what does this mean....
 

I went to the ADPi hall last night and got inducted into Alphaship last night... it was nerve-racking, but really nice. I was the only girl getting inducted.

Anyway, i got my pin last night (i guess its my pledge pin ? ) and it has BUA writting on it. They told me what it says but i dont remember. They also said it symbolized the statment "we live for eachother". So can someone give me some more incite on this?

I pm'd you, Julie!

oops
 

i didnt know that this wasnt appropriate to ask on the boards for various reason... dont mind me :o

Julie, for a new member, you're very wise to be thinking like that already-- it takes a lot of us awhile to adjust to what is appropriate to say about sorority stuff :) Violets!

Welcome to ADPi, Julie!!

However, I also have a question.

I thought all of the things they taught you pre-initiation were not secret/ritual. Did I imagine that? For example, what the pledge pin means, the sorority history, our psalm, etc. etc. etc....maybe I am confused though.

(Don't worry, I haven't shared any of this info w/ anyone, I'm just curious!)

Julie, welcome to ADPi.

Well, it's been a long time since I was initiated (5 years), so I honestly can't remember.
But it just seems to me that things I would consider private, some don't. (Hope that makes sense).
The only time I talk about my alphaship and initiation in detail is with other sisters. I only spoke of very brief and general things to non sisters (friends, family).
what I mean by things I consider private, an example would be our blessing. On the regular GC board someone started a thread asking about chapter blessings. People willingly posted theirs. An ADPi posted ours, but I somehow felt that it shouldn't have been posted and that the other chapters shouldn't have posted theirs. Maybe it is just me but it seems to me that a chapters blessing should be kept private.

Julie, if you have questions at all, my best and only advice is to go to your new member educator. She is there to help you out, to answer any questions you might have. Of course we will also answer anything too. :)

Brianna

Definitely use your N.M.E.--she/they are there JUST for you! They spend all year getting ready for those super cool Alphas!

About what you posted Brianna--I wasn't even aware we had a chapter blessing/grace until I saw it posted. Where would someone learn something like that? I am an initaited, regular Delta member of my chapter but none of my (immediate) sorority friends or I knew our grace/blessing! It was definitely not something I recall from our N.M. binder or initiation.

I learned it as an alpha. It might have also been that my chapter of initiation (Delta Gamma) has a house. Every Monday before chapter we would meet at around 5:30 for dinner. Prior to dinner we did blessing. My NME I'm pretty sure taught us it, otherwise it was one of the actives that taught me it.
I'm assuming that non house chapters probably don't know the blessing. I say this because Gamma Rho (ASU) doesn't have a house and whenever we do blessing, let's just say, it's not to pretty cause they don't know it.
Like I said, I just think a lot of things about a persons sorority should just be kept to the members itself. That's just how I feel. Other people are going to feel completely different than me and I welcome that.
Brianna

Nothing against ASU, but not all non-house chapters don't know the blessing. Our chapter sings the blessing anytime we get together in our CR for any type of eating. We've even sung it with PNM's in the room, so I don't think there's too much concern with non-members hearing the words to our blessing. I understand what you're saying, Brianna, I just think that there are women out there that are proud of our blessing and want to share it with others....it's a nice benediction for anyone to hear! :)

of course... i consider her the oracle of knowledge right now... but i got home and i couldnt call anyone b/c i dont have any numbers and i had just forgot what it all meant - being that night was filled with information. So i thought i was ask yall... then i was informed that it might be to ritualistic to post about. I am not sure about these rules... but i want to try and be as respectful as possible.


I thank everyone for you great advice. Yall are awesome!

I really agree with you, Brianna! I think a lot of things posted on the ADPi section of GC are not appropriate and do not belong on the World Wide Web for everyone to see. Sometimes it feels like this is our own little ADPi world here, but actually anyone can see it, including PNMs! I feel very uncomfortable with some things- I haven't seen anything about ritual posted, but I feel that some issues discussed would be better discussed on Pride Online (of course the message board there needs an overhaul). Many PNMs could think that the problems/issues in one chapter are the issues at all ADPi chapters and not be able to distunguish (we all do that in some ways- tending to think all the XYZs have this quality or the ABCs look a certain way). I know one purpose of GC is to break down stereotypes and I think if only initiated Greeks could read the boards, they'd understand, but from a PR/Marketing perspective, some things aren't the best ideas to post. I know some with disagree, but that's just my own little opinion.

here's a breakdown
 

I did it! I posted our blessing! :) The blessing is not ritual. If you have been taught that it is a ritual, please go back to the person who told you this and immediately correct them.

What is open: Our blessing. Our songs. The ADPi Creed. The history of our founding, our lion and his name "Alphie," the woodland violet or diamond, our colors and their meaning, our original name, our diamond circle and 25 year anniversary ceremonies, and our Founders Day ceremonies. The Mother Ceremony and the meaning of the Mother Pin. What our Pride Program is All ABOUT. What TME is. What goes on at an education meeting (unless that education meeting is a sorority ritual review). Our nomenclature for officers and phases of membership. (FYI-- we're trying to get away from calling our alumnae "Pi" members. Also, a female alum is an alumnA. Female alum together are AlumnAE. AlumnI are plural male alum or a coed crowd of alum. A single male alum is an alumnUS.) Our closing in a letter to another ADPi is "Loyally"-- this is not ritual or a secret, either.

There are open meanings for "Alpha Delta Pi" as Greek Letters and the alpha badge that may be shared with non members. These open meanings are often shared with PNM's during recruitment to help them understand ADPi and feel the connection. The fuller meaning of these are learned in the ritual ceremonies during Diamond Days.

What DRIVES ME CRAZY: The little sayings our chapters make up like PATA or OBIC, etc--- are not ritual and have never been ritual, and are not part of the Alpha Delta Pi international teachings or way, contrary to what your chapters may have taught you. I tell you this with ONE-THOUSAND PERCENT security and certainty. I know you will tell me I am wrong, will be upset--- as I practically caused a riot on here a couple of months ago when I dropped that "bomb" on you. PATA came out of a keynote speech at a convention many years ago-- It meant Pi's Are Totally Awesome. PATA came back to the chapters as this new "secret" and chapters made up their meanings for it. OBIC followed, and almost every chapter has made up their own nonsense words. THIS IS NOT AN ADPI THING. Even if it is a local tradition with your chapter, it is the equivalent of making up your own ritual. ADPi chapters do not have that privilege. KD has AOT. Alpha Xi has TFJ. Let's quit having Acronym Envy. ADPi DOES NOT have secret acronyms. We have plenty of other interesting ritual secrets though that do need to be kept quiet.

What is ritual and secret from non-members: the meaning of our coat-of-arms, the meaning of Alpha Delta Pi as it is learned in the initation ceremony (there is an open meaning that is shared with non members), our secret motto as it is learned in initation (Our open motto that is shared with non members is We Live For Each Other), anything you learn in alpha ceremony, neophyte ceremony, diamond days, initation, Jewel Degree (alumnae initation), our membership selection process during sorority recruitment, the way the chapter votes in a meeting, the opening to the chapter meeting, the closing to the chapter meeting, the "ritual paraphernalia" you see at any chapter business meeting, alpha ceremony, initation ritual, etc.

You should not discuss the business discussed or presented in chapter with a non-member. (However, if it was announced in chapter that ADPi will play KD in intramural football on Tuesday at 5 PM, it's ok to spread the word! Things like that...) I have heard back and forth on our psalm that it is secret vs open. I would advise if you are not certain of something, please don't repeat it outside of ADPi.

Also, if you feel a post by a member of GC is inappropriate, please PM them and share your feelings. That member can go back and delete her post, or if she initiated the thread, she can delete the thread without a moderator's assistance. GC does not seem to want to help us traffic the boards b/c they will not give us moderator access, so we must make up for this by helping one another.

I agree we all need to utilize Pride Online. Perhaps we can do this-- if you have a chapter concern, post a note on GC-- ADPi's please go to Pride Online to read a sister-sensitive post. I would appreciate your input. Perhaps we come up with a code--- for Example. Sisters, The Lion is Roaring at Pride Online; Board: Recruitment; Subject: Panhellenic at XYZ University. If the Pride Online option does not sound appealing, we could begin a Yahoo! Groups email list for the GC ADPi's where members can email the group about a problem they are facing in their chapter and get sisterly feedback over a secure channel.

Nothing our members post on GC is intended to humiliate or reveal ADPi secrets; I think we are so comfortable in our GC community, we forget that there are other groups and others who are non-Greeks on the boards, who, as much as we admire them and like them, are not members of ADPi and shouldn't be privy to our "dirty laundry."

Ok, is this post long enough? Have I offended anyone with this post? I truly hope not. I have the utmost care and concern for everyone of my sisters, and for Alpha Delta Pi as an organization. I'm happy to know all of you in the GC community and I look forward to our continuing to grow together as sisters.

Pi Love to All!

Edited to add: The ONLY things that should be kept secret from our ADPi new members are opening and closing meeting ritual and what is learned at initation. New members can wear letters, hold office in the chapter, vote and are considered SISTERS--- they do not have to work to prove themselves. Before any intro to a ritual, they will be downloaded on what to expect and how to prepare. If you're unsure of something to give to or tell a new member, please run it by the NMC. If she's not sure, she will talk to the MEVP. If any confusion remains, the TME adviser/chapter adviser/CPD or TME director will clear it up. Keeping things secret like the dates of initation, or the date of the international exam are not cool at all, and is seen as hazing. And ADPi doesn't haze :) So treat your alphas like the gems they are, and you will be rewarded with happy new sisters who are active and want to do everything with ADPi!

Good post, adpiucf! I like your "The Lion is Roaring at Pride Online" idea!:) Should we adopt it?

WLFEO (by the way, now that I know what your SN stands for--- our open motto-- We Live For Each Other--- I just want to tell you-- that is so adorable! I love it!)

My chapter back in the day used "The Lion Is Roaring" as a discreet way to say, "Hey sister, we're in public and you need to remember you're an ADPi." (if a sister was forgetting for a moment to act like a lady or about to make a potentially bad decision) I think we could apply it here.

awesome post adpiucf. You cleared up a lot of things for me personally. Some of the things you mentioned that are 'public' for some reason I thought were 'private'. Maybe it was just how my NME broached the subjects or what not. (I was also initiated 5 years ago, so things might have change, in fact I know they have, in those years).
As for PATA, I was actually not allowed to know what the phrase meant until I was initiated. Now this was my chapters choice to do this. But because of that decision I totally thought PATA was something I shouldn't share with people who aren't ADPi. I also learned a different version of PATA. The version DG chose to say was 'Pi's Are Together Always'.

Again, thanks for the info.

Brianna

Wow, adpiucf... that is a lot of info to take in, but besides that... it was a great post!

HHMMMM.... I've never heard of PATA or OBIC until I learned that some chapters use it and they should not. Strange how things get started! :p

Julie, welcome to ADPi. You aren't expected to memorize ANY of that-- it will just come to you as common sense or you will learn it in passing.

What is exciting about our organization-- we're HUGE--- ADPi is literally everywhere. The good news is that almost anywhere you go in life, a sister will most likely already be there to guide you. The down side to being part of such a large organization with secrets and ritual is that sometimes people have a tendency to embellish this or add that there-- which they really shouldn't do, but it gets passed down over the years and urban legend becomes fact. IE-- The PATA thing-- it's years later, I KNOW it's not ritual and I feel guilty posting that the meaning I learned was "Patience and Truth Always." Which is a very pretty saying, and I would happily share that with people, but I wouldn't keep it a secret-- it's just not an ADPi ritual. You see? Old habits die hard! :)

When I was a TME Adviser, my collegians used to call me "the walking COB." (The COB, so you know, Julie, is our Chapter Operations Book-- a book for viewing by any ADPi member about how we run our meetings, an outlining of our policies and rules, officer to-do lists, etc.) So anyway-- just consider me your treasure-trove of useless fun facts. :) That post wasn't there to overwhelm you; it just seemed like everyone had a lot of questions out there.

Again, welcome new sister!

Interesting
 

Thank you, adpiucf, for a (personally) much needed refresher on many topics. I know that I can always count on you for info like that :).

We used, "Eugenia's here!" instead of "The Lion Is Roaring". I think each chapter has their little code.

I had a babydoll for a New Member Educator!! One of her favorite sayings was "The D in ADPi stands for Discretion"! When I made that remark about a year ago (while visiting Alpha Iota), I saw a couple sisters jotting it down!

I SO appreciate the time you took to post what's secret and what's not! I would like to think that everyone will take that back to their chapters - it's wonderful.

http://www.wildviolets.com/wv2/catal...es/welcome.jpg
Violets to you, adpiucf!!!

Definitely a big pot of violets to adpiucf for her post on what's secret and what's not! Many of those things I hadn't even heard of, so it's interesting to see what different chapters learn about the organization.

If I do become involved with helping a collegiate chapter, I'll definitely pass on these things to the chapter!

I was thinking today about this thread and how i was told that it might not be appropriate to talk about for certain reasons...

Anyway, if this is a secret "type" thing, then what would you tell a non-greek if he/she asked about the "pin"? Since when i started this thread all i wanted to know was what the letters stood for since i knew the "meaning", since i didnt remember. Now tell me... if someone asked me what would i say?!

Julie, tell them that you are an ADPi and that you are in the first phase of membership: Alpha Membership and that this is your symbol of Alpha Membership-- the alpha badge. You can tell your friends about our lion, diamond and violets, and our colors. Your NMC can give you a run-down on great ways to promote ADPi and explain your badge :)

I figured i could anyone these things, being that you are our in public wearing your pin for everyone to see. So my question is, why was i told that it might not be a good idea to mention this in the public ADPi forum, if im openly wearing my badge for everyone to see.

I just want to know what i need to keep off the boards, and vice versa... just learning.

Ah I see. I think that is actually a great question for you to bring up at Alpha Education this week, for your NMC to answer for all of your alpha class!

You can tell people you are in Alpha Delta Pi and this is your new member badge-- the "alpha pin." You have been told a little of the meaning and more will be revealed as you become a delta member, but for now, you can wear your pin, tell people what it is, and explain that some things are Alpha Delta Pi "ritual" and cannot be revealed to non-members. They will understand it is a sorority secret and won't press you.

What you keep off the boards and say to non-members: please stray away from anything to do with the order of a business meeting or what is discussed in a business meeting, nor anything to do with the order of a ritual like initation, the ritual things (you do wear a pin, but its whole meaning is known only to members of ADPi), alpha ceremony, etc, or things your NMC tells you are secret. What you can reveal: ADPi history, symbols and colors and open motto.

If your chapter is facing some challenges, think about the image you are projecting for ADPi-- it is ok to talk to a sister about these things, but you might be better posting them at Pride Online (you will get a membership number when you are delta to sign on), so don't post anything you feel might be negatively perceived by another GLO on a Greek Chat board. Other GLO's do read our forum, and that is ok. We can read theirs, too! We want to keep positive PR for ADPi, though. It's ok to PM an ADPi about it and they can advise you. But if anything, if you aren't sure about something do talk to your NMC and Diamond Sis. They are the surest thing to the right answers :) This isn't to say that if there is a problem, it should stay within you. But discuss it with your chapter before you post on Greek Chat, and in matters of ritual or secrets, always talk to your NMC, Diamond Sis or the Guard (keeper of our ritual).

Welcome again and thanks for your great questions :)