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An active alumni (alumnae) group requires one dedicated leader, who hopefully is
1 - rich, or
2 - works somewhere with access to copiers, postage, etc.
and
3 - loaded with free time
Alums want to know whats going on - with their class mates who were in the chapter "back then", and that the current chapter is doing OK, and if there are any current members from their town.
They will read anything decent which is sent to them, and after many years of effort some 25 - 30 percent will actually send alum dues (of $25-$35/yr.) every year.
Chapter alumni letters should be 75 percent alum news, 25 percent undergrad news. Alumni news is collected by including a questionaire with every issue. Money is collected by including an "alumni dues" solicitation form with every mailing - and publishing a "Thank you" listing the payers at the end of the year.
I once worked for a private firm which did the chapter alumni chairman's job, and have seen 1000's of chapter newsletters. I know there is a fine private firm in State College, PA, and perhaps another near Cornell, and I'd encourage chapters/alumni groups to check them out. They serve chapters all over.
I'm still on the mailing list for SPE at Tennessee, and they have the greatest alumni program I've ever seen - all apparently done by a few active alumni in Knoxville. there is a mailing almost every month, and usually the newsletter is 10-12 glossy pages, filled with pictures of alumni at recent chapter/alumni events. It's been going on for at least 10 years, and their income is now over $20,000/yr.
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