Collegiate/Alumnae newsletters

texas*princess · #1 03-30-2005, 02:27 PM

I bumped up a thread in the Alumni Relations Forum about chapter newsletters.

I got the idea from my boyfriend's fraternity chapter that sends the members of their alum. association (and other brothers not in the alum association that they still have current addresses for) a monthly newsletter that includes things like greek happenings on campus (greek week events, homecoming events, new greek expansion news), random campus news, brother's birthday's, engagement announcements, officer reports, event calendars and a blurb or two about the financials of the chapter.

Their chapter alum. association is very active with the chapter (and the chapter/alum relations are very strong). I talked to my boyfriend who is in their alum association and he said the Alumni Relations chair is the one that coordinates the newsletter and has it sent out.

Is this something that should be done on both sides? (i.e. a newsletter from collegiate to alumnae and one from alumnae to collegiates). I think it would help in strengthing our ties with the chapter if we let them know on a regular basis what we've been up to, and that we're around to help them out.. maybe some contact info for collegiates who want to get in touch w/ us who may be interested in joining the alum association after graduation, or those who may be interested in attending one of our events to "check us out".

*sigh* this post is a lot longer than I had hoped!

So I guess my question to you ladies is - is this something your collegiate or alumnae association does? If so, do you feel it is a successful communication tool?

WLFEO · #2 03-30-2005, 03:09 PM

Since you're from a TX chapter.....

There are several chapters in TX who do a great job with collegiate/alumnae newsletters.

TCU is one who comes to mind immediately. It comes from the chapter to the alumnae. I would imagine it is costly to print because they include pictures and it looks pretty professional.

Baylor does a great one electronically and it is generated by the alumnae but they have info about the chapter in it. It is free since it's an e-newsletter.

TX A&M has a great one that goes out before formal recruitment.

I'm sure there are other great ones throughout the country. Those are just the ones I happen to know about.

They can be done any way you want. I think they are a great tool for building chapter support and keeping alumnae connected and reminded about their lifetime commitment.

You can keep alumnae up to date about what's happening with alumnae- engagements, births, jobs, new addresses, etc. Also let them know what is going on in the chapter. If a chapter has a wish list it's a great tool to advertise it, and also they can let the alumnae know of any awards, etc. that have been won.

The ACRD (Alumnae-Collegiate Relations Director) for your district will have more resources for you. The one for your district, T*P, is fabulous- let me know if you need her info.

honeychile · #3 03-30-2005, 03:36 PM

My chapter used to do this, only on a limited basis. Anyone who belonged to the Alumnae Association got the info, and the Alumnae Association would send a newsletter (almost a gossip sheet!) to the Chapter. It's a GREAT tool, when used properly.

One Pet Peeve I have with Chapters (in general): Ask me to help out for Recruitment, tell me what you need, and when you need help with serving, etc. BUT TELL ME WHAT TO WEAR!!!!!!! Don't have a "cutsie" name for a round, and have me show up either over- or under-dressed!!!! I frankly feel that's one of the worst mistakes a chapter makes with alumnae relations.

speckledpup · #4 03-30-2005, 07:46 PM

Texas Princess
Did you talk to GU about a newsletter?

texas*princess · #5 03-30-2005, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by speckledpup
Texas Princess
Did you talk to GU about a newsletter?

yes! I talked to their alum. relations chair and she thinks it is a great idea! we also spoke briefly over the phone earlier today to try to figure the details out.

I'm going to speak w/ my mom later tonight for a little help (maybe even a template

) since she does the newsletters for the schools she has worked with in the district and pass on any helpful ideas or templates on to their alum. relations chair so we can work on this tool together

Basically we figured we have about 3 options for the newsletter:

1) a paper copy - has costs of printing, and maybe even postage. one way of curbing the costs of postage is maybe asking the alum. relations chair to send them to the collegian relations chair of the alum assoc. to distribute to the alum assoc. members at the meeting (although this would exclude alumnae that are not able to be members of the alum assoc.) and vice versa (like I mail the alum newsletters to the alum. relations chair for her to distribute at their meeting.)

2) an email copy - similar to the evite things we send out, only it would be an email ... the downside to this is that the alum. relations chair said not many girls in the chapter check their email on a regular basis... so this is kind of iffy. There are, however, no printing costs, or mailing costs associated w/ this method.

3) a website version - this is definitely doable. I know a lot of HTML.... not enough to make a very professional looking site, but enough to make it look somewhat nice

I *think* that this version would have similar issues with the email copy b/c of the email-checking thing in #2 option.

ETA: WLFEO - I'm shooting you a PM!

WLFEO · #6 03-30-2005, 08:14 PM

*Sometimes* a school will pay to mail them out b/c they are communications to their alumnae. Not many schools do that, but it's worth looking into. And sometimes you can at least use their bulk rate postage.

nauadpi · #7 03-30-2005, 11:23 PM

I always wished my chapter had done that... We only ever had interactions with recent alum from the chapter... Then after a few years they would not keep coming back because they were generally not informed of what was going on anymore... I think even electronic newletters would be very handy...

hunnie843 · #8 03-31-2005, 11:25 AM

The biggest problem we have is selective alumni relations. It's getting better, but for a while only "certain" alums were invited back for our annual alumni formal and such. Like I said, I really think/hope that it's getting better. I'd love to go visit my old chapter sometimes but I can't show up if I'm not invited!!

texas*princess · #9 03-31-2005, 10:26 PM

thanks so much for all the replies! I'm really excited about executing this project (although I need to get my computer fixed first !)

adpiucf · #10 04-01-2005, 11:11 AM

T*P--

What you can do is create a newsletter template that is converted to a PDF. Post the PDF to your website, email it to the chapter as both a PDF attachment and an inline text version, and print the PDF out. Mail a bunch of copies in bulk to the CARC for distribution at the chapter meeting OR tell her she needs to print it out and distribute it. This will save on postage costs, and you will have hit all three channels of communication.

You can also reserve your actual postage budget for a current and almost-alum, while maintaining regular communication with the chapter.

Work on the CARC and AA relationship. When there are website updates or the PDF is emailed out, the CARC can make a chapter announcement to check email, and as I said before, she can print out the PDF for the chapter and distribute it on your behalf. Together, the CARC and the AA can communicate the alumnae updates, and plan collegiate-alumnae events together.

ADPiAkron · #11 04-03-2005, 05:03 AM

I am the newsletter editor for the Akron Area Alumnae Association (web editor too!).

I send out newsletters twice a year to due paying members only and then two more times to dues paying and also other various (non-dues paying) alumnae in the area.

I do not keep the most recent newsletter on the website when it is a dues paying only newsletter...but I do keep it updated when it is for anyone. Does that make sense? Sounds like a tongue twister! haha

I have my most recent one on my website right now if you want any ideas!! I have a section for the chapter to include information in the newsletter...but I also know that the Alumnae Relations Chair for the chapter is supposed to send one out from the chapter to the alumnae on their own....which I can say for the first time that I can remember- she did this year!!

www.geocities.com/alphadeltapialumnae