Alumni Group Events

[Rudey]

I am moving forward with forming an alumni group.

I've been asked to develop a list of possible events.

Any ideas?

I'm hoping for something that guys would do, something that preferably won't be a massive time investment like planning a trip to Greece, and something that won't require a ton of capital.

I was thinking one of the events could be something social but I have no idea what...and perhaps one a volunteer event.

Any of you guys part of an alumni group and mind sharing these ideas? Thanks.

-Rudey

[chideltjen]

I know the Kappa Sigs here have an annual football tournament... actives vs the alumni.

BBQs are also fun too.

I have also heard golf tournaments/get togethers circle around fraternity conversations.

Depends what is available in your area though. But BBQs are usually the cheapest way to go, from my experience.

[lauralaylin]

Maybe try to set up something with a sorority alumnae group? I'm sure the women's would love it. My alumnae group tried to have an event with the local fraternity alum groups, but none of the male groups in the area responded. Now there's a group that contacted us, and a lot of the women (single ones mostly) are very interested. It could be a happy hour or dinner, so everyone pays for themselves. It's cheap for the chapter and easy to plan.

You could also do something to support the collegiate chapter if there is one around. Goodie bags for finals maybe, although they'd need a more masculine name I think.

[TSteven]

Arrange a "happy hour" once a month (once a quarter) after work. Each month, have it the same time and day of the week, (i.e. 6 p.m. the 3rd Wednesday) and at the same location. (i.e. sports bar) And those who want, may stay for or go to dinner afterward. Some evenings, maybe some other event like a ball game.

Pick a place where you don't have to reserve a room but just have alumni show up. At first, you may need to be sure to get guys lined up to attend but once it takes off, then you would just need a friendly reminder. And keep these as "pay as you go" events. Then no one person is out any cash.

And every so often, have something where the guys may bring dates. Maybe it's at one of the happy hours, or a night out.

[Kevin]

I'm assuming the main part of this alum group is going to be social? If you are going to help out a local chapter in some way, you might try coordinating an event with them.

[Rudey]

Originally posted by ktsnake
I'm assuming the main part of this alum group is going to be social? If you are going to help out a local chapter in some way, you might try coordinating an event with them.

It's not just a local school alum group. This is the inital staging for a larger Chicago area group.

-Rudey

[dakareng]

How about a sporting event (like a Cubs game)? Comedy Club? Racetrack outing?

Happy hours might be good for initial get-togethers but you need some larger event in the works to sustain interest.

I like the idea of getting together with a sorority alum group. Our Windy City Club does a lot of events downtown and I'd imagine most groups have a lot of younger members in Chicago as well. Trust me, not all sorority alumnae clubs are little old blue-haired ladies who go to tea!

[Tom Earp]

Rudey, maybe start it off simple, The Old KISS Principle.

Social event at a pub, just Brothers, then into something that the wives could enjoy, say a semi formal or Resturant Dinner.

Wine tasting event wives included, they have to let The Guys do some Guy things too!

BaseBall Game one eventing! Chi town has two teams.

Golf Outing if not to damn expensive?

God are there great things to do there, but depends on the cost! Initialy start off where it wont cost a lot and build membership!
Then maybe get into Major functions if enough Membership. Get the feel of the guys and wives!

I tell you man, it can be a lot of hard work, just like starting a Local or a Colony!

Good Luck!

[Rudey]

Originally posted by TSteven
Arrange a "happy hour" once a month (once a quarter) after work. Each month, have it the same time and day of the week, (i.e. 6 p.m. the 3rd Wednesday) and at the same location. (i.e. sports bar) And those who want, may stay for or go to dinner afterward. Some evenings, maybe some other event like a ball game.

Pick a place where you don't have to reserve a room but just have alumni show up. At first, you may need to be sure to get guys lined up to attend but once it takes off, then you would just need a friendly reminder. And keep these as "pay as you go" events. Then no one person is out any cash.

And every so often, have something where the guys may bring dates. Maybe it's at one of the happy hours, or a night out.

That's great since it would mean people pay their own way for now.

For a group just starting, is once a month for an event too much? Should it be less frequent?

-Rudey

[TSteven]

Originally posted by Rudey
For a group just starting, is once a month for an event too much? Should it be less frequent?

-Rudey

Since this is for the larger Chicago area, not every guy may be able to attend at any given time. So at first, having one each month allows those guys who missed to attend "sooner than later".

At some point - maybe within a three or four months - the turnout should stabilize and you'll have a better idea if you should keep it monthly or move to something less frequent.

[daoine]

Originally posted by TSteven
Since this is for the larger Chicago area, not every guy may be able to attend at any given time. So at first, having one each month allows those guys who missed to attend "sooner than later".

At some point - maybe within a three or four months - the turnout should stabilize and you'll have a better idea if you should keep it monthly or move to something less frequent.

I'll co-sign on this whole post.

Our alum group meets at least once a month -- one's usually at a restaurant or bar, and then if there is another its something more like a networking/philanthropic/official business type meeting.

I think you're going to have to be very energetic about the whole thing for the first 3-4 months. Vary the day of the week that it's on, in case people have other commitments that prevents them from ever coming on a Tuesday or whatever.

Make sure you get as many email addresses as possible, so you can keep the communication easy and cheap.

Hopefully, you'll find a core group of 5 or 6 people who tend to show up a lot. Once you get a core going, you're pretty much set.

[TSteven]

Originally posted by daoine
I'll co-sign on this whole post.

Our alum group meets at least once a month -- one's usually at a restaurant or bar, and then if there is another its something more like a networking/philanthropic/official business type meeting.

I think you're going to have to be very energetic about the whole thing for the first 3-4 months. Vary the day of the week that it's on, in case people have other commitments that prevents them from ever coming on a Tuesday or whatever.

Make sure you get as many email addresses as possible, so you can keep the communication easy and cheap.

Hopefully, you'll find a core group of 5 or 6 people who tend to show up a lot. Once you get a core going, you're pretty much set.

Excellent points.

However, I would like to add that having your event the same day each month is easier to remember and keep track of than moving it around. Similar concept to chapter meetings on the same night each week.

Perhaps, before picking the day of the week, you might want to take an informal survey as to which day of the week is best. Since Monday and Friday piggyback the weekend, I would restrict it to Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday.

First off, find out which days of the week guys just can not make it. As daoine pointed out, people often have commitments on a certain day of the week so just find out.

Secondly, you can have everyone rank - best to worse - the days. This will give you an idea which day most people would be likely to show up. It might very well be that half the group may not be able to do Thursdays. The other half, maybe Tuesdays. But most everyone can do Wednesdays. Remember that in any given month, someone may not be able to make it on that certain day. But in general the day works for them.

Thirdly, if some can only make it one certain night, and others a different night, then similar to daoine's suggestion, alternate the nights.

Finally, what ever plan you come up with, keep it consistent. Remember, you want to make this as easy for everyone involved.

[pinkyphimu]

you can also use evite. you can pick a place and a few dates....each person can rate the days based on what are best for them. the date with the best response is the date that is chosen. this way, you always get the night with the most attendance. our alumnae panhellenic uses this and it definately helps!

[TSteven]

Originally posted by pinkyphimu
you can also use evite. you can pick a place and a few dates....each person can rate the days based on what are best for them. the date with the best response is the date that is chosen. this way, you always get the night with the most attendance. our alumnae panhellenic uses this and it definately helps!

I've used Evite before and it's an excellent idea.

In addition to what pinkyphimu wrote, once you set a date, using Evite is an excellent way to manage the event.

If you are not familiar with Evite (Evite.com) first off, it's free and easy.

Once you have your event set, you can monitor people's responses. Who has replied, who hasn't, even know those who have yet to "open" their invitation. Makes it easy to follow up and Evite will automatically send out a reminder. You may choose to keep responses private or let everyone read them and know who is coming.

[Tom Earp]

Thank you for the evite.com suggestion. Never heard of it before!

Getting a Core Group of Brothers to help spread the work out, depending on what you are planning to do.

Say a 3 Officer Cadre, someone to collect emails and have stored for message giving. (1) person will do, as that can get to be a large job in the beginning.

Place an Ad, for Your Fraternity Brothers in a Local or several Local papers to contact you!

While, ours is only for the Local Chapter and in K C, I am trying to get some who are located in other areas to do the same. God, that is like pulling teeth too.

But whenever we meet, it is fun to just be with Brothers. Lately, We have been meeting a Brohters Houses around the K C area, having snak plates and beer well, one had a PIN ball Machine, Pool Table, wow, another had pool table, big screen TV's, 3 in his family room!

Just a thought, next weekend, we are going to have a Sea Food Buffet at our Property at The Pitt. as is no house there so sounds like a heck of a turn out anyway! Just Brothers hanging, eating and drinking and talking about times past and current!