Chapter Spotlight: New Orleans

Hats off to Kara Morgan '96 for planning a successful networking mixer for the New Orleans Chapter on February 4.

SMU Magazine

Did you happen to read the article about chapter programs in the fall/winter 2008 edition of the SMU Magazine?

If not, you can read it here:

http://blog.smu.edu/smumagazine/2008/11/post_1.html

Measuring Success

Our goal for red chapters is for 5% of the “email-able” alumni population in each city/region to be engaged through chapter programming during the 2010 fiscal year. I have posted those numbers below to give you a better idea of the number of alumni in your area we hope will attend one chapter event between June 1, 2009 and May 31, 2010. In an effort to better track how many alumni are attending chapter events, I ask that you please mail or fax sign-in sheets from events to me. I think this will be a great resource for our office and for you all as we continue to expand the chapter program and seek additional resources. Keep in mind, this is the first year we are actively setting measureable goals and tracking the number of alumni attending chapter events. I know many of you already surpass these goals, so please do not let the number stand in your way!

Goals:

Atlanta: engage 23 alumni through chapter activities

Chicago: engage 34 alumni through chapter activities

Houston: engage 133 alumni through chapter activities

Los Angeles: engage 70 alumni through chapter activities

New York: engage 54 alumni through chapter activities

San Francisco: engage 33 alumni through chapter activities

Washington DC: engage 41 alumni through chapter activities

Spring Events

To give you an idea about what your peers are doing around the country, I have listed planned chapter events for this spring. I am sure many of you also have other things in the works and I will surely continue to post events.

February
4 – New Orleans Networking Mixer
26 – Houston Happy Hour

March
1- Atlanta Chapter – Texas Independence Day Party
6 – Chicago –SMU Night at the Chicago House Theatre (show followed by a reception)
25 – New York City Networking Mixer

April
16 – San Francisco Wine Tasting
26 – Austin Alumni Mixer (at Central Market to enjoy patio music)

May
5 – SMU Football Greats Come to Houston

Chapters Website

Visit the Chapters Website Today!

http://smu.edu/alumni/chapters/

We currently have 22 alumni chapters in America and abroad. You can find a complete listing of these chapters on the site. You can also find resources to help you as you serve as a chapter leader. The chapter handbook, a sample sign-in sheet, the event planning guide, marketing tips, the event request form and the event report form are all posted for your convenience.
We continue to seek ways to improve the website and welcome any suggestions you have.

SMU appreciates you!

Thank you for the time and dedication you spend planning events for alumni, volunteering with alumni student recruitment, helping alumni network and feel welcome in new cities and making alumni chapters successful.

Please know that the staff in the Office of Alumni Giving and Relations and the members of the Alumni Board appreciate all you do to provide opportunities for our alumni to remain connected and engaged with SMU.

I hope you will find this blog a useful tool as you continue to serve as a chapter leader. I will be sending the link out with updates the first Monday of every month. Please know you can write or call with any questions. I am available at lyndsey@smu.edu and 214-768-4752.