Helping our New Members Think, Act, & Lead With Our Purpose The Alpha Experience Helping our New Members Think, Act, & Lead With Our Purpose

2007 New Member Survey Preference for Weekly Meeting – 30-60 minutes Most favorable experiences: Bonding opportunities Formalized traditions Initiation Retreats Sister-Mother Involvement Learning Style Preferences: Visual Kinesthetic Interactive Learning as opposed to lecture Most important topics for new member education according to collegians are Internal/Local Chapter Obligations Chapter secrecy Good Standing Initiation Requirements Membership Expectations Financial Obligations Recruitment Ritual Attendance Policies Standards Scholarship

2007 New Member Survey Least Favorable Experiences: Boring New Member Meetings New Member Exam New Member Workbook/Homework Confusing Information from Chapter “Drama” Isolation AlcoholEdu Expectations that weren’t met: More interaction with sisters and new member class More organization Meetings Understanding policies Having fun with and bonding with new members and initiated sisters Improvement Suggestions: Interactive and engaging meetings More bonding opportunities Improvement with 14 pearl program Visuals with new member book

The Thinking Behind The Alpha Experience Utilize the Purpose of Alpha Gamma Delta to determine programming. Purpose should be central and highlighted/underscored whenever possible – this is the one thing that Alpha Gamma Delta has that no other group has, and it provides the framework for our entire organization. New members need opportunity to bond together as a group as well as with already initiated sisters. Determine information that is most important during new member period – other information can be moved to later in the collegiate education experience. Education needs to be presented whenever possible not as a lecture/classroom setting – interaction, activities, discussion is key.

Creation of The Alpha Experience Streamlined Education Experience during New Member Period that focuses on Need to Know Information presented in a FUN, interactive manner! [Save lectures for classes – we’re here for sisterhood, after all!] Scholarship 101 Values 101 Life Balance 101 Operations 101 History 101 Fourteen Pearls Program that is representative of the Purpose – allows New Members to learn the Purpose by living it.

Creation of The Alpha Experience Focus on Interaction and bonding between New Members and Initiated Sisters. Sisterhood/New Member Retreat Sisterhood Activities to support Fourteen Pearls Creation of Resources that will bring information to life for our New Members! New Alpha Experience Book – Published Summer 2009 New Member Coordinator Guide – providing ideas to foster interaction among members Facebook Group to provide support/ideas Alpha Specialist on International Level – easy to contact for help/information Website to support Alpha Experience, complete with “fun” things that Collegiate Sisters Want!

Goals of The Alpha Experience Member Retention: Three major ways we can work to ensure each new member is initiated in Alpha Gamma Delta: Clear, timely and thorough communication with new members about chapter events, expectations, traditions, roles, responsibilities, rules, policies and procedures. Activities and events that provide the opportunity for sisterhood development, team building and fun! Structured programming that allows the new members to understand, adopt and practice the values of our Purpose in their everyday life. Initiation Engaged Collegiate Members Active Alumnae Members Purpose becomes central to everything we do

Piloting Experiments Spring 2008 Fall 2008 Spring 2009 No revision of Fourteen Pearls. Fall 2008 Addition of new Fourteen Pearls program. Half of Piloting Chapters took New Member Exam Half of Piloting Chapters did not take New Member Exam Spring 2009 Spring 2008 piloting chapters get another opportunity at piloting with changes made in Fall 2008.

Piloting Chapters Piloting Chapters Fall 08 Piloting Chapters Spring 08 Alpha Alpha – SUNY Buffalo Alpha Omicron – West Virginia Wesleyan Alpha Omega – Duquesne University Beta Delta – Indiana University Zeta Gamma – Gannon University Zeta Nu – Alma College Theta Delta – North Georgia College & State University Piloting Chapters Fall 08 Gamma Alpha – University of Georgia Gamma Beta – Florida State University Delta Tau – Chapman University Zeta Delta – Towson University Delta Theta – University of Idaho Gamma Psi – University of North Alabama Alpha Beta – University of Michigan Beta Alpha – Nebraska Wesleyan Phi – Oregon State University Zeta Theta – Lafayette University Gamma Sigma – Troy University Epsilon – University of Kentucky Epsilon Beta – University of Kansas Upsilon – University of Oklahoma

Raves This program was positively received because many people didn’t like the previous new member program. We like the fact that there is more flexibility within the setup of new member meetings to present things in a more fun setting. The things the program teaches seem more life-applicable. The girls from last year’s NM class wish they could have had the programs and activities the new members have had. Having activities for the entire membership is a strength because the entire sorority was learning about what Alpha Gamma Delta means to them, just like the new girls.

Raves Any programs that bring together new members with sisters, especially the senior sisters, really help to enhance the feelings of sisterhood and belonging. The instructions were great – enough to get us started, but not too specific. This program helped the new members to feel at home faster. The new members enjoyed the games and activities we did. It gave them a chance to play a more hands-on role in their new member experience. The Alpha Experience helped integrate the new members into the chapter well. The programs gave the Alpha Coordinator lots of ways to be creative and flexible.

Rants That Were Expected New Member book needs to match the program. New Member test – what’s the point with or without? More ideas needed for programming [only framework was provided – not entirely spelled out for NMCs] Communication not clear regarding time commitment, how to integrate Alpha with the chapter. Without more ideas, program can become like what we’ve always had. Confusion regarding how much integration of chapter with new members with programming expectations.

Statistics from The Alpha Experience Pilot Spring 2008 Piloting Chapters – 89% initiation rate in 2007 94% initiation rate in 2008 Fall 2008 Piloting Chapters – 96% initiation rate in 2007 95% initiation rate in 2008

The Alpha Experience Each chapter has different needs and different opportunities to provide new member education. You may find that there are events on campus or in the community that allow for excellent bonding activities with the new members as well as serve as good public relations tools for your chapters—take advantage of these opportunities! The goal of the The Alpha Experience is to meet regularly, participate in fun events from the beginning, share interesting, pertinent discussions and get to know sisterhood.

For More Information If you have any questions, comments, or programming ideas, please contact The Alpha Program Specialist Lauren Hammack 3200 Lamp Post Lane Oklahoma City, OK 73120 dmd@vst.alphagammadelta.org