Reactivating as an Alum...???
 

Hi ladies,

I have a question and I thought maybe someone here could answer it. Earlier in my college career I was a Phi Mu (fully initiated!) but I deactivated for financial reasons. I'm going to be graduating in May, and I was wondering if there was a way to reactivate as an alum. I'm going to be going to grad school at a school where there isn't a chapter, but I would LOVE to get the ball rolling on helping some girls colonize one, maybe!

I really miss the bond of sisterhood, and it saddens me that I had to give it up because of money...I'd love to hear that there's a way to get it back. Thanks! :)

It is possible, but as far as I know, you have to contact your local alumnae chapter (try the Cleveland chapter--they're great!) to go about it. Another option would be to contact Executive Office or the Director of Member Services to find out exactly what reaffiliating would entail. If you go to the national website (www.phimu.org) and click on the "Alumnae" link, you should be able to find out more information on whom you should contact.

Thanks so much! I'm thrilled to hear that my decision didn't have to be a permanent one. I'll be in a MUCH better position to handle the financial commitment once I'm out of college. :)

That's COMPLETELY understandable. I'm sure, more often than not, women who relinquish their membership during college do so because of finances. It really makes me wish there was some sort of financing plan or something available, because some women don't even want to go through Recruitment because of the money they would need to have.

Please be sure to keep us all informed of your progress. :)

Your chances of reinstating are MUCH better if you do it while you are still an undergrad. There is a formal process for this, and you should contact the EO before you graduate.

Otherwise, you are pretty much saying that you don't want to be a member until you reach the point where you don't have to contribute any time or money.

I talked to the chapter president at my school. Last year, I did have intentions of reactivating this fall (which is right now) and told the chapter I was planning on coming back. However, it's not financially possible for me to do it right now. I have $5,000 in credit card debt that I need to take care of before I can enjoy any "extras." She completely understood and told me that I could reactivate even after graduation if I wanted to do so--hence my reason for asking here how it could be done.

Also, I'm student teaching next semester, and I won't have time/energy to go to really contribute anything (when I was still active, the graduating seniors who student taught RARELY showed up to anything, even though they weren't really exempt just because of how demanding student teaching was). I'd just be dead weight, really...that's why I was thinking it would be better to wait until I graduated so that I'd a) have the money to pay for financial obligations, and b) I could get involved with things via an alumnae chapter. I'd love to donate to the foundation on a continuous basis once my debt is cleared and I'm settled into my career--and maybe even help colonize a chapter while I'm in grad school! :)

I don't doubt your intentions, I am just letting you know that the process is easier as an undergrad.

Reinstatement of Membership.
 

Actually the process is identical as an alumna as it is a collegiate member, no matter when you relinquished your membership. (I have helped several "misguided" sisters find their way back home ;) ) You don't need to affliated with a local chapter, but it doesn't hurt.

You must fill out an application in detail, pay a reactivation fee and submit this all to the National Council. It is with unanimous agreement of the National Council that reinstatement can happen.

Contact the National Headquarters for more information.

News!!!

I e-mailed the national director of membership for Phi Mu a day or two after I started this thread. I didn't hear back from her and had basically given up...BUT, I just checked my e-mail and I had a reply from her! I have to pay the balance I owed my chapter at the time I quit, and she gave me an address to where I could send it. Once I do that, the National Executive Committee will consider my request.

I won't be able to afford it probably until after I graduate, but I'm definitely saving that e-mail so I can get the ball rolling further in May. I am so, so, so excited about this! :D

WONDERFUL!!! I'm glad the ball is finally rolling! :)

Actually, the first step in the process would be to contact the National Heaquarters and check your status.

If you left your chapter owing a balance, you would have to take care of that before you would even be considered for reinstatement.

After that, you should write a letter to the National Council outlining your reasons for resigning and why you want to come back and mail it to the National Headquarters. The letter you write will be presented to NC for review at one of their meetings throughout the year.

The process can take several months since NC only meets 2-3 times per year.

If approved, there is usually a reinstatement fee required. Also, I would hope you would get involved in your local alumnae chapter or chapter association.

National Council meets in person quarterly. They are in constant contact with each other and the HQ via email and conference phone calls.

There is a DETAILED form to complete and a reinstatement fee that must be sent WITH the form, even before it is on the NC agenda. Contact the HQ to obtain the form. As I said before, I have helped several sisters return HOME after their temporary insanity.

There is no form and any reinstatement fee is not due with any form.

Call the HQ for correct information.

770-632-2090

That is very interesting. The process must have changed in the last 6 months because there used to be a $250 reinstatement fee due at the time form was submitted to NC. I know I helped another sister do it. PM for the name of the person.

I'm bumping this again for another update--

I graduated in May and *finally* found a job in August. This past week I drafted a letter to the National Council explaining why I disaffiliated in the first place, and why I would like to be reinstated as an alum. I can finally afford to pay the balance I owed my chapter so I was planning on mailing a check for the full amount in with my letter.

However, I wanted to know if I could get some input on what I said in my letter and if I should change anything around so that it's the absolute best that it could possibly be before I send it off! If anyone is willing to read it over and critique it, that would be great. Just send me a PM and I'll PM you back with what I wrote.

Also, I live in the Cleveland area and I got in touch with Delta Omega chapter at Case and explained my situation--I am going to an event later this month so I can meet some alums and hopefully get more help with finding my way home.

Gina, you are welcome to PM me, but I don't think you should have any trouble. We have a pretty clear policy that does indeed allow you to reaffiliate. I think there is a fee in addition to paying what you owe, but I don't know the amount off of the top of my head.

Thanks--

I will probably just drop my letter + check for the balance I owed my chapter in the mail tomorrow then. I don't want to wait any longer than I have to for things to get going on this.

I'll definitely keep bumping this thread as events unfold! :)

Just wondering...
 

I am in the waiting stage of the reaffiliation process... have been since March of 2007. I had called Nationals in Oct to find out when I might know and they said by the end of the year. SO, I was just wondering if you had heard any news yet? I am so happy that I am not the only lost sister wandering my way home!

BUMP
Well, I don't know if anyone else has been being 'a squeaky wheel' but I have been getting anxious (as I have been waiting since March!). I called Nationals last week and was told that Council had met early in the year and that the minutes should be released any day now - so we should know soon!

Good luck to you!

It is official for me, and I hope that the other ladies have recieved the same answer... They have accepted my request to reaffiliate! I've come back home!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

big bump.

I hate to say this, but I never wound up sending in my check and letter last year. A whole bunch of stuff happened around that time (I moved out of my parents' house, etc.) and I didn't have the money. Since then, I moved AGAIN to North Carolina, and now I'm *finally* recovering financially. I am hoping that sometime in the next couple months, I will finally be able to go through with this.

This really sucks. I really, really want to do this, but I need to send $200 in back dues from college to them along with my letter. A small price to pay for something so important! And I would love to be able to help out with local chapters around here! :o

What are you waiting for? It's been two years! :p
Go for it, if it happens you will not regret it.

This is one of the many amazing things I love about Phi Mu. There is a chance to come back. Many organizations do not offer this and I feel that it is a shame (although I respect their rights to what they feel is best) because sometimes life really does get in the way and I have seen many a shining star have to leave for situations beyond their control. Knowing that they may be able to come back has always been a comfort to me.

Big bump!

Hi, it's me again and it's been over 6 years since my last update. At the time of my last update I still hadn't sent the check and letter.

Today, I finally got on the phone with nationals and paid the $200 I owed over the phone! So that is done. However, they told me that there is another fee to reinstate of $500. I am going to have to think very hard about that. I just went through a divorce and I am living with one of my parents now, and I have plans to move out and attend grad school in August. $500 would be a huge setback to making the move. However I know this process could take 9 months so it would be best to start it now.

I can't believe life has gotten in the way this long. I really should just do it and feel like my heart is complete again. :)

Edit: I just went back and read my OP. Wow...I said I was going to grad school back then. I didn't go to grad school. In fact, I'm on a completely different career path now than I was when I finished undergrad in 2007, and I'm doing grad school to change careers now. It's amazing how things change!

I submitted my letter on Friday to nationals. It will be awhile before I hear about a result. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

(is anyone even reading this forum anymore?)

Pardon the crash in the Phi Mu forum, but I wish you good luck!!

Best of luck to you.
Maybe you can arrange to pay the $500 a little at a time, to make it a bit easier.

Guys!!! I got the e-mail today. I have been welcomed home! AHHHHH!!!!

Thank you, thank you, thank you, to all who have followed this thread since 2007. If only I had acted sooner. ALSO - my very best friend, who I would not have met if we weren't in the same Phi class, is coming to visit me tomorrow! This was planned long before now, but the timing could not be more perfect. Once I pay the reinstatement fee, I am going to become as involved as I can locally.

crashing to say that I am SO EXCITED for you! Now make up for lost time!!!!!

Yes pardon the crash as well, but that's wonderful news. I'm glad were able to come home again. Wishing you many years of happy new memories of sisterhood.

I literally logged in from my lifetime of lurking to say CONGRATULATIONS! A homecoming seven years in the making deserves a crash and comment. You will not regret this decision. I am so glad you get to make new Phi Mu memories - make every one count! :D

Many congratulations! That is wonderful news!

I paid the reinstatement fee today, and I've gotten word that I am officially a member again as of today. I've already reached out on Facebook as far as getting involved with helping with the local collegiate chapters and I can't wait to go to alum events as well.

I am also going to get an upgraded badge!

This means the world to me...thank you, thank you, thank you, to Phi Mu! :)

Gina:
I am out of my lane but stopped by to wish you a heartfelt congratulations!

If anyone wants to know more about the process of reinstatement please feel free to PM me.

There is a fee involved (not sure if I can post it here - so I'm not going to) and also if you owed any chapter dues at the time you left, those must also be paid to nationals. I paid both.

I also ordered a new badge/dangle/guard so that cost me about $400. I don't think the badge prices are secret. But I upgraded mine significantly from when I was a member in college - back then I had the plainest badge and no guard/dangle!

The total cost I paid was over 4 figures...but worth every penny. I would have paid at least that much anyway for the remaining time I had in undergrad at the time I quit. All of it was one time fees unless I upgrade my badge again. And then Forever Faithful is only $20 per year, and my local alumnae chapter is $30 per year. Of course, I certainly hope that next year I can go to Convention, and I plan on buying some new letters and whatever as well too! I don't mind spending the money, for something my heart truly belongs to.

I've already made contacts with my local alumnae group and I couldn't be happier. I am going to hopefully be involved with advising a chapter very soon! :)

I still can't believe I did this!!! So happy!!!

What a sweet post! Congratulations. I'm really happy for you and for Phi Mu. It sounds like you are ready to make your mark in your sisterhood.

No idea if anyone still checks the forum due to all the spam but I wanted to post another update.

Since becoming reinstated I've taken an advisory role with a chapter near me. I also found out Tuesday night that I'll be on the 2016-2017 exec board for my alumnae chapter. I am more than making up for lost time. Thanks again to everyone who followed this thread for such a long time.

Although I was not on this board when you first started your journey-I was in middle school, and now I feel both very young and very old at the same time-I am SO happy for you to be involved in Phi Mu again! My mom is just now getting back to being involved in her local chapter after having been involved with them almost 17 years ago. Better late than never!

We wouldn't hate it if you posted a picture of your new badge too :D