Not always. This colony pin wasn't designed until 1959. I don't know the full story but it was designed for the colonization of Upsilon Alpha and has been in use ever since. It was a special circumstance so not even your chapter founders got to wear it. The only difference between the colony pin and the picture I linked is that there are no letters on the colony pin.

I'm so glad to finally know what the colony pin is! I've been wondering for about a year. It's nice to have access to sisters in the know! Thanks, y'all!:)

That's why we're here! :) Besides, so few of us are lucky enough to wear a colony pin or even see one up close and personal!

Do the colony founders get to keep their colony pins after being installed?

Sorry, I just saw this. I think that they do because it is a unique situation but I am not sure. I'll have to ask.

At Arkansas they didn't get to keep their colony pins.

AOII Welcomes Rho Beta!
 

Brentwood, Tenn.--Alpha Omicron Pi is pleased to announce the re-installation of its 149th chartered chapter. Rho Beta Chapter of Alpha Omicron Pi at Virginia Commonwealth University was installed on March 1, 2008. Susan Danko, AOII International President, served as the installing officer.

Fifty-six were initiated into AOII membership, including fifty-two collegiate members and four alumnae initiates. The chapter will continue to be represented by the phrase, “Rare Bonds of Friendship,” as their sub-motto, a name that typifies the chapter’s unique character indefinitely. Saturday’s initiation and installation activities concluded with the formal Rose Reception for the new initiates and their families at The Place at Innsbrook in Glen Allen, Virginia.

Several university administrators attended the banquet, including: Carolyn Whittier, Associate Director of Programs and Educational Services and Cara Jenkins, Fraternity and Sorority Life Coordinator at Virginia Commonwealth University. Representatives of other Greek organizations and various family and friends of the new members also attended the celebratory event. Other special guests included Susan Danko, AOII International President; Brandi Nunnery, Colony Development Network Director; Tammy Glenn, Colony Development Network Specialist; Julie Anne Walter, Extension and Colonization Manager; members of the Rho Beta Alumnae Advisory Committee and Corporation Board; and Tracy Elleard, Resident Consultant. In addition, numerous AOII area alumnae participated in the event. The Alpha Omicron Pi Area Alumnae of Virginia and North Carolina were present, and members of the Gamma Alpha Chapter served as sponsors for the new initiates.

The charter members of the Rho Beta Chapter of Alpha Omicron Pi are: Caitlin Marie Alewine, Ashley Kathleen Allen, Bethany Lauren Artis, Laura Eileen Bennett, Veronica Alexis Black, Madelyn Jean Brady, Amanda Kristine Bristow, Stefanie Ashley Brogan, Mackenzie Renay Byrne, Rachel Rebecca Carver, Makeda Shenika Chatawa, Britiana Luz Clark, Jennifer Neese Dunn, Elanna Carol Edwards, Marie Alyse Elliott, Megan Elizabeth Foege, Laura Alexis Francis, Taylor Lee Gauldin, Elise Danielle Giannotti, Sharon Paige Gibson, Kelly Elizabeth Grau, Shannon Nicole Griffin, Alexandra Teresa Gucuia, Jennifer Ellen Guerrini, Chesney Ann Jorn, Sarah Louise Kerestes, Maria Elena Maltagliati, Brittany Estelle-Clara Moore, Stacy Lynn Moore, Maryssa Annette Morabito, Kathryn Elizabeth Nichols, Laura Randall Ortiz, Deborah Nicolle Peksa, Tashauna Lea Phillips, Penny Elizabeth Phounsarath, Jami Marie Pollnow, Emily Anne Reijmers, Rachel Elizabeth Rodney, Allie Jane Ronayne, Jocelyn Suzanna Simpson, Katelyn Leigh Smith, Kristen Elise Smith, Maria Esther Tamayo, Millicent Haley Thomas, Amber Michelle Turman, Virginia Marie Walters, Julie Marie Watson, Lilly Catherine Webster, Joanna Lee Whitney, Katie Elizabeth Williams, Maggie Mae Wimmer-Magnant, Carmen Wu Wong, and Adwoa Yeboaa Yeboah. Alumnae initiates of the Rho Beta Chapter are: Corbin Lynn Ailer, Krista Nicole Carson, Susan Lousie Martin, and Elizabeth Paige Stangl.

Alpha Omicron Pi was founded in 1897 at Barnard College of Columbia University in New York City. AOII has over 131,000 initiated members in 184 collegiate chapters and over 130 alumnae chapters across the United States and Canada. Alpha Omicron Pi is an international women’s fraternity promoting friendship for a lifetime, inspiring academic excellence and lifelong learning, and developing leadership skills through service to the Fraternity and community.

Congratulations to Rho Beta!!

On a side note, why don't we ever hear much of anything about the colonies or installations? Nothing was said on inCircle and I don't recall seeing anything in To Dragma about the installation (upcoming or otherwise). Or am I just completely out of the loop on things. . . .

I am guessing that it wasn't in To Dragma because they are saving info about all three installations for the next issue. Also, as for inCircle, each colony has their own group and usually information is in there. We can post something on the main forum though but the main AOII site is usually current.

Columbus State is the last to be chartered and that is sometime in April. I don't know the date.

They do announce the colonization and installation information on the international website. I go check there every few months to see if anything new is going on in the colonies. I'm wondering when Columbus State is going to be installed.

I have a charter question- maybe it was answered somewhere else, but I didn't see it anywhere...

When a chapter is re-chartered, do the new members sign a new charter, or is the old charter pulled out of storage? I remember our charter hanging proudly in our sitting room but I wasn't sure what happens when a chapter is re-chartered. (or do they have two charters hanging up?)

Good Question!

The women get to sign a new charter and if there are alumna initiates, they usually get to sign too. The original charter can be returned and both are displayed in a place of honor. Mr. aopirose is a recharter president. The original charter hangs on the wall opposite the new one and next to those are composites of each set of founding members.

Thanks for the answer. It seems like that would be the best solution- honoring both the original chartering members and the re-chartering members.

Delta has their original charter from 1908 and their re-charter from the late 80s hanging up in their living room. However, we couldn't locate any composites from before their charter went into trust. Does HQ hold onto those, and do they tend to return them once a chapter gets re-chartered? For example, Xi Chapter (Oklahoma) got re-chartered a few years ago...do they have their composites and other historical items from before the charter went into trust?