Your chapter or other chapters

[Rudey]

Anyone else become alum and want to do stuff for the national office or other chapters other than their own? Is that bad?

-Rudey

[PsychTau]

Not at all. I do it on a weekly basis. There's no future for our orgs without dedicated alumni who give back to the org.

What are you interested in doing?

[LPIDelta]

I am an alumna initiate and I chose to initiate with my organization so that I could volunteer on the international level. I started out working with chapters on a regional level and then became chair of a program area. I now serve the organization on a very high level. I do things for the organization on a daily basis. I have actually done very little with my own chapter but I feel I am advocate for them and chapters like them--and that's why I wanted to work at this level.

Working at this level is different though--much more big picture thinking about what's best for the whole organization overall rather than just one chapter. The greatest challenge is that you must always represent the organization in the very best light (because you're living in a fish bowl) and you have to enforce the rules no matter your opinion on them.

If you have something to offer, your organization probably needs you. And that truly is making your Greek experience last for a lifetime.

[33girl]

Originally posted by Rudey
Anyone else become alum and want to do stuff for the national office or other chapters other than their own? Is that bad?

-Rudey

No, that's great.

But if it's to the point where you wash your hands of your collegiate chapter and don't want to have anything to do with them, or don't try to help them if they are in trouble, that's bad. You have a debt to that chapter, as were it not for them you would not have become part of the organization.

This is a really good topic.

[SmartBlondeGPhB]

I know a number of women in my own alumnae chapter who help a chapter other than their own (the local one) as well as being International Officers.

I'm lucky enough to be somewhat near my chapter so I help them quite a bit (and am an IO) but a number of women moved here from other parts of the country and their collegiate chapters are in complete different time zones from us.

[Rudey]

I guess my chapter was so new that it was hard for me to see exactly how alums are involved with a chapter other than donations. I signed every single pledge for 4 years personally because I could rush anything and everything and get them to join. I don't want to go somewhere and just be used for that but I don't know what else would be available to me.

Sure I'll give some damn money and get my name in the magazine but I want to do a bit more than give money.

-Rudey

[PsychTau]

Now that others have replied, I feel as though I need to add to what I posted (convo seems to be going in a little different direction than I first thought).

I haven't abandoned my chapter. In fact, last semester I helped "raise it from the ashes" so to speak (in other words, lots and lots of help!). But I also help out any chapter who needs me, and I enjoy learning about other chapters.

Once you are an alum and get involved outside of your chapter (or if you've gone to several conventions and talked with the alum officers and staff members) your whole view of the org changes. You have to look at what's best for ALL 50, 90, 300, whatever chapters you have, even if it means a major change for your own chapter. Working on a national level with AST really has given me an entirely different outlook on things....an outlook which I wish collegians get to view sooner into their GLO membership.

I will add this piece of advice though: If you and your chapter are at odds with how things are being run when you graduate, don't expect to come back in a year or two and have any sort of authority to change things. You've got to let some of those people graduate out first, otherwise it continues as the same old struggle. You cannot be and adviser for a chapter you know (especially your own chapter) right out of college. Trust me, you will not be held in authority by the people who had to carry you home from the bar just a few short months ago.
**Do not turn this into a debate on respect for alums/alums running things/being bossy/etc. That's not where I'm going with this.**

[Rudey]

No I've been to the conventions and I know people from the national office on a first name basis. But at ground level it's hard seeing what alums do other than giving money and sometimes helping with rush.

-Rudey

Originally posted by PsychTau
Now that others have replied, I feel as though I need to add to what I posted (convo seems to be going in a little different direction than I first thought).

I haven't abandoned my chapter. In fact, last semester I helped "raise it from the ashes" so to speak (in other words, lots and lots of help!). But I also help out any chapter who needs me, and I enjoy learning about other chapters.

Once you are an alum and get involved outside of your chapter (or if you've gone to several conventions and talked with the alum officers and staff members) your whole view of the org changes. You have to look at what's best for ALL 50, 90, 300, whatever chapters you have, even if it means a major change for your own chapter. Working on a national level with AST really has given me an entirely different outlook on things....an outlook which I wish collegians get to view sooner into their GLO membership.

I will add this piece of advice though: If you and your chapter are at odds with how things are being run when you graduate, don't expect to come back in a year or two and have any sort of authority to change things. You've got to let some of those people graduate out first, otherwise it continues as the same old struggle. You cannot be and adviser for a chapter you know (especially your own chapter) right out of college. Trust me, you will not be held in authority by the people who had to carry you home from the bar just a few short months ago.
**Do not turn this into a debate on respect for alums/alums running things/being bossy/etc. That's not where I'm going with this.**

[33girl]

Originally posted by PsychTau
I haven't abandoned my chapter. In fact, last semester I helped "raise it from the ashes" so to speak (in other words, lots and lots of help!). But I also help out any chapter who needs me, and I enjoy learning about other chapters.

Once you are an alum and get involved outside of your chapter (or if you've gone to several conventions and talked with the alum officers and staff members) your whole view of the org changes. You have to look at what's best for ALL 50, 90, 300, whatever chapters you have, even if it means a major change for your own chapter. Working on a national level with AST really has given me an entirely different outlook on things....an outlook which I wish collegians get to view sooner into their GLO membership.

I didn't mean blind faith in whatever your chapter did/does being right. That doesn't work either. You can learn a lot and present it to your chapter in a way they might be more comfy with. I also agree with you about not advising your own chapter too soon.

However, if your council is composed of you and 7 women all from Giant Rich U, who think it would be dandy to impose a new $200 widget fee, I think it's up to you to speak up and say "Hey, my chapter at Teeny Unknown U has no use for widgets, and most of the women will not be able to afford that fee and will drop out if they have to pay it. Plus I know there are quite a few other chapters like mine." Don't go along with it because you think it will get you in good graces with the Big Wigs.

And considering you proudly put your chapter/school in your sig, you are definitely not what I meant. I meant the people who are embarrassed of their chapter and forget its struggles once they get to a higher level. As Heather said, even though she isn't involved with her chapter a lot hands-on, she can be an advocate for them.

[SmartBlondeGPhB]

Well, here's what I do (and have done) as a Gamma Phi Beta alumna, and only since 1999. And, no I'm not bragging, but you were wondering what there is to do. Now, fraternity involvement might be different, I don't have any first hand knowledge to add.

Founding President, Puget Sound Alumnae Chapter 1999-2003
Convention Delegate, 2000 & 2002
Helped reorganize the Gamma Epsilon House Corp Board
Gamma Epsilon HCB Treasurer, 2001-present
Gamma Epsilon Scholarship Advisor 2003-present
Chair, Badge Task Force, Fall 2002-present
International Nominating Committee, 2002-2004

I'll also have another IO position after I'm finished with Nominating Committee. My local support is not as much work as it sounds either, I also take part in Senior Celebration and some other events at the collegiate house.

I think if you look, you will find that there are a number of ways that you can help out a collegiate chapter. My collegiate chapter has only recently gotten advisor support, they had none for MANY years.

No wonder, I sometimes feel like I bleed brown and mode.....

[Rudey]

Sororities have all sorts of positions I've never even heard of. Most fraternities probably don't do that.

I emailed someone at the national office and really would like to start a Chicago alumni group. I actually spent a bit of time looking over some things last night and think that my fraternity doesn't have enough regional alumni groups. I'm not exactly sure how to start it or how to run it, but we'll see.

-Rudey
--I just don't think the time is right to go back and help my own chapter.

[SmartBlondeGPhB]

Originally posted by Rudey
Sororities have all sorts of positions I've never even heard of. Most fraternities probably don't do that.

I emailed someone at the national office and really would like to start a Chicago alumni group. I actually spent a bit of time looking over some things last night and think that my fraternity doesn't have enough regional alumni groups. I'm not exactly sure how to start it or how to run it, but we'll see.

-Rudey
--I just don't think the time is right to go back and help my own chapter.

And often times we have too many...............lol

Woo Hoo on starting an alumni group too!

We actually require that members have a certain number of years from the time they graduate to the time they can be chapter advisors to give some separation time.

[PsychTau]

33girl, et. al.

No offense to anyone on this thread, but I keep thinking on one tangent and everyone else is thinking about something else! (D'ya ever feel like your 2 steps behind the everyone else in the world? That's me today...not functioning in the brain department. )

Anyway, 33girl, you're right. You don't have to be directly working with your chapter in order to be an advocate for them. I don't think it's fair or right to totally abandon your chapter. Even if you're ticked at them when you graduate, in a couple of years the membership changes and they are different people. And I've seen where several people from similar chapters get an idea and think it will work for all. It's very easy for those blinders to go on sometimes. When I first got involved with National Staff I was a little afraid of speaking up...until I got to know some of the other staff/officers and learned how to appropriately speak up (make sure you know the situation....). Now I know that if I speak up for my chapter, there are other women who will speak up for their chapters that are similar.

In my earlier posts I was getting the impression that Rudey was wanting to move up and do more on the National level. Rudey, how long has it been since you graduated? Is your chapter needing specific help (like they are on probation and need someone to clean up their bylaws, etc.) or just general help with "stuff"? Why do you think the time isn't right to help your chapter (without getting to personal...)?

PsychTau
(who this past year bled so much green and gold she needed a blood transfusion..... )

[Rudey]

Originally posted by PsychTau
In my earlier posts I was getting the impression that Rudey was wanting to move up and do more on the National level. Rudey, how long has it been since you graduated? Is your chapter needing specific help (like they are on probation and need someone to clean up their bylaws, etc.) or just general help with "stuff"? Why do you think the time isn't right to help your chapter (without getting to personal...)?

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.

[FSUZeta]

try getting an address list of alumni living in your area from your headquarters. look thru the list for people you know. contact them(either snail mail, e-mail or via phone) and let them know you are willing to do the work to start an alumni chapter. arrange a meeting with those interested and bring your list(or make copies so that everyone at the meeting could have their own).this group will be your core group. go thru the list and see if those in attendance see any names they recognize-have them contact those people. at the same meeting, discuss your ideas and hear ideas from the floor. find out how often these people would like to meet a year, what kind of meetings they are interested in-purely social, some social mixed with some business, etc. good luck!isa