Young Alumni....Still in the mix?

[Tom Earp]

Originally posted by KSigkid
I was involved for over a year as an advisor (assistant alumni advisor), but as things got more hectic in my life I ended up stopping after a year. It was a good experience and I'd be up for doing it again when I have the time.

That said, I've been available for help if any of the undergrads need it, and at some point I'd like to donate.

Ditto That.

The Problem is those that dont ever come back or are part of the Chapter.

Trying to Micro Run The Chapter as a New Alum is not the way.

Advise given is only advise. If they do not learn to lead and teach those that follow how else will the learn?

[AngieWashU]

Tom,

You are very wise. I started advising a sorority chapter less than a year after I graduated and now I understand why our nationals suggest you wait three years after graduation before advising. This chapter has benefitted from the time and attention I've given them through advising, but now it is time for me to step back and encourage them to seek more of the answers themselves and changing my habits is hard. If I can't give over more control to them, I know I'll need to find someone who can.

Unfortunately in the small city where I live, advising is the only alumnae activity that appeals to younger alumnae. Having learned from my experience, I am unwilling to put them on the advisory team, so I have formed a young alumnae group that meets for happy hour or an activity every month. It has only gone on for a year and enabled me to meet a few new young alumnae who might otherwise have not gotten involved, but it is the same handful of young women who show up every month--and most of them won't even show up to the larger alumnae chapter events. I wish I could make them appreciate the older women the way that I do, but I think I will need to be satisfied with keeping them involved in the sorority just through the occasional email or happy hour.

Sorry for the rambling,
Angie

[Tom Earp]

Angie, Please Ramble on!!!!!


We had an Alum that took 5 Years to figure out He was not an Active.

He was a Real Pain in the ass. Great, take up the Active Stand point and piss and moan about Alums. Finally I told Him, Hey you are an Alum, start acting like it. He has and is a Great Alum!

Never say Never, It is Alums that do so much and get little reconition for what the feel and do!

If We as Alums didnt, where would We as Chapters and Nationals Be?

[rhochi2002]

Thanks for everyones postings. It's good to see that everyone has expiranced the same things as me. I graduated in Fall 2003 and I really miss just hanging out with my sisters and having preplanned events to go to. I am at graduate school at the same school that I went to as an underground. I am tight with a couple people and they invite me to stuff. Some how one of them talked me into going to a fraternity event her boyfriend's fraternity was having, so she didnot have to go alone. I know alot of their alums because I dated one of the brothers for 2 years but I still felt really old. Sometimes I go to bars with the actives I am friends with but I try not go to sorority events unless I am invited verbally by the alum chair or an officer or written. I remember that alumnae can be a problem so I try not to be that person. I would also never go to a social or date func. etc. since it is against the rules.
but some of this can be a pain because there are alot of guys in my graduate program that are still active in their fraternities, and they'll ask about why our sorority is different. But actually don' t understand going to those events just because I feel to old to be there.
we are trying to start an alumnae group in town but it is difficult.