Getting younger alums involved

[SoCalGirl]

I think the bringing family/husband/boyfriend to the events is to make new members feel comfortable b/c they'll know someone.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by SoCalGirl

I think the bringing family/husband/boyfriend to the events is to make new members feel comfortable b/c they'll know someone.

But that's exactly my point. If you're that apprehensive, you'll probably stick to hubby all night and meet no one. I mean - you went through rush when you were 18 - 19, you can't walk into a room with maybe 10 other women as an adult and make conversation, you've clearly got issues. Maybe it's because I'm an only child and got used to doing things on my own out of necessity, but a grown woman who would be too "scared" to meet other people without her husband along is just bizarre to me.

[Tom Earp]

The idea with husbands and kids (Family) is to make them feel at ease.

So, while a cook out may seem corny, have it at someones house and say a horse u pit for guys, something for the kids like a lawn sprinkler.

Get money for the esintials and ask everyone to bring "Their" speciality whether it be Chips and dip, dessert, beans or what ever.

Volley Ball net for youngesters (Alums) with BFs.

Maybe washer tossing game? Like horse shoes but in a smaller area.

You need to also maybe consolidate two Alum groups into one to make it stronger.

Once a year, have a special function, some form of semi dress up type of dinner and dance.

Hey, guys like to dress up to! Not that often, but once in a while!

Actually Fraternitys are not that much different when it comes to getting the ladies to come on down as it is for ladies to get the guys to come on down!

Who is more persuasive?

[DaffyKD]

Every two years we hold regional mini conventions. These are on the off years from the national convention. We invite the graduating seniors and when we do an induction ceremony, we give them a certificate giving them free membership dues to the AA that is local to them. We have gotten several new members that way.

Also, we have been holding membership wine and cheese events at the beginning of the year. We get the names and addresses of all local members from national and invite all the ladies on the list. This year, our membership chairperson only invited the 100 youngest members from the list. We were able to get 7 of them to join. Once they join, we immediately get them involved in a committee so that they feel needed.

DaffyKD

[FirstAndFinest]

Get contact information for alums in your area from your HQ. Try a letter of introduction (doesn't have to be as formal as that sounds but its your opportunity to tell 'em you are not a senior sister!), hype some fun social event, give them your email/phone number to get involved - or put together a survey or just a simple response card/form. You can follow up with an Evite (if you're lucky enough to get e-addresses from HQ). Bring a digital camera and take pix! Then, post to your assoc's site - and email everyone who attended with a link to the pix. And thank them for coming!!

[navane]

UPDATE -- Last week, I was able to get an electronic copy of the list of the alumnae in my area from IHQ, thanks to Amy, who was way super helpful! On Saturday I e-mailed everyone who had an address and invited them to join a yahoogroups listserve I had created.

Prior to the e-mail, we had 9 sisters on the listserve and virtually no traffic. In the last four days, we've had 29 sisters join the listserve for a total of 38!! A lot of them have said things like "Wow! Thanks so much for contacting me!" and "I've wanting to get involved, thanks!"

I'm amazed at the response as people had been telling me that previous attempts at sending out letters or e-mails like that have flopped. I tried to sound upbeat, explained why being on a listserve is handy, and mentioned that I wanted to put together a young alums event in the future to help welcome the sisters who were new to town.

Of the 29 who have signed on so far, they are in the age range of about 22 - 52 years old. Two of the sisters are still collegians! I guess they're just eager to get a head start on life as alumnae!

So far, so good...my next goal is to get the sisters chatting and attending events!

.....Kelly

[susan314]

Originally Posted by 33girl

I guess I don't understand why husbands or children would be involved in alum events at all, unless it's a once a year picnic or something. The events are for sisters to bond with other sisters, not their families that they already spend time with. If they're incapable of doing anything without hubby and/or kids, they need to skip the alum chapter meetings while they head to the mall to purchase a life.

Maybe its just me, but I think that occasional family events are a good thing. At the very least, for those of us who have daughters, having them see what our GLO means to us and the lifelong enjoyment we get out of it might encourage them to Go Greek someday (and even better...join our own chapter!).

Also, for those of us who married someone who was not in a GLO, giving them the opportunity to see what our organization is all about might help them understand the time you give to your organization.

Certainly not every event should be this way - a majority should be sister events, but I think it would be a shame if family were excluded from everything. (Especially, as I mentioned above, in the case of future legacies. )

[Tom Earp]

Kelly sounds great and the first big step is the hardest isn't it?

Maybe as susan314 said, break it down.

While some Husbands may not have been Greek affilidated, they may have more in common than one would think or if they are Greeks compare notes to to the good old days and about their schools.

The family thing is nice and shows love. Something out doors like a cook out at either at someones home or a nice park.

Single girls night, Wine and cheese is always good, breaks down the inhabitions or maybe a fondu party, say a trip to a museum, movie night and then cocktails at a local Pub! Wine tastings with a little cheese to clean the palate only!

Use the KISS principle, "Keep It Simple Stupid"!

Also price can be a factor.

[SmartBlondeGPhB]

Our chapter is mostly young alumnae (at 37 I'm one of the older ones) and having women who only come for the "fun" things is quite normal, for a lot of them that's all they want to do. And rather than trying to change them and get them to do things they aren't interested in, just have events that interest them.

We do happy hours, wine/brewery tastings/tours, pottery painting, a trip to the horse racing track, Race for the Cure and things like that. And then we had a summer BBQ last year for the first time which was very popular.

And we surveyed our membership once and most of them said they didn't want spouses becaus sorority time was time just for them.

[AA1038]

While I would never say "never" to a young alumnus being involved in the chapter, I think there is merit in the advice I give to my graduating seniors--Stay connected to the chapter, but be involved in another chapter for the next 5 years.

If you want to be on the alumni advisory board, do it at another chapter.

If you want to be on the house corporation, do it at another chapter.

If you want to have a cold refreshment with an undergrad, do it at another chapter.

Why? Because the guys (in our case) you are leaving behind need a chance to spread their wings and do things without your "help." If you do not move on, then they cannot move out.

Just a thought...

Art Hebbeler
Chapter Advisor, Phi-Delta Zeta of Lambda Chi Alpha
AA 1038 (Butler '82 -- Go Dawgs!)

[Tom Earp]

Originally Posted by AA1038

While I would never say "never" to a young alumnus being involved in the chapter, I think there is merit in the advice I give to my graduating seniors--Stay connected to the chapter, but be involved in another chapter for the next 5 years.

If you want to be on the alumni advisory board, do it at another chapter.

If you want to be on the house corporation, do it at another chapter.

If you want to have a cold refreshment with an undergrad, do it at another chapter.

Why? Because the guys (in our case) you are leaving behind need a chance to spread their wings and do things without your "help." If you do not move on, then they cannot move out.

Just a thought...

Art Hebbeler
Chapter Advisor, Phi-Delta Zeta of Lambda Chi Alpha
AA 1038 (Butler '82 -- Go Dawgs!)

Brother Art, I am not sure I can agree with you here even though you have some good points.

Usually the only local members are from that Chapter. If there are some from other Chapters, they can be added to either the Advisory Board or the House Corp.

But, who has the most interest, the local Alumni. I know, I was on the H C for 10-12 years and now President of the Alumni Association.

Sometimes it is better for a Brother from outside the Chapter to be High Pi Advisor) for those who do not know our Officerships.

[REE1993]

Along this topic, what methods do your headquarters/chapters use to find alumni members who have not been active for years? Is it appropriate to use switchboard or google? What if people don't want to be found?

[Tom Earp]

If you are serious, then use all lines that you can use.

If they do not want to be contacted, they will tell you as such.

But, many times they are lost and are very happy to hear what is going on and maybe want to do things as send money or find out they are near other Members!

Ergo:

Looked for a Brother for years and found him in the KC area! When He was found, He was tickled to death and has been involved for two years now!

Oh, this is after @ 40 Years since he was lost!