|
I graduated in May from a 5 year old chapter. During my four years we hardly knew the chapter founders, even though they were so recently graduated. As a chapter we recognized that we really were going to need their support to function toward our 10-25-50 year anniversaries. We were also experiencing a little bit of lag from some of our new members, they just were not really getting 'it'. We took the chance with our 5 year coming up to really try to turn our alumnae involvment around. We made 5 year a HUGE deal. I was the CAL and was voted to hold the position for a year (we did semester terms) to keep consistancy with the planning.
To plan we really brought in the alumnae wishes for the weekend, which was held on our chapter founding date. They wanted an initation, we compromised with rededication (it was too hard the the nm schedule to initate that weekend) and it was beautiful.
Leading up to the event, my committee and I did a ton of research and talking with national to get an idea about the different forms of alumnae groups and finally settled on one that would allow our alumnae from all over the world to be members while supporting our chapter.
Essentially during our 'state of the chapter' meeting we told them that we wanted a group, and gave them the paper work. We expressed the need to have them involved in our chapter and lives. We outlined some of what we thought would really help the chapter, such as bi-annual visits, coordination of gifts, scholarships, etc. They signed the petition to national that day, we got a group president and then we left them to it to begin the whole process. Before we left though, we set the date for our 10 year while we had 25 alumnae sitting there.
We went to a very intense liberal arts school, where very few do not get burned out before graduation. Most needed time away, and then they were unsure of how to really become involved again. We're still doing bylaws a year later, but it will be an organization set up to allow lots of chapter interaction, or not depending on your own wishes. We have our first alumnae retreat in Ocean City, MD this summer and are pretty excited. Donations were made and we redid the living room of the chapter house. Eventually the group will be tightly tied to the chapter and we hope to keep our young alumnae around when they graduate while still letting them breathe.
Sorry this was so long, that is what we did and where we are at. We still have some official processes to go through, but we are functioning and currently have two alumnae on staff and two more who will be applying. It's helped moral and drama in the chapter, our nm now see the alumnae every semester and the homecoming gathering gets bigger every year. I'm excited even though we still have tons to do!!!
|