Help me save my chapter, danger of losing it

[nittanyalum]

Can you pull in alums? Are the guys who restarted it still around or in touch? How about alums from the past? If you don't want to go to your HQ, try to find local alums that might be able to pitch in.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by Elephant Walk

They didn't lie until well after nationals interfered with recruitment.

Valid point. But I'm not seeing how lying is going to help now.

[PANTHERTEKE]

Originally Posted by nittanyalum

Can you pull in alums? Are the guys who restarted it still around or in touch? How about alums from the past? If you don't want to go to your HQ, try to find local alums that might be able to pitch in.

I have a strong feeling I know which chapter the OP is from, and if I'm right, then no.

[RU OX Alum]

Originally Posted by nittanyalum

Can you pull in alums? Are the guys who restarted it still around or in touch? How about alums from the past? If you don't want to go to your HQ, try to find local alums that might be able to pitch in.

from the way i read it, the guys that re-started it are all still undergrad


it's really nothing that out of a place for a new/ recently re-established chapter

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by RU OX Alum

from the way i read it, the guys that re-started it are all still undergrad

If this was true, then all of the guys who helped re-instate the chapter would, for the most part, have had to have been freshmen at the time, and I highly doubt that's the case.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by ASTalumna06

If this was true, then all of the guys who helped re-instate the chapter would, for the most part, have had to have been freshmen at the time, and I highly doubt that's the case.

Or they could be on the 5/6/7 year plan. (I'm going with this scenario.)

[tkeman89]

Regarding our alums, we have had a couple of Alumni events with decent success. Most of the alums are really old .. from the 60-70-80s and none of them appear too rich or involved, none of them donated though we never asked regardless. Sorry - relying on alums isn't gonna help the chapter at all.

[fantASTic]

Honestly...it looks to me like you need to tell HQ what's going on. You can hardly be worse off, right? And considering you just colonized, I doubt very much they will shut you down.

[lucgreek]

Originally Posted by tkeman89

Regarding our alums, we have had a couple of Alumni events with decent success. Most of the alums are really old .. from the 60-70-80s and none of them appear too rich or involved, none of them donated though we never asked regardless. Sorry - relying on alums isn't gonna help the chapter at all.

A strong alumni base is a backbone for a strong chapter. Saying that relying on the alumni base won't help the chapter makes it seem like you don't really want things to work out...

[RaggedyAnn]

Originally Posted by tkeman89

Regarding our alums, we have had a couple of Alumni events with decent success. Most of the alums are really old .. from the 60-70-80s and none of them appear too rich or involved, none of them donated though we never asked regardless. Sorry - relying on alums isn't gonna help the chapter at all.

Those really old alum have business connections and life experience. They would have also been around when fraternities were called "secret societies" during the war, so had to struggle with their own recruitment issues. They may not contribute to a "social" fund, but they still can contribute to the chapter.

[SWTXBelle]

Your nationals needs to be part of the solution. I guarantee you they've dealt with similar situations, and can give you the support you need. They want their chapters to be strong - and I can't believe they will let you fail (especially so soon after chartering) without trying to help. Part of that support may be alumni advisor's - alumns with experience who are willing to mentor the officers and provide support (perhaps including financial, but perhaps not.)

One big difference I have noted between sororities and fraternities is the involvement of alumni advisors. Sororities tend to have alumnae boards - advisers for recruitment, finances, etc. - while quite often fraternities have one alum who is a faculty member who signs off on the required university paperwork, and that's all. Guidance from those who've been around the block a few times can be useful. 'Fess up to nationals and ask for help - that's my advice.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by lucgreek

A strong alumni base is a backbone for a strong chapter. Saying that relying on the alumni base won't help the chapter makes it seem like you don't really want things to work out...

I agree. A chapter up at my school is recolonizing and considering the history I NEVER thought the alums would get behind it...but the men recolonizing reached out and the alums definitely have. It was one instance where I was really happy to be proven wrong.

You (tkeman not lucgreek) sound like the only thing you think alumni are good for is monetary donations. Get out of this mindset immediately - especially since your problems have zero to do with money. TELL THEM WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE CHAPTER. Don't sugarcoat it. They want to help - they don't want their names on a chapter full of wabols and slackers. They may have more and better ideas than you could imagine.

[fivestarpikapp]

Coincidentally, through out my "greek life career." We had a similar problem. The Chapter was falling apart, low membership, and we were in debt with nationals. Nationals wanted to shut us down. To solve your problem, you need to have a step by step process based on priority on what it needs. What we did was:

First recruit people who follow what the leaders of your organization. Recruitment at this point is definately more important than anything else.

Next slowly figure out everything else afterwards. If you have money problems, solve that next. Then start doing things based on what your fraternity believes in.

Keep in mind, every fraternity never started on the top. Reputations come and go, and you always have time to rebuild your reputation on campus. When you guys start having that confidence when your fraternity is doing well, then your reputation will slowly redevelop.

[CdnPhratBoy]

Wow. I would really love to hear how this worked out for you. Considering that i'm part of a local that is possibly thinking of going national.