Starting Alumni Chapter Help

[Doc's Cowgirl]

Hi, sisters! Several of us Omicron alumni are interested in starting an alumni chapter. We have received the information from the National Board and I was wondering how many of the alumnni chapters started and how they went about it. I am currently trying to gather addresses and such, but do any of you have any suggestions in the creation of a successful alumni chapter? Thanks a bunch!!

[PenguinTrax]

The best way to kick off the chapter is to host a social gathering/info session for local alumnae. Send out a nice invitation to everyone, maybe even get a national/regional officer as a speaker/guest. Have the event at a place that would be a 'draw' - such as a nice restaurant, upscale club, garden club or similar. Offer coffee, desserts and get to know everyone on the area. Find out who is interested in getting things off the ground. A couple of weeks later, call these women and host a work/planning meeting. Elect officers and come up with a schedule of alumnae events. Go slow - no more than one event per month or every 6 weeks. Charge reasonable dues - you need to cover your mailing costs and things like party supplies if the chapter is the host.

I'm president of my alumnae chapter, and we hold a kick-off event every Fall and usually end up bringing in more members every year! Let me know if you'd like some programming ideas.

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Fraternally,
Barbara
Zeta Tau Alpha Alumna

If you have to go around telling everyone you're in charge you're not much of a leader.
Tallahassee Area Alumnae of ZTA
Tallahassee Alumnae Panhellenic & Sorority Recruitment FAQ

[This message has been edited by BFulton (edited December 18, 2000).]

[Jewels]

Hello Omicron Sister. Our active chapter was 8 years old before we ever got an alumni chapter established. From my experiences in helping charter our alumni chapter, waiting only results in more sisters and Sigma Alpha enthusiasm becoming lost. The information you have on establishing a chapter is very useful and easy to accomplish once you have committment from enough members. Our alumni chapter is now over 2 years old. We have taken "Baby Steps" over the past few years due to finances, but now are able to provide our active chapter with finacial support. Our alumni officers meet quarterly and we have a summer meeting at an inexpensive location where we can have fun, plan events, and enjoy meeting new sisters and catching up with old ones. Some of the recent graduates sometimes have trouble with the transition because they feel like they aren't active enough, but with the alumni, there isn't any
"requirements" it is a continued dedication to something that you love and enjoy that you can participate in as you are able.
Best Wishes,
Julie Speight
National Board

[Robin_Rastani]

I'd have to agree with Julie. Starting an alumni chapter takes the enthusiasm of the alumni sisters. Holly (Boilard) Westfall and I tried for 2 years or so before we had the right mix of people to get it accomplished. We opted to start the association with the recent graduates (past 5 years) and then contact the other alumni once the chapter was established. Don't give up though. It'll happen if you put your mind to it.

Good Luck.



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Robin R. Rastani
UConn Alumni Sister
rrastani@juno.com

[KatieEdwards]

I started as an active sister by hosting the First Annual Sigma Alpha Alumnae Reunion in conjuction with the College of Agriculture's annual football tailgate. In order to do this, I spent much of the summer tracking down all of our lost alumnae and working with the office of alumni relations to get adresses and telephone numbers. Slowly, the list grew, and right now we have about 60 alumnae on record.
Then, we sent out letters inviting alumnae and their spouses to a barbeque the night before the tailgate. I got block seating at the football game for active sisters and alumnae, and then contacted the university's athletic department so that they could make a PA announcement telling 70,000 Clemson football fan something like Sigma Alpha wants to welcome back all of its alumnae.

From there, we got info together from Nationals as far as the constitution and by-laws, budgets, dues, etc. Then, I contacted our most active alumnae and we planned a time to hold a conference during regionals so that a National Board member could be on hand.

I'm extremely proud that our hard work and efforts have paid off, because the Clemson University Alumnae Chapter will meet this weekend to charter at the South East Region Conference here in Clemson.

For more info, contact Katie at kaedwar@clemson.edo or Erin at eerin@clemson.edu

Best of luck!
Katie Edwards
President, Tau Chapter

[wiupres]

Our alumni chapter seems to be going pretty well and are very helpful. Here is a contact person for you. Jessica Murray. She is the National Alumni Vice-President. She is very helpful in things and could probably help you out with some suggestions.