The search of a lifetime begins...
 

Hello ladies! ( and gents )

First of all, I want to say how helpful everyone has been! It has been incredible as I do my research.

Well, I as I go through the AI process, I had a few questions that I wanted to put out to the general boards, but especially the AI members.


A)In one post, I loved the comparision that the woman would find her home by who she would want to be on the other side of the door. What advice would you give to us older members who may not necesarily be on a campus with a house or suite, and may have families, etc.?

2) What was the "one" thing that let you know you had found your home about your group?

3) Dress code---what would you wear to a dinner meeting to meet the alumnae chapter/association?

4) IF one does not "click" with a group, or if the PNAM changes her mind about that particular group, how does one inform the group? What would be the best way to do this?


I cannot tell you about the responses I've received. Everything has been very positive so far, and I've had lots of encouragement on and off of the board. Now, I have to make some decisions, which will be very hard, I think!

I would say that the dress code would depend on the event. BUT, what I am going to wear up here in a VERY casual Seattle area is probably not going to be what people would even consider wearing down in your area.

Your best bet would be to ask the contact for the group who's event you are going to.

Hey trojangal, any updates? :)

AI update
 

Hello friends!

I wanted to give you all an update. Since my last posting, my entire family has been sick with walking pneumonia or upper respiratory infections. YUCK! I am still researching organizations, and have had several positive responses. I am in the process of narrowing down the groups to the ideals that really speak out to my heart as well as my head. To me, the interesting part is how I'm finding out through my friends at church and in the community which groups they are members of when they were in college. SEveral have said they would be happy to help me make contacts if I wanted to explore their groups. I've also had some great positive responses from members here on the GC board who I've had an opportunity to get to know through email. I can honestly say that so far, it has been a positive experience.

I've been fortunate also to have dinner with two groups as well. Each group was very welcoming and I enjoyed asking questions about their organization and getting to know them. I was also asked several questions as well ( interview..?? hmmm..could be :) about why I was considering the AI process.

So..at this point, I am still exploring the different groups and am waiting to hear back from some as well.

I feel like a kid in a Baskin Robbins Ice Cream Shop...so many beautiful delicious flavors that all look great! Hard to make a decision when they all look so good!

:D

AI update
 

Well dear friends here on GC.

I've continued my research process, and after weeks of talking with wonderful ladies and heart searching, I can say that some good things are happening.

As I mentioned in the last update, I said that I was still researching organizations. I've had contact with several groups, and had it narrowed down to four. These groups will go by these names:

To have some fun, I decided to name these groups after popular coffee drinks ( one of my total vices!)

The Espressos---great group with a wonderful philanthropy..answered a lot of questions whenever I called for information--very very intense, much like espresso!

The Mochalattes--very sweet and friendly group! made me feel welcome when I talked to some members

The Cappucinos---another wonderful group and very down to earth---had fun when I talked with them as well and had some great conversations with members

The Frappucinos--like Starbucks Coffee, this group had a taste that really grows on you--this group I had looked at and a member really encouraged me to take another sip to see if the taste would grow on me...

So....I've received my application from one of the groups, and will be starting my paperwork process...

Here's to coffee!!!

That's wonderful news! It sounds like your search is really "percolating!"

(Raising a cup of Starbucks) Best wishes as you find your new home!

(tips back a Starbucks, too) Good for you! Sounds like things are going well. :cool:

Liz

AI UPDATE
 

Time for a coffee update!!!


After much talking with some lovely women of The Frappucinos, I finally received my application paperwork and started to fill it out. I was very excited, and also honored, when one woman who I know through my profession, came to me at school the other day during my planning period. She asked me if I had my paperwork, which I did, and she said here, let me sign it in support of your application. In addition, she gave me a beautiful letter of recommendation to add to the application. I will be sending all of the paperwork back to my sponsor this week, who will then send it back to the national office. I also had a wonderful discussion with a Frappucino at the national office who was very encouraging of the whole process, and answered so many of my questions!!

So...now the "perking begins...

Congratulations! That's wonderful news! Please keep us posted as things progress for you.

Re: AI UPDATE
 

Wow! It's really cool that there are Frappucino women at your job who think highly enough of you to do that! :)

Keeping fingers crossed for you. But ya didn't list my fave, non fat extra hot caramel macchiatos :D

Best of luck

Glad to hear that things are going well with the Frappucinos! :)

(sipping (regular) coffee as I type this)

-Taualumna

I have been really surprised and pleased with the process so far. It seems like every time I turn around, I am meeting someone new who is a Frappucino.

Hmm..wishing I had some real coffee right now...


:D

That can't be coincidence. Maybe it's fate......

Anyway, Good luck on the search. It's so exciting to when good things happen!!!!!

(and since you are calling the groups coffee names, it's making me want some too! Plus I'm cold right now!!)

Update
 

So..after much pondering and perusing on how to answer some questions, I did it. I finished my application. Wow...whew.

My Frappucino application is on its way to my sponsor, who will then fill out her part. A good friend is hand carrying it to my sponsor tomorrow...told him not to lose it, or I'd hurt him.


The waiting begins..tick tick..tick..tick. tick... and so does my exercise in patience!!

It sounds like things are progressing! I'm so happy for you!

Remember to drop a hand written thank you note to your sponsor.

YAY!!!! Step #1 is complete....now for the waiting game. Hopefully it won't take TOO long!!!

I am. Her birthday is also this week, and I am sending her two little angel ornaments that I made for her as well.

Hey Cheryl,


Any news regarding your paperwork? Hopefully your sponsor has filled it in by now and it has been sent on so that it will be addressed first thing in the new year!


.....Kelly :)

I am in pretty close contact with her..she's only a phone call away. I talked to her on Monday and she was working on it that afternoon. She said it will definitely be sent out this week so that they will receive it before Christmas. My sponsor said she isn't anticipating any problems with the paperwork, and she expects that my interview will go well. I know the next step is to talk with someone on their leadership team.

So...at least it's in and on its way. We'll see.

I just wanted to wish you luck as well. I was an active for such a short time that I didn't get to really experience greek life AT ALL, so much of my involvement has been as an alumnae, so I just want to wish you the best of luck, and I think its almost as much fun being an active alum than an active!! Best of luck to you on your process!!

Hello friends!

I need to add a group to my interests! This particular group contacted me over the holidays. When I returned the call, the conversation was incredible. I've had the opportunity to email her back and forth for about two weeks. What is really interesting is that we found out that we know several people in common through about 3 different groups/organizations/other people..and these people are spread far apart across the United States! It was so much fun to find out how much we have in common! I can honestly say that I was so surprised and thrilled when this group contacted me. I've always had a high opinion of this group for years from other ladies I know who were members. I talked with a very good friend of mine who knows of this lady, and her response was very very positive. In the conversations that I've had, I feel so very comfortable with this contact and there is so much warmth there! She and I will be meeting for coffee soon..we both wish it could be sooner but she will be out of town for about a week.

So..we're going to add the Caramel Apple Ciders to the list of my interests.

How exciting!

Have you heard anything back about your Frappuccino application?

And you didn't name it Caramel Macchiato after my favorite drink? Humph! I see how you are! http://www.my-smileys.de/smileys2/54.gif

In all seriousness, it is good that you are keeping your mind open! :)

LOL...I was really having a hard time find a beverage name for that group, and I went to the Starbucks website. Their online website just wasn't that helpful...should have gone to Joe Muggs maybe.

However, Caramel Apple Ciders is the perfect name for this group. They are sweet and spicy and lots of flavor thrown in.

I have yet to hear from the Frappucino application. My sponsor has been really sick lately and I'm not going to bother her about it right now.

I am definitely keeping an open mind. I know that doing this process at this stage and age is a different type of recruitment than the ladies who go through Formal or COR. I feel so lucky and privileged that these groups have taken the time to invite me and talk to them. :D

I see nothing wrong with Caramel Apple Ciders. In fact, I'm quite addicted to those. (Damn Starbucks for being across the street from work! :D )

Sounds like things are going well.

Trojangal,

I was in your shoes about 1.5 yrs ago. It sounds like things are moving along. Hope you find your new home soon. Good Luck :)

Nothing really new here going on lately. Mr. Trojangal and I had a really interesting conversation today. He knew that I was looking around at different groups, but didn't really understand the whole thing until I told him, bless his heart. Especially the whole national concept of sororities. When I emphasized the aspects of philanthropy and service, he smiled and said "that's my baby...some folks are into music, others are into collecting things..you just like to do work with service organizations, don't you?"

So...a good day here because now the hubby REALLY understands what it is all about...which will be good some 14 years down the road if the little one decides to go greek when she goes to college...

Trojangal, I feel ya. Mr. 1228 can talk about software engineering and aerospace until he is blue in the face. But the Greek system...I might as well be Charlie Brown's teacher (wha wha wha wha wha wha...)

Suggestions please!!
 

Help!!
Okay..here goes. I need some advice, quickly!

I have a meeting Tuesday afternoon.

It's with a bigwig of one of the groups.

Suggestions on what to wear? I will be meeting her directly after school, so will not have time to go home, blah blah blah.

These are the outfits I'm considering to wear:

a) a black and white pantsuit with coordinating top or turtleneck and black shoes
b) a dressy black knit top with a new gray/black skirt and black heels

For jewelry, I'm planning on wearing my black pearl earrings and black pearl necklace.

I am excited, yet slightly apprehensive as well.

Holy cow.

I think either of those outfits sound pretty good...I guess it just depends on how cold it is where you are! (If it's like it is here, I'd definitely be wearing the pants. :p)

I vote for choice B. :)

Good luck!

I pick B and hope you have some time to freshen up between school and meeting her! Good luck and let us know how it goes

Either one sounds great....just pick the once you will be most comfortable in all day and while you are meeting....if you are uncomfortable in your outfit, it might show in the meeting. You don't want to give the wrong impression. You'll be great!!
Let us know what happens.

Wash Behind your ears, dress as a professional and you will be fine!

Brush Teeth and get the spinach out first!:D

Waiting to Hear about Your exploit!

Good Luck, be calm and not to cool!:)

I hope the meeting went well! What did you decide to wear? :)

Update...

" The PNAM wore a grey and black worsted flared skirt with a black knit top with black trim on the 3/4 length sleeves, and simple black Etienne Aigner heels. Accessorizing the outfit were black pearl and diamond earrings and a strand of black pearls and a small gold pin with the letters Pi Sigma Alpha ( representing Mortar Board, which the alumnae was also a member of.)."

Before the meeting, this member and I had been in contact over the phone a few times and by email a good bit. She was going to be in Birmingham, so we made made arrangments to meet on Tuesday afternoon, and we had such a wonderful time talking. We talked for two hours before we both had to leave for other obligations ( me, picking up my Melody, and she was having dinner with good friends). It was so FABULOUS!! As we talked, it turned out that we knew a lot of people in common and started talking about who went where and how such and such was doing. We also found out that she had been a sister at her chapter at the same time as some other women I had known years ago from another time in my life ( these women were the ex-boyfriend's aunts!!). We also discovered that we knew several people in common through church connections as well. This member had also been a member of Mortar Board at her school and she will now have the opportunity to help me out with some chapters where she is located.

We also talked at length about being involved in her organization at different levels as well. She was able to answer many of my questions and it was really a good meeting.

It was so much fun, and so nice to talk with her.

I can tell you a truth about the AI process...as long and drawn out as it may be, it's definitely a good way to make new friends.

Congratulations to you on a successful meeting!

Congrats !!! I'm glad it was a positive and informative meeting for you.:)