While alum support would be great for every new colony starting out, it isn't always going to happen. If the girls themselves believe in themselves and their organization and work hard, they will succeed. Ok, I know that is a little too optimistic...but wouldn't it be awesome if it always worked that way?
Again, I say alum support is nice, and sometimes essential, but without forming new chapters across the country how can the group really be expected to grow? With new chapters, you have the opportunity to initiate more girls, many of them who will then stay in the area after graduation, and thus form an alum base. It won't happen overnight, but it'll happen. Just an opinion.
Go AOPi!!!