Alumni Preparation

There are many ways in which you may continue to contribue to Delta Chi after your under- graduate experience has concluded. You can develop skills and confidence in younger members and perpetuate a strong fraternity to come back to as an alumnus. You can continue to contribute to the fraternity in terms of volunteer manpower.

You can provide financial support for the educational benefit of members, both for your chapter or for chapters all over the continent. Or you can run for an internationally elected office, such as Regent or even "AA". This section is designed to get you thinking about the roles you will take in the near future and help you decide where you would like to fit into Delta Chi upon graduation.

This final Area of Mastery focuses on activities that will give you an opportunity to give back to the Fraternity during your last days as an undergraduate and into your alumnus status. Here you will be able to practice and teach all of the skills you have acquired thus far through utilization of The KEY by putting you in the role of mentor. Thereby completing the circle of fraternity. Through this Area of Mastery your will receive opportunities to:

• Mentor
• Praise the Contributions of Others
• Give Back to the Fraternity

To achieve mastery over this area, complete the following four activities. Below each activity you are provided with sample options that you may utilize to fulfill the activity. Remember, these are only sample options, you may choose to come up with your own options that may better suit you or your chapter's needs. Follow up your accomplishments in your Learning Journal. Finally, once you have completed all activities within this Area of Mastery, finish the area by answering the concluding Critical Reflection questions within your Learning Journal.

Mentor younger brothers.

• Accept a Little Brother in your final year of school Help the associate member understand the values of the fraternity Take time each week to talk about the importance of academics; service, and contributing to the betterment of the chapter. Have him take note of the experience in his Learning Journal.
• Sit down with your Little Brother and fill out a timeline or calendar which will ensure his completion of The KEY program. Make sure to include dates and times when you can review this information with him to make sure he keeps pace with what has been set down. You both may want to sign the timeline as a symbol of your commitment to each other and completion of the program.

Pass on your leadership skills and experiences.

• Identify one or more leadership skills that you possess. Sit down with younger members of the chapter and give them your perspective on leadership. Go over some of the situations where you learned these skills and how they have helped you since. Before this conversation, write down some of the ideas you want to express in your Learning Journal to help you facilitate discussion.
• Invite three to four younger members to "shadow" you in your leadership position. Talk about a typical day for you and how you balance your class work, fraternity activities, and other responsibilities. Show them the leadership resources to help them understand the scope and opportunities available to them. Widen their resource pool by introducing them to various university officials, and/or the Greek Advisor. Let the campus administrators know why you are introducing these potential leaders to student affairs staff members.

Show your appreciation for the commitment others have for Delta Chi.

• As a group, take the current chapter advisors and House Corporation volunteers (if applicable) to dinner as a year-end thank-you. Ask the volunteers what they have gained from their volunteer experience and why they continue to support Delta Chi in this manner. Thank-you gifts or cards from the seniors are appropriate at this time.
• Write a thank-you letter to each member of the chapter's Alumni Board of Trustees. Inform them of the ways in which you would like to contribute to the chapter as an alumnus and your personal commitment to the Delta Chi Annual Campaign.

Make a commitment to Delta Chi as an alumnus.

• Gather information about the Delta Chi Foundation. With the other members in the final phase of The KEY program, develop a Delta Chi "contract" or promise for all members to sign during this last year of school. This contract should include a commitment from the members to contribute a specific amount of money to the Delta Chi Foundation. The contract should also outline your planned giving for the next five years.
• Talk with current alumni volunteers and ask about the areas in which the chapter needs additional alumni support. Reconnect with an older Delta Chi brother and invite him to be involved with the chapter as a volunteer. Record the details of this experience.
• Complete the Alumni Interest Sheet and turn it into the chapter alumni relations chairman. Invite an involved alumnus to talk about the areas in which the chapter needs alumni support. Discuss the importance of strong alumni relations at the next chapter meeting. Let the chapter know how the seniors intend to remain involved with Delta Chi.