Alum Initiation for Fraternities?
 

Do any fraternities have alum initiation? My wife, sister, sister-in-law, and mother-in-law are all Greek. They are all very involved, and I think it might be fun to do now that I have more time.

I was very focused on getting to medical school when I was an undergrad, and never got into Greek life (except as an attendee at my now-wife's sorority functions). Now that I am through med. school and working my way though my residency, I think I might have missed out.

Are there any Greek alum initiate options for a 28-year old Doc?

Thanks for your help!

Andrew

[This message has been edited by AggieDoc (edited August 18, 2001).]

Aggie Doc: I think it's great that you're interested in Greek life. I don't know anything about fraternity policies on alum initiation, but hope that there are some out there for ya!

Good luck!

Angel

"No matter the letter, we're all Greek together."

AggieDoc:
There are 2 parts to answer your question, so here goes...
I wasn's sure whether you are interested in a professional fraternity or a social one.
Are you interested in a "professional" fraternity (like a medical fraternity) or a more general, social one?

If you're looking specifically for a medical fraternity, here is a great website: http://www.profraternity.org/
What I would suggest you do is find one that is of interest to you, email the headquarters and explain your situation.
Ask them whether they will initiate "alumni men" or "non-collegiate" men?
And see what they say.....
(you might want to impress upon them that you have graduated from university already, as this might impress them more, than if you had dropped out of university or something)

Here are 2 medical fraterities that I found for you (and surely there are others out there, too!) http://www.phide.org/ http://www.cris.com/~Jjack/prs.shtml

If you're interested in a social fraternity (i.e. a "NIC" one), then go here: http://www.nicindy.org/
It would be best to pursue a fraternity which has an active alumni chapter near you, and also, if you have a male friend, relative, neighbor, etc. (and they happen to be in a fraternity), who could sponsor you for membership in their fraternity, this will help your case. Most likely, you *will* down the road have to have a fraternity member "sponsor" you as a potential member...I don't think you can just show up and say "I want to be a member"...they'll want to get to know you first before taking the plunge.

There are a TON of NIC fraternities, The big long list of fraternities is found here: http://www.nicindy.org/member_frat.htm but in the interests of practicality, it would be best to check into *what group* has a presence in your city. How to find out? Easy....What universities are in your vicinity? Go to those schools' websites and see which men's fraternities have a chapter at your nearby colleges....chances are, if they have a collegiate chapter, then there are alumni men around the vicinity as well. Another good route to take (and this would demonstrate your commitment to this venture) is to get involved with the men's collegiate chapter and support them with your efforts. This will impress the members and help you to get to know each other and set you on your way to membership (hopefully http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/wink.gif )

Hope that this helps....

[This message has been edited by CutiePie2000 (edited August 21, 2001).]

[This message has been edited by CutiePie2000 (edited August 21, 2001).]

[This message has been edited by CutiePie2000 (edited August 21, 2001).]

One of our consultants had an older brother that is a Lambda Chi. Because of this, their dad worked with the fraternity a lot, and he was initiated. At a leadership conference, I met a man that started doing seminars for Lambda Chi, and he did so many, and worked so hard for the fraternity, he was initiated. One of my profs was initiated into Pike after he became their faculty advisor. So find a fraternity that you would like to work with, be it because of their ideals, philanthropy, or just because you like the guys in the active chapter, and work with them.

------------------
Steve Corbin
Lambda Chi Alpha
Theta Kappa Chapter
Rose-Hulman Inst. of Tech.

While I am having a hard typing as of surgery, you cannot just say you want to get in the greek way.
If you are really that intrested, look at the nat. and the local chapters and decide in which one you are interested in. the only way you can becomr a member of lxa is to show that you want to be a member is to work by and for the chapter. only then can you be voted on to be a Brother of of my fraternity because you feel you want to be and because of your actions, not because you just want to be. you must earn what you get.
good luck and if you care enuff i hope you can become my brothrt.

------------------
Tom Earp LX Z#1
Pittsburg State U. (Kansas)

Thanks to all the people who have responded so far. I appreciate all of the information you've provided.

Andrew

valkyrie, I emailed you!
CP2000

I saw in other threads that Pi Kappa Phi and Pi Kappa Alpha do alum initiations for men who contribute significantly to their organizations.

I don't know about any others, but I bet there are more. Anyone...?

Jen

To my knowledge, my fraternity, Beta Theta Pi doesnt intiate alums.


Kevin

No, Valkyrie, I didn't get an email...
 

But that's all right...
basically, I just re-iterated what I stated in my posts regarding alumnae initiation.

Aggiedoc, have not heard from you for a while! How is it going and are you still interested?
You have a lot of backing on this site so hope you are still of interest!
Please let us know!!!

Well Anggidoc, it seems you have given up the ghost! Does this mean that you just wanted to add something onto your wall or serious!
I have e-m mailed you and gotten NO response.

If it is to much time to take then do not even think about it!

You can get cauget up in to it and enjoy, unless it is jus another thing to say I belong to!!!

Self importance is very much underwhelming!

I've talked to AggieDoc...
 

Before we come down on him...

I kind of stopped checking the boards for a while after GC went down early last week. I thought it might have been gone for good. One of my friends actually e-mailed me to let me know it was back up.

Anyway, I've actually talked to Andrew a couple of times via e-mail about alum initiation (I recently met an A-Phi alum whose husband was alum initiated). He (Andrew) was investigating possibilities at GaTech and Emory (and maybe one other, Georgia State, maybe?). He told me that he had contacted the nationals of a couple of fraternities and asked them about their AI programs and what steps he could take to get involved. I am not sure what else beyond that. From what I could tell in his e-mails, I thought he seemed pretty sincere. He seemed nice.

Maybe I'll e-mail him again and see what he's up to (and let him know GC is back up again--maybe he doesn't know?).

Just my thoughts... ;)

Jen

Jen, thanks for the info on Andrew!!!

Is great to hear he is still on intrest. If he does not know GC is back up I hope he finds out and keeps us updated on his quest!

Always good to get a new Brother or Sister in the Greek Community!

Andrew update...
 

Hey Tom (and others who might be interested),

I talked to Andrew via e-mail. He just got back from accompanying a team of plastic surgeons to Honduras. He said each year a group of local p. surgeons go down there to provide surgical correction of (mainly) cleft palettes and other genetic deformations. He said he and a couple of other residents got to go along and assist. It was supposed to be a short excursion, but he said they had some trouble getting back home after the recent events.

He said he hasn't had a chance to pursue AI recently (beyond what he's done so far) but he's still very much interested. He's going to try to check the boards this weekend.

There's the latest! :)

Jen

Andrew, let me know what is going on! Jen gave me a fill in!

E_ M at hoyotomas@aol.com to talk some more!!!!

Hi Tom and Jen (and others),

This is actually AggieDoc (formerly, I guess). I haven't been able to get back into my account. I've tried everything and it just isn't working. Tom, I never got your PM.

Anyway, it's true, I've been out of the country for a while. Been back about a week. I am definitely still interested in Alum Initiation, though, I have not had much time lately to pursue it.

I was sort of hoping to get involved initially in programming--for example, on health care issues. Do you think this is something that the young men need (or even have at their regular meetings)?

Tom, I would very much like to talk with you about this via e-mail. I am aggiedoc1995@yahoo.com . I'd appreciate any advice on how you think I can begin to get involved.

My intentions are very sincere, and based on the great things I see my wife, sister and sister-in-law doing as alumnae for the young women in their communities. I am willing to earn my place and would be honored if asked to be an alum initiate. Even if I am not, I hope to contribute to Greek organizations anyway through programming on health-related issues.

Finally, I'd like to apologize for "disappearing." The last week of my rotation got hectic, then I left town. Sorry 'bout that.

Andrew

PS...
 

By the way, I want to thank everyone who has taken the time to reply. I appreciate your words of wisdom and information.

Andrew

Andrew, I tried to e-m you and it got kicked back as not valiad!

E-M and will discuss with you further as gave you some info of who to cantact at our International! :)

Hmm...I wonder what happened?

I did end up getting one of your e-mail messages and have replied. Again, many thanks for your time. I appreciate your willingness to help.

Andrew

Good luck!
 

Andrew-
Good luck on finding a Fraternity to become a member of. There are many Fraternities that are open to alumni initiates. Do not give up! It is a great experience!
:)

Does anyone have any updated information on Andrew?

I love to hear stories, especially ones with happy endings... :)

Cluey, just tried an e-m again!

If get anything, will update!

Thank you for bringing that up again!

You a sweety!:)

Tom,

I can't take the credit for finding this thread; it belongs completely to CutiePie2000. She was discussing it in the newest fraternity alum initiation thread and I was curious to see if things had worked out for Andrew.

Thanks for emailing him and the compliment!

I did a search and came up with this thread only. :(

Just for curiosity's sake, what fraternities do alumni initiation? What are the requirements for alumni intiation for these groups? I'm assuming they require service to a college chapter or volunteering w/ a chapter as a requirement.

If there's another thread on this subject, please post a link.

Thanks!

Just doing a google search I found this information:

Pi Kappa Phi does it.
- Alumni Initiation - Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity allows brothers to initiate men who have already attended an accredited institution. Men invite their grandfathers, fathers and brothers to take part in initiation. Alumni initiates are full members of Pi Kappa Phi and have the same rights as men initiated in college. The only restriction is they cannot previously be a member of any national social fraternity and they must be completed with their schooling. They can be members of honor fraternities and/or service fraternities.

So does Delta Upsilon:
Delta Upsilon's Alumni Initiate Program provides a perfect opportunity to introduce non-affiliated men to the vision and values that have guided our Fraternity for over 165 years. Many represent the qualities and talents we look for in chapter advisors. In many cases they may be recruited to serve the colony as valuable, confident, and knowledgeable resources.

It sounds like Delta Chi does too (I read an article about fathers of guys in one chapter becoming alumni initiates of that chapter.) As do Theta Xi and Phi Sigma Kappa, but I haven't seen any specifics about those groups.

We do alumni initiations, but it's fairly rare.

We've done one in my chapter -- a faculty advisor. And there's another in the works right now.

It has to be voted on by our High Council.

Sigma Phi Epsilon does but I was given the impression that they are extremely rare.

Re: Alum Initiation for Fraternities?
 

Dr. Samuel Brown Wiley Mitchell actually founded the Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity in the 1800s. The initial meetings were held in his office when the fraternity rolled out in it's infancy stages.

Phi Kaps were a pretty cool group of guys when I was in undergrad. I almost rushed their fraternity but favored my own GLO.

Regards,

Boodleboy322

Alpha Phi Alpha has Alumni Initiation, as does Kappa Alpha Psi, Omega Psi Phi, Phi Beta Sigma, and Iota Phi Theta.

Do you all consider alumni initiations the same as honorary initiations or do you distinguish between the two? I was just wondering how that worked for others.

-Rudey

When APhiA had honorary membership (a practice we discontinued) there was definitely a difference between the two. Honorary membership was bestowed only on the national level (Hubert Humphrey is an honorary Alpha) while alumni initation is a fairly common practice for any man who already holds a college degree.

Now, "famous" people who want to be members have to seek Alpha through a chapter, period.

Judge Mathis is a Spring 04 initiate into an alumni chapter, FWIW.

I'm incredibly late in gettin in on this thread, but I wanted to take a minute to (again) confirm that Pi Kappa Phi does perform alumni initiations. I was recently initiated myself last December 9th into the Delta Lambda chapter at UNC-Charlotte. If you should have any specific questions please feel free to drop me an email and I'll make every attempt to answer them. Many fraternities and sororities initiate some of their best members through AI.

Best wishes,
Mike

So, yeah, this thread is incredibly old and AXiD670 has officially calle me a moron. So.... disregard. :)

I guess I can chime in on this too.

Our fraternity allows for chapters to include "special initiates" into our rituals. These are individuals (men only) who have contributed something of importance or merit to our chapter. For example. a year ago our Ritual Chairman was responsible for the construction and organization of our numerous ritual materials. His father, being handy with power tools, spent countless hours and $$ helping him build and transport everything. As a form of thank you and respect, we offered to initiate his father into our fraternity. He was given all the pledge materials to study and accepted our offer. He has an official roll number in our roll book. He's now our Ritual Advisor. So, I guess that could be a means for some guys to be involved with our fraternity long after they've exited school. Just a thought...

It's now been done twice in our chapter. However, I've been led to believe that this is still fairly rare.

My chapter is just an exceptional one, I guess ;)

I believe that Phi Kappa Tau does initiate graduates...they initiated my grandfather this past winter...poor guy's been a pledge for 50 some years ! :)