HELP! terrible alumni relations!! need ideas!

[brassrattheta]

I just got an email from my college chapter - they were tracing "big sister/little sister" family trees. There was an award for the current collegian who could trace back her "family" the farthest. The advantage of this was that it immediately connected collegians to alumnae and alumnae to each other.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by brassrattheta

I just got an email from my college chapter - they were tracing "big sister/little sister" family trees. There was an award for the current collegian who could trace back her "family" the farthest. The advantage of this was that it immediately connected collegians to alumnae and alumnae to each other.

This is an AWESOME idea.

[agzg]

My collegiate chapter uses a facebook group and they encouraged those of us who knew other alumnae to keep inviting and inviting until every alpha gam we knew was a member. It's been pretty great, even though I live 8 hours away I'm still relatively connected to my chapter.

[Zillini]

Also keep in mind that there may be alumnae living in the area who were not initiated at that Chapter. I'm a prime example. I moved to the deep South from the Midwest and didn't know a soul in the area. The Chapter got my address from Inatl using a search of all members within the geographical area. When I received a random invitation to a tea at the sorority I went because I simply wanted to meet some local women who I had something in common with.

That was 16 years ago. I've been active first as a member of House Corp, then as an Advisor ever since. Over the years we've had other fabulous advisors and active alumna who also did not go to school here. Point being, it's not only about shared memories and common experiences.

[Gusteau]

Originally Posted by Zillini

Also keep in mind that there may be alumnae living in the area who were not initiated at that Chapter. I'm a prime example. I moved to the deep South from the Midwest and didn't know a soul in the area. The Chapter got my address from Inatl using a search of all members within the geographical area. When I received a random invitation to a tea at the sorority I went because I simply wanted to meet some local women who I had something in common with.

That was 16 years ago. I've been active first as a member of House Corp, then as an Advisor ever since. Over the years we've had other fabulous advisors and active alumna who also did not go to school here. Point being, it's not only about shared memories and common experiences.

This is an excellent point! My chapter is only three years old, so the majority of our alumni support system are from other chapters. We've found it more difficult to reach out to alumni who don't have a connection to the university, but they are a resource that should not be overlooked! A lot of alumni move too far away to be involved with their collegiate chapters, but still really want to be actively involved after graduation.

[DrPhil]

Wow @ this last page

Discussions like these remind me of how grateful I am that many organizations put a lot of emphasis on the chapter never becoming bigger than the organization. This is why alumni activity is extremely important, and preferably with an alumnae/graduate chapter where you get to interact with alumnae initiates and collegiate initiates (who have graduated).

Everyone's busy. But, what I gathered from OPhi's earlier comments is not just being busy/having priorities (who woulda thunk adults have priorities? ) but almost an unwillingness or inability to connect. A specific call to action for the chapter shouldn't come before knowing who you are working with. Instead of going into it thinking that it is impossible, try it and go into with an open mind.

Sorors who move to new areas know how to meet Sorors in professional and personal settings. I think it is really not as difficult as people insist on making it. With every busy person, there are often two people who really think it is worth the time and commitment to maintain bonds/plan programs/attend meetings/etc. I have seen MANY home chapter Sorors reunited this way and many Sorors motivated to give back to their home chapters.

[OPhiAGinger]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

....many organizations put a lot of emphasis on the chapter never becoming bigger than the organization....

Everyone's busy. But, what I gathered from OPhi's earlier comments is not just being busy/having priorities (who woulda thunk adults have priorities? ) but almost an unwillingness or inability to connect. A specific call to action for the chapter shouldn't come before knowing who you are working with....

I like that concept of the chapter never becoming bigger than the organization. Easier said than done, though, since so many members never meet sisters beyond the boundaries of their own chapter. Still, it's a worthy goal and something my org could improve upon.

As for your other point, the unwillingness to connect made me smile. I have been active on the national level for so long that my bonds with sisters from other chapters far outshadow the ones I formed back in college. My point is and has always been about setting priorities among opportunities in OPA. It's a special treat for me to get to catch up with a dear sister that I served on our national board years ago when our lives were simpler. Those are the invitations that really tug at my heart and motivate me to shift things around! I am not closed off to new relationships -- just very time constrained.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by OPhiAGinger

I like that concept of the chapter never becoming bigger than the organization. Easier said than done, though, since so many members never meet sisters beyond the boundaries of their own chapter. Still, it's a worthy goal and something my org could improve upon.

It's all about how you are brought in. It isn't "easier said than done" for organizations that frown upon members not interacting with members outside of their chapter.

Most NPHCers learn that your chapter of initiation is GREAT (and shouldn't be completely abandoned, even as an alum) but you suck if your chapter will be/is your only interaction and endeavor as a member.

Originally Posted by OPhiAGinger

As for your other point, the unwillingness to connect made me smile. I have been active on the national level for so long that my bonds with sisters from other chapters far outshadow the ones I formed back in college. My point is and has always been about setting priorities among opportunities in OPA. It's a special treat for me to get to catch up with a dear sister that I served on our national board years ago when our lives were simpler. Those are the invitations that really tug at my heart and motivate me to shift things around! I am not closed off to new relationships -- just very time constrained.

Thanks for more descriptively expressing your point. Got it now.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by Zillini

Point being, it's not only about shared memories and common experiences.

And some of us had close ties with members from other chapters as collegiates, including chapter road trips and chapters strongly supporting each other's events.

I think there are a lot of shared memories and experiences across chapters. Sorors don't have to be from my chapter to have experienced many of the things that I did.* But, people won't know that unless they connect with people outside of their home chapter.

*Granted we didn't experience these things together as collegiates but that doesn't matter so much when we're bonding as Sorors.

[chopperdude]

why do alums have to come down and try to tell us how to run the chapter. who are they to tell us.

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by chopperdude

why do alums have to come down and try to tell us how to run the chapter. who are they to tell us.

Didn't you initiate 413 years ago?

[Psi U MC Vito]

Originally Posted by chopperdude

why do alums have to come down and try to tell us how to run the chapter. who are they to tell us.

Your brothers with a crap load of collective experience? Almost all organizations I know of the undergrads run the show with alum providing advice.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by Psi U MC Vito

Your brothers with a crap load of collective experience? Almost all organizations I know of the undergrads run the show with alum providing advice.

dont pay attention it's tom tryng to be a new front person username.

[ole skool]

Originally Posted by chopperdude

why do alums have to come down and try to tell us how to run the chapter. who are they to tell us.

It's this kind of attitude that keeps the chapters in trouble all around the nation. Y'all too hard headed and think you know every *&^ thing when in fact, you really don't know your head from a hole in the ground.

[als463]

Originally Posted by ole skool

It's this kind of attitude that keeps the chapters in trouble all around the nation. Y'all too hard headed and think you know every *&^ thing when in fact, you really don't know your head from a hole in the ground.

Why does a random guy, who never went Greek, come on a greek chat site to make remarks about fraternities and sororities? I think it is weird.