Alumnae/Collegiate Mixer

dzrose93 · #1 01-23-2002, 11:38 AM

Have any of you ever participated in an alumnae/collegiate mixer? My girls are trying to increase alumnae involvement this year by holding a social with all of the Atlanta alums, and, since this is their first time doing such a function, I was wondering if some of y'all could give me ideas about what to do.

We'd like to come up with a theme that both groups can relate to, so that it will be fun for all involved. And, we need to get ideas on types of games that we could play that would help the alums and collegiates get to know each other better. Something fun, not the stale icebreakers that we've used time after time.

Any ideas? Please help!

TriSigmaTX · #2 01-23-2002, 02:55 PM

My alumnae group goes bowling with the collegians once a year, it's a blast and a great time to get to know each other better.
Make it fun for both groups.

dzrose93 · #3 01-23-2002, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TriSigmaTX
My alumnae group goes bowling with the collegians once a year, it's a blast and a great time to get to know each other better.
Make it fun for both groups.

Thanks for the idea, TriSigmaTX!

However, the chapter has nearly 200 girls (not including the alumnae), so I'm afraid that we would overwhelm any bowling alleys that we visited!

I guess what I need are ideas that can be implemented in a larger environment. Either outdoors or in the sorority house. Sorry - I should have been more clear with my first explanation.

Tom Earp · #4 01-23-2002, 07:10 PM

One of the Alums from Pitt S. U. Kansas has Pierce Stock every year at his house, 5 now! It is as close to the 4 th of July as possible so can have fireworks!

All of the couples bring a covered dish, I always bring my bags of chips being single! Damn, maybe I should bring dip!

There is Keg Beer and BBQ hotdawgs and burgers for the kids!

There is horseshoes, lawn darts, pond fishing, badmiton net and BSing! Washer tossing is easier, make a box and flip big washers into the box and counts like horse shoes. Or what ever you can think of the better to get more involved into doing something in groups. Lot of talking goes on then and meeting the others!

Hope it works well for you as would be a Hoot as the only time I meet others if I visit the 3 houses near KC!

God if that works for you it would be great for all of us to try!

Kind of like a GC gathering in KC as the middle of the country! Hint Hint!

sailboatgirl · #5 01-23-2002, 07:19 PM

This isn't exactly a mixer, but my alumnae chapter has adopted a couple of collegiate chapters by becoming pen-pals with them. We sent the collegiate chapter president or alumna relations chair a list of all the alumnae chapter members names, emails, etc. and they matched up collegians with alumna...starting with the seniors until they ran out of names. (We initiated this as a way to "recruit" collegians about to graduate into our alumnae chapter). Anyway, it was up to the collegiate girls to start the coorespondance. On the whole, I think it's gone quite well. I've met my collegiate buddy at one chapter, and it's neat to have a connection there !

sailboatgirl · #6 01-23-2002, 07:22 PM

I just thought of something else...you could always do a BBQ..but you could work it into a recruitment workshop for either this spring or this summer with the alums playing the parts of PNMs...that way the collegiates and alumnae WILL mix and meet one another! Plus, you'll be helping your collegians prepare for recruitment.

33girl · #7 01-23-2002, 10:29 PM

The pen pal idea is great. Also, try doing something based on the "six degrees of separation" idea. A sister and alum get matched and try to find ways to "link" to each other. (Annie Alum is from Pleasantville, the same as Susie who was Connie Collegiate's big etc.) If it's not all alums from the same chapter, they can still find ways to "link" - hometowns, offices held, etc.

dzrose93 · #8 01-24-2002, 10:29 AM

These are all great ideas! I'm going to run them by the CCD of the chapter and the Presidents of our alumnae groups. Keep the ideas flowing, y'all!

chicagoagd · #9 04-18-2002, 03:16 PM

If you're close to a baseball stadium (the Braves?), you all should go to a baseball game together. Perhaps meet at your chapter house/stadium before the game for a tailgating party? We're doing that with our alum, and everyone loves going to Wrigley field. Usually you can get discounts on group tickets through the group sales office (they even do special things for groups over 100-200).

Amy

theta sig agd · #10 04-25-2002, 01:04 AM

That is a great idea. I bet your alum chapter is large and active! I would recommend a memories night or something along those lines. Just fun where alum can bring in pics or stories about when they were undergrads and the undergrads can share stories...its a little sappy though so if they arent like that then maybe forget it???

LeslieAGD · #11 04-25-2002, 08:13 AM

BBQs or Picnics work really well. We do a Parent/Alum BBQ for Homecoming that is always successful. Many parks or beaches have areas you can rent out with BBQs and volleyball nets, etc.

ZZ-kai- · #12 04-25-2002, 09:33 AM

Our chapter has an Alumni/Active Golf Outing every year in the Fall. It has been a success since it started 5 years ago.

Also, we will be doing an Alumni/Active Milwaukee Brewer Baseball Outing this summer too. For $20.00, we get tailgating and drinks before and a ticket into the stadium. Can't beat that!

Hope that helped!

SilverTurtle · #13 04-25-2002, 04:28 PM

My chapter has an active/alumni brunch every homecoming. In the spring we have our founder's day celebration, which alumni and actives also attend.

I really like the BBQ idea set up like rush.... I was going to suggest a BBQ/picnic at first, but I thought .. "How do you get the collegiates and alumni to mix?".. what a great way to do it! And you are helping them prepare for next fall.

Another thought.. what about some kind of professional development? Speakers, practice interviews, sample resumes, etc... followed (or preceeded) by lunch/dinner?

I envision every one meeting for a speaker or two (especially if you have any alumni that are in HR and/or recruiting!) about basic job searching skills. Then you would probably want to split into smaller groups for workshop-type-events, hosted by a bunch of different alumni (maybe split up by interests? e.g.... education majors, science majors, fine arts majors, liberal arts majors & alumni that have jobs that correspond to those fields). Then everyone could get together for the meal (lunch or dinner). Hopefully by then people have lots of questions and feel comfortable with each other. The benefits to the collegiates seems pretty obvious to me... for the alumni they would have to be interested in helping out. I can say that I'm an alum and I would love to participate in that type of event.

hawaiiagd · #14 05-09-2002, 03:39 PM

Our alumnae chapter is very active in supporting our collegians, but we're always looking for new ways to share the Alpha Gam experience. Thanks for such a great thread!

We usually coordinate a Alum/Collegian Tailgate during football season.... and the alums are always encouraged to attend the big Rose Ball in the spring.

We also have a program called Alum Chums. Each semester we pair up new members/pledges with alums and they become... Alum Chums... The alums send notes of encouragement during the new member/pledge period... send little gifts for initiation week... and make themselves available for questions or concerns should the new member ever need another contact person. It helps the "slightly older sisters" make a connection with younger members at events that we share. The collegians love the support, and the alums love the involvement!

KDShan · #15 12-14-2002, 02:46 PM

Having an event where both Alumnae/Alumni and Collegians participate is a fabulous way for Collegians to see that Greek Life does go on after graduation, and it's also a great networking tool!
The first thing that came to mind was Homecoming events (the obvious) or a BBQ/picnic. However, you need to check with your National HQ to be sure that policies are followed...remember that many collegians are under 21..which means they can't drink alcohol....not a good idea to have Alums serving underage members or new members.
A few other things to keep in mind.....
1. invite alums from your chapter, AND those living in the local area from other chapters (and be sure to note if spouses/significant others and children are welcome)
2. Send out invitations well in advance...I know there were several times I received invitations to events that were happening that week...I can't take time off from work, make hotel reservations and (if the kids can't come) find a sitter.
3. Try to make it an annual event, for everyone to look forward to and plan for.
4. If you do a BBQ/picnic....have everyone bring an item (include in the invitation please bring a...-dessert, appetizer, drinks...-)
Hope that helps!