AI & their role with collegiate chapter
 

Just wonder what an AI's role with a collegiate chapter is? Is it any different than a traditional alumna/alumnus of a GLO? For example, an alum would usually not participate in chapter activities (such as parties, meetings) after graduation.

Should a AI be actively participating in the collegiate chapter's activities?

Thanks!

I'm in the housing association and I helped out with recruitment this year.

Once a member is initiated into Alpha Gamma Delta, she is a member with full privileges and expectations, regardless of what time in her life she joined our organization.

What OTW said. Also, I personally don't think that alumnae -- regardless of when they were initiated -- should be partying with actives, but I know others feel differently.

In Alpha Phi, an alumna is an alumna, regardless of whether she was initiated as a collegian or as an AI. I'm an AI, and I'm the chapter adviser for one of our chapters in the Pacific Northwest.

Yes, an AI is just like any other alumnae.

And if I'm understanding your last question correctly, no she does not participate in the collegiate chapter's activities (parties, meetings, etc).

She assists the collegiate chapter just like any other alumna, but alumnae are not allowed to actively participate in the regular day to day events.

An AI is a member of the alumnae chapter, not the collegiate chapter.

My experience as a new AI has been wonderful, but may be a bit different than some AI's. I have the good fortune of working for the college (Florida Tech) where I am being initiated with the Fall 2005 new member class. A number of the sisters come by my office to say hello and chat and I was asked to attend the new member meetings with the rest of the NM's.

By going to the NM meetings, I have gotten to know them much better than I would have if I were just solely involved with the Alumnae Chapter. It's been through these NM meetings that I have learned more of the history, songs, interworkings of the chapter which in turn has led the sisters to recently ask me to be their campus advisor (each campus organization must have a faculty or staff member for an advisor). I'm thrilled, because not only does it allows me an opportunity to be involved on an alumnae level, but it really gives me a connection to my school where I was once a student, am a current employee and will be a soon initiated Gamma Phi Beta.

It's not like I'm going to start going to their mixers or anything (even at age 33, I do feel old sometimes), but the whole reason I want to be a Gamma Phi is to really celebrate our sisterhood and do as much as I can for them as an AI. My sponsor, Coleen, is the Chapter Advisor for the collegians (she was the former chapter President a number of years back), so it's great that I can learn from her and make her proud for sponsoring me! :)

Re: AI & their role with collegiate chapter
 

In Alpha Phi alumnae initiates are able to participate in all alumnae activities as Sistermadley said, but alumnae are not allowed to attend chapter meetings unless they are advisors or they are invited for a specific reason.

Generally speaking, women who are eligible for collegiate membership cannot AI, and women who AI, cannot participate in general collegiate membership activities in the same manner in which collegiates do. Rather, they can provide support, advising, and all the other things that other alumnae do.

Re: AI & their role with collegiate chapter
 

So what you're trying to say is...you have an AI who's trying to shove her way into collegiate chapter life?

She obviously AIed for the wrong reason - to have a collegiate experience she didn't get - and you need to call a district director (or whatever they are called in your sorority) and tell her to step off. If the collegians are asking for her presence, that's one thing - but if they don't want her there and she's giving the "I'm a sister and allowed to be here" spiel, that's quite another.

Are girls different than boys? Alumni are pretty welcome to chapter events, unless they are idiots, and even more welcome if they give money . . .

And special initiates are generally not treated differently than people that joined as undergrads, unless they are idiots.

Its not unusual to have alum come to a lot of chapter events 10 plus years post graduation. Its not unusual for some to bring their wives.

33girl, not really sure what You last Post was about?


James, maybe there is an actual difference between He and She and the thinking? Who knows?

But as many GLOs dont have AI and since this has gone into Alum area, I can tell all of you that if it were not for Alums, My Chapter would be gone.:(

While many Active Chapters want to be their own Bosses as it were, if there were NO Alums or Interested AIs, They could get in a lot of Trouble! Right?

While We as Alums dont try to run the day to day, It seems to be the Elders that they come to when In trouble.

I am A LXA and Any Initutiated Member of LXA is My Brother who can be of help when needed

So shunt off AI or Alums and put them in the back ground!:confused

Why? They can be of more usefull help other than poring Punch, serving finger food or washing dishes.

I was agreeing with James that girls usually welcome alums unless they are idiots (the same as guys).

:)

Works for Me!!!!

Dont You love a plan that comes together!:cool:

From the way the original question was worded, my thought was that she was asking if an AI could or should participate in chapter activities in a manner different from an alumni(ae) who initiated as a collegiate. For that, the answer would be 'no'. Certainly *any* alumnae member can visit the house, help service projects, serve as an advisor and be invited to chapter events. That does not mean attending formal or mixers on a regular basis or recruitment events unless in a supportive role. An AI is, above all, alumnae.

Thanks for all your feedback. I believe I understand the concept now - that an AI has all the benefits of an alum and should not act like an active member of the collegiate chapter and attend social events, parties, formals, etc. unless all alum are invited by the collegiate chapter.

Exactly

Just wondering here. Why would a grown woman want to party w/the younger crowd of the chapter she's initiated into? I figure that any AI would be over the age of 23/24 so would a person like this be doing it for the partying? :confused:

Girl, don't ask that question. I asked that in another thread and it just exploded. ;)

O.K. Sorry. :) Let's just forget I asked that.

BTW, I laughed so hard when I read your location. That is funny! :p
May You Be Touched By His Noodly Appendage

AIs are of all ages, they are not all dried up grapes who become raisens.

Just work within the rehlm of what Chapter allows!;)

Male Alumni will come back to mixers, exchanges, formals etc for many years post graduation . . and unless they are idiots they are generally welcome.

Do girls just stop enjoying having fun quicker than boys? Or do the girls of the active chapters actually ostrasize their alumnae base so quickly?

If thats true I cans ee why a lot of chapters might lose their alumnae support and only have the hard nosed ones come back.

No, it's because girls mature faster than boys and come to the realization that "it's not all about them" and "college is over -- it's time to grow the hell up" much earlier than men do. ;)

I don't know about that. Myself and several other alums returned for mixers, formals etc and there wasn't a problem. I guess we were slow to grow up, or maybe we just liked being with our sisters and didn't get hung up on age. :rolleyes: :rolleyes: We had active women the same age as alums, so it really wasn't an issue.

Then again, if you are at the sort of school where you have to pledge your first semester and the majority of women drop out by senior year, I can understand it.

But this is why we don't like people to say "there's always AI" when a collegian doesn't succeed in rush. That person went through rush looking for the collegiate experience, not the alum experience. If you AI you need to know you're not going to be going to mixers, meetings or things like that on a regular basis. The sisters welcomed us alums back because they knew us and we kept in touch with them. If you AI and expect to have that kind of instant bond just because you have the letters on your chest, you're sorely mistaken. That's what the situation Western Alum described sounded like.

I understand everyone else's points, but I tend to agree with Sistermadly, and here's why...one of my friends who was already out of college was still dating her boyfriend last year, who had a couple more years left of undergrad. Whenever his fraternity would have mixers with our sorority she'd invite me to come along, so I went to a few of them and let me tell you, did I ever feel out of place! Most of those kids were in the 19-21 year-old-range, and I was 24. It really hit me when I was standing in line for the bathroom and the girl behind me was like, "Hey, I don't know you!" I replied that I was an alum and she asked how old I was. Do you know what she said when I told her! "Wow, you're old--I'm 19!" That was when I knew that I did not belong there. Not that I was having that great of a time anyway hanging out with the kiddies who were too young to get into the bars.

One of our chapters is in a remote area with absolutely zero alumnae in the area to support. If not for their fabulous chapter adviser, who is an AI, these wonderful women would lack the onsite support that other chapters take for granted.

AI most definitely belong in every facet of our organizations! You are our sisters! We need your help to continue our legacy of sisterhood and leadership-- and we rely on you more than ever to mentor our younger sisters as they come up through the sorority systems. AI are living proof that membership is for a lifetime!

I have to agree with james on a lot of points. Maybe Guys are different besides plumbing, the love of any organization is still there.

When I go back, while it is not often because of time and distance restraints, if not for Alums, the Chapter would not be building a new house and trying to rebuild. If not for My help in working with IHQ, We should have been closed.

I am not saying hang around the Chapter and attend all of the partys, but be a part for aiding them in functions when needed.

I am also not saying being shunted into the kitchen for only serving dutys and busying the trash.

You may be an Undergaduate now, but one day You may be come an Alum. Do You want to be the maid for them as an Alum? You were an Active and are still interested in Your Sorority or You would not want to be there.

Who do You go to if there is a Major problem? Advisor who may be a do nothing or an Alum that You feel close with?

There are to many Alums who dont give a damn once they Graduate, so why treat one who is interested like an Old Shoe to be thown away?

If I was treated like some of You are talking, I would just tell you to screw off and when You needed My Help I would say more than that!:p


Remember, I am a Member of LXA for Life, not just 4-5 years, how about You?