Suggestions for Anniversary Celebrations

[adpideltaup]

Sisters-

I am working with my chapter to plan our 45th anniversary event in March- I've attended a few at other chapters so I'm definitely drawing on the ideas from each of those that I thought were well received... but thought I would also ask the board?

For any celebrations/anniversary events you've attended, what were the items you like about it? didn't like?

One example I saw from Beta Eta (U Michigans) celebration last year was having alums from the various decades come up and talk for a few minutes on what it was like to be an ADPi in the 50s, 60s etc... they talked about what the house was like, campus was like, Greek life in general- it was fun and everyone enjoyed it...

It's things like this that I would want to add to ours to make it memorable

Loyally,
Renee

[adpi*violet]

Silent Auctions are always great. Have the items donated and then the money can go back to the chapter- either for a scholarship, towards the house corps or something special to commenmorate the anniversary to hang/put in a prominent place in the house/chapter room.

[honeychile]

For our 150th anniversary, our chapter had sent invitations to every alumna, and included an RSVP with an envelope. We were asked to send the money for the dinner, and a donation for the chapter, if we'd like. One alumna who I know donated over $100, and one of the actives said told her, "Oh, thank you for your donation! It paid for the favors!" The alumna was horrified, and talked about it for months - "I donated that money to the chapter, not for party favors!" (At the time, the chapter suite was decorated in "early Fallujah")

That aside, I LOVE the idea of having Alumnae from different decades speak - and possibly have photos available! Ask them to bring photos, or possibly sing pledge class songs (should they remember them!). You could even encourage sisters to "dress their decade" and also to wear their pins.

I am a firm believer in programs, and even more so, selling ads for them! Or possibly give a listing of every business owned or operated by an alumna - we ALL can use the publicity! List all the sisters from that chapter, and make sure that there's at least one blank page for autographs! You can also put a decade by decade list of awards and other fun things in there, such as:

1960's:
Awards: Overall Panhellenic Award, 196_, (etc)
Sweethearts: Susie Jones - Alpha Tau Omega 196_ (etc)
Do you remember: GDIs picketing Rush, Mrs. Jones as housemother, etc

1970's:
Awards: Treasurer's Award, 197_; Diamond Four Point 197_-197_-197_-197_ (etc)
Sweethearts: Jane Williams - Beta Theta Pi 197_ (etc)
Do NOT list "Little Sisters"!!!! They were big in the 70's & 80's, but are seriously out of favor now!
Do you remember: Streaking, disco, Mrs. Lilly as housemother, etc

and so on. Oh, as for ads in the program? The formula is to figure out how much they will cost, then a full page ad is 1/2 the cost, a half page ad is 1/4 the cost, and a business card ad is 1/8 of the cost.

If you have a house, a suite, a room - have a tour! Alumnae really do want to see it, so they know what you need! Even if you don't, have a few photo boards up, so sisters can find themselves and those they knew.

That's a start, but the most important is HAVE FUN!!!!!

[WLFEO]

I think alumnae would be interested also in what the current Delta members are doing---- seeing how their legacy has continued on campus. If they have a short song/skit/video from recruitment (so they woud not be burdened with coming up with something totally new), it might serve as fun entertainment for the alumnae.

[jwright25]

We just had our 50th in November 2004. We had lots of fun things going on!

1 - Alumnae brought memorabilia for a "mini-museum" of scrapbooks, rush outfits, pictures, blankets, stuff like that. We set it up on tables in the lobby outside the main banquet room.

2 - We put together a video slideshow of pictures through the years. For years we didn't have a lot, we scanned them out of campus yearbooks. Be sure and look at homecoming pages, pageant pages, fraternity pages, all over the place besides the page or two dedicated to ADPi. At the very end we added the video recording of our current recruitment skit. We sold the videos to alumnae who were interested.

3 - Our theme was "Past, Present, Future...A Diamond Is Forever." Rather than representing every decade, we simply had three speakers: the Charter President from 1954, the current President, and a member of the newly initiated Alpha Class of 2004 (elected by that Alpha class).

4 - Mrs. Goddard came to celebrate and spoke at the banquet. She's fabulous! Even if she can't come, be sure to invite all of Grand Council, and if someone is close by or planning to be in the area, perhaps she can come speak. Or if you have an International officer who is an alumna of your chapter, be sure and give her special recognition - even if she doesn't speak.

5 - We held our Alpha Class initiation that weekend in the host hotel so that alumnae could come back and experience ritual again. Many of them never get a chance to see it once they graduate.

6 - We put together a current address book that had bios of the attendees and others who sent them in. It was a nice way for everyone to catch up quickly - even if they couldn't come! I especially like honeychile's suggestion of getting a list of businesses owned by alumnae!

7 - Local alumnae came in a couple of nights early and taught the current chapter some songs from years past, and the chapter got up to sing them. The alumnae loved it.

8 - We wanted to give a favor that would be more useful than a random knickknack to sit on a shelf and collect dust. So we had umbrellas printed up with the Alpha Delta Pi logo on it. They were a HUGE hit and are practical. All while giving us a little publicity and marketing whenever it rains!

9 - We were installed in 1954 the same weekend as the Kappa Delta chapter on campus, so they were celebrating their 50th at the same time. During the day, Panhellenic hosted an open house, where all the chapters opened their suites and provided very light refreshments. The alumnae could tour the building and see how the suites had changed throughout the years, as well as visit with Panhellenic sisters from long ago.

These are just a few of things that worked for us!

beth