Chi Psi - University of Mississippi

A new Lodge is long overdue for Alpha Gamma, but it won't guarantee our fraternity will succeed. The Ole Miss Greek system is famously competitive, as many failed fraternities have experienced. Whether you earned your badge in the 1970s, '80s, '90s or later, you likely have your own experience with some plan or campaign or program designed to differentiate Alpha Gamma and make our fraternity more competitive. Some of those plans never got the needed support, some were poorly conceived or poorly executed, and some provided short-term relief. But ultimately we were forced to close our doors. It's fair to ask: What makes this fundraising plan different than the others? Why will this plan succeed? oUtsidE EXPErtisE Supplementing our knowledge, challenging our assumptions Before embarking on this journey, we contracted with the recognized leader in fraternity and sorority fundraising, which has successfully worked with more than 489 house corporations representing 56 national fraternities on 119 campuses. They know what it takes to succeed in fundraising efforts like this and have challenged and supported us in making sure our plan is feasible, thorough and sustainable. ValUEs-BasEd rECrUitiNG Attracting the right members A strong fraternity starts with a strong membership. Historically, bid days at Alpha Gamma have been like a roller coaster ride: large pledge classes followed by small pledge classes, committed leaders followed by one-year wonders. If it felt like we reinvented the wheel every few years, it's because we essentially did. Alpha Gamma never had a structured rush strategy that could be passed on from one class to the next. Now we do. Following the model established by our Central Office, our values-based recruiting plan emphasizes the characteristics we want in our members and sets objectives and membership goals for attracting and retaining the right types of leaders. It takes place throughout the year. Most brotherhood, social, and philanthropic events are co-utilized as recruiting events, giving potential members a firsthand look at what makes Chi Psi special. Does it work? It helped us convince a large number of high-caliber young men to join Chi Psi despite not having a house, and their personal testimonials about the impact of values-based recruiting are compelling. alUmNi adVisorY Board Nurturing members, developing talent Recruiting strong members is one thing, but how do we help them reach their full potential once they're in the fold, as well as minimize the operational and cultural fluctuations that tend to occur from one year to the next? Alpha Gamma has always had passionate alumni, but we've never had the structure in place to transfer our experience and passion into supporting the day-to-day needs of our undergraduates. The new Alumni Advisory Board, created in response to these needs, is tasked solely with facilitating the undergraduate experience. It assists with planning, operations and conflict resolution and bridges the gap between undergraduates and the broader alumni group. The Advisory Board also allows institutional knowledge to be passed on from one administration to the next. These alumni will be based in or near Oxford or have the flexibility to regularly visit Oxford to have a visible and meaningful presence for our active chapter. An Advisory Board member will attend weekly active meetings, and each undergraduate officer is assigned an Advisory Board mentor to share his advice and support. Gamma lEadErsHiP Ongoing resources, experience, and oversight Finally, a strong fraternity needs a broad, diverse, and active alumni base. We provide the experience, financial resources, and leadership to ensure sustained success. For much of our modern history, Alpha Gamma alumni have been limited in numbers by virtue of the fact that we were one of the newer fraternities on campus. As the years have gone by, however, the demographics have shifted in our favor. Not only has our alumni base grown, but an increasing number of our Brothers have reached the stage of life where they have more time and financial resources to contribute to Chi Psi—the fraternity that gave us our first real-world experience with leadership, teamwork, deep friendships, and brotherhood. The time to act is now. As you consider your pledge, don't make a commitment to a new Lodge. Make a commitment to a new plan for Alpha Gamma; one that will be equipped with the tools, strategy, support, and desire to thrive and prosper at Ole Miss for years to come. A SuSTAiNABLE PLAN TO KEEP TRAdiTiON GREEN

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