Alumnae Brunch - Page 2

DGMarie · #16 12-06-2003, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Buttonz
The idea behind not charging and making it suggested is that alumnae's shouldn't have to pay for alumnae programing...

It depends on the program. If you are inviting them to attend a function in which you are catering it and serving brunch, I'd expect to pay. If it is just a function at the house, meeting the new pledge class, participating in bid day functions with the chapter, no, I don't expect alumnae to pay.

I would strongly encourage you to make it crystal clear this is not free if you don't feel like paying. No such thing as a free lunch.

What is on the agenda for this event? Is it just food or is it a speaker or other event.

Have you thought about NOT catering it and making it more informal. Make spaghetti and salad and pie and charge less or nothing.

Buttonz · #17 12-06-2003, 08:51 PM

Here is the program *it isn't in stone yet at all*:
Brunch

Speakers:
Director of Hillel *Assuiming she is gonna want to speak in exchange for usinghte building for free or at a low cost*
SDT Current Pres
A recent alumnae who is helping put this brunch together

Slideshow

Raffle or something along thoses lines

Like I said in my last post, I think that I am going to suggest the $18 be the charge to attend, and if they wnat to help us out and give more, it would be great. There is no way not to cater it...it would cost us about the same if not more to do the same thing.

PenguinTrax · #18 12-06-2003, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Buttonz
RSVP is goign to be done by phone or by e-mail probably. Therefore we won't get any money until the brunch.

have to disagree - this is a bad idea. You could plan and pay for 200 RSVPs and then only 100 attend and you are stuck with the bill. It should be a Pay to Play - RSVP with a check, otherwise what little budget you have is blown away in an instant.

DGMarie · #19 12-06-2003, 11:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Buttonz

Like I said in my last post, I think that I am going to suggest the $18 be the charge to attend, and if they wnat to help us out and give more, it would be great. There is no way not to cater it...it would cost us about the same if not more to do the same thing.

I think it is when you mention "suggest" that some of us are worried you might get stuck with a tab you don't want/can't afford. As long as the $18 lunch part is not optional (clearly specified on the rsvp), then no problem. Donations can be an additional line item on the registration form (in case they cannot attend).

Are alums so numerous that you could not call them personally to invite them? The personal touch may work wonders in both your attendence and fundraising departments.

Would suggest adding the following to pad your agenda:

Chapter song performed by the sisters
Ritual of some kind (if you have alumnae rituals, time to do one).
Ask your school's greek life advisor to speak for a few minutes about the greek scene at your school
Honor any alums who are 10-20-30 year members (if possible).

Buttonz · #20 12-07-2003, 12:25 AM

The list I have from national has 192 alumnae. We currently have 13 actives, so if we al lbroke it down, I guess we would be able to call every alumane, but I think sending the invites out and then seeing who returns them and who doesn't....if we have a lot of no answers, maybe then we will go ahead and make the phone calls.
When I said suggest, I think I am goign to suggest it to my sisters that we make is mandotory the $18...I hope my sisters go for it.
I didn't think of inviting the Greek Life advisor to speak, but wouldn't 4 speakers get a little much? Maybe not that much if they aren't in a row....if we can't get him, the IGC president *who is one of my sisters* might be willing to talk.
As far as I know we don't have any chapter songs

. Alumnae ritual could be found out and done, I didn't think of that ethier.

What about making some sort of journal? Nothing fancy...just something written by every sister, some SDT realzted stuff included *songs, etc* and then if people want, they can take out ads to put in it. Do you think that would be a good idea and worth the money? Do that and something else for favors? Also, anyone know where we can get nice favors made cheaply?

It's times like these that I love GC! Thanks girls!

efcheerBB · #21 12-07-2003, 02:55 AM

Buttonz,

That all sounds really great. Coming from the former alumnae chair for my chapter (I just went alum

), I think that what you have planned is really good. I do think that 4 speakers might be too much, unless their speeches are short. Then that could work. I would definitely try to have the alumnae send in $18 for the event. I mean, when compared to what I have read here, that is nothing. Plus like someone said, they get to spend time with their sisters, so why would it upset them to pay less than $20?
I was just curious about what all your alumnae chair has done with the alumnae. I am done with the chair, but when I turn things over to the new chairwoman, I think I might try to include some ideas for events. If you can't tell me your events, don't worry about it.

Elena

Buttonz · #22 12-07-2003, 03:02 AM

Our alumnae chair has done nothing. I don't even know the last time that an alumnae function has been held. No, I am not the holder of the alumnae chair, I am just working on it and in charge of it. The postion is actually up for grabs, and I am going to run for it, on the bases that I am putting together the brunch with help from one of the girls who went alumnae last spring *and our ex-president*. I am pretty sure that I am going to get it.

I think four speakers might not be that bad, if I have two of them speak during when the food is served, and then have the other two speak after, maybe before the event is over or after the slideshow? I am not sure...still playing aroudn with some ideas in my head as to how to make that one work.

DGMarie · #23 12-07-2003, 03:29 PM

Oh, I didn't mean to suggest 4 speakers. I was using them as examples of speakers to contact in one doesn't work out.

As for favors, go buy some chocolate wafers (the kinds coated on both sides) and some frosting in tiny tubes (used for decorating cakes) and pipe your letters in frosting on the tops of the cookies (or use chocolate mints--like thin mints). This is really inexpensive!

Buttonz · #24 12-07-2003, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DGMarie
Oh, I didn't mean to suggest 4 speakers. I was using them as examples of speakers to contact in one doesn't work out.

As for favors, go buy some chocolate wafers (the kinds coated on both sides) and some frosting in tiny tubes (used for decorating cakes) and pipe your letters in frosting on the tops of the cookies (or use chocolate mints--like thin mints). This is really inexpensive!

You know, I didn't even think of this...but I like it. We can do that and wrap them in clear plasic and tye the lil bags with SDT ribbon. TY for the idea!

DGMarie · #25 12-07-2003, 05:13 PM

another option (requires more work) is to go to your local Michaels or other craft supply store (Hobby Lobby etc) and buy bulk chocolate in white and use blue and yellow food coloring and make your own candies using inexpensive molds. You can find ones shaped in many styles, or just plain. You can also find ribbon and cellophane bags there. We used white tulle (you could use blue or yellow or whatever color you like) and cut them into squares about 8 by 8 inches. This was cheaper than buying cellophane bags bec tulle is usually about 99 cents a YARD. Then you just put the item in the center and tie a string around it. We did this for Founders Day. I made over 500 individual soap anchors (I don't recommend making soap unless you want to spend over $$$)

SmartBlondeGPhB · #26 12-08-2003, 01:53 PM

I'd have to say DGMarie is you giving some really good ideas.

I think the Greek Advisor is a better idea for a speaker than the others (i.e., ask them first). alumane who aren't around much usually really like to hear about what's been going on at the school.

I would suggest two prices for the brunch. $18 is paid by <date> and some higher amount if paid after that date. You'll find that it will really help out if you get the money up front. And telling them that the price will be higher day of, will get a number of people to pay early.

DGMarie · #27 12-08-2003, 04:24 PM

I never asked, but how big is your SDT collegiate chapter?

BTW, some people have asked about making candies for give aways or treats for rush, so here is what I replied:

In Micheals and other craft stores, look by the cake decorating items. This is where you can find the chocolate in bulk bricks (like 2 pounds or so). It is sold especially for making custom items. You melt it in the microwave and pour it into the mold, which are also sold in that area. It is nearly impossible to find molds in shapes of anchors, but I did find them online, ordered them and used them for making soap in. Try these links for anchor molds (if you back out of the URLs you'll find there are 100's of different kinds of molds for any groups symbol):

http://www.candylandcrafts.com/imag...hor%20lolly.gif (anchor lollipop molds--can be used for chocolate)

http://www.candylandcrafts.com/imag...hor%20mints.gif (anchor mint molds--I used these for making soap)

http://www.sugarcraft.com/catalog/c...ds/anchors1.jpg (this has a big anchor)

Bulk chocolate is about $3 per pound and you use less than an ounce in some of these molds, more in others.

Peaches-n-Cream · #28 12-09-2003, 07:47 PM

The DPhiE Alpha chapter invited to the MetroDPhiE Alumnae Association to a brunch a few weeks back. They didn't charge anything, but some of us brought cookies. It was in their suite in the dorm. They showed us a video that they made as well as their scrapbooks. It was nice to meet the active sisters from a different chapter.

Buttonz · #29 12-11-2003, 12:38 AM

We currently have 14 active, but by next semster we will be down to 10. Yes, I know we are very small. How to I convice my chapter that we need to have the alumnaes paying for the brunch, the thought among them is that alumnaes shouldn't have to pay for alumane programming. Yet if we were doing a night out, they would have to pay. I jsut don't understand my sisters some of the time!

Secretluv · #30 12-11-2003, 05:38 AM

Hello

I agree with a lot of the other posts. You should definitely RSVP and collect the funds prior to the actual brunch. This will give you a more exact count of how many people will be attending and you can plan your menu around this number. It will also ensure that all financial bases are covered so that you won't be left with the bill!

Suggestions:

1. If the brunch is some ways away... mail out invitations that include info about the brunch and the alumnae can return the invitation with RSVP and check in the amount of $18 or give them the option to send a donation even if they do not attend the brunch. **You don't have to spend tons of money on invitations you can make them yourselves- all you need is some nice paper, a computer, and some creativity. The only thing that will need to come out of pocket is postage and if you mail them in bulk you can get a discount** ANOTHER GREAT SUGGESTION MADE WAS **I would suggest two prices for the brunch. $18 is paid by <date> and some higher amount if paid after that date. You'll find that it will really help out if you get the money up front.**

2. The suggestion about the raffle was a good idea. You can sell the raffle tickets during the brunch. The idea about the gift basket was really cool. It would be nice to include the different items mentioned and decorate the basket in your sorority's colors. Depending on how much your chapter has in it's treasury a sorority afghan would make a really nice gift. ** There is a SDT afghan currently on sale at www.greekgear.com for $49.95 here's the link http://store.yahoo.com/inarush/sigmadeltatau1.html **

3. Don't stretch yourselves too thin. You may have a small group but I am sure that you ladies can and will make it successful. Utilize committees... a committee for decorations & favors, a committee to handle invitations & RSVP, a committee to handle the raffle & prize, a committee to work on the itinerary and get excellent speakers. As far as speakers try to find an alumnae of the sorority that is very "prominent" in your community. Perhaps a news reporter for your local news stations is a member of your sorority, or someone on the city council, or an alumnae that is very active in your community working with other service based organizations!!! They can talk about the SDT and how it impacted their lives and helped them to achieve their goals or they can simply talk about sisterhood and what it means to them or issues that women face on a daily basis and how unity amongst women is necessary.

4. Sharing scrapbooks is a really nice idea... and it is something that you ladies can build upon. At a few selected tables have disposable cameras and ask the alumnae to take random pictures during the brunch. At the end have them return the cameras and you ladies can make a scrapbook for the actual brunch event. You can show it at future brunches or other events. ALSO as a "thank you for coming gift" you ladies can scan some of the pictures onto a cd and mail them to alumnae or you can scan the pictures onto your chapter's website (if you have one). Send out a mass email letting the alumnae know that pictures are able to be viewed at your website and provide them with a link

I have a lot of ideas... and maybe my ideas are not within your budget and that is totally understandable. Does your national governing body offer grants to chapters for things such as retention/recruitment or service projects? Or do you have an alumnae or two that would be willing to work with your chapter in planning the brunch and that would also be willing to make donations toward the success of the brunch?

Feel free to PM me if I can offer any other suggestions or be of any assistance

~Secretluv~