[violets]

adpiucf
Thanks for this wonderful topic!!!
And the responses so far have been fabulous.
To expand on the theme here, I also think a key to Alpha retention is immediate connections within the chapter.
One way that I have suggested that a chapter deal with this was to establish extremely clear responsibilities for Diamond sisters. We let the chapter know that being a "Diamond Sister" is not a right, it's a privlege. It's also a real job within the chapter. Everyone who wanted to be a Diamond Sister had to agree to some basic things, and they had to go through a brief interview with at least two advisors.
The "basic things" were:
Face to face meetings are a MUST to establish a Diamond sister relationship.
The schedule should be at least two face-to-face meetings a weeks for their entire Alpha period. For the rest of the year they must have at least one face-to-face meetings a week.
This time is supposed to be exclusively bonding time for the Diamond Sisters, movie night with the entire chapter is great, but doesn't count as one of the meetings.
Also, each Diamond Sister had to be extremely familiar with the all the education materials that the Alphas were being introduced to each week in their meetings. It was a requirement that at one of their meetings they go over what the ADPi "topic" of the week was and see if the Alpha had any unanswered questions.

Phone calls are essential as well.
Four phone calls a week during the Alpha period. For the rest of the year this should remain pretty consistent, but can be reduced to three if you continue to do two face to face meetings a week.

Okay, those were some basics. In addition, we also decided that it was better for a sister to take on 2 or 3 New Members, who had the time and energy to devote to each girl, rather than give one Alpha to a woman who was completely over extended and wouldn't be able to manage the time requirements. We called the girls in two or threes "twins and triplets" this also served to create "family" situations. This is both good and bad, it just has to be watched carefully so that they don't develop into "cliques."

In addition it was decided that each week of the year a chapter offices (or two) would call each and every Alpha during the week.
The first week it was always the recruitment chair who thanked all of the women for choosing ADPi. The scholarship chair was usually the next to call and she also set up individual meetings with the Alphas to go over how they were actually adjusting to their classes. At this meeting she would bring all of her materials; scholarship applications, tutoring opportunities, sister's names who are in the same degree program, etc. so that any questions could be answered right then and there.

(Remember, another enemy of retention is bad time management, many young women get to school without any organizational skills, and become overwhelmed trying to balance sorority and school. Sometimes in a moment of panic they quit the sorority when all they need is a bit of help.)

Hope that something in this is helpful for you.
As a sidenote, we also had a "Diamond Sister" honor ceremony at a chapter meeting where new Diamond Sisters would receive Diamond Sister guards. Seniors who had Diamond Sisters were also honored with little jewelery boxes in the shape of either hearts or diamonds. Each of the Senior's Diamonds would sign the bottom of the box.
(Never give up a chance to honor Seniors---it helps with Senior retention!)
L&L,
violets