What is an "Alumni Mentor" Program?

A program in which Sinfonian Alumni will have the opportunity to serve as mentors (trusted advisers and friends) to collegiate members of local Sinfonian chapters.

Goals

1. To serve as a vehicle with which alumni are able to keep in closer and more active contact with the fraternity.
2. To involve and help acquaint alumni with local chapters and their collegiate members.
3. To give a direct means for alumni to share helpful ideas with collegiate chapters - ideas which have been gleaned from experiences as a professional and a Sinfonian.
4. To give encouragement to collegiate members by making available unique, professional experiences, brotherly advice, and good role models.
5. To serve as an impetus for active participation of alumni in Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.
6. To give collegiate chapters a means of fulfilling the Alumni Relations Citation Award.

Guidelines

1. Alumni and collegiate members must be Sinfonians in "good standing".
2. Alumni do not have to be an alumnus of the chapter for which they are serving as a mentor.
3. A thorough screening process should be used in the selection of interested Alumni and Collegiates (it is recommended that a questionnaire be made available).

Implementing the "Alumni Mentor Program"

1. Each participating chapter should establish either an Alumni Mentor Committee or an Alumni Mentor Coordinator. (The Alumni Secretary might be best suited to serve as chairman of this committee or the coordinator.)
2. The Committee/Coordinator would be responsible for:
1. Compiling a list of area alumni (the list needs to include name, address, telephone number, email address, profession, and special interests.)
2. Contacting alumni via letter with an explanation of the Alumni Mentor Program. Included with the letter would be a questionnaire that collects pertinent information necessary to determine possible matches with collegiate members.
3. Provide collegiates with a list of possible mentors so they can make a choice of an alumnus who shares similar interests and furnish necessary information for initial contact and meetings.
4. Making sure that Alumni Mentors are regularly informed of chapter activities so that they can plan for their attendance at chapter meetings and functions if they so desire. This may be done in a number of ways (i.e. provide a "chapter calendar" for the mentor, make regular contact via email, etc.)
5. The Brothers involved would be responsible for deciding their own activities, frequency, etc. This portion of the process does not need to be monitored--only encouraged.

Suggestions and Ideas

1. Suggestions for pairing of Mentors with Collegiate Members:
1. Music education majors with area band, choir and/or orchestra directors.
2. Music Business majors with publishers, music store owners, ensemble managers, recording engineers, etc.
3. Performance majors with various professional musicians in the area.
4. Non music majors with someone close to the members major.
2. Possible activities for Mentors and Collegiate Brothers:
1. Sharing a meal
1. Having collegiate member over for dinner with Mentor's family
2. "Going out" for dinner, coffee, dessert, etc.
2. Having collegiate member as a guest at Mentor's work place (give him the "grand tour")when such a visit would be appropriate.
3. Have Collegiate Member invite Mentor to attend a concert of the member's performing ensemble.
4. Invite the Mentor/s to participate in the following:
1. A meeting as the "guest speaker/s" or clinician/s for the evening.
2. In a chapter function (i.e. - American Music Recital - as a performer or MC, and certainly as a member of your singing group.)
3. Your chapter's initiation ritual - if not participate, at least just to attend.
5. Feel free to invite mentors to your weekly meetings and other functions. Even though alumni members do not have a vote, it is nice to have their input and certainly their support.
3. Since they will be active alumni, The Alumni Mentors are strongly encouraged to pay their alumni dues.
4. Questionnaires might include the following information:
1. Full name
2. Address - both home, mailing, and work
3. Telephone numbers - both home and work
4. Email address
5. Chapter and school affiliation and dates of initiation and graduation.
6. Offices held in Sinfonia and other interesting Sinfonian information.
7. Major and minor in college - degrees earned
8. Collegiate organizations and interests
9. Professional affiliations
10. Work history - years at present job, etc.
5. There might be some kind of "Initiation Ceremony" for recognizing Alumni Mentors.
6. Administration of the Alumni Mentor Program will need to come from within the individual chapter. The National Headquarters provides encouragement and advice for the program

For more information about the Role of Alumni click here