[SmartBlondeGPhB]

If you have the funds a door prize might be fun. How about a gift certificate for a manicure or something? Do you know a Mary Kay consultant? Maybe she'd be willing to donate a door prize? Do you have a room to yourselves? If you're in the middle of a public restaurant, it somewhat limits what you can do.

I'd recommend talking as little as possible. Let them talk to each other. Have introductions, tell stories about college, talk about what Alpha Phi's doing now. Ask them what they want to do. The members of our chapter are mostly under 35 and they don't like "meetings". They like doing things (museum tours, philanthropy, pottery painting, wine tastings are popular). The Exec Board does most of the "business" and we just have events.

I wasn't going to school full time, I had just finished grad school so I was used to the full time school and full time work though.

Tell them specific things you need help with. Break down the bigger jobs into smaller pieces that more than one person could do. Does your nationals recommend a structure to your alumnae chapter (certain officers, etc)? If they do, DO NOT get people to sign up for them just to have bodies in the positions, you won't have the bodies for long. Keep the positions open until someone comes along who wants to help out. If the woman doesn't really want to help, she will fade away after a while and you'll be doing all the work yourself.

We do our communicating via email too. We have a website (it won the 1st ever "web site development award" at convention in June) and we have a yahoogroups list for reminders and other messages. Saves money.

If you have more questions, just let me know. Be careful though, burn out does happen. I got lucky and attended my first convention right as the burn out started and got re-energized.

Don't get discouraged if you only get a small turn out to start.

Melanie