Alumnae at Formal

[ree-Xi]

I was thinking about this. A formal dance might be a hard sell to alumnae. It involves more commitment - admission(?), a dress, a date, an entire evening, a babysitter, etc.

I love the idea of getting collegiates and alums together - my AXiD alumnae chapter is having a brunch with the local collegiate chapter - but I think that a more casual event during the day may work better.

Some ideas -

- brunch - collegiates cook for the alums
- lunch/picnic following a service event (a walk, garbage cleanup, anything where you would have a chance to talk while "working")
- bowling
- afternoon at Chucky Cheese or Dave and Buster's -type place (might be a little more $$)
- schedule a "cocktail hour" (no alcohol) and have hors' d'vours at a restaurant the weekend of homecoming (alums may already be attending that). Contact the manager of the restaurant and ask for a deal based on a group of "X", set the menu and have a buffet-style. Many places have small rooms for this and you can get a decent set up for $10-15 a person. I don't think that it's too steep to ask anyone to contribute.

Whatever you do, make it as less costly (money, time, effort) as possible for the alums, and give as much advance notice as you can. Best of luck!

[33girl]

Most alums have formal dresses from office Christmas parties or else just wear their old ones that they have stashed away. Most often they don't come with a date.

This concept really only works if formal isn't included in dues and only the people who go pay for it.

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by ree-Xi

I was thinking about this. A formal dance might be a hard sell to alumnae. It involves more commitment - admission(?), a dress, a date, an entire evening, a babysitter, etc.

I love the idea of getting collegiates and alums together - my AXiD alumnae chapter is having a brunch with the local collegiate chapter - but I think that a more casual event during the day may work better.

Some ideas -

- brunch - collegiates cook for the alums
- lunch/picnic following a service event (a walk, garbage cleanup, anything where you would have a chance to talk while "working")
- bowling
- afternoon at Chucky Cheese or Dave and Buster's -type place (might be a little more $$)
- schedule a "cocktail hour" (no alcohol) and have hors' d'vours at a restaurant the weekend of homecoming (alums may already be attending that). Contact the manager of the restaurant and ask for a deal based on a group of "X", set the menu and have a buffet-style. Many places have small rooms for this and you can get a decent set up for $10-15 a person. I don't think that it's too steep to ask anyone to contribute.

Whatever you do, make it as less costly (money, time, effort) as possible for the alums, and give as much advance notice as you can. Best of luck!

The problem is, the alumnae who live hundreds of miles away aren't going to visit for a Sunday brunch.

The point is to get alumnae that aren't around often to come to at least one event a year. Or.. one event every 5 years, in some cases. And if we make it a weekend thing, where they can go out on Friday night, meet up with people they haven't seen in a while, stay in a hotel, have a formal dinner on Saturday, and go home on Sunday, I think they'll be more likely to come. Even if it is a little more money, it makes more sense to travel for something that is going to last more than an hour or two.

We have an alum dinner once a year, at a nice restaurant in town, usually in early December. Last year, I believe there were 6 or 7 local alum who showed up. And some of them come around for ceremonies, also. So the chapter is still doing things to try and keep alumnae involved.

The point is to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the chapter, which I think would be even better if we had a large alumnae turnout.