[QUOTE]Originally posted by sugar and spice
[B]If they were good people and good sisters (and naturally did not spill details of the first group's ritual to the sisters of the second or vice versa) I wouldn't care.

me neither... but there are always "bad apples" in every group unfortunately..... hopefully those members respect ritual and dont share it

I wouldn't and didn't mean to make it sound like an honorary sister, but maybe this is just wording. It is really no different than a friend who happens to come to events.

A friend who comes to events would be just that. We would never use any term with the word "member" in it to describe her. The only non-members we've had at events are friends from out of town (in town during the time of the event) and women pursuing AI.

You are either a member of Gamma Phi, or not a member of Gamma Phi. There is no in between.

Exactly!! I totally agree! You are a member or a guest... :D

Yea i see what u meant now. the honarary status confused me a bit with the rules that go along with that kind of status.
And I dont think an org would initiate someone that is already a member of an npc org as an honorary.

good luck w/ whateva comes your way aquafina.

Aquafina-

I am so sorry that you are dealing with this. I completely understand because it is exactly what happened to me. I attended the University of Illinois, where I pledged AOII and loved it. During my freshman year, my family moved to Oklahoma. It wasn't until a few weeks before my freshman year ended that I found out that I couldn't return to U of I. My scholarship was no longer valid because I was considered out of state, and the out of state tuition was more than I could afford. I transferred to Oklahoma State, and there was not an AOII chapter there. I was seriously bummed. Not only had I lost my sisters from U of I, but I knew NO ONE at OSU because I had never lived in Oklahoma.

I became active in a business fraternity. I won't lie to you - it isn't the same as a social sorority, but it does offer many of the same benefits of ritual, brotherhood/sisterhood, and leadership opportunities. It helped me form great friendships and get very involved in a large university.

Now I'm out of college and have 2 kids and a husband and am an active AOII alumna.

You see, Aquafina, I was only "out" of AOII for a couple of years while I finished college. Remember that you will spend way more of your life as an alumna than as an active. Don't let your wistfulness about missing the collegiate sisterhood deny you of the privileges of alumna membership. That stays with you for the rest of your life.

Best of luck to you.

Aquafina, I'm really sorry that you're in such a tough situation. I definitely understand your wanting to remain sisters with the girls in your local.

You have definitely made the right decision, though, by deciding not to pursue initiation in the second sorority. College is a relatively short timespan in the whole scheme of things and you will be an ABC for the rest of your life if you choose. There will come a time when you feel that becoming active in your local alumnae chapter will feel like the right thing for you to do and I think then you will be glad you did what you did. :)

Irish pipes comments are soooo valuable! yes joina co-ed fraternity associated with your major or career... it can only help your fo long term adn you can still be an active alum in your GLO! Nice option!

PS: Irish pipes: a friend of mine was an AOII at Illinois and too loved the chapter!