Calling all Alums

anongreek · #1 10-12-2019, 09:06 PM

What are some of your most meaningful memories as an Alum?
Or some of your favorite things/events/ memories that you have been apart of as an Alum of your org?

Several people have told me that their years as Alum were actually some of their best. So share some of your experiences!

Kevin · #2 10-13-2019, 09:58 AM

I served as our chapter advisor for ten years. Lots of great memories. I gave it up to some younger alumni. I think they'll have some great memories too.

Tom Earp · #3 10-13-2019, 12:23 PM

Founded a Core group of Alums who directed all aspects of Housing and working with Active Chapter for 15 years.

IHQ wanted us to have separate divisions to work with varies activities.

I became President of Alumni Association for another 20 years. Spent those years tracking down lost Brothers. Figured we tracked down @ 250 + and got them back in the fold!

Now, I am just resting!

flirt5721 · #4 10-13-2019, 12:54 PM

I am the current chapter advisor. The best thing to see is having actual alum support for the chapter. My campus is one where 90% of those graduating leave the state. Only thing I get irritated at as an advisor and alum is that the chapter waits about a week or two before the event to invite alum. They don't understand that most alum need at least 1 month in advance maybe more to plan accordingly.

Favorite activities:
Homecoming
Anniversary celebration
Alum Weekend

Titchou · #5 10-13-2019, 12:58 PM

All the friends I've made with women all over the country due to my volunteering regionally and nationally! Later this fall, 5 of us from all over the country (Birmingham, Phoenix, Louisville,Chicago and Boston) are going to the beach for a girls' weekend at the home of another one who was originally living in Kansas City when we all met!

Sciencewoman · #6 10-13-2019, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flirt5721

I am the current chapter advisor. The best thing to see is having actual alum support for the chapter. My campus is one where 90% of those graduating leave the state. Only thing I get irritated at as an advisor and alum is that the chapter waits about a week or two before the event to invite alum. They don't understand that most alum need at least 1 month in advance maybe more to plan accordingly.

Favorite activities:
Homecoming
Anniversary celebration
Alum Weekend

I would love to hear any suggestions for getting recent graduates to help out...we have a similar issue of people leaving the area, and finding alumnae to help advising and housing is very difficult. It's the same core group who have been doing the heavy hitting and could use some help. The chapter is starting a concerted effort to reach out to alumnae, but I'd love to hear any ideas you've had that have worked.

UVASquirrel · #7 10-13-2019, 06:42 PM

I was in the unique situation of only being an active collegiate member for my last year of school...we were a local sorority for 2 years before affiliating with Alpha Gam, so most of my experiences have been as an alumna. Some of my favorites are getting involved with different alumnae clubs/chapters in Virginia, Hawaii, Nevada and Florida as we moved around with the Navy. About 10 years ago, I went to my first convention since 1995 and LOVED it. I've been going ever since.

ASTalumna06 · #8 10-14-2019, 08:30 PM

As an alumna, I've:

1) served as the Recruitment Advisor for my collegiate chapter

2) been a member of an alumnae chapter, in which both our current national president and a past national president were members (and I was able to reconnect with them at our last national convention)

3) served as the lead editor for the sorority's national magazine, The Anchor, a volunteer position which I've held for five years now.

One of my best and most memorable experiences in this position came at our last convention. There was an alumnae-only reception, and I was waiting in line for the buffet. This woman in line ahead of me noticed my convention nametag/badge and saw that I was the editor. She talked about the latest issue of the magazine regarding financial wellness and applauded our team for focusing on the topic. She then talked about her own experience working in finance and how heavily she was discriminated against for being a woman "back in the day" in that field.

Then during the reception, there was a time to honor women who had dedicated their time and talents to the sorority. And that same woman who just praised me and my team was now standing before all of us receiving her 50-year member pin.

KSUViolet06 · #9 10-15-2019, 09:59 AM

1. All 4 Conventions. Rooming with my best friends. Stranger sisters becoming best friends.

2. Being part of everyone's weddings, baby showers, promotions, grad school graduations. Generally celebrating milestones.

3. Coaching at our Officer and Presidents Academies.

4. Serving in a volunteer role and seeing chapters in my region succeed.

5. Everyone I've met in my years of volunteering that I wouldn't have ever met.

6. Still being best friends with my Little Sister after over 10 years.

DaffyKD · #10 10-15-2019, 11:58 AM

Thanks to Facebook a few members of my chapter started connecting with each other. One woman started putting together a mailing list which has grown considerably over the years. Now, every year, the women from who were initiated about 5 years before me through my pledge class have a weekend reunion over homecoming weekend. On Sunday, there is a brunch. I am unable to attend the rest of the weekend events, but I try to go to the brunch. Last year there were approximately 25 of us. Several of the women I hadn't seen since their graduation which was back in the days when dinosaurs were still roaming the campus.

DaffyKD

DaffyKD · #11 10-15-2019, 12:29 PM

Thanks to Facebook a few members of my chapter started connecting with each other. One woman started putting together a mailing list which has grown considerably over the years. Now, every year, the women from who were initiated about 5 years before me through my pledge class have a weekend reunion over homecoming weekend. On Sunday, there is a brunch. I am unable to attend the rest of the weekend events, but I try to go to the brunch. Last year there were approximately 25 of us. Several of the women I hadn't seen since their graduation which was back in the days when dinosaurs were still roaming the campus.

DaffyKD

AOIILisa · #12 10-16-2019, 12:23 PM

Going to school at UMaine in the 80's, sorority life wasn't really intense. I met some friends in the sorority, but lost touch with most when I graduated and moved out of state. I decided to reconnect about 5 years ago and since then have met many wonderful women and have tons of AOII friends across the country. I attended my first convention this past summer as a Network Specialist and was surprised at how many people I knew!

I get a lot of satisfaction from volunteering first as a Finance Adviser to several different chapters and now as a Network Specialist advising the advisers and the Vice Presidents - Finance for a group of chapters. It's great being able to use the things I've learned over the years as a Finance and Accounting professional to help other people learn.

Another thing - I had to make it on my own after college, with no connections or assistance and I always vowed if I could be in a position to help young women, I would do it. Since becoming a volunteer, I have written referrals for the women I've mentored to get into grad school, have referred them for jobs, and just given guidance when asked. Since I have no kids of my own, I do this as a way to keep in contact with the younger generation and also give my talents back to the sorority.

flirt5721 · #13 10-16-2019, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sciencewoman

I would love to hear any suggestions for getting recent graduates to help out...we have a similar issue of people leaving the area, and finding alumnae to help advising and housing is very difficult. It's the same core group who have been doing the heavy hitting and could use some help. The chapter is starting a concerted effort to reach out to alumnae, but I'd love to hear any ideas you've had that have worked.

Sciencewoman I believe that communication between the chapter and alum is key to having alum come around. Having younger alum has been a struggle an I'm not sure what has kept them coming around. Once I find that out I'll let you know.

Sciencewoman · #14 10-16-2019, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flirt5721

Sciencewoman I believe that communication between the chapter and alum is key to having alum come around. Having younger alum has been a struggle an I'm not sure what has kept them coming around. Once I find that out I'll let you know.

Thanks! I'm always open to hearing any suggestions for what helps with young alumnae involvement!

DGTess · #15 10-18-2019, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaffyKD

Thanks to Facebook a few members of my chapter started connecting with each other. One woman started putting together a mailing list which has grown considerably over the years. Now, every year, the women from who were initiated about 5 years before me through my pledge class have a weekend reunion over homecoming weekend. On Sunday, there is a brunch. I am unable to attend the rest of the weekend events, but I try to go to the brunch. Last year there were approximately 25 of us. Several of the women I hadn't seen since their graduation which was back in the days when dinosaurs were still roaming the campus.

DaffyKD

I have a similar experience. Several of us who were initiated in the early 70s through the early 80s have reconnected - including 5 of the 7 in my pledge class. One visits DC each year, so we have an annual dinner. And we had a mini-reunion over Spring Carnival earlier this year, where I was able to reconnect with a good part of my grandbig's class at campus. One woman I hadn't seen since 1974. This may be a bit easier for us, as our pledge classes *averaged* 7 women <grin>.

Social media is Wonderful!