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Promotion Ideas For Fraternity's 75th Anniversary
Posted By: telemoxie on 1/30/2005 3:17 PM (CST) 1500 Points
I've been asked to help promote a 75th anniversary celebration for the Alumni Corporation of a college fraternity. The event (to be held in early April) will probably be an open bar with heavy Hors d'Oeuvres and will be a fund raiser, and so we be able to suggest some limited expenses... the Fraternity has an email marketing list, which consists mostly of recent graduates... a mailing list for most alumni is available thru the National office...

I've done a Google search and I'm downloading some checklists now, as well as some helpful Alumni Operations manuals from various Fraternity national offices...

does anyone have any experience doing this sort of thing - any great ideas, success stories, or event planning checklists?

Thanks in advance...

Posted by: rob Accepted Answer
1/30/2005 3:45 PM (CST)
First of all, why limit it to a just one day event? And is it possible to focus it around homecoming weekend. Well, you would have to wait until fall for that. Why was April chosen as the month to do this? Seems a little strange.

Just an open bar and heavy hors d'oeuvres? I would think you'd want at least a sit-down dinner with a 'famous' speaker who's also an alumni. I mean if it's a 75th Anniversary, it's seems like one would like to make a big deal out of it. Spend time at the current house on campus, maybe have a golf outing (since it's in April), arrange for a series of 'challenges' for alums vs. current members. Essentially recreate the experience for the alums of being in a fraternity.

Have to stop there but I hope you find some of this useful. And feel free to contact me for any more advice/direction.
 
Posted by: telemoxie Author Response
1/30/2005 3:52 PM (CST)
Thanks, Rob, that's the kind of feedback I'm looking for...
 
Posted by: Mushfique Manzoor Accepted Answer
1/31/2005 1:45 PM (CST)
hi Telemoxie

i agree with Rob that the 75th anniversary (i think its called Platinum Jubilee) thats the event should be extended more than 1 day.

adding to what rob suggested, you can arrange a friendly baseball match between Alumni members and current students. Also you can also arrange a face-to-face session of the current students with the Alumni so that both groups can exchange their ideas, and on "What its used to be like when i was in college". and also successful alumni from various industry can share their path to success.

hope that helps.

cheers!!
 
Posted by: Papadoc (Steve)* Accepted Answer
1/31/2005 5:04 PM (CST)
I’ve done this several times before with some great success. The last one was for a family reunion of about 400 people. 75 years is quite a milestone and such a celebration should be one that would be remembered for anyone. Obviously, many of these people are those who have kids and grandkids. For someone in my position, if I were to come, it would be questionable if I didn't know there was something for the family as well. And because my family would be involved, I'd want to be reasonably sure that all behavior there would be appropriate and there would be something for everyone.

The other thing you have to consider is that while all these alumni started in the same place, most have moved on and the older they are, the more diversity you will find. I'd suggest building a program based on that. You will have some recent graduates who are single and still have a bit of college life left in them, some families with young children, some empty-nesters, and some retired folks. At my last one, we had bartenders and pastors, bank presidents and dispatchers, some in great health, some in poor health. Be sure to consider several options in meals as there may be vegetarians, diabetics, or those on sodium restricted diets. Two to three options should be fine.

I'd suggest a multi-tiered program where people can opt in and out of activities based on their circumstances and preferences.

Maybe start out Friday night with a more formal dinner/drinks adult night, perhaps with a bit of entertainment, dancing and guest speaker. Find out who your oldest and youngest are, whose been married the longest, come the farthest, etc. More or less an ice-breaker and reintroducing people around a bit. Maybe even line up some baby-sitting for those out of towners who will be bringing their kids along. RSVP on the baby sitter of course.

Moving on to Saturday, rent a couple of tent tops (to keep out of the sun or the rain) and get permission to block off part of a local park where you can do the old county-fair kind of thing. Rent some large BBQ roll-ins where you can cook up some chickens, hamburgers, or a whole hog if you are in the south and cater in the rest of the food. Do some formalized games like races broken down by age group, sack races, put the kids on scavenger hunts, play football and such. But also have a few that aren’t formal and people can do as and when they please like volleyball and horseshoes.

Be sure to bring in plenty of drinks including water, make sure that you have some first aid supplies around, and of course make sure that there are facilities here. A few extra rolls of paper towels, rags, and toilet paper are also good ideas.

You should have a good photographer and videographer as some of your participants will want these memories. Do these not only of the events, but of the classes and the whole fraternity together.

You might even include putting up a website with info, registration capabilities, and answers to questions. A BBS with the ability for people to ask questions and some way to let people know what’s going to happen, changes in plans, and to see who all else is coming is a good idea. After the event is done, you can then plan to put up some pictures on the site.

Also consider ordering frat T-shirts and/or hats. It’s a great way to tie everyone together as part of the event and it becomes incredibly useful in determining who at the park is part of your group.

Most of all, build enthusism and excitement. If you want people to come very far, they have to think of this as an adventure and be certain of a really good time.

Best of luck on your event
 
Posted by: ~Savannah~* Accepted Answer
2/2/2005 5:04 PM (CST)
LoL, Ok....first we got to look at the Age range. We're talkin about the 75th Anniversary. So we have to becareful what events take place. Now of course for the grandkids, plan something that will exhaust them but still remember as they grow older.

As for the Alumni here is a suggestion. Go back into time. Have the party like the used to. Not only will it be memorable for the Alumni, but for the kids as well. They get to see how it was back then.

See if any of the Alumni still have their Classic Cars, ask if they can bring them down. Plan the games they used to play back then, and play it like they did back then. The Most important thing though, make them feel young again.
 
Posted by: Bill Moore* Accepted Answer
2/3/2005 9:25 AM (CST)
With 75 years of history to draw upon I am sure that you can have some notable key note speakers at the event. Draw upon the most notable and have breakfast, lunch and dinner speakers and have the "Big Kahuna" as MC and close the show.

Depending upon who is on whose who list you maybe able to drive media attention. If the media will be involved you could consider having local companies sponsor the event. Say a local florist to give all the ladies a rose upon arrival, a printing company to provide the event guide, etc.

I also think it is very important to have an open forum in which current students can interact with the alumni. Certainly not at all functions as I am sure after 75 years you have some party animals :). We all know the feeling of helping a student and this would just be a win/win all the way around and I am sure your alumni would enjoy imparting their life experience upon the students.

With such a vast pool to draw upon your options are endless but I hope the above is helpful.

Best Regards and Good Luck ... Bill Moore
 
Posted by: jstiles* Accepted Answer
2/3/2005 11:49 AM (CST)
Great ideas here so far. I agree that the outdoor BBQ concept is almost universally well rec'd.

In terms of other activities what are the expectations or objectives of the planning committee? Were these driven by Alumni membership requests? It may help to know what they want - a dinner/party, networking, activities, 1 day or a weekend.

It sounds like you are already organizing but even the best of us sometimes need some outside expertise. You may want to find a professional event planner. Independents are generally very affordable. Here is one link to an association.

http://www.conventionindustry.org/cmp/

Best of luck!
 
Posted by: telemoxie Author Response
2/4/2005 7:06 AM (CST)
Thanks for all the great ideas so far. Please keep them coming.

Regarding goals for the event - there are several. Former "party animals" would love to have another blow-out party with their old buddies - and this would be great, but it's sometimes hard to recapture that sort of thing.

The Fraternity would like to raise some funds to pay for improvements to the chapter house. Unfortunately, apparently many alumni feel that whenever they are approached, it is to ask for money.

Some in the Fraternity alumni association, which has not been extremely active over the past years, would like to re-energize the organization, largely to re-establish contact with school chums. One challenge is that most folk are primarily interested in seeing people from their own class.

I have recommended a letter writing campaign as one way to boost interest and attendance, e.g. the planning committee would compile a list, then alumni could write a lettter - "Hey, remember those good times... here's what I've been up to... I'll be there... please come..." The idea would be that each alumni would get a series of letters from folk they went to school with.

How does that sound? Any other ways to boost attendance?
 
Posted by: telemoxie Author Response
2/4/2005 7:20 AM (CST)
By the way, another idea I'm considering is a series of "work parties" leading up to the 75th Anniversary. One of the main things that everyone has in common is the Chapter House itself... some have suggested a barbeque at the house, and this has been done in the past - but college guys have been living and partying there for 75 years of good times, and so it could use a good cleaning...

... and so I'm wondering if folks would come back for some work parties, to clean up and paint up the house - hopefully making it look real good, so that they will WANT to bring their kids and grandkids to see where they went to school...

... and giving alumni from various time frames a chance to meet in a house they all had good times in - they can get to know each other while cleaning up, and they'll have someone they know to talk to at the BBQ.
 
Posted by: SBauer* Accepted Answer
2/4/2005 9:26 AM (CST)
Are you trying to plan this for THIS April? If so, you should definitely get moving. First, decide which activities you want to host - family picnic, formal dinner/dance, football game, etc. I think making it a weekend is nice, but if you are limited due to time constraints, maybe start with a Saturday morning breakfast with just the guys, catch up on old times, etc.

Then have family come for the picnic or whatever larger activity (maybe a sports game nearby). Since you have limited time to plan, it probably would be good to host it on campus, at a park, or at the house (depending on space, locale, etc.)

Later that evening, the parents can leave their kids at home (or you could provide some sort of daycare option) and get dressed up for a more formal affair.

I think you should go ahead with the work parties. Maybe get some older alumni to donate money for home improvement supplies such as painting, tools, furniture, etc. Although alumni are often approached for money, maybe try targeting companies alumni work for? Also, sometimes if alumni understand what exactly the money is going for, they would be more inclined. Maybe instead of money, ask them to donate the actual paint supplies. Send out a list of materials you need and see what you can get! Or ask a local hardware store for a donation? Get some of the current students as well as alumni and pick a couple weekend with whatever chores need to be done. Maybe provide a pizza lunch.

Perhaps a silent auction? You could sollicit donations of items from local businesses and host an evening event where attendees bid on items. Put together hotel and dinner packages, maybe signed sports memorabilia. You could do this at the dinner/dance during the reunion to raise funds for next year's events.

Whatever you decide to do, start marketing the event now - especially if you want out-of-towners to attend.
 
Posted by: ~Savannah~* Accepted Answer
2/4/2005 9:58 AM (CST)
I got another suggestion. Sense you're trying to raise funds what you can do is a Auction.

Have the Alumni bid on the new guys to be their slave for one day. That might catch their interest. I hardly doubt the Frat boys should mind to much considering it is to raise money for them...lol.


Also start as scrapbook. As to get some pictures from the Alumni and the New guys and make a Past to Present scrapbook.

Any if you're going to have a Key~Note speaker make sure it isn't going to be a long speech. Make sure its about 15 minutes 30 Max. You don't want to bore everybody.

And like Baur said... you better get moving fast. You don't have that much time left =)
 
Posted by: telemoxie Author Response
2/5/2005 6:04 PM (CST)
Thanks, everyone. Today I met with my buddy who had asked for my advice on this subject, and he very much appreciated the comments.

Take care,

Dave Krehbiel
aka TeleMoxie
 


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