Today I received this email....
 

Today I received this email!! I thought I would share it with all of you!! I have no clue who this woman is..but she sure touched my heart, as I am sure she will touch yours too........

Hello,

I'm writing to tell you what an incredible organization you have in Alpha Delta Pi. It was just 10 years ago that I went through recruitment at the University of Akron. I remember the first time I walked through the door at the Alpha Delta Pi house. I could immediately picture myself there with all of these wonderful women. I've never felt more welcome anywhere than I did there. I remember the following evening I received a phone call from a woman (I believe her name was X X). She extended an invitation to me to attend the next 2 parties at the ADPi house. I quickly accepted. I will never forget her words to me. "You will never feel alone on campus again." Wow! What powerful words. I knew right then how much I wanted to be an Alpha Delta Pi. I went to the next party and again felt completely welcome at their house. I met more women and ran into someone that I had known for a couple years, but didn't know she was an ADPi. Unfortunately, the following night was their last party. At the last minute a friend called and needed my help. I was torn, but knew I couldn't leave my friend in a bind. As I suspected, I lost my chance at becoming an Alpha Delta Pi. I was extended a bid for another sorority, but knew that if I couldn't be an Alpha Delta Pi I didn't want to join a sorority at all. It was a great experience just meeting those wonderful women and one that I will never forget. Not a day has gone by over the past 10 years where I didn't feel regret at missing that last party. I hope all of the women of Alpha Delta Pi realize what a treasure they have in their membership. First. Finest. Forever.

I've always wanted to tell someone what a lasting impression ADPi made on me but never did it until now. Your email address was the first one I found so I decided to send the note to you. I apologize for taking up your time. Thank you!

Best Regards,
X X

What a touching e-mail! I wonder if she'd be interested in maybe doing AI?

I was thinking the same thing....we have our next alum meeting in mid-march...I am going to email her back right away...but not bring up AI...and then talk to the Alum Assoc about it in March and see!

Oh, I hope she would consider AI!! What a wonderful person, to take the time to write that!

It sounds like by her letter that she has a very favorable impression of ADPi and wishes she had not had to make the decision between a friend in need and ADPi, so I would guess that given the opportunity to become involved as a sister in the organization would interest her!

That is the sweetest thing... it totally made my evening... You all should definately approach her about doing AI... I am in charge of organizing it for my alum association... we are planning on initating several women and I can't wait. I had this idea of giving them their bids by singing "little ADPi" outside their homes one special evening. Of course, we would work it out with their children and spouses so it would be a surprise! If you have any questions about AI, Ucfadpi is an expert on the subject... or you could PM me for information or more cute ideas. I am really excited about this whole AI thing as you can probably tell. Have a great week!
Loyally,
USFAlum :)

What a great letter! I think you're on the right track about talking to your association about AI before you approach her, though. Some associations aren't as "in tune" to the program and it might take some time to educate them. You don't want to disappoint the PNAM- get all your ducks in a row first.
Good luck!

WOW!! That is great!!!! Please keep us posted.

Contact this woman and invite her to your next chapter function or alumnae function. Have everyone meet her and see if she might be a suitable AI for your group.

If she is, then appoint someone to contact her and ask her if she would be interested in AI. You can get more info on the AI program from EO.

If she is interested, you can begin the paperwork process to approve her as an AI candidate. Once the paperwork is fully approved, she will be initiated within 6 months of the approval.

Good luck!

ADPiUCF

Good thinking! I will tell my Alumnae Group next month and then we can bring her to Songfest in April if she is interested...and then from there we can see! Thanks for the suggestion!

So I emailed her back and asked why she never went through at a later time....here is her response....


Well, here is the story. I didn't go through Recruitment until the spring semester of my junior year. Like I mentioned before another sorority extended a bid. I felt pressured to make a decision that moment and I accepted it but knew immediately it was the wrong decision since I didn't feel the welcomeness I felt with ADPi. Within just a couple days I talked to my new member educator and told her I was not going to continue with pledging this sorority. Since the following year was my senior year I didn't think I would be able to get as involved in a sorority as I wanted to for just a year. That's why I never went back through Recruitment. It probably seems silly to hold onto a regret like that for 10 years but joining a sorority was something I'd wanted to do long before I even went to college. To this day I wish I would have gone through Recruitment in my freshman or sophomore year.

It is good to know that women like you stay actively involved in ADPi. I can't understand how some women can just graduate and walk away from their sororities. It seems to be such a shame when they have so much to offer beyond the collegiate years.


She needs AI more than I can say!!!!!!!!!!

OMG-- she sure does! If you would like to speed up the process... why don't you offer to meet her for coffee? Get a feel for her and then talk to your assoc president. You can then go back and say, "Hey lady, we have an ADPi program for AI. I'd love to talk with you about it, b/c I would love to see you as a sister of ADPi. We need women like you."

What district are you in?

Getting coffee would be absolutely possible.........SINCE SHE LIVES DOWN THE STREET FROM ME! I am not kidding...we just emailed again and we live in the same city about a mile from each other!! I just invited her to something with the group in April...I know April is far away...but I need to meet with the Association before doing anything!

ETA: District 4

I can't help but think of the song most of us sing at Pref, "It Only Takes a Spark..."!! ADPiAkron, you are truly doing a wonderfully kind thing, taking the time to meet with this woman, and taking her to an alumnae meeting!! Please keep us posted!

I am meeting with this woman tomorrow for coffee!! Hope all goes well!!

Bring a sorority scrapbook and your pin to show her :) Talk about bringing her to meet the alumnae group this month.

And learn more about her, too. What does she do for a living? Does she like to volunteer? Talk about the RMH and ADPi's role in RMH.

Tell her about the alumnae group's involvement with the chapter and with the other alumnae. Play up social events, fundraisers and the friendships you've made.

Enjoy this time to make a new friend!

OH Yippie!!!!



*Happy dance*

I have been in contact with the woman she mentioned by name in the email (is XX in GC) and she did state that she used to tell women "you will never feel alone on campus..." So I feel better on this woman and her status!!!!!!!!!

I know all of you have been anxiously awaiting ;) ....I met the PNAM and she is the nicest woman! Another ADPi and myself met her for coffee at about 5:30 and we stayed and chatted until abuot 7:00! Time just flew and we talked about everything...you would think we were old friends! I will keep you all updated as there is more contact!!!

ADPI isn't something you join or something you become...it is something you already are. Sounds like she has always been apart of our sisterhood, even if it was unofficial. :) I'm glad you are taking the time to get to know her. Violets to you!!!

I do have bad news on the AI front. I will not be recommending her for AI because she is moving back to her home town at the end of this year. So she even agreed it would not be right for her to go through all of this and then leave us, that is if she did receive AI. Sorry for the bad news!

So, where's her home town? :D

Northwest Ohio...versus Northeast where we are now! About 3-4 hours away.

Any sisters in the Toledo Area? This lady sounds too good to lose!

Contact the ACRD for her district! I'll PM you her info if you want.

I completely agree, she does sound too good to lose. Just by reading her emails and not having met her, I think she would make such a wonderful addition to our sisterhood.

Have you brought up AI to her and she had declined due to her moving? Can you bring AI up to her? (I guess that actually should have been my first question huh? Pulling a blonde moment. LOL.)

Please keep us informed.

I just have a question, Why is her moving at the end of the year automatically discounting her for AI? Is she not ADPi quality? It to my understanding that ADPi is forever. So if she has what we as a sisterhood are looking for, then why not AI? Can she not start or join an AA where she is moving? I understand she won't be active in you AA long, but she could still be a key part in ADPi. It sounds like she has the heart and the desire to be a Lion. That is a special thing.

Sorry to crash!
 

:( That's too bad that you do not feel you can recommend her for AI. I've been offered membership with a wonderful group of women. I was completely honest with them and told them I would be moving. When I mentioned that to the pres. of the Alum Association she basically said "Who cares?" because there is a collegiate chapter and an AA in the area where I will be moving. And, that this is for a lifetime. We just "clicked" and they want me to be a sister whether I live 5 minutes away or 500 miles. On the other hand, if you feel she wouldn't be able to contribute wherever she moves then it is probably best not to recommend her. I would just hate to see ADPi lose out on a woman who seems like she would be an incredible sister.

It is not that I do not want to offer her AI...there are a few reasons. The first one being SHE said she would not like to get involved because of moving. Second, is that we would like to get to know her better...and by the time we would she would be leaving...AI has only been mentioned not offered. Third, I have offered the idea about AI to her in the area she is moving to, but I think her interest was with our group in the area specifically .....but I will still give it to her and she can do with it as she pleases! She is a great girl and I cannot wait for everyone to meet her at Songfest!!

PS: If she would want to join up in the Northwest Ohio area...I would recommend her to them!!

Those PMs made me look like an AI hata'! hahahaha