No more open flames...
 

Sisters-

We found out this past weekend that MJ Insurance, the liability insurance carrier that covers all NPC groups, has now outlawed open flames- so no more candle passes/candlelights, no more candles during preference parties etc.

This doesn't just affect ADPI so I think we need to try and think creatively about how our members (collegiate and alumnae) will be able to celebrate such events in the future.

Loyally,
adpideltaup

Good! There was a fire at the A Chi O house last fall because of candles.

Those little battery-powered "candle" (ie lightbulb) holders work wonders.

Im not sure why, but we quit using a real candle when I first became an alum. I thought it was because we heard no candles anymore. Actually I am almost 100% sure of that, so I guess we were ahead of the game or something.

Anyways, we use the battery operated candles for a alot of events and we did it once with a candle passing, the person who was pinned, etc.. unscrewed the bulb to turn it off.

Its a shame not to use the real candle for a passing because it is special, but I think using a fake one could be ok.

Im sure they will think up other creative ideas for events now too. We couldnt always use a passing for diamonds reveals so we had to get creative with other ideas too, sometimes our alpha classes were too big to do a passing for each girl.

We were still using candles in our Pref ceremony. Folks are not going to be happy about this but oh well. I was thinking about looking into the little pen light flashlights and do it similarly to how we do it at Convention closing. I wonder if I can find some cheap ones at Oriental Trading Company or some such.

I was telling a few people at VLS - we did "Rose Ceremonies" for pinnings, engagements, etc. I don't know the best way to incorporate violets instead, perhaps, but it is an option :)

adpideltaup- Is this just for collegiate chapters or ADPi as a whole?

I'm kind of bummed if it is as a whole. I'm not seeing anyone but when I become engaged I wanted a candle passing. If it apply's to alums as well, well I think I might just go cry. :) (Brianna's attempt at a smiley face).

The way it was explained to me is burning candles are not allowed in the houses, rooms, dorms, or whatever sort of property owned/controlled by the sorority. This was not a policy handed down by ADPi, rather it came from MJ Insurance because of the liability. Since this is the insurance provider for all NPC organizations it should be for everyone, not just ADPi.

If an alum group wants to do a candlepass and it is not on ADPi property, then I don't see any reason why there would be a problem. At least not with our International organization or the insurance company.

I've never witnessed a chapter that used candles unless it was outdoors. Does this new rule mean they can't light candles outdoors?

Ultimately the idea is to remove candles from all ADPi ceremonies...I'm just afraid that there will be a fine line when people start discussing when and where you can or cant do candle passes because in addition to having it be on ADPi property, no matter where you are, you are still doing an ADPi ceremony...I dont know if that makes sense but I'm just wondering if ADPi would still be held liable in a situation like that.

I know Im going to have a lot of push back from the chapter about this because candles are huge part of their pref ceremony. I'm meeting with the RVP on friday to discuss possible alternatives so if anyone has any ideas send them my way!!

ETA: adpiucf this also means outside

Glad I got my candlelighting in.

HB-- definitely do the lighted tapers-- they make some very "real looking" ones nowadays.

When you meet with the girls, tell them situation and then tell them-- we can't not observe this, so let's brainstorm some alternatives. Just keep it positive.

PS to all the NPC's ... good luck enforcing this.. It's been 15 years and we still have ADPi collegiate members referring to their new sisters as "pledges"...

What about an outdoor candlepass? We tried once but it was too windy, and our candlepasses were the only times we broke our no flame rules. I always thought that an evening candlepass would be fun!

I fear this will be another one of those times where ADPi is the only one on campus following this policy because their mean Chapter Advisor just doesn't understand this campus is different. ;)

When we did "rose cermonies," the sister who was pinned or engaged or whatever, just held the rose instead of passing it on. If a chapter wanted to do this- you could use a rose or just about anything to pass around the circle. One of the benefits of using a rose was that the sister got to keep the flower. In a candle pass, does the sister keep the candle or is the same candle reused for each new ceremony? I've never experienced one.
Anyway- That is something to think about when choosing your new traditional object to pass- do you want the sister to be able to keep it as a memory or do you want to use the same object to celebrate each special occasion in the chapter? Objects to give to sisters may be flowers (violets, or anything really), a specific type of ADPi jeweley (would get expensive). For chapter wide objects- Maybe you could just use a stuffed lion- but make it a special one, dressed in a wedding gown or something. Or have a ring pillow and the sister in question gives her engagement ring or pin from BF fraternity or a lavalier of BF fraternity letters to president before hand?
I don't know- I'm just brain storming. Just start a new tradition in your chapter and stick to it!

Off to go brainstorm ideas for candle alternatives in pref ceremonies now.
Edited to add: In a quick web search, I found 14 sites that offered various kinds of electric candles, plus a just a few sample sites with pen lights (think medical supply, white or in pretty colors on the outside-amythest pearl anyone?). There are quite a few options and many different prices. I'm sure each chapter will find something that will work for them for their pref ceremony.
Here are all the web sites I found:

http://www.littlebrightlights.com/si...48/page/620459
http://www.gazebos-and-garden-sheds....d-candles.html
http://www.christmas-decorations-gif...4/products.asp
http://www.save-on-crafts.com/chrisligandl.html
http://www.100candles.com/battery_ca...Group=&start=1
http://candleffects.com/products.htm
http://www.christmaslightsetc.com/ca...p?CategoryID=1
http://www.aboyd.com/prodinfo.asp?number=ABC%20L-1001
http://www.myvirtualzone.com/detail.aspx?ID=13982
http://www.christmasespast.com/blowout1.html
http://www.happycandles.com/electric.html
http://www.christmasdepot.com/list/46/123
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...lance&n=284507
http://www.inspiredlighting.com/

http://www.allegromedical.com/produc...dc/175420.html
http://www.prestigemed.com/Subcat8x40.htm

Just an idea: has anyone else seen the little imitation tea lights? I saw a set of six at a grocery store (!) for less than a dollar each - I think $3.99. They're about half the size of a votive candle, and turn on & off with a tiny switch on the bottom. Granted, it wouldn't be the same as getting to blow out a candle (congratulations again, ADqtPiMel!), but passing something like that, with an easy to reach, yet unobstrusive switch on the bottom could be the answer. They'd work for Pref, too, just for the sisters, though, not for PNMs.

I've seen them MUCH more expensive in catalogs, but that one catalog that works on bulk (Oriental Trading Company, I think) might have them at a reasonable cost.

I know at Alpha Iota, they're been using the type that the "flame" screws on & off, and it's nasty! Ever since the last (ritual where it's important), I've been trying to think of how to have a Y-shaped extension in the back, with a switch on each side of the Y...

As for a Candle Pass, at another very unstructured group I'm in, we do something similar, only we pass a "magic wand". The one who would blow out the candle either turns on the wand (if it's dark) or turns it off (if it's light) - then usually waves it like crazy!!

Reading adpi*nurse's thread got me thinking to the year I was FRC in my chapter. We had a little satin pillow made and we pinned the president's pin in the middle and passed that around. This gave the PNMs the chance to look at our pin up close. We used the president's pin bc it was the nicest one. I'm thinking my girls could do something similar and pass a pillow with the nicest pin the girls have and have chapter members hold the pen lights for the lightening effect. They do their pref ceremony outside at night so some sort of lightening is necessary!

Zillini - I dont want to be the mean advisor but I also dont want to run the risk of a recruitment infraction or other trouble if this is going to be an NPC guideline.

HBADPi, I love that idea - it sounds beautiful! Our Chapter's President's Pin was given to us by the estate of our local founder, and is lovely. Maybe they could do something simular. Although, it would be nice to have a universal word for the ceremony, like Candle Pass.

The lights of which I was speaking are here, but more expensive than I had bought. They look like this:

http://www.inspiredlighting.com/Prod...ts-all-opt.jpg

(The yellow looks the most natural, but they all have the little switch.)


PS - She was a client of ours during her final illness - what a card! Miss Heatherington was a teacher when that meant you didn't marry, and you best know how to be respected! I'll treasure those moments forever.

Or just do away with it entirely and serenade the celebrant.

ETA: I do wish advisers the best in enforcing this...

I agree wholeheartedly, I don't want to risk an NPC infraction either. My point (which I didn't make very well) was that I wonder if our Panhellenic and the other sororities Inter/nationals will enforce this. ADPi at the University of Alabama will be following the guidelines.

Actually, since I came on board 10 years ago we've become known as the "rule followers" in Panhellenic. My women often ask why we have to do this or can't do that when everybody else does/doesn't. My response is because that's ADPi or NPC policy or even the law (thinking about underage drinking). Some day one or all of those rule breakers will get in trouble, possibly even busted. We'll be able to stand proud (and safe) because we abide by the rules/laws.

It's also a great lesson for these young women to learn. It's better in to do what's right than to do what's popular.

ETA: I decided to take the bull by the horns and called our Asst. Dean of Students, aka Greek Advisor. He said this was the first he'd heard of this but he would investigate. (While I'm a bit surprised, I'm not entirely shocked as this is not the first time he's been out of the loop.) I reminded him that since NPC will be sending a delegation to our campus for Formal Recruitment, it would probably be a good idea for all of Panhellenic to be following the rules. Now I don't have to be the bad guy. :D

Question: If one chapter violates this mandate (meaning there is a publicized incident), does the entire sorority lose insurance coverage or do premiums rise for the entire sorority?

Yeah, and dry fraternity houses NEVER have alcohol...:rolleyes:

You're more likely to have a house fire from someone leaving their flat iron on than passing a candle around for 2 minutes to congratulate someone for being dropped.

to answer ADPi*nurse, "did the sister get to keep the candle?"

when I had both of mine, yes... I got two different candles for each one I had (i was lavaleered and pined)

the battery operated tea lights are cute.... and i'm sure the battery operated tapers will look nice too... i like the idea of the "rose passing", and violets usually aren't that expensive, so you could always do violets.