Developing Our Alumni
Chapters to Become Change
Makers in Our Communities
Objectives
• We will make the business case why our
alumni chapters are vital to our communities
which we live.
• We will discover ways and develop plans to
become an impact alumni chapter in your
community.
• Discuss creative strategies for continued
engagement with government and civic
leaders, university officials, corporate and
community leaders.
Norms
Be Open
Treat others with RESPECT
Honor Confidentiality
Listen Actively
Participate at own comfort level
OUCH AND EDUCATE
Ask Questions
Share Talking Time
Have Fun
“Everything in life is 5 percent
idea and 95 percent
implementation”
Who Are You?
• Branding assessment
– Who are you (NOTE: you must be
everything locally that Sigma is nationally!)
– How do you think you look?
– How do others see you?
– How do you close the gap between the two
perceptions?
Who Are You?
• Branding assessment
– How you ‘define yourself’
– How you distinguish yourself from the
competition
Chapter’s Branding Materials
• Branding assessment
– Are your local images acceptable to the
national organization?
– Who are you trying to reach?
– What are you trying to say?
– What is your tone in saying it?
– Review and Revise what you say to keep it
fresh
Your Message
• You can’t say it all
• You can’t be all things to all people
• Determine if your message will
– Announce (establish brand)
– Invoke Action (selling tickets)
– Educate (solidify brand)
– Clarify (emergency marketing)
Launch Points
• TV/Radio
– Interviews
– News Segments
– PSA’s
– Advertising
Launch Points
• Print Media
– The Press Release
– PSA’s
– Feature Article
– Advertising
– Chapter Letterhead
– Chapter Photos
Launch Points
• Most Accessible – THE COMPUTER
– Web Sites
– List Serves
– Blogs
– Emails
– Evites, Constant Contact
– Social Network Media
REMEMBER
• You represent a national organization
• Represent FBS’s ideals
• Respect and honor FBS’s rules of
representation
• Short and to the point
• Review and revise
• Balance your use of technologies for
the best chapter mix
REMEMBER
• Is your information relevant?
Newsworthy? Dated?
• Start lead-ins STRONG, POWERFUL
• Write for the media
• Stick to facts (unless a feature)
REMEMBER
• Pick an angle and voice from which to
speak and remain consistent
• Active, not passive voice
• Word economy (K.I.S.S. – keep it short,
stupid)
• Minimize jargon, frat talk (unless you are
ONLY speaking to greeks)
• DO NOT USE UPPER CASE EXCLUSIVELY
FINALLY
• Competition exists for ALL
communication
• All information is NOT always picked-up
and carried
• You can pay for professional placements
• It takes TIME to get news INTO the news
Why Do We Serve Humanity?
Sigma Wellness
The Fraternity’s
Program Brand
of
Service to Humanity
• National Visibility
• Program Consistency
• Reporting &
Accountability
Civic
Responsibility
Personal
Mission
Cultural
Responsibility
Bigger &
Better
Business
Social
Action
Privileged
Responsibility
Key Service Principles
Education
Faith
Networking
and Social
Engagement
Relationships Working Together
Elevates our
National
Presence
Program
Sponsorship
Vision Casting
Centralized Giving
Alumni: Through fundraising or
earmarked funds each alumni
chapter donates $500 to the
Foundation.
Collegiate: Through fundraising or
earmarked funds each collegiate
chapter donates $300.
234 x $500
321x $300
$117,000
$96,300
$213,000
Planned and Other Giving: This is Giving based on individual
donations from chapters(individuals in chapters), fundraising for
Foundation and estate planning gifts. A very conservative estimate of
averaged giving is used to illustrate the potential.
A Creative Suggestion
Crossing Path Event Planning
Steps
Event Components
Key Reminder for a Successful
Event
1
2
3
4
5
6
Event should be plan a minimum of 90 days in advance
Perform phone survey with inactive brothers. Invite to
Crossing Path Event
Send special invitation to each in-active brother.
Engage collegiate members
Develop a theme or area of focus for your chapter’s
Crossing Path Event.
Select community agency, academic institution, or
government agency that you will invite to participate in
Crossing Path Event. Send formal invitations. Follow up
with email, and telephone calls.
Creating an Excellent On Site
Registration
1 Generate a Contact List from attendee information
2 Create ID Badges for all guests to promote networking and
comfort
3 Develop Press Kits/Info. Packets (Different versions for each
group)
4 Develop Registration Area – 2 tables (Sign-up & Information)
5 Create a Open Business Card Drawing located @ Registration
Table
6 Ensure Committee Members are assigned to serve as host at
doors and registration table.
7 Create a Presentation (Pictorial Slides) to display activities of
Sigma in your communities.
The Program
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Introductions (Address attendees as a group – Business
leaders, Government Officials, etc.)
Ensure Greetings from Key Leaders and Guest
Include the occasion and purpose of Crossing Paths
Event
Present Official Fraternity Video
Select Speaker that will be compatible to Sigma goals
and vision
Develop a script
Ensure you focus on Fraternity’s strategic community
initiative.
Create Information Kit for targeted reactivating members & Non-Members
Components:
• Crescent magazine
• Fraternity’s Program Marketing Brochures and/or One
Pagers
• Fraternity Fact Sheet
• Fraternity’s Mission and Focus Sheet
• Information about hosting chapter and local chapter
leadership
• Chapter Presidential Greeting Message
• Notable Sigmas Marketing Sheet
Awards and Presentations
• Present awards to community leaders and/or
community organizations in the areas of social
justice, economic empowerment or education.
• Ensure you engage the Fraternity’s Strategic
Community Partners: March of Dimes, American
Cancer Society, CDC member organizations,
i.e.…Local Health Departments.
• Present special recognition to local collegiate and
high school students for academic excellence
“Everything in life is 5 percent
idea and 95 percent
implementation”
“A Vision without action is
just a fantasy”
Tools for Implementation
•
•
•
•
•
•
Sample Program
Sample Promotional Flyer
Sample Letter of Invitation
Sample Letter of Greetings
Sample Program Script
Sample Questionnaire\Survey for Inactive
Brothers
• Project Planning Tools
• Linkage and Accountability Grid
The Action Plan – Creating Your
Chapter’s Legacy
Developing Our Alumni
Chapters to Become Change
Makers in Our Communities