Alumnae at Initiation
 

Ths came up at a collegiate/alumnae brunch today. Since our chapter recently had initiation, of course, that was one of the topics.

Someone mentioned that one of the NPC sororities on campus makes it a point to NOT invite alumnae to initiation. My first thought was how sad!! Knowing that this is an national org with deep traditions, I was surprised at this.

We are working on trying to make the initiation time/day more feasible for alumnae but with late classes and members not wanting to be in town on weekends, it's hard.


Is this common. or does it seem to be a local chapter's decision not to invite alumnae to initiation?

Maybe it's a space issue? I know if a lot of alums showed up to initiation at my chapter, we'd be spilling into the rafters.

Oye, alumnae are STRONGLY encouraged to take part in our initiation, they're part of the ritual.

It's recently become a space issue for the chapter I advise. The only alumnae who are usually present are the CA and the alumnae chapter president if there's a candidate for alumnae initiation present.

Really?? How sad. Way to alienate your alums. :( Once a sister, always a sister!

When my chapter's alumnae relationship person does her job properly (some are better than others), she keeps us alums informed by email (and sometimes, snail mail) about the dates for rush and initiation. I've never made the trip myself, but we're always welcome.

Edit: The place where my chapter holds initiation has plenty of room, so space isn't an issue. I can understand where a chapter would not explicitly invite alums if space is tight. But I can't imagine a chapter deliberately turning alums away. It's so rare to find alums who have remained involved - why alienate them?

For UPS, it kind of depends on how on the ball the alumnae relations person is. It's usually more forgetting to tell us than anything else. That and the chapter is an hour away (no traffic) from the majority of our alumnae chapter members and they insist on having it on a week night (and usually starting around 7:00). So most alumnae just don't want to deal with the hassle of attending.

Being that we do not have a chapter house, we are very flexible as far as Initiation location. Luckily, our room that we use for Initiation is very spacious and can accomodate all the novitiates, collegians, and alums who decide to attend...times two!

I can imagine chapter rooms in houses that are very limited in space though...so I can see how the Initiation invite might not be extended to all alumnae who want to attend.

When I was a collegian, I only remember us inviting alums that had legacies that were being initiated. I think it would be awesome if they made an effort to invite all alums that would be interested in attending, but as far as I know that has not been the case.

Your alums should always be invited. They know that they will be in the background, especially if space is limited. They know what they would have to do to be there----such as travel, standing, being in tight spaces, etc. But how awful not to include them in the one hing that binds everyone together. How can you tell people that membership is for a llfetime if you don't show it too?

There are times when you may bemoan how the alums aren't involved or assiting with things. How can they want to if you don't include them in the most important occasion?

What if the chapter has a good reason for not inviting alums? Some I can think of:

1) At some point in time, the chapter incorporated their own "ritual" which is now considered hazing. Bringing the alumnae back will cause them to inquire why this ritual was done away with, and potentially they will throw a hissyfit.

2) Minor changes in the ritual since the alumnae have initiated are not acceptable to them (or they've just forgotten about it!) and thus they may say/do something incorrect during the ceremony.

My chapter makes a point of inviting all alums, but most live at least an hour away and initiation is not at a convenient time for us. Also, with our new New Member program, initiation is later in the semester than before, and thus weather comes into play.

Our chapter has only recently started doing this. We've typically had bad alumae relations chairs who didn't really think to invite alumnae to recruitment/initiation. I think one of the advisors basically took over that role and now lets us know (thanks, Tammy!)

My Chapter has an open door policy for Alums returning for Initation.

I and many of My Brothers do attend Initiation when possible.

Space issues are just a poor excuse. There are many places where Ritual can be done. We do ours at a Church as many Chapters have been doing this for years and is suggested by National because of the meanings and feelings.

For those who alinate Alums, remeber, We are Brothers and Sisters who have been there before and who many times become a back bone when a Chapter is in trouble.

I know one Chapter who used a space in the Student Center.

So to put it on the line, go ahead and piss off Alums. But then dont go to them to ask for Help! If they say NO, dont ask why not!

Alum should be invited to every initiation for Sigma Kappa. I've been to many as an alum to several local chapters.

I think that all chapters should invite their alums. Personally I feel it is a big part of alumnae relations because like someone said, it's the main thing that binds us all together. Small gestures like inviting them to initation (even if they don't think the alumnae could make it to the event) go a long way in making them feel included. These can build strong ties w/ alumnae and these ties could be very beneficial when the chapter needs help in the future (i.e. finances, help with recruitment, etc)

I think that if alums are invited, they need to come with the same respect as the active sisters and women about to be initiated...i.e. if their pink catsuit doesn't fit showing up in jeans is not appropriate. It's nice for them to come but not if their presence will be disruptive to the ceremony. And quite frankly, lots of alums don't have "things" that fit anymore.

Our initiations were usually on a "school night" and since Clarion is in the middle of nowhere, it wasn't that they were NOT invited...it's just that driving 100 miles away on a night when you have to work the next day isn't feasible.

For ADPi:
 

Chapters on Probation, or nearing Probation, MUST invite at least one alumna to every ritual. When I was Advisor, they weren't on Probation, but we still have an alumna at every ritual - it's just better to have someone there to explain any part which might be confusing.

When I was a freshman & sophmore, we had a space & catsuit problem (not enough of either to go around), so we did ritual more than once each time. Fortunately, they're at the place again, so we're asking alumnae to "adopt a catsuit" or at least donate towards one.

Alumnae should be invited, and are possibly required. I agree, they need to go into it with respect and the attitude that they're a guest of the chapter. But they can definitely help make sure that things are being done correctly according to the ritual and not just how the chapter wants to do them.

I don't know about anyone else, but as alumnae, we're to ask the chapter before just appearing at a (regular) meeting. That had me upset until I found out the reasoning behind it - they needed to make sure that there was enough room and also be able to introduce you.

We always welcome alumni to initiation :) In fact as alumni secretary I'm working with the active members to make sure it gets put on our calender and hopefully at least some of the executive alumni officers can make it.

We welcome alumnae to our ritual. We usually have at least a few advisers and alumnae and then mother's of legacies who come. I have found it is actually a benefit to the chapter members to have alumnae there.

Sorry - should have clarified. With Kappa, a chapter adviser is required at every chapter meeting (formal and informal), so the girls always know there is going to be at least one alumnae there. Other alumnae guests may be present, but the chapter is always given advance notice.

For other ritual events, the chapter will often invite alumnae to attend, so they know there again how many will be attending. Alumnae very rarely "just show up" for meetings or initiation.

If I'm going to show up, I usually always ask as if they need me to bring my own "attire" (if they don't have enough) since I know that I'm one alumna who will actually have something.

I don't think I've ever been introduced at initiation.......

Exactly what She Said.

Remember, if You have a stirring Ritual and Alums come back, they will remember the good times and maybe loosen Purse Strings for The Chapter.

I will never tire of seeing LXAs just for that reason and suggest strongly that Alums be invited back.

While I can only speak for LXAs, it is in Code and must be learned. But it is to be strictly adhered to at all times.

i think alumnae should be invited, too. i

but if you live in ca and your chapter of initiation is in nj, then i don't think you should be offended if you don't get an invite. if there is an alumnae chapter near by a collegiate chapter, they should invite the ac members. if you are an alumnae who leaves near a collegiate chapter (not the one you initiated into) and are not involved in the local ac, then you should not expect to be invited.

I agree, attire should reflect the occassion. When inviting alums, it's appropriate to remind them of what they need to wear. Many times some may not have been to an initiation for a long time----so how better to renew those bonds by inviting them? I went for several years without the experience until I went to national convention and then when I had a chapter near my home..

No matter how hard or inconvienient it may to be for them to get there, they should still be invited----that's up to them. As said before, when you want something else from them, they'll remember whether you welcomed them for other occassions.

I think you misunderstood what I said.

They were never told that they were NOT allowed to come - which is the topic of this thread - it's just that they were not about to drive 200 miles for a half hour ceremony when they would have to turn around and drive right back home for work the next day. We never had alums at initiation (or most events) for this reason, it wasn't a tradition. If someone would have showed up, I'm sure we'd have been ecstatic, but it was no more **expected** than you expect alums to show up at study hours or whatever. Sometimes people made a special trip if it was someone in their family, but that was it.

I know that no one was ever offended that they weren't specifically invited to initiation. It's a lot easier now to notify alums with listservs and yahoogroups and such. We certainly didn't have the money to send all 500 alumnae invitations for initiation.

Alumnae are always invited to our initiation. :) Speaking of initiation...it's coming up soon! :)

We're required to have an alumni at our initiation rituals. We invite Fraternal Fifties to the banquet, but I don't believe that we invite alumni to that b/c of the cost of the meals (though I suppose we could have them pay if we wanted to.)

Our bylaws actually state that Initiation is to be held at a time when it is convienient for for alum to be present. A few alum actually take part in the ritual.

we alm0st always hvae an alumn or more at our initiations. it is great to have the new initiates meet older sisters and make connections. usually though, it ends up being recent alumns as our alumni chair wasn't too hot when i was an undergrad. hopefully it will get better now that i am an alum. i know i tried to go back for it this semester but couldnt because of car issues.

We always invite our alum to our events, be it initation or whatever, our Alum Relations persons does a good job of it. We have space so space isn't an issue. Although, most of our alum are not near the chapter many still try to come.

While We do many of the same things, We do Our Founders Day and Have a Candidate go through Ritual and There is a Banquat and Alums Pay for The dinner, and with a built in for Place and for The Chapter. It is well known that is where the money is going and everyone who comes back know this and are happy.

If an over all Ritual with all going through, there should be an Initiated Advisor and some Alums there to make sure everything is done properly, Alibet any possible hazing!. I really dont think Alums will mind paying their own way. They paid to get there didnt they?

My sorority is a little different since alumni can stay active in their undergrad chapter for awhile after they graduate so they become the backbone, advisors and support for the u.g. chapter. And we don't necessarily participate in the pledge process, but we definitely come to the initation. As they say, once a sister always a sister.

Gamma Phi Delta Sorority, Inc. alumni