Jewel Degree
 

Had the privllege of finally attending jewel Degree with the seniors of Zeta Omega chapter. It was nice, but it made me kind of sad that I diddn't get to go through with my chapter :( . Anyway just wanted to share my news.

I just went through Jewel Degree on Sunday with the Gamma Pi chapter (thanks to FirstAndFinest!). My chapter does it during homecoming weekend, which is in October. Homecoming weekend at Bishop's is just mass drunkenness, and I avoided it when I was there, so there's no way I'd drive 8 hours each way to put up with it again. Plus, it would just be too hard with work (whatever that will be) to make that drive.

I thought it was really nice, and I enjoyed getting to meet the Gamma Pi girls. I wish some of the girls from my chapter had been there with me, but it was still a really awesome experience for me! (Thanks again, Leslie!!)

I'd like to ask everyone some questions about Jewel Degree, since a few of us were chatting, and each had a different experience.

1) Where was Jewel Degree held? At the Chapter's house/room/suite or whatever? At a private home or restaurant?

2) Did an Alumnae Association invite the Seniors to Jewel Degree, or did the Chapter tell the Alumnae when & where it was going to be held?

3) About how many Alumnae showed up for Jewel Degree?

4) Any other comments on Jewel Degree?


As you answer any of these questions, PLEASE DO NOT REVEAL ANY RITUAL!!!

1) Where was Jewel Degree held? At the Chapter's house/room/suite or whatever? At a private home or restaurant?
My Jewel Degree was held in our chapter room.

2) Did an Alumnae Association invite the Seniors to Jewel Degree, or did the Chapter tell the Alumnae when & where it was going to be held?
The Chapter organized the details and sent out the invitations. We usually held it in conjunction with Founders Day, when we'd have a larger number of alumnae there in the first place.

3) About how many Alumnae showed up for Jewel Degree?
It all depended...the year I went through, I thin about 10 stayed to help with Jewel Degree.

4) Any other comments on Jewel Degree?
I absolutely loved it and can't wait to experience it as an alumna! :)

1) Where was Jewel Degree held? At the Chapter's house/room/suite or whatever? At a private home or restaurant?
When I went through Jewel Degree, we had it at the Junior League building/house (we'd held Initiation there once too) in town. (Our Alumnae were active in the Jr. league as well so if we needed a place, they'd normally offer it to our chapter).

2) Did an Alumnae Association invite the Seniors to Jewel Degree, or did the Chapter tell the Alumnae when & where it was going to be held? Our AA invited the seniors. Our Alum Relations chairs would contact our AA and let them know how many girls we had graduating and let them know what days were better for us for planning purposes.

3) About how many Alumnae showed up for Jewel Degree?
I think we had about 10-15

4) Any other comments on Jewel Degree?
I think Jewel Degree is awesome and being able to attend right at the end of my undergraduate career was a great capstone.

1) Where was Jewel Degree held? At the Chapter's house/room/suite or whatever? At a private home or restaurant?

Epsilon Xi holds it in our chapter room...


2) Did an Alumnae Association invite the Seniors to Jewel Degree, or did the Chapter tell the Alumnae when & where it was going to be held?

The chapter has setup a date that works with our advisor... but in the past few years they have not been very helpful about inviting the other local alum.

3) About how many Alumnae showed up for Jewel Degree?

When I went through there were two there... I hae a feeling that it was that way again this semester since I was not even invited and live in town currently and have been to other things this semester...

4) Any other comments on Jewel Degree?

I thought it was amazing... and also a great way to go out with my fellow seniors

1) Where was Jewel Degree held? At the Chapter's house/room/suite or whatever? At a private home or restaurant?
- mine was held in the chapter suites formal living room.

2) Did an Alumnae Association invite the Seniors to Jewel Degree, or did the Chapter tell the Alumnae when & where it was going to be held?
- no, the president works with the seniors and set a date, that hopefully works with the advisors. Really no local alumn know about it, which I don't agree with.

3) About how many Alumnae showed up for Jewel Degree?
-3 TOTAL. That is including the people who helped preform the ceramony.

4) Any other comments on Jewel Degree?
- I feel it may have been a bit anti-climatic for me because I didn't get to do it the year I graduated, and this years grads had a bit of a bad attidude. The ceramony it's self is special but it just seems that mine was lacking something. Hopefully some ideas that are brewing for next years Jewel Degree will be put into place and it'll be better next year.

[QUOTE]

1) Where was Jewel Degree held? At the Chapter's house/room/suite or whatever? At a private home or restaurant?
I went through Jewel Degree at our State Convention, which was held in a hotel in Dallas. The ceremony took place in one of the suites. My home chapter does it in the chapter room after Founder's Day.

2) Did an Alumnae Association invite the Seniors to Jewel Degree, or did the Chapter tell the Alumnae when & where it was going to be held?
It was highly adverstised as one of the events during the state conference. However, my chapter usually invited the seniors and any alums they new had yet to go through JD.

3) About how many Alumnae showed up for Jewel Degree?
At state, there were 15 that actively participated in JD. In my chapter, usually the women attending Founder's day stay to help, another 8-10 or so.

4) Any other comments on Jewel Degree?
I LOVE JD!! Like all of our ceremonies, it is even more fun when you can be on the other side! They year I went through, Mary Evens Glass' bible was present. Her many great granddaughter was present and active in JD as well. It added a nice tough of history to our ceremony.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by skerbow

Quote:

4) Any other comments on Jewel Degree? I LOVE JD!! Like all of our ceremonies, it is even more fun when you can be on the other side! They year I went through, Mary Evens Glass' bible was present. Her many great granddaughter was present and active in JD as well. It added a nice tough of history to our ceremony.

OMIGOSH!!!! I would have been SO impressed to have used Mary Evans Glass' Bible!!! And to have her g-granddaughter there!!! How exciting!!

Jewel Degree is probably my favorite ritual. There are reasons I asked those questions, so once a few more ladies answer, I'll explain. :)

1) Where was Jewel Degree held? At the Chapter's house/room/suite or whatever? At a private home or restaurant? Jewel Degree was held at state convention in Austin (right up the road from my school). It was held in one of the conference rooms. I don't remember who it was at the time, but since it was state convention, some grand council officer presided over the ceremony.

2) Did an Alumnae Association invite the Seniors to Jewel Degree, or did the Chapter tell the Alumnae when & where it was going to be held? I'm not really sure. The few seniors that we had were told that we could go to the convention to have jewel degree done. Before that, I'm not too sure who did it. I do know that now the San Antonio AA goes to several chapters around the state(SWT, Baylor, A&M) and does it for them.

3) About how many Alumnae showed up for Jewel Degree? Since it was convention, there were enough alums for each part, plus many others.

4) Any other comments on Jewel Degree? I really love this ceremony. When I participated in giving it, I picked up more than when I received it. I like always picking up on something new everytime some fo our ritual is performed. Oh yeah, when I had jewel degree done, there was a girl there from some other chapter(maybe from Delta Mu, Sam Houston SU) who was having it done also who was deaf. One of her pledge sisters was signing the ceremony for her. Apparently alot of the chapter had learned sign language. I think that I was so facinated with the girl signing that I don't think that I paid a lot of attention to the actual ritual. Those girls showed so much sisterhood!!

This brings tears to my eyes - what a wonderful show of sisterhood!! I feel honored to know that these ladies are our sisters!

1) Where was Jewel Degree held? At the Chapter's house/room/suite or whatever? At a private home or restaurant?
We had it in Zeta Omegas formal living room, they don't really have a "chapter room" in the traditional sense. I don't know were EP's took place but I would venture to guess that it was either at some ones home or the interfaith center at school where we had initation

2) Did an Alumnae Association invite the Seniors to Jewel Degree, or did the Chapter tell the Alumnae when & where it was going to be held?
Our AA worked with the Alumnae realtions chair of Zeta Omega to set a date.

3) About how many Alumnae showed up for Jewel Degree?
well counting me and the other alum who hadn't been through, 11, it was kind of cool because we went through with the first group of girls (there were 26) and afterward they asked us (me and the other alum) to help put the other girls through so I got to both go through the ceremony and be on the other side in the same day.

4) Any other comments on Jewel Degree?
I was a little disoriented going through the ceremony and it was hard to take it all in, so I was really glad that I got to sit through it two more times so I could grasp more of it.

I went through jewel degree today!! So weird that I am not really "active" member anymore. I'm not a delta anymore!

1) Where was Jewel Degree held? At the Chapter's house/room/suite or whatever? At a private home or restaurant?
We had it in our chapter suite

2) Did an Alumnae Association invite the Seniors to Jewel Degree, or did the Chapter tell the Alumnae when & where it was going to be held?
Both--alum @ our formal recruitmnet asked when we were going to have it, so they could plan to be there. We all got invites, because it was also our senior tea

3) About how many Alumnae showed up for Jewel Degree?
about 8

4) Any other comments on Jewel Degree?
makes sense now why all our ADPi alum are so willing to be involved and help out every chapter in any way they can!!

I received Jewel Degree at Convention in 99 (Naples II) when I was attending as an advisor. My chapter never had it in the years I was there. It was *awesome*!

THIS year, I had the honor to officiate the ceremoy at Gamma Pi (Wagner College, SI) - answers below are for this J.D.

1) Where was Jewel Degree held? At the Chapter's house/room/suite or whatever? At a private home or restaurant?
At the Faculty Dining Room in the Union on campus. It was following a Founders' Day luncheon that was a deduction to the Deltas' meal plans and moderatly priced for the Alumnae. We used partitions for privacy.

2) Did an Alumnae Association invite the Seniors to Jewel Degree, or did the Chapter tell the Alumnae when & where it was going to be held?
I'm one of the chapter's advisors and the chapter advisor and I worked with the Alum Relations Chair to plan the Founders' Day/Jewel Degree. Working with our district Alumnae Directors, we had members from two other area alumnae associations.


3) About how many Alumnae showed up for Jewel Degree?
Including myself, 10 alumnae conferring the degree, thre alumnae showed up to receive the degree, with 9 seniors.


4) Any other comments on Jewel Degree?
It was my first time and it was so exciting! It was even more amazing than I had remembered!! I had an interesting spiritual experience during it, but will have to tell that tale OFFLINE!

I already answered about *MY* Jewel Degree, but I just thought I'd share about the one I helped with tonight :)

1. The Jewel Degree for Eta Sigma and Zeta Pi was held in the brand new Alumni Center on USD's campus.

2. Not too sure about this one, but I think the seniors were told about it by the advisors and one of the alumnae who acts as a "housemother" for one of the chapters.

3. There was 7 of us, so for the first time going through it tonight, a few of us doubled up on parts!

4. I enjoyed being a part of the ceremony more than going through it, and it was wonderful to see some of the newest Pi members help give the ceremony to the other about-to-be Pi members! :)

1) Where was Jewel Degree held? At the Beta Tau house at The University of Akron.

2) Did an Alumnae Association invite the Seniors to Jewel Degree, or did the Chapter tell the Alumnae when & where it was going to be held? The Alumnae Association scheduled it and invited the seniors.

3) About how many Alumnae showed up for Jewel Degree?
Around 10...13 seniors and two older alums went through

4) Any other comments on Jewel Degree?
We had a hysterical mistake happen this year!! Someone read the wrong thing!!

Okay, why I asked the specific questions.

When I was in school, our Alumnae Association invited all of the graduating seniors to a Jewel Degree Luncheon at a local (nice) restaurant. There were about 30 alumnae, and I think 10 seniors. It was lovely! After we finished dessert, the servers cleared the tables, and left us alone, at which time Jewel Degree was conferred - all alumnae either in the appropriate "costume" or a Jewel Tone. It was stressed to us that Jewel Degree was our invitation to becoming full alumnae, complete with the responsibilities of Alumnae Associations, and serving as Advisors or other positions. I'm happy (and somewhat proud!) to say that everyone with whom I received Jewel Degree is involved Alpha Delta Pi on some level, even to this day!

Fast forward to the past 10 years. The local pattern lately has been something like this: The Chapter Advisor gets a call from the chapter saying exactly when Jewel Degree will be conferred (always in the Suite), before there's even a chance for Alumnae to find a good date or arrange a luncheon. Then, after she's told a date & frantically arranges 5-10 alumnae, the date is changed to a date when as little as TWO alumnae are available. Since the Guard is somehow unavailable and the ritual equipment that the Chapter retains is locked up (even though it has been requested!), the graduating seniors get a bare-pipe-racks version
of what I consider our most beautiful ritual. Once, the three Alumnae who did show up waited for 3 hours for one senior to show up (someone told her the wrong time), and due to time restraints, we went without her - only to get castigated later.

From what I understand, arrangements for a good date were in discussion for months this year. I made plane reservations - and because of the changed date, missed it.

This has become a VERY sore topic among the local Alumnae, who are considering a boycott of conferring Jewel Degree until the Chapter's Active in charge of Alumnae Relations gets her act together!


So, I wanted to see how other chapters went about the introduction of Jewel Degree. As it is NOT a mandatory ritual, should the Alumnae plan it (with chapter input) so that it can be done properly, or is it proper for the Actives/Deltas to demand the date, time & place? Feedback?

This is just *my* opinion, but since the ceremony is primarily directed by alumnae members, I feel that the alumnae should have probably the "most" say in when Jewel Degree is conferred. Our chapter's Alumnae Relations chair worked with the advisors to organize the date (because at the time I was a collegiate, we didn't have a *very* local AA nearby to conduct the ceremony) and then the graduating seniors were sent invitations inviting them, and they needed to RSVP to the Alumnae Relations chair who in turn let the advisors know how many would be there. I understand wanting to give the graduating seniors every opportunity to participate in going through Jewel Degree, but because the alumnae have to organize it and conduct the ceremony, the date and time needs to work for more than just three alumnae members.

I think that when the alum association comes together for its annual planning meeting to plan dates for the following year, that Jewel Degree/Founders Day should be on that list of events. And remember, Jewel Degree may be conferred upon alumnae who have not yet had the opportunity to experience it. Then, once the date is selected, the chapter is notified, and has almost an entire year, and certainly, an entire school year, to anticipate it. The alum can plan the reception, luncheon, etc. Consider this a time to recruit women into your assoc or alumnae life in general.

Get a list of names of graduating seniors and send personal invitations to them. Charge the alum relations chair to provide you with any ritual materials you need and call her repeatedly. Also make sure the chapter adviser is looped in. Sometimes the collegian put into an alum relations role is a burned out senior or a confused freshman.

If the chapter you are local to isn't taking alum relations seriously, get in their faces. Plan events and invite the chapter.

Okay, my AA goes to several different chapters around the state to perform jewel degree. Usually they go to places where there isn't an AA. The way they usually handle it is they check with the chapter for appropriate dates. Since we travel all over state, all the dates need to not overlap. We went to my old chapter, Epsilon Zeta at Southwest Texas SU and it is almost always performed the day of their Founder's Day luncheon at the chapter house. But being the chapter that they are (somethings never change) sometimes their Founder's Day dates change. We work together with the advisor or alum relations chair.

For the other chapters, I'm not totally sure. But I do know that they are scheduled several months in advanced b/c we have to stay overnight and arrange for hotel rooms. What we did this year was go up and get one chapter on a Saturday and on a Sunday got another chapter, then headed home.

The San Antonio AA is amazing!! They do so much!! In August, they have a recruitment team that goes to almost all the collegiate chapters to help out in some way. We are always worried and always trying to figure out new things to do to help the chapters.

Honey, I hope that I gave you a idea that kind of works.:D

Keep the ideas coming!

Granted, another problem we have is having enough dedicated alumnae to do Jewel Degree year after year. But I'm convinced that, if we set a date even 6 months in advance, those who are eligible to receive it can make their plans around it. I just feel that, if we can get up to 20 alumnae to help out with Recruitment (on their dates), there needs to be some reciprocity in allowing the alumnae to schedule Jewel Degree at a time when we can get a maximum number of alumnae there! I don't think that we're being unreasonable, especially since three of us went barreling up the highway over 200 miles on 2 days notice to make sure Jewel Degree was possible!

Yes, it is a great recruiting device for Alumnae Association. I'm not sure when the ball was dropped, but it certainly has. Before this becomes too much of an "us" and "them" situation, I'd like to get this more organized! Two alumnae have offered their homes (one is absolutely lovely!), or, if it truly must be held in the suite, we can certainly do it there. I just think it's nicer when there's a luncheon or tea first.

Seriously, keep the ideas coming!!

We actually had two dates this year the first one we let the chapter pick out, but whoever scheduled it forgot about another chapter obligation and they wanted to do it later, then our AA president couldn't make it and she diddn't get enough rsvp's (we won't do it without at least close to the minimum amount needed for each part) so we had to reschedule. The second date we picked and our turnout was better the only thing was alot of the seniors had exams that night so no new alum joined us for dinner afterward.

Also I think your collegiate chapter has a lack of respect for the fact that you guys go out of your way to put Jewel on for them and that it is ritual and should be done right. Maybe yall should do a TME about jewel what going through the ritual signifys the history behind it (I don't know that myself) anything you can tell them to educate them without revealing anything. Then respectfully request that the alumnae relations chair work more closely with you to set a date for jewel.

PolarPi-- you'll be happy to know that seven Eta Psi seniors were put through Jewel Degree by many of our former chapter advisors, who are mostly now the executive board of the new Northwest Indiana Alumnae Association!

The night of the 14th, Friday, Eta Psi chapter was closed by our Grand President. It was a beautiful ceremony, and I'm very glad I was able to be there. (I went through my local sorority initiation in that room, through ADPi alpha, delta, and jewel degree ceremonies in one day in that room, through jewel degree from "the other side" in that room, and finally through the chapter closing ceremony in that room...)

Anyway, the morning and afternoon of May 15th, the NIAA held its first official event since being chartered in January. It was a lovely alumnae luncheon in a room downstairs at the Hilton Garden Inn in Chesterton. The food from the hotel was delicious, and the cake from the alumnae was yummy! There are alumnae from Valparaiso, Merrillville, Chesterton, Crown Point, and other nearby areas. (Some of them never knew Valpo had a chapter! Oh well. Too late now.)

After the luncheon we did the Founders' Day ceremony, then cleared the room and had the Jewel Degree. (It was kind of funny, since there were two alumnae who graduated in the 1950s, who ended up being on the "alumnae" side of Jewel Degree and then realizing that they'd never been through it from the "initiate" side. Oh well!)

Anyway, the alumnae basically set up the luncheon and ceremony, which was nice, since previously it was the chapter advisor borrowing stuff and us alumnae who came to Founders' Day in our chapter room trying to put it all together that day. I really like having it as part of a Founders' Day ceremony, held whichever weekend before or after the 15th works best for both the alumnae association and the chapter.

Kate, if and only if you care to do so, would you describe the Closing Ceremony to me in a PM? I can imagine that it's very moving, and I really, truly hope to never see one for myself!



Btw, all cheesecake pounds are back off - including a few more! I will NEVER forget the size of the portions at the Cheesecake Factory!!!!!!

I agree...would you mind PMing me as well, Kate? I really wish I could have been there, but there was no way with me still in school and finances as they are....as it is I'll be flying back that way for a sister's wedding in September!

Me three me three!!!!
Please.......

Does anyone wear their Jewel Degree ribbons? If so, to where/what? How often?

While I'm not sure what became of mine, I just received the order I place for the ribbons for upcoming Jewel Degrees. I'm going to wear one to EBoard tonight to get the Seniors (and underclasses!) excited to wear their own!

1) Where was Jewel Degree held? At the Chapter's house/room/suite or whatever? At a private home or restaurant?
Zeta Omega holds JD 2/x a year (fall and spring) in the chapter house's formal living room. (It is held during the day, and as our chapter room doubles as a dining room, we host it in the formal so as not to interrupt the day-to-day activities of the members)

2) Did an Alumnae Association invite the Seniors to Jewel Degree, or did the Chapter tell the Alumnae when & where it was going to be held?
The date is announced at chapter meeting. The event is coordinated by the AA, however, on a mutually agreeable date set by the CARC and AA.

3) About how many Alumnae showed up for Jewel Degree?
The number has steadily climbed since 2001, when we brought new life into the AA with a huge mailing and invitation to a 150th Anniversary celebration. Typically, more alumnae participate in Spring JD than Fall, and more seniors go through the ceremony in Spring.

4) Any other comments on Jewel Degree?
We do a ritual review following JD and invite the members to join the AA, as well as give them a take-away gift that serves as a reminder of the ritual. PM me for details. I was able to bring this tradition to Los Angeles when I was a member of the AA there, and it's a really lovely way to bring all of aspects of JD together.

I don't wear my JD ribbon. I keep it in a safe place. We make our own, rather than ordering them.

I think having a Founders' Day reception with JD helps encourage alumnae attendance and more chapter members to participate in the reception which encourages seniors to come out and participate, too.

1. Jewel Degree was held at the home of one of our Alum's, I believe the Alum Assoc President. We had a small reception afterward.

2. The Alumnae Association invited the seniors.

3. There were only about 6-8 alumnae who were present to perform Jewel Degree. We had a very young and small alumnae association...however there were about 15 seniors who went through the ceremony (which was a large amount for my chapter).

4. Our Alumnae Association in Denver performs it every other year at Founders' Day. Alumnae young and old receive the degree. Some come from chapters where it was not offered or moved away before the ceremony. Also, we order the JD ribbons from EO to give to each recipient.

I wear my Jewel Degree ribbon when I wear my pin, which isn't often. I especially wear it on Founders' Day and any other special day when I'm dressed to pin.

I'm participating in J.D. for the first time from the "other side" on Sunday. I'm excited as I haven't seen it done for 5 years. (That's what living in Germany for awhile gets you!)
We're traveling up to a chapter about an hour away to give it. Not quite sure who arranged it- the alumnae or the chapter, but I know it's something we do for them every year.
Also on May 6th, we're having our Founder's Day luncheon and at least 15 ladies are going through the Diamond Circle Ceremony. That will be very cool to see too!

im going through jewel degree tomorrow! so excited (yet sad at the same time)!

It was sad and exciting for me too.

i went through jewel degree today. now it all makes sense! :-)

I'm so tired!
 

I just got home from going to my chapter's FD and JD. Left the house at 9AM and returned at 6.30PM - only stayed there 2.5 hours and the rest was driving!

I'm sad that there were only 3 Seniors around, but those three really enjoyed the ceremony!! And I enjoyed seeing 3 advisors (that magic number again!) supporting *my* chapter and a House Corp officer, to boot! It was a real thrill to see the housemother whose first year at the house was the year I moved in there, too!

Next ceremony - next SAT!

3 years after graduating, I FINALLY got to go through Jewel Degree today. I didn't get to go back to my chapter, but went through with Alpha Eta and the girls were so warm and welcoming to me! Really special day.

leslie,
it was great to meet you! i was a little sad that only 3 of the sr's showed up also, but it was nice for them! we are trying to get more advisors to help GL... hopefully we can find some quality women to help us!
L&L
liz
ps-- i'll PM you my e-mail address, so you can me the pic, ok?

I FINALLY went through Jewel Degree on Saturday at Founders Day with the Gamma Rho girls(I graduated in December and left my campus last May). I was happy to go to my first founders day and had a blast with ASUADPI dropping the donated items off at the Ronald McDonald House afterward.

Congrats to my diamond sis

Slight delay! I've misplaced the USB cord to upload the pix! I think I left it at my old office... :p