Increasing Alumni Participation
by Josh Lodolo • February 2007 • 22 Comments •
For nearly a century, Lambda Chi Alpha has produced some of the brightest, most well-balanced leaders of society.
Successful 2007 Winter Retreat
Grand High Zeta members and about 150 undergraduates attended the 2007 Winter Brotherhood Retreat held at the T Bar M Ranch in New Braunfels, Texas, from January 18-20, 2007.
Traveling to the event turned out to be an unexpected challenge as a rare winter ice storm shutdown most of Central Texas.
Nonetheless, the event was very successful and the attendees participated in a variety of interactive activities and group discussions that explored the challenges and learnings of becoming a better leader.
In addition, Dr. R. Richard Rubottom (Southern Methodist 1929), a former member of the Fraternity’s staff, the Grand High Zeta, and an Order of Achievement recipient, spoke to the attendees about his life experiences.
Also formalized at the event, Andrew Bramlett (Union 2009) was appointed to a one-year term as the Council of Presidents’ chairman and Grand High Nu. Andrew Holcomb (Florida 2008) was appointed to a one-year term as Council of Presidents’ vice chairman and Grand High Psi.
To help offset the costs of the winter conference, the Lambda Chi Alpha Educational Foundation granted $40,000 to the General Fraternity.
Over the years, numerous alumni have found a way to give back to the Fraternity by volunteering their time and talent for the growth of current undergraduates.
In June 2006, the Fraternity’s leadership decided to allocate additional resources to increase alumni participation — in addition to maintaining our mission focusing on undergraduate growth.
With the support of a new full-time staff member, the Fraternity is soliciting a greater number of alumni to encourage them to become more involved.
With an estimated 200,000 living alumni across North America, and only a few hundred of those alumni actively involved with local chapters and alumni affairs, there is no doubt that there is room for increased alumni participation.
New Alumni Associations
The first step to developing an expanded alumni network is the development of a network itself. For the Fraternity, this formal system will occur through developing more regional alumni associations.
With the General Fraternity’s support, four new associations were formed in 2006: Los Angeles, California; New York City, New York; Central Florida; and, Charlotte, North Carolina.
These new regional alumni associations are unique — primarily because of the demographic differences of the alumni — while at the same time they all carry a common theme of bringing a greater number of alumni back in contact with Lambda Chi Alpha.
The two simple ways alumni associations strive to engage local alumni is by communicating with them and creating opportunities for them to come together in a social setting.
Regional alumni associations are not for a specific chapter but instead exist for any area alumnus, no matter his chapter.
To highlight a few of the recently established groups, the Los Angeles Alumni Association held its first social event on November 2, 2006, in honor of Founders’ Day.
More than two dozen local alumni attended the event and several brothers stepped up to volunteer for future efforts, including hosting additional events in 2007, and distributing a newsletter to more than 3,000 regional alumni.
A second group to mention is the New York City Metropolitan Alumni Association. This group began as an online community and has since grown to include more than 150 alumni.
Members of the group consistently send messages about events and job opportunities around the city. The group’s leadership, chaired by Ray Lutzky (Rensselaer 2002), is planning for a busy spring including an alumni reception in midtown Manhattan.
Another outstanding group is the Central Florida Alumni Association. However, don’t confuse this with the University of Central Florida Alumni Association because the two are different. The Central Florida Alumni Association, chaired by Mike Foristall (Central Florida 1993), encompasses the seven counties in Central Florida.
Like the other regional alumni associations, the Central Florida group plans to distribute a newsletter to more than 2,000 regional alumni and they already hosted a successful reception last November.
Established Alumni Associations
According to our records, the first two city alumni associations trace back to Providence, Rhode Island, and New York City, New York, as early as 1913.
Although our records from that era are not very good, the information gathered from today’s operating alumni associations have helped the staff better understand how to develop and support new regional alumni groups.
The oldest operating regional alumni association is located in Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas. In 1990, a group of 65 alumni came together with the primary intent to support two local chapters, Texas Wesleyan and East Texas State, both of which are now dormant.
When the chapters closed, alumni realized there was a greater need in the region to create a central group for alumni who had relocated to Texas.
Currently, about 80 to 85 percent of the Dallas/Ft. Worth alumni association members are from chapters outside of Texas.
When asked to identify the greatest thing he has taken away from involvement with local alumni association, John Pierce (Louisiana State 1966) responded, “I have gained a greater appreciation for Lambda Chi Alpha as a whole because we have such an important purpose; to keep alumni connected when they are hundreds or thousands of miles away from their home chapter.”
Two other well established alumni associations exist, one in San Antonio, Texas, and the other in San Diego, California. These two groups are unique because three undergraduate chapters exist within their county limits.
The Fraternity plans to continue developing alumni associations by identifying several alumni volunteers willing and able to lead the effort in different cities. For the most part, this reaching out will come through numerous upcoming receptions scheduled in a variety of cities across the country.
Other Opportunities
At the chapter level there are multiple opportunities for alumni involvement. One is the chapter alumni advisory board, which exists to advise undergraduate chapter operations.
In a perfect world, each chapter would have an alumni advisory board consisting of 12 alumni volunteers — one for each advisory board officer. The board chair is the chapter’s chancellor, known as the High Pi, appointed by the Fraternity’s Grand High Pi.
Another opportunity for alumni is volunteering to serve on the chapter’s house corporation, which is responsible for maintaining the physical assets and insurance needs of a chapter house.
This board consists of alumni and undergraduates and meets on a regular basis to adequately manage the finances and insurance needs of a chapter house.
In addition, the Joseph T. Charles Mentor Leadership Program is a networking program intended to bring undergraduates in touch with our alumni mentors. This opportunity was made possible by the generous gift of Joseph T. Charles (Culver-Stockton 1960).
Through this connection, alumni can help an undergraduate build his resume, learn about a specific field, and provide important career advice.
Lambda Chi Alpha will turn 100 years old in less than three years and our alumni have always been a key factor in our Fraternity’s ability to generate continuity and make our organization better day after day.
Our new alumni recruitment initiatives will only come to fruition with the support and volunteer time of you, the alumni brothers, all around the world.
For more information on the Fraternity’s spring alumni receptions or anything else related to alumni involvement, please visit the calendar on Lambda Chi Alpha’s website or contact Josh Lodolo (California State-Northridge 2004).
All Photos
- © Courtesy Lambda Chi Alpha. Some Rights Reserved.
Matthew Troy Says:
February 2nd, 2007 at 8:05 amI would like to see more alumni, especially new alumni, encouraged to attend general fraternity events, such as General Assembly and the Winter Brotherhood retreat. Often it feels like we are personas non gratas, and if we do attend we have very little to do.
Howard Jones Says:
February 2nd, 2007 at 12:34 pmOur area in the deep South, Jackson, MS, has tried to get an alumnae group going. We can always get a small group of 10 or 20 guys, but we seem to run out of steam after we all agree that we should get together at least each quarter.
Any suggestions, anyone?
Howard Jones
email: howard@superbreeze.com
Mobile: 601-927-0987
David L. Woods Says:
February 2nd, 2007 at 12:36 pmThe concept of a regional alumni association is one that is new to me. It seems to be a good one, particularly to someone like myself who “lost” my home chapter more than 40 years ago.
I might propose the Washington/Baltimore Metro region as a 5th site. I know of two area chapters, & suspect there are more. A lot of folks come to Washington DC for a few years and move on. In the past, I have been involved in similar regional groups. For example the Mid-Atlantic Caucus of the Reserve Officers Association mets four times a year & included the states Departments of Maryland, West Virginia, Deleware, District of Columbia, & Virginia. That may be a larger region (all states) than would be reasonable for an LCA conclave. But someone could pull the zip codes of alumni within say 100 miles of DC — that would include at least the Eastern Panhandle of WV.
Who takes the first step?
Daniel Eckstrom Says:
February 2nd, 2007 at 12:44 pmI think the regional associations are a great start. What I would like to see is these associations branch out to other people in neighboring States. I live in Arizona and would love to find a group of alumni brothers close by. Being that both Arizona chapters were closed.
Bill Foltz Says:
February 2nd, 2007 at 1:09 pmBrothers: Just as in the business world, the folks @ IHQ are overworked & understaffed. We should step up to the plate to work w/Brother Lodolo & other staffers to create alumni-specific curricula. We could have an on-going course of study for our alumni volunteers that would be the talk of the fraternal world! If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing well…
Todd Willis Says:
February 2nd, 2007 at 1:26 pmI know first-hand that establishing a successful Alumni Association is difficult. However, it is even harder to sustain one when you are working with a group that has recently re-colonized a Chapter, has minimal support from previous Brothers who lost the original Charter, and are trying to solicit help and participation from Alumni who have moved hundreds of miles from their local Chapter.
I believe that Regional Alumni Associations can have a profound impact in helping to establish and sustain individual Chapter Alumni Associations by helping to identify more local Alumni who may be willing to actively contribute the time and resources necessary to keep an organization moving forward. I would really like to see these Regional Alumni Associations make a sincere effort to reach out to and work in association with the local Chapter Alumni Associations from the schools in their regions.
Tom Earp Says:
February 2nd, 2007 at 2:19 pmA local Alumni Association for the Kansas City Metro was tried twice. Once in 1968 and later around 1985. For reasons of say lack of communication and being able to contact local Alumni, they both died out.
Kansas City Metro would be a great area to have one with the many Zetas in close area, Pittsburg State, William-Jewell, Central Missouri, Universtity of Kansas, Kansas State University, University of Missouri, and University of Missouri, Kansas City.
I am sure also that there are Brothers from many other Zeta in the Metro area, but contacting them seems to be the problem. Any ideas to figure that problem out?
Lambda Chi Zeta
Pittsburg State University, Kansas.
R. Dean Herron Says:
February 2nd, 2007 at 2:24 pmA group of GA Tech brothers has been very successful in holding a reunion every other year, since 1999. The reunion is organized by brothers from the “late 50’s-early 60’s”, and typically has about 60 to 80 brothers and spouses. Tech graduates are scattered over a wide area, but brothers come from CA to CT. Activities include a Friday night social, Homecoming activities, lunch at the house, and the football game on Saturday, and a “pizza party” Saturday night. A Headquarters hotel makes arrangements and socializing easy and affordable. Support for contact information from Affinity Connections, the Chapter newsletter publisher, has been an invaluable asset.
I think most would agree that the increased brotherhood spirit provided by these reunions was a major factor in raising money for rebuilding the Chapter House, just successfully completed.
Anyone desiring info on how this event is organized can contact Dean Herron at dherron1@comcast.net.
Andrew Anania Says:
February 2nd, 2007 at 5:47 pmAlumni of the New York City Metropolitan Alumni Association, as well as those in the Philadelphia area:
The Phi Lambda Zeta of Lambda Chi Alpha at Saint Joseph’s University is hosting an event at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia to see the Philly 76ers vs. the Utah Jazz on Friday, March 16th. We would be honored if any alumni would be interested in attending. If so, please contact:
- Andrew Anania, High Beta
(732) 673-5418
andrew.anania@sju.edu
Thank you very much for your time, and I look forward to hearing from you.
Dave Godshalk Says:
February 2nd, 2007 at 7:23 pmIt is a very sad thing when your fraternity chapter closes. I am Gamma Pi 415 from Colorado State, and we haven’t had a presence at this university for a number of years; and, now the University of Colorado chapter has become extinct.
I have fond memories of my chapter, and how we were so well respected on campus when I attended CSU. In fact, one year we were rated as the best fraternity on campus. I don’t know what caused our demise, but it is very hard to be enthusiastic about Lambda Chi Alpha when you have lost your past connection to the fraternity.
Steve Horvath Says:
February 2nd, 2007 at 10:54 pmExcellent to see an article on alumni participation. I would love to see opportunities that allow us to become involved even if we live in an area geographically distant from local chapters.
Steve Horvath
Theta-Lambda 1199
R.J. LaFollette Says:
February 2nd, 2007 at 10:59 pmChapters should be encouraged to announce and invite Alumni, whenever Ritual is performed. This is the “special bond” that ties us together most profoundly as Lambda Chi’s. This is an excellent opportunity to share our knowledge, and be mentors to each other. If I can schedule it, and know when my Chapter is holding Ritual, I would be there.
Jayme Little Says:
February 3rd, 2007 at 2:12 pmIf brothers in the Los Angeles County area are interested in learning more about the LA Association, contact Jayme Little (Cincinnat ‘99) at LALambdaChi@aol.com. We’ve also created a YahooGroup List serve. To subscribe, email LALambdaChi-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. Beginning on February 15, the association will be meeting on the third Thursday of every month in the Hollywood area. Email for more information and for the location.
Jono Hren Says:
February 3rd, 2007 at 7:15 pmIn reading various Lambda Chi Alpha materials, I have seen references to alumni chapters, alumni corporations, city alumni associations, area alumni associations, and regional alumni associations.
What is the distinction?
Marty Schaller Says:
February 4th, 2007 at 2:04 pmI was delighted to read about the resurgent interest in involving alumni in regional organizations. I live in Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington DC and am an alum of Gamma Kappa at U of Mo- Columbia. There was an attempt at getting something going about two years ago, but the group seems to have folded, or I just haven’t been contacted recently.
Several years ago, I contacted international HQ about becoming a mentor, but received no response. Now I’m retired and don’t have all of the contacts any more. What opportunities are there for getting involved in a meaningful capacity with the fraternity in my area?
Would like to hear from other DC alums who are interested in staying in touch with LXA.
Marty Schaller
GK ‘63
Shawn Harmer Says:
February 5th, 2007 at 11:01 amDave (GP 415) - please contact me in regards to CSU situation.
I was High Pi at CSU from 1994-1998 - we tried several times to organize a regional alumni association to help out the DU, CU, CSU, USC and Wyo chapters, but even with high interest from alums to see it work, there didn’t seem to be enough willing to do the work to actually put it together. Even with the loss of CSU and CU, and the addition of UNC, I would have to believe interest is still high.
Dallas, TX had an incredible alumni organization in the early 1990’s - are they still in operation?
Brad Lydon Says:
February 6th, 2007 at 10:29 pmDear Brother Lodolo:
I am writing this letter on behalf of the Lambda Chi Alpha Alumni Association of Tampa Bay (LCAAATB) in regards to the article “Increasing Alumni Participation” dated February 2007.
LCAAATB was founded and incorporated within the State of Florida in 1986, to give Lambda Chi Alpha Alumni living within the Tampa Bay area the opportunity to foster the bonds of Brotherhood regardless of their chapter affiliation, while offering assistance to the local chapters located within the region. Since our founding we have published over 40 annual newsletters (that are sent to HQ), Financially Sponsored National Regional Alumni meetings, raised funds for the National Scholarship Fund, financed the building and furnishing of a chapter house at USF, have consistently issued scholarships to undergraduates within the area ($1,500 last year), have raised money for the USF Foundation, and sponsored social events; the most recent being a family night at the Devil Rays Baseball game that had over 40 alumni and their families attend. We also host an Alumni List Server for notifications and communications.
Our Board and members are comprised of alumni from several chapters located throughout the U.S. We invite all Alumni within the Tampa Bay area to get involved. Please contact me at LCA314LM@aol. We hope to see you all at the Nationally Sponsored Alumni Reception in Tampa to be held on 02/20/2007 at the Tampa Club on 101 E. Kennedy starting at 5:30 PM.
Regards,
Bradford J. Lydon
President
Lambda Chi Alpha Alumni Association of Tampa Bay
LCA314LM@aol.com
tom robertson Says:
February 7th, 2007 at 4:45 pmCongratulations and way to go Andrew.
EM961
Josh Lodolo Says:
February 12th, 2007 at 3:03 pmIn response to your comments:
Howard Jones – Building an alumni association takes several years. Please feel free to contact me directly so we can brainstorm a few ideas.
David Woods – I like your proposal. We have a very large number of alumni in the Washington/Baltimore Metro area but only a few alumni have agreed to step up and organize the effort. If you are interested in playing a role, please contact me directly and we can discuss options.
Daniel Eckstrom – We just launched the Phoenix Area Alumni Association late last month. You can join the message board by emailing lxaphxalumni@yahoogroups.com. The group is planning its first event towards the end of March.
Tom Earp – I can provide support to Kansas City area alumni interested in developing a network. Please have anyone interested email me directly.
Dean Herron – Congratulations on hosting successful reunions. I may refer alumni association leaders to you and the other volunteers at Georgia Tech.
Shawn Harmer – The Dallas-Ft. Worth alumni group still operates and is doing very well. See the article for more information about the group.
Brad Lydon – Thank you for clarifying the history of our alumni association in Tampa Bay.
Glen Alan Graham Says:
February 12th, 2007 at 3:37 pmBeing an alumnus whose connection with Lambda Chi Alpha has been intermittent over the 3 decades since leaving Idaho and Epsilon-Gamma Zeta, but who has never forgotten how that Zeta taught me lessons more precious than any I learned in classrooms on the Idaho campus, and who yearns to remain in contact with the Brotherhood which showed me what true Christian brotherhood was, I find this article VERY interesting reading.
It’s rather surprising that it omits the chartering of the San Antonio Area Alumni Association of LCA, which took place last March. Of course, Bro. Ed Leonard (now our Grand High Alpha) covered the event very well, in a blog in “Voices” within a couple of months.
Brother Dave, I know how you feel about the demise of your Zeta at CSU. Epsilon-Gamma Zeta at Idaho also went south after I moved away. Since I’ve lived these past 3 decades in Texas and Tennessee, it was impossible for me to DO anything to help out my home Zeta. However, whenever I’ve encountered opportunity to get involved with a local Zeta or with alumni Brothers, I’ve leapt at it. Hence, I was involved in a colonization effort at Austin Peay St. Univ. in Clarksville, Tennessee (alas! it too tanked). More recently I attended the Founders Day BBQ here in San Antonio last March and had a great time mingling with the undergrads of the three local Zetas and alumni from all over. I also went to the Fiesta event (”Fiesta” is San Antonio’s yearly city-wide party-to-end-all-parties) at UTSA and hobnobbed with the brothers from the UTSA Zeta at their booth. You don’t mention where you’re now living, but if there is a Zeta nearby I urge and encourage you, Brother, GET INVOLVED, as High Pi or at least by letting the Zeta know that you’d like to attend the Ritual or any events they’ll open to alums.
Back to the newly chartered S.A.A.A., it may have existed informally prior to the chartering in March of ‘06. I’m glad it got off to a such a good formal start, and in connection with the lcoal Zetas. I was excited to recently receive invitation to this year’s picnic, which will be in historic Brackenridge Park, easily accessible from my residence. I can hardly wait!
Yours in ZAX,
Glen Alan Graham
EG 540
Rebecca Lodolo Rees Says:
March 13th, 2007 at 2:56 pmHey Josh,
A wonderfully written article on the progress and achievements of Lambda Chi Alpha. Ian has decided to attend Cal State University Northridge-your home territory. Maybe he’ll consider your fraternity. Love, Rebecca
Rob DelPriore Says:
April 14th, 2007 at 5:53 pmI’m an alumnus of the Lambda Beta Zeta, the University of Delaware chapter living in Central New Jersey. How could I become a part of the New York Metro Area Alumni Association?