).

I have the CD. Looked around at it once or twice. Thats it.