[paulaKKG]

I'm an active member of my sorority alumnae chapter, but I have never attended a panhellenic alumnae event for the group in my area. I suspect that although time is part of the issue, poor programming is the other part.

First, I can't even tell you what social things the area panhel alum group here does. Fundraising events (charity or otherwise) always seem to be "money collections" (e.g. sell theater tickets for panhel, buy chocolates for panhel, etc). From my perspective, all panhel does is ask for money. And I would want to participate in that because???

Second, without a social componant to the organization it is very hard to form any meaningful relationships out of it. My alumnae group for Kappa has sisters from all over the country - and we all had different college experiences. Some of us are from smaller chapters, some from larger, some from southern schools, some from northern schools, etc. However, having "Kappa" in common is enough to break the ice and give a foundation to work with. Plus, we meet in a variety of interest groups so this provides something else to talk about. As someone who went to a smaller technical school up north, I struggle to think what tenuous connection I could make to someone who was in another organization from one of the large southern state schools.

Which leads me back to programming... that *could* be overcome by establishing good groups or events - interest groups like "mothers groups" or "needlepoint groups" or "reading groups" or whatever. But from what I can tell, none of those things exist. Hence, panhellenic alumnae groups levels of participation are dwindling.

Just a thought from my perspective.