2012 is here and with it comes some great new features for our clients.

Here are some of the highlights:

• News Updates: Post articles to link to any page within your site, an external site or have no link at all. This is a great way to post recent articles from local news sources, social media or to add quick updates that need no further explanation.

Here are the Sorority Facts…

We asked hundreds of sorority members throughout the country about their opinions of the alumni experience, and here is what they said:

What do you want out of your experience as an alumnae of the sorority? (Select up to 3)

Here are the Fraternity Facts

We asked thousands of fraternity members throughout the country about their opinions of the alumni experience, and here is what they said:

What do you want out of your experience as an alumnus of the fraternity? (Select up to 3)

One Brother’s Relationship with His Fraternity

Let’s call him Brother Smith

• Brother Smith pledged in 1982 and graduated in 1985
• He married his college sweetheart and they have 2 kids
  
• He works as an editor for an online magazine
  
• He reads the fraternity newsletter—he finally started getting it in the mail again after moving to a new house 4 years ago
  
• He occasionally looks at old photos on the website—usually when he gets an email and recognizes a name or face
  
• Since graduating, he’s made three gifts to the alumni association: two for $50 in response to appeal letters in the fall, and a third for $100 last year, because he heard the house needed to have a sprinkler system installed
  
• He attended the annual golf outing once, 5 years ago, because his old roommate invited him to play on his foursome, and it was a good excuse to bring his wife and kids to visit campus for a weekend (he’s hoping at least one of his kids will attend his alma mater)
  
• He had a great time, and planned to sign up the following year, but either lost or missed the invitation, and no one called to remind him
  
• He’s never attended Homecoming or other alumni events at the fraternity because he isn’t sure if he’ll know anyone else, and he assumes travel and accommodations are a hassle on big university weekends
  
• Plus, he’s not sure if he should attend solo or if it’s the appropriate setting for his wife—she won’t be impressed by some chips and a keg on the floor
  
• Every year, without exception, he takes a fishing or camping trip with 4 brothers he still considers his closest friends 5 of 12

The end of 2011 is here. How is your alumni group doing? Are you looking for ways to increase donations and member engagement? If you want to take your group to the next level, begin by answering each of the below questions.

1. Do you have an organized board, with set terms for board members, with all slots currently filled with alumni from at least three different decades?

2. Do you hold a minimum of three board meetings per year, scheduled at least four months in advance?

Simple Tips to Respect and Entertain Your Readers...and Increase Donations

1. Write in Small Chunks

Focus on only one idea per story. Break up longer articles into bite-sized chunks -- as separate stories, or use subheads within the longer story.

2. Let the Readers Write It

Face it, readers will devour a news update sent in by an old friend, yet bypass your finely-crafted article. Create ways to let the readers write the newsletter themselves. Purge the institutional voice and let the humans speak to each other.