Sorority Shopping?

[adpiucf]

Then it becomes alumnae recruitment. Nothing wrong with that, but that sorority would have to offer substantially greater opportunities for alumnae involvement--- which means mandatory membership obligations across the board for alumnae members. I don't see that happening any time soon, as the collegiate chapters are where 90% of the resources and interests lie. Alumnae life is more of a support system.

[LPIDelta]

Originally Posted by adpiucf

Then it becomes alumnae recruitment. Nothing wrong with that, but that sorority would have to offer substantially greater opportunities for alumnae involvement--- which means mandatory membership obligations across the board for alumnae members. I don't see that happening any time soon, as the collegiate chapters are where 90% of the resources and interests lie. Alumnae life is more of a support system.

I find this very interesting--because do we not spend a majority of time as alumnae members of sororities, rather than collegiate? Just food for thought.

I've been to several Panhellenic Luncheons over the past few years and walked into rooms where there are by far more alumnae than collegians. There are organizations with more than 300 alumnae chapters to 125 collegiate chapters. I would argue that this drastically changes the focuses of those kinds of organizations--that they do have to be significantly more focused on alumnae needs and programming, than a group with only a few alumnae chapters.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by Heather17

I find this very interesting--because do we not spend a majority of time as alumnae members of sororities, rather than collegiate? Just food for thought.

I've been to several Panhellenic Luncheons over the past few years and walked into rooms where there are by far more alumnae than collegians. There are organizations with more than 300 alumnae chapters to 125 collegiate chapters. I would argue that this drastically changes the focuses of those kinds of organizations--that they do have to be significantly more focused on alumnae needs and programming, than a group with only a few alumnae chapters.

Isn't that usually because it's an alumnae Panhellenic luncheon? I mean, I'm thinking of the one we have here where the alums who never do anything else all year turn out in full force because they can wear giant hats and drink martinis at noon.

You also have to look at how the alumnae chapters are set up. Maybe an org has 300 ACs vs 125 CCs - however, the average membership of the ACs is 10 and the average membership of the CCs is 75. Plus sometimes ACs can overlap for a myriad of reasons that I don't want to get into or my head will pop off.

Sometimes I think we'd have more alum involvement and stronger alum chapters if we made it more difficult to charter them - i.e., more like chartering a collegiate chapter. For a lot of groups, it's give us X number of names, send in your money, you're ready to go. Can you imagine chartering a collegiate chapter like that? I doubt very much that any of the NPHC graduate chapters operate that way either.

If we want alums to be as involved as collegians are, maybe we have to treat alum membership a little more like collegiate membership.

[LPIDelta]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Isn't that usually because it's an alumnae Panhellenic luncheon? I mean, I'm thinking of the one we have here where the alums who never do anything else all year turn out in full force because they can wear giant hats and drink martinis at noon.

Sorry--didn't make it clear. I was speaking about panhellenic luncheons during Convention. The alumnae there are representing chapters, not necessarily locals, although I understand they are there too.

[adpiucf]

It is a funny situation, yes, because you are right. We do spend more time as alumnae than as collegians. BUT these organizations were founded for the benefit of collegiate women, and the alumnae phase of membership exists as a "remember the good times." Put it in the context of your university alumni association -- the programming of the university and the reason for the university's existence is the collegiate opportunity. The alumni arm is there to solicit money, update the alumni on what's new in the university and provide warm fuzzies to help alumni connect.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by Heather17

Sorry--didn't make it clear. I was speaking about panhellenic luncheons during Convention. The alumnae there are representing chapters, not necessarily locals, although I understand they are there too.

Oh, do you mean like a Panhellenic Luncheon during D Phi E convention?

Sorry, head fuzzy today.

[LPIDelta]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Oh, do you mean like a Panhellenic Luncheon during D Phi E convention?

Sorry, head fuzzy today.

Yes like that...but we do not have anywhere near 300 alumnae chapters!! I have been guests to 4 panhellenic luncheons during convention for Chi Omega, Delta Delta Delta, Gamma Phi Beta and Kappa Alpha Theta. When I've walked in, there are many more alumnae present than collegians and that is VASTLY different from my organization where you will see almost entirely collegiate members.

[adpiucf]

Heather, has this been in San Antonio? Come on sister-- you know Texas is its own rare animal when it comes to Greek Life!

[33girl]

Originally Posted by Heather17

Yes like that...but we do not have anywhere near 300 alumnae chapters!! I have been guests to 4 panhellenic luncheons during convention for Chi Omega, Delta Delta Delta, Gamma Phi Beta and Kappa Alpha Theta. When I've walked in, there are many more alumnae present than collegians and that is VASTLY different from my organization where you will see almost entirely collegiate members.

Oh, OK.

But again, that's at a convention and I think that you have to consider that a lot of the alums have more disposable income than collegians to attend the conventions.

ETA, just for giggles I looked at our last convention attendance list and it's about 60% collegians, 40% alumnae.

[SmartBlondeGPhB]

Originally Posted by Heather17

Yes like that...but we do not have anywhere near 300 alumnae chapters!! I have been guests to 4 panhellenic luncheons during convention for Chi Omega, Delta Delta Delta, Gamma Phi Beta and Kappa Alpha Theta. When I've walked in, there are many more alumnae present than collegians and that is VASTLY different from my organization where you will see almost entirely collegiate members.

For us it's probably about 50/50. Most of the collegiate chapters send 2 (or many more) women and the alumnae chapters hopsfully send 1 but we usually only get about half of our chapters sending someone. But then you have all of the alumnae volunteers and Foundation members (also alumnae).

Plus, the collegians who are coming from chapters where they are paying their own way (chapter paid for x members and x+3 came) they are probably only paying for part time and the luncheons are often what is skipped.