What do you want to see?

[Pi Kapp 142]

I know all the GCers out there are really dedicated to their chapters and their orgs, but what I am asking is what do you want to see out of an alumni association to benefit the alums. A lot of the alumni is for the undergraduate members and that is great that they do that, but I want the Lifelong Brotherhood to be encouraged by helping brothers out after their college years. People volunteer because they care and I want to make sure they get a little something back every once in a while. What benfits YOU after your undergraduate years and what can the association do to keep you involved and helping the undergraduate chapter.

[Tom Earp]

I have read this several times and am still having a hard time trying to get to your point!



I will try to explain as best as I understand!

What do I as the # 1 Alum get out of my Fraternity.

I get to work with young men who are not as old as the underwear I have in my drawer! They Help Keep Me On My Toes!

I get together once a month with Alums, all whom came after me and we sit and BS! At One BS and Beer meeting as I love to call it, 12 Brothers from 60 to 28 were laffing so damn hard that there were tears streaming down our cheeks!

We go down 2 times a year to have a mentoring session with the Active Chapter and New Associates and work with them!

We are in the Process of trying to get a new house built for the Brothers at the Pitt.

I have been to many of my Chapers houses and was at one yesterday! We have so many new associates that we need help in getting them Initiated in a timely fashion! These Brothers said hey we would love to come down and help you! That is what it is all about.

While I am from a differnt Chapter, they are there to help.

While I have love for my school that I graduated from, If not for the Members of my Fraternity, I would not go back!
I go back to be with my Brothers!

I hope I have given some insight, if not, please let me know and will be happy to go on with this!

Mainly Though, All Of These Young Men, and We get Maturer, want something to come back to and see and be with! Relight the Candle of Freindship!

[Pi Kapp 142]

WHt i meant was, what things would you want to see alumni associations do directly for the alumni. What personal benefit does it bring you to volunteer your Time, Talent, and/or Tresear (sp?, wow that is bad)? What programs would you like to see for your alumni that will benefit them personally? I understand the personal satisfaction you get from volunteering, I want to get ideas for things that will repay all of that volunteerism.

[Tom Earp]

Still pondering on this situation! Sorry! But you ask a somewhat nebulas question.

I know it gives me a chance to meet with my Broters who while nothing else, WE Have this in common!

Brothers have thrown parties out of their pockets, had Brothers to their Kids Weddings, We have been to each others Funerals, We Celebrate and Cry together!

I am not totally understanding what you are asking for but I hope I am getting in the right directon!

It seems no one else undrstands as ya and meese seem to be it!

[sororitygirl2]

I think I get your drift... somewhat. Sort of, why would people want to be in an alum. group if all they do is help undergrads. and don't get any life experiences of their own out of it, right?

Well, I think alum. groups should have activities just like active, undergrad chapters. Do philanthropies together, have socials with another group (like say for example, Phi Delt and Fiji could have a golf tournament or something)... do sisterhood/brotherhood things like going hiking for a day or something. Obviously, with a big alum. group you have to plan things that cater to different tastes and then people can pick and choose what they attend.

Also, maybe have some sort of job networking system... Maybe in your directory it could say each person's profession by their name. Then, if someone is looking to get in somewhere or needs help, they know who to call.

[valkyrie]

I'm not sure this is what you're looking for, but -- what I get from my alumnae chapter is the companionship of sisters and a social calendar of fun things to do. My alumnae chapter gets together at least twice a month, once to do something for the community (outside of Alpha Phi) and once to do something just for us, just for fun. We usually meet somewhere for dinner or for pottery painting, whatever -- it's a time that's just for us to enjoy each other's company and hang out, which I love.

Our chapter is also starting a quarterly series of personal development lectures, and women from all Greek organizations are invited to attend. The programs will cover issues such as work/life balance, buying a home, online etiquette, eliminating debt, pilates, etc.

I think that our chapter has a great balance -- we help the community and our collegiate chapters, but we also do fun stuff. I really wouldn't think to ask for more than that.

[doubleblue&gold]

Are you asking what do we do for ourselves away from the collegiate chapters?

I would think number one would be the social aspect. No matter what activity, whether it was a business meeting, party, philanthropy, or even helping a college chapter-----we like doing it together in a group and socializing with each other. We have older alums that depend on the younger ones to help them get to things and we may be the only social activity they want to do.

The other, networking. We have helped people find new jobs, move to new areas of the country, financial counseling---unlimited ways of helping.

[FuzzieAlum]

There are a lot of folks in my alum group who are only minimally interested in helping out the undergrads. Obviously, supporting the undergrads is great, but I think that long-term to keep alums involved they need to get more out of the sorority than that - otherwise they feel like they're giving and giving and never receiving. You tend to feel real old real fast watching 21 recede farther away from you.

I'm my group's philanthropy chair, so guess what kind of events I arrange. The trick is to find events women from 23 to 83 want to do. Very physical events (walks, for example) don't go over very well. Brunch at the Ronald McDonald house was a huge hit. It takes only a few women, you can see results right away, and you don't all have to be gourmet chefs. We're also going to be adopting a family this Christmas.

We also do stuff that is purely social, such as our Christmas party and gift exchange. You see alums here you never see elsewhere. Also, alums who are more involved with the collegiates (corp board or advisors) come out for this, whereas normally they don't interact much with the alum board. Occasionally, we'll tour Safeco field, have a potluck, etc.

Some things combine service/undergrads/alums. Every year we have Picklemix at the chapter house. It's a chance to see the house and the members and interact with alums, and to bid on fun stuff that raises money for chapter scholarships. There's also a Panhellenic auction that does essentially the same thing for all of UW's sororities.

Then of course there is founders day. While the undergrads attend it, it's not "for" them but for everyone. It's maybe the only time some of us get to reflect on what AXD means and why we are sorority members. Plus we recognize Order of the Rose (50 year member) recipients, which is always great. (You hear a lot of, "Look at the cute little old ladies!") The best part is saying the symphony and singing our songs, because the ladies of Nu chapter put pauses in different places than the rest of us, and they use some different words in songs. A gal from Embry-Riddle (Florida) and I were looking at each other in complete confusion the first time we sang some of those songs!

As DB&G said, there are so many informal things we do, too. Just getting to know other alums opens up opportunities for help with jobs, moving, etc.