Alumni Advisory Boards?

Eta1466 · #1 02-04-2009, 07:48 PM

I'm looking for some advice on Alumni Advisory Boards.

Does anyone have one in place for their chapter or know what steps to go through to get it started?

Kevin · #2 02-04-2009, 07:52 PM

The way ours is set up is that it's headed up by the chapter adviser. He appoints whomever he sees fit to appoint. He takes care of the whole shabang.

You probably have a ready pool of talent if you have a house corporation or an alumni chapter, but start with your chapter adviser.

Eta1466 · #3 02-04-2009, 08:03 PM

Our house is owned by the university so no housing corporation and there is no alumni chapter that I know of.

From reading the guidelines on the Sigma Nu website it seems that members need to live somewhat close to the chapter. Is this how it is with your AAB or do some live far away?

banditone · #4 02-04-2009, 08:21 PM

With technology where it is you can have members that are dispersed. For meetings and information you have Email, instant messaging, conference calls, etc.

However, you want the majority within driving distance of the chapter.

Kevin · #5 02-04-2009, 08:40 PM

Proximity's importance depends on what the alumnus will be helping with. If he's sitting in on honor council, he pretty much needs to be there. If he's advising the treasurer, he could probably effectively do his job in Antarctica.

Kedzman · #6 02-08-2009, 07:27 PM

It is important to coach alumni on two things

#1 - tell them what advisory positions you need to be filled
#2 - tell them what duties and time commitment will be needed from them

Get a list put together (position, duties, time commitment) and then email it out to every alumnus you have contact information for. Contact Headquarters and let them know what you are trying to accomplish and that you need an Excel version of their most up-to-date alumni list. They track every phone call and email and show the last contact date. This is very helpful.

You may want to consider putting together an alumni newsletter to go along with this. Alumni are more willing to help if they feel a connection with their local chapter and what is going on there.

Don't try and go too fast and end up doing a poor job. I would strongly recommend piecing together a quality alumni list and building a quality newsletter throughout the spring semester. Try to make it a 50/50 split between undergraduate articles and alumni articles. Just don't forget - your audience is alumni, so make it relevent to them. I recommend your goal should be to put the alumni advisory board together over the summer so you can hit the ground running in the fall.

Feel free to contact me directly if you want more consulting on the matter.

RockyTopSNU · #7 03-04-2009, 01:03 AM

You dont want one of these....we just got in trouble and got one they are great guys but its better if you run your chapter by yourself. After all we are a fraternity of men.

LTH

Kevin · #8 03-09-2009, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RockyTopSNU

You dont want one of these....we just got in trouble and got one they are great guys but its better if you run your chapter by yourself. After all we are a fraternity of men.

LTH

They're good so long as the advisers know their place. It's tough to pull in people out of the professional world who are probably extremely successful -- then tell them that the final say in things goes to a bunch of college kids.

If you asked the young men in my chapter, I think they'd tell you that they're extremely happy with the advisers they've had.