Alumnae Dinner

[Benzgirl]

Lather, Rinse, Repeat: "Alumnae don't care about favors" and I too would be upset if my contruibution was earmarked to underwrite tchotchkes.

[ree-Xi]

Originally Posted by Benzgirl

Lather, Rinse, Repeat: "Alumnae don't care about favors" and I too would be upset if my contruibution was earmarked to underwrite tchotchkes.

Something else I would suggest is to make sure you thank anyone who has given of their time, money, energy, advice or "things" to the chapter. It might not seem like a big deal at the time, but it would be nice to know if a gift has been received and being put to good use.

[honeychile]

I just want to add that our 150th was in 2001, and the women in my chapter now are totally on top of things - and up for our Golden Lion award. That's a huge difference. But, I have no idea if they'd whip out favors for a dinner. At the two alumnae events we have each year, they put out bowls of candies or whatever, and we can take some or not. It's much more practical. AND, they write thank you notes, and we get newsletters!

[ComradesTrue]

Originally Posted by honeychile

and we get newsletters!

This.

And the thank you notes too.

Honestly, as an alum, I don't really want another trinket. I want my chapter to keep me informed of chapter goings-on. A few recruitment photos, a few articles about what they do during the year, a few profiles on outstanding members. I am very interested, especially since I live many states away and can't witness anything in person.

I haven't received a newsletter in over 10 years and it is missed. Long ago the chapter stopped sending them to alumnae who didn't live in the immedidate area of our college and this makes me (and my pledge-era sisters) very sad.

I know it is hard for the actives to imagine, but the chapter's welfare and sucesses are still very important to us, even long after graduation. It would also be of interest to those who live in your area but who may have attended college elsewhere. Showing the alumnae that they are relevant, and keeping them informed of chapter happenings, has much more value than a party favor.

Good luck with your dinner. Sounds fun.

[Gusteau]

Originally Posted by Blondie93

I know it is hard for the actives to imagine, but the chapter's welfare and sucesses are still very important to us, even long after graduation. It would also be of interest to those who live in your area but who may have attended college elsewhere. Showing the alumnae that they are relevant, and keeping them informed of chapter happenings, has much more value than a party favor.

This reminds me of my favorite quote from my favorite founder, Peter Schermerhorn Johnson:

In the usual course of things I should have been forgotten at graduation. This is the keynote to the fraternity. The fraternity man never graduates. He receives his diploma and leaves his Alma Mater for the larger affairs of the world, but as long as his chapter stands he is as much a part and parcel of it as he was in his undergraduate days. His success is theirs, and their success is his. He belongs to the family for life...

On a related note, my chapter sends a monthly e-mail newsletter to alumni that briefly outlines what we've done in the past month and what's coming up in the next month that they might want to attend.