Hi, I'm a newbie!
 

Good morning, folks.

I just stumbled across this site and this board recently.

I'm seeing the posts with my own eyes but I still can't believe it: there are OTHER alumni who want to join sororities? Praise be, I thought I was the only one!!

Here's a brief intro................(I promise, it will be brief <g>)

I graduated from a very large university on the East coast back in 1990. (That makes me 34, guys.)
I went through rush, and had my heart set on one sorority, but did not receive a bid. There is a long story about this but if someone would like the details, I'll refer it to PMs. (I promised to be brief. ;) )
I did my best to stay active through college and beyond, but it was hard. I am the only child in my family, and I was so looking forward to joining a new family of sisters. Not just to have sisters around, but to *be* a sister, a reliable support to other girls as well.
I tried to put the experience behind me but it was always there. Something was missing.
I ended up marrying a Kappa Alpha brother, who is quite serious about the vows he took at his initiation. (One of the reasons I love him so much--he takes vows seriously. <G>) This put the Greek thought closer to the front of my mind. So, I just started browsing, found the website of the sorority I missed, brushed up on the information and ideals, but didn't get my hopes up. After all, college is over and I have a home and a family (hopefully soon!) to think about.

Then I found this forum.

After getting my jaw up off the floor, I signed up an logged in.

Is it *really* possible to pledge a sorority, even after all these years? I am imagining being able to promote the Greek system at my alma mater (which is struggling under difficult circumstances), maybe cross-pollinate the ideas that keep them alive with the schools in my new home (Houston-area).
I am almost too afraid to take the big step to ask.

I don't even know where to begin with questions or how to join in. How do the collegiate members feel about alumnae being initiated alongside them? How do you go up to a sorority and say, "Hi, my name is Adrienne, and even though I graduated college years ago, I would like to dedicate myself to promoting your ideals and work. Will you pledge me?"

I'll stop babbling and let my mind stop swimming. I'd be overjoyed to hear from any ladies (or gentlemen) out there with a thought or comment.

Wow!!! I just can't tell you how happy I am to find this board!

--Adrienne
:D

WOW--
I am not sure what the rules are, I am sure that they are different with each organization. But if you were in my area and that was my chapter I would be knocking on your door. It is soooooo very hard to get things done when you have a weak greek system and even harder to get people to help you. I think that these women would love to have you around. And if they do not they are crazy and you have an open invitaion to join us in chicago.

Welcome!! I'm glad to see another Texas lady seeking alumna initiation. I was just like you - Wow, you mean we can REALLY do this? I was so excited just to learn about it.

Good luck with your search. There are many ladies here on GC who will help you. That's where I found my mentors, and I hope to be able to report good news soon.

Lizz

adduncan-- I've just PM'd you (sent you a private message)

Welcome! :)

There are lots of women here who have gone through the alum initiation process... I'm sure they can give you some insight.

Alum initiation policies range from "we don't do it at all" (AEPhi is in this category :( ) to "you have to have a relative who's a member" to "anyone can try for alum initiation".

From what I've read here, your best bet is to choose one and only one group to pursue, contact either their national office or local alum chapter, maybe get involved with a collegiate chapter if there's one nearby, and go from there. The process can take months or years, so be patient!

Good luck! :)

Welcome.

Oh wow--thanx so much, folks.

I'm typing on my 'puter at home today to keep my fingers warm. (Furnace went out just as the weather got nippy and I'm waiting on the repair guy. Brrrrr!)

While I'm listening to the PMs and all the advice, I'd like to hear what the "rules" are for discussing this topic. Is it gauche to mention the group you would like to join as an alum, or is it OK? I've been out of school for so long I want to make sure that I get off on the right foot. ;)

Thank you again--I'll be checking in often!

Adrienne
:D

I would say that it's completely up to you how much you want to mention (names, etc). Some feel that it will jinx you if you mention the groups. Others mention the groups they are interested. We are here to help and if you have any questions ask away! I want to say that there is probably at least 1 alumna initiate from each NPC group that has an alumna initiate program on this board who can answer any questions you might have. :) There are also a few threads that have many questions answered - and are still on the first page of Alumni Involvement.

Sarah
AOII Alumna Initiate '00

Hi Adrienne,
I just wanted to say "Welcome to GC and to your pursuit of Alumnae Initiation!".

Don't let your age deter you from wanting to do this...I was 31 when I was initiated into Delta Gamma as an alumna initiate, and know of many others who were in their 30s, right up to age 37.

I sent you a Private Message, and I hope that I can help you out with any advice that you may be seeking with regards to this process! There are many many others who were successfully initiatied into sororities, so it can happen for you, too! Just to give you an idea, I know of women on this board who are alumnae initiaties of Delta Gamma, Delta Delta Delta, Alpha Xi Delta, Alpha Omicron Pi, Alpha Phi, & Gamma Phi Beta, and I do know of some who are "pending" right now, for Sigma Kappa, Pi Beta Phi, Delta Gamma and Gamma Phi Beta. So, even though you might think you are the only one, trust me, there are others out there! I can think of about 12 women on GC alone who were alumnae initiates!

Good Luck and please keep us posted. Also, if you have any questions, please PM me!

Adrienne,
Just wanted to add my welcome to the other GC posters here.
I am so impressed with your story. I think your true interest in having a "family" of sisters to surround you will make you a wonderful asset to any sorority. I wish you all the luck in the world finding your Greek home.
violets

OMG CutiePi2000-- i thought you were like 21 bc 2000 is after your name and that's the year i graduated highschool so I thought that was the same for you and thus you would be 21 or close to it.
I think it's awesome that people can have the experience after college to still be greek.

how exciting for you!!! i am glad that you will be pursuing alum initiation. best of luck! keep us posted with your progress! there are lots of threads that can answer your questions, and some people who are very knowledgeable and would help you find your way!

Yay! Another prospective alumna initiate! I am so excited for you.

I found GreekChat last spring. It has provided me with not only a wealth of knowledge on alumna initiation, but also with wonderful mentors. Everyone on here is so helpful.

I am pursuing alumna initiation with Gamma Phi Beta. If you have any questions that I can help with or if you ever just want to talk, please feel free to pm me. I wish you nothing but success with your endeavor! :)

WELCOME !!
 

To all of the Newies, Glad to see Ya!:)

Yes it is possible to Initiate as an Alum and YOU will get a lot of Help and advice from the Cream of The Crop, The Best Of The Best on GC!:)

While we all have our little spats, that is because we are a very large Family!

Much love and caring by one and all is on this site! I too am so glad that I have found it and multitued of Great Freinds on here!

WELCOME, and the Best of luck in your endevor, we are all here to help you if we can!:D

Hey Adrienne!

I'm so excited that you are persuing alumnae initiation into a sorority......Alpha Sigma Alpha accepts alumnae initiates in fact we had 4 at our initation and we (the collegiate members) were excited for them just as we were excited for each other and ourselves.....just because you are at a different stage in life than a typical collegiate doesn't mean that the collegiates will look down upon you or think you are strange after all you are/will be their sister......thats my opinion on the whole issue and i wish you so much luck with finding a sisterhood after all these years.....as everyone else has said keep us posted.

ok Pick your jaw up....:)
 

I am 33 yrs old and i was just initated YESTERDAY into ALpha Phi. I am not sure which one you were looking into but there are MANY and i do mean MANY now that perform alum initiations. I was in college same time and it was very unheardof then, but things change and over time it has been adapted by many fine fine groups...like Alpha Phi( YEAH!) had to throw that out.

I felt the same way about having sisters and being a sister..it is the most wonderful feeling in the world to belong to a great family( fraternally and biologically!) :)

The person who is the best authority to talk to on this is Cute Pie 2000 she is the DIVA of all DIVAS when it comes to this. If someone has the link to her thread on the indepth facts it would be great to get this printed on here for adrienne to read!

I say all the best to you on your search for your new family of sisters.... it is the greatest feelingof all!

Laura

Congratulations cutiepatootie on being initiated into Alpha Phi!

I LOVE hearing about the alum initiaton process :D

As a collegiate, I don't think I would have felt any negative feelings about having alums initiated here... just plain excitement! One of our advisors here is a "special initiate" as we say... she was not initiated until after her college years :D

Best of luck to all!

~april

Congratulations on your initiation, cutiepatootie! Alpha Phi has gotten a great sister! :)

adduncan:

I just stumled across this thread and had to root you on. I think that alumnae initiation is great! I do not know much about it, other than Alpha Phi is one of the sororities to have alumnae initiation. One of my GC sisters, cutiepatootie, was just initiated yesterday, like she said. I think it is awesome how after graduation you can still pursue a sisterhood like the one I am a part of. Best of luck with this now and always. :)

Alum initiation
 

Just a thought...someone posted that she had seen alum initiates join sororities even up to age 37....

My mom was just initiated into AOII and she is nearing 60! :D

I am alum initiate, too. By far the best decision that I have ever made outside of my church!

:)
AOII silver

Re: Alum initiation
 

wow!! thats amazing!! :eek: :D :D

not to steal your thunder
 

Not to steal Adduncan's quest for info but i have to say thank you to all of you for your warm wishes on my initiation yesterday... and SATX*APhi i cannot believe i can actually call you sister now... it was cool to see you say that!:)

Adduncan, i read in one of the post you didn't want to jinx telling which one... and that is perfectly normal...i didnt want to say either fearing i was going to ruin what chance i had! When the time is right you will say!:)


Continued success on yoru search!:)

Laura

CONGRATS!
 

Laura, you didn't steal a thing!

Congratulations on your initiation! Your story is inspirational! I hope to come back here one day and share mine as well!

Hugs,
Adrienne
:)

I'm so excited for you! Whichever group is lucky enough to have you will get a GREAT sister to add to their bond. :)

I'll add a few more to the list of groups that have alumnae initiations: Phi Mu and Sigma Sigma Sigma both.

Good luck! Wish we had a dozen like you.

I was alumna initiated last month into Gamma Phi Beta and I'm 38! :) :) You mentioned you live in Houston? You should take a look at this link:

http://members.aol.com/HouGPhiB/gpbinitiate.html

AND ~ Congrats to Cutiepatootie on your initiation! Yay!

Re: not to steal your thunder
 

:) :D ;)

FYI....
 

Just a note to also say When i was initated the other morning , there was another alum initiate who was with me and she was a mother of one of the actives and she was within her 40s. I have to say GO FOR IT! Like Cutiepie said don't let age be a henderance.

These are the groups that i know for sure who do Alum Initiations:

of course ALPHA PHI!!!!!!!!
Sigma Sigma Sigma
Sigma Kappa
Alpha Omricron Pi
Gamma Phi Beta
Alpha X Delta
Alpha Gamma Delta
Phi Sgima sgima

I know that these groups do it, But i dont hear much chatter about it on here from these then i do fromthe above groups:
Phi Mu
Alpha Delta Pi
Tri Delts
Pi Beta Phi

The ones i dont think do it or it has to be a rare rare situation is:
Kappa Delta
Zeta Tau Alpha
Kappa Kappa Gamma
Alpha Epislon Phi

There are some groups in each of the catagories i know i am missing if someone can fill in the gaps for me i would surely appriciate it:D

Just don't let age or anyting be a hinderence. I had all the same worries and fears as you had and i didn't let it stand in my way of what i wanted all this time. If they don't like you or you don't like them, know you have a a home somewhere and you will find it. if it takes one sorority at a time....JUST DON'T GIVE UP ON YORU DREAMS and say years later..... what if!

Laura :)

Laura, I dont' think I'll ever get tired of reading your posts!

There's nothing like the realization that there *is* more time to be involved with something you've always hoped for.

I'm preparing letters now, and going through my options one-by-one. I have no more doubts that I will find a Greek home of my own.

My husband and sisters-in-law are all behind this as well. They can't share their experiences and knowledge with me, so they're encouraging my own foray into Greek life.

Way to go, Laura!!

Adrienne
:)