are alumni welcome at your events?

ansturge · #1 08-25-2002, 08:54 PM

one of my chapters' alumni was informed that alumni arent welcome at anything SA

is this true or the norm in your chapters?

Larks23 · #2 08-26-2002, 08:33 AM

I think keeping strong contacts with your alumni is very important. We at Alpha chapter are in the process of creating an alumni-active get-together this fall. Our alumni who stay in the Columbus area drop by periodically and come to our general chapter meetings or other casual events. Sometimes, they even come for some events during our Initiation weeks. There are somethings and sometimes when its not appropriate for the alumni to be at SA active events, but I still feel it's very important to keep strong contacts with alumni. I know I personally hope to come back to visit the Alpha chapter as an alumni. I would be very hurt if I was not allowed to attend some of there functions. Each new member contributes to the sorority as whole, building from what our past members have created. We should be thankful to them for being a part of our sorority, so why shouldn't they attend some events to see what an organization they were once a part of is doing now?? Also, the alumni is a GREAT source of information!! The actives can learn SO much from asking past members about anything, (fund raising, philanthropy, sisterhood, ect.)

AlphaAlum · #3 08-26-2002, 10:02 AM

The Alpha bylaws state Alumni are allowed to attend all active function except a few select closed events such as exec. Alums are permitted at all activation events. Check and see if you bylaws add any insight to the matter

EAGoodgirl · #4 08-26-2002, 03:57 PM

Our general policy is that alums are welcome at meetings as long as they contact the president first. Other than that our alums not really know when are events are except for ceremonies. Hopefully that helps you out

In sisterhood
Michelle

JLyons · #5 08-26-2002, 10:35 PM

Alumni are allowed and even encouraged to attend any Zeta Chapter event. They are still Sisters of Sigma Alpha and the actives welcome their attendance and input. The chapter dates are included on the website calendar so that the alumni may find out when functions are taking place and attend if they are able.

sarahann · #6 09-02-2002, 07:42 PM

This chat board is so great, I was shocked when I read these postings. When I was president a couple years back I had a huge problem with this, and really felt like I had no where to turn.
Two of our members graduated, but stuck around for the masters program. They didn't want to be alumni and insisted that they should be able to come to everything and be able to vote at our chapter meetings. Our chapter definitely wanted them to come to all our meetings and events, but felt that they should not have a vote. They got down right mean about it and started to give us bad PR on campus.
It's hard when you activate people who are juniors or seniors and still haven't gotten enough of Sigma Alpha by the time they graduate. We are now working on starting our alumni chapter to funnel those who are still interested.

ansturge · #7 09-02-2002, 09:40 PM

oh well we alums know we cannot vote

we never intended to try...

but we still want to stay in touch and all that

and offer advice and wisdom

sarahann · #8 09-03-2002, 12:02 AM

I'm very sorry, I didn't mean for that to come off like I don't want the alumni involved, I am a fifth year senior, and am ready to be an alumni.

Our case was extreme and it was really emotionally hard for me at the time. When I read these posts I couldn't believe that some chapters restrict alumni from coming to meetings and events. It's completely different from the way our chapter handles alumni.

I would be really hurt if my chapter wouldn't let me come to meetings and events after I graduate. I wish more of our alumni would come back and participate in our chapter functions. When we charter our alumni chapter we hope to have the annual alumni meeting during our active chapter founders day weekend celebration.

I am currently the alumni chair in charge of relocating members and getting them involved in forming our alumni chapter, so if any of you have any advice for that I would greatly appreciate it.

NCSUTractorChic · #9 09-06-2002, 10:08 AM

Trust me, it feels bad to feel unwanted by your chapter. I decided to attend our chapter's first meeting of the semester. It wasn't so much that I hadn't had enough SA as it was that I wanted to see my sisters--those girls I spent the majority of my college career with.
What really got to me was that the president singled me out and confronted me about my presence in front of active sisters. I didn't know that this would be an issue--our chapter has had alumni present at other meetings, I didn't know that I would cause such a stir.

My biggest point I'm trying to make is this: We spend semesters growing and developing the bonds of sisterhood. If nothing else, that helps to make us chosen family. And I don't know how it is anywhere else, but where I come from, family welcomes you with open arms, no matter what.

Just some thoughts to ponder..
*bethie

ansturge · #10 09-11-2002, 04:20 PM

hehe as one charter sister to another -- i know where you are coming from with the "worship" thing

lol

just kidding everyone

PretzelGirl · #11 10-09-2002, 04:45 PM

Coming from Lambda this was a touchy subject my last year especially and now that I am alumni it is even more important to me.
I was part of the Beta class so I knew basically all our alumni when I was an active. but our main problem were the girls who were not willing to be alumni and let the chapter grow and change as every organization needs too.
The charters were the hardest ones to deal with and I see that beinga problem for some of youwho replied that are charters. you have to look at it as yes the actives are glad that you were the awsome women that started the chapter but why should you come with an attitude of needing to be worshipped that just causes tension and makes everything harder the other thing is let go. le the chapter be itself. Alumni are necessary and great if they come and help and support the chapter but if the alumni are trying to control, vote, and get upset that that is not how they had planned sigma alpha to be then that is when alumni cross the line.
I think alumni should be welcomed to events to keep things connected but at the same time they as ALUNI need to know that they are to stay in thier place, helping, offering advice and encouragement, but not controling the chapter and the sisters in it.
I don't know if this made sense at all if you have questions let me know I will explain things better in person.
~Rhonda
Lambda-UC Davis