local alumni chapters

[alison]

This thread is for sharing successes and struggles in our local alumni chapters. Please share your thoughts...

I know it is a struggle for our alumni chapter to find meeting dates that work for all of us, especially since we all have to travel to meet.

Alison

[sus]

This past April, the SFA Alumni chapter had their annual business meeting. We had a wonderful turnout! Several members who graduated 5+ years ago joined the group for the first time since graduation. It was great to see everyone again and catch up on the latest marriages, children, and babies on the way!

Following our meeting, we met with the Alpha Eta Chapter at a city park and shared their Parents' Weekend. We met all the girls' families and gave them a good look at how Sigma Alpha continues to be a part of our lives even after we've graduated and moved on.

[tenneil]

I am glad to hear that some chapters are doing well. I feel my chapter however, is struggling. We are finding it hard to figure out the purpose of the group. What are the alumni suppose to be doing? Living now far away from the university where I graduated how do I help the local chapter from such a distance? Do they want my help?

[dupuisst]

That is hard to live away. I live an hour from my home university and find myself feeling disconnected as well. I even serve as a board member and still feel as though I can't do much. I think Alumni and Active chapters should get together and run ...say..a carnival for the local school kids in the area. We could use it as a small fundraiser by selling tickets for 25 cents. It would be good community connections as well as alum and active connections.

Just a thought

[sus]

The hardest part about being an alumni is being away from your "home" chapter. Each local alumni chapter should evolve to participate with it's collegiate chapter as is possible for the alumni members. For your group, it may be hard to get together for a big event, but you may have enough members paying dues to sponsor a small scholarship for a collegiate member. Or perhaps you have several members still located near the collegiate chapter who help with rush events or professional development sessions. Alumni can serve as great speakers at meetings.

Maybe your alumni and collegiate chapters can set up a bulletin board similar to this one so that alumni can network w/ collegiates. That way, you could keep the girls posted on internship opportunities w/ your company and give them moral support when the chapter encounters the typical problems every chapter faces.

Lastly, consider signing up to be a member of the National Mentor program. The forms to sign up for that are on the nationsl website.

[SigAlGal]

The Clemson University Alumni chapter is now back up and running!! Our first meeting was 4 sisters, but we are looking forward to a strong recovery!

I was wondering if anyone could donate their Alumni Chapter bylaws for us to model from!? We are clueless!

Thanks!
Katie
hulse@clemson.edu

[sus]

I could help out. Tonight, I'll look for the sample that I have at home. We modeled our chapter bylaws using that template.

Congrats on getting your chapter up and running again! That's really wonderful. Keep up the good work and let us know if you need any help or have questions.

[tcblair]

Katie-
when the alumni chapter was first started erin drafted bylaws and did a lot of the leg work I think she still has all that stuff- I can check with her today and email you back.

[annamariek]

Being an active sister and also the sisterhood chair, I realize it is hard to get alumni and actives together with everyone's schedules. An idea...our alumni have a leadership seminar every semester and they provide food and the fun. We talk about things involving the house and also do the SWOT analysis which many of you should be familiar with. We have also started something new this semester by having sisterhood cookouts twice a month and we have invited the alumni to come and join us for dinner on us. It is a lot of fun and encourages more alumni/active interaction.