AI and your sisters
 

A girl I kind of know is an AGD sister. She recently found out that I'm an AI, and she doesn't seem to mention AGD as much anymore. I'm wondering if she doesn't consider me as much of a sister :( Has this happened to anyone?

Sorry, but I think your friend is out of line. A sister is a sister, and HOW she was initiated should have nothing to do with it!

Agreed. It's totally irrelevant HOW you joined.

I wholeheartedly agree that you are a sister no matter how you joined. And, Suzanne Carmack Spicer, our last International President was an AI, so the Fraternity definitely values our AIs.

I haven't had anyone act unsisterly toward me, but I have had people assume that I don't know that much about the Fraternity.

Really?! So there's hope for me after all? *lol* :D

The head of our Foundation is an AI, as are a few very involved women.........

As I said in the other thread, my chapter's most recent AI is more committed to us and more involved than a number of women in this area who joined as collegians.

Taualumna, do you think that maybe it could just be a coincidence? You didn't mention that you've actually heard her make any disparaging remarks. Maybe it has nothing to do with you....maybe another sister offended her one day and now she's not as keen on the alum chapter or AGD something. After all, you didn't say that she stopped talking about AGD altogether, just that she doesn't mention it as much. The only thing you could do is directly ask her about her thoughts. Otherwise, I wouldn't assume she doesn't like you or thinks you're less of a sister. :(


.....Kelly :)

L'Cena is an AI?? I didn't know that!


To go along with what you said, I don't think I've met anyone yet who has treated me as a lesser sister for being an AI. As a matter of fact, the San Diego Alumnae Chapter chapter was excited to point out to me that one of the other members is an AI too.

.....Kelly :)

I am pretty certain that we have had past International Presidents who were AI's. Frances Willard was our 15th president,but I am pretty certain there has been at least a couple more.

Sidebar: I seem to recall that AOII also had an AI who was President, or at least was "up there" in the ranks. So, if you want to be "up there" and you're an AI, it can be done.

I am so amazed and gratified to read posts like these!!!

It just so proves that becoming A Member is and can be done more than just one way only.:cool:

Sounds like our chapter. Personally I haven't encountered anyone with a problem. If G-d forbid that happens, then it is their problem...NOT MINE!

True...as well as MANY IHQ and AOII Foundation staff members...
Silver

I seem to recall reading in another GreekChat post that there was also a Kappa Delta AI who was an executive officer or President in recent times. Any KD's out there who can verify that?

I look at it from the viewpoint as if my parents adopted a little girl a couple of years after I was born. Yes, she may have been adopted and isn't my "biological" sister, but she would be my sister just the same and I wouldn't love her any less just because we don't share the same DNA markers.

The way you became a sister may have been different, but the end result and the fraternal bonds you share are just the same.

-Tish

When my chapter was installed in 1992, many of the sisters initiated that day were AIs.

In my opinion, these women remain as the backbone of my collegiate chapter -- and without them, we probably wouldn't have survived 13+ years on campus. Our former Alum Chapter President was an AI, was very instrumental in helping Hawaii achieve 5 star status and now serves on the VST.

A sister is a sister, no matter when or how she joined.

Hijack really quick -

L'Cena goes to my church and she and her husband are very involved. It's funny because I never really paid attention to the fact that she was Greek. Then I saw her at a luncheon for the South Bay Alumnae Panhellenic and discovered she was Gamma Phi Beta - she had the most beautiful GPhiB necklace on. I remember thinking that is the type of necklace that an international officer would wear. You guys have a great sister and officer in L'Cena.

End of hijack

I don't know. She introduced me to friends as "an AGD sister", but had this "shocked" look when I told someone that I am an AI. It was then that she stopped talking about AGD. WEIRD, huh?

What a shame if she feels this way.:(

Little does she actually realize.:confused:

Bonnie Payne, the Executive Director.

She's a past International President. See my other post, but she IS NOT an AI.

Ah...ok! No wonder I was so suprised! L'Cena is the Chair of the Foundation's Executive Committee and she is the one who appears on all of the Foundation brochures. So, when you said, "head of our Foundation" it was hard to tell if you were refering to the Chairwoman or the staff's Executive Director. I got it now!


.....Kelly :)

As an additional sidebar--I am an AI and I served a term as an international officer. We currently have two AIs serving on our international board, and I believe an AI is president of our foundation. In the last few years, AIs have been immediately active in our volunteer forces in a variety of roles. It can be done! I am so glad to hear that there are other groups who embrace AIs in their leadership.

I think this attitude arises from uneducated sisters. And, let's be realistic -- some snooty ones, too.

I know a woman who was going through the AI process and had found a group that was interested in her. One of the requirements was that she had to meet every member of the alumnae association and get their approval. She had met everyone except for one woman, who happened to be a recent graduate. When she sat down to dinner to meet w/ her, this member told her point blank, "I do not believe in alumna initiation, so I will not approve you."

She has no idea what she missed out on -- this woman ended up initiating w/ another NPC group and is a very active volunteer.

Many of the women in my alumnae panhellenic have expressed shock that there even is such a thing as AI for some groups. One of the comments was something to the effect of it's unnatural to want to join a sorority after college. Well...by that logic, it's unnatural to be involved as an alumna!

CAs who are also alumna initiates are some dedicated women.

*cough* ;)

Alpha Phi has a long history of alumnae initiates being involved in critical roles. Frances E. Willard, our first alumnae initiate, served as international president of our fraternity.