Question about Alum status
 

Do any of ya'll know what criteria you have to meet to apply for "early alum" status? (or have ya'll even ever heard of this?) I'm asking here, b/c my Diamond isn't sure, and I don't want to open that can of worms w/ our Standards chair or the President. (not that it's bad, but I don't want to "20 questions" game played as to why I'm asking b/c word travels fast)

I don't care to talk a/b it, I just don't feel comfortable posting it to the world. If you wanna know my reason for asking PM me... :)

As always, thanks in advance!!

You may go alum for the following reasons--

1) You are graduating that semester/quarter
2) You are leaving school completely
3) You are transferring and there is no ADPi chapter at your new school
4) You are transferring and there is an ADPi chapter, but you do not want to affiliate with that chapter
5) Chapter by-laws often have provisions (in my chapter, if you got engaged, we would let our members go early alum so they could plan their wedding and not have the added stress of collegiate sorority requirements. Other chapters allow members who have gotten married/engaged or who are expecting a child to go alum right away so they may focus on these responsiblities)

Other than that, there are no other criteria by which a woman may go alum.

There is an optional alumnae ritual you may participate in as you graduate called the Jewel Degree. You may receive Jewel Degree ANY time after your college days have ended-- even if it is 30 years later!

If your sister doesn't meet these criteria, she still has options--
1) She may apply for financial inactivitiy (she is still considered a member, but she is not financially responsible for the remainder of that school year) which means that she does not participate in chapter life, hold offices, vote, attend social/date functions, sisterhood events, etc. She needs to write and sign a letter to exec board. Financial inactivity is only granted in cases where there has been an unexpected financial hardship, medical problem or family emergency.
2) Request a payment plan. The chapter treasurer can assist with this.
3) Request voluntary membership cancellation. This would mean she is no longer a member of Alpha Delta Pi.

I thought you could go alum after completing 4 years as an active member? (If it takes longer for you to graduate)

T*P, you are right. In fact, if you want to stay active your 5th year, you have to apply- it's not automatic. Way to think on your toes! :)

Yay! I get a gold star! http://mysmilies.ipbfree.com/s/ups/DeNiro/star.gif

Yes, thanks for catching that sister!

Another point-- if you joined as sophomore, and you are taking the 5 year plan, you do not need to petition for 5th year status, as it would be your 4th year in ADPi.

Not that this relates to the question posed by Adelphean, but it has to do with Alumnae status.

How does it work if a sister gets married or pregnant? Must she automatically go alum or can she stay active, if she chooses to do so? I ask because we have a sister who is married yet active on this forum. But I know of a sister that we she got married went alum. Does it depend on the chapter and their specific rules?

Just thought I would ask. I had kind of always wondered this.

The alpha handbook mentions that women that marry are not automatically alums. This does not relieve them of their obligation to the chapter. I am assuming it would be the same for pregnancy. However, most chapters encourage this so the women can better focus on what their new life entails. If a sister wished to remain, she could. Her alum status would not be automatic. I dont' believe a chapter bylaws can over throw GC on any topic, this one included.

Please correct me if I'm wrong. I always love to learn.

This is crazy - I just KNOW that I posted something!

Back when I was an active, when dinosaurs roamed the earth, married ADPis were automatically granted alumna status. We were not permitted to give a married PNM a bid, and pregnancy was not even discussed!

Now, it would depend on the chapter by-laws, to my knowledge (I called back in the fall).

We have a sister in our chapter who is pregnant. (She's due April 11!!!) She had to apply to go alum, however she wasn't completely paid up so she is currently inactive until she turns her money in, then she will be considered alum.

Adelphean,

Red Flag! I don't want this women to owe money needlessly-- The only way she could be considered financially inactive is if she was paid up at the time inactivity is granted. Right now, she is technically on the chapter books as an active member who owes the chapter money.

Late fees accrue to her account while she goes unpaid. The chapter treasurer can get her on a payment plan so she can catch it up.

Do talk to her, please, and urge her to meet with the chapter treasurer ASAP!!! Once she is paid up, she can be granted inactivity through the rest of the school year and go through spring Jewel Degree with your seniors. Otherwise, they could revoke membership and, in a worst-case scenario, send her to collections (we tend not to send to collections, but it has been done).

yes yes yes please have her contact the treasurer. There are many plans availible that should fit her needs.

This is a special deal that was worked out between her, the President, and the treasurer. We have a provision in our by-laws that allows for special circumstances involving inactivity and being paid up. (Well, this By-law is active until June)

Honey,
I guess we were actives about the same time!
Yes, used to be that "married women" were FORCED (by our by-laws) to go alum and chapters were not allowed to bid a "married woman'! Heavens!! :rolleyes:
As far as pregnancy.... I can't even imagine... Lord help me when that happens to me (as an Advisor to collegiate chapter)!

I think I'm younger than y'all, and it was still a big No no at our chapter.

My feeling is that no one should be forced to go alum in situations of pregnancy and marriage. I think they should be given the choice. With marriage if the spouse is understanding of the commitments required, it shouldn't be a problem for a member to remail active. As for pregnancy, accidents happen, I just feel a sister who gets pregnant shouldn't be forced to go alum. She should be given the choice on whether or not to go alum. I'm sorry if I'm not making any sense.

No, you made sense... and I agree.

I wasn't clear -

Our policies USED to force women who married to go alum; no longer! We now allow married women to remain as Delta members. EO has not come out and stated a position on pregnancy. Yes, the choice should be hers! While I don't think we should force a Delta member into alum status b/c she's pregnant, I seriously doubt that any new mother can/will live up to Delta-obligations when she has an infant child to care for!

Exactly.

I know that if for some reason I had accidently gotten pregnant in college, I would have wanted to stay active as long as I could because doing things as a collegian are completely different than doing things as an alum. Sometimes I personally don't like being an alum. I say this because I love to get dressed and be in a pretty dress and go to a dance (hint hint on black diamond ball) but you don't get to do that as an alum. Well at least the Phoenix alum don't get to do that. It kind of bites. I'm such a dork. I just miss having an excuse to go buy a pretty dress and get my hair and nails done. LOL.

Brianna, I know what you mean- I was just thinking the other day that I haven't really danced since my wedding 9 years ago. And I used to love to go to ADPi dances! Somehow I can't see my alumnae association having the same type of function. We do different activities that are great, but nothing replaces those good ol' formals & casuals!

A formal would be fun! I wonder if you could entice a bunch of recent sorority alumnae to coordinate that as a Panhellenic thing-- it could be for alumnae of any sorority to attend. Proceeds could go to benefit the local alumnae panhellenic, which would then be put toward scholarships for collegians :) I'm sure that would be a great topic for your town's next Alumnae Panhellenic meeting! And you could advertise it locally, in alum newsletters, web sites, emailing, local churches, Junior Leagues, etc....

I have to admit, I cracked up about the Formal thing. My roomie's husband is an attorney, and she always refers to their annual formal as "The Bar Prom"!

I'm the incoming programming director for my assocation and I'm planning on having a christmas party kind of like winter semi, I think it would be fun I totally want to have a dress up party. So far everyone i've pitched it to thinks it's a great idea.

i love this idea!!!

Oh, I think I have a few years on you, Leslie!

Just two years ago, there was a pregnancy in the local chapter. I don't even want to go into the drama behind the baby shower!

Actives, just as we try to understand your need for tatoos and piercings, you have to try to understand us, too! This is a quickly changing world, and it's hard to keep up when you're a dinosaur!!

I don't have any dinosaur years on me, honeychile, and I'm still on your side of the whole tatooing/piercing/babies/weddings issue!

That is so sad the closest local chapter does not invite you to their Black Diamond Ball! I just got an email today inviting all alums to the local chapter formal in April!

On the other topic....I guess I have seen it all. When I was in the chapter a woman got married and stayed active for her three final years. We initiated an unmarried girl with a child. And two girls became pregnant while in the chapter...one went alum right away and the other wasn't due until after she graduated, so she stayed until she went alum that spring.

The chapter I am from is an awesome chapter and we win top chapter on campus almost every year!! So obviously the "issues" have not caused us any problems.

Just my .02

I think the reason a lot of chapters would prefer an active to go alum once she becomes pregnant is b/c no matter what the circumstance, it looks "bad/funny/weird" to have an unmarried active sister 8 months pregnant standing out side the university center sporting her letters. Recruitment is 365 days a year. And people talk.

Although I think this is a stupid reason, I think it does have some to it (at least it does on our campus).

edited to change 375 to 365... Hey! It was late and I was tired! :D