LXA Alums
 

It has been discussed among a few of us on G C and there needs to be a change.

As We profess, Lambda Chi Alpha is for life, but there is something missing here.
While I can only talk about LX Z, We have lost many Alums who have Graduated and started new lives in the Real World as it were. I know from talking to other Brothers, the same thing has happened to other Zetas.

The Burn Out Factor can be a prime problem when the few (20-80 % Ration) where the 20 % do the work and 80 % dont do anything. Many of us on G C are in the 20 % range or we would not still be doing something such as this.

While I am well aware of the Money Budget crunch at IHQ, there seems to be a huge void. It is called Alumni Relations.

It seems just like Zetas, IHQ forgets Alums unless it is for Money Gathering. Just like Zetas, IHQ seems to forget or pass over Alums unless there is a Problem.

It does get tedious when I seem to actually hear from My Zeta or IHQ only when there is a problem.:(

Now, the crux of the problem, what do We do or IHQ do to alleviate this situation?


Suggestions?

I think the 20-80 or 10-90 problem you mentioned is just as true when it comes to alumni. 10-20% of the initial 10-20% who did work as undergrads will continue to work with the fraternity as alumni.
If we really want to make our brotherhood experience a "lifetime" comitment, then we need a program for making the transition from undergrad to alumni. I'm taking a few years off from being actively involved, but if I had an Alumni chapter near by that I could get involved with it would be a nice break from the day to day grind of law school. I think that a large number of recent graduates want to remain involved but they will not make the extra effort, and why should they. The IHQ should have programs set up to keep recent alumni involved.

I know I'm rambing, but below I'm going to make a diagram of life as brother as I have seen it...

18-22 Undergrad Very Involved but very short sighted
22-35 Recent Grad No Involvement (due to burn out and the above lack of direction)
35-55 Alumni People only want you to give money (and hopefully this is when people actually do donate to their local chatpers)
55+ Old Alumni People will actually listen to the things you say (but ignore what they don't agree with and say "things are different now")

Due to the nature of my primary work (alumni communications), I get a chance to observe firsthand how other GLO's are handling their alums.

Some organizations have well-run, well-populated (and well-financed) Alumni Relations offices, and some don't have the same capabilities. Since we know our fiscal options are limited, I've observed how a couple of groups may have offset this dilemma.

These GLO's have established regional alumni groups (RGA's), and we can use Brother Andy's example in San Antonio as an exemplar of how to pull this off. The RGA's generally have meetings 1x/quarter or even have monthly luncheons (one group holds their Chicago-North Shore meetings @ a restaurant I used to frequent in my hometown).

For those who say the idea of meeting for lunch wouldn't work because of job responsibilities, I have to say that the GLO I'm discussing has a plethora of Fortune 500 types in their alumni base.

These guys can make it lunch--granted, most salaried guys can't split for 2+ hours, but if their bosses are flexible, perhaps they can work a bit later one day to have some extra time for that one afternoon...

In some instances, the RGA's are actually given the responsiblity of handling Leadership Seminars, such as the one being conducted next month in New Braunfels, TX. The training material is still coming from the organization HQ, but the RGA's are handling all of the details (finding hotels, acting as contacts, etc.). It must be working, because I know of at least two GLO's handling things this way.

I'd personally like to see us try to set up RGA's, and perhaps divide the countries into regions (e.g. Region V = Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan and Ontario, Canada). We're a long way from that sort of scenario, but it could be a reality if we all pulled together--

It must be pointed out that the idea of decentralization isn't easily taken by many. Loss of control is the biggest objection. However, I'd say, "Why not give it a shot?". I'll do a little research to see how these RGA's got their start. And the next person stepping up to the podium is...

Matt and Bill, You both bring up great points. Matt, the analogy is @99% right on.

Bill while Regional Alum Groups work in some Areas, they do not work in others.

It seems since there Was a Regional Alum Association once tried in K C Metro it did not work out as each Zeta ended up having their own agenda. This is just like it is today. The Primary is The Zeta as that is who We are closest to.

But in My thinking, there is No direct Leadership from Graduation to Alumni Status.

Okay, there is a Rite of Passage for Grads and that is BS.

The Idea is to have a Central Core for Alumni Envolvement to Keep Us/We Interested.

So, IHQ has the idea that Alums will donate to LXA beacause We Were/Are LXAs.

As I said, Matts Anology is very apripo to the life span of an Alum.

Just out Of College, getting started in a new job and life. Getting Married and having a Family. Getting in a position of making more Money, then the Kids are grown and away.

How then to keep Brothers still thinking of LXA and What it ment to them?


I learned more about What I did and how it effected Me and that is why I am still doing this for over 40 Years. It has effected all of Us Here, now, the problem is how Do We and IHQ get reattached to these Brothers who have strayed?

I know what Jono did to keep the BN Alums working as I and others of My Zeta have done.

To Mention just a few:

lifesaver, lenoxxx, otter, Joiner, Boz, Eric, LXAAlum, ECT.

We are somewhat a Cream of The Crop, The Few and The Proud who do this. There are many more out there doing this, But, How Do We reach them on an International Level?

It really pisses Me off as A Life Member when a TeleMarketer calls Me to Donate!:mad: I keep getting Donation Notices! :mad:

What Needs to Be Done, is When Alums Donate and Offer Their Time, then They are Contacted to give that Time Free, Then They are taken advantage of as They are Doing it and not contacted!:confused:

I do know of some of the things that Alums are doing and it is AWESOME!

I am in awe of the time that they are putting in and getting no credit Yet, but it is coming!

Lets just say, there are a few here on GC who are doing this!:cool:

This is Just To Say, You are All My Brothers and Have Nothing But Total Respect For Each and Everyone!:cool:

When I've done workshops on this subject, I've made one big point: THE DRIVE FOR 25. If we don't get people involved by that age, they're gonna be gone for a while.

Something else that might be worth looking into is a "LIFE LONG LAMBDA" program (pay x amount and you're given a special pin...maybe the telemarketers won't bother those guys). It's being done by a number of groups.

As an alumni, I never received any sort of request for a donation, either for my time or for my $$$.

How come?

We need a professional fund raiser.

LXA has been lazy in getting their alums involved. How about regional alumni associations with semi-annual meetings?

A thought
 

In some areas, Dallas in particular, it worked very well. It may well work in other metro areas as well: Los Angeles, Orange County (Note - NOT LA), Bay Area, Seattle, Denver, etc.

It would have to have minimal impact on a professional and his business. A low key, FUN lunch as a starter. I'd leave the undergrads out at this point. It is, after all, and alumni group.

Once the group has established a patter of lunch 3x or 4x a year, ask the Alphas to visit. They wear a suit! They meet the alumni. They DO NOT ask for money.

After a while, a careful, quiet appeal for guidance by the undergrads.

Start small and low impact

Is that how Dallas did it?

I dont know how Dallas did it, but they have been active for a while. HQ could provide templates for groups to use - in Dallas they have individual alum assn's that are members of the bigger Dallas area alum assn. In San Antonio, we made a decision to just have one large, city wilde association. Sure the alums from the individual chapters still are more involved with their particular chapter, overall the members of the SAAA have come together to support all three chapters in the area.

I couldnt agree with Bill more. Many of our experienced and involved members are recent college grads. They make great alum assn members because they have the time and energy to do the legwork.

I could definately see that working in Florida. A Tampa or Orlando and Miami organizations would have plenty of alumni. I know from other groups that I'm in that people are willing to give up 5 or 6 hours on a weekend for things like going to hooters etc. I believe alumni would spend 2 hours every few months eating lunch with brothers.

I agree with many of the above statements, but, this still leaves the onus on Alums to do it themselves!:(

We as Alums have to take the inititive to do it.:rolleyes:

What direction is what I am asking from IHQ other than just asking for Donations are We getting?

Okay, The Cross and Cresent, now in the New Electronic Format.:(

Is there any thing else?

My idea I guess is a Director Of Alums as it were. Some way to be able to coordinate Alums.

Remember, We as Alums many times are the well where IHQ comes to dip the bucket for donations. We are missing to many Alums and granted, We the few here that I can speak for are trying to keep our Zetas updated on what to do. Notify IHQ on any Changes:

Address Change.
Email Change.

I have always said, that The High Phi is one of the most important Offices in any Zeta, but it is never reinforced that way. This is some way that IHQ could do this at any Leadership or GA Meetings.

Have The High Phi become a more important Officer and then through each Zeta an Alum such as We can also coordinate information to IHQ to Update!

This would seem a win win situation. Keep the Alum interest at the Local and International Level.

In the long run, good for all of us!:)