So you don't select for honoary membership from those who approach you, you bestow it upon women you feel deserve it? That's how many NPC groups view AI. There's one I can think of that operates that way, and do not take "cold calls" but rarely offer it to women who they select (for example house mothers, female faculty advisors, mothers, etc.). What really sticks out to me is that your relative "sought" AI in an NPC, and perhaps that group (or even the women she contacted in that group) didn't feel it was appropriate or didn't follow their policies for alumnae membership.

The point I want to make sure I get across, is that there are no set rules when it comes to individual membership processes of NPC groups, we just agree on standards for the recruitment process and that we won't take initiated members of other groups. Even though I am privy to how Alpha Gam membership works, I know each recruitment, each potential member, and each potential AI are distinct situations and decisions made at a place and a point in time, and those decisions may play out very differently based on who is involved, where it is happening, and other factors. We can't give you hard and fast information because we're dealing with individuals on both sides (members and those would want to become members).

Oh, I'm with you about the first part. I think about the NPHC groups frequently and have a lot of admiration for them, but I not saying that NPC groups should try to copy them, particularly because it's not part of the heritage of the groups really.

I may have made my point about the rec writing poorly. I think that for most of the greeks I've known since I graduated as an undergraduate, unless I met them in the context of APH, writing recs for girls might be the only activity they perform in a given year for their groups, and I don't even think that most alumnae write them every year.

But you may be correct that the majority of recs written in a given year come through APH. I'm certainly not disputing that.

ETA: I'm not in the people-ought-to-be-able-to-put-themselves-up-for-AI camp at all. My point about limited involvement for most NPC alumnae members is part of the reason why I think people pursuing membership at this level is suspect. And I really do mean pursuing as in the sense of chasing it, not merely completing the process that they've been invited to.

It also bears mentioning that all NPC alumnae groups are not the same - some are more social, some more philanthropic, those near collegiate chapters are far more active in a different way than those who aren't. It depends on the group dynamic and the individual members.

No doubt. ETA: this seemed a lot more argumentative than I meant it to. I have no quarrel at all with what you've said.

I suspect that the percentage of active undergraduates who remain active alumnae is pretty small.

Does anyone know any general figures? It seems like something that would be frequently discussed at the national or international level. Maybe even studied by the NPC.

For the most part, AI is still a fairly new phenomenom. Talk to fifty NPC alumnas and you'll probably get at least 40 different answers. I can only speak for Alpha Delta Pi, and wouldn't begin to comment on other NPC sororities.

For us, we had an Honorary Initiate catagory for decades. It was for Housemothers, Deans, and Super-ADPi-Women. My chapter tried to sponsor someone for Honorary Initiation, but it was a no-go - but our Housemother was initiated without a snag.

That said, the biggest problem I see is that there just isn't the necessary information about how each GLO participates - or does not participate - in Alumnae Initiation. Even with an article in our Adelphean, there is still an air of confusion about AI, and until it's made clear to every alumnae association, and the alumnae accept each AI on her own accreditation & not by her college experience, I don't see it becoming the "wave of the future" that some would like to see.

Finally, I'm personally old school about this: any woman who is an ADPi is a sister of mine, whether she pledged at a top chapter as a freshman, or was initiated by an alumnae association at the age of sixty. I love our ideals, and if our EO deems a woman respectable enough to wear our pin, I will respect her as a sister.

I am not in NPC or NPHC but the majority of my college yrs(after I knew more about Greek life) I always heard some women say " Oh you're in a sorority, I used to be Greek." Or women who are asked about their parents college yrs saying "I found out my dad used to be in a fraternity, idk that" I've never heard membership in a fraternal org referred to as past tense when it comes to NPHC. Period.

So that always made me wonder about historically WGLOs vs BGLOs and the percentage of alum involvement. I am Southern so is it regional?

My sorority has always said 'It's not just a time commitment, it's a LIFEtime commitment"

Speaking from what I know and my experience only:

1)AI does work!

2)As it has been said - each sorority does not do AI alike and all function differently

3)One point I like to mention is I trust HQ's fully. The women are amazing from the bottom up to the top positions. They know how to make the appropriate decisions. Everything is on a case by case basis and it really does work in the end. There is nothing wrong with a potential member contacting HQ. We are adults and we can handle contacts in a mature fashion. If the candidate is seen to be a good fit they will then be placed in the process. The candidates that do make it are few, but when a new member is chosen through the AI process it really is a win-win for the whole sorority. HQ's really does know how to weed through and choose the shining stars. This is what it is all about.

4)I agree with SWTXBelle - we must do a better job of teaching young members the concepts and importance of lifetime membership. This is key! If young members graduate and step into alumnae groups - maybe AI would not be in the picture as it is with some orgs. I have thought about this numerous times. We need to continue making strides in this area. The numbers are just not there with membership when it comes to young women leaving after four years, upon graduation. We need these members more than ever once they graduate.

5)Any woman that HQ's grants membership via AI has the same rights and priviledges. They are not looked down upon in any way. I totally and completely respect that.

I can tell you what I know about AST. We do offer AI, and it is described on our national website, but the information is directed at sisters, and not at potential alumnae members. There is actually more to the process than is described on the website. I know this only because I'm in the process of helping someone through AI right now.

In addition to what is mentioned, the initiated alumna must select one among four different "categories" of service. I forget what they all are right now, but two of them are working for HQ, and serving in an advisor position. They must fulfill requirements based on which path they choose.

Potential alumnae members can't just fill out an application and send it in to HQ. They need a letter of recommendation from at least one collegiate member. Actually, the first step for the woman I know going through the process right now was to talk one-on-one with our District President and discuss why it is she would like to be involved with the sorority. This is not something that can be pursued by just anyone.

Thank you for sharing.^^

Your experience is similar (in some ways) to what I know.
A potential member can contact HQ and from there they must go through an interview process, if HQ sees a possible fit. It can be with one person or several different people on various levels. You will be asked point blank what service category you will fill - such as an advisory position. You will need a sponsor and you will also have to be officially voted in by the executive board. All in all, it takes some time for it to come to a final decision.

No because membership at this level (and the undergraduate level for that matter) isn't simply about them having a process that allows such or about the process that they have, but that said person wants to do the work of/work for ABC organization.

I agree here. If people know that for undergrad their are unanimous agreements with respect to recruitment, it is likely that they are extending that understanding of the taking in new members to AI process. They know or have heard of women being initiated post college, so they think all NPCs do this/do it the same way.

I don't know how AST and or its members feel about AI, but if someone where interested in AI for your sorority and stumbled across said information they might think that it is something that is open for inquiry, when in fact that information/knowledge was never meant for them.

In speaking with some people who are higher up in the organization about this issue, none of them are aware of people contacting the national organization on their own looking to join. I think that if it was that big of a problem, and if people were constantly contacting the national organization, they probably wouldn't have that information on the website... no matter who it was directed toward.

EXACTLY. There's no reason to get nasty on GC if a PNAM wants to contact your sorority's HQ, because they will know who "always dreamt of being in a sorority" and who actually deserves membership. At least I trust mine to be able to tell the difference.

violetpretty, you really do represent a true sorority woman and I tip my hat to you!;)

ITA that we don't need to be nasty on GC - it really does all work out in the end.

Yes, yes, yes, yes.

I think rather than increasing AI programs, the sororities (all 26 of them) need to look at why alumnae involvement among the women they've already initiated and who have had great experiences is so minimal. I think part of it is because of the way we recruit - the majority of women join ABC because they love the ABCs at their campus. They might move back to their hometown where there's an ABC alumnae chapter - filled w/ women NOTHING like her collegiate sisters. I hope this doesn't come out wrong, but it seems like NPHC groups don't let things like that get in their way as much. They know they need to "take care of business."

Honestly, I just don't see AI ever becoming consistent among the 26 NPC groups unless NPC radically changes the way we recruit at the collegiate and alumnae levels. I would rather we "took care of our own" first - tried to re-engage the members we already have - rather than AIing to make up the difference.

I think my organization is making some inroads here. As president of the alumnae chapter in my area, I have been blown away at the involvement of our youngest alumnae. The percentage of alumnae in our area who are less than 5 years out of school is astronomically high as compared to the rest of the chapter. In addition, they show up to all the events, volunteer on committees and as they move to town have been great about finding *us* (instead of vice versa) and joining. It has truly been seemless- "I just graduated from Big State U and moved to town. How can I get involved in the chapter?" Very refreshing.

I work very hard to recognize their involvement for this exact reason, and hope that some of the older members can see their enthusiasm and loyality.

I am embarrassed to admit that I am not sure what specifics my organization has done to increase the awareness of lifetime membership while members are still in college, but I do know that this has been part of their strategic plan for the past few years. For those orgs who have not yet developed specific programs for such I offer that these programs can and do work.

The benefits are twofold- members involved for a lifetime, and as was mentioned earlier it can decrease the need for AI.

Congratulations Blondie93 to you and your organization! It sounds like you are having great success locally and that is the key when it comes to recent graduates.

I would really love to hear what any sorority is doing now to encourage/improve retention after graduation. Do you have a plan nationwide that your org is implementing prior to graduation of members? Do you just have ideas that you think may help? I was just curious and wondered if anyone had anything to share.

We have a great number of younger alumnae, too. I think it is a result of an increased emphasis on lifetime membership, and maybe through things like sisterlink - it's easier to keep in touch, so it's easier to keep alumnae active.

DoctorD has posted some details somewhere on this board about our new Delta program for collegiate seniors. It focuses both on meeting programming needs specific to seniors as well as some opportunities to "opt out" of some collegiate events to "opt in" to alumnae chapter/club or Junior Circle events instead. Our Junior Circle program is also designed to keep young alumnae involved. Junior Circles are alumnae clubs geared toward women 35 and under and are usually sponsored by alumnae chapters or clubs, but not always. I don't know about other groups, but we're seeing a real trend in which collegiate chapters experience significant decreases in participation by the seniors. The Delta program is aimed at turning that around. More like "We know you're busy and you're focusing on finding a job or grad school apps and here is what we can offer you to help" rather than "These are the collegiate activities and you have to participate" If women start "checking out" in their senior year, I really think they're not likely to be active as alumnae.

ETA: And yes, our new member program is going to be our "Alpha" program and special programming for Sophomores/Juniors is being developed to be the "Gamma" program, creating the Alpha Gamma Delta experience.

Exactly! Alumnae chapters do "recruit", but we recruit women who have already been initiated into our sorority.

I agree that it's important to mutually choose one another. I am currently in the AI process with a sorority that I carefully researched. Even though I had friends in this given sorority in college and wanted to rush (as it was still called in those days), I knew nothing about them.

As an adult, it turns out that my own personal goals and beliefs align nicely with this particular sorority at the local and national level. That's important. I had researched and met with another group of women as well, and though they were great women of substance, this group is better suited toward me (and I toward them).