Alpha Retention

adpiucf · #1 12-10-2002, 04:35 PM

We work our butts off to recruit them, but what are some things we need to do to KEEP our alphas?

sweetie adpi · #2 12-11-2002, 01:04 AM

having an excited, yet sensitive nmc for the alphas is important.... she should be approachable and communicate with alphas to find out what their expectations are, let them know what to expect and all other important information, and make sure that all deltas are respectful and welcoming to the alpha class. do the alphas get to meet the exec board right after they become alphas? do they get their diamond sisters and prides quickly? having connections early in their experience is important.... making the alphas feel as much a part of the chapter, and vital to it is important... the girls should know that they are wanted and are equal with any other sister in the chapter. that's what is great about adpi -- there is no being a 'lowly pledge'.... what kind of alpha ed program does your chapter have? are the alphas invited to all chapter activities? are they aware that all events are not 'mandatory' and able to become adjusted to the sorority and sorority life? anyways... feel free to pm me and i'll gladly talk about more alpha ed details... being nmc was one of the best experiences i have had in adpi

nauadpi · #3 12-11-2002, 01:27 AM

Our chapter has had some issues with that. The big thing we have found that helps is to make sure to have sisters call the alphas a lot if they are not living in. In the first weeks before they get their diamond sisters they are still called much to inform them when sisters are going out to dinner or to the movies. The main thing we have found is to make sure they go out with sisters a lot on not just sorority functions but on many other outings.

violets · #4 12-11-2002, 02:46 PM

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

ADPi~Ally · #5 12-11-2002, 03:43 PM

With my experience, we've had good and bad periods. During my 1st semster, we lost about 1/4-1/3 of the chapter over the summer. It wasn't that we weren't commuticating, it was that b4 I joined the chapter, the chapter (sorry to say) was going with QUANTITY over QUALITY. Those girls that didn't have the ADPi dedication, love, beliefs, etc left. And the ones who did, remained. That's basically when we started rebuild the chapter from the ground up. Over that summer and fall semester we did alot of revamping of the chapter for the best. We got the QUALITY girls we wanted. Now we are going strong and have a strong bond of sisterhood.

PS. Sorry I got off topic..... And I agree with Violet ideas, they are very good.

Pi love,
Ally

ADpiSWT · #6 12-11-2002, 07:56 PM

I am not sure if ya'lls chapters do this, but on Bid day the new alphas get a Pi Pal. This person helps them out until they recieve their diamond sister. I was both a Pi Pal and a Diamond Sister this year and it has helped me to know the new pledge class a lot better. The Pi pals decorate/trash the new girls rooms and they have several slumber parties to get to know their pledge sisters. I think my chapter is very loyal to their pledge class because of this.

Pi love and Mine,
Amanda

kayla_adpi · #7 12-11-2002, 09:50 PM

i know our chapter had a problem with this until this year. the best thing is for you and your sisters to spend a lot of time with them. its hard coming into something new where you hardly know anybody. our nmc really concentrated on spending time with them and getting our sisters to spend a lot of time with them. i know with us we had quite a few who were really homesick so we had to show them that we were there for them. i know our nmc held sleepovers at her apartment were they could all get to know each other better and she also invited the sisters to stay overnight or even just drop by for a little while. i know they had a lot of fun with that. i know on bid day she gave each of them a pi pal and thats a sister who is there for them in the beginning to make them feel at home and she spends quality time with her and usually buys her a small adpi gift. then a month or so later at sisterhood retreat they got their diamond sisters.....and this year we really concentrated on spending a lot of time with them....of course they got their usual gifts also....and sisters would drop cards or letters to them every week or so for a while. i know a lot of this really helps but they main thing is spending quality time with them even if its just going to walmart.

pi love,
kayla

chloe173 · #8 12-17-2002, 01:52 AM

I know that my chapter has fairly good Alpha Retention...we initiated 43 this fall, and I think we only extended bids to 48. One of the things that I liked best when I was an Alpha was that the week after bid night it was like my social calendar was instantly packed. My "bid day buddy" (who later became my big) took me out like every night that week. She always made sure to introduce me to everyone and that made me feel really comfortable in the house really quickly. I think its important though not just to take them to parties or whatever when they first join though but also to show them a strong sisterhood, like going out to dinner or a movie with the sisters and so forth. Another HUGE thing is to be on your best behavior about talking about other people in the house or about other houses. Especiallly right after rush the girl may have had a hard time choosing ADPi over another house and may have really liked the girls there too. Similarly, if she sees you talking bad about anoyone in your own house that certainly can't be good. I think after that it is important to always show excitement about upcoming events. There is one house on the row that lost almost half of their pledges this year and I heard one girl complaining because she never did anything after bid night for like a week and a half and that some of the girls seemed really catty. You don't want ot be that house. Good luck!

adpiucf · #9 04-05-2004, 03:43 AM

bump

ASUADPi · #10 04-05-2004, 10:54 AM

I would also have to say, even though it hasn't been outright mentioned, getting to know your Alpha sisters is huge. These are the girls that you will most likely spend four years (if you were a freshman when you joined) with. You will literally grow up together. Not to say that you shouldn't get to know the Deltas, you should, but some of the Delta's are going to be seniors and juniors and you won't be spending the next four years with them.
Am I making sense?

ASUADPi · #11 06-25-2010, 10:00 PM

Bumping this thread because I'm sure Alpha retention is something that all chapters are still dealing with

TinyDancer98 · #12 06-29-2010, 01:49 AM

As others have said, it's really important to make the Alphas feel well-connected and a part of the chapter right from the start. We assign violet sisters on bid day, so there is someone there right away to take her out to lunch on bid day, accompany her to her first chapter meeting, call her and generally make her feel welcome before she gets her diamond sister. Each week we do a "spotlight" in chapter for an alpha who wants to introduce herself, talk about what they're doing as an alpha class, or really anything she wants. Chapter officers also visit during alpha ed sessions to get to know the alphas and talk about their roles in the chapter. Diamond sisters eat with their alphas at least twice a week, write letters to their parents, leave them notes, and bring them to chapter functions so they don't feel intimidated to go to events alone. They are also assigned to the same pride group as their diamond sister. Our chapter is pretty good at matching diamond sisters so we rarely have issues with that.

I also think it's important for the alphas to bond as a class and get to know each other- their big diamonds and older sisters will graduate, and ultimately, they will end up leaving an entirely different sorority than they joined- except for their class. Our alphas usually perform a song parody at formal, which gives them a project to work on outside of alpha ed so they can work together just as a class and get to bond. The spring class also takes part in Panhellenic's lip synch contest (it is open to all sisters and sometimes a few fall initiates participate, but it's usually just the spring alphas) and that is a great bonding experience. They also usually do an alpha mall trip (so they can get a dress for formal or fun pin attire outfits!), sleepovers, and other class events, which allow them to bond as a pledge class. I didn't realize it at the time, but bonding with my class and transitioning into the sorority as a group are some of my fondest sorority memories and definitely a big reason that I loved it so much from the start.

adpimiz · #13 10-30-2012, 10:44 AM

Old post, but I had a great friend of mine drop because of money, and it made me really sad

I think it's important to make sure everyone is aware of costs before hand, and help as much as you can to keep costs down. Joining a sorority can be a bit expensive, especially for those whose parents are not helping them out.

ADPi95 · #14 10-30-2012, 10:58 AM

Thanks for bumping this adpimiz! This is a great thread, especially with all these new colonies popping up!

It's a bit of a challenge when there is a new colony. Any ideas?

adpiucf · #15 10-30-2012, 11:28 AM

We had "Diamond Diads" in my chapter when I was an alpha. Each week, you were paired up with another alpha and it was expected that at some point in the week, you'd meet up to spend time together. It could be something as simple as coffee or chatting before chapter meeting.

One thing I loved were our alpha mailboxes. At retreat, each alpha decorated a manila envelope with her name and collage materials as a way to tell us about herself. A headshot was taken and printed and put on the envelope. Then the envelopes were placed around the chapter room. Each week, members would write encouraging notes to the alphas and place them in their mailboxes. It definitely made us feel special and wanted.

I think it is important for members to reach out and be reached out to on a regular basis. It helps them to feel connected and wanted, and in return, they want to reciprocate and become even more involved.