1) Where was Jewel Degree held? At the Beta Tau house at The University of Akron.

2) Did an Alumnae Association invite the Seniors to Jewel Degree, or did the Chapter tell the Alumnae when & where it was going to be held? The Alumnae Association scheduled it and invited the seniors.

3) About how many Alumnae showed up for Jewel Degree?
Around 10...13 seniors and two older alums went through

4) Any other comments on Jewel Degree?
We had a hysterical mistake happen this year!! Someone read the wrong thing!!

Okay, why I asked the specific questions.

When I was in school, our Alumnae Association invited all of the graduating seniors to a Jewel Degree Luncheon at a local (nice) restaurant. There were about 30 alumnae, and I think 10 seniors. It was lovely! After we finished dessert, the servers cleared the tables, and left us alone, at which time Jewel Degree was conferred - all alumnae either in the appropriate "costume" or a Jewel Tone. It was stressed to us that Jewel Degree was our invitation to becoming full alumnae, complete with the responsibilities of Alumnae Associations, and serving as Advisors or other positions. I'm happy (and somewhat proud!) to say that everyone with whom I received Jewel Degree is involved Alpha Delta Pi on some level, even to this day!

Fast forward to the past 10 years. The local pattern lately has been something like this: The Chapter Advisor gets a call from the chapter saying exactly when Jewel Degree will be conferred (always in the Suite), before there's even a chance for Alumnae to find a good date or arrange a luncheon. Then, after she's told a date & frantically arranges 5-10 alumnae, the date is changed to a date when as little as TWO alumnae are available. Since the Guard is somehow unavailable and the ritual equipment that the Chapter retains is locked up (even though it has been requested!), the graduating seniors get a bare-pipe-racks version
of what I consider our most beautiful ritual. Once, the three Alumnae who did show up waited for 3 hours for one senior to show up (someone told her the wrong time), and due to time restraints, we went without her - only to get castigated later.

From what I understand, arrangements for a good date were in discussion for months this year. I made plane reservations - and because of the changed date, missed it.

This has become a VERY sore topic among the local Alumnae, who are considering a boycott of conferring Jewel Degree until the Chapter's Active in charge of Alumnae Relations gets her act together!


So, I wanted to see how other chapters went about the introduction of Jewel Degree. As it is NOT a mandatory ritual, should the Alumnae plan it (with chapter input) so that it can be done properly, or is it proper for the Actives/Deltas to demand the date, time & place? Feedback?

This is just *my* opinion, but since the ceremony is primarily directed by alumnae members, I feel that the alumnae should have probably the "most" say in when Jewel Degree is conferred. Our chapter's Alumnae Relations chair worked with the advisors to organize the date (because at the time I was a collegiate, we didn't have a *very* local AA nearby to conduct the ceremony) and then the graduating seniors were sent invitations inviting them, and they needed to RSVP to the Alumnae Relations chair who in turn let the advisors know how many would be there. I understand wanting to give the graduating seniors every opportunity to participate in going through Jewel Degree, but because the alumnae have to organize it and conduct the ceremony, the date and time needs to work for more than just three alumnae members.

I think that when the alum association comes together for its annual planning meeting to plan dates for the following year, that Jewel Degree/Founders Day should be on that list of events. And remember, Jewel Degree may be conferred upon alumnae who have not yet had the opportunity to experience it. Then, once the date is selected, the chapter is notified, and has almost an entire year, and certainly, an entire school year, to anticipate it. The alum can plan the reception, luncheon, etc. Consider this a time to recruit women into your assoc or alumnae life in general.

Get a list of names of graduating seniors and send personal invitations to them. Charge the alum relations chair to provide you with any ritual materials you need and call her repeatedly. Also make sure the chapter adviser is looped in. Sometimes the collegian put into an alum relations role is a burned out senior or a confused freshman.

If the chapter you are local to isn't taking alum relations seriously, get in their faces. Plan events and invite the chapter.

Okay, my AA goes to several different chapters around the state to perform jewel degree. Usually they go to places where there isn't an AA. The way they usually handle it is they check with the chapter for appropriate dates. Since we travel all over state, all the dates need to not overlap. We went to my old chapter, Epsilon Zeta at Southwest Texas SU and it is almost always performed the day of their Founder's Day luncheon at the chapter house. But being the chapter that they are (somethings never change) sometimes their Founder's Day dates change. We work together with the advisor or alum relations chair.

For the other chapters, I'm not totally sure. But I do know that they are scheduled several months in advanced b/c we have to stay overnight and arrange for hotel rooms. What we did this year was go up and get one chapter on a Saturday and on a Sunday got another chapter, then headed home.

The San Antonio AA is amazing!! They do so much!! In August, they have a recruitment team that goes to almost all the collegiate chapters to help out in some way. We are always worried and always trying to figure out new things to do to help the chapters.

Honey, I hope that I gave you a idea that kind of works.:D

Keep the ideas coming!

Granted, another problem we have is having enough dedicated alumnae to do Jewel Degree year after year. But I'm convinced that, if we set a date even 6 months in advance, those who are eligible to receive it can make their plans around it. I just feel that, if we can get up to 20 alumnae to help out with Recruitment (on their dates), there needs to be some reciprocity in allowing the alumnae to schedule Jewel Degree at a time when we can get a maximum number of alumnae there! I don't think that we're being unreasonable, especially since three of us went barreling up the highway over 200 miles on 2 days notice to make sure Jewel Degree was possible!

Yes, it is a great recruiting device for Alumnae Association. I'm not sure when the ball was dropped, but it certainly has. Before this becomes too much of an "us" and "them" situation, I'd like to get this more organized! Two alumnae have offered their homes (one is absolutely lovely!), or, if it truly must be held in the suite, we can certainly do it there. I just think it's nicer when there's a luncheon or tea first.

Seriously, keep the ideas coming!!

We actually had two dates this year the first one we let the chapter pick out, but whoever scheduled it forgot about another chapter obligation and they wanted to do it later, then our AA president couldn't make it and she diddn't get enough rsvp's (we won't do it without at least close to the minimum amount needed for each part) so we had to reschedule. The second date we picked and our turnout was better the only thing was alot of the seniors had exams that night so no new alum joined us for dinner afterward.

Also I think your collegiate chapter has a lack of respect for the fact that you guys go out of your way to put Jewel on for them and that it is ritual and should be done right. Maybe yall should do a TME about jewel what going through the ritual signifys the history behind it (I don't know that myself) anything you can tell them to educate them without revealing anything. Then respectfully request that the alumnae relations chair work more closely with you to set a date for jewel.

PolarPi-- you'll be happy to know that seven Eta Psi seniors were put through Jewel Degree by many of our former chapter advisors, who are mostly now the executive board of the new Northwest Indiana Alumnae Association!

The night of the 14th, Friday, Eta Psi chapter was closed by our Grand President. It was a beautiful ceremony, and I'm very glad I was able to be there. (I went through my local sorority initiation in that room, through ADPi alpha, delta, and jewel degree ceremonies in one day in that room, through jewel degree from "the other side" in that room, and finally through the chapter closing ceremony in that room...)

Anyway, the morning and afternoon of May 15th, the NIAA held its first official event since being chartered in January. It was a lovely alumnae luncheon in a room downstairs at the Hilton Garden Inn in Chesterton. The food from the hotel was delicious, and the cake from the alumnae was yummy! There are alumnae from Valparaiso, Merrillville, Chesterton, Crown Point, and other nearby areas. (Some of them never knew Valpo had a chapter! Oh well. Too late now.)

After the luncheon we did the Founders' Day ceremony, then cleared the room and had the Jewel Degree. (It was kind of funny, since there were two alumnae who graduated in the 1950s, who ended up being on the "alumnae" side of Jewel Degree and then realizing that they'd never been through it from the "initiate" side. Oh well!)

Anyway, the alumnae basically set up the luncheon and ceremony, which was nice, since previously it was the chapter advisor borrowing stuff and us alumnae who came to Founders' Day in our chapter room trying to put it all together that day. I really like having it as part of a Founders' Day ceremony, held whichever weekend before or after the 15th works best for both the alumnae association and the chapter.

Kate, if and only if you care to do so, would you describe the Closing Ceremony to me in a PM? I can imagine that it's very moving, and I really, truly hope to never see one for myself!



Btw, all cheesecake pounds are back off - including a few more! I will NEVER forget the size of the portions at the Cheesecake Factory!!!!!!

I agree...would you mind PMing me as well, Kate? I really wish I could have been there, but there was no way with me still in school and finances as they are....as it is I'll be flying back that way for a sister's wedding in September!

Me three me three!!!!
Please.......

Does anyone wear their Jewel Degree ribbons? If so, to where/what? How often?

While I'm not sure what became of mine, I just received the order I place for the ribbons for upcoming Jewel Degrees. I'm going to wear one to EBoard tonight to get the Seniors (and underclasses!) excited to wear their own!

1) Where was Jewel Degree held? At the Chapter's house/room/suite or whatever? At a private home or restaurant?
Zeta Omega holds JD 2/x a year (fall and spring) in the chapter house's formal living room. (It is held during the day, and as our chapter room doubles as a dining room, we host it in the formal so as not to interrupt the day-to-day activities of the members)

2) Did an Alumnae Association invite the Seniors to Jewel Degree, or did the Chapter tell the Alumnae when & where it was going to be held?
The date is announced at chapter meeting. The event is coordinated by the AA, however, on a mutually agreeable date set by the CARC and AA.

3) About how many Alumnae showed up for Jewel Degree?
The number has steadily climbed since 2001, when we brought new life into the AA with a huge mailing and invitation to a 150th Anniversary celebration. Typically, more alumnae participate in Spring JD than Fall, and more seniors go through the ceremony in Spring.

4) Any other comments on Jewel Degree?
We do a ritual review following JD and invite the members to join the AA, as well as give them a take-away gift that serves as a reminder of the ritual. PM me for details. I was able to bring this tradition to Los Angeles when I was a member of the AA there, and it's a really lovely way to bring all of aspects of JD together.

I don't wear my JD ribbon. I keep it in a safe place. We make our own, rather than ordering them.

I think having a Founders' Day reception with JD helps encourage alumnae attendance and more chapter members to participate in the reception which encourages seniors to come out and participate, too.

1. Jewel Degree was held at the home of one of our Alum's, I believe the Alum Assoc President. We had a small reception afterward.

2. The Alumnae Association invited the seniors.

3. There were only about 6-8 alumnae who were present to perform Jewel Degree. We had a very young and small alumnae association...however there were about 15 seniors who went through the ceremony (which was a large amount for my chapter).

4. Our Alumnae Association in Denver performs it every other year at Founders' Day. Alumnae young and old receive the degree. Some come from chapters where it was not offered or moved away before the ceremony. Also, we order the JD ribbons from EO to give to each recipient.

I wear my Jewel Degree ribbon when I wear my pin, which isn't often. I especially wear it on Founders' Day and any other special day when I'm dressed to pin.