Question for Alumnae

PinkRose1098 · #1 05-06-2004, 12:50 PM

How many of you recieved/ participated in the survey that the Fraternity sent out in March? What did you think of it and how did you respond? The reson I'm asking is because I participated and and recieved a thank you email with some of the feedback from the survey. On a few of the questions I had "Wow" and "Oh my!" responses. I was just wondering what other sisters thought.

Also to sisters who are still in college - how do you think you are being prepared for life in Alpha Xi after college? Have you thought about that?

WCUgirl · #2 05-06-2004, 02:43 PM

I participated in this survey. I was a bit disappointed in the response it received, BUT I think it was because there was something wrong with the link. I filled out and submitted my answers once, but they wouldn't go through. So, I did what the thing said to do if the link wouldn't work, and I still couldn't get my answers submitted. So I gave up. Turns out, the president of our Alum. Association forwarded the email to everyone, and the link through that one worked!

I was very surprised and disappointed at how many grads are donating (or not!) to the Foundation. Some of the answers made sense to me though, and they were what I put in response to a few of the questions.

What were some of the answers that shocked you?

PinkRose1098 · #3 05-06-2004, 11:40 PM

I had the same problem trying to submit mine too. I thought I was just being slow or computer stupid that day.

I don't think is was that I was shocked but more saddened. I was struck with a feeling of we have got to change something because Alpha Xi only continues to grow through the participation of all her members, not just collegiate. We can't depend on collegate members to do everything, (and I don't think we are.) It might just be that as I collegiate member I never saw the over-whelming alumnae involvement that some orgaizations had. I also don't know how to function as an alumna becasue I don't feel I had a good introduction to what it's like, but I'm a quick learner and I'll pick it up.

I can sort of understand the amount not being donated because I know how little money I have running around right now but I wish I had more (don't we all have the same wish)so I could donated and help out Alpha Xi. That will change as I get more established in a career and finish paying off student loans.

I was very disappointed in the over-all number of alumnae involved in the Fraternity or willing to volunteer. I would love to be able to help out a chapter in my area but there aren't any that close to me. I try and support my initiating chapter in anyway I can (I was there for rush last year).
There is however an alumnae association that needs to be formed here in the Roanoke Valley and I'm working on that one. I also was disturbed at how few alumnae are interested in joining an alumnae association.

Of course all of this is comming out of the fingers of a die hard Alpha Xi can't touch anything that isn't in some way double blue & gold or involving pink roses. I love Alpha Xi and have learned so much from her and I can not imagine not continuing to be involved until either I'm not breathing or not my nurons stop talking to each other.

WCUgirl · #4 05-07-2004, 12:03 AM

I agree with everything you have to say! I was sad too by seeing how many alumnae are NOT involved or do not want to be. Granted, you have to want to do so, and I think that the "age group" of the alumnae this message was sent to, they are still in the "burnt out" stage after graduation and just need a break. I don't know....I try to get my littles involved with the alum. association (they both live in the area), but they just don't want to! It's one excuse after another....I have another friend who laughed at me (yes, she laughed out loud) when I told her I was involved as an alumnae advisor with a local chapter. She was like, "Really?"

Anyways, I do think part of the solution is to 1-start reissuing the alumnae bonds (which they stopped doing, I don't know why!), and 2- a presentation from a local alum. association each year. That was how I answered that question anyways. Whenever I moved here I actively sought out an alum. association...and I didn't have a clue where to begin! I just went to the website and contacted the person listed...but I didn't know what to expect and was nervous it was going to be something I would end up not interested in. I think alum. association presentations could clear up a lot of misconceptions about alum. association activities...I think some girls are concerned there will be just "older" ladies and won't have any activities for them, or that there is going to be this huge financial commitment, or that there is going to be a large time commitment. That's just not the case!

I definitely am interested in lifetime membership - I don't know how it works with some of the other orgs, but I'd be interested to find out what it cost, etc. Also, I think that if more volunteer opportunities were presented (which they are....just check the website! They're all the time advertising for an open advisory board position) and sisters heard about them, they'd be more willing to get involved.

Something I was wondering about...last year around Founder's day I got a thing in the mail from Foundation asking for a donation of $18.93 in honor of Founder's Day. At the time, I was fresh out of college and hubby had just left his job...so $$$ was tight. This year I was looking forward to receiving that letter so I could send it back with my donation. But I didn't get one this year....did you?

maggieaxid · #5 05-07-2004, 10:03 AM

I too participated in the survey. Actually, I didn't care for how the survey was set up and that it was only sent to people who had registered on the AXiD website. When I emailed it to some of my sisters who weren't registered, there was a problem with them submitting their responses.

My major comment was in regards to having alumni groups reach out to newly graduated members so that they don't have to go in search of a group. This would make the alum groups larger and stronger and also give the new members contacts in the business world, continue in their involvement in the sorority, and help with the transition out of school by making new friends.

I am a part of the Philadelphia section Alum group, and in all honesty it is not very active and most of the members are kind of cliquey and older. I am moving to the south florida group and they have already contacted me and are putting me in touch with local sisters to help with the relocation transition, which I think is awesome.

azdtaxi · #6 05-20-2004, 10:32 PM

I am newly alum and a little freaked out. I have only been alum since Friday. I went alum because I had 8 semesters of school (only 4 in the sorority) and am that kind of person that gets super involved so the advisors wanted to get me out on a low not a fall high. I am just confused because I wanted to help my chapter out during recruitment but I am not allowed to go to workshops during may or june bc my advisor thinks it would be a good idea to sperate myself. I am just having a hard time ... I love meeting new people and that is what rush is all about. Any suggestions?

WCUgirl · #7 05-25-2004, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by azdtaxi
I am newly alum and a little freaked out. I have only been alum since Friday. I went alum because I had 8 semesters of school (only 4 in the sorority) and am that kind of person that gets super involved so the advisors wanted to get me out on a low not a fall high. I am just confused because I wanted to help my chapter out during recruitment but I am not allowed to go to workshops during may or june bc my advisor thinks it would be a good idea to sperate myself. I am just having a hard time ... I love meeting new people and that is what rush is all about. Any suggestions?

Did you want to go alum or is this something your advisor "strongly suggested" you do? When do you graduate? I've never heard of anyone going early alum if they didn't want to or because someone else thought they might burn out too easily.

azdtaxi · #8 05-25-2004, 05:20 PM

It was strongly suggested. I will be a fifth year senior with my last semester of classes in the fall and student teaching in the spring. I would have gone alum anyway in spring. I was just suprised they didnt want to keep me for rush as of now we only have 16 people in the rush room.

AZ-AlphaXi · #9 06-10-2004, 11:49 AM

As someone who was not in the age bracket for the survey, I was very interested in what was included. So for those of us who weren't contacted for the survey, here's the link to the results that have been posted on the national web site.

http://www.alphaxidelta.org/pdfs/Mar...veySummary.pdf

maggieaxid · #10 06-11-2004, 09:07 AM

Ok, I am a little annoyed at memberservices at headquarters.
I emailed them 2 weeks ago about getting the correct contact information for the South Florida alum association because the email I had for the president wasn't working. They have yet to respond.
I mean, they want sisters to be members for life, but they seem to make it harder sometimes.

tfj-1893 · #11 06-11-2004, 08:33 PM

Have you tried the area facilitator or the assistant executive director for that area? They may be able to help, too. They may also be able to shed some light on why member services hasn't gotten back to you.

AlphaXiGirl · #12 06-13-2004, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by maggieaxid
Ok, I am a little annoyed at memberservices at headquarters.
I emailed them 2 weeks ago about getting the correct contact information for the South Florida alum association because the email I had for the president wasn't working. They have yet to respond.
I mean, they want sisters to be members for life, but they seem to make it harder sometimes.

It could be that they are trying to find it for you and are having trouble getting it. They may have the same information that you have. Many alumnae associations just had officer elections and FHQ can only give you correct information if the AA has provided it to them. I can tell you with 100% certainty that they are not trying to make it difficult for you to join an AA. Something else that I have found with many AA members in Fl is that they don't live in Fl for the summer - so FHQ may be trying to locate someone in that AA that resides in Fl for the summer.

Don't distress. Remember that Member Services is in their last couple of weeks before TLC, they have a lot going on right now, between planning, getting registrations, tallying accreditations so that awards can be ordered, etc. Contacting the AF is a great suggestion.