i went alum yesterday

OUlioness01 · #1 06-08-2003, 09:57 PM

I went alum yesterday and I would like to stay involved, but i'm still an undergrad with no alumnae chapter or chapter association in my college town, and there seems to be no interest in starting one. how can i still stay involved? my chapter is no longer here and i would rather not donate to my nationals until i come to grips with everything that has gone on since i joined as a Phi.

PsychTau · #2 06-08-2003, 11:15 PM

Can you serve as some sort of adviser/consultant for another chapter? You may not be able to "officially" be on National Staff because you are still an undergrad, but you might be able to stay involved with a nearby chapter.

Are none of your other chapter members interested in functioning as an alumnae chapter?

Sorry I'm not much help, but I'm not really sure how Phi Mu is set up in terms of staff, etc.

PsychTau

SmartBlondeGPhB · #3 06-09-2003, 12:48 AM

Along the lines already mentioned, did you alone go alum, or your entire house?

If it was your whole house, I would suggest doing things as a group, like you did before.

I find it interesting that there are not enough Phi Mu alums in the Cincinnati area for an alumnae chapter. I believe we have more than one.

I would also do exactly what you stated, come to grips with what happened. My chapter also closed and if I hadn't transferred to another school and affiliated with that chapter, I probably would not be as active as I am. But it took a long time for me to become active as an alum.

Munchkin03 · #4 06-09-2003, 12:55 AM

I would say to start an alum chapter if there's not one! I don't know how hard it is to do it, but it might be a nice way to start some post-collegiate social contacts!

I'm thinking that maybe I should take a break between jumping right into alum life...does anyone have any advice about that?

SmartBlondeGPhB · #5 06-09-2003, 01:17 AM

As someone who started an alumnae chapter, it's not easy. But it's VERY rewarding. Be ready for a lot of work.

Munchkin, in answer to your question I would recommend taking a little bit of time off, or at least starting out slow on your alumnae involvement. You will probably feel like you want to just jump right in and do it all but you will have so many other things to get involved with (job, transitioning into life, etc). I've seen a lot of alumnae jump right in and then get burned out and disappear. Take it slow, get the rest of your life sorted out, attend alumnae events and then jump back in. Or just do what you feel is right for you.

daoine · #6 06-09-2003, 11:17 AM

Start a chapter association!

My chapter closed in 2000 (I think) -- a few short years after I left. There really aren't plans to re-charter it any time soon.

So we up and started our Chapter Association -- which consists of all interested alumni. We send out little newsletters, plan events at Homecoming and Reunions, things like that. It's a good way to feel like there's still some connection.

In addition, when the chapter recolonizes, you'll be able to give them a list of active, interested alum for support.

Gimme a pm if you want some more info...I'm pretty involved in my chapter assoc.

pinkyphimu · #7 06-09-2003, 06:24 PM

oulioness...
take the summer and regroup. when you come back in the fall, people may feel differently about joining an alum group. right now, you all need to deal with the loss and the unhappiness of how things happened. it may take some people longer than others, but eventually, everyone will be at peace with what happened. once the school year begins people will miss the sisterhood and may be more willing to get started on their new alum group! i am rooting for you!

munchkin,
take some time to get yourself settled before you dive right in to alum life. definately join a group right away (if one is available), but just enjoy it for a while. although as a collegiate, you may have had 3 offices, 2 chairs, and lived breathed and died your sorority, alum life is more laid back. events are less frequent and the whole thing is much different than collegiate life.

SmartBlondeGPhB · #8 06-09-2003, 07:05 PM

What she said...........

OUlioness01 · #9 06-09-2003, 10:57 PM

there's an alumna group in cincinnati but since i only live there for about 3 months of the entire year (the rest of the time i'm in athens as a full itme student) i wouldn't feel comfortable joining, especially since i would be a good deal youger than the rest of the members (i won't even turn 20 until the end of july).

blondegphib~the entire house went alum, but most of the girls are very bitter about the way it happened. i'm upset too, but i'm really tring to focus on the good instead of the bad.

deltaphi94 · #10 06-09-2003, 11:56 PM

OUlioness... I'm sending you a PM

OUlioness01 · #11 06-23-2003, 02:22 PM

i recieved an invitation to help form an alumnae chapter in Athens today. i'm thinking about it right now. i would like to do it, but it's so soon and i'm still hurting from everything that happened at the end of this year. i'm goign to email our area alumnae membership director and talk to her about it i think.

SmartBlondeGPhB · #12 06-23-2003, 03:04 PM

Whether or not you decide to help form the group (i.e. do the work), show up at any meeting. Just being involved and around other alumnae might help you.

Tom Earp · #13 06-23-2003, 09:25 PM

OULioness01,

Not knowing the situation of the demise of your Chapter, it does not mean the PM is not still a great Org!

My Chapter has been close to being closed and I began working very hard trying to rebuild the Alum base and working to build a new house!

If for some reason it would, I am sure that I would affiliate with another Chapter in teh KC area! I love LXA for what it has done for me and the Brohters that I have met not only in My Chapter and On GC but the many others that I have come to know and love as My Brothers!!
Hell, I called a Brother From BN (FIT) that I met one weekend there just to sing happy bithday!!!! Does that tell you about Brother/Sisterhood!

If you decide to do it, get help, that do help!

kddani · #14 06-23-2003, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by OUlioness01
i recieved an invitation to help form an alumnae chapter in Athens today. i'm thinking about it right now. i would like to do it, but it's so soon and i'm still hurting from everything that happened at the end of this year. i'm goign to email our area alumnae membership director and talk to her about it i think.

This is a great opportunity for you to see the Phi Mu world beyond your chapter and the people that you've interacted with thus far in your very young PM career.

One of the first things I would suggest is possibly joining some sort of online Phi Mu group? For instance, KD has a very active yahoogroup (only about 120-some members, but very active within those people)... if it wasn't for those ladies, I would likely not still be a KD. I certainly wouldn't be President of my Alumnae Assoc (i'm only 22- just graduated last year).

Definately look at starting an alum group. But make sure you have at least one other person dedicated to helping. We refounded our group- it had been dormant essentially. I came across one other gung ho alumna (from another chapter, one which had been closed) and she's been my right hand man ever since.

Or maybe you just need a break. That's very likely. Take a few months, look at other things in your life. Don't forget your Phi Mu membership, but just concentrate on other things and give yourself time to "get over" anything that may have happened in your chapter.

Rely heavily on your Phi Mu sisters on GC- there's a lot of great ones.

Good luck!

OUlioness01 · #15 06-25-2003, 03:53 PM

Tom, I love Phi Mu and always will. It's more that I feel that when i joined a lot of things were hidden from me by older members and i'm really just trying to sort out my feelings about everything. i was one of the most active members and it was just a hard blow to have us close right as i and many members of my phi class were elected to exec and had so many plans for really moving our chapter forward.

i told the lady i got the card from that i wasn't sure i could help plan anything because i'm at home right now and i will have a very time consuminig schedule in the fall, but i would like some more information.