Connecting with Brothers Locally

ANNOUNCING NEW REGIONAL AND STATE PREPACKAGED LISTS

Would you like to visit with Brothers you have not seen for a long time who live near you? Find out how to connect locally.

We have preloaded lists of Brothers and their contact information centered around 12 of the largest metropolitan areas of the country where the most Zeta Lambda Brothers live. These lists are ready to go. Just request the one where you are. They are:

• Austin  (13)
• Benton (44)
• Cincinnati  (32)
• Columbus  (8)
• Dallas  (19)
• Houston  (14)
• Louisville  (145)
• Murray (73)
• Nashville  (80)
• Owensboro  (135)
• Paducah (47)
• Saint Louis  (43)

In addition we have the following states prepackaged, ready for use:

Regional get-togethers could end up large, depending on your area. Since some potential participants may have to drive an hour or so, a luncheon or dinner is probably preferable. Those who have to drive longer distances may not be able to make frequent events. Larger gatherings should probably be reserved for once or twice a year.

However, smaller groups from the same town may wish to have a breakfast powwow or regular luncheons for a few laughs and stories once a week. It just depends on what you want.

Ordering one of these lists to take charge of initially arranging a luncheon, large or small, is easy to do and fairly effortless to arrange. Read on.

Connecting on the Home Turf

Over 80% of all Zeta Lambda Brothers since 1959 hail from either Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, Indiana, or Tennessee of the 22 states listed as their home states. Kentucky alone (940 out of 1,452 total living and deceased alums – 65%) accounts for 80% of this 5-state total.  The 3 largest areas of initiates were from Murray, Louisville, or Owensboro, respectively, and most within a 300-mile radius of Murray.

Since our Murray days we’ve spread out considerably. There are clusters of Brothers nearly everywhere. Look at our distribution throughout the land (below).

Presently, Florida leads the nation as the mecca for retirees as well as family transfers. Zeta Lambda has nearly doubled the number of Brothers living there from the ones who became our Brothers and call it home (76 vs 41). We had 0 Brothers from South Carolina for the past 63 years, the #2 retiree destination in America, but find 20 living there now. Arizona is #3 and we have 13 living there.

Look at the still large contingent of Brothers living within easy driving distance of Murray today!  The Murray Area remains the hotbed to draw upon for volunteer work on behalf of the fraternity.

There are many smaller pockets around Murray who may want to conduct luncheons or other events on a regular basis. Murray has one nearly every week for a limited number of local Brothers. It is done solely to keep relationships and brotherhood alive.

Easy To Lose Touch

As you note that the heaviest concentration of Brothers remains centered around Murray, many Brothers have stayed close to home from their college days. But without data or firsthand knowledge it is easy to lose track of where your close Brothers went, where your Big Brother lives, or what became of your pledge brothers over the years. There was no way to conveniently find out. Now you can network.

Arranging A Luncheon

The process is fairly straightforward. Request the contact list for your small group or your regional area. Send out an email announcing the time and date of the event. As of now we have an email address on all but 2 Zeta Lambda Brothers. Per our Newsletter, all are being delivered. We ask that if a Brother requests that you change to another email address, please copy either Kevin Uhls (Beta Epsilon ’85) on the website or Steve Farmer (Xi ’66). Steve will be emailing the list so you will have his email address.

If the venue is rather large, you may wish to receive an RSVP back for a headcount for the restaurant. Even groups of 6 or 8 needs a special table arranged ahead of time. For larger groups a private room may be reserved in advance.

One-on-One Meetings Are Okay, Too

You may be interested who lives in your immediate area or you may want to find a long lost Brother you want to contact to renew your connection and catch up on life events. No problem. Simply request the Brother you want to contact and their contact information will be sent to you.  The size of the group you elect to amass depends entirely on you.

Remember Security

We ask that when emailing to multiple parties, you “hide” email addresses as BCC’s. When sending to a group, make yourself as the primary recipient and then BBC everyone on the list. This maintains our strict confidentiality policy and keeps security intact. Do not send the supplied Regional Area List to anyone else. This is a private Zeta Lambda organization matter and we hold our contact information sacred.

The Data

The Regional Area is in Excel. It contains the semester/year pledged, pledge class, current age, given name and last name, city (only), email address, cell phone number and home phone number. If necessary, the names and emails can be converted to Word to help create a Mail Group.

We are still in the process of weeding out unused or forgotten emails and finding better ones but they are in reasonably good shape. It is the cheapest way to communicate with all of you. Many of the emails have been verified by the recipients. Cell phones are more difficult to confirm. Landlines are not always up to date as more and more switch over to cell use only.

Data Sources

Most of the assembled data comes from public sources. Approximately 1/3 or the master database information has been individually confirmed. To personally call 1,251 people is a monumental task. It would take years to complete. We have to rely you guys to help us out with changes on our master database. Likewise, as any association this large, our membership is dynamic and fluid. People move all the time. We have no way of knowing unless you tell us. Again, just go to the msuato.com website to the Contact Us portal and type it in the Message Box.

FREE! The website, Newsletter, and Brother contact services come without charge as a lifelong ATO Zeta Lambda alum!  

As in all matters relating to the ATO Zeta Lambda Alumni Association, everything is based on volunteer contributions: Participation, Donation, and Work. There are no dues to be a member.

Take advantage of the opportunity to rebuild the Brotherhood if it has been a while since you have been involved. Renewing old friendships costs nothing and it will you take you back to a place you once enjoyed…”a brotherhood based upon eternal and immutable principles, with a bond as strong as right itself and as lasting as humanity…”

ATO National – find other Brothers