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We just had our 50th in November 2004. We had lots of fun things going on!
1 - Alumnae brought memorabilia for a "mini-museum" of scrapbooks, rush outfits, pictures, blankets, stuff like that. We set it up on tables in the lobby outside the main banquet room.
2 - We put together a video slideshow of pictures through the years. For years we didn't have a lot, we scanned them out of campus yearbooks. Be sure and look at homecoming pages, pageant pages, fraternity pages, all over the place besides the page or two dedicated to ADPi. At the very end we added the video recording of our current recruitment skit. We sold the videos to alumnae who were interested.
3 - Our theme was "Past, Present, Future...A Diamond Is Forever." Rather than representing every decade, we simply had three speakers: the Charter President from 1954, the current President, and a member of the newly initiated Alpha Class of 2004 (elected by that Alpha class).
4 - Mrs. Goddard came to celebrate and spoke at the banquet. She's fabulous! Even if she can't come, be sure to invite all of Grand Council, and if someone is close by or planning to be in the area, perhaps she can come speak. Or if you have an International officer who is an alumna of your chapter, be sure and give her special recognition - even if she doesn't speak.
5 - We held our Alpha Class initiation that weekend in the host hotel so that alumnae could come back and experience ritual again. Many of them never get a chance to see it once they graduate.
6 - We put together a current address book that had bios of the attendees and others who sent them in. It was a nice way for everyone to catch up quickly - even if they couldn't come! I especially like honeychile's suggestion of getting a list of businesses owned by alumnae!
7 - Local alumnae came in a couple of nights early and taught the current chapter some songs from years past, and the chapter got up to sing them. The alumnae loved it.
8 - We wanted to give a favor that would be more useful than a random knickknack to sit on a shelf and collect dust. So we had umbrellas printed up with the Alpha Delta Pi logo on it. They were a HUGE hit and are practical. All while giving us a little publicity and marketing whenever it rains!
9 - We were installed in 1954 the same weekend as the Kappa Delta chapter on campus, so they were celebrating their 50th at the same time. During the day, Panhellenic hosted an open house, where all the chapters opened their suites and provided very light refreshments. The alumnae could tour the building and see how the suites had changed throughout the years, as well as visit with Panhellenic sisters from long ago.
These are just a few of things that worked for us!
beth
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