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.

NormsBe OpenTreat others with RESPECTHonor ConfidentialityListen ActivelyParticipate at own comfort levelOUCH AND EDUCATEAsk QuestionsShare Talking TimeHave 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?

Bigger & Better

Business

Education

Social Action

Sigma WellnessThe Fraternity’s Program Brand

of Service to Humanity

Civic Responsib

ility

Personal Mission

Cultural Responsib

ility

Privileged Responsib

ilityFaith

Networking and Social

Engagement

• National Visibility• Program Consistency• Reporting &

Accountability

Key Service Principles

Program Sponsorsh

ip

Elevates our

National Presence

Leadership & Life Skill

Development for

Brotherhood

Relationships Working Together

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 $117,000 321x $300 $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.

Vision Casting

A Creative Suggestion

Crossing Path Event Planning Steps

Event Components

Key Reminder for a Successful Event

1 Event should be plan a minimum of 90 days in advance2 Perform phone survey with inactive brothers. Invite to

Crossing Path Event3 Send special invitation to each in-active brother.4 Engage collegiate members5 Develop a theme or area of focus for your chapter’s

Crossing Path Event.6 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 information2 Create ID Badges for all guests to promote networking and

comfort3 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

Table6 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 Program1 Introductions (Address attendees as a group – Business

leaders, Government Officials, etc.)2 Ensure Greetings from Key Leaders and Guest3 Include the occasion and purpose of Crossing Paths

Event4 Present Official Fraternity Video5 Select Speaker that will be compatible to Sigma goals

and vision6 Develop a script7 Ensure you focus on Fraternity’s strategic community

initiative.

Create Information Kit for targeted re-activating 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