Your chapter or other chapters

[33girl]

Originally posted by Rudey
I've been contacted (not by the chapter) to go in and help with rush. The reason being is I'm pretty damn effective when it comes to rush and signed every pledge we had personally over 4 years. The results are half of what I pulled in last year which should be higher - I graduated in June.

And I don't want to help right away for several reasons. I wasn't invited to by the chapter. I don't want to seem clingy. I want to teach them to fish and not give them the fish.

-Rudey
--And yes I would still like to be moving more towards regional and national involvement.

Rudey, I think your instincts are right on. It would be one thing if the brothers said "you rock! come back and help!" But if it's an outsider saying "Rudey is better at this than you guys and he needs to do this for you" they will get offended. Or else rely on you too much.

[PsychTau]

Originally posted by Rudey
And I don't want to help right away for several reasons. I wasn't invited to by the chapter. I don't want to seem clingy. I want to teach them to fish and not give them the fish.

-Rudey
--And yes I would still like to be moving more towards regional and national involvement.

It would be hard for you to come back and help rush....if you keep coming back the members won't learn how to rush and they might lose the guys you sign because they won't know how to rush their new members (gotta keep them involved, interested, etc.)

Teach them how to fish....teach them how you get these guys to sign up. Teach other chapters. Teach other alums and let those alums go in and help....you be the "consultant". I think it would be hard for you to go back in to the chapter less than a year after you graduated. You won't have "authority", they'll probably just let you do the work (and if you're like me you'll tend to do it so that the chapter won't die on your watch.....DON'T DO THAT!!! trust me....)

PsychTau

[Munchkin03]

I know I'm taking a break from my chapter, even though I'm close enough to go to everything if I really really wanted to. I don't see myself doing a lot for my chapter other than donations until all the women who are currently there graduate. I did so much for my chapter, right up until the end, that I need a little break from the drama that ensued; I don't want to be perceived as being a busybody or without a life. I just need Me time that doesn't involve my chapter.

That's not to say that I'm not active. If the chapter was in serious trouble, I would be there in a heartbeat. I am a member of the local alumnae group and I helped the chapter where I'm a grad student during their recruitment.

[shadokat]

Rudey--

One thing I learned from staying involved, espeically at my own chapter level, is that in the beginning, when there are still sisters/brothers there that know you really well, it's hard to get them to take you seriously, and they often will say "they graduated...I wish they'd stop trying to run things". BUT, give it a few years, and then go back, and it's a much different situation. I waited nearly 5 years to go back to working with my own chapter, and it really is well worth it. In the meantime, get some experience working with other local chapters and in other areas. Best of luck

Heather

p.s. Heather17 is a fab volunteer

[SmartBlondeGPhB]

Originally posted by Rudey
I've been contacted (not by the chapter) to go in and help with rush. The reason being is I'm pretty damn effective when it comes to rush and signed every pledge we had personally over 4 years. The results are half of what I pulled in last year which should be higher - I graduated in June.

And I don't want to help right away for several reasons. I wasn't invited to by the chapter. I don't want to seem clingy. I want to teach them to fish and not give them the fish.

-Rudey
--And yes I would still like to be moving more towards regional and national involvement.

BUT......

Are you being asked to help because the chapter's in trouble and you know how to help? That's a different story than just going in uninvited..........

[PhiPsiRuss]

Originally posted by Rudey
I want to teach them to fish and not give them the fish.

That's what chapters need; guidance. Alumni who do non-alumni related work for the undergrads are hurting their chapters. Alumni who do nothing are also hurting their chapters. AEPi should have a recomended structure for some kind of chapter advisory committees. If not, we have PDF files on our web site available for download.

I would devise a recruitment seminar, and teach them what you know. With regard to a Chicago alumni association, it should be easy to put together. First get someone from your HQ to do a DB pull, and e-mail you with names, addresses, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses. Basically, you have to rush AEPis back into AEPi. I recomend that you find a place where you can meet the same time every month for a happy hour. That gives you 12 events per year. On top of that, you can add social functions like baseball games, golf, or sailing. You should also have at least one family oriented event each year so that the wives and girlfriends are more supportive of their SO's involvement. And also have a few service projects each year.

Try to involve the local chapters with your events. The best way to demonstrate that AEPi is for life, is to lead by example.

[ThetaPrincess24]

I am presently looking into being a chapter advisor for two other kentucky Theta chapters than my own. This is because I'm still connected to girls in my chapter from where i just went alumnae status in December. For issues of respect and observations of seeing other recent alums from my chapter try to be a chapter advisor for my chapter, I dont think it's in my best interest at this time. However if I was asked to help my chapter I would do it with no problem at all.

[Rudey]

Anyway, I'm speaking and meeting with several national figures about it. Lots of red tape so a little annoying.

Also the housing corporation for the undergrad chapter is almost complete with a very expensive house being on target as long as it seems reasonable that it can have tenants for the short and long term periods. That is the only involvement I want with my chapter I think until a couple years pass and all new brothers are in there so the older guys will be alums along with me and it won't be an uncomfortable situation.

-Rudey

[hannahgirl]

Originally posted by Munchkin03
I know I'm taking a break from my chapter, even though I'm close enough to go to everything if I really really wanted to. I don't see myself doing a lot for my chapter other than donations until all the women who are currently there graduate. I did so much for my chapter, right up until the end, that I need a little break from the drama that ensued; I don't want to be perceived as being a busybody or without a life. I just need Me time that doesn't involve my chapter.

That's not to say that I'm not active. If the chapter was in serious trouble, I would be there in a heartbeat. I am a member of the local alumnae group and I helped the chapter where I'm a grad student during their recruitment.

This is my view at the moment right now too!! Having become an Alum in December, I have stepped back from the chapter more than I really thought that I would.
As a collegian, I was one of the most active members in and out of the chapter and also held VP positions on exec during some of our "rough times". My last semester was one of the toughest because I was the oldest member, VP Membership, and the only one left from my pledge class. Because of this, I was constantly bombarded with questions, bitch sessions, and issues around the house which everyone seemed to think I could fix. I truly enjoyed knowing that my sisters looked to me for guidance but eventually it was overwhelming.
I began to branch out to get away from the chapter and transition into alumnae status. I volunteered to help at Case Western Reserve with expansion of our newest colony in September and then went back in January to help with recruitment. I also interviewed with EO for a position as a Collegiate Development Consultant. I would eventually love to work closely with the Fraternity nationally, but I am also not opposed to helping my collegiate chapter.
I will always be willing to help when and if they need me and also step up to an advisory position when the time comes (or if I'm still in the area). But there is also a need for separation in between there. You do grow more respect for your organization when you step back and take a break from it, and sometimes you also see more flaws....

All I can say is...if you have the opportunity to contribute, do it. You'll only grow more as a person and as a member, but also know that if you are taking on too much or getting back into it sooner than expected to rethink it and analyze your options. Membership is for a lifetime....if you don't feel the need to help right away, you will still help in the future.

[Rudey]

Originally posted by Rudey
Anyway, I'm speaking and meeting with several national figures about it. Lots of red tape so a little annoying.

Also the housing corporation for the undergrad chapter is almost complete with a very expensive house being on target as long as it seems reasonable that it can have tenants for the short and long term periods. That is the only involvement I want with my chapter I think until a couple years pass and all new brothers are in there so the older guys will be alums along with me and it won't be an uncomfortable situation.

-Rudey

Just an update:

I met with someone high up about it and I'm trying to push it forward by taking on most of the responsibility.

I have some questions for you guys though. I can probably get a list of over 10,000 alumni for the chicago land area. But how do I contact them? That would be over 3700 bucks in stamps. If I send emails I'm worried it would only reach the very young alums and I'd like everyone to be involved. How do you approach these situations and keep costs down?

Also I went to a chapter rush event today and pushed 3 more guys and got them to sign. I still have it in me.

-Rudey

[pinkyphimu]

you definately need to narrow that down a bit! perhaps you can look at zip codes and narrow it that way. or maybe only invite alumni from the past 20 years. certainly you don't want to alienate those from other time periods or zip codes, but you need to get a core group going at first. you can also post notices in local newspapers and on your national website and magazine.

oh, and while you are mailing all of these people, you may find out that they have moved or that the address you have is their parents.

[kateshort]

Originally posted by Rudey
I have some questions for you guys though. I can probably get a list of over 10,000 alumni for the chicago land area. But how do I contact them? That would be over 3700 bucks in stamps. If I send emails I'm worried it would only reach the very young alums and I'd like everyone to be involved. How do you approach these situations and keep costs down?

-Rudey

[Note: I'm using XYZ as shorthand because this can apply to any groups here!]

First of all, do you already have a core group of 3-10 guys who are willing to help you? It's a heck of a lot easier to do things with a core group who can call and email to get enough to form an org, and then with more people and donations, you can expand your efforts...

Depending on the school, you may be able to get a list of alumni from your school's chapter, and target those first. It may be possible for the school's alumni relations department to send out mailings FREE to that school's XYZ alumni on behalf of the chapter; you'd probably have to have the chapter make the request and have them turn the envelopes back in to the school. If you can get in touch with alumni from a number of local schools, that can make getting in touch much easier. If the school can only provide the addresses, they may or may not have more up-do-date addresses than the national org database. You may be able to get the chapters to donate $$$ to send out the mailings with the understanding that your eventual alumni org will be there to offer them physical, emotional, and financial assistance (maybe your org can eventually offer a dues scholarship to one young many from each of the 3 closest chapters, provide food for an alumni brunch for alumni of the chapter, or something like that).

If the local alumni list has phone numbers as well as email addresses, it makes it a lot easier. If you have alumni in four different area codes, you can split up the calling. OR, just start with those in the city proper, then expand to Cook county, then to DuPage, etc. Break it up into manageable chunks.

Creating a yahoo group for "Chicagoland Alumni of XYZ fraternity" is another great way to do things. You won't just get the recent college grads-- lots of people aged in their 30s and 40s are very comfortable with email and have home or work accounts where they could receive updates. Even if you start with the younger guys, you can ask them to phone or email any other XYZ's they know in the area about coming events and about joining the mailing list.

It also helps to have a geocities web page for your alumni org. Makes it really easy for guys to browse the site, see what's up, and then join the email group by clicking on a link from the website. (I usually email back asking "who are you, and where/when did you pledge/graduate" to make sure it isn't just from some spammer or virus-bot, and then approve them for the list.) It's good for people to see who you are and what you're doing. If you don't actually have the status of being an alumni association yet (usually requires money and getting a charter), you can still advertise on the webpage as an alumni org interest group-- getting members and doing events in the hope of officially becoming a chartered alumni association.

Ditto on posting notices *everywhere!*:

* Post to the XYZ board on GreekChat saying that you want to do this, and ask people who are interested to PM you for details. There may be people from other chapters who can post to their chapter alumni saying "hey, if you're in the chicago area, email Rudey for info on creating an alumni association!"

* Post to the "private side" of the XYZ organization web page-- most of them have members-only message boards with alumni sections where orgs can post their events or advertise for members.

* Call or email the closest chapters in your area-- these chapters are about to graduate a number of guys who might be staying in the Chicagoland area and would be interested in joining such an org. Instant members!

It may also help to have ideas of what you would like to do with an org of alumni-- Cubs games, nights out at a club downtown, a local brat-eating contest, a fundraising event or volunteering opportunity for a local hospital or for the XYZ national philanthropy, etc.


Hope some of these ideas help...

[kateshort]

Originally posted by Rudey
And I don't want to help right away for several reasons. I wasn't invited to by the chapter. I don't want to seem clingy. I want to teach them to fish and not give them the fish.

-Rudey
--And yes I would still like to be moving more towards regional and national involvement.

On this end of things, there are many ways that alumni/ae can get involved with multiple local chapters:

* Instead of recruiting for them, get together with other alums and hold a recruiting seminar. It may be effective if there are a number of chapters in the area, to get those chapters together to practice recruitment lines on guys they don't know.

* Hold seminars for the chapter seniors on resume and interviewing techniques or job-hunting skills. This can include business etiquette or even how to look for and buy the perfect interviewing suit/outfit/clothes for a particular position.

* Give presentations on time management, ethics, budgeting, weight loss/healthy eating, or other "life skills" that fit in to XYZ's member education programs.

* Help out with ritual review, if your org/chapters do such reviews.

* Come in and teach a session on chapter history or org history to the new members, with permission of the member ed officer, of course. Sometimes it's nice to hear history from an alumnus.

* Help organize fun alum/collegian activities, such as a day at Six Flags, Cubs game during the summer, etc. that will help alums and collegians get to know each other.

* Help/teach the chapter to solicit donations from local businesses for non-profit fundraisers for XYZ philanthropy. If your school has a yearly fundraiser event, show the guys how to get their local McD's to donate burgers or provide prizes, etc.

[nyrdrms]

Most of the women in the alumnae chapter that I belong to come from the same collegiate chapter, so we tend to do a lot with that chapter. Recently, we've started doing things with another local chapter (about 45 min/1 hr away) because they are close....but I think what really got the alumnae chapter to start supporting this other collegiate chapter is that their advisor comes from our collegiate chapter. We do have women who participate on the international level, but those who are local tend to work primarily with the EI chapter.

[Rudey]

Kate I will take what you said into consideration. I think Chicago is just such a huge area for us because a lot of my brothers move there if they had graduated from a midwestern college.

The current plan, at this point, is to try and win approval of this from the very top.

If it gets approval I need to come up with a plan to present at a dinner with some prominent alumni.

I think we have a limited amount of email addresses but a lot of postal ones. I will try and make the point that we have to start somewhere and try and recruit more once we have something, anything established.

Here is my plan to reach out: Establish a website. Advertise this website through emails (to individual alums and to midwest chapters), fraternity events, our fraternal magazine (The Lion) and see where it goes from there. Postal Mail is out of the question I am assuming unless anyone else can tell me how to avoid those costs.

Right now there is only me. I don't have a problem with this because I'm a pretty capable person. Plus I am willing to bet I can con a couple others to get on board later in the process.

-Rudey