[Eric_Berger]

Vijay,

I have two thoughts, not just for your situation, but for the Greek Chat community as a whole.

In terms of donations from Alumni to the Chapter, you need to ask. It is a horrible thing to say, but I give to the HQ because they ask. I hear the same thing from the Chapter...why don't the Alumni give to us? Well, because you haven't sent out a newsletter in five years. Also, what are you going to use this money for?

So here are my two points:

1. Ask the alumni to give to the Chapter but for a specific purpose. Whether it is to fund an academic scholarship, a house improvement issue, or to fund one or two Chapter members to attend a Regional or International Conference (hint, hint, to those Chapters who have poor attendance at these events), give them a reason to give.

2. Get with your Alumni Association or House Corporation and have them work with the Educational Foundation to set up a fund for Chapter use (and these need to be specific because of tax laws). Tell your Alumni who do give to the Educational Foundation to have it go to this specific fund. That way the Chapter directly benefits from their donations.

Hope these ideas help!

in ZAX,
Eric

P.S. In response to Kevin Piket's earlier post, some of us are good High Pi's because we use good ideas from other Chapters (like Kevin's).