Tracking Down Alums

DWAlphaGam · #1 09-10-2003, 04:08 PM

I became my chapter's Alumnae Relations Advisor last year, partly due to the fact that I was not happy about their lack of good alumnae relations programs (this is something I tried to pick up as a collegian, too, but I didn't have as much time then). In the past year and a half, we have made a lot of progress, namely, expanding the alumnae section of the collegiate website, starting a Yahoo group, and developing an address book of all of our alumnae. Thanks to Alpha Gam IHQ's sister search on the members side of our website, I have a list of the names and addresses of all of our alumnae. The problem is, many of the addresses are out of date, and many of the listings do not have e-mail addresses or telephone numbers. I was wondering if any of you have tried to find the current contact information for your own alumni, and what means you used to do so. I am especially looking for good websites that will give up-to-date contact information, but any other ideas for finding alumnae are welcome.

Thanks, everyone!

33girl · #2 09-10-2003, 04:15 PM

Use your school's alumni office. People are usually better about keeping that up to date than they are about sorority stuff.

Tom Earp · #3 09-10-2003, 04:25 PM

DWAlphagam,

try a Google or Yahoo search. It is a lot of work, I know. But if you have some Sisters near you, break it down so each can do a search.

I sell phone cards at the store and used those till I got a cell phone plan. I just started calling matching names.

Went from 10 originally to 200+. Still not enuff for me!

Good luck! It is tuff but in the end, very rewarding!

SmartBlondeGPhB · #4 09-10-2003, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 33girl
Use your school's alumni office. People are usually better about keeping that up to date than they are about sorority stuff.

Agreed.

DWAlphaGam · #5 09-11-2003, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 33girl
Use your school's alumni office. People are usually better about keeping that up to date than they are about sorority stuff.

Thanks; I actually already did that. My school has a website where you can look up other alums, so I spent a few slow days at work looking up everyone. That did help, but I'm trying to find others that don't have contact info there, either (which is over half of them).

I'll have to try the Google and Yahoo search as the next step.

Tom Earp · #6 09-11-2003, 04:28 PM

Many times when you find Sisters from different eras, there are always some who keep in contact that can help fill in some blanks!

If you can get some key members of those classes and if they will work with you to help find others, it could snow ball.

As the keeper of our Address Book, I always close with,

"If There are Some Brothers Who are not on the address listing "PLEASE CONTACT ME" if you have someone I do not have!"

SmartBlondeGPhB · #7 09-11-2003, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DWAlphaGam
Thanks; I actually already did that. My school has a website where you can look up other alums, so I spent a few slow days at work looking up everyone. That did help, but I'm trying to find others that don't have contact info there, either (which is over half of them).

I'll have to try the Google and Yahoo search as the next step.

If your website is like my alma mater's, it's updated separately from the office so you may get more info if you call teh school and ask for certain alums in some criteria.

Peaches-n-Cream · #8 09-11-2003, 07:33 PM

www.anywho.com might help you locate people. Good luck!

AGDLynn · #9 09-12-2003, 06:55 AM

It won't gather you lots but try www.classmates. com

Good luck! I definitely know how hard it is to get alumnae to become and stay involved!!

Kevin · #10 09-12-2003, 04:27 PM

You might also put some kind of an Alumni Update form on your alum chapter's website. We're just now arriving at that point (as of right now we have under 20 alums from our chapter). I guess it's falling to me to keep track of people's addresses so this should help a lot. I'm lucky enough to know that all of our alums understand how to use a computer well enough that they'd probably fill out their updates through casual browsing.

Tom Earp · #11 09-12-2003, 06:21 PM

KTSnake, you are fortunate to have the computo knowledge and such and early begining to start right now!

After you start searching after 30+ years it gets tougher

If you do not keep it up, they spread to the wind and it gets harder.

GOOD LUCK!

DGMarie · #12 09-13-2003, 02:44 PM

DG actually hired a company to do this for us nationally. I think it would be something the national office of your sorority might be looking into (check with them). What you intend to do can be so time consuming and fraught with dead ends. Even with the company we hired, we still have some kinks to work out with the data.

adpiucf · #13 09-13-2003, 04:24 PM

If there are alum locally, you can post notices in public areas like church newsletters, community bulletin boards, etc--- that you are in search of members from XYZ chapter, too.

The collegians can also assist by posting these in their hometowns. Good luck!

AGDee · #14 09-13-2003, 10:55 PM

Your Province Director Alumnae should have lists of alumnae in the area. Your Chapter Advisor or Province Director Collegians could get you her name and contact information. Since we have the option of not including some information on the web site, some women may not be listed there.

Dee

TexasOphiA · #15 09-17-2003, 02:12 AM

Does your National Board have an alumni director? I got a list of our alumni from them, but it hasnt been updated in 4 years!