Alumna Associations

honeybee77 · #1 09-24-2002, 05:25 PM

Hello Everyone,

I have been graduated from my local sorority (college) for about 3 years. Our alumni participation has never been where it should be.

Three of my sisters and me decided that we needed an alumni association. So off we went for about the last 2 months we have been gathering sisters information and such. We have sent out about 2 e-mail newsletters, centering around this year's Bid Turn-In and Homecoming.

I really haven't gotten much of a response (5 sisters out of 75). When I call them individually they are exicted and want to help. We have a list of goals, most of which would require more than a couple sisters participation.

What should be do next?

Thank you for any advise,
Milissa

FuzzieAlum · #2 09-24-2002, 06:04 PM

To get participation initially is going to require a lot of phone calls and personal contact. Once it's up and running and established, mailings will be fine for some of that.

Make sure you get the word out to the undergrads - let them know you expect to see them at your meetings in a couple of years! (And let them see the things you do for them.)

AOX81 · #3 09-25-2002, 01:12 PM

I too am trying to start and alumnae association for my sorority that has been around for 13 years. I have been in contact with all of our members except for 9 that we cannot locate.

For those of you who are members of established associations what type of chairs/positions do you feel are important to function properly?

Thank you

Tom Earp · #4 09-25-2002, 04:22 PM

Since I started Local KC Group, we do not have a structured group except a President!

It is a time for gathering and talk war storuies and BS!

But from this has come a Mentoring Group that goes to the Chapter twice a year to work with the Actives. I also restarted back up the Alum Golf Tourney and a building a new house program! I am now not in charge of any of them But I participate in all!

I guess what I am saying, that the Alum group start out as a Social get together. Talk about somethings and then formulate some ideas that are simple to do like backing your Chapter. They will be more appreciative of you and when you get some Grads, they will join you.

Do some small things that you can put out to the members and build from there!

Make an Alum e-m list of which I started! Many are far away but enjoy hearing about the Chapter and will make an effort to try to come down for important functions!

It werent built over night, but takes a lot of hard work!

Do not try to structure it as it was in the Org. (Chapter)

Crawl and then walk, and run like hell!

As you get more3 members, the ideas will come, good or bad, but they will come!

PenguinTrax · #5 09-25-2002, 06:00 PM

Since you have contact info for 75 sisters, I would go ahead and plan a kick off event for the group. Get people to come out and see each other - that's always a big draw. Have the event be a combination social/organizational event. Build interest through participation.

Kevin · #6 09-29-2002, 11:27 AM

As soon as there are 10 alumni of my chapter we'll get started on an alumni chapter (only members of my chapter could join). For now we're on the brink of starting an alumni club which would serve all chapters members in the OKC metro area. It wouldn't necessarily be for our chapter -- just a way to get alums feeling like alums again.

AOX81 · #7 10-08-2002, 12:25 PM

Well I tossed the idea to a couple of other recent alumnae and we are starting our alumnae association TODAY!!

We are still working out a lot of the details...

Here are some of the positions that we have come up with:
President, Vice President, Treasurer/Secretary, Chapter Advisor, and Rush Consultant.

We have an alumnae association website and have contact information for every single one of our Alumnae.

Can anyone think of any good events that will attract a lot of people and can you think of any other chairs/positions that you think would be vital for our new association?

Thanks!!

Tom Earp · #8 10-08-2002, 05:33 PM

Amy, have tried to send 3 pms many times but is not sending!

Will try again later! K?

Quick, dont stop now! Will try to get back later,Si!

AOX81 · #9 10-08-2002, 07:34 PM

okay, thanks Tom!

AOIIalum · #10 10-08-2002, 10:24 PM

GRRR! I just tried to PM you too, but I don't know if it went or not! I can't get back in my PM box to check. LMK if you got it so I don't retype it again

Christin

Tom Earp · #11 10-08-2002, 10:42 PM

OK, since PM is Being slow:

It seems that AOX is doing the right things!

To All who are trying to start Alum Association!

Keep a list of e-m and it is hard word work sespecially if you have been on Campus for a while! K?

Kay, what to do:

Try simple things:

BBQ, Picnic

Do any play sports?

Do a Formal Dance (Husbands/BoyFreinds)

We have done both of these Both very successful by Alums, Yearly Events

Do a small Charity Event depending on the amount of people available.

Start out with the KISS Principle, just have a gathering of Sisters and then work from there.

A lot depends on how many people are in the local area.

Keep the lines of Communications open between the Alums and Active Chapter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Is very important!

Hope this helped!

honeybee77 · #12 10-09-2002, 01:37 PM

what is the KISS principle?

Tom Earp · #13 10-09-2002, 08:52 PM

honeybee, it is simple:

Keep It Simple Stupid

The easier it, is the better, whether it be on the end of giving or receiving!

hoosier · #14 10-11-2002, 12:24 PM

An active alumni (alumnae) group requires one dedicated leader, who hopefully is

1 - rich, or

2 - works somewhere with access to copiers, postage, etc.

and

3 - loaded with free time

Alums want to know whats going on - with their class mates who were in the chapter "back then", and that the current chapter is doing OK, and if there are any current members from their town.

They will read anything decent which is sent to them, and after many years of effort some 25 - 30 percent will actually send alum dues (of $25-$35/yr.) every year.

Chapter alumni letters should be 75 percent alum news, 25 percent undergrad news. Alumni news is collected by including a questionaire with every issue. Money is collected by including an "alumni dues" solicitation form with every mailing - and publishing a "Thank you" listing the payers at the end of the year.

I once worked for a private firm which did the chapter alumni chairman's job, and have seen 1000's of chapter newsletters. I know there is a fine private firm in State College, PA, and perhaps another near Cornell, and I'd encourage chapters/alumni groups to check them out. They serve chapters all over.

I'm still on the mailing list for SPE at Tennessee, and they have the greatest alumni program I've ever seen - all apparently done by a few active alumni in Knoxville. there is a mailing almost every month, and usually the newsletter is 10-12 glossy pages, filled with pictures of alumni at recent chapter/alumni events. It's been going on for at least 10 years, and their income is now over $20,000/yr.

honeybee77 · #15 10-11-2002, 12:42 PM

Thanks Hoosier,

I am trying to be that dedicated leader, here is one the problems I am facing.

Right now cost paper newsletters are not possible. I am producing newsletters by email only.

You say that content should be 75 percent alumni news. I have sent out 3 two page newsletters and at the end asking for any updates. But I can't get any information. Most people email me back saying they have nothing new to report.

Do you have any advise, of what I could put in to peak interest.

Or should I just write articles centered around the alumni I know?

Thanks,
Milissa