Thanks AGDLynn! Yes I did get the Atlanta Southern Crescent Alum Panhel Association started in 2001 after tiring of the tedious and sometimes treacherous drive into Atlanta to participate in the Atlanta Alum Panhel Assoc activities. I wanted a group to do the same types of things that had been done by the other Alum Panhel groups I was a member of during my Air Force career (e.g. many moves): encourage college bound girls to rush and join sororoties; conduct sorority info sessions and get recs written; do routine philanthropic/altruistic/community service; give scholarships AND socialize.
I contacted NPC first to find out exactly what they needed me to do so our group could become officially affilated with NPC. I even squeezed a small ($50) grant from the Atlanta Alum Panhel Assoc to help with the costs since everything was coming out of my own pocket and NPC does not reimburse you for anything, unlike my sorority which does reimburse you for many of the expenses associated with starting an alum chapter. I invited all the Greek women I knew to a brunch I cooked and served at my home; my Gamma Phi alum chapter helped with that first event and I had the Atlanta Alum Panhel Pres (an Alpha Xi Delta) and the Vice Pres (a Chi O) come down to speak and encourage us.
There were over 50 Greek women who attended and they were all supportive of my efforts. We planned a date for a second, follow up meeting at which I presented the bylaws I had written -- following the template NPC gave me -- and voted on them and elected officers. We "meet" every other month and our "meetings" are typically social events with some business conducted -- the exec board mostly handles that aspect. We are just three years young but we already have two ongoing philanthropies ("Baby Peaches" thru which we provide new layette items to needy mothers to be and "Womens Success Network" thru which we provide clean, gently-used career attire and accessories to women trying to re-enter the workforce from welfare/abusive situations); we donate to local charities such as the "Noel November" that benefits the local abused/neglected childrens home by auctioning off donated and highly decorated Xmas trees and wreaths -- it is a great outlet for our many creative Greek alums! and we got to act as hostesses during the recent Street of Dreams model designer home show -- one of the homes was decorated by a member (a very stylish and creative Kappa!) and she came to us her Greek sisters for help in acting as hostesses and tour guides -- all the proceeds from that endeavor went to the YW/MCA ; we also do annual sorority info sessions and each year we have more girls alttend and request recs; and as AGDLynn says, we give out scholarships -- one 2 yrs ago and two last year. Right now I am trying to get a Foundation established for our scholarship program and that should help us get more community financial support -- I am using Houston's fantastic Alum Panhel Association and their foundation as a model -- they have sent me some good info.
I STRONGLY encourage you to get in touch with whatever alum panhel group is in your town and get involved --I know that some alum panhel associations have meetings and some events thatare for official delegates only --like Atlanta Alum Panhel does; but other alum panhel associations -- like ours -- is open to ANY Greek alum and our dues are cheap (just $10 although we do encourage everyone to give more for our scholarship fund).
Go greek!