Ten Years and NO Records
 

The Nu chapter is turning 10 in May, but the problem is that we have HORRIBLE records from the last ten years. That means that the alumni that we can find have had little or no contact from the sorority since they graduated. Does anyone have any suggestions for rounding up alumni and getting them excited about us again? Thanks!
Robin
Beanamo@aol.com

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I ain't got a dime but what I got is mine, I ain't rich, but Lord I'm free. - G.S.

Robin,

Ten years is definately a long time. First, you might want to check in your activation book and get everyone's names. Then go to the alumni association at your university and ask to access their database. Lots of last names will have changed, but if your alumni haven't kept in touch with your chapter, they may not have updated their alumni info either. You will probably have to just get everyone's last known address and the last know address of their parents. You might have to talk to the registrar to get the latter. Then start calling, mailing, emailing, etc. Post missing sisters on the internet and ask older professors in your department if they know what might have happened to any of them. Hardly a week goes by that I don't hear from a former student just saying "HI!"

Once you find some alumni, you might have a themed weekend to invite them back...maybe something other than just Founders' Day...how about something like "Rebuilding our Past" or something with a "Past, Present, and Future" theme? Let them know you want to honor them, learn from them, impress them, get to know them, and above all THANK them for what they gave you.

Good luck!

You might also try posting a message to your alumni on your Web site, telling them you miss them and are looking for your chapter's alumnae sisters! You'd be surprised how many people do web searches and find chapters that way. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

Also, you could ask them to supply their e-mail addresses if they want to hear about chapter news. Then send a monthly sort of "e-newsletter," especially designed to keep the alumnae informed about the active chapter.

Sus has great ideas for finding the alums. You'd be surprised, once you find a few and tell them who you are "missing," how fast they can help find other sisters. It seems like everyone knows a few different people's addresses.

p.s. have you checked the latest National Alumni Association Directory for any graduates of Nu?

I think all of the ideas posted are GREAT! I also would like to give Robin credit for trying to search out the alumni sisters. A short newsletter from your chapter may stir up some enthusiasm (if you can get addresses for alumni sisters). Inform them of who the current members are, your past and upcoming events, and encourage them to email you and let you know more about them. Good luck to you!

Robin Rastani